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10.221 TRIBAL COLLEGES EDUCATION EQUITY GRANTS

FEDERAL AGENCY
COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AUTHORIZATION
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994, Public Law 103-382, October 20, 1994, 7 U.S.C. 301, note as amended Public Law 105-185.

OBJECTIVES
To enhance educational opportunities at the 30 Tribal Colleges designated as the 1994 Land-Grant Institutions by strengthening their teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences in targeted need areas.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Formula Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
Public Law 103-382 targeted funds to benefit those schools specifically listed as the 1994 Land-Grant Institutions. Funds may be used to support teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences in the targeted need areas of: (1) Curricula design and instructional materials development; (2) faculty development and preparation for teaching; (3) instruction delivery systems; (4) student experiential learning; (5) equipment and instrumentation for teaching, and (6) student recruitment and retention.

Applicant Eligibility
Bay Mills Community College, Blackfeet Community College, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Cheyenne River Community College, Dine Community College, D-Q University, Dull knife Memorial College, Fond Du Lac Community College, Fort Belknap Community College, Fort Berthold Community College, Fort Peck Community College, LacCourte Orielles Ojibwa Community College, Little Big Horn Community College, Nebraska Indian Community College, Northwest Indian College, Oglala Lakota College, Salish Kootenai College, Sinte Gleska University, Sisseton Wahpeton Community College, Sitting Bull College, Stone child Community College, Turtle Mountain Community College, United Tribes Technical College, Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute, Institute of American Indian Arts, Crown point Institute of Technology, Haskell Indian Nations University, Leech Lake Tribal College, College of the Menominee Nation; and Little Priest Tribal College.

Beneficiary Eligibility
The 1994 Institutions--Bay Mills Community College, Black feet Community College, Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Cheyenne River Community College, Dine Community College, D-Q University, Dull knife Memorial College, Fond Du Lac Community College, Fort Belknap Community College, Fort Berthold Community College, Fort Peck Community College, LacCourte Orielles Ojibwa Community College, Little Big Horn Community College, Nebraska Indian Community College, Northwest Indian College, Oglala Lakota College, Salish Kootenai College, Sinte Gleska University, Sisseton Wahpeton Community College, Sitting Bull College, Stone child Community College, Turtle Mountain Community College, United Tribes Technical College, Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute, Institute of American Indian Arts, Crown point Institute of Technology, Haskell Indian Nations University, Leech Lake Tribal College, College of the Menominee Nation; and Little Priest Tribal College.

Credentials/Documentation
Each prospective grantee institution must furnish the information and assurances specified in the program guidelines. Guidelines include: 7 CFR Part 1, Subpart A; 7 CFR Part 3; 7 CFR Part 15, Subpart A; 7 CFR Part 3015; 7 CFR Part 3017; 7 CFR Part 3018; 7 CFR Part 3019; 7 CFR Part 3052; 29 U.S.C. 794, Section 504 and 7 CFR Part 15b; 35 U.S.C. 200 et seq., and 37 CFR Part 401.

Preapplication Coordination
The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-110 must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372 because the program does not directly affect State and local governments.

Application Procedure
Formal application should be submitted to the Office of Extramural Programs, CSREES, as outlined in th application package submitted to the 29 institutions. Application procedures are contained in the program guidelines and required forms are contained in the Grant Application Kit. This program is subject to the regulatory provisions of USDA's 7 CFR 3015 et seq. and 7 CFR 3019, and all successor regulations.

Award Procedure
Applications are reviewed and evaluated by USDA staff and by expert educators and scientist from other Federal agencies as needed. Grant payment may be made by the electronic transfer system or advance by Treasury check.

Deadlines
None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 45 to 90 days.

Appeals
None.

Renewals
None.

Formula and Matching Requirements
approximately $50,000 to each of the 30 1994 Institutions, no matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are awarded for a 12- to 24-month period of assistance.

Reports
Annual technical and financial progress reports are due within 90 days after the end of each 12-month budget period. Final technical and financial reports are due within 90 days after the expiration date of the grant. The content of these reports will be as required in the "Terms and Conditions" of the grant award.

Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal 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 records three years beyond the life of the grant or longer if there are any pending litigation or unresolved audit findings. Separate records for each grant must be maintained. Records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and for three years thereafter.

Account Identification
12-1500-0-1-352.

Obligations
(Grants) FY 07 $3,342,000; FY 08 est 2,227,000; and FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Approximately $50,000 to each eligible institution.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
One Tribal College recently received accreditation of its Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences program because of the purchase of equipment from this program.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE
7 CFR 301 note; 7 CFR Part 1.1, USDA implementation of Freedom of Information Act; 7 CFR Part 3, USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-129 regarding debt collection; 7 CFR Part 15, Subpart A, USDA implementation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; 7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants); 7 CFR Part 3018, Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3019, USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations; 7 CFR Part 3407, Agency Procedures to Implement the National Environmental Policy Act; 7 CFR Part 3052, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations; 29 U.S.C. 794, section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and 7 CFR Part 15b (USDA implementation of statute), prohibiting discrimination based upon physical or mental handicap in Federally assisted programs; and 35 U.S.C. 200 et seq., Bayh-Dole Act, controlling allocation of rights to inventions made by employees of small business firms and domestic nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally assisted programs (implementing regulations are contained in 37 CFR Part 401).

Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.

Headquarters Office
Higher Education Programs, Science and Education Resources Development, CSREES, USDA, 800 9th Street, SW, Room 3901 Waterfront Centre, Washington, DC 20250-2251. Telephone: (202) 720-1973.

Web Site Address
http://www.reeusda.gov

RELATED PROGRAMS
10.222, Tribal Colleges Endowment Program.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS
Center for Integrated Rural Development Studies; Agricultural Degree Development Project; Implementation of a Comprehensive Horticulture Program; Educational Program in Nutrition; Strengthening Curricula and Services for Students in the Food and Agricultural Sciences.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS
Proposals are evaluated using the following criteria: Overall approach and cooperative linages; intrinsic merit; budget and cost effectiveness; and institutional commitment and resources.


General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)