[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33456-33457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15722]



[[Page 33455]]

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

Part III





Department of Agriculture





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



Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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



Small Business Innovation Research Grants Programs for Fiscal Year 
2002; Request for Proposals and Request for Input; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 33456]]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 
2002; Request for Proposals and Request for Input

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Program Solicitation and Request for 
Proposals for Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 Small Business Innovation Research 
Grants Program and Request for Input.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that under the authority of the Small 
Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-219), as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 638) and section 630 of the Act making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1987, and for other 
purposes, as made applicable by section 101(a) of Public Law Number 99-
591, 100 Stat. 3341, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects 
to award project grants for certain areas of research to science-based 
small business firms through phase I of its Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) Grants Program.
    By this notice, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service (CSREES) additionally solicits stakeholder input from 
any interested party regarding the FY 2002 SBIR Grants Program, Request 
for Proposals, for use in the development of the next request for 
proposals for this program.

DATES: All phase I proposals must be received at USDA on or before 
August 30, 2001. Proposals not received on or before this date will not 
be considered for funding.

ADDRESSES: The address for hand-delivered proposals or proposals 
submitted using an express mail or overnight courier service is: Small 
Business Innovation Research Program; c/o Proposal Services Unit; 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. 
Department of Agriculture; Room 1307, Waterfront Centre; 800 9th 
Street, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20024. Telephone: (202) 401-5048.
    Proposals sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be sent to the 
following address: Small Business Innovation Research Program; c/o 
Proposal Services Unit; Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400 
Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-2245.
    Written stakeholder input comments should be submitted by mail to: 
Policy and Program Liaison Staff; Office of Extramural Programs; 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. 
Department of Agriculture; Stop 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; 
Washington, D.C. 20250-2299; or via e-mail to: [email protected]. 
(This e-mail address is intended only for receiving stakeholder input 
comments regarding the request for proposals (RFP), and not for 
requesting information or forms.) In your comments, state that you are 
responding to the FY 2002 SBIR RFP.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Charles F. Cleland; Director, SBIR 
Program; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; 
STOP 2243; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-2243. 
Telephone: (202) 401-4002. Facsimile: (202) 401-6070.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program will be administered by the 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Firms 
with strong scientific research capabilities in the topic areas listed 
below are encouraged to participate. Objectives of the three-phase 
program include stimulating technological innovation in the private 
sector, strengthening the role of small businesses in meeting Federal 
research and development needs, increasing private sector 
commercialization of innovations derived from USDA-supported research 
and development efforts, and fostering and encouraging participation of 
women-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged small business 
concerns in technological innovation.
    The total amount expected to be available for phase I of the SBIR 
Program in FY 2002 is approximately $6,000,000. The solicitation is 
being announced to allow adequate time for potential recipients to 
prepare and submit applications by the closing date of August 30, 2001. 
The research to be supported is in the following topic areas:
    1. Forests and Related Resources
    2. Plant Production and Protection
    3. Animal Production and Protection
    4. Air, Water and Soils
    5. Food Science and Nutrition
    6. Rural and Community Development
    7. Aquaculture
    8. Industrial Applications
    9. Marketing and Trade
    The award of any grants under the provisions of this program is 
subject to the availability of appropriations.
    This program is subject to the provisions found at 7 CFR part 3403. 
These provisions set forth procedures to be followed when submitting 
grant proposals, rules governing the evaluation of proposals and the 
awarding of grants, and regulations relating to the post-award 
administration of grant projects. In addition, USDA Uniform Federal 
Assistance Regulations (7 CFR part 3015, as amended), Governmentwide 
Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement) and Governmentwide 
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants) (7 CFR part 3017), 
Restrictions on Lobbying (7 CFR part 3018), and Managing Federal Credit 
Programs (7 CFR part 3) apply to this program. Copies of 7 CFR parts 
3403, 3015, 3017, 3018, and 3 may be obtained via the web at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html or by writing or calling the 
office indicated below.
    The program solicitation, which contains research topic 
descriptions and detailed instructions on how to apply, is available on 
the CSREES website at www.reeusda.gov/sbir. If you do not have access 
to the CSREES web page or have trouble downloading material, you may 
obtain the program solicitation by writing or calling the following 
office: Proposal Services Unit; Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400 
Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-2245. Telephone: 
(202) 401-5048. Application materials also may be requested via 
Internet by sending a message with your name, mailing address (not e-
mail) and telephone number to [email protected] which states that you 
wish to receive a copy of the application materials for the FY 2002 
Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program. The materials will 
then be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as quickly as possible. Please 
note that applicants who submitted SBIR proposals for FY 2001 or who 
have recently requested placement on the list for FY 2002 will 
automatically receive a postcard notification announcing the 
availability of program solicitation and request for proposals for 
fiscal year 2002.

Stakeholder Input

    CSREES is soliciting comments regarding this solicitation of 
applications from any interested party. These comments will be 
considered in the development of the next request for proposals for the 
program. Such

[[Page 33457]]

comments will be forwarded to the Secretary or her 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). Written comments should be submitted as provided in the Addresses 
portion of this notice.
    In your comments, please state that you are responding to the FY 
2002 Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program. Comments are 
requested within six months from the issuance of the solicitation of 
applications. Comments received after that date will be considered to 
the extent practicable.

    Done at Washington, D.C., this 18th day of June, 2001.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-15722 Filed 6-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P