[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43113-43116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14627]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 142 / Tuesday, July 26, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43113]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


National Sheep Industry Improvement Center: Inviting Grant 
Proposals for the Sheep and Goat Industry Grant Initiative

AGENCY: National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) 
announces the availability of approximately $300,000 in competitive 
grants for product or business development, producer information or 
education, marketing and promotion for sheep or goats or their 
products, genetic retention, and animal health. Eligible applicants, 
including many business structures but excluding individuals (see 
section III), may apply for up to $50,000 in Federal Funds per 
proposal. The intent is to fund a variety of proposals that will 
benefit the U.S. sheep and goat industries.

DATES: Complete paper or electronically submitted applications must be 
received on or before 5 p.m. eastern time, October 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Applications, required forms, frequently asked questions and 
other helpful information can be found at http://www.nsiic.org.
    Submit completed paper applications to one of the following 
addresses, depending on the delivery service used: (1) Submissions 
using the U.S. Postal Service should be sent to: USDA National Sheep 
Industry Improvement Center, P.O. Box 23483, Washington, DC 20026-3483; 
(2) Submissions using commercial carriers should be sent to USDA 
National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., South Building Room 2117, Washington, DC 20250-3250.
    Submit electronic grant applications to the following Internet 
address: http://www.grants.gov. Before being able to submit an 
electronic grant application, the applicant must complete a 
registration process. Applicants should register at least 2 weeks prior 
to the application deadline to ensure timely submission of their 
applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay B. Wilson, Executive Director/CEO 
202-690-0632 or Steve Lee, Administrative Officer 207-236-6567, or by 
e-mail, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Agency: National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.
    Title: Sheep and Goat Industry Grant Initiative.
    Type: Initial announcement for funding availability.
    Catolog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10-774.
    Dates: Applications must be received by October 14, 2005 for 
projects that will be completed on or before September 30, 2007.

I. Funding Oportunity Description

    The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) is 
authorized under 7 U.S.C. 2008j. A NSIIC fund was established in the 
Treasury, without fiscal year limitation, to provide seed-money for a 
revolving fund that will provide financial assistance through a variety 
of mechanisms for the enhancement and marketing of sheep or goat 
products in the United States with an emphasis on infrastructure 
development. The NSIIC is a unique pilot program with the management 
vested in a Board of Directors that is appointed by, and reports to the 
Secretary of Agriculture. The Board of Directors consists of 7 voting 
members chosen from the sheep and goat industries. The Under Secretary 
for Rural Development and Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service (CSREES) serve as non-voting members of the Board of 
Directors. The mission of the NSIIC is ``To assist the U.S. Sheep and 
Goat Industries by strengthening and enhancing the production and 
marketing of sheep, goats, and their products in the United States.'' 
The NSIIC Board of Directors has made low interest loans available 
through an intermediary arrangement with the National Livestock 
Producers Association since 2000 and has conducted the National Sheep 
Industry Grant Initiative in each of the past fiscal years since Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2002. The Board is making this grant initiative of up to 
$300,000 available for FY 2006.
    Projects that are submitted in the proposals should be completed in 
a timely fashion as provided in the proposal, with a final completion 
date on or before September 30, 2007. The primary objective of the 
Sheep and Goat Industry Grant Initiative (SGIGI) is to fund a number of 
diverse projects that will benefit the U.S. sheep or goat industries 
through product or business development, producer information or 
education, marketing and promotion for sheep or goats or their 
products, genetic retention and animal health at the regional, national 
or international level. Examples of previously funded projects can be 
found at www.nsiic.org/grants.htm.

Definitions

    The definitions published at 7 CFR 4284.3 are incorporated by 
reference.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant.
    Fiscal Year Funds: NA.
    Approximate Total Funding: $300,000.
    Approximate number of Awards: 15.
    Approximate Average Award: $18,000, ranging in the past from $1,300 
to $50,000.
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $50,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: January 23, 2006.
    Budget Period Length: 20 months.
    Project Period Length: 20 months.
    It is expected that there will be proposals submitted that address 
a variety of needs related to the U.S. sheep and goat industries. 
Awards may be classified so that a variety of needs will be addressed 
by the funded proposals. The actual number of grants funded will depend 
on the quality of proposals received and the amount of funding 
requested. A proposal may be partially funded or funded in its 
entirety. The primary objective of the Sheep and Goat Industry Grant 
Initiative (SGIGI) is to fund a number of diverse projects that will 
benefit the U.S. sheep or goat industries through product or business 
development, producer information or education, marketing and

[[Page 43114]]

promotion for sheep or goats or their products, genetic retention or 
animal health at the regional, national or international level.
    No funds made available under this solicitation shall be used to do 
any of the following activities:
    1. Duplicate current services or replace or substitute support 
previously provided. If the current service is inadequate, however, 
grant funds may be used to expand the level of effort or services 
beyond that which is currently being provided;
    2. Pay costs of preparing the application package for funding under 
this program;
    3. Pay costs of the project incurred prior to the date of grant 
approval;
    4. Fund political activities;
    5. Pay for assistance to any private business enterprise that does 
not have at least 51 percent ownership by those who are either citizens 
of the United States or reside in the United States after being legally 
admitted for permanent residence;
    6. Pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States; or
    7. Fund any activities prohibited by 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, or 
3019.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible applicants--An eligible entity is one that promotes the 
betterment of the United States sheep or goat industries and includes: 
(1) A public, private, or cooperative organization; (2) an association, 
including a corporation not operated for profit; (3) a federally 
recognized Indian Tribe; or (4) a public or quasi-public agency. 
Eligible entities must be domestic with at least 51 percent ownership 
by those who are either citizens of the United States or reside in the 
United States after being legally admitted for permanent residence.
    B. Ineligible applicants--Individuals, organizations under the 
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, and organizations described in section 
501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4)) 
which engage in lobbying activities. Applications from ineligible 
applicants will be returned without review or consideration.
    C. Cost Sharing or Matching--Cost sharing or matching funds are not 
required but preference may be given to proposals that have over 50 
percent of the project costs in matching funds, including in kind 
contributions (See the Review and Selection Process). Overhead costs 
cannot exceed 25 percent of total project cost.
    D. Other Eligibility Requirements--Applications without sufficient 
information to determine eligibility will not be considered for 
funding.
    Applications that are missing any required elements (in whole or in 
part) will not be considered for funding.
    There is no limit on the number of applications that an entity may 
submit for this announcement.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    A. Language: English
    B. Address to Request Application Package--Forms can be found at 
http://www.nsiic.org. They can also be obtained by: e-mailing a request 
to [email protected]; faxing a request to 202-720-1053 or calling 202-690-
0632.
    C. Content and Form of Application Submission:
    1. You may submit your application in paper or in an electronic 
format. If you submit your application in a paper format it must 
include an original, with an original signature, and 10 additional 
copies.
    2. Each copy must be stapled in the upper left-hand corner, do not 
bind.
    3. All copies of the proposal must be submitted in one package.
    4. The proposal must be submitted on standard 8.5'' x 11'' paper 
with typing on one side of the page only.
    5. Margins must be at least 1'', type must be 12 characters per 
inch (12 pitch or 10 point) or larger, no more than 6 lines per inch, 
and there should be no page reductions.
    6. Proposals are limited to the information requested. DO NOT; 
exceed the narrative limit; include organizational brochures, 
promotional materials, slides, films, clips, books, videos, product 
samples, letters of support (they should be summarized in the 
narrative) or any other additional materials. Proposals that contain 
more than the requested information will be returned without review or 
consideration.
    D. What to Submit:
    1. SF-424 ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' This serves as 
the cover page and no other cover page should be included.
    2. SF-424A ``Budget Information--Non Construction Programs.''
    3. SF-424B ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.''
    4. Project Summary: The proposal must contain a project summary of 
1 page or less on a separate page. This page must include the title of 
the project, the names of the primary project contacts, the applicant 
entity, followed by the summary. The summary should be self-contained 
and should describe the overall goals and relevance of the project. The 
summary should also contain a listing of all organizations involved in 
the project. The Project Summary should immediately follow SF-424B.
    5. Project Narrative: The project narrative is limited to 10 pages 
and the pages should be numbered, beginning with page 1 on the first 
page of the narrative. The narrative portion of the Project Proposal 
should contain the following:
    a. Introduction: Substantiate the need for the proposed project. 
Describe the project's specific relationship to the segment of sheep or 
goat industry issue, product or market being addressed.
    b. Potential Industry Impact--Discuss the specific objectives to be 
accomplished under the project. Describe the proposed project and 
demonstrate how it will stimulate the U.S. sheep or goat industries. 
Provide a detailed analysis of the sheep or goat industry issue that is 
being addressed by the proposal by including the: (i) Product or group 
that will be impacted by the proposal; (ii) geographic area affected 
(iii) target audience or end user; (iv) and expected results.
    c. Industry Commitment--Describe the commitment of the producers, 
processors, end-users or other involved parties in participating in the 
proposed project. This may include, but is not limited to, individual 
producers, producer groups, processors, seminar participants, local 
organizations, local or state governments or trade associations.
    d. Business Soundness--Discuss the specific goals and objectives to 
be accomplished with a timetable, quantifiable benchmarks and expected 
results.
    e. Financial Feasibility--Provide a well-defined budget for the 
proposal and describe how the budget specifically relates to the 
completion of each goal or objective. This requirement may be 
accomplished, in whole or in part, by the required completion of SF-
424A.
    f. Management Ability--Identify the management team needed to 
complete the proposal objectives and describe their qualifications. 
Describe how the project will be coordinated among various participants 
and the nature of the collaborations. Describe plans for management of 
the project to ensure its proper and efficient administration.
    g. Information that successful applicants must submit--Successful 
applicants will receive a letter of intent from NSIIC at which time 
they will be required to complete forms:
    AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other

[[Page 43115]]

Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions;''
    AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered 
Transactions;''
    AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 
(Grants);''
    RD-400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement; Certification Regarding 
Lobbying--Contracts, Grants, Loans and Cooperative Agreement;''
    SF-270, ``Request for Advance for Reimbursement;'' and
    SF-269, ``Financial Status Report,'' which is required later with 
the written semi annual-reports.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria--The proposal will initially be reviewed to 
determine whether the entity submitting the proposal meets the 
eligibility requirements and whether the proposal application contains 
the information required. After this initial evaluation, the following 
criteria will be used to rate and rank proposals received in response 
to this notice of funding availability. Failure to address any one of 
the criteria will disqualify the proposal and the proposal will be 
returned without review or consideration. Equal weight shall be given 
to each of the criterion listed below and points will be awarded on a 
scale of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. A score of 5 indicates that the proposal was 
judged to be highly relevant to the criterion and a score of 1 
indicates that the proposal was judged not to sufficiently address the 
criterion.
    Each proposal will be evaluated and judged using the following 
criteria:
    A. Potential Industry Impact--Describe the proposed project and 
demonstrate how it will stimulate the U.S. sheep or goat industries. 
Provide a detailed analysis of the sheep or goat industry issue that is 
being addressed by the proposal by including the: (1) Product or group 
that will be impacted by the proposal; (2) geographic area affected; 
(3) target audience or end user; (4) and expected results. The NSIIC 
will evaluate whether the industry issue and need are well-defined and 
the proposed project provides an effective and efficient approach to 
resolving the identified need.
    B. Industry Commitment--Describe the commitment of the producers, 
processor, end-users or other involved parties in participating in the 
proposed project. This may include, but is not limited to, individual 
producers, producer groups, processors, seminar participants, local 
organizations, local or state governments or trade associations. The 
NSIIC will evaluate whether there is a commitment from all who are 
expected to participate and benefit from the proposed project.
    C. Business Soundness--Provide a timetable and objectives along 
with a quantifiable benchmark and expected results. The NSIIC will 
evaluate whether the proposal includes (1) Clear objectives; (2) well-
defined tasks that will accomplish the objectives; (3) realistic 
benchmarks; and (4) a realistic timetable for the completion of the 
proposed tasks and a business strategy have been adequately developed.
    D. Financial Feasibility--Provide a well-defined budget for the 
proposal. The NSIIC will evaluate whether (1) the funding requirements 
and budget for the project are well defined; (2) financially feasible 
and the matching funds or other resources that will be used to leverage 
the requested funds are identified.
    E. Management Ability--Identify the management team needed to 
complete the proposal objectives and describe their qualifications. The 
NSIIC will evaluate whether the management team is identified and 
capable of implementing the proposal.
    Review and Selection Process--The NSIIC Board of Directors will 
evaluate proposal applications. Applications will be evaluated 
competitively and points awarded as specified in the Selection Criteria 
section of this Notice. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis 
to eligible entities. A proposal may be partially funded. After 
assigning points based upon the selection criteria, applications will 
be funded in rank order until all available funds have been expended. 
The Board of Directors reserves the right to award up to five 
additional points for proposals with over 50 percent in matching funds 
or to provide a diversity of projects targeting various situations, 
geographic areas, subjects. Projects that are approved for further 
processing will be subject to the grant terms that are negotiated 
between the applicant and the Board of Directors including, but not 
limited to, the amount to be funded, project goals, timetables, 
completion date or other terms as deemed necessary.
    Award Administration Information: All applicants will receive 
notification of the outcome no later than January 23, 2006. 
Notifications will be sent to the contact person identified on the SF-
424 by traceable carrier or USPS certified, return receipt mail.

VI. Award Administration Information

    Award Notices--Successful applicants can expect notification no 
later than January 23, 2006. A letter of intent will be sent to the 
contact person identified on the SF-424. The letter of intent will be 
followed by a letter of conditions, at that time the requirements 
described in the ``Information that Successful applicants must submit'' 
section are required. When those are completed the grant agreement will 
be executed.
    Administrative and National Policy Requirements--Several Federal 
statutes and regulations apply to proposals considered for review and 
to grants awarded by USDA. These include, but are not limited to:
    7 CFR 1.1--USDA implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.
    7 CFR part 15a--USDA implementation of title VI of the Civil Rights 
Act of 1964.
    7 CFR part 3015--USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations.
    7 CFR part 3016--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
    7 CFR part 3017--Governmentwide Debarment.
    7 CFR part 3018--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
    7 CFR part 3019--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other 
Nonprofit Organizations.
    7 CFR part 3052--Audits of State, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 
Organizations.
    The terms of the above parts will be incorporated in the grant 
agreement.
    Reporting--In addition to any other required reports, awardees will 
be required to submit written project performance reports on a semi-
annual basis and a final report at the completion of the project. A 
follow up report on the progress of the project will also be required 
one year after the completion of the award.
    The project performance report and final report shall include, but 
need not be limited to:
    1. SF-269 ``Financial Status Report''
    2. A written report that includes:
    A. A comparison of timeline, tasks and objectives outlined in the 
proposal as compared to the actual accomplishments;
    B. If report varies from the stated objectives or they were not 
met, the reasons why established objectives were not met;
    C. Problems, delays, or adverse conditions which will materially 
affect attainment of planned project objectives;
    D. Objectives established for the next reporting period; and

[[Page 43116]]

    E. Status of compliance with any special conditions on the use of 
awarded funds.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    Web site--Forms, previous recipients and other information can be 
found at http://www.nsiic.org; e-mail: [email protected] ; USPS at NSIIC, 
PO Box 23483, Washington, DC 20026-3483; other carriers at Room 2117, 
South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20250; Telephone (202) 690-0632 or (207) 236-6567 or FAX (202) 720-
1053.

VIII. Other Information

    Low interest loans: For information on NSIIC intermediary low 
interest loan program, visit National Livestock Producers Association 
at http://www.nlpa.org.
    The NSIIC Board of Directors reserves the right to award more, or 
less than the funds described in this announcement. In the absence of 
worthy application, the Board may decide not to make an award if deemed 
in the best interest of the Government.

    Dated: July 14, 2005.
Jay B. Wilson,
Executive Director/CEO, National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.
[FR Doc. 05-14627 Filed 7-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1351-01-P