In carrying out any competitive agricultural research, education, or extension grant program authorized under this or any other Act, the Secretary may cooperate with 1 or more other Federal agencies (including the National Science Foundation) in issuing joint requests for proposals, awarding grants, and administering grants, for similar or related research, education, or extension projects or activities.

The Secretary may delegate authority to issue requests for proposals, make grant awards, or administer grants, in whole or in part, to a cooperating Federal agency.

(1) Secretary The Secretary may delegate authority to issue requests for proposals, make grant awards, or administer grants, in whole or in part, to a cooperating Federal agency.

(2) Cooperating Federal agency The cooperating Federal agency may delegate to the Secretary authority to issue requests for proposals, make grant awards, or administer grants, in whole or in part.

The Secretary and a cooperating Federal agency may agree to make applicable to recipients of grants—

(1) the post-award grant administration regulations applicable to recipients of grants from the Secretary; or

(2) the post-award grant administration regulations applicable to recipients of grants from the cooperating Federal agency.

Subject to section 3129a of this title, the Secretary and a cooperating Federal agency may establish joint peer review panels for the purpose of evaluating grant proposals.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XIV, § 1473B, as added Pub. L. 107–171, title VII, § 7403(b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 456.)