- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is seeking individuals to serve as reviewers for upcoming grant competitions. NEEF typically administers 7-10 grant competitions each year that invite educational (both formal and informal) and public land partners across the country to apply for funding. Requests for proposals typically solicit proposals for projects that accomplish the following:
- provide STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education in a place-based context;
- build the capacity of Friends Groups to support their public land partners; and
- execute events that are educational, recreational, and/or volunteer-based.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the grant-making process, develop your own grant-writing skills, learn about exciting trends in environmental education and public lands engagement, and contribute your knowledge and experience to NEEF's efforts to select high-quality programs and organizations for funding.
The program requests reviewers with prior experience with:
- environmental education,
- public lands,
- nonprofit management.
For those interested in becoming a reviewer, please email your resume to the NEEF Grants team at grantsadmin@neefusa.org.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
The California Department of Food and Agriculture will be hosting a webinar, ‘California and the Netherlands Host Climate Smart Agriculture Webinar on Alternative Manure Management', on Thursday, October 26th from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PST
Conventional manure management practices have been applied widely in the dairy and livestock production industries in California and The Netherlands. More recently significant advances have been made to capture, store, treat and utilize animal manure that are ecologically and economically sustainable – helping to meet established climate change goals.
You are invited to join the conversation as experts from the scientific community, policy makers and regulators along with those in the private sector discuss advances in alternative manure management practices that have applicability in both California and the Netherlands. Register Here
The webinar is part of an ongoing series of online discussions on Climate Smart Agriculture in collaboration with various countries and the CDFA's climate partners (USDA California Climate Hub & UC Davis World Food Center).
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
NIH has updated its policy for issuing Certificates of Confidentiality (Certificates) for NIH-funded and conducted research, as a result of the need to implement Section 2012 of the 21st Century Cures Act, P.L. 114-255, which states that the Secretary, HHS shall issue Certificates of Confidentiality to persons engaged in biomedical, behavioral, clinical or other research, in which identifiable, sensitive information is collected. These Certificates protect the privacy of research subjects by prohibiting disclosure of identifiable, sensitive research information to anyone not connected to the research except when the subject consents or in a few other specific situations.
Effective October 1, 2017, NIH funded researchers are automatically issued a CoC through their award funded wholly or in part by the NIH that collect or use identifiable, sensitive information. Previously, NIH provided these protections through the issuance of Certificates only upon receipt and approval of an application. However, to minimize the burden to researchers, streamline the process, and reduce the time it takes to comply with the requirements associated with applying for a Certificate, NIH will now provide Certificates automatically to any NIH-funded recipients.
For the purposes of this Policy, NIH considers research in which identifiable, sensitive information is collected or used, to include:
- Human subjects research as defined in the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (45 CFR 46), including exempt research except for human subjects research that is determined to be exempt from all or some of the requirements of 45 CFR 46 if the information obtained is recorded in such a manner that human subjects cannot be identified or the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects;
- Research involving the collection or use of biospecimens that are identifiable to an individual or for which there is at least a very small risk that some combination of the biospecimen, a request for the biospecimen, and other available data sources could be used to deduce the identity of an individual;
- Research that involves the generation of individual level, human genomic data from biospecimens, or the use of such data, regardless of whether the data is recorded in such a manner that human subjects can be identified or the identity of the human subjects can readily be ascertained as defined in the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (45 CFR 46); or
- Any other research that involves information about an individual for which there is at least a very small risk, as determined by current scientific practices or statistical methods, that some combination of the information, a request for the information, and other available data sources could be used to deduce the identity of an individual, as defined in subsection 301(d) of the Public Health Service Act.
Other Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies issue CoCs to researchers they fund. Researchers not funded by HHS can continue to apply to NIH or the FDA as appropriate to request a CoC for HHS-mission relevant research.
For additional information see https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/2017/10/12/new-certificates-of-confidentiality-policy-in-effect/
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
On December 31, 2017, Grants.gov will officially retire the legacy PDF application package as a method to apply for a federal grant. This will change the way many Grants.gov users complete and submit their grant applications.
Why is Grants.gov making this change?
There is now a fast, easy, and secure alternative called Workspace -- an online environment optimized for applicants collaborating on an application.
Forms can either be (1) completed online within a web browser or (2) downloaded individually as PDF files, filled out, and uploaded back into the Workspace.
You can still view your full, complete application by clicking the Preview link in Workspace.
What steps do I need to take if I want to submit applications via Grants.gov?
You will need to register in Grants.gov. We recommend registering well in advance of the proposal deadline date.
- You will need to register even if you are a collaborator on another PIs project and will need access to the project Workspace to fill out forms or edit the proposal.
- Once registered my office will be notified and we will assign you the “Manage Workspace” role in Grants.gov
- You will receive confirmation from Grants.gov once the role has been assigned
- The Manage Workspace role will allow you the ability to apply for Grants.gov funding by creating a new project Workspace.
- When you create a new Workspace you will be assigned the Workspace Owner role for that particular project. You can add other collaborators (both internal to UC ANR and external entities) as Workspace Participants to the project so that your whole team can collaborate efficiently to complete the proposal package.
For complete step by step instructions please see the attached file for guidance.
What resources are available if I need help?
See Grants.gov webpage (https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/Manage_My_Workspaces/Manage_My_Workspaces.htm)
YouTube Videos also available at this link (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc7tRM0vKkTMpxucO7iYPzQ)
Please feel free to contact your assigned analyst if you have questions or email OCG@ucanr.edu. We encourage you to register as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, Office of Contracts & Grants
GrantsGov Workspace Information
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
Please note that the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is requesting volunteers with knowledge and expertise regarding California's specialty crop industry to serve as reviewers on the 2018 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Technical Review Committee. This committee reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations to CDFA on proposals submitted for funding to California's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is a competitive solicitation process designed to enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). Grant awards will range from $25,000 to $300,000 per project and projects may last for up to two years and six months.
The following areas of expertise are requested:
• Specialty Crop Access and Nutrition Education
• Equipping Current and Next Generation Specialty Crop Farmers
• Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
• Plant Health and Pest Management
The Technical Review Committee includes representatives from government and non-government organizations. Technical Review Committee members will attend one webinar and one in-person meeting between November 2017 and March 2018 to make recommendations on concept and grant proposals.
Serving on technical review panels is an excellent way to improve upon your own grantsmanship skills as well as an opportunity to build rapport with a grant program. If you are interested in participating in this CDFA technical review panel opportunity, please submit a completed application form and a copy of your résumé to grants@cdfa.ca.gov before 5 PM PST on October 12, 2017.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)