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| 10.215 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985, Public Law 99-198, Sections 1461-1471, 7 U.S.C. 4701-4710; Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, Section 1621, 7 U.S.C. 5811. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To facilitate and increase scientific investigation and education in order to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers and toxic materials in agricultural production; to improve management of on-farm resources to enhance productivity, profitability and competitiveness; to promote crop, livestock and enterprise diversification and to facilitate the conduct of research projects in order to study agricultural production systems that are located, in areas that possess various soil, climatic, and physical characteristics; to study farms that have been and continue to be managed using farm production practices that optimize the use of on-farm resources and conservation practices; to take advantage of the experience and expertise of farmers and ranchers through their direct participation and leadership in projects; to transfer practical, reliable and timely information to farmers and ranchers concerning sustainable practices and systems; and to promote a partnership between farmers, nonprofit organizations, agribusiness and public and private research and extension institutions. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Funds may not be used to pay indirect costs or tuition. Funds may be used for transportation, per diem, salaries, office supplies, printing, and other direct costs for conducting approved activities. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Land-grant colleges or universities, other universities, State agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, nonprofit organizations, and individuals with demonstrable expertise, or Federal or State governmental entities. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Land-grant colleges or universities, other universities, State agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, nonprofit organizations, and individuals with demonstrable expertise, or Federal or State governmental entities. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and approved by OMB must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3019 or A-102 as implemented by 7 CFR 3016. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and approved by OMB must be used for this program. |
| Award Procedure |
| Regional technical committees will review, rank and prioritize proposals received from public and private organizations and make recommendations for funding to the regional administrative councils. Regional administrative councils will approve proposals for funding and associated plans of work and submit them to USDA. Research and education subcommittee on sustainable agriculture will review plans of work and the Department will give final approval. |
| Deadlines |
| Contact the Headquarters office for application deadlines. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| From 90 to 180 days. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| There are no statutory formula or matching requirements. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Agreements will be supported for periods of one to five years. Funds are released by the electronic transfer system and reimbursement by Treasury check. |
| Reports |
| Standard reporting as required by OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110 as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3016 or 7 CFR Part 3019, respectively. |
| 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 |
| Standard records required by OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110 as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3016 or 7 CFR Part 3019, respectively, must be maintained for three years. |
| Account Identification |
| 12-1500-0-1-352. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $11,490,336; FY 08 est $8,553,168; and FY 09 est not reported. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $8,000 to $1,752,250. Average: $855,540. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| The program is a major catalyst and facilitator of alternative agricultural systems for the future. Programs are designed to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to minimize environmental degradation; improve and increase low-input farm management to enhance productivity and profitability; and promote crop and livestock enterprise diversification. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| Sections 1472 and 1473A of the National Agricultural Research Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, 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, New Restrictions on Lobbying; and 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit Organizations. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Deputy Administrator, Economic and Community Systems, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 720-7948. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.reeusda.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 10.001, Agricultural Research_Basic and Applied Research; 10.200, Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants; 10.202, Cooperative Forestry Research; 10.203, Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act; 10.205, Payments to 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee University; 10.206, Grants for Agricultural Research_Competitive Research Grants; 10.207, Animal Health and Disease Research; 10.250, Agricultural and Rural Economic Research; 10.500, Cooperative Extension Service; 10.652, Forestry Research. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Support of the National Sustainable Agriculture Program; Mainstreaming Principles of Sustainability in Agriculture; National Rollout of Agricultural Entrepreneurs Curriculum; and Evaluation of National Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Projects. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| The primary selection process will be done by the regional technical committees and administrative councils, with subsequent approval by the Department of Agriculture. Criteria used at the regional level include: (1) Does the proposed work fulfill the intent of Congress and Departmental policy, as articulated in guidelines prepared by CSREES? (2) Is the subject matter highly relevant to producers in this region with regard to finding profitable low input methods and systems of production? (3) Are specific provisions made for presenting in readily usable form those findings that are directly applicable to producers? (4) Do the various categories of public and private organizations have a meaningful opportunity to participate in shaping and implementing the program? |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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