scbgp fy15 final-3-16-15.pdf

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Fiscal Year 2015 Request for Applications

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-AMS-SCBGP-2015

Application Due Date: 11:59 PM Eastern Time on July 8, 2015

Program Solicitation Information

Funding Opportunity Title: Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-AMS-SCBGP-2015

Announcement Type: Initial

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.170

Dates: Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 8, 2015 through grants.gov. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding.

Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2015 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) to award grants to eligible State departments of agriculture to carry out projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

Approximately $63 million, less USDA administrative costs, is available to fund applications under this solicitation.

This announcement identifies the eligibility criteria for SCBGP projects and applicants, and the application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a SCBGP award.

2015 Highlights and Changes

It is important that applicants read and adhere to the guidance contained in this Request for Applications when preparing their applications. Below are highlights of major changes to the program since last year.

• New grant regulations were published last year by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) effective in 2015. AMS addresses all applicable regulatory changes in this Request for Applications and in the terms and conditions of award.

CONTENTS

1.0 Funding Opportunity Description

1.1 Legislative Authority

1.2 Purpose

1.3 Project Types………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5

1.3 Development of Proposals

2.0 Award Information

2.1 Type of Federal Assistance

2.2 Type of Applications

2.3 Available Funding

2.4 Federal Award Period Duration

2.5 Block Grant Amounts Available to Each Applicant

3.0 Eligibility Information

3.1 Eligible Applicants

3.2 Solely Enhance the Competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. Territory Grown Specialty Crops

3.3 Benefit More Than One Product or Organization

3.4 Cost-Sharing and Matching

3.5 Provide Solutions that Lead to Measurable Benefits

3.6 Projects Attempting to Disparage the Work of Another Organization

3.7 Supplanting

4.0 Application and Submission Information

4.1 Obtaining an Application Package

4.2 Application Checklist

4.3 Content and Form of Application Submission

4.4 Submission Date and Time

4.5 Intergovernmental Review

4.6 Funds Not Applied For

4.7 Funding Restrictions

4.8 Other Submission Requirements

5.0 Application Review Information

6.0 Award Administration Information

6.1 Award Notices

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

6.3 Acceptance of an Award

6.4 Reporting

7.0 Agency Contacts

7.1 SCBGP Team Lead

7.2 Grants Management Specialists

7.3 Address

8.0 Other Information

8.1 Release of Application Information

8.2 Equal Opportunity Statement

1.0 FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

1.1 LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

Legislative authority is provided under section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C.

1621 note) and amended under section 10010 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113-79 (the Farm Bill).

SCBGP is currently implemented under 7 CFR part 1291 (published March 27, 2009; 74 FR 13313).

1.2 PURPOSE

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) assists State departments of agriculture in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands in solely enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. grown specialty crops. Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops (including floriculture). A State department of agriculture is the agency, commission, or department of a State government responsible for agriculture within the State.

1.3 PROJECT TYPES

SCBGP encourages States to develop projects solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to the following issues affecting the specialty crop industry:

• enhancing food safety;

• assisting all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing “Good Agricultural Practices,” “Good Handling Practices,” “Good Manufacturing Practices,” and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers; packers and processors;

• investing in specialty crop research, including research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes;

• developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops;

• pest and disease control; and development of organic and sustainable production practices;

• increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops;

• improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems;

• developing local and regional food systems; and

• improving food access in underserved communities.

1.3.1 PROJECTS MORE RELEVANT FOR OTHER FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS

Projects that support the increase of fruits and vegetables in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase and/or include technologies for benefit redemption systems should consider submitting those projects to the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grants Program at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/cfp/fini.html.

Projects that support domestic farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, other direct producer-to consumer market opportunities, local and regional food business http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:1621%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1621)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:1621%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1621)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2009/03/27/E9-6816/specialty-crop-block-grant-program-farm-bill http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/cfp/fini.html enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, or store locally or regionally produced food products should consider submitting those projects to the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fmpp and Local Food Promotion Program at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lfpp.

Projects that support biobased products and bioenergy and energy programs, including biofuels and other alternative uses for agricultural and forestry commodities (development of biobased products) should see the USDA energy website at http://www.usda.gov/energy/matrix/home for information on how to submit those projects for consideration to the energy programs supported by USDA.

1.4 DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSALS

1.4.1 STATE AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES

State Agencies are responsible for developing proposals and overseeing funded projects. Proposals must be structured so that the State Agency maintains control of the project objectives, sets policy, and ensures that projects are carried out in accordance with all applicable Federal statutes and regulations as well as with the Grant Agreement and the Terms and Conditions of Award. State Agencies are also responsible for ensuring that subrecipients maintain appropriate records and follow all applicable Federal statutes and regulations as well as the Grant Agreement and the Terms and Conditions of Award.

State Agencies must ensure that proposals are appropriate for the SCBGP by reviewing 1.2 Purpose. Contact the Lead Grants Management Specialist if there is any question about whether or not the project qualifies for SCBGP.

1.4.2 GROWER-LEVEL PROJECTS

The SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture to prioritize and expand funding to projects that are supported by and address the needs of U.S. specialty crop growers. For example, if the State department of agriculture receives multiple research project or multiple marketing project proposals, SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture to prioritize the proposals supported by grower-level groups.

1.4.3 OUTREACH TO IDENTIFY FUNDING PRIORITIES

The SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture to perform outreach prior to the development and release of the State’s request for proposals or applications to interested parties, including socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers, through a transparent process of receiving and considering public comment to identify State SCBGP funding priorities in solely enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops. The State department of agriculture should conduct this outreach to ensure that grant applications submitted to the SCBGP are developed with proven and justified public support.

Beginning Farmer or Rancher is an individual or entity that has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years and substantially participates in the operation.

Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher is a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. A Socially Disadvantaged Group is a group whose members have been subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/fmpp http://www.ams.usda.gov/lfpp http://www.usda.gov/energy/matrix/home

1.4.4 COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS

The SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture to develop their State Plans through a competitive review process to ensure maximum public input and benefit. The competitive review process should follow State policies and procedures and include the use of an independent review panel of experts or qualified individuals, overseen by State department of agriculture officials, to evaluate and score applications and recommend project proposals for selection. The review panel should also provide a recommended award amount for project proposals.

This includes the factors and reasons for selecting an applicant and any changes in project proposal ranks/scores that may occur during the review process. All documentation affecting the decision to approve, disapprove, defer, or otherwise not fund an application should be maintained in an accessible, centralized program file.

Review panel members must be free from conflicts of interest and conduct fair and impartial reviews. The SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture to require and keep on file written conflict of interest disclosures from their review panel members.

Individuals that have a conflict of interest may have:

• Served as advisors/advisees of the applicant;

• Collaborated with the applicant over a designated amount of time; currently affiliated with, previously employed by, or are being considered for employment at the institution(s) of the applicant(s);

• Hold a personal/familial relationship with the applicant(s); or

• In recent years, participated in a consulting/financial arrangement with the applicant.

Program staff who are directly involved with the management of the grant program or who meet any of the criteria above, should also not participate in the review panel. Conflicts of interest have the potential to diminish the credibility of the selection process and leave the State vulnerable to challenges about the fairness of their competitive review process.

In addition, the SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture to notify successful and unsuccessful grant applicants about the outcome of the competitive process as it relates to the applicant’s proposal.

Finally, the SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture during their competitive review process to review funding requests carefully for activities funded previously to ensure:

• The projects are likely to become self-sustaining and not indefinitely dependent upon SCBGP funds;

• Funding decisions are based on the applicant’s/subrecipient’s past performance; and

• Specialty crop stakeholders, other than the applicant, individuals and organizations involved in the project, support the continuation of the project. Examples include:

o If the applicant is a university and the research proposal will establish control techniques for a specific pecan disease, the proposal might identify that a pecan growers association supports the project because this was the organization’s number one research priority.

o If the applicant is a non-profit association requesting funds to promote apples, the proposal might identify specific apple growers that support the project because they are interested in increasing their market share.

1.4.5 MULTI-STATE PARTNERSHIPS

Multi-state partnerships are encouraged and should provide solutions to problems that cross state boundaries such as, but not limited to, addressing good agricultural practices, food safety, research on crop productivity or quality, pest and disease management, or commodity-specific projects addressing common issues in multi-state regions.

A multi-state partnership is a project that implements activities with measureable outcomes that benefit two or more U.S. states and/or territories. A multi-state partnership proposal must explain the impact the project will have on a multi-state or national level within the Potential Impact section of the Project Profile Template.

1.4.6 DEFINITION OF A PROJECT

A project is a set of interrelated tasks with a cohesive distinct, specified, and defined goal. It follows a planned, organized approach over a fixed period of time and within specific limitations (cost, performance/quality, etc.).

Additionally, it uses resources that are specifically allocated to the work of the project and usually involves a team of people.

Projects are different from other ongoing operations in an organization because, unlike operations, projects have a definitive beginning and end - they have a limited duration. One way to think about this is that a project has an overarching goal that you want to accomplish through a series of individual activities or tasks. Examples of projects could include:

• Researching new cultivars

• Marketing apples through a targeted promotional campaign

Activities or tasks that could be a part of such projects might include:

• Hiring personnel

• Purchasing special purpose equipment

• Holding a workshop

• Planting specialty crops

• Distributing product promotional materials

2.0 AWARD INFORMATION

2.1 TYPE OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

SCBGP will use a Grant Agreement to provide support to successful SCBGP applications.

2.2 TYPE OF APPLICATIONS

New application. The SCBGP will review all new applications for conformance with the criteria in 5.0 Application Review Information and may require the applicant to provide additional information or clarification by a specified deadline.

2.3 AVAILABLE FUNDING

Approximately $63 million will be available to fund applications in fiscal year 2015.

2.4 FEDERAL AWARD PERIOD DURATION

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5106956

SCBGP projects must be completed within three years. The grant period must begin no later than September 30, 2015 and end no later than September 29, 2018. The applicant must indicate the start and end dates on the SF- 424, “Application for Federal Assistance” in box #17. SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture to allow ample time for completion of all projects.

2.5 BLOCK GRANT AMOUNTS AVAILABLE TO EACH APPLICANT

Each eligible State department of agriculture applicant that submits an application that the SCBGP reviews and accepts is eligible to receive the available grant allocation to solely enhance the competiveness of specialty crops as indicated below. Each State department of agriculture is eligible to receive an estimated base grant of approximately $210,837.58 and an amount based on the average of the most recent available value of specialty crop cash receipts in the State (2013 calendar year estimates) and the acreage of specialty crop production in the State (2012 Census of Agriculture). The data source for specialty crop cash receipts and acreage is from the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service and National Agricultural Statistics Service.

State Department of Agriculture Available Grant Allocation Alabama $ 442,080.03 Alaska 220,869.24 American Samoa 249,935.30 Arizona 1,211,430.59 Arkansas 307,295.78 California 19,706,710.61 Colorado 731,454.61 Connecticut 390,892.88 Delaware 326,072.97 District of Columbia 210,837.58 Florida 4,099,517.54 Georgia 1,158,957.33 Guam 212,895.36 Hawaii 450,311.13 Idaho 1,884,837.39 Illinois 603,100.91 Indiana 445,681.13 Iowa 296,492.46 Kansas 319,127.98 Kentucky 291,348.02 Louisiana 357,968.48 Maine 582,265.94 Maryland 423,302.83 Massachusetts 413,785.62 Michigan 1,925,221.22 Minnesota 1,232,780.00 Mississippi 362,855.70 Missouri 398,352.31 Montana 1,302,229.90 Nebraska 638,854.74 Nevada 294,949.13 New Hampshire 265,625.84 New Jersey 705,732.43 New Mexico 506,385.49

State Department of Agriculture Available Grant Allocation New York 1,226,349.45 North Carolina 1,103,911.85 North Dakota 2,599,142.48 Northern Mariana Islands 212,638.14 Ohio 625,993.65 Oklahoma 568,375.96 Oregon 1,820,789.15 Pennsylvania 992,020.35 Puerto Rico 475,261.65 Rhode Island 244,019.20 South Carolina 501,498.28 South Dakota 285,689.14 Tennessee 510,501.04 Texas 1,803,040.85 U.S. Virgin Islands 211,866.47 Utah 314,755.21 Vermont 275,914.71 Virginia 503,041.61 Washington 4,132,956.38 West Virginia 258,938.07 Wisconsin 1,303,001.57 Wyoming 310,896.88

3.0 ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

3.1 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants are State departments of agriculture in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A State department of agriculture is the agency, commission, or department of a State government responsible for agriculture within the State.

SCBGP expects that State departments of agriculture will consult with specialty crop growers, processors, and/or distributors before developing SCBGP project applications to ensure maximum public input and benefit. These stakeholders should play an important role in development of project goals and objectives, in implementing the project plan, and in evaluating and disseminating project results and outcomes.

3.2 SOLELY ENHANCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF U.S. OR U.S. TERRITORY GROWN

SPECIALTY CROPS

Project(s) must solely enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets. See the SCBGP website for a definition of specialty crops and processed products, including a list of eligible specialty crops and ineligible commodities. Each project must identify at least one expected measurable outcome that specifically demonstrates the project’s impact in solely enhancing the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops.

3.3 BENEFIT MORE THAN ONE PRODUCT OR ORGANIZATION

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/scbgpdefinitions

Applications for grant funds should describe how the project potentially affects and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.

SCBGP will not award grant funds for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. In addition, recipients and subrecipients cannot use grant funds to compete unfairly with private companies that provide equivalent products or services. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.

The following are some examples of acceptable and unacceptable projects:

Examples of Unacceptable Projects

A company requests grant funds to purchase starter plants or equipment used to plant, cultivate, and grow a specialty crop to make a profit, or to expand production of a single business or organization.

A State requests grant funds to make grants to individual specialty crop businesses or roadside stands to promote their individual business.

A non-profit organization uses grant funds to purchase produce and then sells that produce to other entities at cost or a higher price than the purchase price while competing with other private companies who sell produce in the area.

A sole proprietor requests grant funds to redesign her/his logo in order to make her/his specialty crop value-added product stand out at the local farmers’ market.

A single specialty crop organization requests grant funds to market its organization so that it can increase its membership.

Examples of Acceptable Projects

A State requests funding to contract with a university to conduct research on the feasibility of planting, cultivating, and growing a specialty crop in a particular area, the results of which will be shared with many growers throughout the State during the project.

A single grower requests funds to demonstrate the viability of organic small fruit production and partners with Cooperative Extension to publicize the working model of diversification to other regional growers.

A single company requests funds to provide a viable pollination alternative to specialty crop stakeholders in a region that currently does not have one.

A non-profit organization requests funds to conduct an advertising campaign that will benefit their specialty crop members.

A single farmer erects high tunnels on his/her property to extend the growing season of tomatoes and lettuce and conducts a field day and farm tour to encourage other small family farmers to adopt the production methods.

3.4 COST-SHARING AND MATCHING

The SCBGP does not have a Federal cost-sharing or matching requirement. However, in some cases, an applicant or sub-applicant proposes cost-sharing or matching contributions as a mechanism to ensure all grant funds will solely enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops. In this situation, the recipient or subrecipient of Federal funds must keep adequate records to identify and document the specific costs or contributions proposed to meet the match or cost-share, the source of funding or contributions, and document how the valuation was determined.

3.5 PROVIDE SOLUTIONS THAT LEAD TO MEASURABLE BENEFITS

The SCBGP encourages State departments of agriculture to give priority to projects that include a budget line item to enable the subrecipient to measure the quantifiable outcomes of the project, including the likelihood that the project will provide solutions that lead to measurable benefits to specialty crop growers and consumers.

3.6 PROJECTS ATTEMPTING TO DISPARAGE THE WORK OF ANOTHER ORGANIZATION

Projects where one organization specifically attempts to disparage the mission, goals, and/or actions of another organization are unallowable.

3.7 SUPPLANTING

SCBGP funds must supplement the expenditure of State funds in support of specialty crops grown in that State, rather than replace State funds.

General Supplanting Definition. A State organization reduces State funds for an activity specifically because Federal funds are available (or expected to be available) to fund that same activity. Federal funds must supplement existing State funds for program activities and may not replace State funds appropriated or allocated for the same purpose. Additionally, Federal funding may not replace State funding that is required by law. In those instances where a question of supplanting arises, the applicant or recipient will be required to substantiate that the reduction in non-Federal resources occurred for reasons other than the receipt or expected receipt of Federal funds.

• Example: State funds are appropriated for a stated purpose and Federal funds are awarded for that same purpose. (If a state has $50.00 budgeted for a specialty crop program and the Federal Government awards a $100.00 grant for the same specialty crop program, the total project must expend $150.00 – the State cannot remove the original $50.00 and use it for something else).

4.0 APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

4.1 OBTAINING AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

Applicants can apply for the SCBGP at www.grants.gov. Applicants may search for the SCBGP funding opportunity using the SCBGP CDFA number “10.169”, or the SCBGP Funding Opportunity Number “USDA-AMS-SCBGP-2015.”

4.2 APPLICATION CHECKLIST

The application must include the following:

☐ SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance

☐ SF-424B – Assurances for Non-Construction Programs

☐ State Plan Narrative

4.3 CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

http://www.grants.gov/

Those State departments of agriculture interested in submitting an application for the SCBGP must submit the following components and associated attachments via Grants.gov.

4.3.1 SF-424 APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE (REQUIRED)

Most information blocks on the required form are either self-explanatory or adequately explained in the instructions. However, for SCBGP applications, you must use the following supplemental instructions associated with specific blocks on form SF-424. See Sample SF-424 (PDF) to a view a completed form.

Block Instruction #1 Type of Submission Check Application #2 Type of Application Check New #4 and #5 Not applicable # 8c Organizational DUNS Applicant DUNS# for the Organization submitting the application.

See D&B Request a DUNS Number.

#8d Address Enter the State department of agriculture street address as it appears in SAM.gov. P.O. Boxes will not be accepted. Enter a 9-digit zip code.

#10 Name of Federal Agency AMS, USDA #11 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

Enter 10.170 – Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill.

#12 Funding Opportunity Number Enter USDA-AMS-SCBGP-2015.

#13Competition Identification Number Not applicable #14 Areas Affected by Project Enter cities, counties, states affected by project #15 Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project

A detailed description of each project is not necessary.

#16a Congressional Districts for Applicant

Enter the Congressional district where your main office is located.

#16b Congressional Districts for Program/Project

Enter the Congressional district where your project is performed.

Write “All” if the projects will be performed in more than one location.

#17 Proposed Project Start Date and End Date

Your grant period cannot be more than 3 years in length. Start date must begin no later than September 30, 2015 and end no later than September 29, 2018.

#18 Estimated Funding Federal =Total Specialty Crop Block Grant funds requested #19 Is Applicant Subject to Review by State Under Executive Order 12372 Process?

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

4.3.2 SF-424B ASSURANCES FOR NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS (REQUIRED)

The authorized certifying official must sign this form. See Sample SF-424B (PDF) to view a completed form.

4.3.3 STATE PLAN NARRATIVE (REQUIRED)

Narrative Format

Page size for the narrative must be 8.5 inches (21.59 cm) by 11 inches (27.94 cm). The acceptable font size is 11 or 12 pitch with all margins at 1 inch (2.5 cm). The State Plan should include a series of project profiles that details the necessary information to fulfill the goals and objectives of the project. For examples of acceptable formats, please see State Department of Agriculture Grant Administration, Project Profile, and the Sample State Plan.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5080828 http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5080826 http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5106957 http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5080825

Cover Page

The cover page must be included at the beginning of the application and include:

• Name of the State Plan Coordinator for the State Department of Agriculture

• Name of Organization Administrating the State Plan

Please see the State Department of Agriculture Grant Administration acceptable format for further guidance on preparing the State department of agriculture sections of the State Plan.

Outreach Plan

Outreach to Specialty Crop Stakeholders to Identify Funding Priorities

The State department of agriculture must describe how it conducted outreach prior to the release of their request for proposals or applications to identify funding priority needs in enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops.

Address the following:

• What steps did you take to conduct such outreach?

• What are those identified funding priority needs?

• If you did not conduct outreach to identify funding priorities, provide an explanation as to why you did not.

Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged and Beginning Farmers

The State department of agriculture must provide a description of the affirmative steps it took to conduct outreach to socially disadvantaged farmers and beginning farmers of specialty crops about the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Address the following:

• What methods did you use to identify socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers within your State?

• What methods did you use to reach out to these groups about the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program?

• Identify the projects (by project title) included in the State Plan that directly benefit either socially disadvantaged or beginning farmers.

• If you did not conduct outreach to socially disadvantaged farmers and beginning farmers, provide an explanation as to why you did not.

Competitive Review Process

The State department of agriculture must provide the following information.

• What methods did you use to solicit proposals that met identified specialty crop funding priority needs?

• How many grant proposals did you receive?

• How did you select reviewers to ensure the review panel consisted of technical experts from various fields, who were qualified and able to perform high quality and fair reviews?

• What fields of expertise did the review panel members represent (i.e., botanists, food nutrition experts, commodity association representatives, etc.)?

• How did you document and ensure members on the review panel were free from conflicts of interest (i.e., reviewers signed a conflict of interest statement)?

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5106957

• Describe how you will provide or did provide results of the peer review panel to the grant applicants ensuring the confidentiality of the review panel members?

• If you did not conduct a competitive grant process, provide an explanation as to why you did not.

State Department of Agriculture Grant Administration Budget Narrative

• If funds are requested for direct costs associated with grant administration, provide the start date and end date (month/year) of your grant administration activities covered by these funds and the estimated amount of funds needed for grant administration associated with the State Plan for each grant year (up to 3 years).

• Provide a budget narrative for costs associated with your administration (i.e., personnel, fringe benefits, travel, special purpose equipment, supplies, contractual, other, and indirect costs) of the State Plan.

• Keep in mind that indirect costs requested by sub-applicants plus indirect administration costs requested by the State department of agriculture must not exceed 8 percent of the State’s grant request.

• Please review previous State Plans to ensure that you are not requesting grant administration costs for the same activities for the same period as previously awarded. The SCBGP will not fund duplicative costs.

Please see the Project Profile acceptable format for further guidance on preparing each project proposal.

Project Title

The title must adequately describe the project in 15 words or less.

Abstract

Include a project summary of 250 words or less suitable for dissemination to the public. It should include the need for the project, a brief description of the goals and outcomes, and your plan for evaluating and measuring the success of the project or program.

Project Partner Organization

Include the name of the applicant organization that will establish an agreement or contractual arrangement with the State department of agriculture to lead and execute the project.

Project Purpose

This section must address the following:

• What is the specific issue, problem, or need that the project will address?

• Why is the project important and timely?

• What are the objectives of the project?

• If any of the project activities or costs has the potential to enhance the competitiveness of non-specialty crops (i.e., farmers’ market, general buy local, CSA etc.) describe the methods or processes you will implement to verify all grant funds are expended on activities and costs that only enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops. If you propose a cost-share or match to cover non-specialty crop activities and costs, include the specific costs or contributions proposed to meet the cost-share or match, the source of funding or contributions, and describe how you determined the appropriate amount of cost-share or match. See Section 3.8 Cost Sharing and Matching for guidance on documentation standards.

• If the project is a continuation of a project that the SCBGP funded previously, describe how the project differs from and builds on the previous project’s efforts. Describe also the likelihood of the project becoming self-sustaining and not indefinitely dependent on grant funds. Specifically, provide a summary (3 to 5 sentences per project) of the accomplishments of the previous project that have led you to seek continued funding.

• Have you submitted the project to another Federal or State grant program other than the SCBGP for funding and/or is another Federal or State grant program other than the SCBGP funding the project currently?

o If no, indicate that you have not.

o If yes, identify the Federal and/or State grant program by name and describe how the new project differs from and supplements efforts of the SCBGP and the other Federal or State grant program rather than duplicates funding efforts. The SCBGP will not fund duplicative projects.

Potential Impact

This section must show how the project benefits the specialty crop industry and/or the public or multiple states rather than only a particular commercial product, single organization, institution, or individual and must address the following:

• Who are the specialty crop beneficiaries of the project?

• How many specialty crop beneficiaries will the project benefit?

• How will the project benefit the specialty crop beneficiaries?

• What is the potential economic impact of the project if it can be estimated?

• If applicable, how will the project have a multi-state (benefitting two more or states) or national impact?

Expected Measurable Outcomes

Provide at least one distinct, quantifiable, measurable project outcome that solely supports enhancing the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops. If the outcome measures are long-term and occur after the project’s completion, then identify an intermediate outcome that occurs before the end of the Federal award period and that is expected to help lead to the fulfillment of long-term outcomes. For further information on expected measurable outcomes, please see the Outcomes Model or this Educational Bulletin. This section must address the following:

• Provide a GOAL - A goal is what you hope to achieve as a result of conducting the activities and producing the outputs (tangible results that can be seen, touched, handled, or moved about) of the project. Examples of outcome-oriented goals could include a change in knowledge, change in behavior, change in conditions that make a difference for the beneficiaries of the project.

• Provide a PERFORMANCE MEASURE - Identify a performance measure for each goal that you will use to measure the actual project results compared to the expected results. These are usually expressed in quantifiable terms and should be objective and measurable (numeric values, percentages, scores and indices, although in certain circumstances qualitative measures are appropriate).

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• Provide a BENCHMARK - For each performance measure provided, include benchmark. The benchmark is the baseline data against which you will measure your success. Examples of a benchmark could include current or initial level of knowledge, current behavior, or current conditions.

• Provide a TARGET - For each benchmark provided, indicate the TARGET. The TARGET is the level of change that you anticipate by the completion of the project. This is NOT the target audience or target population.

• Provide your PERFORMANCE MONITORING PLAN - How will you monitor your progress toward achieving each

GOAL?

o What are your data sources for monitoring performance? For example, will you conduct surveys or use questionnaires?

o How will you collect the required data? Be sure to include the frequency of your data collection.

• Describe how you will share the results of the project with specialty crop growers and other interested specialty crop stakeholders.

Work Plan

• Project activity. Describe the project activities that are necessary to accomplish the objectives. Make sure you include your performance monitoring/data collection plan activities.

• Who will do the work? Indicate the project participants who will do the work of each activity, including subrecipients, and/or contractors. If you request grant funds for personnel and contractors, you must include them in the work plan to demonstrate the requested funding is warranted. If you request funds for travel, these activities must also be included.

• When will each activity be accomplished? Include a timeline that indicates when each activity will occur (at least month and year) and beginning and end dates for the project. Make sure the work plan timeline shows that the project will be completed within the allowable Federal award period.

Project Commitment

Describe the specialty crop stakeholders other than the applicant, individuals, and organizations involved in the project who support this project and why.

Budget Narrative

All expenses described in the Budget Narrative must be associated with expenses that will be covered by the SCBGP. If a match is required by the State department of agriculture, expenses to be covered with matching funds must be described separately. Applicants should review Section 4.6 Funding Restrictions prior to developing their budget narrative.

Personnel

List the organization’s employees whose time and effort can be specifically identified and easily and accurately traced to project activities that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. See Salaries and Wages for Allowable Costs and Activities and Presenting Direct and Indirect Costs Consistently for further guidance.

For each employee paid with SCBGP grant funds, provide the following:

• Name and title

• Level of effort (number of hours or % FTE)

• Total funds requested for each employee

• Include a subtotal for all SCBGP-funded Personnel costs

Fringe Benefits

Provide the fringe benefit rates for each of the project’s salaried employees described in the Personnel section that will be paid with SCBGP funds. This section must include the following:

• Name and title

• Fringe benefit rate

• Corresponding funds requested for each person

• A subtotal for all SCBGP-funded fringe benefit costs.

Travel

Explain the purpose for each trip request. Please note that travel costs are limited to those allowed by formal organizational policy; in the case of air travel, project participants must use the lowest reasonable commercial airfares. For recipient organizations that have no formal travel policy and for-profit recipients, allowable travel costs may not exceed those established by the Federal Travel Regulation, issued by GSA, including the maximum per diem and subsistence rates prescribed in those regulations. This information is available at http://www.gsa.gov. See Travel and Foreign Travel for further guidance.

Please provide the following information for each trip:

• Trip destination

• Purpose of trip

• Type of expense (airfare, car rental, hotel, meals, mileage, etc.)

• Number of days traveling

• Estimated number of miles and mileage rate

• Estimated ground transportation costs

• Estimated lodging and meal costs

• Number of travelers claiming expense

• If applicable, title(s) of Government officials traveling and their specific role during the trip and how their participation supports the overall purpose of the trip

• Total funds requested for each expense

• Provide additional justification of travel expenses, as needed

• Include a subtotal for all SCBGP-funded travel costs

Special Purpose Equipment

Describe any special purpose equipment to be purchased or rented under the grant. ‘‘Special purpose equipment’’ is tangible, nonexpendable, personal property having a useful life of more than 1 year and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds $5,000 per unit and is used only for research, medical, scientific, or other technical activities.

“Acquisition cost” means the cost of the asset, whether funded wholly or in part by SCBGP, including the cost to put it in place. See Equipment, Building and Land for allowable costs and activities.

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Rental of "general purpose equipment’’ must also be described in this section. Purchase of general purpose equipment is not allowable under this grant. See Equipment, Buildings, and Land for definitions.

This section must include the following:

• Description of equipment item

• Justification for each item

• Indicate if each item is rented or purchased

• Total funds requested for each item.

• Include a subtotal for all SCBGP-funded equipment costs.

Supplies

List the materials, supplies, and fabricated parts costing less than $5,000 per unit and describe how they will support the purpose and goal of the proposal and solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. See Supplies and Materials, Including Costs of Computing Devices for further information.

This section must include the following:

• Description of each supply item

• Justification for each item

• Per-unit cost of each supply

• Number of units/pieces purchased

• Total funds requested for each supply

• Include a subtotal for all SCBGP-funded supply costs

Contractual/Consultants

Contractual/consultant costs are the expenses associated with purchasing goods and procuring services performed by an individual or organization other than the applicant, including consultants, in the form of a procurement relationship. If there is more than one contractor or consultant, each must be described separately.

• If the contractor/consultant has already been selected, please verify that the State applicant followed the same policies and procedures it uses for procurements from its non-federal sources. For all non-State applicants, please verify that the applicant used its own procurement procedures which reflect applicable State and local laws and regulations and conform to the Federal laws and standards identified in 2 CFR part 200.317 through 200.326, as applicable.

• If a contractor/consultant has not yet been selected, provide an acknowledgement that the procurement processes have not yet been conducted and an assurance that the State applicant will follow the same policies and procedures it uses for procurements from its non-federal sources. For all non-State applicants, provide an acknowledgement that the procurement processes have not yet been conducted, and an assurance that the applicant will use its own procurement procedures which reflect applicable State and local laws and regulations and conform to the Federal law and standards identified in 2 CFR part

200.317 through 200.326, as applicable.

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• Provide an itemized budget (personnel, fringe, travel, equipment, supplies, other, etc.) with appropriate justification. If indirect costs are/will be included in the contract, include the indirect cost rate used.

Please note that any statutory limitations on indirect costs also apply to contractors and consultants.

• If contractor employee and consultant hourly rates of pay exceed the salary of a GS-15 step 10 Federal employee in your area (for more information please go to http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/#url=2015), provide a justification for the expenses. This limit does not include fringe benefits, travel, indirect costs, or other expenses. See Contractual/Consultant Costs for acceptable justifications.

• Include a subtotal for all SCBGP-funded contractual/consultant costs

Other

Include any expenses not covered in any of the previous budget categories. Be sure to break down costs into cost/unit. Expenses in this section include, but are not limited to, meetings and conferences, communications, rental expenses, advertisements, publication costs, and data collection.

If you budget meal costs for reasons other than meals associated with travel per diem, provide an adequate justification to support that these costs are not entertainment costs. See Meals for further guidance.

This section must include the following:

• A description of the item

• Justification for the expense

• Per-unit cost of each item

• Number of units

• Total funds requested for each item

• Include a subtotal for all SCBGP-funded other costs

Indirect Charges

The indirect cost rate must not exceed the rate established by the State department of agriculture and cannot exceed the limit of 8 percent of the project’s budget (see Limit on Administration Costs for further information).

Indirect costs are any costs incurred for common or joint objectives that therefore, cannot be readily identified with an individual project, program, or organizational activity. They generally include facilities operation and maintenance costs, depreciation, and administrative expenses. See Presenting Direct and Indirect Costs Consistently for further guidance.

This section must include the following:

• The indirect cost rate

• The total indirect costs requested

Program Income

Program income is gross income—earned by a recipient or subrecipient under a grant—directly generated by the grant-supported activity, or earned only because of the grant agreement during the Federal award period of performance. Program income includes, but is not limited to, income from fees for services performed; the sale of http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/%23url=2015 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/%23url=2015 commodities or items fabricated under an award (this includes items sold at cost if the cost of producing the item was funded in whole or partially with grant funds); registration fees for conferences, etc.

This section must include the following:

• Source/nature of program income

• Description of how you will reinvest the program income back into the project or program to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops

• The estimated amount of program income

4.4 SUBMISSION DATE AND TIME

State department of agriculture applicants must submit applications via www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 8, 2015. SCBGP will not consider applications received after this deadline for funding.

4.5 INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

4.6 FUNDS NOT APPLIED FOR

State department of agriculture eligible applicants who do not apply for or do not request all available funding during the specified grant application period will forfeit all or that portion of available funding not requested.

SCBGP will allocate funds not applied for, by a date as determined by SCBGP, pro rata to the remaining State department of agriculture applicants who applied during the specified grant application period.

4.7 FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

4.7.1 LIMIT ON ADMINISTRATION COSTS

Administration costs are defined as indirect costs and are limited to 8 percent of the total Federal funds provided under the award per section 10010(4) of the Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113-79. The State department of agriculture must notify their sub-applicants of the limit on indirect costs in their requests for proposals/applications so that indirect costs requested by sub-applicants plus indirect administration costs requested by the State department of agriculture do not exceed 8 percent of the state’s grant request. Indirect costs charged to any individual project must not exceed 8 percent of that project’s budget. See the information below on presenting direct and indirect costs consistently.

Presenting Direct and Indirect Costs Consistently

Applicants and sub-applicants are responsible for presenting costs incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances consistently and must not include costs associated with their organization’s indirect cost rate agreement as direct costs. In addition, a cost may not be allocated as an indirect cost if it is also incurred as a direct cost for the same purpose and vice versa. For further information on how to determine if a cost is indirect or direct, please see the Indirect Cost Decision Tree.

Direct costs are costs that can be identified specifically with a particular award, project or program,…