OfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralofIowa

InnovativeSwineIndustryEnhancementGrantProgram

RevisedRequestforApplications

August 5,2015

  1. Background.OnApril 7, 2015,theOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralofIowa(“AG’sOffice”)andSmithfieldFoods,Inc.(“Smithfield”),MurphyFarms,LLC,andPrestage-StoeckerFarms,Inc.agreedtotheentryofaConsentDecreebytheUnitedStatesDistrictCourtfor the Southern District of Iowa. TheConsentDecreeincludedthefollowingprovision:

Smithfieldagreestopay$100,000peryearforten (10)yearstofundaprogramfortheawardingofannualgrantstoIowacitizensorentitiesthatdemonstratebothaneedforfundingandaninnovativeprogramtoadvance swine production in the State.The grantswillbeawardedtoapplicantsselectedbythe Office oftheAttorneyGeneralincollaborationwithSmithfieldandatleasttwo Republican legislators and twoDemocraticlegislatorsortheirdesignees.ThefirstgrantswillbeawardedfollowingtheestablishmentofprotocoltoattractapplicationsandselectgranteesnolaterthanDecember31,2005.

Pursuanttothisprovision,theAG’sOffice,incollaborationwithSmithfieldandtwoRepublicanandtwoDemocraticmembersoftheIowaGeneralAssembly,establishedtheInnovativeSwineIndustryEnhancementGrantProgram(“ISIEGP”).TheISIEGPfulfillstherequirementsestablishedintheConsentDecreetoestablishagrantprogramtoassistinthefundingof “innovativeprogramstoadvanceswineproductioninIowa.”

On April 7, 2015, the AG’s Office issued a Request for Applications (“RFA”). On August 5, 2015, the AG’s Office announced it was going to exercise its right to modify the RFA and issue a revised RFA. The AG’s Office made this decision to allow additional time for proposals to be submitted and to seek clarification about previously submitted applications.TheAG’sOfficeisissuingthisrevised RequestforApplications(“revised RFA”)toidentifyandsupportinnovativeprogramstoadvanceswineproductioninIowaascontemplatedbytheConsentDecree.In2015,approximately$225,000willbegrantedunderISIEGP.

Applicantsshouldrevieweach section of this revised RFA carefully.Thisrevised RFAissolelyarequestofexpressionsofinterestand statement of qualifications.Itisnotaninvitationfortenders,anoffertocontract,oraninvitationcapableofacceptancetocreateacontract. TheAG’sOfficereservestherighttocancelormodifythisrevised RFAatanytimeandissueanotherrevisedRFAwithoutliabilityforanyloss,damage,costs,orexpenseincurredorsufferedbyanyapplicantasaresultofamodificationorcancellation.

2.GrantApplicationInstructions.

2.1 EligibilityRequirements.

2.1.1 ApplicantsmustbeindividualswhoresideinIowaorareentitieswhichhavetheirprincipalplaceofbusinessinIowaorhavetheirheadquartersinIowa.

2.1.2 Applicationsmaybesubmittedforproposalstobedeveloped jointlybymorethanoneentityandproposalsmayincludecoparticipants,subgrantees,orsubcontractors,providedthattheapplicationidentifiesasingleleadentityastheofficialapplicantandallentities,co-participants,subgrantees,orsubcontractorsareindividualswhoresideinIowaorareentitieswhichhavetheirprincipalplaceofbusinessinIowaorhavetheirheadquartersinIowa.

2.1.3 Applicantsmustadheretotheprinciplethatnodiscriminationwillbepracticedastorace,gender,religion,sex,nationaloriginorsexualorientation.

2.1.4 Applicantsmustdemonstratetheabilityandcapacitytoimplementprogramsandserviceswhichwillachievethepurposeandgoalsoftheproject.

2.2 ApplicationProcessandTimetable.

2.2.1 Copiesofthisrevised RFAareavailableonthewebsiteoftheAG’sOffice,

2.2.2 Acopyoftheapplicationshouldbesubmittedviae-mailandreceivednolaterthan4:30p.m.CentralTimeonSeptember 8,2015,andbymailingaletterenclosinganoriginalandthreecopiesoftheapplication(andattachments),whichshouldbepostmarkednolaterthanSeptember 8, 2015,andsentto:

OfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralofIowa

ISIEGPc/oInvestigatorMarcWallin

HooverBuilding,2ndFloor

1305E.WalnutSt.

DesMoines,IA50319

Phone:(515)281-8359

E-mail:

2.2.3 EachapplicationwillbegiventhoroughconsiderationbytheAG’sOffice. TheAG’sOfficewillforwardcopiesofallapplicationstoSmithfieldandtotwoRepublicanlegislatorsandtwoDemocraticlegislatorsortheirdesignees(“legislators”). TheAG’sOfficewillconsultwithSmithfieldandthelegislatorsbeforeselectingapplicantswhowillreceivegrantawards.

2.2.4 TheAG’sOfficewillmakethefinaldecisionontheawardingofgrantsbyOctober 1,2015. Allapplicantswillbesentnotificationofthisdecisionbymail.

2.2.5 ApplicantsmayberequiredtorespondtoquestionsfromtheAG’sOfficeconcerningtheirproposalduringthegrantreviewprocess,but,innoway,maychangetheiroriginalapplication.

2.2.6 Grantrecipientswillberequiredtosignagrantagreementcontainingfiscalresponsibility,reportingrequirements,andotherprovisionsdeemednecessarybytheAG’sOffice.

2.3 ApplicationRequirements.

2.3.1 Grantapplicationsshouldbeformattedsothattheyaredouble-spacedwith12-pointfontandoneinchmarginsonallsidesofthepage. Eachpageoftheapplicationshouldbenumberedandindicatethenameoftheprincipalapplicant.

2.3.2 Grantapplicationsmustincludethefollowingcomponents,arrangedinthefollowingorder:

  • CoversheetintheformoutlinedinAppendixA
  • Formalnarrativeproposal(nottoexceedfivepages)intheformoutlinedinAppendixB
  • BudgetsummaryintheformoutlinedinAppendixCanddescribedinsection3.1
  • LineitembudgetintheformoutlinedinAppendixDanddescribedinsection3.2
  • OtherSourcesofSupportintheformoutlinedinAppendixE
  • SupportingDocumentsintheformoutlinedinAppendixFanddescribedinsection4

2.4 Previously Submitted Applications.

2.4.1 Grant applications submitted pursuant to the original RFA will be considered as properly submitted for this revised RFA and no other action is required except providing the AG’s Office with the information described in 2.4.2

2.4.2 Applicants who previously submitted proposals will contact the AG’s Office at the email address listed above no later than September 8, 2015, and indicate whether the proposed project can be successfully completed with an award from ISIEGP that is less than the amount originally requested. If the project can be successfully completed with a smaller award from ISIEGP, then the applicant should submit, no later than September 8, 2015, a revised Budget Summary and Line Item Budget reflecting the reduction and any other information the applicant deems useful to the AG’s Office.

2.4.3 Applicants who submitted proposals pursuant to the original RFA may change their original applications. Modified proposals must be submitted in accordance with section 2.2.2 and the other requirements of this revised RFA.

3.BudgetRequirements.

3.1 BudgetSummary.EachapplicationmustincludeabudgetsummaryintheformoutlinedinAppendixC. Thesummaryshouldlistgrantamountsrequestedbycategory.

3.2 LineItemBudget.EachapplicationmustincludealineitembudgetintheformoutlinedinAppendixD. Budgetlineitemsshouldbedescribedasfollows:

3.2.1Salaries/Benefits.Identifyanyonetobepaidasasalarypositiononthisgrant.Listname,title,percentoftimetobedevotedtograntwork,andtheamountofsalaryrequested.Alsolistthetypeandamountofanypersonnelbenefitsassociatedwiththesalaries.

3.2.2Travel.Itemizeallin-stateandout-of-statetravelrelatedtothegrant.Includecostsformeals,lodging,andmileageandthepurposeofthetravel.GrantrecipientswillbeboundbytheStateofIowaratesfortravel.StateofIowarulesontravelmaybeaccessedonthewebsiteoftheDepartmentofAdministrativeServices–StateAccountingEnterprise(

3.2.3OfficeOperations.Itemizeexpensesforofficeoperations,suchasrent,telephones,postage,copying,supplies. Includeexpense,title,vendor,andmonthlycharge.

3.2.4OtherDirectCosts. Itemizeotherdirectcostssuchasprinting,equipment,spacerental. Listexpense,vendor,andmonthlycharge. Grantfundsmaynot be usedtopurchasefixedassetssuchasautomobiles,computerequipment,orfixturesunlesssuchpurchaseshavebeenspecificallyapprovedbytheAG’sOffice.

3.2.5Consultants. Itemizeanyconsultantagreementsthatwillbeenteredintoaspartofthisgrant.Includetheconsultant’sname,organizationalaffiliation,andabriefexplanationoftheconsultant’sactivityintheproject.Alsoincludethehourlyordailyratefortheservicesoftheconsultantandthetotalcostsoftheconsultant.

3.2.6Contractors. Itemizeanysubcontractoragreementsthatwillbeenteredintoaspartofthisgrant. Includetheorganization’sname,contactname,andabriefexplanationofthesubcontractor’sactivityintheproject. Alsolistthetotalamounttobepaidtothesubcontractor.

3.2.7OtherCosts. Itemizeanyotherproposedexpensesthatdonotfitwithinanyoftheabovelistedcategories. Othercostsmayincludestipends,incentives,andadministrativeorindirectcosts. Includeanexplanationofthejustificationforthesecosts. Indirectcostscannotexceed10%oftheamountofdirectcosts.

3.3 ProhibitionsonUseofFunds. Grantfundsmaybeusedonlytosupportthebudgetcategoriesdescribedabove. InadditiontorestrictionsontheuseoffundsstatedelsewhereinthisRFA,thefollowingrestrictionsapplytograntfunds:

3.3.1 Supplanting. Grantfundsmaynotbeusedtosupplantotherfederal,state,local,orprivatefundssupportingexistingprogramsandactivities.

3.3.2 Miscellaneous. Grantfundsmaynotbeexpendedforthepaymentofrealestatemortgagesortaxes;duestoorganizationsorfederations;costsforsocialactivitiesnotrelatedtothepurposeofthisproject;costsrelatedtopoliticalactivity;interestcosts;fines,penalties,lawsuits,orlegalfees; contingenciessuchaspendinglitigationorpossibleliabilities;and contributionsordonations.

  1. SupportingDocuments.

4.1 OrganizationInformation.Eachapplicationmustincludeadescriptionoftheapplicant’sorganizationinaformoutlinedinAppendixF.

4.2 OtherSupportingInformation.Anapplicationmayincludeotherinformationthatwillhelpclarifythecredibilityoftheapplicant’sorganizationortheintentoftheproject,suchaslettersofsupport,brochures,annualreports,lettersofcommitmentoragreement,andmemorandaofunderstanding.

  1. EvaluationandSelectionofProposalstoFund.

5.1 GroundsforRejection. TheAG’sOfficewillrejectallapplicationsthatarenotreceivedinatimelymannerasrequiredundersection2.2.2. TheAG’sOfficemayrejectanyapplicationthatdoesnotmateriallycomplywiththeapplicationrequirementsdelineatedinsection2.3.2.

5.2 NumberofGrants. Thetotalamountofallgrantstobeawardedin2015willbeupto$225,000. ThenumberofgrantsawardedandtheamountofeachgrantissolelyinthediscretionoftheAG’sOffice,incollaborationwithSmithfieldandthelegislators.

5.3 EvaluationCriteria. TwocriteriatoevaluateproposalsaresetoutintheConsentDecree:

5.3.1 NeedforFunding.Applicantsmustdemonstrateaneedforfunding.Extraconsiderationwillbegiventoproposalsthatdemonstratetheabilityto obtainadditionalfundingfortheprojectbaseddirectlyonreceivinggrantsfromISIEGP. Extraconsiderationwillalsobegiventoproposalsthatcontemplatecollaborationwithotherentitiestoadvancetheproject’sgoals.

5.3.2InnovativePrograms. ApplicantsmustdemonstratethattheprojectisaninnovativeprogramtoadvanceswineproductioninIowa. ISIEGPisinterestedinfundinginnovativeprogramsthatwilladvanceswineproductioninIowainthefollowingareas:

  • Environment.Projectsareencouragedthatwilladdresstheenvironmentalimpactsofswineproduction,includingimpactsonairqualityandwaterquality.
  • Profitability.Projectsareencouragedthatwilladdresstheprofitabilityofswineproduction,includingprojectsthatwilllowerthecostsofswineproduction,addressswinediseaseproblems,increaseefficiencyinswineproduction,createnewporkproductsorcreatenewmarketsforpork.
  • ContractFeeding.Projectsareencouragedthatwilladdressissuesincontractfeeding,includingcompetition,fairness,andefficiency.
  • IndependentProducers.Projectsareencouragedthatwilladdresstheabilityofindependenthogproducerstocompete,includingprojectsrelatingtomarketaccess,pricetransparency,nichemarketingofpork,producernetworking,andfinancing.

5.4 DiscretionofAG’sOffice.Theselectionofgrantrecipientsandthe

amountsawardedaresolelyinthediscretionoftheAG’sOfficeafteritconsiders

thecriteriasetoutinsection5.3andhasconsultedwithSmithfieldandthelegislators.

5.5 AppealProcess.Applicantshavetherighttoappealafundingdecision

madebytheAG’sOffice.

5.5.1 BasisofAppeal. AppealsmayonlybebaseduponaclaimthattheproceduresgoverningthegrantselectionprocessassetoutinthisRFAhavenotbeenproperlyfollowed.

5.5.2 Timing.AppealsmustbeinwritingandreceivedbytheAG’sOfficenolaterthan4:30p.m.CentralTimeonthetenthworkingdayfollowingthedateofthewrittennotificationtotheapplicantofthefundingdecisionoftheAG’sOffice. Appealsshouldbesenttothecontactpersonandaddresslistedinsection2.2.2.Appealsreceivedafter4:30p.m.CentralTimeonthetenthdaywillnotbereviewed.

5.5.3 ContentofAppeal.AllappealsmustclearlystatehowthepoliciesandproceduresofthegrantprocessassetoutinthisRFAwerenotfollowed.Therequestmustalsodescribetheremedysought.

5.5.4 ReviewProcess.TheAG’sOfficewillreviewtheappealandgatherinformationregardinganyinfractionsoftheprocessinconsultationwithSmithfieldandthelegislators. TheAG’sOfficewillmakeareportandarecommendationtotheIowaAttorneyGeneral. TheAttorneyGeneralwilldetermineiftherehasbeenaviolationoftheproceduresofthegrantprocessassetoutinthisRFAandwillruleontheappealand,ifnecessary,willdecideuponanappropriateremedy.

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