Scientific Cooperation and Research

The projects address specific issues related to agricultural trade and market access, climate-smart agriculture, animal and plant health, biotechnology, food safety and security, and sustainable natural resource management. Topics are broadly consist

The SCRP mobilizing the scientific communities' accumulated knowledge and technologies through the funding of joint research, extension, and education projects. These projects are between U.S. researchers and their foreign counterparts from selected emerging market economies who seek to create practical solutions to challenges faced by farmers and build regional or global trade capacities in target countries. The program enhances the technical skills of agricultural professionals, and helps beneficiary countries further develop their relationships with the U.S. agriculture sector.

State cooperative institutions or other colleges and universities in the United States, as defined by 7 USC 3103

U.S. researchers and their foreign counterparts from selected emerging market economies who seek to create practical solutions to challenges faced by farmers and build regional or global trade capacities in target countries.

Assistance may be used to support the participating collaborators (i.e. travel and subsistence expenses), related supplies and materials, reasonable host institution fees, publication fees, workshops or comparable events, and other costs that are reasonably allocable to the project.

Agreements are for two years, to include the initial fellowships and appropriate follow-up; extensions may be authorized under certain circumstances. Where topically indicated (i.e. due to seasonality), agreements may be awarded for a longer period.

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. Scoring will also be based on the level of detail and how clearly the applicant's capacities to address these factors are outlined in the proposal. Specific selection criteria are identified in the corresponding Notice of Funding Opportunity, and generally include the scientific merit of the proposed activity; the anticipated impact of the activity; cost effectiveness; and quality of application.

USDA/FAS will convene a review panel to review eligible applications against the evaluation criteria described in the NOFO. 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. 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.