[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21617-21624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10524]



  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 21617]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and 
Ranchers Program

AGENCY: Office of Outreach, USDA.

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: The USDA Office of Outreach announces the availability 
of Grants for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged 
Farmers and Ranchers Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001. Proposals are 
hereby requested from eligible institutions and organizations for 
competitive consideration of Outreach and Assistance cooperative 
agreement awards. This program aims to promote diversified ownership of 
agricultural land and farm operations by encouraging and assisting 
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to participate in Federal 
technical and financial assistance programs. The intended outcome is to 
encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own 
and operate farms and ranches, participate in agricultural programs, 
and thus allow them to become an integral part of the agricultural 
community.
    This notice sets out the objectives for the cooperative agreement 
funds, the eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, the 
application procedures and instructions, and the project selection 
process and evaluation criteria.

DATES: Proposals must be received on or before June 29, 2001. 
Proposals received after June 29, 2001 will not be considered for 
funding.

ADDRESSES: Submit proposals to the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Office of Outreach, Ag STOP 1710, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. Applicants may request application 
packages from the above address marked to the attention of: Geraldine 
Herring, by telephone on 1-800-880-4183, or by E-mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, USDA Office of 
Outreach, Telephone 202-720-6350, Facsimile (202) 720-7489 or Geraldine 
Herring, Special Outreach Program Coordinator, Telephone 202-720-1637, 
Facsimile 202-720-7489.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Stakeholder Input:

    The USDA Office of Outreach 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 
this program. Such comments will be forwarded to the Secretary or her 
designee for use in meeting the requirements of section 2501 of the 
Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990. Written comments 
should be submitted by first-class mail to: USDA Office of Outreach, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Ag Stop 1710, Washington, DC 20250, or 
via e-mail to [email protected]. In your comments, please 
include the name of the program and the fiscal year of the 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.

Table of Contents

Part I--General Information
    A. Authority
    B. Definitions
    C. Eligibility
    D. Program Application Materials

Part II--Program Description

    A. Purpose of Program
    B. Available Funding
    C. Indirect Costs
    D. Substantial Federal Involvement
Part III--Proposal Content
    A. Cover Page
    B. Project Summary
    C. Project Narrative
    D. Scope of Program
    E. Delivery
    F. Collaborative Arrangements
    G. Budget
    H. Personnel
    I. Current and Pending Support
Part IV--Submission of a Proposal
    A. What to Submit
    B. When and Where to Submit
    C. Acknowledgment of Proposals
Part V--Proposal Review, Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
    A. Proposal Review
    B. Evaluation Criteria and Weight
    C. Selection Process
Part VI--Program Administration Information
    A. Access to Peer Review Information
    B. Cooperative Agreement Awards
    C. Use of Funds; Changes
    D. Obligation of the Federal Government
    E. Environmental and Other Applicable Federal Statutes and 
Regulations
    F. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards
    G. Standards of Conduct for Employees of an Awardee

Part I--General Information

A. Authority

    Section 2501 (a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. 2279 (a), authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture, who has delegated the authority to the Director of the 
USDA Office of Outreach, to make awards to eligible institutions and 
organizations for outreach and technical assistance to encourage and 
assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate 
farms and ranches and to participate in agricultural programs. The 
program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office 
of Outreach under the Outreach and Assistance for Socially 
Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program.
    USDA Office of Outreach published in this same edition of the 
Federal Register proposed regulations governing the 
administration of this program. The proposed regulations set forth how 
the USDA Office of Outreach will administer this program, including 
procedures to be followed when submitting proposals, rules governing 
the evaluation of proposals and the awarding of cooperative agreements, 
and regulations relating to the post-award administration of projects. 
The USDA Office of Outreach anticipates finalizing the proposed 
regulations prior to the award of cooperative agreements under this 
Notice of Request for Proposals (RFP). Awards resulting from this RFP 
will be subject to the final regulations.
    Currently, the RFP and the proposed regulations are consistent. 
Because of the nature of the rule making process, these requirements 
are subject to change based upon comments received. Applicants whose 
proposals are recommended for funding must agree to be bound by the 
final rule as a condition of receiving an award under this program.

B. Definitions

    For this program, the following definitions apply:
    1890 Land-Grant Colleges means one of those institutions 
eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890, as amended 
(7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University.
    Agricultural programs means those activities established or 
authorized by: The Agricultural Act of 1949; the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act; the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938; the 
Soil Conservation Act; the Domestic Allotment Assistance Act; the Food 
Security Act of 1985; and other such Acts as determined by the 
Director, USDA Office of Outreach, on a case-by-case basis either at 
the Director's initiative or in response to a written request with 
supporting explanation for inclusion of an Act. Covered programs 
include, but are not limited to, agricultural conservation program,

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programs comprising the environmental conservation acreage reserve 
program (ECARP), conservation technical assistance program, emergency 
conservation program, forestry incentives program, Great Plains 
Conservation Program, integrated farm management option program, price 
support and production adjustment programs, rural environmental 
conservation program, soil survey program, and water bank program; and 
the farm loan programs (farm ownership, operating, soil and water, and 
emergency loans).
    Alaska Native means a citizen of the United States who is a 
person of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including Tsimshian 
Indians not enrolled in the Metlaktla Indian Community) Eskimo, or 
Aleut blood, or combination thereof. It also includes, in the absence 
of proof of a minimum blood quantum, any citizen of the United States 
who is regarded as an Alaska Native by the Native village or Native 
group of which he claims to be a member and whose father or mother is 
(or, if deceased, was) regarded as Native by any village or group.
    Alaska Native cooperative colleges means any post-secondary 
education institution that at the time of application, has an 
enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 20 percent Alaska 
Native students.
    Authorized organizational representative means the 
president or chief executive officer of the applicant organization or 
the official, designated by the president or chief executive officer of 
the applicant organization, who has the authority to commit the 
resources of the organization.
    Awardee means the recipient designated in the cooperative 
agreement as the responsible legal entity to which the Federal 
assistance is awarded.
    Awarding official means the Director of the USDA Office of 
Outreach or the Director's designee, who has been delegated the 
authority to issue or modify program agreements on behalf of the 
Secretary of Agriculture for this program.
    Budget Period means the interval of time (usually 12 
months) into which the project period is divided for budgetary and 
reporting purposes.
    Community-based organization means a nonprofit, 
nongovernmental organization with a well-defined constituency that 
includes all or part of a particular community, e.g., 
communities consisting of socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers.
    Cooperative agreement means an award of funds to an 
eligible entity with the following characteristics:
    (1) The principal purpose of the award is to transfer a thing of 
value to the awardee to accomplish a public purpose of support or 
stimulation authorized by statute, rather than acquisition, by 
purchase, lease, or barter, of property or services for the direct 
benefit or use of the Federal Government; and
    (2) At the time of award, substantial involvement is anticipated 
between the USDA Office of Outreach and the awardee in performing the 
activity under the agreement.
    Department or USDA means the United States Department of 
Agriculture.
    Enrollment of needy students means an enrollment at an 
institution with respect to which:
    (1) At least 50 percent of the degree students so enrolled are 
receiving need-based Federal financial assistance, including the 
Federal work-study program, in the second fiscal year preceding the 
fiscal year for which the determination is made (other than loans for 
which an interest subsidy is paid pursuant to section 1078 of this 
title); or
    (2) A substantial percentage of the students so enrolled are 
receiving Federal Pell Grants in the second fiscal year preceding the 
fiscal year for which determination is made, compared to the percentage 
of students receiving Federal Pell Grants at all such institutions in 
the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the 
determination is made.
    Full-time equivalent students means the sum of the number 
of students enrolled full time at an institution, plus the full-time 
equivalent of the number of students enrolled part time (determined on 
the basis of the quotient of the sum of the credit hours of all part-
time students divided by 12) at such institution.
    Grant means an award of funds to an awardee with the 
following characteristics:
    (1) The principal purpose of the award is to accomplish a public 
purpose authorized by statute, rather than acquisition, by purchase, 
lease, or barter, of property or services for the direct benefit or use 
of the Federal Government; and
    (2) At the time an award is made, no substantial involvement is 
anticipated between OR and the awardee.
    Hispanic Serving Post-Secondary Educational Institutions 
means a post-secondary educational institution that:
    (1) At the time of application, has an enrollment of undergraduate 
full-time equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic 
students; and
    (2) Provides assurances that not less than 50 percent of the 
institution's Hispanic students are low-income individuals.
    Indian Tribal Community Colleges means a post-secondary 
educational institution which:
    (1) Is formally controlled, or has been formally sanctioned, or 
chartered, by the governing body of an Indian tribe or tribes, except 
that no more than one such institution shall be recognized with respect 
to any such tribe; and
    (2) Includes an institution listed in the Equity in Educational 
Land Grant Status Act of 1994, as amended (7 U.S.C. 301 note). The 1994 
Land-Grant Institutions are: Bay Mills Community College, Blackfeet 
Community College, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Cheyenne River 
Community College, Dine Community College, D-Q University, Dullknife 
Memorial College, Fond Du Lac Community College, Fort Belknap Community 
College, Fort Berthold Community College, Fort Peck Community College, 
LacCourte Orielles Ojibwa Community College, Little Big Horn Community 
College, Little Priest Community College, Nebraska Indian Community 
College, Northwest Indian College, Oglala Lakota College, Salish 
Kootenai College, Sinte Gleska University, Sisseton Wahpeton Community 
College, Sitting Bull College, Stonechild Community College, Turtle 
Mountain Community College, United Tribes Technical College, Southwest 
Indian Polytechnic Institute, Institute of American Indian Arts, 
Crownpoint Institute of Technology, Haskell Indian Nations University, 
Leech Lake Tribal College, and College of the Menominee Nation.
    Junior or community college means an institution of higher 
education:
    (1) That admits as regular students persons who are beyond the age 
of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution 
is located and who have the ability to benefit from the training 
offered by the institution;
    (2) That does not provide an educational program for which the 
institution awards a bachelor's degree (or an equivalent degree); and
    (3) That--
    (i) provides an educational program of not less than 2 years in 
duration that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree; or
    (ii) offers a 2-year program in engineering, mathematics, or the 
physical or biological sciences, designed to prepare a student to work 
as a technician or at the semiprofessional level in engineering, 
scientific, or other technological fields requiring the understanding 
and application of basic

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engineering, scientific, or mathematical principles of knowledge.
    Low-income individual means an individual from a family 
whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent 
of an amount equal to the poverty level determined by using criteria of 
poverty established by the Bureau of the Census.
    Peer Reviewers means experts from public and private 
sectors qualified by training and experience in particular fields and 
designated by the Director, USDA Office of Outreach or other designated 
official to evaluate eligible proposals.
    Post-Secondary Educational Institutions means an 
institution of higher education in any State which:
    (1) Admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of 
graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the 
recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
    (2) Is a public or other nonprofit institution;
    (3) Has an enrollment of needy students as defined above;
    (4) The average educational and general expenditures of which are 
low, per full-time equivalent undergraduate student, in comparison with 
the average educational and general expenditures per full-time 
equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar 
instruction;
    (5) Is--
    (i) legally authorized to provide, and provides within the State, 
an educational program for which such institution awards a bachelor's 
degree;
    (ii) a junior or community college; or
    (iii) the College of the Marshall Islands, the College of 
Micronesia/Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau Community College;
    (6) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
association determined by the Secretary to be reliable authority as to 
the quality of training offered or which is, according to such an 
agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation;
    (7) Meets such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe; 
and
    (8) Is located in a State. Any branch of any institution of higher 
education described above which satisfies criteria (3) and (4) above. 
For purposes of the determination of whether an institution is an 
eligible institution under this paragraph, the factor (3) shall be 
given twice the weight of the factor (4).
    Prior approval means written, prior consent by the awarding 
official.
    Project means the total activities within the scope of the 
program as identified in the grant or cooperative agreement.
    Project Director means the individual responsible for the 
technical direction and management of the project, as designated by the 
awardee in the proposal and approved by the awarding official. The 
project director will devote full time to the administration of the 
project.
    Project Period means the total time approved by the 
awarding official for conducting the proposed project as outlined in an 
approved project proposal or the approved portions thereof and as 
specified in the cooperative agreement.
    Recipient means an entity as defined in Sec. 26.5 of this 
part that has entered into a grant or cooperative agreement with the 
USDA Office of Outreach.
    Requests for Proposals (RFP) means an invitation to submit 
proposals for consideration for funding under this program.
    Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher means a farmer or 
rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.
    Socially Disadvantaged Group means a group whose members 
have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their 
identity as members of a group without regard to their individual 
qualities. Socially disadvantaged groups include, but are not limited 
to, African Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, 
Asians, and Pacific Islanders. The Secretary will determine on a case-
by-case basis whether additional groups qualify under this definition, 
either at the Secretary's initiative or in response to a written 
request with supporting explanation.

C. Eligibility

    1. Proposals may be submitted by:
    a. 1890 Land-Grant Colleges, including Tuskegee University, Indian 
tribal community colleges and Alaska native cooperative colleges, 
Hispanic serving post-secondary educational institutions, and other 
post-secondary educational institutions with demonstrated experience in 
providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related 
services to socially disadvantaged family farmers and ranchers in their 
region; and
    b. Any community-based organization that:
    (i) has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education 
or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers;
    (ii) provides documentary evidence of its past experience in 
working with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers during the two 
years preceding its application for assistance. Documentary evidence 
shall include a narrative providing specific information regarding the 
scope of past projects (including the number of socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers served or in the area served by the organization), 
activities conducted, and community involvement and copies of prior 
agreements, press releases, news articles, and other contemporaneous 
documents supporting the narrative; and
    (iii) does not engage in activities prohibited under section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    2. In addition to the above, an applicant must qualify as a 
responsible applicant. Applicants not qualifying as responsible may be 
subject to special award conditions pursuant to 7 CFR 3019.14. To 
qualify as responsible, an applicant must meet the following standards:
    (a) Adequate financial resources for performance, the necessary 
experience, organizational and technical qualifications, and 
facilities, or a firm commitment, arrangement, or ability to obtain 
same (including any to be obtained through sub-agreement(s));
    (b) Ability to comply with the proposed or required completion 
schedule for the project;
    (c) Adequate financial management system and audit procedures that 
provide efficient and effective accountability and control of all 
funds, property, and other assets;
    (d) Satisfactory record of integrity, judgment, and performance, 
including, in particular, any prior performance under grants and 
contracts from the Federal government; and
    (e) Otherwise be qualified and eligible to receive an award under 
the applicable laws and regulations.
    Although an applicant may be eligible to compete for an award based 
on its status as an eligible entity, other factors may exclude an 
applicant from receiving Federal assistance under this program (e.g., 
debarment and suspension, a determination of non-responsibility based 
on the information submitted).

D. Program Application Materials

    Program application materials will be made available upon request. 
These materials include information on the purpose of the program, how 
the program will be conducted, the required contents of a proposal, and 
the forms needed to prepare and submit applications.

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Part II--Program Description

A. Purpose of Program

    Proposals are requested for cooperative agreements for outreach and 
assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Cooperative 
agreements will be awarded competitively to eligible organizations and 
institutions for a one-year project to conduct outreach and technical 
assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches, and to provide 
information on application and bidding procedures, farm management, and 
other essential information to participate in agricultural programs.
    Agricultural programs include but are not limited to the following, 
identified by the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and 
program title: (10.054) Emergency Conservation Program; (10.055) 
Production Flexibility Payments for Contract Commodities; (10.064) 
Forestry Incentives Program; (10.069) Conservation Reserve Program; 
(10.404) Emergency Loans; (10.406) Farm Operating Loans; (10.407) Farm 
Ownership Loans; (10.900) Great Plains Conservation; and (10.903) Soil 
Survey.

B. Available Funding

    For fiscal year (FY) 2001, $3 million has been appropriated for 
this program. An additional $3 million has been authorized from the 
Fund for Rural America. Therefore, the total funds available for this 
program in FY 2001 are about $6 million and the total of all awards 
will not exceed this amount. The amount of funds available for this 
program in subsequent years is not fixed and may vary considerably from 
the current funding level.

C. Indirect Costs

    Section 708 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, Public 
Law 106-387, limits indirect costs under cooperative agreements between 
USDA and non-profit institutions, including institutions of higher 
education, to ten percent of the total direct costs of the agreement. 
Section 708 authorizes an exception to the ten percent limit for 
institutions that compute indirect cost rates on a similar basis for 
all agencies for which the Act makes appropriations.
    If requested, indirect costs must be justified and may not exceed 
the ten percent limitation or the current rate negotiated with the 
cognizant Federal-negotiating agency. Applications from colleges and 
universities must provide a statement in the budget narrative verifying 
that the indirect costs requested are in accordance with institutional 
policies.

D. Substantial Federal Involvement

    The USDA Office of Outreach will award cooperative agreements under 
this RFP. By statute, the Federal awarding agency must be substantially 
involved in the project to enter into a cooperative agreement to 
provide assistance. The USDA Office of Outreach anticipates the 
following involvement, which it has deemed substantial, in carrying out 
projects funded with Federal assistance provided through a cooperative 
agreement under this program:
    (a) The USDA Office of Outreach will serve as liaison and 
coordinate the close collaboration between awardees and USDA agencies 
that administer agricultural programs targeted for outreach under the 
project;
    (b) The USDA Office of Outreach will facilitate and coordinate 
training and continuing updates for awardees regarding the regulatory 
requirements, application procedures, and compliance for targeted 
agricultural programs;
    (c) USDA Office of Outreach will assist awardees in planning 
workshops for targeted socially disadvantaged groups, including 
coordinating the provision of available information (e.g., application 
forms and instructions) from USDA necessary to accomplish workshop 
objectives;
    (d) The USDA Office of Outreach must approve position descriptions 
and the selection of key personnel as identified in the project 
proposal if such personnel are hired or replaced during the project 
period;
    (e) The USDA Office of Outreach will work closely with awardees to 
obtain the significant amounts of information necessary for the USDA 
Office of Outreach to comply with its statutory requirements to provide 
reports regarding this program to the Congress; and
    (f) The USDA Office of Outreach will monitor projects closely and 
may request changes in project direction as necessary.

Part III--Proposal Content

A. Cover Page

    1. Complete the ``Application for Funding'' form in its entirety.
    2. Note that providing a Social Security Number is voluntary.
    3. One copy of the ``Application for Funding'' form must contain 
the pen and ink signatures of the project director and authorized 
organizational representative for the applicant organization.
    4. 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.
    5. Provide the name, address, telephone and fax numbers of 
applicant and project director.
    6. The title of the proposal must be brief (80-character maximum) 
yet represent the major thrust of the project.

B. Project Summary

    Each proposal must contain a concise project summary, which may not 
exceed two (2) pages in length. The project summary should contain the 
following:
    1. Brief summary of the needs (including the estimated numbers 
expected to be served) of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers 
in the area to be served to enhance their ability to participate in 
agricultural programs;
    2. Goals of the one-year plan and overall project goal(s) and 
supporting objectives with proposed outcomes; and
    3. Relevance or significance of the one-year plan to enhancing the 
participation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in 
agriculture and USDA agricultural programs.

C. Project Narrative

    The specific aims of the project must be included in all proposals. 
The text of the project narrative may not exceed fifteen (15) pages and 
must contain the following components:
    1. Introduction: A clear statement of the goal(s) and 
supporting objectives with proposed outcomes of the proposed project 
should preface the project description.
    2. Background and Existing Situation: Provide a detailed 
description of the circumstances giving rise to the need for the 
proposed activity to assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers 
within the State or region.
    3. Objectives: The objectives of the one-year plan should 
be clear, complete, and logically arranged. The statements should 
detail the major steps necessary to develop the plan with specific 
milestones and planned accomplishments. The objectives should contain 
details of how the accomplishments will advance the goal for assisting 
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in obtaining information on 
application and bidding procedures, farm management, and other 
essential information to participate in agricultural programs. List the 
specific agricultural programs for

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which the proposed project will provide outreach and assistance.
    4. Procedures. Describe the steps necessary to implement 
the proposed one-year plan including the methods or plan of action to 
attain the stated objectives.
    5. Evaluation: Describe the evaluation plan for the 
proposed activity, including impact factors and indicators of 
effectiveness and efficiency in accomplishing objectives.

D. Scope of Program

    All projects must contain explicit information indicating how 
results from the project will be measured, evaluated, and reported. The 
indicators used to measure results of the project should be clear and 
objective and focus on the anticipated impacts on socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

E. Program Delivery

    Program delivery is providing instruction and materials directly to 
the socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. A successful proposal 
will include the use of strong organizational skills to reach the 
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in a specific region. 
Proposals should show how public or private sector (or both) delivery 
points would be used to reach socially disadvantaged farmers and 
ranchers.

F. Collaborative Arrangements

    If the nature of the proposed project requires collaboration or 
subcontractural arrangements with other entities, the applicant must 
identify the collaborator or subcontractor and provide a full 
explanation of the nature of the relationship.

G. Budget

    A budget and a detailed narrative in support of the budget are 
required for the overall project period. Show all funding sources and 
itemized costs by the following line items on the budget form: 
personnel, equipment, material and supplies, travel and all other 
costs. Funds may be requested under any of the line items listed above 
provided that the item or service for which support is requested is 
identified as necessary for successful conduct of the proposed project, 
is allowable under the authorizing legislation and the applicable 
Federal cost principles, and is not prohibited under any applicable 
Federal statute. Salaries of project personnel who will be working on 
the project may be requested in proportion to the effort that they will 
devote to the project.

H. Personnel

    Summarize the relevant experience of key project personnel that 
will enable them to successfully complete the project. Include brief 
vitae, which provide enough information so that proposal reviewers can 
make an informed judgment as to their capabilities and experience. An 
organizational chart for the project should be provided, if available.

I. Current and Pending Support

    All proposals must list any other current public or private support 
to which key personnel identified in the proposal have committed 
portions of their time, whether or not salary support for person(s) 
involved is included in the budget. Analogous information must be 
provided for any pending proposals that are being considered by, or 
that will be submitted in the near future to, other possible sponsors, 
including other USDA programs or agencies. Concurrent submission of 
identical or similar proposals to other possible sponsors will not 
prejudice proposal review or evaluation for this program.

Part IV--Submission of Proposal

A. What To Submit

    An original and two (2) copies of the proposal must be submitted. 
Each copy of each proposal must be stapled securely in the upper left-
hand corner (Do Not Bind). All copies of the proposal including all 
necessary forms must be submitted in one package.

B. When and Where To Submit

    Proposals must be received by close of business on (DATE). A 
proposal's postmark date is not a factor in whether an application is 
timely received. The applicant assumes the risk of any delays in 
proposal delivery. Proposals sent by First Class mail must be sent to 
the following address: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of 
Outreach, Ag STOP 1710, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250. Hand-delivered proposal and those delivered by overnight express 
mail or courier service should be brought to the following address: 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Outreach, 501 School Street, 
SW., 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20024.

C. Acknowledgment of Proposals

    The receipt of all proposals will be acknowledged in writing and 
this acknowledgment will contain an identifying proposal number. Once a 
proposal has been assigned an identification number, the number should 
be referred to in future correspondence.

Part V--Proposal Review, Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

A. Proposal Review

    Prior to technical examination, a preliminary review will be made 
by the USDA Office of Outreach staff for responsiveness to this 
solicitation. Proposals that do not fall within the solicitation 
guidelines will be eliminated from competition. All responsive 
proposals will be reviewed by peer reviewers using the evaluation 
criteria stated below. The peer reviewers will be selected to provide 
maximum expertise and objective judgment in the evaluation of 
proposals.
    The USDA Office of Outreach staff will use the views of the 
individual reviewers to determine which proposals to recommend to the 
Director, USDA Office of Outreach for funding. Evaluated proposals will 
be ranked by the USDA Office of Outreach staff based on merit. Final 
approval for those proposals will be made by the Director.

B. Evaluation Criteria and Weight

    The USDA Office of Outreach considers all applications received in 
response to this solicitation as outreach, training and technical 
assistance project applications. All responsive proposals will be 
reviewed based on the following criteria:
1. Institutional Commitment and Resources (20 points)
    Degree to which the institution or organization is committed to the 
project. Experience, qualifications, competence, and availability of 
personnel and resources to direct and carry out the project.
2. Feasibility and Policy Consistency (20 points)
    Degree to which the proposal clearly describes its objectives and 
evidences a high level of feasibility and consistency with the USDA 
policy and mission. This criterion relates to the adequacy, soundness 
of the proposed approach to the solution of the problem and evaluates 
the plan of operation, timetable, evaluation and dissemination plans.
3. Number of Socially Disadvantaged farmers and Ranchers Served and 
Collaboration (20 points)
    Degree to which the proposal reflects partnerships and 
collaborative initiatives with other agencies or organizations to 
enhance the quality and effectiveness of the program. Additionally, the 
areas and number of

[[Page 21622]]

socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who would benefit from the 
services offered.
4. Socially Disadvantaged Applicants--Outreach (20 points)
    Degree to which the proposal contains efforts to reach persons 
identified as socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in targeted 
counties. Potential for encouraging and assisting socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches 
and to participate in agricultural programs. Elements considered 
include impact, continuation plans, innovation, and expected products 
and results.
5. Preparatory Features--Statement of Work (15 points)
    Degree to which the proposal reflects innovative strategies for 
reaching the population targeted in the proposal and achieving the 
project objectives. Elements evaluated include originality, 
practicality, and creativity in developing and testing innovative 
solutions to existing or anticipated issues or problems of socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Responsiveness to the need to 
provide socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers with information 
and assistance on application and bidding procedures, farm management, 
other essential information to enhance participation of agricultural 
programs and conducting a successful farming operation.
6. Overall Quality of the Proposal (5 points)
    Degree to which the proposal complies with the Application 
Guidelines and is of high quality. Elements considered include 
adherence to instructions, accuracy and completeness of forms, clarity 
and organization of ideas, thoroughness and sufficiency of detail in 
the budget narrative, specificity of allocations between targeted areas 
if the proposal addresses more than one area, and completeness of vitae 
for all key personnel associated with the project.

C. Selection Process

    When the peer reviewers have completed their individual 
evaluations, the USDA Office of Outreach staff, based on the individual 
reviews will make recommendations to the Director, USDA Office of 
Outreach that each responsive proposal be (a) approved for support from 
currently available funds or (b) declined due to insufficient funds or 
unfavorable review (low evaluation score). The Director, USDA Office of 
Outreach, reserves the right to make awards to ensure variety among 
both successful applicants and the nature of the projects funded in 
order to accomplish the program objectives. The Director, USDA Office 
of Outreach also reserves the right to negotiate with an applicant 
whose project is recommended for funding regarding project revisions 
(e.g., reductions in scope of work), funding level, or period of 
support prior to any award. A proposal may be withdrawn at any time 
before a final funding decision is made.

Part VI--Program Administration

A. Access to Peer Review Information

    After the final decisions have been announced, the Director, USDA 
Office of Outreach will, upon request, inform the applicant of the 
basis for the decision on a proposal. Copies of summary reviews, not 
including the identity of the reviewers, will be made available to 
respective project directors.

B. Cooperative Agreement Awards

1. General
    Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the Director, 
USDA Office of Outreach shall enter into cooperative agreements with 
successful applicants. The date specified by the Director, USDA Office 
of Outreach as the effective date of the award shall not be 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 
period need not be initiated on the award effective date, but as soon 
as practicable thereafter so that project goals may be attained within 
the funded project period. All funds awarded and administered by the 
USDA Office of Outreach under this request for proposals shall be 
expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are awarded in 
accordance with the approved application and budget, the terms and 
conditions of any resulting award, the applicable Federal cost 
principles, and the USDA Federal assistance regulations. Funds for 
fiscal year 2001 are limited to proposals with a one-year plan for 
outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers.
2. Cooperative Agreement Award Document
    The cooperative agreement shall include at a minimum the following:
    (a) Legal name and address of performing organization or 
institution to whom the Director, USDA Office of Outreach has entered 
into a cooperative agreement under the terms of this request for 
proposals;
    (b) Title of Project;
    (c) Name(s) and address(es) of project director(s) chosen to direct 
and control approved activities;
    (d) Identifying cooperative agreement number assigned by the USDA 
Office of Outreach;
    (e) Project period; specifying the amount of time the USDA Office 
of Outreach intends to support the project without requiring 
recompetition for funds;
    (f) Total amount of the financial assistance approved by the USDA 
Office of Outreach during the project period.
    (g) Legal authority(ies) under which the cooperative agreement is 
awarded.
    (h) Approved budget plan for categorizing allocable project funds 
to accomplish the stated purpose of the cooperative agreement; and
    (i) Other information or provisions deemed necessary by the USDA 
Office of Outreach to carry out its assistance activities or to 
accomplish the purpose of a particular cooperative agreement.
3. Notice of Award
    The notice of award, in the form of a letter, will be prepared and 
will provide pertinent instructions or information to the awardee that 
is not included in the cooperative agreement.

C. Use of Funds; Changes

1. Delegation of Fiscal Responsibility
    The awardee may not in whole or in part delegate or transfer to 
another person, institution, or organization the responsibility for use 
or expenditure of cooperative agreement award funds.
2. Changes in Project Plans
    (a) The permissible changes by the awardee, project director(s), or 
other key project personnel in the approved project cooperative 
agreement shall be limited to changes to aspects of the project to 
expedite achievement of the project's approved goals. If the awardee is 
uncertain as to whether a change complies with this provision, the 
question must be referred to the Director, USDA Office of Outreach for 
final determination.
    (b) Changes in approved goals or objectives shall be requested by 
the awardee and approved in writing by the Director, USDA Office of 
Outreach 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

[[Page 21623]]

personnel shall be requested by the awardee and approved in writing by 
the Director, USDA Office of Outreach prior to effecting such changes.
    (d) Changes in Project Period: An awardee is obligated to complete 
the proposed project within the specified project period. However, if 
additional time is needed to complete activities under the agreement, 
the Director, USDA Office of Outreach has authority to extend one time 
the duration of an agreement for an additional period of up to 12 
months. Entities desiring an extension of the agreement project period 
must request such extensions in writing at least ten (10) days prior to 
the expiration of the agreement project period. The request will 
include the reason for the requested extension, the requested period of 
extension, a description of the effect(s) on the program if the 
extension is not granted, and a statement that no additional federal 
funds would be necessary to support the agreement activities during the 
extension period. No additional Federal funds will be provided for the 
extension period. This one-time extension is not available merely for 
this purpose of using unobligated balances.
    (e) Changes in Approved Budget: Changes in an approved budget must 
be requested by the awardee and approved in writing by the Director, 
USDA Office of Outreach prior to instituting such changes if the 
revision will:
    (1) Involve transfers of amounts budgeted for indirect costs to 
absorb an increase in direct costs.
    (2) Involve transfers of amounts budgeted for direct costs to 
accommodate changes in indirect cost rates negotiated during a budget 
period and not approved when a cooperative agreement was awarded; or
    (3) Involve transfers or expenditures of amounts requiring prior 
approval as set forth in the applicable Federal cost principles, 
Departmental regulations, or the cooperative agreement.

D. Obligation of the Federal Government

    Neither the approval of any application nor the award of any 
cooperative agreement commits or obligates the United States to provide 
further support of a project or any portion thereof. Acceptance by the 
USDA Office of Outreach of any proposal pursuant to this program does 
not ensure further support of a project or any portion thereof.

E. Environmental and Other Applicable Federal Statutes and Regulations

    1. Environmental requirements: The policies and regulations 
contained in 7 CFR part 1b apply to cooperative agreements made under 
this RFP.
    2. Several other Federal statutes and regulations apply to this 
program. These include, but are not limited to the following:
    7 CFR Part 3--USDA implementation of OMB Circular A-129 regarding 
debt collection;
    7 CFR Part 1, subpart A--USDA implementation of the Freedom of 
Information Act;
    7 CFR Part 15, subpart A--USDA implementation of Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964;
    7 CFR Part 3015--USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations, 
implementing OMB directives (i.e., Circular Nos. A-110, A-21, and A-
122) and incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6301-6308, 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 Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals 
and Other Non-Profit Organizations;
    29 U.S.C. 794, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and 7 
CFR Part 15b (USDA implementation of the statute), prohibiting 
discrimination based upon physical or mental handicap in Federally 
assisted programs;
    48 CFR Part 31--Contract Cost Principles and Procedures of the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation; and
    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).

F. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards

    When a proposal results in a cooperative agreement, it becomes a 
part of the record of the Agency's transactions, available to the 
public upon specific request. Information that the Director, USDA 
Office of Outreach 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 each proposal that is not selected for funding 
(including those that are withdrawn) will be retained by the USDA 
Office of Outreach for one year. Other copies will be destroyed. After 
one year, the retained copy will be destroyed.

G. Standards of Conduct for Employees of Awardee

    1. Awardees must establish safeguards and guidelines for the award 
and administration of contracts in order to prevent employees, 
consultants, or members of governing bodies from using their positions 
for purposes that are, or give the appearance of being, motivated by a 
desire for private financial gain for themselves or others such as 
those with whom they have family, business, or other ties. Therefore, 
awardees receiving financial support must have written policy 
guidelines on conflict of interest and the avoidance thereof. These 
guidelines should reflect State and local laws and must cover financial 
interests, gifts, gratuities and favors, nepotism, and other areas such 
as political participation and bribery. These rules must also indicate 
the conditions under which outside activities, relationships, or 
financial interests are proper or improper, and provide for 
notification of these kinds of activities, relationships, or financial 
interests to a responsible and objective awardee official. For the 
requirements of a code of conduct applicable to procurements under 
grants and cooperative agreements, see the procurement standards 
prescribed by 7 CFR 3015.181 and 7 CFR 3019.42.
    2. The rules of conduct must contain a provision for prompt 
notification of violations to a responsible and objective awardee 
official and must specify the type of administrative action that may be 
taken against an individual for violations.

[[Page 21624]]

    3. A copy of the rules of conduct must be given to each officer, 
employee, board member, and consultant of the awardee who is working on 
the USDA Office of Outreach financed project, and the rules must be 
enforced to the extent permissible under State and local law or to the 
extent to which the awardee determines it has legal and practical 
enforcement capacity. The rules need not be formally submitted and 
approved by the awarding official; however, they must be made available 
for review upon request, for example, during a site visit.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of April 2001.
Ann M. Veneman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 01-10524 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-U