[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 76 (Friday, April 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19381-19386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9615]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation


Request for Applications (RFA): Targeted Commodity Partnerships 
for Risk Management Education

AGENCY: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of funds and request for 
applications under the Targeted Commodity Partnerships for Risk 
Management Education Program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 522 of the Federal Crop Insurance 
Act (Act), the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) announces the 
availability of approximately $2 million for partnership agreements 
that will fund risk management training and informational activities, 
with a priority for reaching agricultural producers of agricultural 
commodities currently covered by section 196 of the Agricultural Market 
Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7333); specialty crops; and underserved 
commodities (collectively referred to as ``Targeted Commodities''). The 
maximum funding available to any recipient of a partnership agreement 
award will be $100,000. Recipients of awards must demonstrate non-
financial benefits from a partnership agreement and must agree to 
substantial involvement of RMA in the project. This announcement lists 
the information needed to submit an application for these funds.

CLOSING DATES: The closing date and time for receipt of applications is 
5 p.m. EST on June 3, 2002. The agency will not consider applications 
received after the deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicants and other interested 
parties are encouraged to contact: Lydia Astorga, USDA-RMA-RME, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW., Stop 0808, (Portals Bldg., Suite 508), 
Washington, DC 20250-0808, phone: (202) 260-4728, fax: (202) 690-3605, 
e-mail: [email protected]. You may also obtain information 
regarding this announcement from the RMA website at: www.rma.usda.gov.
    Applicants may download an applications package from the Risk 
Management Agency (RMA) website at: www.rma.usda.gov. Applicants may 
also request an application package from: Lydia Astorga, USDA-RMA-RME, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., Stop 0808, (Portals Bldg., Suite 508), 
Washington, DC 20250-0808, phone: 202-260-4728, fax: 202-690-3605, e-
mail: [email protected].
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit completed and signed 
application packages using overnight mail or delivery service to ensure 
timely receipt by the USDA. The applicable address for such submissions 
is: RME Cooperative Agreement Program, c/o Lydia Astorga, USDA-RMA-RME, 
1250 Maryland Ave. SW., Suite 508, Washington, DC 20024.
    Completed and signed application packages sent via the U.S. Postal 
Service must be sent to the following address: RME Cooperative 
Agreement Program, c/o Lydia Astorga, USDA-RMA-RME, 1400 Independence 
Ave. SW, Stop 0808, (Portals Bldg. Suite 508), Washington, DC 20250-
0808.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as 
amended (44 U.S.C. chapter 25), the collection of information 
requirements contained in this announcement have been approved under 
OMB Document Nos. 0348-0043, 0348-0044, and 0348-0046.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this 
program is 10.450.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of six 
parts:


[[Page 19382]]


Part I--General Information
    A. Authority
    B. Background
    C. Project Goals
    D. Purpose
Part II--Program Objectives and Requirements
    A. Eligible Applicants
    B. Project Period
    C. Availability of Funds and Amounts
Part III--Program Description
    A. Recipient Activities
    B. RMA Activities
Part IV--Preparation of an Application
    A. Program Application Materials
    B. Content of Applications
    C. Submission of Applications
    D. Acknowledgement of Applications
Part V--Review Process
    A. General
    B. Evaluation Criteria and Weights
    C. Confidentiality
Part VI--Additional Information
    A. Access to Panel Review Information
    B. Notification of Partnership Agreement Awards
    C. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards
    D. Reporting Requirements
    E. Audit Requirements
    F. Prohibitions and Requirements with Regard to Lobbying

Part I--General Information

A. Authority

    This program is authorized under section 522(d)(3)(F) of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(d)(3)(F)).

B. Background

    FCIC is committed to meeting the risk management needs of the 
nation's farmers and ranchers. It does this by offering Federal crop 
insurance products through a network of private-sector partners, 
overseeing the creation of new products, seeking enhancements in 
existing products, ensuring the integrity of crop insurance programs, 
offering outreach programs aimed at equal access and participation of 
underserved communities, and providing risk management education and 
information.
    FCIC's educational mission was strengthened significantly with the 
enactment of section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Act. This section increases 
the funding for training and other informational efforts through the 
formation of partnerships with public and private organizations for the 
purpose of establishing risk management training and informational 
programs for agricultural producers. A priority is to be given to 
partnerships designed to reach producers of Targeted Commodities. An 
``agricultural commodity,'' as used in this announcement, means wheat, 
cotton, fax, corn, dry beans, oats, barley, rye, tobacco, rice, 
peanuts, soybeans, sugar beets, sugar cane, tomatoes, grain sorghum, 
sunflowers, raisins, oranges, sweet corn, dry peas, freezing and 
canning peas, forage, apples, grapes, potatoes, timber and forests, 
nursery crops, citrus, and other fruits and vegetables, nuts, tame hay, 
native grass, aquacultural species (including, but not limited to, any 
species of finfish, mollusk, crustacean, or other aquatic invertebrate, 
amphibian, reptile, or aquatic plant propagated or reared in a 
controlled or selected environment), or any other agricultural 
commodity, excluding stored grain, determined by the Board of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, or any one or more of such 
commodities, as the context may indicate.

C. Project Goals

    The goals of these educational projects if to provide farmers and 
ranchers with urgently needed training and information to be able to:
     Identify the risk management tools that are available for 
their commodities;
     Know where to obtain the risk management tools;
     Understand how each risk management tool operates; and
     Select the risk management tools that best meet the risk 
management needs.

D. Purpose

    Each partnership agreement awarded through this program will 
provide the applicant with funds, guidance, and the substantial 
involvement of the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to carry out a risk 
management education program for the producers or commodities 
identified above. The purpose of this program: ``to provide producers 
with training and informational opportunities so that the producers 
will be better able to use financial management, crop insurance, 
marketing contracts, and other existing and emerging risk management 
tools.''
    The ideal time to reach producers with training and informational 
programs is after harvesting has ended and before spring plantings 
begin--roughly a period of November through March. Therefore, this 
announcement anticipates that training and informational activities 
directed towards producers will be planned mostly for the November 2002 
through March 2003 period. However, it does not limit training and 
informational activities to this time period. To reach producers during 
the peak period, it is anticipated that project leaders will need 
sufficient lead-time to organize and schedule events, commit funds to 
reserve event facilities, gather materials, raise awareness, and 
otherwise make the preparations needed to ensure producer 
participation. Most of all, project leaders need time to foster the 
cooperation and active support of organizations with close ties to 
local producers. The cooperation of such organizations is essential in 
influencing local producers to participate in the type of activities 
envisioned in this educational program.

Part II--Program Objectives and Requirements

A. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include State departments of agriculture, State 
land-grant universities, non-profit agricultural organizations, and 
other public or private organizations with the local experience needed 
to lead an educational program for farmers and ranchers in any area of 
the United States or Puerto Rico. Applicants must have demonstrated 
capabilities in developing and implementing risk management and 
marketing options for Targeted Commodities. Applicants must also be 
able to demonstrate that they will receive a non-financial benefit as a 
result of a partnership agreement. Non-financial benefits must be to 
the applicant, not the agricultural community, and must include more 
than the ability to provide employment. The applicant must demonstrate 
that performance under the partnership agreement will further the 
specific mission of the applicant (such as providing research or 
activities necessary for graduate or other students to complete their 
educational program) or increase the knowledge base of the farmers and 
ranchers that are served by the applicant and thereby decreasing the 
risk of loss to the applicant (such as applicants who provide goods or 
services to farmers or ranchers and would be adversely affected if the 
farmer or ranchers did not have adequate risk protection).

B. Project Period

    Each project will be funded for a period of up to one year for the 
activities described in this announcement.

C. Availability of Funds and Amounts

    Approximately $2,000,000 is available in fiscal year 2002 to fund 
partnership agreements. The maximum for any partnership agreement award 
will be $100,000. It is expected that the awards will be made 30 days 
after application deadline.
    To ensure that this program gives priority to the risk management 
training of those producers identified above and

[[Page 19383]]

to ensure that the program reaches a geographically diverse set of 
agricultural producers, each application will be assigned to one of ten 
regions for evaluation and consideration for funding. These ten regions 
correspond to the areas serviced by RMA's ten Regional Offices. An 
amount has been assigned to each region to serve as a guide for 
determining the amount of awards that will be funded in each region. 
The approximate funding amounts available for distribution by RMA 
Regional Office (with the States serviced by each Office) is as 
follows:

Billings, MT (MT, WY, ND, SD)...............................    $125,000
Davis, CA (CA, HI, NV, UT, AZ)..............................     500,000
Jackson, MS (MS, AR, LA, TN, KY)............................     125,000
Oklahoma City, OK (OK, TX, NM)..............................     175,000
Raleigh, NC (NC, VA, WV, MD, DE, NJ, PA NY, VT, CT, RI, MA,      125,000
 NH ME).....................................................
Spokane, WA (WA, OR, ID, AK)................................     250,000
Springfield, IL (IL, IN, MI, OH)............................     175,000
St. Paul, MN (MN, WI, IA)...................................     125,000
Topeka, KS (KS, MO, NE, CO).................................     125,000
Valdosta, GA (GA, AL, SC, FL, Puerto Rico)..................     275,000
                                                             -----------
      Total.................................................   2,000,000
 

    The funding maximums for each region was determined by first 
distributing half the available funding by allocating $100,000 to each 
region. The remaining funds were allocated on a pro rata basis 
according to each regions estimated share of 1999 agricultural cash 
receipts for Targeted Commodities. The allocation by region also 
accounts for the fact that funding is also being provided for a crop 
insurance education program in fifteen States identified by the 
Secretary as underserved, which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, 
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, 
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Utah, Nevada, and 
Wyoming. The totals of both allocations are rounded to the nearest 
$25,000.
    If there are insufficient number of proposals in a region such that 
the requested funding does not hit the maximum amount available, the 
excess funds may be provided to other regions where the proposals 
received exceeds the maximum amount available. If RMA determines that 
certain proposals should be funded but the total requested funds under 
such proposals exceed the maximum amount available, RMA my request that 
each proposal accept a reduction in funds on a pro rata basis such that 
the total amount of funding requests does not exceed the maximum amount 
available.

Part III--Program Description

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose and goals of this 
program, the applicant will be responsible for the activities listed 
under paragraph A of this part. RMA will provide substantial technical 
assistance on the presentation and dissemination of Federal crop 
insurance information and will be specifically responsible for the 
activities listed under paragraph B.

A. Recipient Activities

    The applicant will be required to perform the following activities:
    1. Assemble a risk management curriculum for producers. This will 
include: (a) Gathering existing instructional materials that meet the 
local needs of agricultural producers of agricultural commodities; (b) 
identifying gaps in existing instructional materials; and (c) 
developing new materials or modifying existing instructional materials 
to fill existing gaps.
    2. Develop and conduct a promotional program. This program will 
include activities using media, newsletters, publications, or other 
informational dissemination techniques that are designed to: (a) Raise 
awareness for risk management; (b) inform producers of the availability 
of risk management tools; and (c) inform producers of training and 
informational opportunities.
    3. Deliver education and information to agribusiness professionals. 
This will include organizing and delivering training to those 
agribusiness professionals that have frequent opportunities to advise 
farmers of agricultural commodities and to those individuals that will 
directly train producers under this program.
    4. Organize and deliver risk management training and informational 
opportunities developed in paragraph (1) to agricultural producers of 
agricultural commodities. This will include organizing and delivering 
training through trained instructors to local farmers and ranchers.
    5. Use a program logo and design provided by RMA for all 
instructional and promotional material.
    6. Document all education and preparatory activities done and the 
results of such activities under the partnership agreement, state the 
evaluation criteria to be used to determine whether the educational 
program was a success, and work with an RMA-selected contractor to 
evaluate all educational activities and advise RMA as to the 
effectiveness of activities.
    7. Create and implement a program delivery plan that contains each 
of the tasks to be performed to accomplish all the goals and 
responsibilities under this announcement, the manner in which task and 
goal will be accomplished, including RMA's role and responsibilities, 
and the dates by which such tasks will be completed.

B. RMA Activities

    RMA will be responsible for the following activities:
    1. Collaborate on organization of a risk management curriculum 
developed by the applicant for producers of agricultural commodities. 
This will include: (a) Serving on curriculum development workgroups; 
(b) providing curriculum developers with fact sheets and other crop 
insurance publications from RMA; (c) advising the applicant on the 
materials available over the internet through the AgRisk Education 
Library; (d) advising the applicant on technical issues related to crop 
insurance instructional materials; (e) advising the applicant on the 
use of the standardized design and layout formats to be used on program 
materials; and (f) reviewing and approving in advance all educational 
materials for technical accuracy.
    2. Collaborate on a promotional program for raising awareness for 
risk management and for informing producers of agricultural commodities 
of training and informational opportunities. This will include: (a) 
serving on workgroups that plan promotional programs; (b) advising the 
applicant on technical issues relating to the presentation of crop 
insurance products in promotional materials; (c) participating, as 
appropriate, in media programs designed to raise general awareness or 
provide farmers with risk management education; and (d) reviewing and 
approving in advance all promotional plans, materials, and programs.
    3. Collaborate on the organization and delivery of training to 
agribusiness leaders and producer trainers. This will include: (a) 
Advising the applicant on technical issues related to the delivery of 
crop insurance education and information to agribusiness professionals; 
(b) assisting the applicant in informing crop insurance professionals 
about agribusiness training plans and scheduled meetings; (c) 
participating in the presentation of training to agribusiness 
professionals; and (d) reviewing and approving in advance all 
agribusiness training plans.
    4. Collaborate on the organization and delivery of risk management 
education to agricultural producers. This would

[[Page 19384]]

include: (a) advising the applicant on technical issues relating to the 
delivery of crop insurance education and information to farmers and 
ranchers; (b) assisting the applicant in informing crop insurance 
professionals about farmer and rancher training activities; and (c) 
reviewing and approving in advance all producer training plans.
    In addition to the specific activities listed above, the applicant 
may suggest other activities that would contribute directly to the 
purpose of this program. For any additional activity suggested, the 
applicant should identify specific ways in which RMA could have 
substantial involvement in that activity.

Part IV--Preparation of an Application

A. Program Application Materials

    Program application materials under this announcement may be 
downloaded from the RMA website at: www.rma.usda.gov. Applicants may 
also request application materials from: Lydia Astorga, USDA-RMA-RME, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW, Stop 0808, (Portals Bldg., Suite 508), 
Washington, DC 20250-0808, phone: (202) 260-4728, fax: (202) 690-3605, 
e-mail: [email protected].

B. Content of Applications

    A complete and valid application package must include the 
following:
    1. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424, ``Application for 
Federal Assistance''.
    2. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form 424-A, ``Budget 
Information--Non-construction Programs''.
    3. A written narrative (limited to 10 single-sided pages) that 
describes the educational project, the program delivery plan, the 
evaluation criteria to determine whether the program was successful, 
and provides reviewers with sufficient information to effectively 
evaluate the application under the criteria contained part V.
    4. An Appendix containing any attachments that may support 
information in the narrative (Optional)
    5. A statement of the non-financial benefits of any partnership 
agreement.
    6. A completed and signed OMB Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities.''

C. Submission of Applications

    An original and two copies of the completed and signed application 
must be submitted in one package at the time of initial submission.
    All applications must be submitted by the deadline. Applications 
that do not meet all of the requirements in this announcement are 
considered as late applications. Late applications will not be 
considered in the current competition and will be returned to the 
applicant.
    Applications submitted through express, overnight mail or another 
delivery service will be considered as meeting the announced deadline 
if they are received in the mailroom at the address stated above for 
express, overnight mail or another delivery service on or before the 
deadline. Applicants are cautioned that express, overnight mail or 
other delivery services do not always deliver as agreed. Applicants 
should take this into account because failure of such delivery services 
will not extend the deadline. The address must appear on the envelope 
or package containing the application with the note ``Attention: 
Targeted Commodity Partnerships for Risk Management Education Program''
    Mailed applications will be considered meeting the announced 
deadline if they are received on or before the deadline in the mailroom 
at the address stated above for mailed applications. Applicants are 
responsible for mailing applications well in advance, to ensure that 
applications are received on or before the deadline time and date. 
Applicants using the U.S. Postal Service should allow for the extra 
time for delivery due to the additional security measures that mail 
delivered to government offices in the Washington DC area now requires. 
RMA cannot accommodate transmissions of applications by facsimile or 
through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted 
electronically will not be accepted regardless of the date or time of 
submission or the time of receipt.

D. Acknowledgement of Applications

    Receipt of applications will be acknowledged by e-mail, whenever 
possible. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to provide e-mail 
addresses in their applications. If an e-mail address is not indicated 
on an application, receipt will be acknowledged by letter.
    When received by RMA, applications will be assigned an 
identification number. This number will be communicated to applicants 
in the acknowledgement of receipt of applications. An applications 
identification number should be referenced in all correspondence 
regarding the application. If the applicant does not receive an 
acknowledgement within 15 days of the submission deadline, the 
applicant should contact Lydia Astorga at (202) 260-4728.

Part V--Review Process

A. General

    Each application will be evaluated using a three-part process. 
First, each application will be screened by RMA personnel to ensure 
that it meets the requirements in this announcement and sorted into 
regional groupings according to the region in which the applicant 
proposes to deliver risk management training. Regional assignments of 
applications will be determined by matching the location of the 
majority of farmers and ranchers identified in an application as the 
beneficiaries of the applicant's educational efforts with the areas 
serviced by RMA's Regional Offices. In the event an application 
identifies producers to be trained in areas serviced by more than one 
RMA Regional Office or if the specific location of the farmers and 
ranchers to be trained is unclear from the application, then RMA will 
make a determination as to which region's producers would most likely 
benefit from the applicant's educational efforts and assign the 
application to that region for evaluation. Each application that meet 
the deadlines and are in conformance with all requirements in this 
announcement will be reviewed competitively.
    Second, a review panel will determine whether the producers to be 
provided with training and informational opportunities are producers of 
Targeted Commodities. All applications in a given region designated by 
the panel as producers of Targeted Commodities, will be awarded 10 
bonus evaluation points. Bonus evaluation points will be added later to 
a project's merit evaluation points to determine an application's total 
score.
    Third, the review panel will consider the merits of all 
applications that pass the initial screen. The panel for each 
application will be comprised of not less than three independent 
reviewers from USDA, other federal agencies, and others representing 
public and private organizations, as needed. The narrative, and any 
appendixes, provided by each applicant will be used by the review panel 
to evaluate the merits of the project that is being proposed for 
funding. The panel will examine and rank all applications within each 
region's grouping and award merit evaluation points based on the 
``Evaluation Criteria and Weights'' contained in paragraph B. Each 
regional grouping will be evaluated, ranked, and scored independently.

[[Page 19385]]

    Applications will be evaluated in each of the five criteria listed 
below and the top five applications for each Targeted State will be 
ranked one through five, with one being the highest, for each category. 
Each criteria has specific elements that the panel will look at when 
evaluating the applications and ranking them. A specific number of 
points are assigned to each of the top five rankings. The numerical 
scored will be supported by explanatory statements on the formal rating 
form describing the major strengths and weaknesses under each 
applicable criteria contained in paragraph B of this part.
    After evaluating each of the applications, the scores for each 
reviewer on the panel will be averaged for each criterion. After the 
scored for each criterion have been averaged, they will be totaled 
together to determine the merit score. Bonus points, if any will be 
added to determine the total score. This ranking scheme assumes that at 
least five applications are available for evaluation in each regional 
grouping. If less than five applications are available for a given 
region, then for each evaluation criterion, reviewers will assign the 
available applications to one of the five available ranking slots with 
its associated score, according to the application's merits with 
respect to that criterion.
    In the event that more than five applications are received for a 
given region, and the maximum amount available has not been reached, 
the review panel may elect to conduct a second round of application 
evaluations after an initial round has been completed. The panel will 
score a second round by first, recommending that the applications 
receiving the top five scores from the initial round be given priority 
for funding in the order one through five. The panel will then evaluate 
all remaining applications in the same manner that the evaluation was 
conducted for the initial round. The top scoring applications from the 
second round will be recommended for funding until the maximum amount 
available has been reached. If the review panel determines that 
additional evaluation rounds are needed, it will conduct them in a 
similar manner to those used for the second rounds to expand the 
ranking list of applications recommended for funding for that region.
    After all applications have been rated, ranked, and scored 
(including both merit and bonus evaluation points), a lottery will be 
used to resolve any instances of tie total scores for a given region. 
If such a lottery is required, the names of all tied applicants for a 
given region will be entered into a drawing. The first applicant drawn 
will be considered as having priority in funding over other tied 
applicants. If needed, other names with tied scores will be drawn in 
turn to determine the funding priority for all tied applicants in a 
region.
    After all tied scores have been resolved, the review panel will 
report to the Manager of FCIC on the results from each region. The 
panel's report will include a listing of funding recommendations, using 
the approximate funding available per region identified in this 
announcement as a guide. The panel may, at its discretion, recommend 
that any application receiving 50 or fewer points not receive funding. 
The Manager of FCIC will make the final determination on those 
applications that will be awarded funding.

B. Evaluation Criteria and Weights

    Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1. Management--maximum 15 points
    The applicant for funding must demonstrate their ability to 
implement sound and effective management practices and have the 
organizational skills, leadership, and experience in delivering 
services or programs that assist agricultural producers of agricultural 
commodities in the geographical area in which the applicant intends to 
deliver training. If they have been recipients of other Federal or 
other government grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, the 
applicant must also detail that they have consistently complied with 
financial and program reporting and auditing requirements. Applicants 
that will employ, or have access to, personnel who have experience in 
directing agricultural programs or providing educations programs that 
benefit the targeted producers will receive higher rankings.
    The application ranking and scoring for each region for the 
Management criteria are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Ranking                              Scoring
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest...................................  15.
2nd Highest...............................  12 points.
3rd Highest...............................  9 points.
4th Highest...............................  6 points.
5th Highest...............................  3 points.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Partnering--maximum 25 points
    The applicant must demonstrate experience and capacity to partner 
with and gain the support of grower organizations, agribusiness 
professionals, and agricultural leaders to carry out a local program of 
risk management education and information to the producers of 
agricultural commodities. Applicants that can demonstrate and document 
that partnership commitments are in place for the express purpose of 
delivering the program in this announcement will receive higher 
rankings than applicants that cannot demonstrate existing partnerships. 
Moreover, applicants with existing partnerships reaching a broader 
group of farmers and ranchers will be ranked higher than those with 
more limited partnerships.
    The application ranking and scoring for each region for the 
Partnering criteria are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Ranking                              Scoring
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest...................................  25 points.
2nd Highest...............................  20 points.
3rd Highest...............................  15 points.
4th Highest...............................  10 points
5th Highest...............................  5 points.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Goals and Objectives--maximum 25 points
    For each of the applicant's responsibilities contained in part III 
, the applicant must demonstrate that he or she can establish specific 
goals, tasks, and time lines that further the purpose of this program. 
Applicants will obtain a higher ranking to the extent that the goals 
envisioned for each task of the project are specific, measurable, time-
framed, realistic, have specific time frames for completion, and relate 
directly to the required activities and program objectives described in 
this announcement.
    The application ranking and scoring for each region for the Goals 
and Objectives criteria are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Ranking                              Scoring
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest...................................  25 points.
2nd Highest...............................  20 points.
3rd Highest...............................  15 points.
4th Highest...............................  10 points.
5th Highest...............................  5 points.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Cost Effectiveness--maximum 20 points
    The applicant must demonstrate that the direct and indirect risk 
management education benefits to farmers and ranchers in the State 
warrant the funding requested. Applicants will be ranked according to 
the extent to which they can effectively demonstrate that the quantity 
and quality of the risk management education and information received 
by producers during the project is maximized relative to the requested

[[Page 19386]]

funding. Expected educational benefits can be estimated both directly 
(through the hours of educational activities planned specifically for 
agricultural producers and the resulting number of producers expected 
to be reached) and indirectly (through educational activities planned 
for agribusiness professionals who will relay information to 
producers). Higher rankings in each region will be awarded to those 
applicants with greater expected benefits for producers relative to the 
funds that are requested by the applicant.
    The application ranking and scoring for each region for the Cost 
Effectiveness criteria are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Ranking                              Scoring
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest...................................  20 points.
2nd Highest...............................  16 points.
3rd Highest...............................  12 points.
4th Highest...............................  8 points.
5th Highest...............................  4 points.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Program Delivery Plan--maximum 15 points
    The applicant must demonstrate that its program delivery plan 
described in the narrative will be effective. Higher rankings will be 
given to those applicants that can demonstrate that it has an effective 
plan for each of the required responsibilities contained in part III. 
Also, those applicants that can demonstrate that its plan can be 
expected to lead to increased risk awareness by agribusiness 
professionals and producers of agricultural commodities and increased 
risk management skills of local producers will receive higher rankings.
    The application ranking and scoring for each region for the Program 
Delivery Plan criteria are:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Ranking                              Scoring
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highest...................................  15 points.
2nd Highest...............................  12 points.
3rd Highest...............................  9 points.
4th Highest...............................  6 points.
5th Highest...............................  3 points.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Confidentiality

    The names of applicants, the content of applications, and the panel 
evaluations of applications will all be kept confidential, except to 
those involved in the review process, to the extent permitted by law. 
In addition, the identities of review panel members will remain 
confidential throughout the entire review process and will not be 
released to applicants. At the end of the fiscal year, names of panel 
members will be made available. However, panelists will not be 
identified with the review of any particular application.

Part VI--Additional Information

A. Access to Panel Review Information

    Copies of rating forms, not including the identity of reviewers, 
will be sent to the applicant after the review and awards process has 
been completed.

B. Notification of Partnership Agreement Awards

    Following approval of the applications selected for funding, notice 
of project approval and authority to draw down funds will be made to 
the selected applicants in writing. Within the limit of funds available 
for such purpose, the awarding official of RMA shall enter into 
partnership agreements with those applicants whose applications are 
judged to be most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this 
announcement, which provides the amount of Federal funds for use in the 
project period, the terms and conditions of the award, and the time 
period for the project. The effective date of the partnership agreement 
shall be on the date the agreement is executed by both parties and it 
shall remain in effect for no more that one year. All funds provided to 
the applicant by FCIC must be expended solely for the purpose for which 
the funds are obligated in accordance with the approved application and 
budget, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, and the 
applicability of Federal cost principles. No commitment of Federal 
assistance beyond the project period is made or implied, as a result of 
any award resulting from this Notice.

C. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards

    When an application results in a partnership agreement, it becomes 
a part of the official record of RMA transactions, available to the 
public upon specific request. Information that the Secretary of 
Agriculture determines to be of a confidential, privileged, or 
proprietary nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted 
by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to be 
considered confidential, privileged, or proprietary should be clearly 
marked within an application. The original copy of a proposal that does 
not result in an award will be retained by RMA for a period of one 
year. Other copies will be destroyed. Such a proposal will be released 
only with the express written consent of the applicant or to the extent 
required by law. A proposal may be withdrawn at any time prior to 
award.

D. Reporting Requirements

    The applicants awarded the partnership agreement will be required 
to submit semi-annual progress and financial reports (SF-269) 
throughout the project period, as well as a final program and financial 
report not later than 90 days after the end of the project period.

E. Audit Requirements

    The applicants awarded the partnership agreement are subject to 
audit.

F. Prohibitions and Requirements With Regard to Lobbying

    Section 1352 of Public Law 101-121, enacted on October 23, 1989, 
imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification 
related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, grants, 
cooperative agreements, and loans. It provides exemptions for Indian 
Tribes and tribal organizations. Current and prospective recipients, 
and any subcontractors, are prohibited from using Federal funds, other 
than profits from a Federal contract, for lobbying Congress or any 
Federal agency in connection with the award of a contract, grant, 
cooperative agreement, or loan. In addition, for each award action in 
excess of $100,000 ($150,000 for loans) the law requires recipients and 
any subcontractors (1) to certify that they have neither used nor will 
use any appropriated funds for payment of lobbyists; (2) to disclose 
the name, address, payment details, and purpose of any agreements with 
lobbyists whom recipients of their subcontractors will pay with profits 
or other nonappropriated funds on or after December 22, 1989; ad (3) to 
file quarterly up-dates about the use of lobbyists if material changes 
occur in their use. The law establishes civil penalties for non-
compliance. A copy of the certification and disclosure forms must be 
submitted with the application and are available from Lydia Astorga at 
the above stated address and telephone number.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on April 15, 2002.
Ross J. Davidson, Jr.,
Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
[FR Doc. 02-9615 Filed 4-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-08-P