Section R3-9-205. Grants

A.      Definitions.

“Authorized signature” means the signature of an individual authorized to receive funds on behalf of an applicant and responsible for the execution of the applicant’s project.

“Awardee” means an applicant to whom the AGRPC awards grant funds for a proposed project.

“Governmental unit” means any department, commission, council, board, bureau, committee, institution, agency, govern- ment corporation, or other establishment or official of the executive branch or corporation commission of this state, another state, or the federal government.

“Grant” means an award of financial support to an applicant according to A.R.S. § 3-584(C)(5).

“Grant award agreement” means a document advising an applicant of the amount of money awarded following receipt by the AGRPC of the applicant’s signed acceptance of the award.

B.       Grant application process.

1.        The AGRPC shall award grants according to the competi- tive grant solicitation requirements of this Article.

2.        The AGRPC shall post the grant application and manual on the AGRPC’s web site at least four weeks before the due date of a grant application.

3.        The AGRPC shall ensure that the grant application and manual contain the following items:

a.         Grant topics related to AGRPC projects specified in A.R.S. § 3-584(C)(5);

b.        A statement that the information contained in a grant application is not confidential;

c.         A statement that the AGRPC funding source is pri- marily from assessments on the seed of barley and wheat of all classes produced in Arizona for use as food, feed, or seed or produced for any industrial or commercial use;

d.        An application form including sections about the description of the grant project, scope of work to be performed, an authorized signature line, and a sam- ple budget form;

e.         A statement that the applicant shall not include over- head expenses in the budget for the proposed proj- ect;

f.         The criteria that the AGRPC shall use to evaluate an application;

g.        The date and time by which the applicant shall sub- mit an application;

h.        The anticipated date of the AGRPC award;

i.         A copy of this Section consisting of grant solicita- tion procedures and requirements; and

j.         Any other information necessary for the grant appli- cation.

4.        The AGRPC shall not evaluate an application received by the AGRPC after the due date and time.

C.      Criteria. The AGRPC shall consider the following when reviewing a grant application and deciding whether to award AGRPC funds:

1.        The applicant’s successful completion of prior research projects, if applicable;

2.        The extent to which the proposed project identifies solu- tions to current issues facing the grain industry;

3.        The extent to which the proposed project addresses future issues facing the grain industry;

4.        The extent to which the proposed project addresses the findings of any industry surveys conducted within the previous year;

5.        The appropriateness of the budget request in achieving the project objectives;

6.        The appropriateness of the proposal time-frame to the stated project objectives; and

7.        Relevant experience and qualifications of the applicant.

D.      Public participation.

1.        The AGRPC shall make all applications available for public inspection by the business day following the appli- cation due date.

2.        Before awarding a grant, the AGRPC shall discuss, eval- uate, and make a decision on grant applications and pro- posed projects at a meeting conducted under A.R.S. § 38- 431 et seq.

E.       Evaluation of grant applications.

1.        The AGRPC may allow applicants to make oral or writ- ten presentations at the public meeting if time, applicant availability, and meeting space permit.

2.        The AGRPC may modify an applicant’s proposed project in awarding funding.

3.        The AGRPC shall notify an applicant in writing of the AGRPC’s decision to fund, modify, or deny funding for a proposed project within 10 business days of the AGRPC decision. The AGRPC shall notify applicants by the U.S. Postal Service, commercial delivery, electronic mail, or facsimile.

F.       Awards and project monitoring.

1.        Before releasing grant funds, the AGRPC shall execute a grant award agreement with the awardee. The awardee shall agree to accept the grant’s legal requirements and conditions and authorize the AGRPC to monitor the prog- ress of the project by signing the grant award agreement.

2.        The AGRPC shall pay no more than 50% of the grant in the initial payment to the awardee.

3.        During the term of the project, the awardee shall inform the AGRPC of changes to the awardee’s address, tele- phone number, or other contact information.

4.        The AGRPC may require an interim written report or oral presentation from the awardee during the term of the project.

5.        The AGRPC shall not award the grant funds remaining after the initial payment until the awardee submits to the AGRPC:

a.         A final research report, and

b.        An invoice for actual final project expenses not exceeding the remaining portion of the grant funds.

6.        The AGRPC shall make research findings and reports resulting from any grant awarded by the AGRPC avail- able to Arizona grain producers.

G.      Repayment. If the awardee does not complete the project as specified in the grant award agreement, the awardee shall return all unexpended grant funds within 30 days after receipt of a written request by the AGRPC.

H.      Governmental units.

1.        The AGRPC may request one or more   governmental units to submit grant applications as prescribed in subsec- tion (H)(3), without regard to subsections (B), (F)(2), and (F)(5).

2.        The AGRPC may issue grants to governmental units without regard to subsections (B), (F)(2), and (F)(5).

3.        A governmental unit may apply to the AGRPC for a grant when there is no pending request for grant applications under subsection (B) under the following conditions:

a.         The application shall include a description of the project, the scope of work to be performed, a budget that does not include overhead expenses, and an authorized signature.

b.        The application shall be available for public inspec- tion upon receipt by the AGRPC.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 4684, effective February 3, 2007 (Supp. 06-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 14 A.A.R. 3661, effective Novem- ber 8, 2008 (Supp. 08-3).