[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15258-15265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7686]



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Part III





Department of Agriculture





_______________________________________________________________________



Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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Request for Proposals (RFP): Special Research Grants Program, Potato 
Research; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 60 / Tuesday, March 30, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 15258]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Request for Proposals (RFP): Special Research Grants Program, 
Potato Research

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Request for Proposals and Request for Input.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service (CSREES) announces the availability of grant funds and requests 
proposals for the Special Research Grants Program, Potato Research for 
fiscal year (FY) 1999. Subject to the availability of funds, the 
anticipated amount available for support of this program in FY 1999 is 
$1,216,279.
    This notice sets out the objectives for these projects, the 
eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, the application 
procedures, and the set of instructions needed to apply for a Potato 
Research Project grant.
    By this notice, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service additionally solicits stakeholder input from any 
interested party regarding the FY 1999 request for proposals for the 
Special Research Grants Program, Potato Research, for use in the 
development of the next request for proposals for this program.

DATES: Applications must be received on or before May 14, 1999. 
Proposals received after May 14, 1999, will not be considered for 
funding.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding stakeholder input should be 
submitted by first-class mail to: Policy and Program Liaison Staff; 
Office of Extramural Programs; Competitive Research Grants and Awards 
Management; USDA-CSREES; STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; 
Washington, D.C. 20250-2299; or via e-mail to: [email protected]. In 
your comments, please include the name of the program and the fiscal 
year request for proposals to which you are responding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Parochetti; Cooperative 
State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; STOP 2220; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, 
D.C. 20250-2220; telephone: (202) 401-4354; Internet: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

Part I--General Information

A. Legislative Authority
B. Definitions
C. Eligibility

Part II--Program Description

A. Purpose of the Program
B. Available Funds and Award Limitations
C. Applicant Peer Review Requirements

Part III--Content of a Proposal

A. Application for Funding (Form CSREES-661)
B. Table of Contents
C. Objectives
D. Progress Report
E. Procedures
F. Justification
G. Cooperation and Institutional Units Involved
H. Literature Review
I. Current Work
J. Facilities and Equipment
K. Project Timetable
L. Personnel Support
M. Collaborative and/or Subcontractual Arrangements
N. Budget (Form CSREES-55)
O. Current and Pending Support (Form CSREES-663)
P. Assurance Statement(s) (Form CSREES-662)
Q. Certifications
R. Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
S. Additions to Project Description

Part IV--How to Obtain Application Materials

Part V--Submission of a Proposal

A. What to Submit
B. Where and When to Submit
C. Acknowledgment of Proposals

Part VI--CSREES Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

A. Selection Process
B. Evaluation Criteria

Part VII--Supplementary Information

A. Access to CSREES Peer Review Information
B. Grant Awards
C. Use of Funds; Changes
D. Other Federal Statutes and Regulations that Apply
E. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards
F. Regulatory Information
G. Stakeholder Input

Part I--General Information

A. Legislative Authority

    The authority for this program is contained in section (c)(1)(B) of 
the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act, in section 
2 of Pub. L. No. 89-106, as amended (7 U.S.C. 450i(c)(1)(B)). The 
administrative regulations at 7 CFR part 3400 for Special Grants 
Programs awarded under the authority of section 2(c)(1)(A) of this Act 
(7 U.S.C. 450i(c)(1)(A)) do not apply to grants solicited and awarded 
under this RFP.
    In accordance with the statutory authority, grants awarded under 
this program will be for the purpose of facilitating or expanding 
ongoing State-Federal food and agricultural research programs that--(i) 
promote excellence in research on a regional and national level; (ii) 
promote the development of regional research centers; (iii) promote the 
research partnership between the Department of Agriculture, colleges 
and universities, research foundations, and State agricultural 
experiment stations for regional research efforts; and (iv) facilitate 
coordination and cooperation of research among States through regional 
research grants.

B. Definitions

    For the purpose of awarding grants under this program, the 
following definitions are applicable:
    (1) Administrator means the Administrator of the Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and any other 
officer or employee of the Department to whom the authority involved 
may be delegated.
    (2) Authorized departmental officer means the Secretary or any 
employee of the Department who has the authority to issue or modify 
grant instruments on behalf of the Secretary.
    (3) Authorized organizational representative means the president, 
chief executive officer or functional equivalent of the applicant 
organization or the official, designated by the president, chief 
executive officer or functional equivalent of the applicant 
organization, who has the authority to commit the resources of the 
organization.
    (4) Budget period means the interval of time (usually 12 months) 
into which the project period is divided for budgetary and reporting 
purposes.
    (5) Department or USDA means the United States Department of 
Agriculture.
    (6) Grantee means the entity designated in the grant award document 
as the responsible legal entity to which a grant is awarded.
    (7) Peer review panel means an assembled group of experts or 
consultants qualified by training and experience in particular 
scientific or technical fields to give expert advice on the scientific 
and technical merit of grant applications in those fields.
    (8) Principal Investigator/Project Director means the single 
individual designated by the grantee in the grant application and 
approved by the Secretary who is responsible for the

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direction and management of the project. Note that a proposal may have 
multiple secondary co-principal investigators/project directors but 
only one principal investigator/project director.
    (9) Prior approval means written approval evidencing prior consent 
by an authorized departmental officer as defined in (2) above.
    (10) Project means the particular activity within the scope of the 
program supported by a grant award.
    (11) Project period means the total length of time that is approved 
by the Administrator for conducting the research project, as stated in 
the award document and modifications thereto, if any, during which 
Federal sponsorship begins and ends.
    (12) Scientific peer review means an evaluation of a proposed 
project for technical quality and relevance to regional or national 
goals performed by experts with the scientific knowledge and technical 
skills to conduct the proposed research work.
    (13) Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture and any other 
officer or employee of the Department to whom the authority involved 
may be delegated.

C. Eligibility

    Proposals may be submitted by State agricultural experiment 
stations, land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations 
established by land-grant colleges and universities, colleges and 
universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.), and accredited schools or colleges of 
veterinary medicine. The proposals must be directly related to potato 
varietal development/testing. Although an applicant may be eligible 
based on its status as one of these entities, other factors may exclude 
an applicant from receiving Federal assistance under this program 
(e.g., debarment or suspension, a determination of non-responsibility 
based on submitted organizational management information).

Part II--Program Description

A. Purpose of the Program

    Proposals are invited for competitive grant awards under the 
Special Research Grants Program, Potato Research for FY 1999. The 
purpose of this grant program is to support potato research that 
focuses on varietal development/testing. As used herein, varietal 
development/testing is research using traditional and biotechnological 
genetics to develop improved potato variety(ies). Aspects of 
evaluation, screening and testing must support or complement the 
development of improved varieties. This program is administered by 
CSREES of USDA.

B. Available Funds and Award Limitations

    Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis to support regional 
research projects that are composed of potato research that focuses on 
varietal development/testing. For purposes of this program, regional 
research means research having application beyond the immediate State 
in which the awardee resides and performs the project. The total amount 
of funds available in FY 1999 for support of this program is 
approximately $1,216,279. Each proposal submitted in FY 1999 shall 
request funding for a period not to exceed one year. Funding for 
additional years will depend upon the availability of funds and 
progress toward objectives. FY 1999 awardees would need to recompete in 
future years for additional funding.
    Under this program, and subject to the availability of funds, the 
Secretary may make grant awards for the support of research projects 
available for up to three years to further the program.

C. Applicant Peer Review Requirements

    Subsection (c)(5) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 450i(c)), as amended by section 212 
of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (``1998 Act''), Pub. L. No. 105-185, requires applicants to 
conduct a scientific peer review of a proposed research project in 
accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary prior to the 
Secretary making a grant award under this authority. Regulations 
implementing this requirement currently are the subject of a proposed 
rule making (64 FR 14347, March 24, 1999). The statute requires 
promulgation of a final rule prior to award of a grant under this 
program. The proposed rule would impose the following requirements for 
scientific peer review by applicants of proposed research projects:
    1. Credible and independent. Review arranged by the grantee must 
provide for a credible and independent assessment of the proposed 
project. A credible review is one that provides an appraisal of 
technical quality and relevance sufficient for an organizational 
representative to make an informed judgment as to whether the proposal 
is appropriate for submission for Federal support. To provide for an 
independent review, such review may include USDA employees, but should 
not be conducted solely by USDA employees.
    2. Notice of completion and retention of records. A notice of 
completion of the review shall be conveyed in writing to CSREES either 
as part of the submitted proposal or prior to the issuance of an award, 
at the option of CSREES. The written notice constitutes certification 
by the applicant that a review in compliance with these regulations has 
occurred. Applicants are not required to submit results of the review 
to CSREES; however, proper documentation of the review process and 
results should be retained by the applicant.
    3. Renewal and supplemental grants. Review by the grantee is not 
automatically required for renewal or supplemental grants as defined in 
7 CFR 3400.6. A subsequent grant award will require a new review if, 
according to CSREES, either the funded project has changed 
significantly, other scientific discoveries have affected the project, 
or the need for the project has changed. Note that a new review is 
necessary when applying for another standard or continuation grant 
after expiration of the grant term.
    4. Scientific Peer Review. Scientific peer review is an evaluation 
of a proposed project for technical quality and relevance to regional 
or national goals performed by experts with the scientific knowledge 
and technical skills to conduct the proposed research work. Peer 
reviewers may be selected from an applicant organization or from 
outside the organization, but shall not include principal or co-
principal investigators, collaborators or others involved in the 
preparation of the application under review.
    Because of the nature of the rule making process, these 
requirements are subject to change based upon the comments received. 
Applicants whose proposals are recommended for funding must comply with 
the review requirements as promulgated in the final rule as a condition 
precedent to receiving an award under this RFP.

Part III--Content of a Proposal

    All applications should be typed on 8 1/2'' x 11'' white paper, 
single-spaced, and on one side of the page only. It would be helpful if 
the name of the submitting institution were typed at the top of each 
page for easy identification in the event the proposal becomes 
disassembled while being reviewed. All proposals must contain the 
following forms and narrative information to assist CSREES personnel 
during the review and award processes:

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A. Application for Funding (Form CSREES-661)

    Each copy of each grant proposal must contain an Application for 
Funding, (Form CSREES-661). One copy of the application, preferably the 
original, must contain the pen-and-ink signature(s) of the proposing 
principal investigator(s)/project director(s) and the authorized 
organizational representative who possesses the necessary authority to 
commit the organization's time and other relevant resources to the 
project. Any proposed principal investigator or co-principal 
investigator whose signature does not appear on Form CSREES-661 will 
not be listed on any resulting grant award. Complete both signature 
blocks located at the bottom of the Application for Funding form.
    Form CSREES-661 serves as a source document for the CSREES grant 
database; it is therefore important that it be completed accurately. 
The following items are highlighted as having a high potential for 
errors or misinterpretations:
    1. Title of Project (Block 6). The title of the project must be 
brief (80-character maximum), yet represent the major thrust of the 
effort being proposed. Project titles are read by a variety of 
nonscientific people; therefore, highly technical words or phraseology 
should be avoided where possible. In addition, introductory phrases 
such as ``investigation of'' or ``research on'' should not be used.
    2. Program to Which You Are Applying (Block 7). ``Special Research 
Grants Program, Potato Research'' should be inserted in this block. You 
may ignore the reference to a Federal Register announcement.
    3. Program Area and Number (Block 8). The name of the program area, 
``Potato Research,'' should be inserted in this block. You should 
ignore references to the program number and the Federal Register 
announcement.
    4. Type of Award Request (Block 13). If the project being proposed 
is a renewal of a grant that has been supported under the same program 
at any time during the previous five fiscal years, it is important that 
you show the latest grant number assigned to the project by CSREES.
    5. Principal Investigator(s) (Block 15). The designation of 
excessive numbers of co-principal investigators creates problems during 
final review and award processes. Listing multiple co-principal 
investigators, beyond those required for genuine collaboration, is 
therefore discouraged.
    6. Type of Performing Organization (Block 18). A check should be 
placed in the box beside the type of organization which actually will 
carry out the effort. For example, if the proposal is being submitted 
by an 1862 Land-Grant institution but the work will be performed in a 
department, laboratory, or other organizational unit of an agricultural 
experiment station, box ``03'' should be checked. If portions of the 
effort are to be performed in several departments, check the box that 
applies to the individual listed as PI/PD #1 in Block 15.a.
    7. Other Possible Sponsors (Block 22). List the names or acronyms 
of all other public or private sponsors including other agencies within 
USDA and other programs funded by CSREES to whom your application has 
been or might be sent. In the event you decide to send your application 
to another organization or agency at a later date, you must inform the 
identified CSREES program manager as soon as practicable. Submitting 
your proposal to other potential sponsors will not prejudice its review 
by CSREES; however, duplicate support for the same project will not be 
provided.

B. Table of Contents

    For consistency and ease of locating information, each proposal 
submitted should contain a Table of Contents.

C. Objectives

    Clear, concise, complete, and logically arranged statement(s) of 
the specific aims of the proposed effort must be included in all 
proposals. For renewal applications, a restatement of the objectives 
outlined in the active grant also should be provided.

D. Progress Report

    If the proposal is a renewal of an existing project supported under 
the same program, include a clearly identified summary progress report 
describing the results to date. The progress report should contain the 
following information:
    1. A comparison of actual accomplishments with the goals 
established for the active grant;
    2. The reasons for slippage if established goals were not met;
    3. Other pertinent information, including, when appropriate, cost 
analysis and explanation of cost overruns or unexpectedly high unit 
costs.

E. Procedures

    The procedures or methodology to be applied to the proposed effort 
should be explicitly stated. This section should include but not 
necessarily be limited to:
    1. A description of the proposed investigations and/or experiments 
in the sequence in which it is planned to carry them out;
    2. Techniques to be employed, including their feasibility;
    3. Kinds of results expected;
    4. Means by which data will be analyzed or interpreted;
    5. Pitfalls which might be encountered; and
     6. Limitations to proposed procedures.

F. Justification

    This section should include in-depth information on the following, 
when applicable:
    1. Estimates of the magnitude of the problem and its relevance to 
ongoing State-Federal food and agricultural research programs;
    2. Importance of starting the work during the current fiscal year; 
and
    3. Reasons for having the work performed by the proposing 
institution.

G. Cooperation and Institutional Units Involved

    Cooperative and multi-state applications are encouraged. Identify 
each institutional unit contributing to the project. Identify each 
State in a multiple-state proposal and designate the lead State. When 
appropriate, the project should be coordinated with the efforts of 
other State and/or national programs. Clearly define the roles and 
responsibilities of each institutional unit of the project team, if 
applicable.

H. Literature Review

    A summary of pertinent publications with emphasis on their 
relationship to the effort being proposed should be provided and should 
include all important and recent publications from other institutions, 
as well as those from the applicant institution. The citations 
themselves should be accurate, complete, and written in an acceptable 
journal format.

I. Current Work

    Current unpublished institutional activities to date in the program 
area under which the proposal is being submitted should be described.

J. Facilities and Equipment

    All facilities which are available for use or assignment to the 
project during the requested period of support should be reported and 
described briefly. Any potentially hazardous materials, procedures, 
situations, or activities, whether or not directly related to a 
particular phase of the effort, must be explained fully, along with an 
outline of

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precautions to be exercised. Examples include work with toxic chemicals 
and experiments that may put human subjects or animals at risk.
    All items of major instrumentation available for use or assignment 
to the proposed project also should be itemized. In addition, items of 
nonexpendable equipment needed to conduct and bring the project to a 
successful conclusion should be listed, including dollar amounts and, 
if funds are requested for their acquisition, justified.

K. Project Timetable

    The proposal should outline all important phases as a function of 
time, year by year, for the entire project, including periods beyond 
the grant funding period.

L. Personnel Support

    All senior personnel who are expected to be involved in the effort 
must be clearly identified. For each person, the following should be 
included:
    1. An estimate of the time commitment involved;
    2. Vitae of the principal investigator(s), senior associate(s), and 
other professional personnel. This section should include vitae of all 
key persons who are expected to work on the project, whether or not 
CSREES funds are sought for their support. The vitae should be limited 
to two (2) pages each in length, excluding publications listings; and
    3. A chronological listing of the most representative publications 
during the past five years. This listing must be provided for each 
professional project member for whom a vita appears. Authors should be 
listed in the same order as they appear on each paper cited, along with 
the title and complete reference as these usually appear in journals.

M. Collaborative and/or Subcontractual Arrangements

    If it will be necessary to enter into formal consulting or 
collaborative arrangements with other individuals or organizations, 
such arrangements should be fully explained and justified. For purposes 
of proposal development, informal day-to-day contacts between key 
project personnel and outside experts are not considered to be 
collaborative arrangements and thus do not need to be detailed.
    All anticipated subcontractual arrangements should be explained and 
justified in this section. A proposed statement of work, a curriculum 
vitae and a budget for each arrangement involving the transfer of 
substantive programmatic work or the providing of financial assistance 
to a third party must be provided. Agreements between departments or 
other units of your own institution and minor arrangements with 
entities outside of your institution (e.g., requests for outside 
laboratory analyses) are excluded from this requirement.
    If you expect to enter into subcontractual arrangements, please 
note that the provisions contained in 7 CFR Part 3019--USDA Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions 
of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations, and 
the general provisions contained in 7 CFR Part 3015.205, USDA Uniform 
Federal Assistance Regulations, flow down to subrecipients. In 
addition, required clauses from 7 CFR Part 3019 Sections 40-48 
(Procurement Standards) and Appendix A (Contract Provisions) should be 
included in final contractual documents, and it is necessary for the 
subawardee to make a certification relating to debarment/suspension. 
This latter requirement is explained further under subsection Q of 
these guidelines.

N. Budget (Form CSREES-55)

    Each proposal must contain a detailed budget (Form CSREES-55) for 
up to 12 months of support. Funds may be requested under any of the 
categories listed on the budget form, provided that the item or service 
for which support is sought is allowable under the enabling legislation 
and the applicable Federal cost principles and can be identified as 
necessary and reasonable for the successful conduct of the project.
    The following guidelines should be used in developing your proposal 
budget:
    1. Salaries and Wages. Salaries and wages are allowable charges and 
may be requested for personnel who will be working on the project in 
proportion to the time such personnel will devote to the project. If 
salary funds are requested, the number of Senior and Other Personnel 
and the number of CSREES Funded Work Months must be shown in the spaces 
provided. Grant funds may not be used to augment the total salary or 
rate of salary of project personnel or to reimburse them for time in 
addition to a regular full-time salary covering the same general period 
of employment. Salary funds requested must be consistent with the 
normal policies of the institution and with OMB Circular No. A-21, Cost 
Principles for Educational Institutions. Administrative and Clerical 
salaries are normally classified as indirect costs. (See Item 9. 
below.) However, if requested under A.2.e., they must be fully 
justified.

    Note: In accordance with Section 1473 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, 
as amended, 7 U.S.C. 3319, tuition remission is not an allowable 
cost under Section 2(c)(1)(B) projects, and no funds will be 
approved for this purpose.

    2. Fringe Benefits. Funds may be requested for fringe benefit costs 
if the usual accounting practices of your institution provide that 
institutional contributions to employee benefits (social security, 
retirement, etc.) be treated as direct costs. Fringe benefit costs may 
be included only for those personnel whose salaries are charged as a 
direct cost to the project. See OMB Circular No. A-21, Cost Principles 
for Educational Institutions, for further guidance in this area.
    3. Nonexpendable Equipment. Nonexpendable equipment means tangible 
nonexpendable personal property including exempt property charged 
directly to the award having a useful life of more than one year and an 
acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. As such, items of 
necessary instrumentation or other nonexpendable equipment should be 
listed individually by description and estimated cost. This applies to 
revised budgets as well, as the equipment item(s) and amount(s) may 
change.

    Note: For projects awarded under the authority of Sec. 
2(c)(1)(B) of Pub. L. No. 89-106, no funds will be awarded for the 
renovation or refurbishment of research spaces; the purchase or 
installation of fixed equipment in such spaces; or for the planning, 
repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building 
or facility.

    4. Materials and Supplies. The types of expendable materials and 
supplies which are required to carry out the project should be 
indicated in general terms with estimated costs.
    5. Travel. The type and extent of travel and its relationship to 
project objectives should be specified. Funds may be requested for 
field work or for travel to professional meetings. In the budget 
narrative, for both domestic and foreign travel, provide the purpose, 
the destination, method of travel, number of persons traveling, number 
of days, and estimated cost for each trip. If details of each trip are 
not known at the time of proposal submission, provide the basis for 
determining the amount requested.
    Travel and subsistence should be in accordance with organizational 
policy. Irrespective of the organizational policy, allowances for 
airfare will not normally exceed round trip jet economy air 
accommodations. Please note that 7 CFR Part 3015.205 is applicable to 
air travel.

[[Page 15262]]

    6. Publication Costs/Page Charges. Anticipated costs of preparing 
and publishing results of the research being proposed (including page 
charges, necessary illustrations, and the cost of a reasonable number 
of coverless reprints) may be estimated and charged against the grant.
    7. Computer (ADPE) Costs. Reimbursement for the costs of using 
specialized facilities (such as a university- or department-controlled 
computer mainframe or data processing center) may be requested if such 
services are required for completion of the work.
    8. All Other Direct Costs. Anticipated direct project charges not 
included in other budget categories must be itemized with estimated 
costs and justified on a separate sheet of paper attached to Form 
CSREES-55. This applies to revised budgets as well, as the item(s) and 
dollar amount(s) may change. Examples may include space rental at 
remote locations, subcontractual costs, charges for consulting 
services, telephone, facsimile, e-mail, shipping costs, and fees for 
necessary laboratory analyses. You are encouraged to consult the 
``Instructions for Completing Form CSREES-55, Budget,'' of the 
Application Kit for detailed guidance relating to this budget category.
    9. Indirect Costs. Pursuant to Section 1473 of the National 
Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as 
amended, 7 U.S.C. 3319, indirect costs are not allowable costs under 
Section 2(c)(1)(B) projects, and no funds will be approved for this 
purpose. Further, costs that are a part of an institution's indirect 
cost pool (e.g., administrative or clerical salaries) may not be 
reclassified as direct costs for the purpose of making them allowable.
    10. Cost-sharing. Cost-sharing is encouraged; however, cost-sharing 
is not required nor will it be a direct factor in the awarding of any 
grant.

O. Current and Pending Support (Form CSREES-663)

    All proposals must contain Form CSREES-663 listing this proposal 
and any other current or pending support to which key project personnel 
have committed or are expected to commit portions of their time, 
whether or not salary support for the person(s) involved is included in 
the budget. This proposal should be identified in the pending section 
of this form.

P. Assurance Statement(s) (Form CSREES-662)

    A number of situations encountered in the conduct of projects 
require special assurance, supporting documentation, etc., before 
funding can be approved for the project. In addition to any other 
situation that may exist with regard to a particular project, it is 
expected that some applications submitted in response to these 
guidelines will include the following:
    1. Recombinant DNA or RNA Research. As stated in 7 CFR Part 
3015.205(b)(3), all key personnel identified in the proposal and all 
signatory officials of the proposing organization are required to 
comply with the guidelines established by the National Institutes of 
Health entitled, ``Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA 
Molecules,'' as revised. If your project proposes to use recombinant 
DNA or RNA techniques, the application must so indicate by checking the 
``yes'' box in Block 19 of Form CSREES-661 (Application for Funding) 
and by completing Section A of Form CSREES-662 (Assurance 
Statement(s)). For applicable proposals recommended for funding, 
Institutional Biosafety Committee approval is required before CSREES 
funds will be released.
    2. Animal Care. Responsibility for the humane care and treatment of 
live vertebrate animals used in any grant project supported with funds 
provided by CSREES rests with the performing organization. Where a 
project involves the use of living vertebrate animals for experimental 
purposes, all key project personnel and all signatory officials of the 
proposing organization are required to comply with the applicable 
provisions of the Animal Welfare Act of 1996, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2131 
et seq.) and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Secretary in 
9 CFR Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 pertaining to the care, handling, and 
treatment of these animals. If your project will involve these animals 
or activities, you must check the ``yes'' box in Block 20 of Form 
CSREES-661 and complete Section B of Form CSREES-662. In the event a 
project involving the use of live vertebrate animals results in a grant 
award, funds will be released only after the Institutional Animal Care 
and Use Committee has approved the project.
    3. Protection of Human Subjects. Responsibility for safeguarding 
the rights and welfare of human subjects used in any grant project 
supported with funds provided by CSREES rests with the performing 
organization. Guidance on this issue is contained in the National 
Research Act, Pub. L. No. 93-348, as amended, and implementing 
regulations established by the Department under 7 CFR Part 1c. If you 
propose to use human subjects for experimental purposes in your 
project, you should check the ``yes'' box in Block 21 of Form CSREES-
661 and complete Section C of Form CSREES-662. In the event a project 
involving human subjects results in a grant award, funds will be 
released only after the appropriate Institutional Review Board has 
approved the project.

Q. Certifications

    Note that by signing the Application for Funding form the applicant 
is providing the required certifications set forth in 7 CFR Part 3017, 
regarding Debarment and Suspension and Drug-Free Workplace, and 7 CFR 
Part 3018, regarding Lobbying. The certification forms are included in 
this application package for informational purposes only. These forms 
should not be submitted with your proposal since by signing the Form 
CSREES-661 your organization is providing the required certifications.
    If the project will involve a subcontractor or consultant, the 
subcontractor/consultant should submit a Form AD-1048 to the grantee 
organization for retention in their records. This form should not be 
submitted to USDA.

R. Compliance With the National Environmental Policy Act

    As outlined in 7 CFR Part 3407 (CSREES's implementing regulations 
of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)), environmental data or documentation for the 
proposed project is to be provided to CSREES in order to assist CSREES 
in carrying out its responsibilities under NEPA, which includes 
determining whether the project requires an Environmental Assessment or 
an Environmental Impact Statement or whether it can be excluded from 
this requirement on the basis of several categorical exclusions. To 
assist CSREES in this determination, the applicant should review the 
categories defined for exclusion to ascertain whether the proposed 
project may fall within one of the exclusions.
    Form CSREES-1234, NEPA Exclusions Form (copy in Application Kit), 
indicating the applicant's opinion of whether or not the project falls 
within one or more categorical exclusions, along with supporting 
documentation, must be included in the proposal. The information 
submitted in association with NEPA compliance should be

[[Page 15263]]

identified in the Table of Contents as ``NEPA Considerations'' and Form 
CSREES-1234 and supporting documentation should be placed after the 
Form CSREES-661, Application for Funding, in the proposal.
    The following Categorical Exclusions apply:
    (1) USDA Categorical Exclusions (7 CFR 1b.3)
    (i) Policy development, planning and implementation which are 
related to routine activities such as personnel, organizational 
changes, or similar administrative functions;
    (ii) Activities which deal solely with the funding of programs, 
such as program budget proposals, disbursements, and transfer or 
reprogramming of funds;
    (iii) Inventories, research activities, and studies, such as 
resource inventories and routine data collection when such actions are 
clearly limited in context and intensity;
    (iv) Educational and informational programs and activities;
    (v) Civil and criminal law enforcement and investigative 
activities;
    (vi) Activities which are advisory and consultative to other 
agencies and public and private entities; and
    (vii) Activities related to trade representation and market 
development activities abroad.
    (2) CSREES Categorical Exclusions (7 CFR 3407.6(a)(2))
    Based on previous experience, the following categories of CSREES 
actions are excluded because they have been found to have limited scope 
and intensity and to have no significant individual or cumulative 
impacts on the quality of the human environment:
    (i) The following categories of research programs or projects of 
limited size and magnitude or with only short-term effects on the 
environment:
    (A) Research conducted within any laboratory, greenhouse, or other 
contained facility where research practices and safeguards prevent 
environmental impacts;
    (B) Surveys, inventories, and similar studies that have limited 
context and minimal intensity in terms of changes in the environment; 
and
    (C) Testing outside of the laboratory, such as in small isolated 
field plots, which involves the routine use of familiar chemicals or 
biological materials.
    (ii) Routine renovation, rehabilitation, or revitalization of 
physical facilities, including the acquisition and installation of 
equipment, where such activity is limited in scope and intensity.
    Even though the applicant considers that a proposed project may 
fall within a categorical exclusion, CSREES may determine that an 
Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement is 
necessary for a proposed project if substantial controversy on 
environmental grounds exists or if other extraordinary conditions or 
circumstances are present that may cause such activity to have a 
significant environmental effect.

S. Additions to Project Description

    Each project description is expected to be complete in itself. 
However, in those instances in which the inclusion of additional 
information is necessary, the number of copies submitted should match 
the number of copies of the application requested in Part V(A) below. 
Each set of such materials must be identified with the title of the 
project and the name(s) of the principal investigator(s)/project 
director(s) as they appear on the ``Application for Funding.'' Examples 
of additional materials include photographs that do not reproduce well, 
reprints, and other pertinent materials which are deemed to be 
unsuitable for inclusion in the body of the proposal.

Part IV--How To Obtain Application Materials

    Copies of this solicitation and the Application Kit may be obtained 
by writing to the address or calling the telephone number which 
follows: Proposal Services Unit, Office of Extramural Programs; 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. 
Department of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400 Independence Ave., S.W.; 
Washington D.C. 20250-2245; Telephone: (202) 401-5048. When contacting 
the Proposal Services Unit, please indicate that you are requesting 
forms for the Special Research Grants Program, Potato Research.
    These materials may also be requested via Internet by sending a 
message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail) and phone number 
to [email protected] which states that you want a copy of the application 
materials for the FY 1999 Special Research Grants Program, Potato 
Research. The materials will then be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as 
quickly as possible.

Part V--Submission of a Proposal

A. What To Submit

    An original and three copies of each grant proposal must be 
submitted. Proposals should contain all requested information when 
submitted. Each proposal should be typed on 8\1/2\'' x 11'' white 
paper, single-spaced, and on one side of the page only. Please note 
that the text of the proposal should be prepared using no type smaller 
than 12 point font size and one-inch margins. Staple each copy of the 
proposal in the upper left-hand corner. Please do not bind copies of 
the proposal.

B. Where and When To Submit

    Proposals must be received on or before May 14, 1999, and submitted 
to the following mailing address: Special Research Grants Program, 
Potato Research; c/o Proposal Services Unit; Office of Extramural 
Programs; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; 
U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400 Independence Ave., SW.; 
Washington, DC 20250-2245; Telephone: (202) 401-5048.

    Note: Hand-delivered proposals or those delivered by overnight 
express service should be brought to the following address: Special 
Research Grants Program, Potato Research; c/o Proposal Services 
Unit, Office of Extramural Programs; CSREES/USDA; Room 303, 
Aerospace Center; 901 D Street, SW.; Washington, DC 20024. The 
telephone number is (202) 401-5048.

C. Acknowledgment of Proposals

    The receipt of all proposals will be acknowledged in writing and 
this acknowledgment will contain a proposal identification number. Once 
your proposal has been assigned an identification number, please cite 
that number in future correspondence.

Part VI--CSREES Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

A. Selection Process

    Applicants should submit fully developed proposals that meet all 
the requirements set forth in this request for proposals.
    Each proposal will be evaluated in a two-part process. First, each 
proposal will be screened to ensure that it meets the requirements as 
set forth in this request for proposals. Second, proposals that meet 
these requirements will be technically evaluated by a scientific peer 
review panel.
    The individual panel members will be selected from among those 
persons recognized as specialists who are uniquely qualified by 
training and experience in their respective fields to render expert 
advice on the merit of the proposals being reviewed. The individual 
views of the panel members will be used to determine which proposals 
should be recommended to the Administrator (or his designee) for final 
funding decisions.
    There is no commitment by CSREES to fund any particular proposal or 
to make a specific number of awards. Care

[[Page 15264]]

will be taken to avoid actual and potential conflicts of interest among 
reviewers. Evaluations will be confidential to CSREES staff members, 
peer reviewers, and the proposed principal investigator(s), to the 
extent permitted by law.

B. Evaluation Criteria

    1. Overall scientific and technical quality of the proposal--10 
points.
    2. Scientific and technical quality of the approach--10 points.
    3. Relevance and importance of proposed research to solution of 
specific areas of inquiry, and application of expected results for 
States beyond the State in which the grantee resides and will perform 
the work--30 points.
    4. Feasibility of attaining objectives; adequacy of professional 
training and experience, facilities and equipment; the cooperation and 
involvement of multiple institutions or states--50 points.

Part VII--Supplementary Information

A. Access to CSREES Scientific Peer Review Information

    After final decisions have been announced, CSREES will, upon 
request, inform the principal investigator of the reasons for its 
decision on a proposal.

B. Grant Awards

    1. General: Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, 
the awarding official of CSREES shall make grants to those responsible, 
eligible applicants whose proposals are judged most meritorious in the 
announced program area and procedures set forth in this request for 
proposals. The date specified by the Administrator as the effective 
date of the grant shall be no later than September 30 of the Federal 
fiscal year in which the project is approved for support and funds are 
appropriated for such purpose, unless otherwise permitted by law. It 
should be noted that the project need not be initiated on the grant 
effective date, but as soon thereafter as practicable so that project 
goals may be attained within the funded project period. All funds 
granted by CSREES under this request for proposals shall be expended 
solely for the purpose for which the funds are granted in accordance 
with the approved application and budget, the terms and conditions of 
the award, the applicable Federal cost principles, and the Department's 
assistance regulations (Parts 3015, and 3019, of 7 CFR).
    2. Organizational Management Information: Specific management 
information relating to an applicant shall be submitted on a one-time 
basis as part of the responsibility determination prior to the award of 
a grant if such information has not been provided previously under this 
or another program for which the sponsoring agency, CSREES, is 
responsible. Copies of forms recommended for use in fulfilling the 
requirements contained in this section will be provided by CSREES as 
part of the pre-award process.
    3. Grant Award Document: The grant award document shall include at 
a minimum the following:
    a. Legal name and address of performing organization or institution 
to whom the Administrator has awarded a grant under this program;
    b. Title of Project;
    c. Name(s) and address(es) of principal investigator(s) chosen to 
direct and control approved activities;
    d. Grant identification number assigned by the Department;
    e. Project period, specifying the amount of time the Department 
intends to support the project without requiring recompetition for 
funds;
    f. Total amount of Departmental financial assistance approved by 
the Administrator during the project period;
    g. Legal authority(ies) under which the grant is awarded;
    h. Approved budget plan for categorizing project funds to 
accomplish the stated purpose of the grant award; and
    i. Other information or provisions deemed necessary by CSREES to 
carry out its respective granting activities or to accomplish the 
purpose of a particular grant.
    4. Notice of Grant Award: The notice of grant award, in the form of 
a letter, will be prepared and will provide pertinent instructions or 
information to the grantee that is not included in the grant award 
document.
    5. CSREES will award standard grants to carry out this program. A 
standard grant is a funding mechanism whereby CSREES agrees to support 
a specified level of effort for a predetermined time period without any 
guarantee of additional support at a future date.

C. Use of Funds; Changes

    Unless otherwise stipulated in the terms and conditions of the 
grant award, the following provisions apply:
    1. Delegation of Fiscal Responsibility: The grantee may not in 
whole or in part delegate or transfer to another person, institution, 
or organization the responsibility for use or expenditure of grant 
funds.
    2. Changes in Project Plans:
    a. The permissible changes by the grantee, principal 
investigator(s), or other key project personnel in the approved 
research project grant shall be limited to changes in methodology, 
techniques, or other aspects of the project to expedite achievement of 
the project's approved goals. If the grantee and/or the principal 
investigator(s) are uncertain as to whether a change complies with this 
provision, the question must be referred to the Authorized Departmental 
Officer for a final determination.
    b. Changes in approved goals, or objectives, shall be requested by 
the grantee and approved in writing by the Authorized Departmental 
Officer prior to effecting such changes. In no event shall requests for 
such changes be approved which are outside the scope of the original 
approved project.
    c. Changes in approved project leadership or the replacement or 
reassignment of other key project personnel shall be requested by the 
grantee and approved in writing by the awarding official of CSREES 
prior to effecting such changes.
    d. Transfers of actual performance of the substantive programmatic 
work in whole or in part and provisions for payment of funds, whether 
or not Federal funds are involved, shall be requested by the grantee 
and approved in writing by the Authorized Departmental Officer prior to 
effecting such transfers.
    e. Changes in Project Period: The project period may be extended by 
CSREES without additional financial support, for such additional 
period(s) as the Authorized Departmental Officer determines may be 
necessary to complete or fulfill the purposes of an approved project. 
Any extension of time shall be conditioned upon prior request by the 
grantee and approval in writing by the Authorized Departmental Officer, 
unless prescribed otherwise in the terms and conditions of a grant.
    f. Changes in Approved Budget: Changes in an approved budget must 
be requested by the grantee and approved in writing by the authorized 
departmental officer prior to instituting such changes if the revision 
will involve transfers or expenditures of amounts requiring prior 
approval as set forth in the applicable Federal costs principles, 
Departmental regulations, or in the grant award document.

D. Other Federal Statutes and Regulations That Apply

    Several other Federal statutes and regulations apply to grant 
proposals considered for review and to project grants awarded under 
this program. These include but are not limited to:

[[Page 15265]]

    7 CFR 1.1--USDA implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.
    7 CFR Part 3, implementation of OMB Circular No. A-129 regarding 
debt collection.
    7 CFR Part 15, Subpart A--USDA implementation of Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
    7 CFR Part 3015--Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations, 
implementing OMB directives (i.e., Circular Nos. A-21, and A-122) and 
incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6301-6308 (formerly the Federal 
Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-224), as 
well as general policy requirements applicable to recipients of 
Departmental financial assistance.
    7 CFR Part 3017--USDA implementation of Governmentwide Debarment 
and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for 
Drug-Free Workplace (Grants).
    7 CFR Part 3018--USDA implementation of New Restrictions on 
Lobbying. Imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and 
certification related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, 
grants, cooperative agreements, and loans.
    7 CFR Part 3019--USDA implementation of OMB Circular A-110, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements With 
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit 
Organizations.
    7 CFR Part 3052, 62 FR 45947--USDA implementation of OMB Circular 
No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 
Organizations.
    7 CFR Part 3407--CSREES procedures to implement the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
    29 U.S.C. 794, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and 7 
CFR Part 15B (USDA implementation of statute)--prohibiting 
discrimination based upon physical or mental handicap in Federally 
assisted programs.
    35 U.S.C. 200 et seq.--Bayh-Dole Act, controlling allocation of 
rights to inventions made by employees of small business firms and 
domestic nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally 
assisted programs (implementing regulations are contained in 37 CFR 
Part 401).

E. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards

    When a proposal results in a grant, it becomes a part of the record 
of CSREES's transactions, available to the public upon specific 
request. Information that the Secretary determines to be of a 
privileged nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by 
law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to have 
considered as privileged should be clearly marked as such and sent in a 
separate statement, two copies of which should accompany the proposal.
    The original copy of a proposal that does not result in a grant 
will be retained by CSREES for a period of one year. Other copies will 
be destroyed. Such a proposal will be released only with the consent of 
the applicant or to the extent required by law. A proposal may be 
withdrawn at any time prior to the final action thereon.

F. Regulatory Information

    For the reasons set forth in the final Rule-related Notice to 7 CFR 
part 3015, subpart V (48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983), this program is 
excluded from the scope of the Executive Order 12372 which requires 
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. Under 
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), the collection of information requirements contained in 
this Notice have been approved under OMB Document No. 0524-0022.

G. Stakeholder Input

    CSREES is soliciting comments regarding this request for proposals 
from any interested party. These comments will be considered in the 
development of the next request for proposals for the program as 
needed. Such comments will be forwarded to the Secretary or his 
designee for use in meeting the requirements of section 103(c)(2) of 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 
(Pub. L. 105-185). This section requires the Secretary to solicit and 
consider input on a current request for proposals from persons who 
conduct or use agricultural research, education, or extension for use 
in formulating the next year's request for proposals for an 
agricultural research program funded on a competitive basis.
    In your comments, please include the name of the program and the 
fiscal year request for proposals to which you are responding. Comments 
are requested within six months from the issuance of the request for 
proposals. Comments received after that date will be considered to the 
extent practicable.

    Done at Washington, D.C., this 19th day of March, 1999.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 99-7686 Filed 3-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P