Are you interested in forming a new NCRA project?

 

There are two options for you:

NCDC Project*

(Development Committee)

NC-500 Series Project

(Rapid Response Project)

 


No-hurry option (NCDC projects - Development Committees):

      1. Those scientists who are interested will contact two station directors and the AES directors to submit correspondence (letters of support) to the NCRA office via email by August 1 of each year for projects to begin the following October 1. The NCRA office requests that all new projects have an administrative advisor (AA) prior formation.
      2. The NCRA office will then work with the project contact to set the NCDC (North Central Development Committee) request up in NIMSS.  Once the NCRA office receives the two letters of support and all proposal materials are uploaded appropriately in NIMSS, the NCRA office will notify the MRC of the new project and then approve the NCDC.
      3. NCDC projects are approved for up to two years, however with sufficient justification, they may be extended.
      4. By the end of the two years, the NCDC participants can form a research project (NC-type project) or an information exchange group (either NCCC or and NCERA), or disband.

The fast-action option (NC-500 - Rapid Response Projects):

      1. The purpose of rapid response research (Series-500/ NC-500) activities is to provide a mechanism to assure responsiveness to acute crises, emergencies, and opportunities using the multistate research approach and MRF.
      2. To create a rapid response activity directors from two or more SAES must agree to form the activity.
      3. The report of intent is submitted to the regional association's chair (usually through the ED's office). The Chair of the regional association approves the project and serves as the AA to the project or assigns that responsibility to another director.
      4. The format for requesting the establishment of a Rapid Response Research Activity appears in Appendix F. Appendix F must be submitted to the NCRA Office ASAP to send notification on to CSREES to approve funding.
      5. Neither CSREES nor regional association approval is required. If CSREES does not respond within five working days, the project will be approved. It would not require review by either the appropriate North Central Administrative Committee (NCA) (committee of department heads/chairs) or the NCRA.
      6. The technical committee for a Rapid Response Research activity is made up of an AA, CSREES representative, research scientists, and as applicable, extension specialists and/or extension agents.
      7. These activities have two years from the date of initiation to convert to an association sanctioned activity; thus, the technical committee has the option, at a later date, to obtain approval as a multistate research project or other multistate research activity, through normal procedures.