Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB), 6531-6533 [2012-2849]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 8, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6531-6533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2849]


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 8, 2012 / 
Notices

[[Page 6531]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-11-0089]


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the 
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill (SCBGP-FB)

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the 
availability of approximately $55 million in grant funds, less USDA 
administrative costs, for fiscal year (FY) 2012, to solely enhance the 
competitiveness of specialty crops. SCBGP-FB funds are authorized by 
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill). State 
departments of agriculture are encouraged to develop their grant 
applications promptly. State departments of agriculture interested in 
obtaining grant program funds are invited to submit applications to 
USDA. State departments of agriculture, meaning agencies, commissions, 
or departments of a State government responsible for agriculture within 
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible to apply.

DATES: Applications must be received between February 8, 2012 and not 
later than July 11, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trista Etzig, Phone: (202) 690-4942, 
email: trista.etzig@ams.usda.gov or your State department of 
agriculture listed on the SCBGP and SCBGP-FB Web site at 
www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SCBGP-FB is authorized under Section 101 of 
the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) 
and amended under Section 10109 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246 (the Farm Bill). SCBGP-FB is currently 
implemented under 7 CFR Part 1291 (published March 27, 2009; 74 FR 
13313).
    The SCBGP-FB assists State departments of agriculture in solely 
enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops. Specialty crops 
are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, 
horticulture, nursery crops (including floriculture).
    AMS encourages states to develop projects solely to enhance the 
competitiveness of specialty crops pertaining to the following issues 
affecting the specialty crop industry: increasing child and adult 
nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; improving 
efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems; 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; enhancing food safety; 
developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops; pest 
and disease control; and development of organic and sustainable 
production practices.
    States may wish to consider submitting grants that increase the 
competitiveness of specialty crop farmers, including Native American 
and disadvantaged farmers. Increasing competitiveness may include 
developing local and regional food systems, and improving food access 
in underserved communities.
    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 Web site at: https://www.energymatrix.usda.gov/ for information on how to submit those 
projects for consideration to the energy programs supported by USDA. 
Also, agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer 
associations, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public health 
corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers' 
market authorities and Tribal governments that are interested in 
submitting projects that support farmers' markets that do not solely 
enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops should visit 
the Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP) Web site at: 
www.ams.usda.gov/fmpp for information on how to submit those projects 
for consideration to FMPP.
    Each interested State department of agriculture must submit an 
application for SCBGP-FB grant funds anytime between February 8, 2012 
and on or before July 11, 2012, through www.grants.gov. AMS will work 
with each State department of agriculture and provide assistance as 
necessary.
    Other organizations interested in participating in this program 
should contact their local State department of agriculture. State 
departments of agriculture specifically named under the authorizing 
legislation should assume the lead role in SCBGP-FB projects, and use 
cooperative or contractual linkages with other agencies, universities, 
institutions, and producer, industry or community-based organizations 
as appropriate.
    Additional details about the SCBGP-FB application process for all 
applicants are available at the SCBGP-FB Web site: https://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/.
    To be eligible for a grant, each State department of agriculture's 
application shall be clear and succinct and include the following 
documentation satisfactory to AMS:
    (A) One SF-424 ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' The grant 
period must start on or before September 30, 2012 and end no later than 
September 29, 2015.
    (B) SF-424A ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs'' 
showing the budget for each project.
    (C) One SF-424B ``Assurances--Non-Construction Program.''
    (D) Completed applications must also include one State plan to show 
how grant funds will be utilized to solely enhance the competitiveness 
of specialty crops. The State plan shall include the following:
    (1) Cover page and granting processes. Include the point of contact 
and lead agency for administering the plan. Include the steps taken to 
conduct

[[Page 6532]]

outreach to specialty crop stakeholders to receive and consider public 
comment to identify state funding priorities needs, including any focus 
on multi-state projects in enhancing the competitiveness of specialty 
crops. Provide the identified funding priority areas. Describe the 
methods used to identify socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers 
and reach out to these groups about the SCBGP-FB. Identify by project 
title if an award was made to either a socially disadvantaged farmer or 
a beginning farmer. If steps were not taken to conduct outreach to 
socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers, provide a justification 
for why not. Provide a description of the affirmative steps taken to 
conduct a competitive grant process. Describe the methods used to 
solicit proposals that met identified specialty crop funding priority 
needs. Include the number of grant proposals that were received. 
Describe how members on the review panel were selected to ensure they 
were free from conflicts of interest and consisted of a community of 
experts in various fields, who were qualified and able to perform 
impartial reviews. Identify what fields the review panel members were 
from. State if the review results of the peer review panel were given 
to the grant applicants ensuring the confidentiality of the review 
panel members. If a competitive grant process was not used, provide a 
justification why not.
    (2) State Department of Agriculture Oversight. Describe how and 
when the State department of agriculture will oversee subgrantee 
activities to ensure proper and efficient administration of grant 
funds. Include timelines for oversight activities. If grant funds will 
be used for direct administration of the grant agreement, include a 
budget breakdown to include percent of full-time equivalents (FTE), 
percent fringe benefits, supplies, etc. Also, include the 
administrative ``project'' on the SF-424A ``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs'' including indirect costs.
    (3) Project title, partner organization name, abstract. Include the 
title of the project, the name of the organization that will partner 
with the State department of agriculture to lead and execute the 
project, and an abstract of 200 or fewer words for each project.
    (4) Project purpose. For each project, clearly state the purpose of 
the project. Describe the specific issue, problem, interest, or need to 
be addressed. Explain why the project is important and timely and 
identify the objectives of the project. If the project has the 
potential to enhance the competiveness of non-specialty crops, describe 
the methods or processes the applicant will use to ensure all grant 
funds will solely enhance the competitiveness of eligible specialty 
crops as defined in 7 CFR 1291.2(n). If a project builds on a previous 
SCBGP or SCBGP-FB project, indicate how the projects differ from one 
another. For each project, indicate if the project will be or has been 
submitted to or funded by another Federal or State grant program. If 
the project was submitted to or funded by another Federal or State 
grant program, describe how the project differs from and supplements 
efforts of the SCBGP-FB and the other Federal or State grant program 
and does not duplicate funding efforts. The SCBGP-FB will not fund 
duplicative projects.
    (5) Potential impact. This section shall show how the project 
potentially impacts the specialty crop industry and/or the public 
rather than a single organization, institution, or individual. Identify 
who the specialty crop beneficiaries of the project are, the number of 
specialty crop beneficiaries impacted, how the specialty crop 
beneficiaries are impacted by the project, and/or the potential 
economic impact if such data are available and relevant to the project.
    (6) Expected Measurable Outcomes. For each project, describe at 
least one distinct, quantifiable, and measurable outcome-oriented 
objective that directly and meaningfully supports the project's 
purpose. The measurable outcome-oriented objective must define an event 
or condition that is external to the project and that is of direct 
importance to the intended beneficiaries and/or the public. The 
measurable outcomes, when possible, should include a goal, performance 
measure, benchmark, and target. Outcome measures may be long term and 
may exceed the grant period. For each project, describe how performance 
toward meeting outcomes will be monitored by identifying the data 
sources that will be used to monitor performance and how the data will 
be collected.
    (7) Work Plan. For each project, explain briefly the activities 
that will be performed to accomplish the objectives of the project. Be 
clear about who will do the work and when each activity will be 
accomplished to include beginning and end dates for each project. 
Include the performance monitoring/data collection plan and how 
outcomes will be measured or completed inside the grant period.
    (8) Budget Narrative. Provide in sufficient detail information 
about the budget categories listed on SF-424A for each project to 
demonstrate that grant funds are being expended on eligible grant 
activities that meet the purpose of the program and that costs are 
reasonable and allowable.
    (a) Personnel--For each project participant, indicate their title, 
percent FTE, and corresponding salary for the FTE. Show the total for 
all SCBGP-FB funded personnel.
    (b) Fringe benefits--Provide the rate of fringe benefits for each 
project participant's salary described in the personnel section. Show 
the total for all SCBGP-FB funded fringe benefits.
    (c) Travel--Provide the following information in the narrative if 
applicable: Ddestination; purpose of trip; number of trips; number of 
people traveling; number of days traveling; estimated airfare costs; 
estimated ground transportation costs; estimated lodging and meals 
costs; and estimated mileage rate and costs for the travel. Show the 
total for all SCBGP-FB funded travel.
    (d) Equipment--Provide an itemized list of equipment purchases or 
rentals, along with a brief narrative on the intended use of each 
equipment item, and the cost for all the equipment purchases or 
rentals. Show the total for all SCBGP-FB funded equipment.
    (e) Supplies--Provide an itemized list and estimate the dollar 
amount for each item. Show the total for all SCBGP-FB funded supplies.
    (f) Contractual--Provide a short description of the services each 
contract covers. Indicate if the cost is a flat rate fee or hourly 
rate. Indicate the flat rate fee or hourly rate to be applied. If 
hourly rates exceed the salary of a GS-14 step 10 Federal employee in 
your area (for more information please go to www.opm.gov and click on 
Salaries and Wages), please provide a justification. List general 
categories of items the contract covers such as professional services, 
travel, lodging, indirect costs, etc. Show the total for all SCBGP-FB 
funded contractual.
    (g) Other--Provide a detailed description of all other direct costs 
such as mailings, postage, express mail, faxes, and telephone long 
distance charges; speaker/trainer fees to include the amount of the 
speaker's fees and a description of the services they are providing; 
publication costs to include the estimated cost of printing of 
brochures and other program materials or scientific or technical 
journals as well as an estimate of the number of pieces to be printed/
published; data collection to include the estimated costs of collecting 
performance data to measure the project outcome measures; and the costs 
of holding a conference or meeting. If meals are budgeted for a

[[Page 6533]]

conference or meeting for reasons other than meals associated with 
travel per diem, provide an adequate justification for why these costs 
should not be considered entertainment costs. Show the total for all 
SCBGP-FB funded other.
    (h) Indirect Costs--Indicate percent of indirect costs. Show the 
total for all SCBGP-FB funded indirect charges. Indirect costs for this 
grant period should not exceed 10 percent of any proposed budget. (i) 
Program Income--Indicate the nature or source of program income (i.e., 
registration fees).
    (i) Estimate the amount of program income. Describe how the income 
will be used to further enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
    (9) Project Partner Oversight. Describe who or what organization 
will oversee the project activities and how will oversight be performed 
to ensure proper and efficient administration for each project.
    (10) Project Commitment. Describe briefly what specialty crop 
stakeholders outside the lead organization support this project and how 
all grant project stakeholders work toward the goals and outcomes of 
the project.
    (11) Multi-state Projects. If the project is a multi-state project, 
identify the other states that are participating, describe how the 
states are going to collaborate effectively with related projects with 
one state assuming the coordinating role. Indicate the percent of the 
budget covered by each state.
    Each State department of agriculture that submits an application 
that is reviewed and approved by AMS is to receive a base grant of 
181,109.88 to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. In 
addition, AMS will allocate the remainder of the grant funds based on 
the proportion of the value of specialty crop production in the state 
in relation to the national value of specialty crop production using 
the latest available (2010 National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS) cash receipt data for the 50 States and the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, 2007 Census of Agriculture cash receipts for Guam, the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and 2002 Census of Agriculture cash receipts for American 
Samoa) specialty crop production data in all states whose applications 
are accepted.
    The amount of the base grant plus value of production available to 
each State department of agriculture shall be:

 
 
 
(1) Alabama.............................................     $400,934.95
(2) Alaska..............................................      194,889.46
(3) American Samoa......................................      215,529.21
(4) Arizona.............................................    1,263,013.24
(5) Arkansas............................................      255,175.60
(6) California..........................................   18,671,947.22
(7) Colorado............................................      680,621.81
(8) Connecticut.........................................      403,982.43
(9) Delaware............................................      244,484.20
(10) District of Columbia...............................      181,109.88
(11) Florida............................................    4,475,725.74
(12) Georgia............................................    1,130,698.80
(13) Guam...............................................      182,946.05
(14) Hawaii.............................................      378,686.07
(15) Idaho..............................................      928,736.45
(16) Illinois...........................................      632,932.59
(17) Indiana............................................      398,023.16
(18) Iowa...............................................      271,120.00
(19) Kansas.............................................      258,362.52
(20) Kentucky...........................................      260,991.65
(21) Louisiana..........................................      350,782.43
(22) Maine..............................................      402,360.32
(23) Maryland...........................................      393,434.24
(24) Massachusetts......................................      438,930.75
(25) Michigan...........................................    1,337,219.16
(26) Minnesota..........................................      703,253.61
(27) Mississippi........................................      281,843.82
(28) Missouri...........................................      350,592.48
(29) Montana............................................      328,477.01
(30) Nebraska...........................................      331,838.05
(31) Nevada.............................................      259,473.57
(32) New Hampshire......................................      238,459.35
(33) New Jersey.........................................      814,882.47
(34) New Mexico.........................................      514,648.73
(35) New York...........................................    1,114,085.81
(36) North Carolina.....................................    1,151,269.80
(37) North Dakota.......................................      614,984.68
(38) Northern Mariana Islands...........................      182,504.34
(39) Ohio...............................................      642,019.98
(40) Oklahoma...........................................      384,159.91
(41) Oregon.............................................    1,487,908.90
(42) Pennsylvania.......................................    1,027,509.84
(43) Puerto Rico........................................      381,396.61
(44) Rhode Island.......................................      217,256.69
(45) South Carolina.....................................      552,450.81
(46) South Dakota.......................................      207,600.20
(47) Tennessee..........................................      527,123.55
(48) Texas..............................................    1,850,776.76
(49) U.S. Virgin Islands................................      182,263.14
(50) Utah...............................................      289,055.09
(51) Vermont............................................      223,751.88
(52) Virginia...........................................      495,018.42
(53) Washington.........................................    3,320,842.83
(54) West Virginia......................................      217,160.21
(55) Wisconsin..........................................      882,214.81
(56) Wyoming............................................      205,501.72
 

    Funds not obligated will be allocated pro rata to the remaining 
States which applied during the specified grant application period to 
be solely expended on projects previously approved in their State plan. 
AMS will notify the States as to the procedures for applying for the 
reallocated funds.
    AMS requires applicants to submit SCBGP-FB applications 
electronically through the central Federal grants web site, 
www.grants.gov instead of mailing hard copy documents. Original 
signatures are not needed on the SF-424 and SF-424B when applying 
through www.grants.gov and applicants are not required to submit any 
paper documents to AMS. Applicants are strongly urged to familiarize 
themselves with the Federal grants web site and begin the application 
process well before the application deadline. For information on how to 
apply electronically, please consult https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. AMS will send an email confirmation when 
applications are received by the AMS office.
    SCBGP-FB is listed in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance'' under number 10.170 and subject agencies must adhere to 
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in 
all federally assisted programs.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 1621 note.

    Dated: January 31, 2012.
Robert C. Keeney,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-2849 Filed 2-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P