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| 10.960 TECHNICAL AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANCE |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE (FAS), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 3318, 3319a and 3291; Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, Public Law 95-113, September 29, 1977, as amended. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To identify and apply the most appropriate solutions to international agricultural problems and increase the capabilities of U.S. educational institutions and nonprofit agencies in agricultural technical assistance and research. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements). |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Cost-reimbursable and cooperative agreements are used to fund projects dealing with various aspects of agricultural technical assistance. No funding is available for unsolicited proposals. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| U.S. institutions of higher learning, and public and private/nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is agriculture, natural resources management and/or rural development (including those located in U.S. territories). |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Technical assistance provided through these reimbursable agreements benefit foreign governments and related agricultural institutions in their countries. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions and A-122, Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations. This program is not subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| Notices of fund availability and requests for proposals with information on requirements are disseminated through selected USDA agencies and land grant universities. This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. |
| Application Procedure |
| Submit requests for proposal packages, which include specific information on requirements, to USDA/FAS/ICD/DRD (see below). This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110, Uniform Asdministrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations. This program is not subject to the provisions of OMB Circular A-102, Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments. |
| Award Procedure |
| Proposals are evaluated by a technical review panel, which rates the qualifications of applicants and the merit of proposal. |
| Deadlines |
| Deadlines are announced with the Request for Proposals. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Not available. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| Extensions may be authorized. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Assistance is phased according to the requirements of individual projects. Generally, cost- reimbursable and cooperative agreements are funded for variable lengths of time, depending on the technical assistance requested. |
| Reports |
| None. |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR Part 3052, which implement OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards will have a single or double 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 7 CFR 3052. |
| Records |
| Program and financial records are kept in the Department. |
| Account Identification |
| 12-3200-0-1-352. |
| Obligations |
| (Reimbursable Agreements) FY 07 $7,000,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $30,000 to $600,000. Average: $160,000. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Programs currently include provision of technical assistance for expanding the use of effective program management concepts and technologies in developing countries to promote food security; guidance on natural resources management policy, procedures and techniques; trade capacity building; post-disaster and post-conflict reconstruction; and integrated approaches to international agricultural development and environmental protection. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| 7 CFR 3015 and 3019. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Grant Pettrie, USDA/FAS/International Cooperation and Development, Development Resources Division, Washington DC 20250-1089. Telephone: (202) 690-1924. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.fas.usda.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Development of effective management concepts and methodologies for implementation of technical agricultural and environmental protection projects. Hurricane rehabilitation activities in Central America and the Caribbean, emphasizing watershed rehabilitation, food safety, and food security. Sound natural resources management, agricultural and environmental policy reform, and micro- finance for economic and rural development in developing countries. Strengthening of host government institutions in post-conflict environments. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Criteria are dependent upon identification of specific project requirements and program priorities determined by the Foreign Agricultural Service's International Cooperation and Development (FAS/ICD) program area and its collaborators, especially the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Contact FAS/ICD for additional information. While this program does not fund unsolicited proposals, interested parties are welcome to submit statements of capability and expressions of interest. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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