[Federal Register: July 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 135)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 41751-41757]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jy03-21]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
7 CFR Part 2903
Office of Energy; Biodiesel Fuel Education Program--
Administrative Provisions
AGENCY: Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Energy Policy and New
Uses, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU) proposes to
add new regulations for the purpose of administering the Biodiesel Fuel
Education Program conducted under the authority of section 9004 of the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. This action establishes
and codifies the administrative procedures to be followed in the
solicitation of competitive proposals, the evaluation of such
proposals, and the award and administration of grants under this
Program.
DATES: The Agency must receive comments on or before August 14, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to James Duffield, Economist, OEPNU/
USDA, 300 7th Street SW., Reporters Building, Room 361, Washington, DC
20024. Comments may also be sent via electronic mail to
jduffield@oce.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Duffield at (202) 401-0523 or
via electronic mail at jduffield@oce.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose
The Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU) proposes a new
rule to provide administrative provisions for the Biodiesel Fuel
Education Program, which was authorized in Sec. 9004 of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (``2002 Farm Bill'') (7
U.S.C. 8104). The rule describes the policies and procedures OEPNU
proposes to apply to this Program. These policies are consistent with
those used by other USDA agencies, particularly the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). The rules are
consistent with the basic parameters by which most Federal agencies
operate competitive grants programs and will be revised as needed to
conform with Federal streamlining efforts.
The goals of the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program are to stimulate
biodiesel consumption and to accelerate the development of a biodiesel
infrastructure. Increasing biodiesel production will increase the
demand for farm commodities, which in turn will raise farm prices and
net farm income, and lower government program payments. The development
of a biodiesel industry would increase employment and stimulate
economic growth in rural areas.
Agencies' Roles
Section 9004 of the 2002 Farm Bill (7 U.S.C. 8104) requires that
the Secretary make competitive grants to eligible entities to educate
governmental and private entities that operate vehicle fleets, other
interested entities (as determined by the Secretary), and the public
about the benefits of biodiesel
[[Page 41752]]
fuel use. In the Joint Explanatory Statement of the Committee of
Conference accompanying the 2002 Farm Bill, the Managers encouraged the
Secretary of Agriculture to utilize the expertise of OEPNU in carrying
out the purposes of this section. The Secretary delegated this
authority to the Chief Economist, who is implementing this authority
through OEPNU. The USDA Farm Bill Implementation Task Force
acknowledged that OEPNU would provide technical oversight for the
Program and utilize the services of CSREES in administering the
Program.
Memorandum of Understanding
OEPNU and CSREES recognize the need for coordination and
collaboration between the agencies to carry out the intent of the law.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by each agency which
specifies the manner in which OEPNU and CSREES will collaborate in the
administration of the Program. OEPNU will utilize the services of
CSREES, pursuant to the Economy Act, 31 U.S.C. 1535, to administer the
Program grants, as recommended by the Farm Bill Implementation Task
Force. The Task Force recommended CSREES because of the Agency's
experience conducting education-related grant programs and to take
advantage of CSREES staff specialists who are familiar with
administering grants.
Role of Oversight Committee
In implementing the Program, OEPNU has formed an oversight
committee, including representatives with relevant expertise from the
USDA Forest Service, Office of Procurement and Property Management,
Agricultural Research Service, Rural Utilities Service, OEPNU, and
CSREES and the Department of Energy Office of Biomass. Expertise of
committee members includes research, development and demonstration of
alternative fuels, production of alternative fuels, and procurement of
alternative fuels.
Request for Applications
The committee has recommended guidelines for the Program, which are
included in the Notice of Request for Applications published elsewhere
in this issue of the Federal Register. Awards made pursuant to the
Request for Applications for the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program will
be made in accordance with the final rule published for this Program,
including any changes that may be made in this Proposed Rule as
necessary to address public comments submitted in response to this
document.
Participating Agencies' Experience and Interaction With Stakeholders
In designing the guidelines for the Program, committee members
relied on their past experiences with biodiesel education and outreach.
For over a decade, USDA has been involved in biodiesel outreach
programs. USDA's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU)
coordinates activities related to biodiesel and other renewable fuels
for the Department. Since 1993, OEPNU has been involved with producer
and consumer stakeholder groups interested in developing a biodiesel
industry in the United States. One of the Department's first efforts to
bring biodiesel stakeholders together took place in September 1995 when
OEPNU and the Department of Energy organized a stakeholder meeting in
Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting was to develop a life cycle
inventory of biodiesel. This life cycle inventory furthered knowledge
about the benefits of biodiesel. Several groups were represented at the
meeting, including biodiesel producers, the oilseed processing
industry, the rendering industry, engine manufacturers, state and local
governments, and environmental groups.
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) leads the Department's
efforts on biodiesel research and demonstration. Since the summer of
1999, the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) has been
conducting a biodiesel demonstration project that has become a working
model for others interested in using biodiesel. All of the Center's 150
pieces of diesel equipment and trucks were converted to a fuel blend of
20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel (B20). Vehicles
from BARC that run on biodiesel and educational materials have been
displayed and distributed throughout the country. In January 2000, ARS
conducted a workshop to highlight the BARC biodiesel demonstration
project. The workshop's 75 attendees represented a broad range of
potential users, including Federal Agencies, such as the Departments of
Energy, Defense, Interior, and the U.S. Postal Service. Officials from
nearby cities, counties, and states were also in attendance, as well as
private industry groups, farmers and biodiesel suppliers. The biodiesel
demonstration project has been highlighted at the BARC Public Day, an
annual event that provides an opportunity for ARS scientists to
describe their research projects to the public.
A biodiesel outreach program has also been established to introduce
biodiesel to USDA and other Federal agencies that operate motor fleets.
Beginning in July of 2000, USDA's Office of Procurement and Property
Management (OPPM) has been conducting a series of informational
meetings at various locations around the United States to educate
Federal fleet managers and other stakeholders on the benefits of
biodiesel. Meetings have been held in Orlando, FL, San Antonio, TX,
Minneapolis, MN, Washington, DC, Kansas City, MI, and Salt Lake City,
UT. These meetings are used as a platform to educate motor fleet
personnel, postal workers and the public about the major advantages of
biodiesel. OPPM has also teamed with other entities interested in the
environmental and health effects of biodiesel, such as the American
Lung Association and the National Biodiesel Board, to conduct biodiesel
education meetings for Federal fleet managers, postal workers, and
other interested stakeholders.
Proposal Review
In collaboration with external reviewers, the Oversight Committee
will review proposals and recommend awards. The Committee will monitor
the Program's performance and provide guidance to OEPNU to insure that
the Program objectives are being achieved. The Committee will review
progress reports submitted by the grantees and, on a yearly basis,
recommend whether the awards should be renewed. Also, on a yearly
basis, the Committee will recommend whether to reissue the RFA and
award new grants.
CSREES will compile application reviews and recommend awards to
OEPNU. OEPNU will make award decisions.
Awards
The proposed Program would fund Biodiesel Fuel Education Program
grants in each of FYs 2003 through 2007. Because of the scope of this
Program and the limited funds available to support it, OEPNU plans to
award one or two continuation grants in FY 2003. A continuation grant
is a grant instrument by which the Department agrees to support a
specified level of effort for a predetermined project period with a
statement of intention to provide additional support at a future date,
provided that performance has been satisfactory, appropriations are
available for this purpose, and continued support would be in the best
interest of the Federal government and the public. If these three
elements are met, OEPNU plans to provide additional support to the
funded projects in each of FYs 2004 through 2007.
[[Page 41753]]
OEPNU's plan to award only one or two continuation grants should
facilitate a national education program with a consistent message. It
should also ease the implementation process and allow OEPNU to monitor
the Program more effectively. If the Agency were to make numerous
smaller awards, this could result in multiple education programs with
different emphases and goals, as well as competition for program
participants and human resources to conduct the Program.
Continuation grants are necessary to ensure that the program
follows an orderly and consistent transition from one year to the next
over the five-year funding period. A successful Biodiesel Fuel
Education Program will be sequential in nature, i.e., conducted in
several dependent work phases. For example, phase one might focus on
identifying program participants and designing educational tools. Phase
2 might develop a strategy for putting a system and infrastructure in
place to reach the targeted audience. Phase 3 could focus on scheduling
and travel logistics. The work phases are interdependent, so selecting
new grantees each year would cause disruptions and create the potential
for repetitive efforts. Authorizing continuation grants will allow the
grantees to develop and conduct long-term plans, preserve program
continuity, and benefit from learning experiences over the funding
period.
The Proposed Rule is divided into subparts. Subpart A contains
general information about the Program prescribed by the authorizing
legislation, including the purpose of the Program and eligibility
restrictions established by the legislation. Subpart A limits indirect
costs to the rate that an applicant has negotiated with the cognizant
Federal negotiating agency, and explains that there are no matching
funds requirements for the Program. Subpart B describes the
continuation grant instrument that OEPNU plans to use and outlines
objectives for projects funded by the Program. Subpart C provides
information about the publication of program announcements, instructs
applicants regarding the minimum content requirements for applications,
and directs them to the program announcement for specific instructions
regarding application requirements and the order of application
contents. Subpart C also lists the application submission information
that will appear in program announcements and describes the process for
acknowledging the receipt of applications. In Subpart D of the rule,
the process for selecting reviewers is described, and the evaluation
criteria applied to applications are enumerated. Subpart D also
contains a discussion of the measures employed by OEPNU to protect
against conflicts of interest and safeguard applicant and reviewer
confidentiality. General award administration guidelines are outlined
in Subpart E. Subpart E also delineates the one-time requirement that
applicants submit organizational management information and lists the
minimum contents of the award document. The last subpart of the rule,
Section F, includes supplementary information. This subpart tells
grantees how they can obtain review information, what uses of funds and
changes to projects are permissible, where they can find instructions
about reporting requirements, and other Federal statutes and
regulations that apply to the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. It
describes the process for handling confidential aspects of applications
and awards and defines terms that are used elsewhere in the rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995--Information Collection
OEPNU currently is using the services of CSREES to administer this
Program. CSREES obtained information collection approval for the
``Generic Application Kit'' (OMB Approval No. 0524-0039), which
encompasses the use of required forms to administer another USDA
agency's grant program. Should OEPNU decide to administer this program
directly in the future, OEPNU will comply independently with
information collection requirements.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
USDA certifies that this proposed rule will not have a significant
impact on a substantial number of small entities as defined in the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law 96-354, as amended (5 U.S.C.
601, et seq.) because it is a Federal assistance program, not a
regulatory regime, and awards will be made to fewer than ten entities.
Executive Order 12866
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866 and has
been determined to be nonsignificant as it will not create a serious
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action planned by another
agency; will not materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlement,
grants, user fees, or loan programs, or rights and obligations of the
recipients thereof; and will not raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or
principles set forth in this Executive Order. This rule will not have
an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or adversely
affect in a material way the economy, productivity, competition, jobs,
the environment, public health, or safety, or State, local, or tribal
governments or communities.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Pursuant to Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104-4), the Department assessed the effects of this rulemaking
action on State, local, and Tribal government, and the public. This
action does not compel the expenditure of $100 million or more by any
State, local, or Tribal governments, or anyone in the private sector.
Therefore, a statement under section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 is not required.
Executive Order 12988
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. In accordance with that Executive Order: (1) All
State and local laws and regulations that are in conflict with this
rule will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this
rule; and (3) no administrative proceedings are required before
bringing any judicial action regarding this rule.
Executive Order 13132
In accordance with Executive Order 13132, this rulemaking does not
have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
Federalism Assessment. The policies contained in this rule do not have
any substantial direct effect on the policymaking discretion of the
States, on the relationship between the national government and the
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government. Nor does this rule impose substantial
direct compliance costs on State and local governments.
Executive Order 12372
For the reasons set forth in the Final Rule Related Notice for 7
CFR part 3015, subpart V (48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983), this program is
excluded from the scope of the Executive Order 12372 which requires
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. This
program does not directly affect State and local governments.
Executive Order 13175
The policies contained in this rulemaking do not have tribal
implications and thus no further action is required under Executive
Order 13175.
[[Page 41754]]
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 2903
Agricultural commodities, Energy, Fuel, Fuel additives.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, it is proposed to amend
title 7, subtitle B, chapter 29, of the Code of Federal Regulations by
adding part 2903 to read as follows:
PART 2903--BIODIESEL FUEL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Subpart A--General Information
Sec.
2903.1 Applicability of regulations.
2903.2 Purpose of the program.
2903.3 Eligibility.
2903.4 Indirect costs.
2903.5 Matching requirements.
Subpart B--Program Description
2903.6 Project types.
2903.7 Project objectives.
Subpart C--Preparation of an Application
2903.8 Program application materials.
2903.9 Content of an application.
2903.10 Submission of an application.
2903.11 Acknowledgment of applications.
Subpart D--Application Review and Evaluation
2903.12 Application review.
2903.13 Evaluation criteria.
2903.14 Conflicts of interest and confidentiality.
Subpart E--Award Administration
2903.15 General.
2903.16 Organizational management information.
2903.17 Award document and notice of award.
Subpart F--Supplementary Information
2903.18 Access to review information.
2903.19 Use of funds; changes.
2903.20 Reporting requirements.
2903.21 Applicable Federal statutes and regulations.
2903.22 Confidential aspects of applications and awards.
2903.23 Definitions.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8104; 5 U.S.C. 301.
Subpart A--General Information
Sec. 2903.1 Applicability of regulations.
(a) The regulations of this part only apply to Biodiesel Fuel
Education Program grants awarded under the provisions of section 9004
of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) (7 U.S.C.
8104) which authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to
eligible entities to educate governmental and private entities that
operate vehicle fleets, other interested entities (as determined by the
Secretary), and the public about the benefits of biodiesel fuel use.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations and institutions of
higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that have demonstrated both knowledge of
biodiesel fuel production, use, or distribution and the ability to
conduct educational and technical support programs. The Secretary
delegated this authority to the Chief Economist, who in turn delegated
this authority to the Director of OEPNU.
(b) The regulations of this part do not apply to grants awarded by
the Department of Agriculture under any other authority.
Sec. 2903.2 Purpose of the program.
The Biodiesel Fuel Education Program seeks to familiarize public
and private vehicle fleet operators, other interested entities, and the
public, with the benefits of biodiesel, a relatively new fuel option in
the United States. It will also address concerns previously identified
by fleet operators and other potential users of this alternative fuel,
including the need to balance the positive environmental, social and
human health impacts of biodiesel utilization with the increased per
gallon cost to the user. It is the Program's goal to stimulate
biodiesel demand and encourage the further development of a biodiesel
industry in the United States.
Sec. 2903.3 Eligibility.
(a) Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations and
institutions of higher education that have demonstrated both knowledge
of biodiesel fuel production, use, or distribution and the ability to
conduct educational and technical support programs.
(b) Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible
to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of
the project.
Sec. 2903.4 Indirect costs.
(a) For the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program, applicants should use
the current indirect cost rate negotiated with the cognizant Federal
negotiating agency. Indirect costs may not exceed the negotiated rate.
If no indirect cost rate has been negotiated, a reasonable dollar
amount for indirect costs may be requested, which will be subject to
approval by USDA. In the latter case, if a proposal is recommended for
funding, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted prior to
award to support the amount of indirect costs requested.
(b) A proposer may elect not to charge indirect costs and, instead,
charge only direct costs to grant funds. Grantees electing this
alternative will not be allowed to charge, as direct costs, indirect
costs that otherwise would be in the grantee's indirect cost pool under
the applicable Office of Management and Budget cost principles.
Grantees who request no indirect costs will not be permitted to revise
their budgets at a later date to charge indirect costs to grant funds.
Sec. 2903.5 Matching requirements.
There are no matching funds requirements for the Biodiesel Fuel
Education Program and matching resources will not be factored into the
review process as evaluation criteria.
Subpart B--Program Description
Sec. 2903.6 Project types.
OEPNU intends to award continuation grants to successful Biodiesel
Fuel Education Program applicants. A continuation grant is a grant
instrument by which the Department agrees to support a specified level
of effort for a predetermined project period with a statement of
intention to provide additional support at a future date, provided that
performance has been satisfactory, appropriations are available for
this purpose, and continued government support would be in the best
interest of the Federal government and the public. If these three
elements are met, OEPNU plans to provide additional support to the
funded project(s).
Sec. 2903.7 Project objectives.
(a) Successful projects will develop practical indicators or
milestones to measure their progress towards achieving the following
objectives:
(1) Enhance current efforts to collect and disseminate biodiesel
information;
(2) Coordinate with other biodiesel educational or promotional
programs, and with Federal, State and local programs aimed at
encouraging biodiesel use, including the EPAct program;
(3) Create a nationwide networking system that delivers biodiesel
information to targeted audiences, including users, distributors and
other infrastructure-related personnel;
(4) Identify and document the benefits of biodiesel (e.g.,
lifecycle costing); and
(5) Gather data pertaining to information gaps and develop
strategies to address the gaps.
(b) [Reserved]
Subpart C--Preparation of an Application
Sec. 2903.8 Program application materials.
OEPNU will publish periodic program announcements to notify
potential applicants of the availability of funds for competitive
continuation grants. The
[[Page 41755]]
program announcement will provide information about obtaining program
application materials.
Sec. 2903.9 Content of an application.
(a) Applications should be prepared following the guidelines and
the instructions in the program announcement. At a minimum,
applications shall include: A proposal cover page, project summary,
project description, information about key personnel, documentation of
collaborative arrangements, information about potential conflicts-of-
interest, budget forms and a budget narrative, information about
current and pending support, and assurance statements.
(b) Proper preparation of applications will assist reviewers in
evaluating the merits of each application in a systematic, consistent
fashion. Specific instructions regarding additional application content
requirements and the ordering of application contents will be included
in the program announcement. These will include instructions about
paper size, margins, font type and size, line spacing, page numbering,
the inclusion of illustrations, and electronic submission.
Sec. 2903.10 Submission of an application.
The program announcement will provide the deadline date for
submitting an application, the number of copies of each application
that must be submitted, and the address to which proposals must be
submitted.
Sec. 2903.11 Acknowledgment of applications.
The receipt of all applications will be acknowledged. Applicants
who do not receive an acknowledgment within 60 days of the submission
deadline should contact the program contact indicated on the program
announcement. Once the application has been assigned a proposal number,
that number should be cited on all future correspondence.
Subpart D--Application Review and Evaluation
Sec. 2903.12 Application review.
(a) Reviewers will include government and non-government
individuals. All reviewers will be selected based upon training and
experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields,
taking into account the following factors:
(1) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education,
or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to
which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or
extension activities; and
(2) The need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of
specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension
fields.
(b) In addition, when selecting non-government reviewers, the
following factors will be considered:
(1) The need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g.,
producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can
assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to
program needs;
(2) The need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of
organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and
Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and
geographic locations;
(3) The need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with
regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age
distribution; and
(4) The need to include reviewers who can judge the effective
usefulness to producers and the general public of each application.
(c) Authorized departmental officers will compile application
reviews and recommend awards to OEPNU. OEPNU will make final award
decisions.
Sec. 2903.13 Evaluation criteria.
(a) The following evaluation criteria will be used in reviewing
applications submitted for the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program:
(1) Relevance of proposed project to current and future issues
related to the production, use, distribution, fuel quality, and fuel
properties of biodiesel, including:
(i) Demonstrated knowledge about markets, state initiatives,
impacts on local economies, regulatory issues, standards, and technical
issues;
(ii) Demonstrated knowledge about issues associated with developing
a biodiesel infrastructure; and
(iii) Quality and extent of stakeholder involvement in planning and
accomplishment of program objectives.
(2) Reasonableness of project proposal, including:
(i) Sufficiency of scope and strategies to provide a consistent
message in keeping with existing standards and regulations;
(ii) Adequacy of Project Description, suitability and feasibility
of methodology to develop and implement program;
(iii) Clarity of objectives, milestones, and indicators of
progress;
(iv) Adequacy of plans for reporting, assessing and monitoring
results over project's duration; and
(v) Demonstration of feasibility, and probability of success.
(3) Technical quality of proposed project, including:
(i) Suitability and qualifications of key project personnel;
(ii) Institutional experience and competence in providing
alternative fuel education, including:
(A) Demonstrated knowledge about programs involved in alternative
fuel research and education;
(B) Demonstrated knowledge about other fuels, fuel additives,
engine performance, fuel quality and fuel emissions;
(C) Demonstrated knowledge about Federal, State and local programs
aimed at encouraging alternative fuel use;
(D) Demonstrated ability in providing educational programs and
developing technical programs; and
(E) Demonstrated ability to analyze technical information relevant
to the biodiesel industry.
(iii) Adequacy of available or obtainable resources; and
(iv) Quality of plans to administer and maintain the project,
including collaborative efforts, evaluation and monitoring efforts.
(b) [Reserved]
Sec. 2903.14 Conflicts of interest and confidentiality.
(a) During the peer evaluation process, extreme care will be taken
to prevent any actual or perceived conflicts of interest that may
impact review or evaluation. Determinations of conflicts of interest
will be based on the academic and administrative autonomy of an
institution. The program announcement will specify the methodology for
determining such autonomy.
(b) Names of submitting institutions and individuals, as well as
application content and peer evaluations, will be kept confidential,
except to those involved in the review process, to the extent permitted
by law. In addition, the identities of peer reviewers will remain
confidential throughout the entire review process. Therefore, the names
of the reviewers will not be released to applicants. At the end of the
fiscal year, names of reviewers will be made available in such a way
that the reviewers cannot be identified with the review of any
particular application.
Subpart E--Award Administration
Sec. 2903.15 General.
Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the
Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those
responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most
meritorious under the
[[Page 41756]]
procedures set forth in this program. The date specified by the ADO as
the effective date of the grant shall be no later than September 30 of
the Federal fiscal year in which the project is approved for support
and funds are appropriated for such purpose, unless otherwise permitted
by law. It should be noted that the project need not be initiated on
the grant effective date, but as soon thereafter as practical so that
project goals may be attained within the funded project period. All
funds granted by OEPNU under this program shall be expended solely for
the purpose for which the funds are granted in accordance with the
approved application and budget, the regulations of this part, the
terms and conditions of the award, the applicable Federal cost
principles, and the Department's assistance regulations (parts 3015 and
3019 of this title).
Sec. 2903.16 Organizational management information.
Specific management information relating to an applicant shall be
submitted on a one-time basis as part of the responsibility
determination prior to the award of a grant identified under this
program, if such information has not been provided previously. Copies
of forms recommended for use in fulfilling these requirements will be
provided as part of the preaward process.
Sec. 2903.17 Award document and notice of award.
(a) The award document will provide pertinent instructions and
information including, at a minimum, the following:
(1) Legal name and address of performing organization or
institution to whom OEPNU has issued an award under this program;
(2) Title of project;
(3) Name(s) and institution(s) of PDs chosen to direct and control
approved activities;
(4) Identifying award number assigned by the Department;
(5) Project period;
(6) Total amount of Departmental financial assistance approved by
OEPNU during the project period;
(7) Legal authority(ies) under which the award is issued;
(8) Appropriate Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
number;
(9) Approved budget plan for categorizing allocable project funds
to accomplish the stated purpose of the award; and
(10) Other information or provisions deemed necessary by OEPNU and
the authorized departmental officer to carry out the awarding
activities or to accomplish the purpose of a particular award.
(b) [Reserved]
Subpart F--Supplementary Information
Sec. 2903.18 Access to review information.
Copies of reviews, not including the identity of reviewers, and a
summary of the comments will be sent to the applicant PD after the
review process has been completed.
Sec. 2903.19 Use of funds; changes.
(a) Delegation of fiscal responsibility. Unless the terms and
conditions of the award state otherwise, the awardee may not in whole
or in part delegate or transfer to another person, institution, or
organization the responsibility for use or expenditure of award funds.
(b) Changes in project plans. (1) The permissible changes by the
awardee, PD(s), or other key project personnel in the approved project
shall be limited to changes in methodology, techniques, or other
similar aspects of the project to expedite achievement of the project's
approved goals. If the awardee or the PD(s) is uncertain as to whether
a change complies with this provision, the question must be referred to
the Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) for a final determination.
The ADO is the signatory of the award document, not the program
contact.
(2) Changes in approved goals or objectives shall be requested by
the awardee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to effecting such
changes. In no event shall requests for such changes be approved which
are outside the scope of the original approved project.
(3) Changes in approved project leadership or the replacement or
reassignment of other key project personnel shall be requested by the
awardee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to effecting such
changes.
(4) Transfers of actual performance of the substantive programmatic
work in whole or in part and provisions for payment of funds, whether
or not Federal funds are involved, shall be requested by the awardee
and approved in writing by the ADO prior to effecting such transfers,
unless prescribed otherwise in the terms and conditions of the award.
(5) Changes in project period. The project period may be extended
by OEPNU without additional financial support, for such additional
period(s) as the ADO determines may be necessary to complete or fulfill
the purposes of an approved project, but in no case shall the total
project period exceed five years. Any extension of time shall be
conditioned upon prior request by the awardee and approval in writing
by the ADO, unless prescribed otherwise in the terms and conditions of
award.
(6) Changes in approved budget. Changes in an approved budget must
be requested by the awardee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to
instituting such changes if the revision will involve transfers or
expenditures of amounts requiring prior approval as set forth in the
applicable Federal cost principles, Departmental regulations, or award.
Sec. 2903.20 Reporting requirements.
The award document will give instructions regarding the submission
of progress reports, including the frequency and required contents of
the reports.
Sec. 2903.21 Applicable Federal statutes and regulations.
Several Federal statutes and regulations apply to grant
applications considered for review and to project grants awarded under
this program. These include, but are not limited to:
7 CFR Part 1, subpart A--USDA implementation of the Freedom of
Information Act.
7 CFR Part 3--USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-129
regarding debt collection.
7 CFR Part 15, subpart A--USDA implementation of Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
7 CFR Part 3015--USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations,
implementing OMB directives (i.e., OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-122)
and incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6301-6308 (formerly the
Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Public Law 95-
224), as well as general policy requirements applicable to recipients
of Departmental financial assistance.
7 CFR Part 3017--USDA implementation of Governmentwide Debarment
and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for
Drug-Free Workplace (Grants).
7 CFR Part 3018--USDA implementation of Restrictions on Lobbying.
Imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification
related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, grants,
cooperative agreements, and loans.
7 CFR Part 3019--USDA implementation of OMB Circular A-110, Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements With
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit
Organizations.
7 CFR Part 3052--USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-
[[Page 41757]]
133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-profit Organizations.
29 U.S.C. 794 (section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973) and 7 CFR Part
15b (USDA implementation of statute)-- prohibiting discrimination based
upon physical or mental handicap in Federally assisted programs. 35
U.S.C. 200 et seq.--Bayh-Dole Act, controlling allocation of rights to
inventions made by employees of small business firms and domestic
nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally assisted
programs (implementing regulations are contained in 37 CFR Part 401).
Sec. 2903.22 Confidential aspects of applications and awards.
When an application results in an award, it becomes a part of the
record of USDA transactions, available to the public upon specific
request. Information that the Secretary determines to be of a
confidential, privileged, or proprietary nature will be held in
confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, any information
that the applicant wishes to have considered as confidential,
privileged, or proprietary should be clearly marked within the
application. The original copy of an application that does not result
in an award will be retained by the Agency for a period of one year.
Other copies will be destroyed. Such an application will be released
only with the consent of the applicant or to the extent required by
law. An application may be withdrawn at any time prior to the final
action thereon.
Sec. 2903.23 Definitions.
For the purpose of this program, the following definitions are
applicable:
Authorized departmental officer or ADO means the Secretary or any
employee of the Department who has the authority to issue or modify
grant instruments on behalf of the Secretary.
Authorized organizational representative or AOR means the president
or chief executive officer of the applicant organization or the
official, designated by the president or chief executive officer of the
applicant organization, who has the authority to commit the resources
of the organization.
Biodiesel means a monoalkyl ester that meets the requirements of an
appropriate American Society for Testing and Materials Standard.
Budget period means the interval of time (usually 12 months) into
which the project period is divided for budgetary and reporting
purposes.
Department or USDA means the United States Department of
Agriculture.
Education activity means an act or process that imparts knowledge
or skills through formal or informal training and outreach.
Grant means the award by the Secretary of funds to an eligible
recipient for the purpose of conducting the identified project.
Grantee means the organization designated in the award document as
the responsible legal entity to which a grant is awarded.
Institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), means an educational
institution in any State that:
(1) Admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of
graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the
recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
(2) Is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of
education beyond secondary education;
(3) Provides an educational program for which the institution
awards a bachelor's degree or provides not less than a two-year program
that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree;
(4) Is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
(5) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or
association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been
granted preaccreditation status by such an agency or association that
has been recognized by the Secretary of Education for the granting of
preaccreditation status, and the Secretary of Education has determined
that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the
accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a
reasonable time.
OEPNU means the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.
Peer review is an evaluation of a proposed project performed by
experts with the scientific knowledge and technical skills to conduct
the proposed work whereby the technical quality and relevance to the
program are assessed.
Project director or PD means the single individual designated by
the grantee in the grant application and approved by the Secretary who
is responsible for the direction and management of the project, also
known as a principal investigator for research activities.
Prior approval means written approval evidencing prior consent by
an authorized departmental officer (as defined in this section).
Program means the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program as set forth in
this part.
Project means the particular activity within the scope of the
program supported by a grant award.
Project period means the period, as stated in the award document
and modifications thereto, if any, during which Federal sponsorship
begins and ends.
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture and any other officer
or employee of the Department to whom the authority involved may be
delegated.
Roger Conway,
Director, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.
[FR Doc. 03-17851 Filed 7-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P