Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2000; Request for Proposals

This program will be administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Firms with strong scientific research capabilities in the topic areas listed below are encouraged to participate. Objectives of the three-phase program include stimulating technological innovation in the private sector, strengthening the role of small businesses in meeting Federal research and development needs, increasing private sector commercialization of innovations derived from USDA-supported research and development efforts, and fostering and encouraging participation of women-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns in technological innovation. The total amount expected to be available for phase I of the SBIR Program in fiscal year (FY) 2000 is approximately $5,000,000. The solicitation is being announced to allow adequate time for potential recipients to prepare and submit applications by the closing date of September 2, 1999. The research to be supported is in the following topic areas:

1. Forests and Related Resources 2. Plant Production and Protection 3. Animal Production and Protection 4. Air, Water and Soils 5. Food Science and Nutrition 6. Rural and Community Development 7. Aquaculture 8. Industrial Applications 9. Marketing and Trade

The award of any grants under the provisions of this program is subject to the availability of appropriations. This program is subject to the provisions found at 7 CFR part 3403. These provisions set forth procedures to be followed when submitting grant proposals, rules governing the evaluation of proposals and the awarding of grants, and regulations relating to the post-award administration of grant projects. In addition, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations (7 CFR part 3015, as amended), Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants) (7 CFR part 3017), Restrictions on Lobbying (7 CFR part 3018), and Managing Federal Credit Programs (7 CFR part 3) apply to this program. Copies of 7 CFR parts 3403, 3015, 3017, 3018, and 3 may be obtained by writing or calling the office indicated below. The program solicitation, which contains research topic descriptions and detailed instructions on how to apply, may be obtained by writing or calling the following office: Proposal Services Unit; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250-2245. Telephone: (202) 401-5048. Application materials also may be requested via Internet by sending a message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail) and telephone number to psb@reeusda.gov which states that you wish to receive a copy of the application materials for the FY 2000 Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program. The materials will then be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as quickly as possible. Please note that applicants who submitted SBIR proposals for FY 1999 or who have recently requested placement on the list for FY 2000 will automatically receive a copy of the FY 2000 program solicitation.

Stakeholder Input

CSREES is soliciting comments regarding this request for proposals from any interested party. These comments will be considered in the development of the next request for proposals for the program. Such comments will be forwarded to the Secretary or his designee for use in meeting the requirements of section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, 7 U.S.C.

7613(c)(2). This section requires the Secretary to solicit and consider input on a current request for proposals from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, education, or extension for use in formulating the next request for proposals for an agricultural research program funded on a competitive basis. Written user input comments should be submitted by first-class mail to: Office of Extramural Programs; Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management; USDA-CSREES; Stop 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20250-2299; or via e-mail to: [email protected] In your comments, please include the name of the program and the fiscal year request for proposals to which you are responding. Comments are requested within six months from the issuance of this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

Done at Washington, DC., this 17 day of May, 1999. Colien Hefferan, Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. [FR Doc. 99-12883 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-22-P