[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25674]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 18, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 940972-4272; I.D. 101194A]
RIN 0648-ZA09
Financial Assistance for Research and Development Projects to
Strengthen and Develop the U.S. Fishing Industry
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of Federal assistance.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice describing the conditions under which
applications will be accepted under the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant
Program and how NMFS will select applications for funding in FY 1995.
The S-K Grant Program assists eligible applicants in carrying out
research and development projects that address aspects of U.S.
fisheries involving the U.S. fishing industry (commercial or
recreational) including, but not limited to, harvesting, processing,
marketing, and associated infrastructures.
DATES: Applications must be received by December 19, 1994. Applicants
must submit one signed original and two copies of the completed
application. No facsimile applications will be accepted. Generally, the
time required to process applications is 120 days from the closing date
of the solicitation.
ADDRESSES: Application packages can be obtained from, and completed
applications sent to any office listed below.
Director, Office of Trade and Industry Services, National Marine
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 12660, Silver Spring,
MD 20910, Telephone: (301) 713-2358.
Regional Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, One Blackburn
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Telephone: (508) 281-9267.
Regional Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, Koger Bldg.,
9721 Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702,
Telephone: (813) 893-3720.
Regional Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 West
Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213, Telephone:
(310) 980-4033.
Regional Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, BIN C15700,
7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Seattle, WA 98115, Telephone: (206) 526-
6117.
Regional Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802, or Federal Building, 709 W. 9th Street, 4th
Floor, Juneau, AK 99801, Telephone: (907) 586-7425.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Lu Cano, S-K Program Office,
NMFS, (301) 713-2358.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
A. Background
The Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 713c-3),
provides that a fund (known as the S-K fund) will be used to provide
grants for fisheries research and development projects. The Secretary
of Commerce makes such funds, as appropriated, available each year for
grants and cooperative agreements to assist persons in carrying out
research and development projects that address aspects of U.S.
commercial and recreational fisheries, including, but not limited to
harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated infrastructures. U.S.
fisheries\1\ include any fishery that is or may be engaged in by U.S.
citizens or nationals, or citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and the Federated
States of Micronesia.
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\1\For purposes of this notice, a fishery is defined as one or
more stocks of fish, including tuna, and shellfish that are
identified as a unit based on geographic, scientific, technical,
recreational and economic characteristics, and any and all phases of
fishing for such stocks. Examples of a fishery are Alaskan
groundfish, Pacific whiting, and New England whiting.
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Passage of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act in
1976 gave the domestic fishing industry priority access to the fishery
resources in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) while restricting
the direct participation by foreign harvesting and processing vessels.
In 1979, a Prospectus for Development of the United States Fisheries
was prepared for the Department of Commerce to support its efforts
concerning policy for strengthening the Nation's seafood industry. The
prospectus concluded that significant benefits would be gained by
society from developing underutilized fish and shellfish resources
available within the EEZ, and that Federal Government support was
needed to realize such benefits.
In May 1979, the Carter Administration adopted a fisheries
development policy and program that advocated a government/industry
partnership for the accelerated development of U.S. fisheries. In
support of that policy, the Congress passed the American Fisheries
Promotion Act in December 1980 which authorized the S-K Grant Program.
The initial focus of the S-K Grant Program, consistent with its
legislative mandate, was on development of nontraditional species, such
as North Pacific groundfish and East Coast squid. In the ensuing years,
as most nontraditional species were fully developed and traditional
fisheries became overfished, S-K program priorities evolved to include
a wide range of resource conservation and management issues and
aquaculture.
In 1993, NOAA developed a long-range Strategic Plan that included a
focus on rebuilding U.S. fisheries for sustainable use. By addressing
such issues as overfishing and wasteful bycatch of nontarget species,
optimum utilization, and development of aquaculture, NOAA will assist
the fishing industry in remaining competitive while supporting
sustainable and healthy fisheries. This Strategic Plan, along with
input from the public, has guided the development of the priorities
contained in this solicitation notice.
B. Funding
NMFS issues this notice to solicit applications for Federal
assistance, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(c), describing the conditions
under which applications will be accepted under the S-K Grant Program
and how NMFS will select the applications it will fund.
In FY 1995, funding for the S-K Program will be approximately $7.1
million.
C. Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
The S-K Grant Program is listed in the Catalogue of Federal
Domestic Assistance under number 11.427, Fisheries Development and
Utilization Research and Demonstration Grants and Cooperative
Agreements Program.
II. Funding Priorities
The priorities listed below are fewer in number and more general in
scope than in previous years. Past solicitations defined priorities
with a high degree of precision in an attempt to focus narrowly
potential applications. The priorities contained in this solicitation
are intended to provide potential applicants with a general sense of
program focus and are not intended to limit or further constrain the
development of proposals by potential applicants.
If proposals received do not adequately respond to these
priorities, NMFS may carry out a national program of research and
development addressed to aspects of U.S. fisheries pursuant to section
713c-3(d) of the S-K Act, as amended.
Proposals submitted in response to the priorities must build upon
or take into account any past and current work in the area, as well as
relevant research in related fields. Information on ongoing and past
studies is available from NMFS at addresses listed.
Funding will not be provided for projects primarily involving
infrastructure construction, port and harbor development, and start-up
or operational costs for private business ventures.
Consideration will be given to applications that address the
following priorities, which are listed in no particular order.
A. Optimum Utilization of Harvestable Marine Resources
Develop innovative approaches for deriving optimum value from
harvestable marine resources available to the fishing industry while
creating sustainable economic development opportunities. These may
include new or improved product/byproduct development, value-added
processing technology, and processing or marketing strategies and
infrastructures.
B. Sustainable Resource Recovery and Conservation
1. Bycatch.
Develop methods for eliminating or reducing the inadvertent take,
capture, or destruction of nontargeted, protected, or prohibited
species (e.g., juvenile or sublegal-sized fish and shellfish, females
of certain crabs, marine turtles, marine mammals) in fishing operations
through the technical development, demonstration, or evaluation of
fishing gear or harvesting strategies.
2. Fisheries Management
Conduct biological, economic, social, and other studies to improve
fisheries management, including but not limited to, assessment of
alternative management systems and resolution of user conflicts.
Projects primarily involving data collection should be directed to a
specific problem or need, and be of a fixed duration, not of a
continuing nature.
C. Aquaculture
Develop or demonstrate cost-effective approaches for advancing
environmentally sound private aquaculture development, including those
associated with culturing systems, disease control, and regulatory
requirements.
D. Product Quality and Safety
Develop improved approaches to control seafood processing and
environmentally induced hazards associated with fish and shellfish and
their products.
III. How To Apply
A. Eligible Applicants
Applications for grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries
research and development projects may be made, in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this notice, by:
1. Any individual who is a citizen or national of the United
States;
2. Any individual who is a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands
(NMI), being an individual who qualifies as such under section 8 of the
Schedule on Transitional Matters attached to the constitution of the
NMI;
3. Any individual who is a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, Republic of Palau, or the Federated States of Micronesia; or
4. Any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity, non-
profit or otherwise, if such entity is a citizen of the United States
within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended
(46 App. U.S.C. 802).
DOC/NOAA/NMFS are committed to cultural and gender diversity in
their programs and encourage women and minority individuals and groups
to submit applications. Recognizing the interest of the Secretaries of
Commerce and Interior in defining appropriate fisheries policies and
programs that meet the needs of the U.S. insular areas, applications
that meet such needs are also encouraged.
DOC/NOAA/NMFS employees, including full-time, part-time, and
intermittent personnel (or their spouses or blood relatives who are
members of their immediate households) are not eligible to submit an
application under this solicitation or aid in the preparation of an
application, except to provide information on program goals, funding
priorities, application procedures, and completion of application
forms. Since this is a competitive program, assistance will not be
provided in conceptualizing, developing, or structuring competitive
proposals.
B. Duration and Terms of Funding.
Generally, grants or cooperative agreements are awarded for a
period of 1 year, but no more than 18 months at a time.
If an application for an award is selected for funding, NMFS has no
obligation to provide any additional prospective funding in connection
with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the
period of performance is at the total discretion of the agency.
Publication of this announcement does not obligate NMFS to award
any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate any part or
the entire amount of funds available.
C. Cost-Sharing.
Although the S-K Act, as amended, does not require that applicants
share in the total costs of a project, it is encouraged. Cost-sharing
will not be a factor in the technical evaluation of an application.
However, the degree of cost-sharing may be taken into account in the
final selection of projects to be funded. If applicants choose to cost-
share, and if their applications are selected for funding, those
applicants will be obligated to account for the amount of cost-share
reflected in the award documents.
If project costs are shared, NMFS must provide at least 50 percent
of total project costs, as provided by statute. The percentage of the
total project costs provided from non-Federal sources may be up to 50
percent of the costs of the project. The non-Federal share may include
funds received from private sources or from state or local governments
or the value of in-kind contributions. Federal funds may not be used to
meet the non-Federal share except as provided by Federal statute. In-
kind contributions are noncash contributions provided by the applicant
or non-Federal third parties. In-kind contributions may be in the form
of, but are not limited to, personal services rendered in carrying out
functions related to the project, and permission to use real or
personal property owned by others (for which consideration is not
required) in carrying out the project.
The appropriateness of all cost-sharing proposals, including the
valuation of in-kind contributions, will be determined on the basis of
guidance provided in the relevant Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Circulars. In general, the value of in-kind services or property used
to fulfill the applicant's cost-share will be the fair market value of
the services or property. Thus, the value is equivalent to the costs of
obtaining such services or property if they had not been donated.
Appropriate documentation must exist to support in-kind services or
property used to fulfill the applicant's cost-share.
D. Format
Applications for project funding must be complete. They must
identify the principal participants and include copies of any
agreements between the participants and the applicant describing the
specific tasks to be performed. Project applications must identify the
specific priority(ies) contained in section II of this document to
which the application responds. If an application does not respond to a
priority, it should be so stated. Project applications must be clearly
and completely submitted in the format that follows.
1. Cover Sheet
An applicant must use OMB Standard Form 424 (4-92) as the cover
sheet for each project. (In completing item 16 of Standard Form 424,
see section V.A.5. of this notice.)
2. Project Summary
An applicant must complete NOAA Form 88-204 (10-92), Project
Summary, for each project.
3. Project Budget
A budget must be submitted for each project, using NOAA Form 88-205
(10-92), Project Budget. The applicants must submit cost estimates
showing total project costs. Cost-sharing is discretionary, but if
applicants choose to cost share, both the Federal and non-Federal
shares must be shown, divided into cash and in-kind contributions. To
support the budget, the applicant must describe briefly the basis for
estimating the value of the matching funds derived from in-kind
contributions. Estimates of the direct costs must be specified in the
categories listed on the Project Budget form. The budget may also
include an amount for indirect costs if the applicant has an
established indirect cost rate with the Federal Government. Estimated
or provisional indirect cost rates may be included pending approval of
negotiated Federal indirect cost rates by the applicant's cognizant
agency. However, this program limits the indirect cost rate that may be
charged to 25 percent of the Federal share of total direct costs or the
applicant's negotiated indirect cost rate, whichever is less.
Applicants with indirect cost rates above 25 percent of the Federal
share may use the amount above the 25 percent level as part of the non-
Federal share. A copy of the current, approved, negotiated indirect
cost agreement with the Federal Government must be included.
NOAA will not consider fees or profits as allowable costs for
applicants.
The total costs of a project consist of all costs incurred in the
performance of project tasks, including the value of in-kind
contributions, to accomplish the objectives of the project during the
period the project is conducted. A project begins on the effective date
of an award agreement between the applicant and an authorized
representative of the U.S. Government and ends on the date specified in
the award. Accordingly, the time expended and costs incurred in either
the development of a project or the financial assistance application,
or in any subsequent discussions or negotiations prior to award, are
neither reimbursable nor recognizable as part of the cost-share.
4. Narrative Project Description
As a guideline, the narrative project description may be up to 15
pages in length. NMFS will make all portions of the project description
available to the public and members of the fishing industry for review
and comment; therefore, NMFS will not guarantee the confidentiality of
any information submitted as part of any project, nor will NMFS accept
for consideration any project requesting confidentiality of any part of
the project. Each project must be described as follows:
a. Identification of Problem(s): For new projects, identify and
completely describe the problem(s) the project addresses. As
appropriate, in this description include: (1) The fisheries involved,
(2) the specific problem(s) being addressed, (3) the sectors of the
fishing industry that are affected, and (4) the specific priority(ies)
to which the project responds. If the application is for the
continuation of an existing S-K funded project, describe in detail
progress to date and explain why continued funding is necessary.
b. Project Goals and Objectives: State what the proposed project is
expected to accomplish, and describe how this will eliminate or reduce
the problem(s) described in 4.a. above.
c. Need for Government Financial Assistance: Explain why government
financial assistance is needed for the proposed work. List all other
sources of funding that are being or have been sought for the project.
d. Participation by Persons or Groups Other Than the Applicant:
Describe: (1) The participation by government and non-government
entities, particularly members of the fishing industry, required in the
project(s); and (2) the nature of such participation. In addition, list
names and addresses of the members of the fishing industry consulted
during the preparation of the project description.
e. Federal, State, and Local Government Activities and Permits:
List any existing Federal, state, or local government programs or
activities that this project would affect, including activities
requiring certification under state Coastal Zone Management Programs,
those requiring Section 404 or Section 10 permits issued by the Corps
of Engineers, those requiring experimental fishing or other permits
under fishery management plans, and those requiring scientific permits
under the Endangered Species Act and/or the Marine Mammal Protection
Act. Describe the relationship between the project and these plans or
activities, and list names and addresses of persons providing this
information.
f. Project Statement of Work: The statement of work is an action
plan of activities to be conducted during the period of the project.
This section requires the applicant to prepare a detailed narrative,
fully describing the work to be performed that will achieve the
previously articulated goals and objectives. A milestone chart that
outlines major goals, supporting work activities, timeframe, and
individuals responsible for various work activities must be included.
The narrative should include information that responds to the following
questions:
(1) How will the project be designed?
(2) What major products (e.g., research, services, or reports) will
result and what are their specific purposes?
(3) What work, activities, procedures, statistical design or
analytical methods (be as specific as possible) will be undertaken to
produce major products?
(4) Who will be responsible for carrying out the various
activities? (Highlight work that will be subcontracted and provisions
for competitive subcontracting.)
The milestone chart should graphically illustrate:
(1) Steps to accomplish the major products, research, services and/
or activities;
(2) Supporting activities and associated timelines, e.g., month 1,
month 2; and
(3) The individual(s) responsible for the various activities.
Because this information is critical to understanding and reviewing
the application, NMFS encourages applicants to provide sufficient
detail. Applications lacking sufficient detail may be eliminated from
further consideration.
g. Project Management: Describe how the project will be organized
and managed. List all persons directly employed by the applicant who
will be involved in the project, their qualifications, experience, and
level of involvement in the project. If any portion of the project will
be conducted through consultants and/or subcontracts, applicants, as
appropriate, must follow procurement guidance in 15 CFR part 24,
``Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments,''
and OMB Circular A-110 for Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals,
and other Non-profit Organizations. Commercial organizations and
individuals who apply should use OMB Circular A-110. If a consultant
and/or subcontractor is selected prior to application submission,
include the name and qualifications of the consultant and/or
subcontractor and the process used for selection.
h. Project Impacts: Describe the anticipated impacts of the project
in terms of landings, production, sales, improvement in product quality
or safety, or other measurable factors. Describe how the results of the
project will be made available to the public.
i. Evaluation of Project: Describe the procedures for evaluating
the relative success or failure of a project in achieving its
objectives.
5. Supporting Documentation:
This section should include any required documents and any
additional information necessary or useful to the description of the
project. The amount of information given in this section will depend on
the type of project proposed. Information presented in this section
should be clearly referenced in the project description, where
appropriate.
IV. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Procedures
A. Evaluation of Proposed Projects
1. Initial Screening of Applications
Upon receipt NMFS will screen applications for conformance with
requirements set forth in this notice. Applications which do not
conform to the requirements may not be considered for further
evaluation.
2. Consultation With Interested Parties
As appropriate, NMFS will consult with NMFS Offices, the NOAA
Grants Management Division, Department and other Federal and state
agencies, the Regional Fishery Management Councils, and other
interested parties who may be affected by or have knowledge of a
specific proposal or its subject matter.
3. Public Review and Comment
Applications that are regional in nature may be inspected at the
appropriate regional office (see ADDRESSES). All applications will be
available for inspection at the NMFS Office of Trade and Industry
Services, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 12550, Silver Spring, MD, from
December 27, 1994 to January 6, 1995. Written comments will be accepted
at the Silver Spring, MD office or at a regional office until January
6, 1995.
4. Technical Evaluation
NMFS will solicit individual written technical evaluations of each
project application from three or more appropriate private and public
sector experts. Point scores will be given to project applications
based on the following evaluation criteria:
a. Problem Description and Conceptual Approach for Resolution. Both
the applicant's comprehension of the problem(s) and the overall concept
proposed to resolve the problem(s) will be evaluated. (25 points).
b. Soundness of Project Design/Technical Approach. Applications
will be evaluated to determine whether or not the applicant provided
sufficient information to evaluate the project technically and, if so,
the strengths and/or weaknesses of the technical design proposed for
problem resolution. (25 points).
c. Project Management and Experience and Qualifications of
Personnel. The organization and management of the project, and the
project's Principal Investigator and other personnel in terms of
related experience and qualifications will be evaluated. Those projects
that do not identify the Principal Investigator with his or her
qualifications will receive a lower point score. (20 points).
d. Project Evaluation. The effectiveness of the applicant's
proposed methods to evaluate the project in terms of meeting its
original objectives will be evaluated. (10 points).
e. Project Costs. The justification and allocation of the budget in
terms of the work to be performed will be evaluated. Unreasonably high
or low project costs will be taken into account. (20 points).
f. In addition to the above criteria, in reviewing applications
that include consultants and contracts, NMFS will make a determination
regarding the following:
(1) Is the involvement of the primary applicant necessary to the
conduct of the project and the accomplishment of its objectives?
(2) Is the proposed allocation of the primary applicant's time
reasonable and commensurate with the applicant's involvement in the
project?
(3) Are the proposed costs for the primary applicant's involvement
in the project reasonable and commensurate with the benefits to be
derived from the applicant's participation?
5. Technical Panel
Upon completion of the initial screening of applications,
consultations with interested parties, the public review and the
written technical evaluations, if deemed necessary, NMFS may convene a
panel of three or more technical experts to provide independent advice
as to which proposals have sufficient scientific and technical merit to
be further considered.
6. Constituent Panel
After the technical evaluation(s), comments will be solicited from
a panel of three or more representatives selected by the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), from the fishing industry,
state government, and others, as appropriate, to rank the projects.
Considered in the rankings, along with the technical evaluation, will
be the significance of the problem or opportunities addressed in the
project. Each panelist will rank each project in terms of importance or
need for funding and provide recommendations on the level of funding
NMFS should award to each project and the merits and benefits of
funding each project.
B. Selection Procedures and Project Funding
After projects have been evaluated and ranked, the reviewing NMFS
offices will develop recommendations for project funding. These
recommendations will be submitted to the AA who will determine the
projects to be funded, ensuring that there is no duplication with other
projects funded by NOAA or other Federal organizations, and that the
projects selected for funding are those that best meet the objectives
of the S-K Grant Program.
The exact amount of funds awarded to a project will be determined
in preaward negotiations between the applicant and NOAA/NMFS program
and grants management representatives. The funding instrument (grant or
cooperative agreement) will be determined by the NOAA Grants Management
Division. Projects should not be initiated in expectation of Federal
funding until a notice of award document is received.
V. Administrative Requirements
A. Obligation of the Applicant
An Applicant must:
1. Meet all application requirements and provide all information
necessary for the evaluation of the project.
2. Be available, upon request, in person or by designated
representative, to respond to questions during the review and
evaluation of the project(s).
3. Primary Applicant Certification. Applicants whose applications
are recommended for funding will be required to complete Form CD-511,
``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and
Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
a. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective
participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 105) are subject to
15 CFR part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
b. Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26,
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart F, ``Governmentwide
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants),'' and the related
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
c. Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, section
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever
is greater; and
d. Anti-Lobbying Disclosures. Any applicant who has paid or will
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.
4. Lower Tier Certifications. Applicants whose applications are
recommended for funding shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants,
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at
any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-
512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility
and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying''
and disclosure form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form
CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be
transmitted to the Department of Commerce (DOC). SF-LLL submitted by
any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to DOC in
accordance with the instructions contained in the award document.
All required forms discussed in sections V.A.3. and 4. will be
provided to successful applicants.
5. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. This program is
covered by E.O. 12372. Any applicant submitting an application for
funding is required to complete item 16 on Standard Form 424 (4-92)
regarding clearance by the State Point Of Contact (SPOC) established as
a result of E.O. 12372. A list of SPOCs may be obtained from any of the
NMFS offices listed in this notice (see ADDRESSES).
B. Other Requirements
1. Federal Policies and Procedures
Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to
Federal financial assistance awards.
2. Name Check Review
All recipients are subject to a name check review process. Name
checks are intended to reveal if any key individuals associated with
the recipient have been convicted of, or are presently facing, criminal
charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or other matters that
significantly reflect on the recipient's management, honesty, or
financial integrity.
3. Financial Management Certification/Preaward Accounting Survey
Successful applicants for S-K funding, at the discretion of the
NOAA Grants Officer, may be required to have their financial management
systems certified by an independent public accountant as being in
compliance with Federal standards specified in the applicable OMB
Circulars prior to execution of the award. Any first-time applicant for
Federal grant funds may be subject to a preaward accounting survey by
the DOC prior to execution of the award.
4. Past Performance
Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in
an application not being considered for funding.
5. Delinquent Federal Debts
No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
a. The delinquent account is paid in full,
b. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received, or
c. Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.
6. Buy American-Made Equipment or Products
Applicants are hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the
extent feasible, to purchase American-made equipment and products with
funding under this program in accordance with Congressional intent as
set forth in the resolution contained in Public Law 103-317, sections
607 (a) and (b).
7. Preaward Activities
If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do
so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been
received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover preaward
costs.
8. False Statements
A false statement on the application is grounds for denial or
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or
imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
Classification
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of E.O. 12866.
Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
This notice contains a collection-of-information requirement
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of this
information has been approved by the OMB, OMB control number 0648-0135.
A notice of availability of financial assistance for fisheries
research and development projects will also appear in the Commerce
Business Daily.
Dated: October 12, 1994.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-25674 Filed 10-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-W
