Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
None.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds may be used to enhance educational equity for under-represented students in order to prepare them for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States; to strengthen institutional educational capacities, including libraries, curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, in order to respond to identified educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences; and to facilitate activities and cooperative initiatives between AN/NH Serving Institutions, or between AN/NH Serving Institutions and units of State government or the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources, faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Individual public or private, non-profit Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions of higher education that meet the definitions of Alaska Native-Serving Institution or Native Hawaiian Serving Institution established in Title III, Part A of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C.
1059d.) are eligible institutions unde this program.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Alaska Native Serving Institutions and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
Credentials/Documentation
Each first-time recipient must furnish organizational management information requested by the funding agency, and each applicant must provide assurances specified in the annual solicitation of applications.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
All proposals/solicitations are published in the Federal Register.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Formal proposals should be submitted to the Office of Extramural Programs, CSREES, as outlined in the solicitation of applications. Application procedures are contained in the program regulations and required forms are contained in the Grant Application Kit. This program is subject to the regulatory provisions of USDA, 7 CFR Part 3015, et seq., and all successor regulations.
Award Procedures
Proposals are reviewed and evaluated by CSREES staff members with the assistance and advice of peer panels of qualified educators, administrators, industrialists, and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the fields covered by the proposals, as needed. Grant payments may be made by the electronic transfer system, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Deadlines
All deadlines are announced in the Federal Register. The deadline for submission of fiscal year 2004 proposals is March 18, 2004.
Authorization
Section 759, Public Law 106-78, 7 U.S.C. 3242.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 90 to 180 days.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Funds are awarded on an equal basis to Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions to carry out higher education programs. There are no matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are awarded for project periods of 12 to 36 months duration.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grant terms and conditions will specify reporting requirements.
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 separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are expended for authorized purposes. Grant related records must be retained at least three-years; records must be retained beyond the three year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-1500-0-1-352.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 $3,088,800; FY 08 est $2,848,320; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
It is anticipated that awards will range from $100,000 to $150,000. This is a newly funded program; average not yet determined.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations (implementing the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-110); 7 CFR Part 3017, Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants); 7 CFR Part 3018, Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Multicultural Alliances, Science, Education, and Research Development Unit, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, Department of Agriculture, Room 3901, Waterfront Centre, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-2251. Telephone: (202) 720-1973.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria are expected to include the following: (1) The likelihood that the project will have a substantial impact upon and advance the quality of higher education in the food and agricultural sciences higher education by strengthening institutional capacities to meet clearly delineated needs; (2) the soundness of the proposed approach, including objectives, procedures, timetable, evaluation and dissemination plans, and partnerships and collaborative efforts; (3) the qualifications and the adequacy of the key personnel who will carry out the proposed project; (4) the institution's commitment to the project and the adequacy of institutional resources available to carry out the project; (5) the extent to which the total budget adequately supports the project and is cost effective; and (6) the degree to which the proposal complies with the application guidelines and is of high quality.
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