USWBSI FY07 Pre-Proposal Instructions
U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative
FY07 Request for Research Project Pre-Proposals
Pre-Proposal Submission Deadline:
Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 5:00 PM EDT
Submit to: USWBSI/NFO
ATTN: Susan Canty
380 Plant & Soil Sciences Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1325
2
USWBSI FY07 Project Pre-Proposal
For more information:
www.scabusa.org
517-355-0271 ext. 183
FY07 RFP Application Kit
USWBSI FY07 Project Pre-Proposal
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ii
Changes to FY07 RFP from pervious year iii
Review Process iv
Research Area Committee (RAC) Chairs/IIR Research Contact v
Instructions
Cover Page 1
Project Summary Page 2
Summary of Progress for Ongoing Related Projects 2
Project Description 2
References to Project Description 4
Research Objectives/RA Priorities Form 4
Facilities and Equipment 4
Collaborative or Sub Contractual Arrangements 4
Vita and Publication List 4
Current and Pending Support 4
Budget and Budget Justification 4
Performance Reports 5
On-line Submission Process (CBCC Pre-proposals only) 6
Check List and Order of Required Items for Project Pre-Proposals 7
FY07 Program Descriptions and Research Priorities (PD-RP)
Chemical, Biological & Cultural Control (CBCC) 8
Etiology, Epidemiology and Disease Forecasting (EEDF) 10
Food Safety, Toxicology, & Utilization of Mycotoxin-contaminated Grain (FSTU) 11
Genetic Engineering and Transformation (GET) 12
Host Genetic Resources (HGR) 14
Host Genetics & Genomics (HGG) 16
Pathogen Genetics & Genomics (PGG) 18
Variety Development & Uniform Nurseries (VDUN) 19
FORMS
(Last six pages of RFP Application)
Check List
Cover Page
Project Summary Page
Project Objectives/RA Research Priorities Form
Current and Pending Support Page
Single FY07 Project Pre-Proposal Budget Page
ii FY07 RFP Application Kit
USWBSI FY07 Project Pre-Proposal
INTRODUCTION
The goal of the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative is: “To develop as quickly as possible effective control measures that minimize the threat of Fusarium head blight (scab), including the reduction of mycotoxins, to the producers, processors, and consumers of wheat and barley”. The Initiative is guided by a Steering Committee that includes growers, farm organizations, food processors (e.g., millers, pasta manufacturers, and brewers), scientists (from Land Grant universities, USDA, and private companies), and consumer groups. Each year, the Steering Committee submits to the USDA-ARS a comprehensive and optimized research plan designed to achieve the Initiative’s goals. That plan is the Initiative’s recommendation for how the USDA-ARS can most effectively employ the funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress for collaborative scab research.
The USWBSI is soliciting FY07 (approximately May 2007 – April 2008) pre-proposals for the eight research areas listed below. The USWBSI is encouraging PIs to consider the following in developing pre-proposals:
1) Integrated/Interdisciplinary Research (IIR) – Certain discipline areas and groups have established a track record of integration and collaboration in their pre-proposals (e.g. projects involving varieties, fungicides and rotations). Many PI’s, however, tend to submit pre-proposals that are narrowly focused within their area of research. The USWBSI would like to see pre-proposals that emphasize collaboration and integration, whether it involves crossing state lines or research area boundaries. Why? Because so far, the greatest progress in reducing the economic impact of scab has depended on combinations of management practices (e.g., appropriate rotations, best varieties, plus fungicides).
2) Greater focus on mycotoxins –It is recognized that while we have made progress in reducing the economic impact of head scab, and scab symptoms have been reduced, DON levels remain high under certain conditions. This continues to be a serious economic drain on the barley and wheat industries.
3) Getting the word out – The most efficacious solutions to date require stakeholder awareness and implementation: grow resistant varieties, use fungicides when the risk of scab is high, manage crop rotations effectively. Pre-proposals should contain an outreach component that increases stakeholder awareness of possible solutions to head scab.
USWBSI Research Areas:
v Chemical, Biological & Cultural Control (CBCC) – Electronic Submission only
v Etiology, Epidemiology and Disease Forecasting (EEDF)
v Food Safety, Toxicology, & Utilization of Mycotoxin-contaminated Grain (FSTU)
v Genetic Engineering and Transformation (GET)
v Host Genetic Resources (HGR)
v Host Genetics & Genomics (HGG)
v Pathogen Genetics & Genomics (PGG)
v Variety Development & Uniform Nurseries (VDUN)
v Integrated/Interdisciplinary Research (IRR) Projects
iii FY07 RFP Application Kit
USWBSI FY07 Project Pre-Proposal
Finalized program descriptions and research priorities for each of the eight research areas are included in this document, and can also be accessed through the USWBSI’s website at www.scabusa.org/research_rfp07.html. The USWBSI is in the process of developing a Web-based pre-proposals submission process. For FY07, a beta or test version will be utilized for pre-proposals submitted to the Chemical, Biological and Cultural Control research area. PI’s submitting a pre-proposal(s) to the CBCC research area must first complete a ‘Pre-Registration’ process. The web-based Pre-Registration form may be accessed at
http://www.scabusa.org/cgi-bin/pre_req.cgi. The deadline for completing the pre-registration process (CBCC only) is August 30, 2006. See Page 5 for detailed instructions/information regarding the on-line submission of CBCC pre-proposals.
Principal Investigators (PIs) should study this information prior to completing their pre-proposals, since it represents the guidelines that the reviewers will apply when considering pre-proposals. PIs are welcome and encouraged to interact with any of the Research Area Chairs (Table 1), or this office, to identify the appropriate area for their proposed work.
A single PI may submit more than one project pre-proposal, however, each pre-proposal (i.e. project) will be handled as a distinct, autonomous and complete submission as per the instructions listed here. In other words, each pre-proposal must include all required materials (Application for Funding Cover Page, Project Description, CV, Publication List, Budget, etc.).
Changes to FY07 RFP from previous year:
This request for research project pre-proposals (RFP) contains substantial changes from the FY06 version the most significant being the acceptance of pre-proposals that focus on ‘Integrated/ Interdisciplinary Research (IIR). PIs preparing RFP’s in the IIR category should note changes on the ‘Cover Page’ and also the development of the ‘Budget’ and ‘Budget Justification’. Another important change is the inclusion of a form (follows ‘Project Summary’ page) which demonstrates a linkage between pre-proposal objectives and specific research priorities that have been identified. For example, a pre-proposal submitted to VDUN might have as one objective “to screen segregating populations for scab resistance”; this would correspond to the FY07 research objective “The breeding and release of FHB-resistant wheat and barley varieties and germplasm that are adapted to FHB-threatened states.” The form should be used for all proposals including those integrated/interdisciplinary research proposals, where the proposed research objectives should be linked to research priorities from the relevant research areas. It is important that you use the FY07 RFP Application forms, included in this booklet and posted on the Web site (http://www.scabusa.org/research_rfp07.html. The correct forms are readily identified by the inclusion of “FY07” in their titles and headers/footers. Significant changes within the application kit are marked by vertical lines on the left and right margins. Potential PIs should therefore carefully read the instructions that follow and ensure that their pre-proposals conform exactly to the described format.
REVIEW PROCESS
The deadline for submitting pre-proposals is Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 5:00 PM (Eastern). Pre-proposals received on or before that date will be sent for review by one of the Research Committees listed in Table 1. The Executive Committee reviews the Research Committee’s recommendations and if necessary, modifies the awards so that they fit into the FY07 congressional budget and the overall objectives of the Initiative. The final step is approval of the EC’s recommended research plan and budget by the Steering Committee in early December. Principal investigators for those pre-proposals that are recommended by the Initiative will be asked to compile and formalize their pre-proposal(s) for inclusion in the Initiative’s recommended research plan. The comprehensive plan will be sent to ARS, which will conclude its review of the Initiative’s recommendations in the early months of 2007.
If you have any questions regarding this application, or the proposal process, please contact the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative’s Networking and Facilitation Office (NFO) by phone at (517) 355-0271 ext. 183 or by e-mail at . Please note that project pre-proposals will be regarded as confidential documents. Distribution will be limited only to parties involved with the review process. Also, depending on your institution’s requirements, the authorized organizational representative’s signature may not be required at this stage (not required for PIs affiliated with USDA-ARS).
A single copy of each project pre-proposal, plus additional copies if the pre-proposal contains colored images[1], must be received in the NFO at the following address by Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 5:00 PM (Eastern):
USWBSI/NFO
ATTN: Susan Canty, Manager
380 Plant and Soil Sciences Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1325
Pre-Registration Deadline (CBCC RA only): August 30, 2006,
5:00 PM (EDT).
Pre-Proposal Submission Deadline (All RAs): September 19, 2006, 5:00 PM (EDT).
iv FY07 RFP Application Kit
USWBSI FY07 Project Pre-Proposal
Table 1. Research Area Committees (RAC) Chairs/Contact for IRR pre-proposals
Research Area[2] / RAC Chair / Email Address / Program Description and Research Priorities (PD-RP)Web Address
CBCC / Marty Draper, USDA-CREES / / www.scabusa.org/research_cbcc.html
EEDF / Erick De Wolf, Penn State University / / www.scabusa.org/research_eedf.html
FSTU / Jim Pestka, Michigan State University / / www.scabusa.org/research_fstu.html
GET / Ron Skadsen, USDA-ARS, WI / rskadsen@.wisc.edu / www.scabusa.org/research_get.html
HGR / Stephen Baenziger, University of Nebraska / / www.scabusa.org/research_hgr.html
HGG / Herb Ohm, Purdue University / / www.scabusa.org/research_hgg.html
PGG / Bob Bowden, USDA-ARS, KS / / www.scabusa.org/research_pgg.html
VDUN / Mohamed Mergoum, North Dakota State University / / www.scabusa.org/research_vdun.html
IRR / Dave Van Sanford, Director of the Networking & Facilitation Office / or
/ www.scabusa.org/research_rfp07.html
v FY07 RFP Application Kit
USWBSI FY07 Project Pre-Proposal
1 FY07 RFP Application Kit
USWBSI FY07 Project Pre-Proposal
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORMAT AND CONTENTS OF FY07 PROJECT PRE-PROPOSALS
To facilitate pre-proposal preparation, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding pre-proposal preparation and submission are available electronically on the USWBSI’s Website at:
http://www.scabusa.org/pdfs/fy07_rfp_faq.pdf
It is important that all pre-proposals conform to the instructions provided in the FY07 Request for Pre-Proposals (RFP) Application. The USWBSI’s Networking & Facilitation Office (NFO) may return without review proposals that are not consistent with these instructions. The NFO must authorize any deviations from these instructions in advance of pre-proposal submission.
Deviations may be authorized by written approval from the NFO Director () or Manager ().
Application for Funding Cover Page
The funding application paperwork enclosed herein is a modified version of the process used by USDA’s National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program. The pre-proposal must contain a completed Pre-proposal Application for Funding Cover Page, which will be the first page of the application. In completing this form, please note the following:
· Title of Proposal (Block 6). The title of the project pre-proposal must be brief (80-character maximum), yet represent the major thrust of the project. Because this title will be used to provide information to those who may not be familiar with the proposed project, highly technical words or phraseology should be avoided where possible. In addition, phrases such as “investigation of” or “research on” should not be used.
· Principal Investigator/Co-Investigators (Block 10). List the name of the proposing principal investigator in this block. All other participating scientist should be listed as co-investigators. The co-investigators should be limited to those required for major scientific collaboration.
· Phone Numbers (Block 11). Please list the phone and fax number, and the e-mail address (if available) of the principal investigator in this block.
· Currently Funded Projects (Block 13). List the titles of all individual research projects that are currently being funded in FY06 (approx. May 2006 – April 2007) in association with the USWBSI/ARS collaboration.
· Research Area (Block 16). Your Project Pre-Proposalshould beconstructed to address one or more of the priorities included in the FY07 Program Description and ResearchPriorities. In Block 16, designate with an 'X' one Research Area whose description and priorities your project is designed to address. Research Area (RA) Program Descriptions and Research Priorities (PD-RP) are included in this application. You can also view them on the Initiative’s Web site at www.scabusa.org/research.html. If ‘Integrated/Interdisciplinary Research’ (IIR) was designated, list all research areas (acronyms) that are relevant to the IIR proposed project.
· Signatures. Sign and date the Pre-proposal Application for Funding Cover Page in the places indicated at the bottom of the page. The principal investigator, and if applicable, all co-investigators, must sign all project pre-proposals. Signatures for co-investigators may initially be represented by faxed copies of the cover page, but PI’s should arrange for the Networking & Facilitation Office (NFO) to receive a cover page with ink signatures of all co-investigators as soon as possible.
2 FY07 RFP Application Kit
FY07 USWBSI Project Pre-Proposal
Project Summary Page
Each project pre-proposal must contain a completed Project Summary Page, which will be the second page of the project pre-proposal. The names and institutions of all of the principal and co-investigators should be listed on this form (if space for this information is insufficient, please enter “see attached” and provide the information on a separate sheet immediately following the Project Summary Page). The project summary itself must fit within the space indicated. The summary is not intended for the general reader; consequently, it may contain technical language relating to Fusarium head blight research. The project summary should be self-contained, include a specific description of the activity to be undertaken, and focus on the following:
· Overall project goal(s)
· Project Objectives (list in numbered format);
· Plans to accomplish project goal(s) within period of proposed work (one-year duration); and
· Relevance of the project to the goals of the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative with specific reference to the research priorities listed in the FY07 Program Descriptions and Research Priorities (PD-RP).