Improving Microbial Safety and Shelf-Life of Fresh Produce with Antimicrobial Films; National Center for Home Food Processing and Preservation; Preservation of Rural Watersheds and Drinking Water Resources; Accelerating Riparian Buffer Adoption to Enhance Water Quality and Farm Income.
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
One university established a network among home food safety experts and provided new research on home food preservation. Goals for project activities met the needs for providing scientific, research-based recommendations for home food processing and preservation to the public.
Uses and Use Restrictions
This research, education, and extension competitive grants program provides funding for integrated, multi-functional agricultural research, extension, and education activities which addresses priorities in United States agriculture.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, all colleges and universities, other research and extension institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals to facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of importance to the United States.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, all colleges and universities, other research and extension institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals to facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of importance to the United States.
Credentials/Documentation
Each prospective grantee organization must furnish the organizational information and assurances specified in the guidelines.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
All proposal solicitations are published in the Federal Register.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Formal proposal to USDA/CSREES as outlined in the guidelines. Application procedures are contained in CSREES research Grant Application Kit. This program is subject to the provisions of 7 CFR 3019.
Award Procedures
CSREES program staff members review and evaluate all proposals with the assistance and advice of a peer panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Proposals are accepted in order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds.
Deadlines
As announced in the Federal Register for each fiscal year.
Authorization
Sections 406 and 229 of Public Law 105-185; Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, Section 25.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 90 to 180 days.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Proposals for renewal should be submitted at the announced deadline. Renewals are treated in competition with all other pending proposals.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Normally, competitive research projects will be supported for periods of up to three years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Annual progress reports due within 90 days after anniversary of grant effective date and final technical report due 90 days after expiration of grant.
Federal cash transaction reports and financial status reports as stated in 7 CFR 3019.52.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non federal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Grantees are expected to maintain separate records for each grant to insure that funds are used for the purpose for which the grant was made. Records are subject to inspection during life of the grant and for three years thereafter.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-1502-0-1-352.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 $41,334,662; FY 08 est $1,311,857; and FY 09 est not reported. Note: Grants are competitively awarded.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Awards range from $20,000 to $2,080,000 with the average being $499,050.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Pages 61290-61306 Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 231, Part II, December 2, 1991; 7 CFR 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants); 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying. National Competitive Research Initiative Grants Program Administrative Provisions, Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 220, Pages 57950-57958, November 14, 1991; and 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ag Box 2201, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2201. Telephone: (202) 720-4423.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
1. The scientific merit of the proposal, including the suitability and feasibility of the approaches and methodology; 2. the probability that the research will contribute to important discoveries or significant breakthroughs in food production or human nutrition, in relation to the mission of this program; 3. the qualifications of the principal investigator and other senior personnel, such as training, demonstrated awareness of previous and alternative approaches to the problem, and performance record and/or potential for future accomplishment; and 4. the probable adequacy of available or obtainable facilities, equipment, instrumentation, and technical support. Consideration will be given to proposals which address fundamental questions in the relevant areas and which are consistent with the long-range missions of USDA.
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