Cooperative Research Units Training Program

 

To provide financial support to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to introduce a culturally diverse group of students, primarily undergraduates, to the fields of freshwater fisheries and aquatic sciences and train them for careers in the natural resources professions.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Deleted 02/05/2016 (Archived.)
Program Number
15.813
Federal Agency/Office
Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: U.S. Geological Survey
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
Project Grants (Discretionary)
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2011: Not available. Fiscal Year 2012: The National Cooperative Fisheries Scholars Program (NCFSP) at the University of Arkansas, Pine Buff continues to meet its objectives. The NCFSP continues to offer 4-year full scholarships to undergraduate students earning their Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries Biology at UAPB. Because minorities interested in careers in natural resource management are rare, the NCFSP has continued to successfully recruit prospective students nationwide. Over the last several years, the NCFSP has developed contacts with vocational agricultural teachers, math and science instructors, and guidance counselors at high schools are across the country. The program relies on these contacts to identify likely applicants for scholarships. The NCFSP also actively recruits among high school students that have participated in the American Fisheries Society's Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program. High school students who participate int eh Hotton Program and still want to pursue a career in fisheries degree, and more likely to take advantage of the numerous professional development opportunities available while in school. These students also are more likely to purse graduate degrees in fisheries or a related natural resource field. Several NCFSP participants have secured summer internships with USGS research facilities to enhance their education experience. Other graduate of the NCFSP at UAPB have gone on to be accepted to graduate school in one of the Cooperative Research Unit program host universities. Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available
Authorization
Organic Act of 1879, 20 U.S.C. 1060.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Accredited 4-year Historically Black College or Universities (HBCUs) under Title III Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1060 et seq.) with program studies in the freshwater fisheries and/or aquatic sciences.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Undergraduate, graduate, or professional students enrolled or accepted for enrollment as regular students; who maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the eligibility standards and practices of the grantee institution.
Credentials/Documentation
Proposed program application responsive to instructions issued by the U.S. Geological Survey. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Application form Standard Form (SF) 424 Application for Federal Assistance must be used. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110, or its successor, and the Department of the Interior regulations at 43 CFR Part 401, Subpart C. Applicant must submit proposed projects on http://www.grants.gov as required by the individual program announcement.
Award Procedure
Notification of an award is by receipt of a grant or cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer through FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/).
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
2 to 4 months.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
How are proposals selected?
A panel of CRU scientist and program managers that may include external peers will review the proposals. All proposals will be evaluated and rated in accordance with established criteria with includes relevance to announced priorities, technical merit, prospect of attaining objectives in period specified and potential for student training. Final award determination will be made by the CRU project officer.
How may assistance be used?
To provide MSIs with funds to offer training opportunities supporting the program objectives in accordance with an approved budget, plus appropriate amount for indirect costs. Grantees must agree to administer the grant in accordance with the regulations and policies governing the grants program of the U.S. Geological Survey. For further information, please contact the regional office.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Annual and final technical reports, as well as other products, are typically required and must be submitted as described in the award terms and conditions. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Annual and final financial reports must be submitted as described in the award terms and conditions. Performance monitoring is not applicable.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Grantees are required to maintain records for 3 years after submission of the final financial report.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are normally awarded in, but not restricted to, 12 month budget periods. Project duration may not exceed 5 years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Recipients request payment as needed throughout the award period.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Kevin G. Whalen, Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, MS 303 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192 Email: kwhalen@usgs.gov Phone: (703) 648-4062 Fax: (703) 648-4269.
Website Address
http://www.usgs.gov.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-0804-0-1-306.
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 11 $150,000; FY 12 est $150,000; and FY 13 est $150,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$100,000 to $180,000; average $150,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
USGS guide for submission of proposals is available to: http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/grants/unsolbk.html .
Examples of Funded Projects
Not Applicable.

 


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