FY22-ECDRE-Pre-App-RFA-508.pdf

REQUEST FOR PRE-APPLICATIONS

Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year 2022

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 17, 2022

ANTICIPATED FUNDING: $22,000,000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-ECDRE-008901

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.309

LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: Not Required

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. The Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDRE) is listed in the Assistance Listings under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 10.309.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern, March 17, 2022 Letter of Intent: Not Required

Applicants Comments: Within six months from the issuance of this notice (NIFA may not consider comments received after the sixth month)

Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. NIFA recognizes research, education, and extension efforts will have the greatest impacts when equity is grounded in the programs. NIFA is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of programs and encourages individuals, institutions, and organizations from underserved communities to apply to funding opportunities as lead, co-lead, or subaward recipient(s), and to engage as leaders in the peer panel review process to support the development of strong networks and collaborations. NIFA encourages applications that engage diverse communities and have broad impacts through research, education, extension, and integrated activities to address current and future challenges.

Stakeholder Input. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) seeks comments on all request for applications (RFAs) so it can deliver programs efficiently, effectively, with integrity, and with a focus on customer service. NIFA considers comments, to the extent possible when developing RFAs and use comments to help meet the requirements of Section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998. and 7 U.S.C.

7613(c)(2). Applicants may submit written comments to Policy@usda.gov (email is for comments only). Please use the following subject line: Response to the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDRE) request for pre-applications (RFPA).

Centers of Excellence. Applicants are encouraged to visit NIFA’s Center of Excellence (COE) for information on COE designation process, including COE criteria, and a list of programs offering COE opportunities. A recording of COE outreach and COE implementation webinars are also available.

https://www.congress.gov/105/plaws/publ185/PLAW-105publ185.pdf https://www.congress.gov/105/plaws/publ185/PLAW-105publ185.pdf mailto:7%20U.S.C.%207613(c)(2) mailto:7%20U.S.C.%207613(c)(2) mailto:Policy@usda.gov https://nifa.usda.gov/centers-excellence https://nifa.usda.gov/centers-excellence

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This notice identifies the objectives for Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDRE) projects, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions. NIFA requests pre-applications for the ECDRE program for fiscal year 2022 to address priorities identified by the Citrus Disease Subcommittee (CDS) of the National Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board through projects that integrate research and extension activities and use systems-based, trans-disciplinary approaches to provide solutions to U.S. citrus growers.

The overarching goals and desired outcomes for the ECDRE program are:

1. To combat Huanglongbing (HLB) and its disease complex in order to continue to be able to farm citrus in a financially sustainable way through collaborative approaches and knowledge;

2. Transition from component-focused research to deploying research outcomes and conclusions on farms; and

3. Encourage research teams to bring knowledge together to find grower solutions to combat and prevent HLB infection.

The ECDRE program will address these needs through the promotion of collaboration, open communication, exchange of information, and development of resources that accelerate application of scientific discovery and technology to farm-level solutions for HLB.

This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2022. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or a full appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. The amount available for grants in FY 2022 is approximately $22 million.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority B. Purpose and Priorities

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding B. Project Types C. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements B. Cost Sharing or Matching C. Centers of Excellence

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Method of Application B. Content and Form of the Pre-Application C. Funding Restrictions

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process B. Evaluation Criteria C. Center of Excellence

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACTS

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

TABLE OF TABLES

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Table 2. Steps to Obtain Application Materials Table 3. Help and Resources Table 4. Key Application Instructions

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority 7 U.S.C. 7632(j) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a competitive research and extension grant program to combat diseases of citrus under which the Secretary awards competitive grants to eligible entities. Section 12605 of Pub. L. 115-334, title XII provides Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund to provide mandatory funding for this program.

B. Purpose and Priorities 7 U.S.C. 7632(j), establishes the following purpose and priorities (program goals and objectives):

The Secretary shall establish a competitive research and extension grant program to combat diseases of citrus under which the Secretary awards competitive grants to eligible entities—

A. to conduct scientific research and extension activities, technical assistance, and development activities to combat citrus diseases and pests, both domestic and invasive, which pose imminent harm to the United States citrus production and threaten the future viability of the citrus industry, including HLB and the Asian Citrus Psyllid; and

B. to provide support for the dissemination and commercialization of relevant information, techniques, and technologies discovered pursuant to research and extension activities funded through—

i. the emergency citrus disease research and extension program; or

ii. other research and extension projects intended to solve problems caused by citrus production diseases and invasive pests.

In FY 2022, the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension (ECDRE) program, under Assistance Listing 10.309, is soliciting proposals to develop effective tactics and strategies to control HLB and its disease complex for financially sustainable citrus growth in the United States.

All projects funded by the ECDRE program will incorporate collaborative approaches that integrate available knowledge to develop new solutions that can be deployed by growers to manage and prevent HLB infection in the near term.

Proposals funded by the ECDRE program in FY 2022 will provide a plan for addressing one or more of the following priority needs, established in consultation with the Citrus Disease Subcommittee (CDS)1:

1. Coordination Network (CN) project(s) to facilitate greater sharing of HLB research results nationally, at the state level, and internationally. The goals of the CN(s) would be to develop and support resources for data collection and management, develop tools for evaluation of progress and assess the effectiveness of research and extension efforts, and help identify priority research and extension needs. It is expected that the coordination network(s) will work closely with NIFA and the CDS to ensure that its analyses inform decision making and increase the effectiveness of the ECDRE Program. Note that NIFA strongly encourages proposals to develop CN projects and expects to support at least one such project in FY 2022.

1The consultation occurred virtually on November 4, 2021. CDS recommendations were provided to NIFA via the NAREEE Board on December 10, 2021. The subcommittees’ FY22 recommendations were incorporated into this Request for Pre-Applications.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:7632%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section7632)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm?volume=132&page=5006 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:7632%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section7632)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true

2. Research and Extension Projects:

2.1. A delivery system for therapeutics, nutrition and other HLB solutions. Most therapies available are not adequately delivered via foliar application. The citrus industry needs an engineered delivery system for phloem to access the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) systemic infection.

2.2. A better understanding of the HLB/vector/citrus pathosystem, including phloem biology, the movement of CLas and therapy into and through phloem, and the interaction of host, pathogen and vector (disease triangle).

2.3. Consolidation of screening efforts for intervention targets and reduction of candidate lists to include only those most worthy of advanced testing and commercialization. High priority screening efforts are needed to identify: 1) Host plant defense or resistance; 2) Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) suppression, reduced transmission, or behavior modification (e.g., attract and kill); or 3) Pathogen CLas titer reduction, competition, or acquisition/transmission prevention.

2.4. A cure for HLB-infected trees and strategies for maintaining their productivity. Progress in this area can be made through the development of nutritional materials and their delivery, antimicrobials and their delivery, or commercialization of molecules that improve citrus production and along with large scale field trials.

2.5. Regional management or eradication of ACP on commercial citrus groves and residential plantings; management strategies should incorporate appropriate resistance management measures.

2.6. Optimized detection and surveillance programs for ACP and/or HLB. Detection and surveillance programs should incorporate all effective tools and tactics, including psyllid attractants, predictive models of psyllid movement and dispersal, and early detection of HLB/ CLas (based on an understanding of mechanisms).

2.7. A reliable technique for culturing CLas bacteria.

2.8. Progress in the development of commercial citrus varieties (rootstocks and scions) with genetic resistance to HLB using traditional breeding techniques and/or gene editing. These efforts could be focused on the identification of gene-editing targets, the use of CRISPR tools, or large-scale evaluation of resistant breeding lines for horticultural performance, consumer acceptance/marketing, and economics.

2.9. Greater understanding of the ecology and interactions of the citrus production system and the citrus greening disease complex (HLB and ACP). These studies are needed to answer basic questions regarding how climate and other environmental factors impact tree health and the spread of HLB and ACP.

Projects must address only scientific research and extension activities. The applicant must not propose technical assistance, classified research, or financial assistance to start, create, or expand a company or submit patent applications. Additional information on expected performance goals, indicators, targets, baseline data, and data collection will be discussed in the ECDRE full application RFA.

The ECDRE program is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Goals:

1. Strategic Goal 1: Ensure USDA Programs Are Delivered Efficiently, Effectively, With Integrity and a Focus on Customer Service;

2. Strategic Goal 2: Maximize the Ability of American Agricultural Producers to Prosper by Feeding and Clothing the World;

3. Strategic Goal 4: Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development;

4. Strategic Goal 5: Strengthen the Stewardship of Private Lands Through Technology and

Research.

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-strategic-plan-2018-2022.pdf

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding The amount available for support of this program in FY 2022 is approximately $22 million. This RFPA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2022. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or a full appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

The ECDRE pre-application process does not result in award recommendations; however, an estimate of project costs is required. Applicants must use the information in Part II § B of this RFPA to develop the cost estimate.

B. Project Types The ECDRE program will support three project types in FY 2022. Applicants should decide which project type is best suited to the objectives of their research and extension project and develop a preliminary budget that fits the objectives. Applicants are discouraged from developing a project (and selecting a project type) based on a budget request target. The three ECDRE project types are:

1. Coordination Network (CN)

a. Project period: Five years.

b. Budget: Federal funds up to approximately $4,000,000 per project.

c. Purpose: To facilitate greater sharing of HLB research results nationally at the state level, and internationally. The goals of the CN(s) would be to develop and support resources for data collection and management, develop tools for evaluation of progress and assess the effectiveness of research and extension efforts, and help identify priority research and extension needs. It is expected that the coordination network will work closely with NIFA and the Citrus Disease Subcommittee to ensure that its analyses inform decision making and increase the effectiveness of the ECDRE program. CN(s) are expected to host an annual spring ECDRE Project Directors Meeting which will include CDS members. Virtual or hybrid meetings may be considered based on local and national pandemic conditions.

d. It is expected that at least one CN project application will be funded in 2022.

2. Standard Project (SP)

a. Project Period: Up to two years.

b. Budget: Federal funds will not exceed approximately $1,500,000 for the duration of the project.

c. Purpose: To support targeted problem-solving efforts that are narrower in scope than a Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP). These projects will be aimed at:

i. farm-level implementation or commercialization of proven solutions or

ii. examination of innovative ideas that will address one of the goals identified by the Citrus Disease Subcommittee.

Applications should bring together research and extension components of the agricultural knowledge system around a problem area or activity.

3. Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP)

a. Project Period: Up to five years.

b. Budget: Federal funds will not exceed approximately $15,000,000 for the duration of the project.

c. Purpose: To address national-scale efforts by coordinating research and extension efforts in one of the following goals identified by the Citrus Disease Subcommittee:

i. Consolidation of screening efforts for intervention targets and reduction of candidate lists to include only those most worthy of advanced testing and commercialization

ii. A cure for infected trees and strategies for maintaining their productivity

iii. Regional management or eradication of ACP on commercial citrus groves and residential plantings

iv. Optimized detection and surveillance programs for ACP and/or HLB

v. Development of commercial citrus varieties (rootstocks and scions) with genetic resistance to HLB using traditional breeding techniques and/or gene editing CAPs will be awarded to consortia or groups of qualified applicants to coordinate their efforts in addressing one of the goals listed above. CAP applications are expected to demonstrate coherent and complementary integrated activities with the goal of developing a strategy or solution that could be implemented in a defined timeframe, preferably by the end of the project. Successful CAP applications will propose the formation of public-private consortia or other interdisciplinary groups to address one or more of the priority needs identified.

Applications are expected to take advantage of results from previously funded projects on this topic as well as recent advances in biological, physical, and social and economic sciences and to translate basic knowledge rapidly to practical applications for solving the priority needs of affected citrus industries. Applications are also expected to demonstrate the potential to develop a national strategy or solution as a goal; this would include the intent to promote collaboration, open communication, the exchange of information and development of resources that accelerate the application of scientific discovery and technology to address the needs of the citrus industry. As such, the applications for CAP should aim to reduce duplication of efforts and integrate activities among individuals, institutions, states, and regions. CAPs are likely to support large-scale efforts for trials, demonstrations, coordinated testing across environments, and screening.

CAPs require efforts that are larger in scope and complexity than those required for standard projects and require coordinated efforts of multi-state/multi-institutional teams of biological, physical, and social scientists. Collaboration with cooperative extension and ongoing grower efforts is highly encouraged. Although not required in the preapplications, invited full CAP applications will include a business plan for deliverables (e.g. commercialization, regulatory approvals, etc.), an advisory committee, and plans for documenting project impacts and communicating results to citrus producers and the public.

C. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects In accordance with sections 2, 3, and 8 of 2 CFR Part 422 institutions that conduct USDA-funded extramural research must foster an atmosphere conducive to research integrity, bear primary responsibility for prevention and detection of research misconduct and maintain and effectively communicate and train their staff regarding policies and procedures. In the event an application to NIFA results in an award, the Authorized Representative (AR) assures, through acceptance of the award that the institution will comply with the above requirements. Award recipients must, upon request, make available to NIFA the policies, procedures, and documentation to support the conduct of the training. See Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research for further information.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d9d182af41c6dd9ce852a9f753215f55&mc=true&node=pt2.1.422&rgn=div5%22%20%5Ch https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements Pre-applications for the ECDRE may only be submitted by Federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, Cooperative Extension Services, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities.

For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview page provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

Duplicate or Multiple Submission. Duplicate or multiple submissions with the same lead PD are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions. However, an applicant may act as a Co-PD on multiple unique submissions as well as submit a single unique application as the Lead PD in the same fiscal year. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview page provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching In accordance with Section 1492 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3371), as amended by section 7614 of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, for grants awarded after December 22, 2018, the recipient of an award from the ECDRE program must provide funds, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both, from sources other than funds provided through such grant in an amount that is at least equal to the amount awarded by NIFA.

The matching requirement for ECDRE awards has been waived for FY 2021 using authority granted by The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 116-260, General Provision 752), which states: “The Secretary of Agriculture may waive the matching funds requirement under Section 412(g) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(g)).” This means that no matching funds will be required of FY 2022 applicants or awardees, and applicants will not need to submit a waiver request with their application.

Changes to match requirements or match waivers may apply at time of award, when required or allowed by law, such as in the annual appropriations act that provides funding for the program.

C. Centers of Excellence Centers of Excellence cannot be requested in the pre-application phase.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/nar77.pdf https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/nar77.pdf https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2/text

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Method of Application Applicants must apply to this Request for Pre-Application (RFPA) electronically; no other method or response is accepted. The electronic application for this RFPA and additional resources are available on Grants.gov and Grants 101. Table 2 provides instructions on how to obtain an electronic application. Part II § 1 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide (Application Guide) contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process.

Table 2. Steps to Obtain Application Materials

Step s

Action

Step One:

Register

New Users to Grants.gov must register early with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application (Register Here).

Step Two:

Download Adobe

Download and Install Adobe Reader (see Adobe Software Compatibility for basic system requirements)

Step Three: Find Application

Using this funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-ECDRE-008901, search for application here: Opportunity Package.

Step Four: Assess Readiness

Contact an AR prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic application.

Table 3. Help and Resources

Grants.gov Support NIFA Support Grants.gov Online Support Telephone support: 800-518-4726 Toll-Free or 606-545-5035 Email support: support@grants.gov Self-service customer based support: Grants.gov iPortal Key Information: Customer service business Hours 24/7, except federal holidays.

Email: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

Key Information: Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays

*If you have trouble submitting a pre-application to Grants.gov, you should FIRST contact the Grants.gov Help Desk to resolve any problems. Keep a record of any such correspondence.

B. Content and Form of the Pre-Application The Application Guide is part of the corresponding application package for this RFPA. The RFPA overrides the Application Guide if there is a discrepancy between the two documents. NIFA will accept subsequent submissions to an application until the application deadline. However, applicants that do not meet the application requirements, to include partial applications, risk being excluded from NIFA’s review. NIFA will assign a proposal number to all applications that meet the requirements of this RFPA. Applicants must refer to the proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. Table 4 outlines other key instructions for applicants.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://get.adobe.com/reader/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/search-opportunity-package.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ mailto:grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf

Table 4. Key Application Instructions Instruction References

(All references are to the Application Guide)

Attachments must be in a portable document format (PDF) format.

Part III § 3

Check the manifest of submitted files to verify attachments are in the correct format.

Part III § 6.1

Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission.

Part VII

Follow the submission instructions. Part IV § 1.5

Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R.

Part IV § 1.5

Contact the Grants.gov helpdesk for technical support and keep a record of the correspondence.

N/A

Contact NIFA if applicant does not receive correspondence from NIFA regarding an application within 10 days of the application deadline.

N/A

A Stakeholder Relevance Statement (SRS) is required for all project types. The SRS cannot exceed three pages in length. The SRS must be formatted with margins no less than 1-inch on all sides. Text must be 12-point or larger and must be left justified. Detailed budgets and budget narratives ARE NOT required in the SRS.

Content of the Stakeholder Relevance Statement for all Projects

1. Title of the project: (the title should be preceded by “SP:”, “CAP:”, or “CN:” to indicate the type of project)

2. Budget: Estimated amount of funding to be requested (detailed budget is not necessary)

3. Significance and Benefit:

a. Economic/environmental/social significance of the problem being addressed;

b. Potential deliverables for the citrus industry at the end of project and specific milestones during the project;

c. How information developed during project will be translated into actionable recommendations or products and delivered to end-users.

4. Stakeholder engagement:

a. How stakeholders were engaged in defining the problem being addressed and determining project objectives;

b. How stakeholders will continue to be engaged in project development and evaluation.

5. Project outline: (one-page maximum)

a. List of project objectives. Please note: Because the scientific merit review panel that examines subsequent full applications will help verify that the pre-application and full-application projects are essentially identical, the list of project objectives https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html identified here must carry forward to a full application and the estimated budget in “2” above should be commensurate with those objectives;

b. Outline of methodology to be used to achieve project goals.

6. Experience of Project Director (PD) and key co-investigators (maximum of six):

Provide a description of the project team’s experience working with the specific stakeholder community and with the problem that will be addressed by the project;

a bio of up to 100 words can be included for each. You will be able to list additional co-investigators in the full application, if you are invited to submit one.

SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet. See Part V § 2 and Part V § 2.17 of the Application Guide for the required certifications and assurances. The following are additional instructions:

1. Field 1. Type of Submission. Click the “Pre-application” box.

2. Field 15. Enter Estimated Project Funding. Enter the estimated amount of funding to be requested.

3. Field 20. Pre-application. Click on “Add Attachment” to attach the

Stakeholder Relevance Statement.

SF 424 R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s). See Part V § 3 of the Application Guide.

Supplemental Information Form. See Part VI § 1 of the Application Guide.

1. Field 2. Enter the program code name “Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program” and the program code “ECDRE”. Accurate entry is critical.

2. Field 8. Conflict of Interest List. See Part VI § 1.8 of the Application Guide.

C. Funding Restrictions Indirect Cost (IDC) not to exceed 30 percent of Total Federal Funds Awarded (TFFA) of the recipient. Section 1462(a) and (c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA) limits IDC for the overall award to 30 percent of Total Federal Funds Awarded (TFFA) under a research, education, or extension grant. The maximum IDC rate allowed under the award is determined by calculating the amount of IDC using:

1. the sum of an institution’s negotiated indirect cost rate and the indirect cost rate charged by sub-awardees, if any; or

2. 30 percent of TFFA.

The maximum allowable IDC rate under the award, including the IDC charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, is the lesser of the two rates.

If the result of number one is the lesser of the two rates, the grant recipient is allowed to charge the negotiated IDC rate on the prime award and the sub-award(s), if any. Any sub-awards would be subject to the sub-awardee’s negotiated IDC rate. The sub-awardee may charge its negotiated IDC rate on its portion of the award, provided the sum of the IDC rate charged under the award by the prime awardee and the sub-awardee(s) does not exceed 30 percent of the TFFA.

If the result of number two is the lesser of the two rates, then the maximum IDC rate allowed for the overall award, including any sub-award(s), is limited to 30 percent of the TFFA. That is, the

IDC of the prime awardee plus the sum of the IDC charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, may not exceed 30 percent of the TFFA.

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf

In the event of an award, the prime awardee is responsible for ensuring the maximum indirect cost allowed for the award is not exceeded when combining IDC for the Federal portion (i.e., prime and sub-awardee(s)) and any applicable cost-sharing (see 7 CFR 3430.52(b)). Amounts exceeding the maximum allowable IDC are considered unallowable. See sections 408 and 410 of 2 CFR 200.

Successful applicants must not use grant funds awarded under the authority of this RFA to renovate or refurbish research, education, or extension space; purchase or install fixed equipment in such space; or to plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct buildings or facilities.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9bec80c6fa50dd425b37b103b4698fbe&mc=true&node=pt7.15.3430&rgn=div5#se7.15.3430_152 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9bec80c6fa50dd425b37b103b4698fbe&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1408

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process ECDRE has instituted a two-phase review process. The first phase of the review process is the Industry Relevance Review of pre-applications. Each Pre-Application containing a Stakeholder Relevance Statement (SRS) will be evaluated in a two-part process. First, each SRS will be screened to ensure that it meets the administrative requirements as set forth in this RFPA.

Administrative requirements include: meeting the application deadline; meeting eligibility requirements; satisfying program intent; inclusion of all required sections of the SRS package;

and adherence to guidelines. Subsequently, a SRS that meets these requirements will be evaluated for relevance by a panel of industry reviewers representing the US citrus industry. The panel will recommend which applications to invite for submission of a full application (second phase).

Invited applicants will be sent instructions on how to access the full RFA via email once the relevance review is completed. NIFA will send copies of reviews, not including the identity of reviewers, and a summary of the panel comments to the PD after the review process has been completed.

NIFA selects reviewers for the ECDRE relevance review based upon the crops and/or issues represented by the pre-applications. Industry reviewers will be selected from persons directly involved in the growing, handling and processing of citrus crops; or persons representing those interests through trade organizations or other professional associations.

Conflicts of interest. NIFA takes extreme care to prevent any actual or perceived conflicts of interest that may influence the review or evaluation (see NIFA Peer Review Process for Competitive Grant Applications).

B. Evaluation Criteria The evaluation criteria herein, with relative weights in parentheses, will be used to review pre-applications submitted in response to this RFPA.

Criteria for Industry Relevance Review for all Projects

1. The issues/challenges addressed are relevant on a national scale. (20 points)

2. The described research and extension approach will result in impacts/outcomes that are important to the target stakeholders. (20 points)

3. Stakeholders are involved in identifying and developing project goals and objectives and will be involved during the project. (20 points)

4. Information developed by the project team will be delivered to stakeholders that will allow them to implement new and/or improved solutions to HLB by the end of project period. (30 points)

5. Project team has members who have worked with the target stakeholders in the past and have experience with the described research and extension approach. (10 points)

C. Center of Excellence Pre-applications to the ECDRE program cannot request Center of Excellence designation.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-peer-review-process-competitive-grant-applications https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-peer-review-process-competitive-grant-applications

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACTS

Programmatic Contacts

Name Email Telephone Erica Kistner-Thomas erica.kistnerthomas@usda.gov 816-894-9283

For administrative questions related to;

1) Grants.gov, see Part IV of this RFA

2) Other RFA or application questions, please email grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

3) Awards under this RFA, please email awards@usda.gov

U.S. Postal Mailing Address:

National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 419205, MS 10000 Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

Courier/Package Delivery Address:

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture 2312 East Bannister Road, MS 10000 Kansas City, MO 64141-3061 mailto:erica.kistnerthomas@usda.gov mailto:grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov mailto:awards@usda.gov

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Name Acronyms Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 AREERA Asian Citrus Psyllid ACP Assistance Listing [formerly known as CFDA] AL Authorized Representative AR Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus CLas Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance CFDA Center of Excellence COE Citrus Disease Subcommittee CDS Coordinated Agricultural Project CAP Coordination Network CN Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program ECDRE Huanglongbing (HLB) HLB Indirect Cost IDC National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977

NARETPA

National Institute of Food and Agriculture NIFA Project Director PD Request for Application RFA Request for Pre-application RFPA Research, Education, and Economics REE Stakeholder Relevance Statement SRS Standard Project SP Total Federal Funds Awarded TFFA United States Department of Agriculture USDA

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

Refer to 7 CFR 3430 Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs – General Award Administrative Provisions for additional definitions.

Terms Definitions

Director The Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and any other officer or employee of NIFA to whom the authority involved is delegated.

Matching The process through which a grant recipient match awarded USDA funds with cash and in- kind contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The matching funds must derive from non-Federal sources.

Project Director “PD” means the single individual designated by the grantee in the grant application, who is responsible for the direction and management of the project and who is approved by the Authorized Departmental Officer. By extension of this definition, then, all project personnel listed as Co-PDs on an application are assumed to be approved by the grantee institution as ready and able to fulfill the role of PD in the event that the PD can no longer serve in that capacity. All other project personnel should be identified as co-principal investigators or key personnel.

Systems Approach Any process of estimating or inferring how local policies, actions, or changes influence the state of the neighboring universe. It is a framework that is based on the belief that the component parts of a system can best be understood in the context of relationships with each other and with other systems, rather than in isolation.

Trans-disciplinary A multi-discipline approach that brings biological and physical scientists together with economists and social scientists to address challenges in a holistic manner.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXIV/part-3430 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXIV/part-3430