Ronco Consulting Corporation, 2301 M Street, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20037. An action for the USAID program.

A -- RESEARCH PROPOSAL SOL RFP C30149/EGYPT DUE 021897 POC Point of Contact, Ms. Donna Johnson, Ronco Consulting Corporation, Tele. (202) 785-2791. Note: RFP C30149/Egypt -- REQUEST FOR COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROPOSALS -- GRAPE COLLABORATIVE APPLIED RESEARCH PROGRAM. Proposals must be submitted within 75 days from the date of this notice. Contract No. 263-0240-C-00-6053-00. Application guidelines can be obtained from the following addresses: In Egypt: Dr. Ferial Hassan, ATUT Research Grants Coordinator, 9 Gamma Street (inside ARC), Giza, Egypt, Tel: 20-2-572-8563, Fax: 20-2-573-4486, In USA: RONCO Collaborative Grants Coordinator, 2301 M Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20037, Tel: (202) 785-2791, Fax: (202) 785-2078, E-Mail: atutwash@aol.com. This notice announces a call for collaborative research proposals fora horticultural program in the Egypt Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation under the Agricultural Technology Utilization and Transfer (ATUT) Project. The ATUT Project's Horticultural Program is initiating a Grape Collaborative Applied Research Program between Egyptian and American Scientists and their institutions. This program will award grants that focus on problems constraining the development of the grape industry. There are two criterium that the collaborative research program will follow: (1) collaborative research proposals should involve active collaboration between the participating Egyptian and American scientists, and (2) the proposal should address a single specific research topic (as described below) and preferably use a multidisciplinary approach. The research program will include three general subject areas as follows: (a) vine training systems, (b) cultural practices, and (c) on-farm water management. Within these subject areas, there are six specific topics of research required as follows: (1) evaluation of table grape cultivars behavior and training systems in different growing areas, in Egypt and elsewhere [California (USA), Bari (Italy), Chile], (2) integrated pest management (IPM) to control insects, mites, and nematodes that impair Egyptian export table grape production and quality, (3) integrated pest management (IPM) to control fungi that impair Egyptian export table grape production and quality, (4) establishing a chill unit model for table grape export cultivars in relation to induce bud break and determining bud fertility, (5) water requirements, (6) irrigation systems. As noted, proposals should address one of these specific topics. Details regarding the preparation and submission of proposals is in the guidelines available in both Egypt and the USA from the addresses noted above. Submission of Proposals are open to parties under AID Geographic Code 000 and Egypt. Universities, as well as the private sector, are encouraged to submit expressions of interest requests and proposals. Expressions of Interest requests will allow U.S. and Egyptian parties to discuss potential collaboration and agree on a better, more specific approach. Please note that telephone requests will not be accepted. Expressions of Interest Deadline: February 18, 1997, Submission of RFP Deadline: April 4, 1997, 4:00 local time. (0021)

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