The American Sheep and Goat Center is Inviting Grant Proposals for the Sheep and Goat Industry Grant Initiative
Notice of solicitation of applications.
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SUMMARY: The American Sheep and Goat Center (ASGC) announces the availability of up to $200,000 in
competitive grants for product or business development, producer information or education, marketing and
promotion for sheep or goats or their products, genetic retention, and animal health. Eligible applicants, including
many business structures but excluding individuals (see section III), may apply. The intent is to fund a variety
of proposals that will benefit the U.S. sheep and goat industries.
DATES: Complete paper or electronically submitted applications must be received on or
before 5 p.m. eastern daylight time, August 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Applications, required forms, frequently asked questions and other helpful information can be found at http://www.asgcusa.org.
Submit completed paper applications to the following addressee:
ASGC Attn: Steven Lee
32 Gleason St
Thomaston, Maine 04861
Submit electronic grant applications to the following Internet address: stevelee@asgcusa.org .
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Lee, Executive Director 202-350-9065 or 207-236-6567, or by e-mail, stevelee@asgcusa.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Company: American Sheep and Goat Center
Title: Sheep and Goat Industry Grant Initiative.
Type: Initial announcement for funding availability.
Dates: Applications must be received by August 1, 2008 for projects that will be completed on or
before June 30, 2010.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The
American Sheep and Goat Center is the successor organization to the
Privatization of the
National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.The National Sheep Industry
Improvement Center (NSIIC) was
authorized by 7 U.S.C. 2008j. The NSIIC enabling legislation envisioned NSIIC
as a pilot program that would
become self sustaining and privatize over a ten year period.
There were two triggers built into the legislation to set the privatization
process in motion:
1) September 30, 2006 or;
2) the full authorized funding of $50 million.
Although the ASGC Board of Directors is pleased
with the programs they have been able to provide with this
limited budget for the country’s sheep and goat industries, they would like to
undertake enterprises that will allow
the organization to become self sustaining as expected.
The mission of the ASGC is ``To assist the U.S. Sheep and Goat Industries by strengthening and enhancing
the production and marketing of sheep, goats, and their products in the United States.''
The Board of Directors has made low interest loans available through an intermediary arrangement with the
National Livestock Producers Association since 2000 and has conducted the National Sheep Industry Grant
Initiative since Fiscal Year (FY) 2002. The Board is making this grant initiative of up to $200,000 available for FY 2008.
Projects should be completed in a timely fashion as provided in the proposal, with a final completion date on or before June 30, 2010. The primary objective of the Sheep and Goat Industry Grant Initiative (SGIGI) is to fund a number of diverse projects that will benefit the U.S. sheep or goat industries through product or business development, producer information or education, marketing and promotion for sheep or goats or their products, genetic retention and animal health at the regional, national or international level. Examples of previously funded projects can be found at http://www.asgcusa.org/grants.htm.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Approximate Total Funding: Up to $200,000.
Approximate number of Awards: 11.
Approximate Average Award: $18,000, ranging in the past from $1,300 to $50,000.
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: None
Anticipated Award Date: October 1, 2008
It is expected that there will be proposals submitted that address a variety of needs related to the U.S. sheep
and goat industries. Awards may be classified so that a variety of needs will be addressed by the funded proposals.
The actual number of grants funded will depend on the quality of proposals received and the amount of funding
requested. A proposal may be partially funded or funded in its entirety.
No funds made available under this solicitation shall be used to do any of the following activities:
1. Duplicate current services or replace or substitute support previously provided. If
the current service is inadequate, however, grant funds may be used to expand the level of effort or services
beyond that which is currently being provided;
2. Pay costs of preparing the application package for funding under this program;
3. Pay costs of the project incurred prior to the date of grant approval;
4. Fund political activities;
5. Pay for assistance to any private business enterprise that does not have at least 51 percent ownership
by those who are either citizens of the United States or reside in the United States after being legally admitted
for permanent residence.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible applicants--An eligible entity is one that promotes the betterment of the United States sheep
or goat industries and includes:
(1) A public, private, or cooperative organization;
(2) An association, including a corporation not operated for profit;
(3) A federally recognized Indian Tribe; or
(4) A public or quasi-public agency.
Eligible entities must be domestic with at least 51 percent ownership by those who are either citizens
of the United States or reside in the United States after being legally admitted for permanent residence.
B. Ineligible applicants--Individuals, organizations under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, and
organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4))
which engage in lobbying activities. Applications from ineligible applicants will be returned without review
or consideration.
C. Cost Sharing or Matching--Cost sharing or matching funds are not required but preference may be
given to proposals that have over 50 percent of the project costs in matching funds, including in kind contributions
(See the Review and Selection Process). Overhead costs cannot exceed 25 percent of total project cost.
D. Other Eligibility Requirements--Applications without sufficient information to determine eligibility will not be
considered for funding.
Applications that are missing any required elements (in whole or in part) will not be considered for funding.
There is no limit on the number of applications that an entity may submit for this announcement.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Language: English
B. Address to Request Application Package--Forms can be found at
http://www.asgcusa.org. They can also be obtained by: e-mailing a request to info@asgcusa.org.; faxing a request to 207-354-4024 or calling 202-350-9065.
C. Content and Form of Application Submission:
1. You may submit your application in paper or in an electronic format. If you submit your application in a paper
format it must include an original, with an original signature, and 10 additional copies.
2. Each copy must be stapled in the upper left-hand corner, do not bind.
3. All copies of the proposal must be submitted in one package.
4. The proposal must be submitted on standard 8.5'' x 11'' paper with typing on one side of the page only.
5. Margins must be at least 1'', type must be 12 characters per inch (12 pitch or 10 point) or larger, no more
than 6 lines per inch, and there should be no page reductions.
6. Proposals are limited to the information requested.
DO NOT:
a. exceed the narrative limit;
b. include organizational brochures,
c. include promotional materials, slides, films, clips, books, videos,
d. include product samples,
e. include letters of support (they should be summarized in the narrative) or
f. any other additional materials.
Proposals that contain more than the requested information will be returned without review or consideration.
D. What to Submit:
1. “Application for Grant.'' This serves as the cover page and no other cover page should be included.
2. Budget Summary
3. Project Summary:
The proposal must contain a project summary of 1 page or less on a separate page. This page must
include the title of the project, the names of the primary project contacts, the applicant entity, followed by the
summary. The summary should be self-contained and should describe the overall goals and relevance of the project.
The summary should also contain a listing of all organizations involved in the project. The Project Summary should
immediately follow the Budget Summary.
4. Project Narrative: The project narrative is limited to 10 pages and the pages should be numbered, beginning with
page 1 on the first page of the narrative. The narrative portion of the Project Proposal should contain the following:
a. Introduction: Substantiate the need for the proposed project. Describe the project's specific relationship to the
segment of sheep or goat industry issue, product or market being addressed.
b. Potential Industry Impact--Discuss the specific objectives to be accomplished under the project. Describe the
proposed project and demonstrate how it will stimulate the U.S. sheep or goat industries. Provide a detailed analysis
of the sheep or goat industry issue that is being addressed by the proposal by including the: (i) Product or group that will
be impacted by the proposal; (ii) geographic area affected
(iii) target audience or end user; (iv) and expected results.
c. Industry Commitment--Describe the commitment of the producers, processors, end-users or other involved parties
in participating in the proposed project. This may include, but is not limited to, individual producers, producer groups,
processors, seminar participants, local organizations, local or state governments or trade associations.
d. Business Soundness--Discuss the specific goals and objectives to be accomplished with a timetable, quantifiable
benchmarks and expected results.
e. Financial Feasibility--Provide a well-defined budget for the proposal and describe how the budget specifically relates
to the completion of each goal or objective. This requirement may be accomplished, in whole or in part, by the required
completion of the Budget Summary.
f. Management Ability--Identify the management team needed to complete the proposal objectives and describe their
qualifications. Describe how the project will be coordinated among various participants and the nature of the collaborations.
Describe plans for management of the project to ensure its proper and efficient administration.
g. Information that successful applicants must submit--Successful applicants will receive a letter of intent from ASGC
at which time they will be required to provide the bank account information necessary to make electronic funds transfer.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria--The proposal will initially be reviewed to determine whether the entity submitting the proposal
meets the eligibility requirements and whether the proposal application contains the information required. After this
initial evaluation, the following criteria will be used to rate and rank proposals received in response
to this notice of funding availability. Failure to address any one of the criteria will disqualify the proposal and the proposal
will be returned without review or consideration. Equal weight shall be given to each of the criterion listed below and
points will be awarded on a scale of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. A score of 5 indicates that the proposal was judged to be highly relevant
to the criterion and a score of 1 indicates that the proposal was judged not to sufficiently address the criterion.
Each proposal will be evaluated and judged using the following criteria:
A. Potential Industry Impact--Describe the proposed project and demonstrate how it will stimulate the U.S. sheep or goat
industries. Provide a detailed analysis of the sheep or goat industry issue that is being addressed by the proposal by including the:
(1) Product or group that will be impacted by the proposal; (2) geographic area affected; (3) target audience or end user;
(4) and expected results. The ASGC will evaluate whether the industry issue and need are well-defined and the proposed
project provides an effective and efficient approach to resolving the identified need.
B. Industry Commitment--Describe the commitment of the producers, processor, end-users or other involved parties in
participating in the proposed project. This may include, but is not limited to, individual producers, producer groups, processors,
seminar participants, local organizations, local or state governments or trade associations. The ASGC will evaluate whether
there is a commitment from all who are expected to participate and benefit from the proposed project.
C. Business Soundness--Provide a timetable and objectives along with a quantifiable benchmark and expected results.
The ASGC will evaluate whether the proposal includes (1) clear objectives; (2) well-defined tasks that will accomplish the
objectives; (3) realistic benchmarks; and (4) a realistic timetable for the completion of the proposed tasks and (5) whether a
business strategy has been adequately developed.
D. Financial Feasibility--Provide a well-defined budget for the proposal. The ASGC will evaluate whether (1) the funding
requirements and budget for the project are well defined; (2) financially feasible and the matching funds or other resources
that will be used to leverage the requested funds are identified.
E. Management Ability--Identify the management team needed to complete the proposal objectives and describe their
qualifications. The ASGC will evaluate whether the management team is identified and capable of implementing the proposal.
Review and Selection Process--The ASGC Board of Directors will evaluate proposal applications. Applications will be
evaluated competitively and points awarded as specified in the Selection Criteria section of this Notice. Grants will be
awarded on a competitive basis to eligible entities. A proposal may be partially funded. The Board of Directors reserves
the right to award up to five additional points for proposals with over 50 percent in matching funds or to provide a diversity
of projects targeting various situations, geographic areas, subjects. Projects that are approved for further processing will
be subject to the grant terms that are negotiated between the applicant and the Board of Directors including, but not limited
to, the amount to be funded, project goals, timetables, completion date or other terms as deemed necessary.
VI. Award Administration Information
Award Notices--Successful applicants can expect notification no later than November 1, 2008. A letter of intent will be
sent to the contact person identified on the Application Cover Sheep. The letter of intent will include a request for more
detailed information to be able to electronically transfer funds. When the needed information is supplied, the grant agreement
will be executed.
Reporting--In addition Awardees will be required to submit written project performance reports on a semi-annual basis
and a final report at the completion of the project. A follow up report on the progress of the project will also be required one
year after the completion of the award.
The project performance report and final report shall include, but need not be limited to:
1. Financial Status Report showing the disbursement of all expended funds.
2. A written report that includes:
A. A comparison of timeline, tasks and objectives outlined in the proposal as compared to the actual accomplishments;
B. If report varies from the stated objectives or they were not met, the reasons why established objectives were not met;
C. Problems, delays, or adverse conditions which will materially affect attainment of planned project objectives;
D. Objectives established for the next reporting period; and
E. Status of compliance with any special conditions on the use of awarded funds.
VII. ASGC Contact(s)
Web site--Forms, previous recipients and other information can be found at http://www.asgcusa.org; e-mail: info@asgcusa.org ;
USPS at ASGC,
PO Box 646,
Rockland, Maine 04841
other carriers at
32 Gleason Street,
Thomaston, Maine 04861;
Telephone (202) 350-9065 or (207) 236-6567 or FAX (207) 354-4024.
VIII. Other Information
Low interest loans: For information on ASGC intermediary low interest loan program, visit National Livestock
Producers Association at http://www.nlpa.org.
The ASGC Board of Directors reserves the right to award more, or less than the funds described in this announcement.
In the absence of worthy application, the Board may decide not to make an award.
Dated: June 4, 2008.
Steve Lee,
Executive Director
American Sheep and Goat Center
