FY24 BFP NOFO FINAL.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

2024 Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship

Program

Application Submission Deadline: April 8, 2024 Summary The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Fellowship Programs, announces this funding opportunity to support the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program by issuing a new award(s). This opportunity is available to state cooperative institutions or other colleges and universities in the United States, as defined at 7 USC 3103 and is intended to place Fellows with U.S. research institutions for a 12-week intensive program. These programs are expected to contribute to the strategic goals and objectives of the Fellow and the institutions through a hands-on experience in a “real-world” agricultural research scenario, providing opportunity for application of research agendas where they can have a direct impact on food security and economic growth in an emerging economy.

A. Program Description

Background Since 2004, the U.S. Congress has made funds available to the Borlaug Fellowship Program to advance USDA/FAS’s agricultural research goals of promoting collaborative programs among agricultural professionals of eligible countries, agricultural professionals of the United States, the international agricultural research system, and United States entities conducting research by providing Fellowships to individuals from eligible countries who specialize or have experience in agricultural education, research, extension, or other related fields. Fellowships promote food security and economic growth in eligible countries by educating a new generation of agricultural scientists, increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity, and extending that knowledge to users and intermediaries in the marketplace. The collaborative nature of the training and research programs not only benefits the Fellow, his or her home institution, and partner country; the U.S. host institution, its professors, researchers, and students; and the global agricultural sector by improving agricultural productivity, systems, and processes in partnering nations through the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies.

Objectives USDA identifies Borlaug Fellows based on country-specific topics of importance to international agricultural trade. USDA then places Fellows with U.S. research institutions for 12-week intensive programs, where Fellows will study under the tutelage of a faculty Mentor at the matched U.S. research institution. This period will align with the 2024 Fall session of classes at the respective host university. Additionally, Fellows are expected to attend the 2024 World Food Prize; and therefore, awardees must budget for the event in their proposal submissions. The awardees must budget for travel, M&IE, and lodging for the Fellow and Mentor in and to Des Moines, Iowa. These programs are expected to contribute to the strategic goals and objectives of the Fellow and the institutions through a hands-on experience in an agricultural research

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service scenario, providing opportunity for application of research agendas where they can have a direct impact on food security and economic growth in an emerging economy. It is hoped that host institutions will share the knowledge gained through the program in their classroom and extension work with their faculty, students, extension officers, and constituents; and that they will continue to maintain professional contacts with the Fellows after their departure from the United States.

Scope of Work The selected institutions will design and implement a training program to meet one or more of the Fellow’s proposed research goals and objectives to the closest extent possible. The selected institution will also include leadership and communication training to help the Fellow better communicate research conducted under their Fellowship to policy makers in their respective countries to help implement science-based agricultural policies. The Fellows’ proposed research and training objectives, and full descriptions are in the appendix which can be quickly accessed via the link in the table:

Fellow Specific Objectives:

1. Algeria – Water Management and Desalinization (19)

2. Algeria – Water Management (Page 21)

3. Ghana – Parasitoid Resistance (Page 22)

4. South Africa – Sustainable Bio-Innovation (Page 24)

5. Morocco – Plant Genome CRISPR Technologies Editing (Page 27)

6. Morocco – Wheat Varietal Resistance to the Hessian Fly (Page 29)

7. Morocco – Citrus Virus Detection (Page 31)

8. Thailand – Genome Editing (Page 33)

9. Thailand – Plant Genome Editing (Page 34)

10. Malaysia – Organo-Mineral Fertilizer (Page 35)

11. Malaysia – Microbial Lignocellulose Biofertilizer (Page 37)

12. Philippines – Rice Gene Editing (Page 39)

13. Philippines – Rice Gene Editing (Page 41)

14. Vietnam – Genome Editing on Rice Resistance (Page 43)

15. Vietnam – Gene Editing for Climate Change (Page 44)

16. Vietnam – Water and Ion Conductivity in Barley (Page 46)

17. Georgia – Animal Health (Page 48)

18. Türkiye – Biotechnology (Page 50)

19. Türkiye – Climate Smart Agriculture (Page 52)

20. Colombia – Genomic Tools in Oil Palm Breeding Program (Page 55)

21. Peru – Softwoods, Architectural Technology & Design (Page 57)

Funding Opportunity Number

USDA-FAS-10777-0700-10.-24-0002

Assistance Listing Number

10.777 Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship

Authorizing Legislation National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, PL 95-113, as amended, 7 USC §§ 3291, 3319a

B. Federal Award Information

Total Available Federal Funding: Up to $1,650,000 total; up to $75,000 per award subject to the availability of funding.

Anticipated Number of Awards: up to 22

Cost Share/Match Requirement: None/Not Required

Projected Period of Performance Start: August 15, 2024

Projected Period of Performance End: July 31, 2026

Type of Assistance Instrument:

USDA/FAS anticipates that Cost-Reimbursable Agreements will be funded pursuant to this funding opportunity.

This type of agreement allows for a collaborative relationship between USDA/FAS, the selected recipient, and other collaborating partners. The particular scope and depth of this collaboration may vary throughout performance, depending on the needs of the activity and the desires of the Fellows.

Additional Awards USDA/FAS reserves the right to make additional awards under this solicitation, consistent with Agency policy and guidance, if additional funding becomes available after the original selections are made. Any additional selections for awards will be made no later than 6 months after the original selection decisions.

No Awards USDA/FAS reserves the right to make no awards under this competition.

C. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants: State cooperative institutions or other colleges and universities in the United States, as defined at 7 USC 3103

All applicants must have an active registration in the U.S. Government System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) before the application submission deadline of the announcement;

applicants with inactive, expired, pending, or excluded listings will be deemed ineligible.

Exceptions, waivers, or extensions will not be considered. Please contact the program officer(s) listed in Section G, Federal Awarding Agency Contact, if you have questions about this requirement. Applicants with inactive, expired, pending, or excluded listings will be deemed ineligible. Exceptions, waivers, or extensions will not be considered. Please contact the program officer(s) listed in Section G, Federal Awarding Agency Contact, if you have questions about this requirement.

Cost Share/Match Requirement: None/Not Required

Ineligible activities: If an application is submitted that includes any ineligible tasks or activities, that portion of the application will be ineligible for funding and may, depending on the extent to which it affects the application, render the entire application ineligible for funding.

Application packages submitted on expired/inactive standard forms, could be deemed ineligible.

Applicants must ensure they are utilizing the active/nonexpired forms available on grants.gov.

Substantial Compliance All applications will be reviewed for eligibility and must meet the eligibility requirements described in Section C to be considered eligible. Applicants deemed ineligible for funding consideration as a result of the threshold eligibility review will be notified within seven calendar days of the ineligibility determination.

Applications must substantially comply with the application submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section D of this solicitation or else they will be rejected. However, where a page limit is expressed in Section D with respect to the application, or parts thereof, pages in excess of the page limitation will not be reviewed. Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application.

While these guidelines may establish the minimum type size requirements, applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in selection of an appropriate font for use in the application.

http://www.sam.gov/

Evidence of Eligibility Applicants are responsible for including documentation, if necessary, establishing that they meet the stated eligibility requirements, when it is not immediately obvious. Applicants should not presume that USDA/FAS is sufficiently familiar with their organization that this is unnecessary, and USDA/FAS will not make assumptions as to the nature of the applicant’s organization.

D. Application and Submission Information This announcement contains all information necessary to apply to this funding opportunity.

Deadline for Question Submission: March 19, 2024 Applicants may submit questions about this funding opportunity to the Section G contact.

Submission Dates and Times Application Submission Deadline: April 8, 2024 at 11:59pm EDT (UTC -04:00)

Applications received after this time will not be accepted. Applicants are advised to make their submissions 1-2 days before this deadline in case of computer problems.

Anticipated Award Date: May 6, 2024

Content and Form of Application Submission A complete application package must include:

• Standard Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, showing the Unique Entity Identifier, and signed by the applicant.

• Standard Form SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs, showing the budget categorization. Applicants are advised to consult 2 CFR 200 Subpart E for guidance on proper categorization of cost items. An improper categorization will not itself be grounds for a determination of ineligibility but may delay approval and/or adversely impact the application’s evaluation scoring.

• A detailed budget table and budget narrative, in which cost items are quantified and described in sufficient detail to enable USDA/FAS to independently determine that the proposed costs are reasonable and allowable for the project and consistent with applicable regulations.

o Indirect costs are statutorily capped at 10% for cost reimbursable agreements.

o The budget table will include Meals and Incidentals, Travel, Transportation and lodging as needed for the following activities:

o Fellow’s travel to and from home country, o Fellow’s stay at host institution (GSA Rate), o Mentor’s Pre-Fellowship visit, o Mentor and Fellow’s USDA headquarters orientation, o Fellow’s World Food Prize attendance, o Mentor and Fellow’s Post-program USDA headquarters debrief, o Mentor’s post-Fellowship visit.

o Include best estimates for proposed Research supplies.

• A detailed project narrative or plan of operation:

o Indicate the name of the institution applying to host the Fellow, o Indicate the training topic and Fellow country/number as stated in the appendix, o Provide a tentative 12-week training plan based on the training interests listed in the statement of work, including topics to be covered, possible field visits and other activities, with tentative dates, o Provide a narrative description of the proposed training, how it will be administered and the role of the university faculty and support staff, and if applicable collaborating scientists, o Include a narrative description of the proposed training including the following elements: orientations, classroom instruction, field demonstrations and/or field visits, leadership development, conference attendance, term break activities, and cultural opportunities, o Include a narrative description of how the program will be administered and the expertise and roles of the university faculty, support staff, and collaborating scientists, including potential Mentors identified to participate, o Provide a summary of relevant institutional capabilities for hosting international Fellows in the applicable topic(s), and a description of how regional and university resources would be used to enhance the program, o Briefly describe the expertise and international experience of the applicant in the Fellow’s field of interest, their respective countries, and how the overall program plan and design is relevant to the Fellow’s objectives and background, o Demonstrate understanding of cultural context and needs of the Fellows, o Demonstrate how the proposal aligns with USDA/FAS’s agricultural programs, policies, and development and extension goals and those of the Fellow’s country, o Identify the expected skills or knowledge to be acquired by the Fellows at the end of the program, o Include information on the J-1 Visa compliant medical insurance coverage to be obtained for all Fellows and ensure it is comparable to NRIOL.net’s J-1 Visa Health Insurance Coverage (https://www.nriol.net/j1-visa-health-insurance/) o Demonstrate flexibility within the training plan to account for potential program changes and explain the applicant’s ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances, o Include a quality assurance plan, which should include information on how unforeseen problems that can arise will be addressed, o Ensure the project narrative or plan of operation is organized, written in English, is free of excessive grammatical and spelling errors, contains any source information properly cited, and is submitted in PDF format, Applicants are advised that readability is of paramount importance and should take precedence in application format, including selecting a legible font type and size for use in the application,

• Standard Form SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, if applicable to the applicant

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Each applicant is required to:

(i) Have an active registration in SAM before submitting its application,

(ii) Have assented to the federal assistance certifications in the SAM platform,

(iii) Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in its application; and https://www.nriol.net/j1-visa-health-insurance/

(iv) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

SAM.gov Registration Instructions Organizations applying to this funding opportunity must have an active SAM.gov registration. If you have never done business with the Federal Government, you will need to register your organization in SAM.gov. If you do not have a SAM.gov account, then you will create an account using login.gov1 to complete your SAM.gov registration. SAM.gov registration is FREE. The process for entity registrations includes obtaining Unique Entity ID (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned an entity by SAM.gov, and requires assertions, representations and certifications, and other information about your organization. Please review the Entity Registration Checklist for details on this process.

Entities outside the United States (defined at 2 CFR 200.1 as “foreign organizations” and “foreign public entities”) must obtain a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code prior to SAM.gov registration An NCAGE is required for all foreign entities prior to registering in SAM.gov. You can complete the registration once you enter the NCAGE. You can submit your request for an NCAGE Code by going to the NATO Support Activity (NSPA) NCAGE Request Tool at CAGE/NCAGE Code Request which contains detailed instructions.

If you have done business with the Federal Government previously, you can check your entity status using your government issued UEI to determine if your registration is active. SAM.gov requires you renew your registration every 365 days to keep it active.

Please note that SAM.gov registration is different than obtaining a UEI only. Obtaining an UEI only validates your organization’s legal business name and address. Please review the Frequently Asked Question on the difference for additional details.

Organizations should ensure that their SAM.gov registration includes a current e-Business (EBiz) point of contact name and email address. The EBiz point of contact is critical for Grants.gov Registration and system functionality.

Contact the Federal Service Desk for help with your SAM.gov account, to resolve technical issues or chat with a help desk agent: (866) 606-8220. The Federal Service desk hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm ET.

Intergovernmental Review Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, may be applicable to awards resulting from this announcement. USDA implemented the Executive Order in 2 CFR

415.5. USDA/FAS may require applicants selected for funding to provide a copy of their application to their State Point of Contact (SPOC) for review. These reviews are not required before submitting an application. Only applicants that USDA/FAS selects for funding under this announcement are subject to the Intergovernmental Review requirement. For more information

1 Login.gov a secure sign in service used by the public to sign into Federal Agency systems including SAM.gov and Grants.gov. For help with login.gov accounts you should visit http://login.gov/help.

https://login.gov/ https://www.fsd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=622e0a761b8fe114cc45ea04bc4bcb9a https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1#p-200.1(Foreign%20organization) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1#p-200.1(Foreign%20public%20entity) https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/CageTool/home https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0051214&sys_kb_id=dd40f4ef1b9641d0937fa64ce54bcb7a&spa=1 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0051214&sys_kb_id=dd40f4ef1b9641d0937fa64ce54bcb7a&spa=1 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp http://login.gov/help about USDA’s implementation for Intergovernmental Review, please visit https://www.usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financial-assistance-policy/intergovernmental-review#:~:text=Executive%20Order%20(EO)%2012372%2C,of%20proposed%20Federal%20fi nancial%20assistance.

Funding Restrictions Generally, funds may not be used in any manner that is prohibited by applicable regulations, including 2 CFR Part 200 and 2 CFR Part 400. Awards issued pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity may only be used for the purpose set forth in the award, consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Capital expenses, such as the purchase of equipment, not entirely attributable to this award, must be pro-rated.

For example, agreement funds and other support may not be used for matching contributions for other federal grants or cooperative agreements, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. Federal employees are prohibited from acting as an agent of the applicant in any capacity (paid or unpaid) on any proposal submitted under this program. Also, federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal Government or any other government entity.

Compensation for personal services: Employees, consultants, or other personnel, including those of subrecipients, and regardless of the method of engagement, may not exceed the pro-rata equivalent of GS-15 on the General Schedule (for 2024, $159,950 per year, $612.84 per day, or $76.60 per hour) Non-monetizable fringe benefits, such as health insurance coverage, are not included to this ceiling.

Indirect Costs: In general, costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective but not readily assignable to specific awards, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved, are considered indirect costs. These may include facilities not specific to individual projects, enterprise-wide services such as IT, and enterprise management. For cost-reimbursable agreements, indirect costs may not exceed 10% of direct costs, as stipulated at 7 USC 3319a.

Other Submission Information Applications should be submitted through the ezFedGrants system at https://grants.fms.usda.gov/

Applicants who require assistance with any USDA-managed computer system should reach out to the program officer(s) listed in Section G, Federal Awarding Agency Contact, at least 5 business days in advance of the application submission deadline. Applicants should provide as much detail as possible to facilitate resolution of the issue.

E. Application Review Information

Review and Selection Process In all cases, the agency will conduct an initial responsiveness review of all applications submitted to determine:

1) the application was submitted on time as specified in this announcement (See Section D. Application and Submission Information), https://www.usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financial-assistance-policy/intergovernmental-review#:%7E:text=Executive%20Order%20(EO)%2012372%2C,of%20proposed%20Federal%20financial%20assistance https://www.usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financial-assistance-policy/intergovernmental-review#:%7E:text=Executive%20Order%20(EO)%2012372%2C,of%20proposed%20Federal%20financial%20assistance https://www.usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financial-assistance-policy/intergovernmental-review#:%7E:text=Executive%20Order%20(EO)%2012372%2C,of%20proposed%20Federal%20financial%20assistance

2) the applicant is eligible (see Section C. Eligibility Information),

3) all the required forms and documents are submitted no later than the Application Submission Deadline specified in Section D. Application and Submission Information, Content and Form of Application Submission.

If an applicant is determined to be ineligible or an application is determined to be incomplete, the agency will notify the applicant prior to commencing with evaluation of applications, usually within seven business days of the Application Submission Deadline. An applicant that feels such a determination is made in error may request reconsideration, highlighting evidence supporting their claim, by email to the program officer(s) listed in Section G, Federal Awarding Agency Contact, within 3 business days of notification.

The agency will convene a review panel, which may include both federal and non-federal reviewers, to review the eligible applications against the evaluation criteria described below. The reviewers will ensure that the applicant is capable of delivering the programs/activities as described in the announcement based on the applicant’s project narrative and assign a score and provide summary comments based on the evaluation criteria identified below. The review panel will make a recommendation list to the selecting official, who is not a member of the panel.

The selecting official may select applications out of rank order in consideration of strategic program priorities, such as geographical distribution, incorporation of minority-serving institutions, or congressional directive. Selection determinations are final and cannot be appealed.

Prior to selection, the agency may contact the highest-ranking applicants to seek clarification and to negotiate technical and programmatic aspects of the application. If an application includes a subaward, FAS may request to speak with all parties included in the application to ensure sufficient planning and coordination has taken place prior to making an award.

Evaluation Criteria Applicants will be evaluated on the extent and quality to which they demonstrate that they have the capabilities, staff, resources, and equipment to successfully perform the project as described in the following factors. Scoring will also be based on the level of detail and how clearly the applicant’s capacities to address these factors that are outlined in the proposal.

Factor 1: Technical Expertise and Experience (30 points) The applicant will be evaluated on extent and quality to which they demonstrate how the program objectives will be achieved through their appropriate technical background, expertise and abilities and program plans including:

• Experience with international training and adult education defined and detailed (10 points) o Applicant’s explanation of their experience with international training and adult-education (should experience be lacking, the applicant may not receive points for this section).

• Mentor and other support staff qualifications defined and detailed (20 points) o Applicant’s demonstration of their suggested Mentor’s technical background and advanced training and how it can match the skills of the Borlaug Fellowship Program Fellow.

o Applicant’s explanation of how other appropriate collaborating scientists might be identified to meet any of the objectives which the identified Mentor cannot address.

Factor 2: Overall Program (40 points) The applicant will be evaluated on the extent and quality to which they demonstration that the overall program plan and design tis strategically aligned and relevant to the stated objectives including:

Program Design, Applicability and Alignment (20 Points)

• Applicant’s explanation of their ability to align with the Fellow’s scope of work.

• Applicant’s explanation of their ability to align training topics with USDA/FAS’s agricultural programs, policies, and development and extension goals and those of the Fellow’s country.

• Applicant’s demonstration of their experience and knowledge of relevant agricultural conditions within the Fellow’s country or similar location.

• Applicant’s demonstration of how the overall program plan and design is relevant to the Fellow’s objectives and background.

• Applicant’s explanations of their international expertise and ability to address and cultural considerations of the Fellow, including its ability to tailor the training and program implementation to the needs of the Fellow.

• Applicant’s demonstration of how regional and university resources, including the presence of relevant agricultural practices in the region, would be used to enhance the program, Program implementation plans and strategies included (20 Points)

• Applicant’s explanation of the overall program plan, how the institution will be involved to ensure the desired pre-program, mid-program, and post-program deliverables will be achieved and the Fellow’s stated goals and objectives met.

• Applicant’s explanation of flexibility in training plan to account for potential program changes and the ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances,

• Applicant’s explanation of the following strategies and plans showcasing their flexibility and ability to respond in the event of unforeseen circumstances:

o Risk Mitigation and Response Plan o Quality Assurance Plan

Factor 3: Professional Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative (25 points) The applicant will be evaluated on the reasonableness, cost-effectiveness, and adequacy of the proposed budget to accomplish the project, along with the extent to which the budget documents are detailed, organized, in-scope, and appropriate, including:

• Appropriate and detailed content included (15 Points) o Applicant’s demonstration that the proposed budget is appropriate for the activities and requirements for the Fellow’s program, including Meals and Incidentals, Travel, Transportation and lodging as needed for the following activities:

Fellow’s travel to and from home country, Fellow’s stay at host institution (GSA Rate), Mentor’s Pre-Fellowship visit, Mentor and Fellow’s USDA headquarters orientation, Fellow’s World Food Prize attendance, Mentor and Fellow’s Post-program USDA headquarters debrief, Mentor’s post-Fellowship visit.

Include best estimates for proposed Research supplies.

o Applicant’s use of a detailed budget table that utilizes cost item categories and includes appropriate cost savings where available.

o Applicant’s explanation of proposed staff, including their role in the program.

• Budget narrative and budget table included (10 Points) o Applicant’s use of a clear budget narrative accompanying the budget table to address each line item therein.

o Applicant’s demonstration of successful rounding and calculating with final budget narrative numbers exactly matching the budget line items, rounded to the penny.

Factor 4: Professional Formatting, Spelling, and Grammar (5 Points) The applicant will be evaluated on the extent to which their budget and proposal documents are detailed, organized, in-scope, and appropriate including:

• Professional formatting, spelling, and grammar utilized (5 Points) o Applicant’s demonstration of professional organization and formatting throughout the project narrative and supporting documents with limited spelling and grammatical errors.

Integrity in Performance Prior to making a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency is required by 31 USC 3321 and 41 USC 2313 to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant: (1) financial stability; (2) quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards; (3) history of performance in managing federal award; (4) reports and findings from audits; and (5) ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

Conflict of Interest The Applicant’s Conflict of Interest (COI) Point of Contact as defined in USDA/FAS Conflict of Interest Policy must notify the USDA/FAS contact identified in Section G of this solicitation of any actual or potential conflict of interest that they are aware of that may provide the Applicant with an unfair competitive advantage in competing for USDA/FAS financial assistance awards within 10 calendar days of becoming aware of the conflict of interest. Examples of an unfair competitive advantage include but are not limited to situations in which an USDA/FAS employee reviewed and commented on or drafted all or part of an applicant’s application. Note that USDA/FAS does not generally consider receiving information from an USDA/FAS employee limited to whether the applicant or the applicant’s proposed project is eligible to https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/3321 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/41/2313 compete for funding to confer an unfair competitive advantage. In addition, assistance agreements made under this solicitation will include a term and condition notifying recipients of their COI disclosure obligations and responsibilities under the award including the need to have systems in place to address, resolve and disclose COIs to USDA/FAS.

F. Federal Award Administration Information Federal Award Notices Successful applicants will be notified of the status of their application/award by email. This notification is not authorization to proceed, and such notification should be construed as provisional.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements All successful applicants for all grant and cooperative agreements are required to comply with the applicable General Administrative Terms and Conditions, which can be found at https://www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_terms_and_conditions/default.asp. The applicant is presumed to have read, understood, and accepted these terms when accepting a USDA/FAS award. Applicants with questions about the applicable terms should contact the program officer(s) listed in Section G, Federal Awarding Agency Contact.

The applicable Terms and Conditions will be for the last year specified at that URL.

Before accepting an award, the applicant should carefully read the award package for instructions on administering the award and the terms and conditions associated with responsibilities under Federal Awards. Applicants must accept all conditions in this NOFO as well as any Special Terms and Conditions in the Notice of Award to receive an award under this program.

Subaward and Executive Compensation Reporting Applicants must ensure that they have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the subaward and executive total compensation reporting requirements established at 2 CFR 170, unless they quality for an exception from the requirements, should they be selected for funding.

Mandatory Disclosures As required by 2 CFR 200.113, non-federal entities or applicants for a Federal award must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award. Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.339 including suspension and debarment.

Performance Expectations

(1) Assignment of a Principal Investigator (Training Coordinator) The host institution should designate a contact person as the Principal Investigator (PI) responsible for coordinating all administrative and programmatic arrangements.

(2) Assignment of a Mentor https://www.fas.usda.gov/grants/general_terms_and_conditions/default.asp https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-170.210 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-170.210 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-B/section-200.113 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR86b76dde0e1e9dc/section-200.339

A key component of the program is matching the Fellow with a Mentor. The host institution will select an appropriate Mentor for one-on-one work with the Fellow for the duration of the program.

• A single Mentor may not host two Fellows simultaneously. Both the Principal Investigator (PI) and the Mentor must hold a position at an eligible U.S.

institution.

• The Mentor will establish a professional relationship providing guidance and training in the Fellow’s research and studies.

• The Mentor will work with the Fellow before arrival to discuss appropriate work plan, site visits, and other arrangements;

• The Mentor will provide the agreed upon work plan through the PI to USDA/FAS for consultation and approval approximately 2 weeks before the commencement of the program;

• The Mentor agrees to commit a significant amount of time each week for one-on-one work with the Fellow during the program;

• The Mentor will commit to visit the Fellow’s country prior to Fellow’s arrival in the United States;

• The Mentor will continue communicating with the Fellow beyond the end of the program in the U.S. through the mentor visit;

• The Mentor will submit semi-annual progress reports that indicate all program activities are conducted;

• The Mentor may assign other faculty members to assist with Fellow’s training and research activities;

• The Mentor may not be assigned to multiple Fellows during the same time frame.

• The Mentor should include a leadership component to the training curricula;

training course, workshop, or other suitable activity that provides leadership training to the Fellow;

(3) Mentor Pre-Fellowship Visit

• The Mentor pre-Fellowship visit is a required component of the Borlaug

Fellowship Program.

• The Mentor will work with the Fellow to plan a pre-Fellowship visit to the

Fellow’s home country. The trip should occur before the program begins.

• The Mentor will evaluate the Fellow’s work environment, capabilities, and establish a relationship to ensure research alignment and a productive early program.

• The PI will provide USDA/FAS with an agenda for Mentor’s pre-Fellowship visit, including goals and objectives, three weeks prior to the trip. The Mentor’s travel information must be provided for emergency contact purposes and country clearance (if required by the cognizant FAS Overseas Office).

• The Mentor will provide a trip report highlighting the trip’s activities and results through the PI to USDA/FAS within 30 days after the visit.

• The Mentor should plan to meet with the USDA/FAS Attaché or staff from the U.S. Embassy while they are traveling, if feasible. USDA/FAS can assist with coordination prior to the trip.

• The Institution is expected to provide the Mentor airfare to and from the Fellow’s home country, travel and hotel expenses, and M&IE while in the Fellow’s home country.

(4) Travel and Transportation

• The host institution must comply with the Federal Travel Regulations (41 CFR 300 et seq.).

• The host institution will budget for economy class, international airfare from the Fellow’s home to Washington, D.C., and to the university.

• The host institution will budget for economy class, international airfare from the university to Washington, D.C., and on to the Fellow’s home country after the USDA debrief visit.

• The host institution will budget for economy class, domestic airfare for the Mentor accompanying the Fellow to the Washington, D.C., USDA visits.

• The host institution is responsible for arranging and purchasing all domestic travel related to the Fellow’s training program, this includes transportation to and from Des Moines, Iowa for the World Food Prize.

• The host institution will provide housing for the Fellow for the duration of the training program, taking into account gender and cultural norms.

• The host institution will pay lodging fees directly. The host institution will not require the Fellow to pay for his or her lodging expenses, whether through reimbursement or advance payment.

• Lodging will include a private bedroom, private or shared bathroom, access to a laundry room, and access to a kitchen with pots, pans, and utensils.

• Necessities, such as sheets, towels, and cleaning supplies, will be provided for Fellow’s use. The Fellow should not have to pay for these items.

• Lodging will be within walking distance to the campus/training location or easily accessible by public transportation.

• If public transportation is required to access campus/training location, the host institution will provide the Fellow with a bus pass or proper allowance for transportation expenses.

• When planning lodging options, the host institution should check with the Fellow and account for any special dietary restrictions or preferences, or accessibility needs.

(5) Meals and Incidentals (M&IE)

• The host institution will provide each Fellow with meal and living allowances for the duration of stay.

• Daily M&IE allowance may not exceed current GSA per diem rates.

• The host institution can determine the frequency of per diem allotments, but the

Fellow must receive per diem within the first week of the program. The PI must inform the Fellow and USDA/FAS immediately if this cannot be accommodated.

(6) Emergency Health Insurance http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287

• The Fellow will not be required to purchase his or her health insurance and then be reimbursed.

• USDA FAS will provide fellows with:

J-1 Complaint Emergency Medical Insurance.

DS-2019/J-1 visa support for Fellows and related SEVIS requirements

• The host institution will educate the Fellow as to what is covered under health insurance policy, especially highlighting that pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.

• The host institution will immediately alert USDA/FAS staff if any health/medical conditions arise during the program.

(7) Communication

• The host institution will initiate contact with the Fellow as soon as possible.

• The host institution will develop the training program in consultation with

USDA/FAS and the Fellow.

• The host institution will keep USDA/FAS informed regarding any logistical or program planning.

• The host institution will notify USDA/FAS immediately upon Fellow’s physical arrival and departure from the U.S. to comply with U.S. Department of Homeland Security requirements.

• The host institution will provide USDA/FAS with the Fellow’s temporary U.S.

address and phone number, and emergency contact numbers for the PI, Mentor, or other appropriate institution personnel. This information is required so that Fellow can be reached in the event of an emergency.

(8) Program

• The host institution will provide educational materials and supplies to each Fellow necessary for their full participation in the program.

• The host institution will pay for all fees related to the Fellow’s training program, such as (but not limited to) technology fees, administrative fees, laboratory fees, etc.

• The host institution will arrange relevant field visits as applicable to the Fellow’s training program.

• The host institution will ensure the submission of semi-annual performance and financial reports as well as final performance and financial reports to USDA/FAS every six months and after the completion of the program respectively. Reports should include the following:

o Summary of activities, accomplishments, and any problems encountered or overcome o Photographs, when possible

• The Mentor ensures that the Fellow completes the Post-Program Evaluation.

(9) Orientation

• The PI/Training Coordinator will communicate directly with the Fellow at least 4-

8 weeks before his or her arrival in the U.S. to ensure that all pertinent information is provided, including:

o Name and contact information of PI/Training Coordinator o Name and contact information of Mentor o Institution information, weather information, and clothing needs o Housing and M&IE allowance o Program plan and anticipated site visits o Professional development expectations o Reminder to bring any necessary prescription medications o Explain what is and is not covered under emergency health insurance policy

(e.g. no pre-existing conditions, no dental, etc.)

• Institution will provide an orientation upon the Fellow’s arrival to acquaint them with campus and community resources, such as:

o Explanation and demonstration of local bus/transportation options o Explanation of cultural and legal expectations

• USDA will provide a welcome and orientation packet for Fellows upon arrival.

(10) Mentor Follow-up Visit

• The Mentor visit is a required component of the Borlaug Fellowship Program.

• The Mentor will work with the Fellow to plan a follow-up visit to the Fellow’s home country. The trip must occur within 6 months to 1 year after the program ends and no sooner than 3 months before the end of the agreement.

• The Mentor will follow up with the Fellow for an additional year after their visit to assess the impact of the exchange program.

• The PI will provide USDA/FAS with an agenda for Mentor’s reciprocal visit, including goals and objectives, three weeks prior to the trip. The Mentor’s travel information must be provided for emergency contact purposes and country clearance (if required by the cognizant FAS Overseas Office).

• The Mentor will provide a trip report highlighting the trip’s activities and results through the PI to USDA/FAS within 30 days after the visit.

• The Mentor should plan to meet with the USDA/FAS Attaché or staff from the U.S. Embassy while they are traveling, if feasible. USDA/FAS can assist with coordination prior to the trip.

(11) USDA/FAS Headquarters Orientation and Debrief (DC Visits)

• The Fellow’s USDA/FAS- Washington D.C. orientation and debriefs are a required component of the Borlaug Fellowship Program.

• Institution will include a budgeted amount for a visit to USDA/FAS headquarters in Washington D.C. upon the Fellow’s arrival to and departure from the United States.

• The Fellow’s USDA/FAS orientation and debrief will last one day and they will be hosted by USDA/FAS at their headquarters in Washington D.C.

• The Institution will send at least one representative to the USDA/FAS Headquarters orientation and debrief to welcome the Fellow. Mentors are highly encouraged to represent the Institution at the USDA/FAS headquarters orientation and debrief.

• The Institution is expected to provide the following for the Fellow’s orientation and debrief:

o Flights from the Fellow’s Country to and from Washington D.C.

o Flights from Washington D.C. to the Fellow’s Fellowship location o Hotel and M&IE while in Washington D.C.

o Transportation around the D.C. Metro Area, including transportation to and from the airport.

• USDA/FAS will provide an agenda, and speakers for the Fellow’s USDA orientation and debrief.

(12) 2024 Fall Fellow and Mentor’s World Food Prize Attendance

• World Food Prize participation is a requirement for the Borlaug Fellowship

Program for Fellows and Mentors.

• The Institution will budget for the Fellow and Mentor’s transportation to and from

Des Moines, Iowa.

• The Institution will budget for lodging allowance and M&IE for the Fellow and

Mentor’s time in Des Moines (at the Federal Government rates).

• USDA will provide an agenda and programming for the Fellow and Mentor’s time in Des Moines.

Reporting Financial Reports, using form SF-425, Federal Financial Report (FFR), must be submitted semi-annually, within 30 days of the end of the reporting period. A final financial report must be submitted within 120 days of the end date of the agreement.

Performance Progress Reports must be submitted semi-annually, within 30 days of the end of the reporting period. A final performance progress report must be submitted within 120 days of the end date of the agreement. The recipient may use any appropriate format for performance progress reports, provided the report includes:

a) A comparison of actual accomplishments to those projected for the period;

b) The reasons why established goals were not met, if appropriate; and

c) Additional pertinent information including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs.

Recipients are encouraged to include photographs and other supplemental material in performance progress reports. For awards in which the total lifetime value exceeds $500,000, additional reporting may be required as described in Appendix XII to 2 CFR 200.

Monitoring USDA/FAS through its authorized representatives, has the right, at all reasonable times, to make site visits to review project accomplishments and management control systems and to provide such technical assistance as may be required. During site visits, USDA/FAS will review recipients’ files related to the program.

As part of any monitoring and program evaluation activities, grant recipients must permit USDA/FAS, upon reasonable notice, to review assistance agreement-related records and to interview the organization’s staff and clients regarding the program, and to respond in a timely and accurate manner to FAS requests for information relating to the program.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/2/appendix-XII_to_part_200

Closeout Within 120 days after the end of the period of performance, recipients must submit a final FFR and final progress report detailing all accomplishments and a qualitative summary of the impact of those accomplishments throughout the period of performance. After final reports have been reviewed and approved by the agency, and any residual amount due to the recipient or due to be returned to the agency, the award is subject to closeout. Acceptance of final reports by the agency constitutes a closeout of the award with no further notice or obligation to either party.

This acceptance will indicate the period of performance has expired, and any remaining funds will be de-obligated. Records must be retained for a minimum of three years after the final reports are submitted.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact For all inquiries, contact:

Name: Joyce West, Karen Uetrecht, or Tanya Hinnant

Email Address: Joyce.West@usda.gov, Karen.Uetrecht@usda.gov, or Tanya.Hinnant@usda.gov

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

H. Other Information Budget Revisions Transfers of funds between direct cost categories in the approved budget when such cumulative transfers among those direct cost categories exceed ten percent of the total budget approved in this Award require written approval from the agency. The total budget amount may not be increased without a bilaterally executed amendment to the award.

Post-Award Program Income In the event program income becomes available to the recipient post-award, it is the recipient’s responsibility to notify the USDA/FAS Program Manager to explain how that development occurred, as part of their request for guidance and/or approval. If approval is granted, an award modification will be issued with an explanatory note in the remarks section of the face page concerning guidance and/or options pertaining to the recipient’s approved request. All instances of program income shall be listed in the progress and financial reports.

Electronic Signatures Consistent with the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act), USDA/FAS uses and accepts electronic signatures for application and award documents.

USDA/FAS will neither solicit nor send physical copies of documents.

mailto:Joyce.West@usda.gov mailto:Karen.Uetrecht@usda.gov mailto:Tanya.Hinnant@usda.gov

Appendix:

Borlaug Fellowship Program – Algeria – Water management…