Cochran Fellowship Program-International Training-Foreign Participant - #10.962

Program Funding Budget

$1,300,000 fellowships

Program Objectives

To provide high quality training resulting in knowledge and skills that will assist eligible countries to meet the food needs of their domestic populations; and to strengthen and enhance trade linkages between eligible countries and agricultural interests in the United States.

Funding

(Salaries) FY 09 $530,444; FY 10 $1,300,000; FY 11 $1,000,000 - Primarily reimbursable agreements with Universities and some procurement through the private sector((taken from IAFTS and IAS reports).

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: Estimated number of Cochran Fellows to be trained in FY 2011 is approximately 500 from 70 countries. Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: Short term training as described in prior fiscal years. Emerging topics include such areas as biofuels, climate change, and intellectual property rights. Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available

Types of Assistance

Direct Payments For Specified Use (cooperative Agreements)

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range: $700 to $204,000 Average: $31,000.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Assistance is phased according to the requirements of individual projects. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Assistance is awarded by means of cost-reimbursable cooperative agreements or on occasion purchase orders.

Renewals

Extensions may be authorized.

Applicant Eligibility

The Cochran Program solicits proposals from U.S. institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, U.S. agricultural trade and market development associations, and on occasion private consultants.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Technical assistance provided through these agreements benefits foreign governments and related agricultural institutions in their countries.

Uses and Use Restrictions

No funding is available for unsolicited proposals. Cochran Program funds are used for projects involved with international training activities, including course development and/or evaluation.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Criteria are dependent upon identification of specific project requirements and program priorities developed by the Foreign Agricultural Service's Office of Capacity Building and Develoment(FAS/OCBD), in consultation with collaborating agencies and organizations. Contact FAS/OCBD for additional information. While this program does not fund unsolicited proposals, interested parties are welcome to submit statements of capability and expressions of interest.

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedures

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applications solicited by the Cochran Program should include a scope of work, budget, time frame and expected results. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time