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| 10.219 BIOTECHNOLOGY RISK ASSESSMENT RESEARCH |
| (Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Section 1668, Public Law 101-624, as amended. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To carry out risk assessment and risk management research focused on environmental effects of agricultural biotechnology. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct approved research objectives. Funds may not be used for purposes other than those approved in the grant award documents. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Any public or private research or educational institution or organization. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Any public or private research or educational institution or organization. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| None. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| All proposal solicitations are published on the Agency's Web site. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Pre-proposals and/or formal proposals, as outlined in the solicitation, should be submitted to the Proposal Services Unit, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). Application procedures are contained in the Research Grant Application Kit. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 and the administrative Provisions for the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program, 7 CFR 3415. |
| Award Procedure |
| Proposals are reviewed by a peer panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Proposals are funded in order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds. |
| Deadlines |
| Specific deadline dates are announced in the request for application or guidelines for each fiscal year. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| From four to six months. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| Requests for renewal support must be submitted as new proposals at the announced deadline and are considered in equal competition with other proposals. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| None. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| From one to five years. |
| Reports |
| Quarterly financial reports, annual progress reports, and final financial and final summary progress reports. |
| Audits |
| Audits will be conducted in accordance with guidelines established in the revised OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," and implemented in 7 CFR Part 3052, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations." |
| Records |
| Grantees are expected to maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for the purpose for which the grant was made. Records are subject to inspections during the life of the grant and for three years thereafter. |
| Account Identification |
| 12-1500-0-1-352. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 07 $1,685,400; FY 08 est $1,685,400; and FY 09 est not reported. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $50,220 to $223,269. Average: $147,583. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| It is anticipated that funded projects will advance the safe application of biotechnology to agriculture. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| 7 CFR 3415, Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program Administrative Provisions, and regulations referenced therein (e.g., 7 CFR 3015, 3016, 3017, 3018, 3019 and 3407). |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Deputy Administrator, Competitive Programs, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 401-1761. |
| 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; 10.206, Grants for Agricultural Research_Competitive Research Grants; 10.207, Animal Health and Disease Research; 10.250, Agricultural and Rural Economic Research; 10.652, Forestry Research. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Factors Affecting Crop Gene Flow and Introgression into Natural Populations; Transgenic Fish; Testing Models to Assess Risk; Risk Assessment of a Recombinant Baculovirus Expressing a Protease; The Hazard of Pest Evolution: Accuracy and Precision of Genetic Risk Assessments; Assessing Risk of Bt Corn to Nontarget Soil Arthropods: Direct and Indirect Effects. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Within guidelines established for the program, criteria include: Overall scientific and technological quality of proposal; research competence of the principal investigator(s), research team and support personnel; adequacy of facilities, equipment, and related program support; justification of support requested in relation to objectives and procedures; feasibility of attaining objectives during life of proposed research; awareness of published literature and current research related to proposed research; relevance of importance of proposed research to solution of specific areas of inquiry; and estimate of expected benefits. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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