Section R3-9-506. Grants

A.      Definitions.

1.        “ACRC” means the Arizona Citrus Research Council.

2.        “Authorized signature” means the signature of an individ- ual authorized to receive funds on behalf of the applicant and responsible for the execution of the applicant’s proj- ect.

3.        “Awardee” means a successful applicant to whom the ACRC awards grant funds for research on a specific proj- ect.

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

5.        “Grant” means an award of financial support to an appli- cant according to A.R.S. § 3-468.02(B) and (C)(5).

6.        “Grant award agreement” means a document advising the applicant of the amount of money awarded following receipt by the ACRC of the applicant’s signed accep- tance.

B.       Grant application process.

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

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

3.        The ACRC shall ensure that the grant application manual contains the following items:

a.         Grant topics related to ACRC programs specified by A.R.S. § 3-468.02(B) and (C)(5);

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

c.         A statement that the ACRC funding source is pri- marily from per carton assessments on citrus grown in Arizona;

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 ACRC 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 ACRC award;

i.         A copy of the ACRC grant solicitation rules; and

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

4.        The ACRC shall not consider an application received by the ACRC after the due date and time.

C.      Criteria. The ACRC shall consider the following when review- ing a grant application and deciding whether to award ACRC funds:

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

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

3.        The extent to which the proposed project addresses future issues facing the citrus 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 ACRC shall make all applications available for pub- lic inspection by the business day following the applica- tion due date.

2.        Before awarding a grant, the ACRC shall discuss and evaluate grant applications and proposed projects at a meeting conducted under A.R.S. § 38-431 et seq.

E.       Evaluation of grant applications.

1.        The ACRC may allow applicants to make oral or written presentations at the public meeting if time, applicant availability, and meeting space permit.

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

3.        The ACRC shall notify an applicant in writing of the ACRC’s decision to fund, modify, or deny funding for a proposed project within 10 business days of the ACRC decision. The ACRC 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 ACRC 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 ACRC to monitor the prog- ress of the project by signing a grant award agreement.

2.        The ACRC 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 ACRC of changes to the awardee’s address, telephone number, or other contact information.

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

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

a.         A final research report, and

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

6.        The ACRC shall make research findings and reports resulting from any grant awarded by the ACRC available to Arizona citrus 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 written request by the ACRC.

H.      Governmental units.

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

2.        The ACRC may issue grants to governmental units with- out regard to subsections (B), (F)(2), and (F)(5).

3.        A governmental unit may apply to the ACRC 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 ACRC.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 176, effective March 11, 2006 (Supp. 06-1). Amended by final

rulemaking at 14 A.A.R. 3665, effective November 8,

2008 (Supp. 08-3).