The projects funded in fiscal year 2005 are expected to make demonstrable improvements in public health by promoting science-based reductions in the incidence of foodborne disease and other hazards associated with meat, poultry, and egg products, and to enhance food defenses through improved State and local government laboratory participation in the Food Emergency Response Network.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Available discretionary funds are contingent on annual appropriations.

Work products, where appropriate, are to be made available for use by other government agencies and accessible by the general public.

People Building Stronger Communities

A Day of Surprises that Will Make You Feel Awesome About Yourself and Your City

Housing-First Solutions for the Homeless

4 Million Uninsured People with Mental Health Conditions Will Be Denied Health Insurance Because Their Home States Opt Out of the ACA Medicaid Expansion Program

Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal EHS-Child Care Partnership Grants

Chicago-Based Social Enterprise Accelerator Launches Second Program for Startups

Pregnant Women with Limited English Proficiency Find Solace in Prenatal Support Groups

Wyoming Community Development Authority OK\'s Nearly $3 Million for Affordable Housing

Benefit Corporations Advance Job Quality Advocacy

Street Homelessness Count Drops in Vancouver

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State, local and tribal government agencies; academic institutions and non-profit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility

General public.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None.

This program is excluded under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

Academic institutions; State, local and tribal government agencies; and non-profit organizations are invited to submit brief proposals (two to four pages) for cooperative agreements in any of the areas described in the request for proposals along with an SF-424. These proposals will be reviewed by FSIS. The criteria used by FSIS to assess proposals are listed for each cooperative agreement program area in the request for proposals. Cooperators whose proposals are selected for further project development will need to discuss and reach agreement with FSIS on project details to permit establishment of a cooperative agreement. Unlike typical Federal grants, cooperative agreements involve a Federal agency's active participation with the cooperator during both project development and project execution. Work products, where appropriate, are to be made available for use by other government agencies and accessible by the general public. All proposals should address the following points: * Project description, including specific goals, timeline, and deliverables; * Description of national public benefit expected, including expected utility of work products, for example, training manuals, CDs, and videos; * Projected costs, including cooperator contributions; * Projected performance measures; * Primary contact, principal investigator, and other likely participants, and; * All work products may be freely reproduced and distributed by FSIS.

Award Procedures

Cooperative agreement awards are made upon selection through a competitive process directed by the relevant FSIS program area. The program area identifies the awardees to the FSIS Administrative Services Division, which prepares and executes required documentation.

Deadlines

Refer to the request for proposals for the applicable fiscal year which is advertised annually in the federal register and at www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/Cooperative_Agreements/.

Authorization

Public Law 108-7,Section 713, 117 Statute 39; Public Law 108-447; H.R. Conference Report 108-792.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Generally from 30 to 90 days from the deadline listed in the request for proposals.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Renewals or extensions may be available under extraordinary circumstances if approved prior to the closing date of the initial agreements.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Generally, funding will be available for projects up to one year. Multi-year projects will be considered, but they are subject to annual renewal and may be affected by changes in FSIS' annual budget.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The cooperative agreement will specify the frequency of submission of performance progress reports, which will not be more frequently than quarterly or less frequently than annually.

Also, a comprehensive final report is required which documents all activities conducted within the partnership project.

Audits

Recipients are subject to audit by the Office of the Inspector General, USDA, as set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133, or in Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Records

The recipient will maintain at its place of business all records required by the partnership agreement and the applicable OMB Circulars.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-3700-0-1-554.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 07 $1,000,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

FY 07 $12,000 to $100,000; $52,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

9 CFR 301-592, Inspection Regulations. Guidelines and literature can be found on FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Outreach Staff; Food Safety and Inspection Service (Mail drop 405 Aerospace); Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue., SW., Washington, DC 20250; Telephone: (202)690-6520.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Criteria used by the application review panel for recommending awards are listed in the request for proposals.