Funding-Limited Submission – U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) – Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (OAO-00005); December 1, 2011

The Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) requests applications to the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (OASDFR). Approximately $19 million will be available for new proposals and supplemental funding for existing grantees.

Proposed activities must assist socially disadvantage farmers and ranchers (SDFRs) in two or more of the priority areas:

1. Assist SDFRs in owning and operating farms and ranches;
2. Assist SDFRs in participating equitably in the full range of USDA programs;
3. Build relationships between current and prospective SDFRs and USDA’s local, state, regional and national offices;
4. Assist current and prospective SDFRs in a linguistically appropriate manner;
5. Provide outreach and education to SDFRs on USDA class action lawsuits and claims processes;
6. Introduce agriculture-related information to SDFRs through innovative outreach and technical assistance techniques and;
7. Provide training and technical assistance on the effective use of combining programs offered by the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency and Natural Resources Service for the purpose of creating an economical safety net for producers of crops that the Farm Service Agency considers as covered commodities.

An organization may only submit one proposal for new funding and existing OASDFR grantees may only submit one request for supplemental funding.

The complete announcement can be accessed at:  http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=131193

Click on Full Announcement at the top of the page. NOTE:  This solicitation replaces the recently issued OAO-00004 which had an earlier deadline and was not a limited submission.

Because the USDA only allows an organization to submit one proposal for new funding and existing grantees to submit one request for supplemental funding, UK has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to submit the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Thursday, December 1, 2011:

1) Names and departments of the Project Director, project team, and any non-UK team members and/or collaborators;

2) Specify type of request (new or supplemental)

3) Narrative – Identify the geographic area and provide a 1-2 page description of the project’s goals, objectives, and proposed activities

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University’s submissions in time for USDA’s December 21, 2011 deadline. 

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).