Approval of the use of USDA grant funds to partially replace the HVAC system in the Fish Nutrition Laboratory of the Aquaculture Research Center of the KSU Land Grant Program.

The Kentucky State University Land Grant Program supports research programming in the area of aquaculture nutrition. The Fish Nutrition laboratory is a 3,500-square-foot building that contains a wet laboratory for aquarium studies, a feed preparation/water quality laboratory, office/computer space, and an analytical laboratory. Consistent temperature control is particularly important in the wet lab portion of the building to ensure the integrity of the research.

To date, repairs have not been effective in restoring the HVAC system to the Fish Nutrition Laboratory. Federal USDA grant funds would be used to pay for a partial replacement of the HVAC system. Procurement and renovations would be completed through the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Division of Engineering and Contract Administration (DECA). All renovations and repairs will also require prior USDA approval.

We are requesting permission to use $100,000 in federal USDA research grant funds for a partial replacement of the HVAC system, which has continued to malfunction in the Fish Nutrition Laboratory.

Interim President Ronald A. Johnson recommends that the Kentucky State University Board of Regents approves the use of USDA funds for the partial replacement of the HVAC system in the Fish Nutrition Laboratory.

Approve the use of USDA funds for the partial replacement of the HVAC system in the Fish Nutrition Laboratory.