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Grant Community.com Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Descriptions |
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC
ASSISTANCE
10.961: Scientific Cooperation Program
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| PROGRAM AND AWARD | FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS | FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO. |
| APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS | INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| RELATED PROGRAMS | ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS | POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS |
Applicant Eligibility: U.S. institutions of higher learning, U.S. Federal or State agencies, and public/private nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is scientific and agricultural research, including those located in U.S. territories. U.S. scientists may collaborate with an appropriate research institution in any country with which the United States has diplomatic relations. International Agricultural Research Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are considered foreign cooperating institutions.
Beneficiary Eligibility: U.S. institutions of higher learning, U.S. Federal or State agencies, and public/private nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is scientific and agricultural research, including those located in U.S. territories. U.S. scientists may collaborate with an appropriate research institution in any country with which the United States has diplomatic relations. International Agricultural Research Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) are considered foreign cooperating institutions.
Credentials/Documentation: Proposal selection criteria includes an assessment of the professional qualifications and competence of the proposal's principal investigators and the adequacy of the institutional resources related to the proposed scientific cooperation activity. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-122. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Preapplication Coordination: None. Interested parties are encouraged to submit proposals using program guidelines available from the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service/International Cooperation and Development's Research and Scientific Exchanges Division. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372 and OMB Circular No. A-102.
Application Procedure: Formal Scientific Cooperation Program proposals should be submitted to the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service/International Cooperation and Development's Research and Scientific Exchanges Division as outlined in the program guidelines which detail application procedures. Guidelines for the Scientific Cooperation Program guidelines are available directly from the Foreign Agricultural Service's Research and Scientific Exchanges Division, USDA/FAS/ICD/RSED/SCP, Mail Stop 1091, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-1091. Program guidelines are also on the internet through the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's homepage at www.fas.usda.gov and at other internet addresses on the World Wide Web: www.reeusda.gov/whatnew/fas99.htm or www.fas.usda.gov/icd/grants/scphome.html. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102.
Award Procedure: Program staff members review and evaluate all proposals with the assistance and advice of peer panels of qualified U.S. scientists. Proposals are selected according to how well they meet criteria that include scientific or technical merit of the proposed activity; qualifications and competence of the principal investigators, adequacy of the institutional resources, and feasibility of achieving proposal objectives; relevance to priority issues in U.S. agriculture and forestry; and significance for international cooperation. Proposals are funded in order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds.
Deadlines: Annual deadlines for proposal submissions are generally September 1, to be considered for funding in the following fiscal year. Consult current program guidelines for specific dates.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Generally from 120 to 150 days.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: None. Proposals for follow up activities to previously funded Scientific Cooperation Program projects must compete with all other new proposals.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Within the guidelines established for the Scientific Cooperation Program, proposals are evaluated on the overall scientific and technological merit and quality of the proposed activity; qualifications of the principal investigators; adequacy of the institutional resources; feasibility of achieving objectives during the life of the proposed activity; relevance to priority issues in U.S. agriculture and forestry; and significance for international cooperation.
Examples of Funded Projects: Collaborative research with Mexico is evaluating gene probes and commercial rapid method test kits for meat samples to determine the prevalence of the spore forming bacterium Clostridium perfringens, which has been the third leading cause of bacterial food poisoning in the United States. U.S. and Polish scientists are cooperating to develop alternative post-harvest treatment of commodities using a biochemical marker sensitive to irradiation to distinguish treated from non-treated commodities. U.S. university and African scientists are cooperating on research necessary to understand and evaluate the impact on wood exports of Ceratocystis, a major pathogen of trees around the world that is easily transported on logs and has been known to have devastating effects in new ecosystems. U.S. scientists are also promoting new industrial uses for U.S. agricultural products overseas through collaboration with Hungary on biodegradable plastics from corn starch, Argentina on hypoallergenic latex from guayule, and Mexico on pulp and paper products from crop wastes. Collaborative research with Benin advances new technology using biological control agents to prevent aflatoxin contamination which limits both domestic use and export of U.S. corn, tree nuts, peanuts, cottonseed, and other crops.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: For research projects, up to a maximum total of $30,000 for a three year project. For exchange visits, up to a maximum total of $5,000 for a 4-week visit, with an average of $2,500.
None.
Through this worldwide Scientific Cooperation Program, the Foreign Agricultural Service supports the international cooperative research efforts of 100 active projects in 40 countries focused on practical uses of science to help solve critical problems affecting U.S. agriculture, such as trade barriers and phytosanitary issues, food safety, and exotic diseases and pests. Projects range from cooperation with post harvest technology staff in Malaysia to develop quarantine treatments to hasten the elimination of trade and quarantine barriers of fruit fly-susceptible commodities to one scientific exchange visit with a Chinese team to the United States on viral diseases of animals which resulted in an opportunity for U.S. manufacturers of diagnostic equipment to export to China and the export of U.S. Shorthorn cattle. To help protect U.S. wheat export markets, U.S. scientists cooperated with researchers at the International Center for the Improvement of Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT) on development of more accurate and rapid detection methods for Karnal bunt, a fungal disease of wheat which when detected in several U.S. States resulted in immediate quarantines.
Federal Agency: FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE, (DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE )
Type of Assistance: Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements); Direct Payments for Specified Use.
Obligations: (Cooperative Agreements and Direct Payments) FY 99 $2,551,132; FY 00 est $2,500,000; and FY 01 est $2,500,000.
Budget Account Number: 12-3200-0-1-352.
Authorization: National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 3291; Food Security Act of 1985, Public Law 99-198, as amended.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: 7 CFR 3015.
Regional or Local Office: None.
Headquarters Office: Richard Affleck, Director, USDA/FAS/International Cooperation and Development, Research and Scientific Exchanges Division, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250-1084. Phone: (202) 690-4872. (Home Page)
(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)
Formula and Matching Requirements: For Research Projects, participating U.S. institutions are expected to share a portion of project costs or arrange supplemental funding from other sources. For Short-Term Visits, the program provides funding for about half of the total cost. For the Receiving-Side-Pays Exchanges with the People's Republic of China, the country receiving a team provides all expenses for in-country travel and per diem for the visiting team. Under this arrangement with China, U.S. program participants are responsible for their international airfare.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Long-term research project agreements range from 1 to 3 years. Short-term exchange visits are limited to a maximum of 4 weeks.
Uses and Use Restrictions: Funds may not be used to pay indirect costs or tuition, or solely for attendance at conferences or sabbaticals. Funds may be used for direct costs of conducting approved activities such as research associates, travel, supplies and equipment.
Reports: Long-term research projects require technical annual progress and final research reports. Short-term exchange visits require trip reports. Financial reports are also required.
Audits: Audits and reviews are conducted periodically by representatives of the Office of Inspector General and Government Accounting Office. Accounts and records must be available for inspection or audit at any reasonable time. For short-term exchange visits, audits are not normally performed other than review of transportation/per diem expenses to ensure compliance with Federal Travel Regulations. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records: Records must be maintained for not less than 3 years after completion or termination of the agreement.
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Last Updated, November, 2000
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