Program Descriptions
Program Number
10.962
Title
Cochran Fellowship Programinternational Training-Foreign Participant
Federal Agency
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Authorization
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 3291; Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, Public Law 99-198.
Status
Active
Objectives
To provide high quality training resulting in knowledge and skills that will assist eligible countries meet the food needs of their domestic populations; and to strengthen and enhance trade linkages between eligible countries and agricultural interests in the United States.
Types of Assistance
Direct Payments for Specified Use.
Uses and Use Restrictions
No funding is available for unsolicited proposals. Cochran Program funds are used for projects involved with international training activities, including course development and/or evaluation.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
The Cochran Program solicits proposals from U.S. institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations and U.S. agricultural trade and market development associations.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Technical assistance provided through these agreements benefit foreign governments and related agricultural institutions in their countries.
Credentials/Documentation
None. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-122. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
No funding is available for unsolicited proposals. The Cochran Program solicits proposals from U.S. institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations and U.S. agricultural trade and market development associations. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Applications solicited by the Cochran Program should include a scope of work, budget, time frame and expected results. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102.
Award Procedure
All proposals are evaluated by technical specialists, which rate the qualifications of applicants and merits of the proposals.
Deadlines
None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
None.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is phased according to the requirements of individual projects.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Training evaluation reports may be required.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR Part 3052, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," which implement OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Government, and Nonprofit 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 audits requirements for that year, except as noted in 7 CFR 3052.
Records
Program and financial records are kept in the Department.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-3200-0-1-352.
Obligations
(Reimbursable Agreements) FY 07 $1,500,000; FY 08 est $1,200,000; and FY 09 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$3,000 to $206,000 per project. Average: $19,000.
Program Accomplishments
This program currently includes short term agricultural and trade-related training programs for senior and mid-level specialists and administrators in such technical areas as food safety, biotechnology, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, agribusiness development and marketing. The program also strengthens local capacities in such commodity areas as dairy, livestock, poultry, horticultural products, grains, feeds and consumer ready products. The Cochran Fellowship Program trained 551 Fellows in 67 countries in FY06 and 706 Fellows in 70 countries in FY07.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
7 CFR 3015.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Lynne Reich, FAS\Office of Capacity Building and Development, Cochran Fellowship Program, Department of Agriculture, Washington DC 20250-1031. Telephone: (202) 690-0880.
Web Site Address
http://www.fas.usda.gov
Related Programs
None.
Examples of Funded Projects
Short-term training in such areas as pest risk assessment, meat and poultry inspection, food safety control methods and regulatory systems, organic certification, HACCP, veterinary epidemiology, and dairy herd management.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria are dependent upon identification of specific project requirements and program priorities developed by the Foreign Agricultural Service's Office of Capacity Building and Develoment(FAS/OCBD), in consultation with collaborating agencies and organizations. Contact FAS/OCBD for additional information. While this program does not fund unsolicited proposals, interested parties are welcome to submit statements of capability and expressions of interest.
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