Scientific Cooperation Exchange Program with China
Related Programs10.777 Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship; 10.961 Scientific Cooperation and Research; 10.962 Cochran Fellowship Program-International Training-Foreign Participant
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.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2012: Hosted six (6) teams from China and deployed six (6) U.S. teams to China. Fiscal Year 2013: The Scientific Cooperation Exchange Program with China is expected to host eight (8) exchange teams from China and deploy eight (8) U.S. teams to China. Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds may be used for direct costs of conducting approved agricultural exchanges.
Allowable expenses include travel for research, extension,training, and indirect costs associated with hosting Chinese exchange teams.
Eligibility Requirements
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 (inculding those located in U.S.
territories).
Beneficiary Eligibility
U.S. institutions from the public, private, and academia sectors.
Credentials/Documentation
This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circulars A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions; A-122, Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations; and OMB Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication procedures are available on the internet through the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service website at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Program guidelines with detailed application procedures are available on the internet through the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service website at : http://www.fas.usda.gov/ or through Grants.gov, a government wide internet portal for federal funding.
Award Procedures
All proposals are evaluated by technical specialists who rate the qualifications of applicants and the merits of the proposals. Selection criteria will be published with each individual "Request for Expression of Interest" for participation in the program.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 enacted as Title XIV of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 3318(b), 7 U.S.C. 3319(a), and 7 U.S.C. 3291. Title 7, Agriculture, Chapter 64, Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching, Subchapter VIII, International Research, Extension, and Teaching, as amended on February 1, 2010.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 90 to 120 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Extensions may be authorized.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Short term exchange visits for approximately two weeks. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance is phased according to the requirements of individual projects.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Participants must submit a final report.
The SF-425, Federal Financial Report, are required quarterly.
No progress reports are required.
The SF-425, Federal Financial Report, are required quarterly.
Participants must submit a final report.
Participants must include a monitoring and evaluation component in the proposal.
Monitoring and evaluation varies per project.
Participants must submit a final report.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 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
Typically, a recipient must maintain all program and financial records for a period of 3 years after the final report, subject to conditions found in 7CFR 3015.21 and 7CFR3015.22.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-2900-0-1-352.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 12 $426,217; FY 13 est $426,217; and FY 14 est $426,217
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Exchange visits last approximately two weeks. Average cost per participant is $5,500.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Federal financial assistance transactions under 7 USC 3291 are subject to various legal requirements that are codified in the U.S. C., parts of the CFR, Executive Orders, Treasury Financial Manual bulletins, and other legally binding sources.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Gerald Smith 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 3234-S, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: Gerald.Smith@fas.usda.gov Phone: 202- 690-2868
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria are dependent upon identification of specific project requirements and program priorities developed by the Foreign Agricultural Service"s Office of Capacity Building and Development program area (FAS/OCBD), in consultation with collaborating agencies and organizations. Contact FAS/OCBD 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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