[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40706-40707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16398]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Draft Guidance for Applicants for Competitive and Capacity Grants 
Administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture; 
Availability

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is 
announcing the availability of a draft guidance entitled ``National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Federal Assistance Policy 
Guide.'' The draft guidance discusses the statutory and regulatory 
responsibilities of recipients of Federal funds administered by NIFA. 
This draft guidance compiles and updates the statutory, regulatory, 
policy guidance previously distributed to Capacity Grant recipients as 
Administrative Manuals. The draft NIFA Federal Assistance Policy Guide 
also addresses procedures and policies followed by NIFA in the 
administration of Federal assistance. NIFA intends to publish a final 
version of the Policy Guide to reflect any public comments, as well as 
the requirements of the Agricultural Act of 2014 and USDA's 
implementation of the Office of Management and Budget ``OMB Uniform 
Guidance: Cost Principles, Audit, and Administrative Requirements for 
Federal Awards''.

DATES: All written comments must be received on or before August 13, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NIFA-2014-0001, by 
any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.

[[Page 40707]]

    Email: [email protected]. Include NIFA-2014-0001 in the 
subject line of the message.
    Mail: Policy and Oversight Division; National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2299; 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2299.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: Policy and Oversight Division; National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 
2312, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th Street SW., Washington, DC 20024.
    Instructions: All comments submitted must include the agency name 
and the RIN for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov, Docket NIFA-2014-0001, 
including any personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie Krizmanich, Policy Specialist, 
Phone: (202) 401-1762; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background Information

    The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is announcing 
the availability of a draft guidance entitled ``National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture Federal Assistance Policy Statement.'' The draft 
guidance discusses the statutory and regulatory responsibilities of 
recipients of Federal funds distributed by the NIFA. Specifically, the 
Policy Statement includes NIFA application processes, application 
review procedures, award notification and administration, applicable 
cost principles and other cost considerations, prior approval 
requirements, administrative requirements, Capacity Grant 
administration and associated requirements, specific Capacity Grant 
program requirements, terms and conditions of all NIFA awards 
(Competitive and Capacity), public policy requirements, special award 
conditions and enforcement actions, and closeout procedures. The NIFA 
Federal Assistance Policy Guide updates and compiles into a single 
document all previously published Administrative Manuals for the 
grantee community. The statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements 
contained in the Policy Guide provide general guidance to all NIFA 
grant recipients. If there is a conflict with this Policy Guide and the 
terms and conditions of a specific award, the terms and conditions 
associated with the award should be followed.
    This draft guidance includes information collection provisions that 
are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The 
information collections referenced in this draft guidance related to 
reporting requirements and other information collections have been 
approved by OMB. The Policy Guide imposes no new information 
collections not previously approved. In accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, prior to the publication of any final guidance document, 
NIFA intends to solicit public comments and obtain OMB approval for any 
information collections recommended in this draft guidance that are new 
or that would represent material modifications to these previously 
approved information collections found in the NIFA regulations. The 
draft guidance is being distributed for comment purposes only and is 
not intended for implementation at this time.

II. Obtaining a Copy of the Draft Guidance

    A copy of the draft guidance may be obtained by contacting Melanie 
Krizmanich, as directed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
caption. Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the draft 
guidance at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/business/policy_guide_notice.html.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 7 day of July, 2014.
Robert E Holland,
Acting Associate Director, Programs, National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2014-16398 Filed 7-11-14; 8:45 am]
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