3430.12—Requests for applications.
(a) General.
For each competitive and noncompetitive non-formula program, CSREES will prepare a program solicitation (also called a request for applications (RFA)), in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) policy directive, 68 FR 37370 -37379 (June 23, 2003), establishing a standard format for Federal agency announcements (i.e., program solicitations or RFAs) of funding opportunities under programs that award discretionary grants or cooperative agreements. This policy directive requires the content of the RFA to be organized in a sequential manner beginning with overview information followed by the full text of the announcement and will apply unless superseded by statute or another OMB policy directive. The RFA may include all or a portion of the following items:
(2)
Directions for interested stakeholders or beneficiaries to submit written comments in a published program solicitation or RFA.
(10)
Types of projects to be given priority consideration, including maximum anticipated awards and maximum project lengths, if applicable.
(14)
Information about how to obtain application forms and the instructions for completing such forms.
(b) RFA variations.
Where program-specific requirements differ from the requirements established in this part, program solicitations will also address any such variation(s). Variations may occur in the following:
(9)
Minimum and maximum budget requests, and whether applications outside of these limits will be returned without further review.
(c) Program announcements.
Occasionally, CSREES will issue a program announcement (PA) to alert potential applicants and the public about new and ongoing funding opportunities. These PAs may provide tentative due dates and are released without associated application packages. Hence, no applications are solicited under a PA. PAs are announced in the Federal Register or on the CSREES Web site.