[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53014-53020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26373]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 980911235-8235-01]
RIN [0648-ZA49]
Coastal Services Center Broad Area Announcement
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of Federal assistance.
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SUMMARY: The Coastal Services Center (CSC) announces the availability
of Federal assistance for fiscal year 1999 (FY99) in the following
program areas: Landscape Characterization and Restoration; Training
Projects; and Special Projects. This announcement provides detailed
guidelines for these program areas and includes details for the
technical program, evaluation criteria, and selection procedures of
each. Selected recipients will enter into either a cooperative
agreement with CSC or receive a grant depending upon the amount of CSC
involvement in the project--substantial involvement with a cooperative
agreement versus independent work with a grant.
All applicants are required to submit a NOAA Grants Application
Package and project proposal. The standard NOAA Grants Application
Package (which includes forms SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-424C, SF-
424D, CD-511, CD-512, and SF-LLL) can be obtained from the NOAA Grants
Website at www.rdc.noaa.gov/grants/pdf/. If internet access
is not available, the Grants Package can be obtained by contacting the
NOAA CSC at (843) 740-1200. Funding will be contingent upon the
availability of funds but will be in the range of $100,000 to
$1,410,000.
DATES: Each program area has specific dates for application and
proposal deadlines. Refer directly to that program area description
under Supplementary Infromation below.
ADDRESSES: Send all proposals to: NOAA CSC, 2234 South Hobson Avenue,
Charleston, South Carolina 29405-2413. Landscape Characterization and
Restoration proposals should be sent to the attention of Pace Wilber.
Training Project proposals should be sent to the attention of Jennet
Robinson Alterman. Special Project proposals should be sent to the
attention of Jan Kucklick.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrative questions should be
directed to Violet Legette, 843-740-1222 or tte@csc.noaa.gov.
Technical point of contact for Landscape Characterization and
Restoration is Pace Wilber, 843-740-1235 or pwilber@csc.noaa.gov.
Technical point of contact for Training Projects is Jennet Robinson
Alterman, 843-740-1210 or jralterman@csc.noaa.gov. Technical point of
contact for Special Projects is Jan Kucklick, 843-740-1279 or
jkucklick@csc.noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
Statutory authority for these programs is provided under 16 U.S.C.
Sec. 1456 c (Technical Assistance); 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1540 (Cooperative
Agreements); and 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1442 (Research program respecting
possible long-range effects of pollution, overfishing, and man-induced
changes of ocean ecosystems).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
The CSC Program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance under Number 11.473.
General Background
Guiding the conservation and management of coastal resources is a
primary function of NOAA. NOAA accomplishes this goal through a variety
of mechanisms, including collaborations with the coastal resource
management programs of the Nation's states and territories. The mission
of the NOAA CSC is to foster and sustain the environmental and economic
well being of the coast by linking people, technology, and information.
The goal of the Center is to build capabilities throughout the Nation
to address pressing issues of coastal health and change by conserving
coastal environments and promoting efficient and sustainable commercial
and residential development.
Landscape Characterization and Restoration
Program Description
NOAA's Coastal Services Center (CSC) seeks proposals from state or
local resource management agencies or academic institutions for a two-
year cooperative agreement under which either a regional habitat
restoration plan or an ecological and socioeconomic characterization
will be developed for a coastal watershed that drains into the Gulf of
Mexico (Cooperator shall specify exact location in the proposal). The
product must help Federal, state, and local coastal managers include
ecosystem processes in their resource
[[Page 53015]]
management, regulatory, and land-use planning decisions. The product
must be in an interactive digital format using a geographic information
system (GIS) and hypertext-mark-up-language (HTML) and will be
distributed on CD-ROM and via the Internet. Maximum anticipated funding
for FY 99 and FY 00 is $160,000 per year; funding in both years is
subject to Federal appropriations, second year funding also requires
satisfactory progress during the first year. Only one award is
anticipated from this announcement.
Background
The CSC conducts a variety of projects that directly apply to the
state and local coastal management community. The goal of the Landscape
Characterization and Restoration (LCR) Program is to help state, and
local coastal managers include ecosystem processes in their resource
management, regulatory, and land use planning decisions. The program
works towards this goal by examining interrelationships between
ecology, land use, human demographic, and socioeconomic trends on
ecosystem/watershed scales and by developing tools needed to integrate
those relationships into management practices.
LCR projects directly address management issues that are both
locally significant and of regional importance (e.g., habitat
restoration, non-point source pollution reduction, growth management).
Projects generally include development of habitat, wetland function,
demographic, and land use maps; information syntheses, natural resource
databases; environmental models; and customized GIS or similar software
to forecast results of management alternatives.
The Program's principal products are watershed-level habitat
restoration plans and ecological and socioeconomic characterizations of
watersheds. The Program has completed or is currently working on
characterizations of Otter Island, South Carolina, the ACE (Ashepoo-
Combahee-Edisto) Basin, South Carolina, and Kachemak Bay, AK. The
Program has a regional habitat restoration plan underway for subtidal
habitats in NY/NJ Harbor. An overview of these projects is available
through the Internet (nttp://www.csc.noaa.gov/1cr/).
Roles and Responsibilities
By working in a cooperative partnership, the unique skills,
capabilities, and experiences of the CSC and the Cooperator will
combined and offer an opportunity for each organization to further its
goals. Specific roles and responsibilities are described below.
1. CSC
a. General Approach--The CSC will provide general guidance on how
to develop a regional habitat restoration plan or how to conduct an
ecological and socioeconomic characterization (whichever is appropriate
for the selected project).
b. Interface Architecture--The CSC will develop the general
architecture for the GIS and HIML user interfaces. As indicated below,
the Cooperator will take the lead in formatting the collected
information according to the specifications of that architecture.
c. Information Compilation and Product Production--The CSC will
compile the information and user interfaces onto a CD-ROM (or CD-ROM
set, whichever is appropriate), develop liner notes, and prepare
product evaluation forms, The CSC also will provide guidance on and
assistance with compiling products for distribution through the
Internet using the Cooperator's server, if the Cooperator chooses to
distribute products through the Internet.
d. Product Distribution via CD-ROM--The CSC will be the primary
distributor of the CD-ROM(s) to the coastal management community
outside the state in which the project is done. Although the CSC is
providing this function, the Cooperator will be free to distribute the
CD-ROM(s) to whomever they desire and can provide Internet access to
the product.
2. Cooperator
The Cooperator has primary responsibility for the following aspects
of the project:
a. Issue Identification Phase--The Cooperator will, as needed,
refine the management issue(s) that guide(s) the project from the
issue(s) identified in the proposal.
b. Development of Information--The Cooperator will develop and
collect information (text, tables, graphics, charts, and maps) and
tools (organizational structure and models) needed to address the focal
objective(s); develop and collect metadata and other information needed
to assess the quality of the data and tools; and develop practical
management scenarios for testing how well the products help address
management objective(s) used to focus the characterization project or
restoration plan.
c. Integration and Organization of Information--The Cooperator will
determine how the projects should be organized to maximize utility to
the Cooperator and coastal managers.
d. Information Formatting--The Cooperator will ensure the collected
information and tools are formatted so they can be compiled onto a CD-
ROM. CSC will assist the Cooperator by developing format guidelines.
e. Product Distribution via the Internet--The Cooperator can
provide Internet access to the products. As indicated above, the CSC
will provide guidance on and assistance with compiling the information
for distribution through the Internet.
3. CSC and the Cooperator
The CSC and the Cooperator share responsibility for the following
activities:
a. Task Plan--The CSC and the Cooperator will jointly develop a
task plan.
b. Product Distribution Plan--The CSC and Cooperator will jointly
develop a distribution plan for the products. This plan will identify
potential users and training needs.
c. Product Training--The CSC and Cooperator will jointly conduct
training workshops whereby users of the product gain familiarity with
the information developed, learn how the data apply to the targeted
management objective(s), and provide feedback on how the product can be
improved.
Project Proposals
CSC must receive proposals by November 30, 1998. In addition to the
information requested below, the Cooperator must submit a complete NOAA
grants package. All project proposals must include the following
sections and total no more than 8 pages (double-spaced and exclusive of
appendices):
Goal, Objectives(s), and Geographic Area--Identify whether the
project is an ecological and socioeconomic characterization or a
regional habitat restoration plan. Identify the specific geographic
area that will be examined. Identify the specific management
objective(s) of the project, including description of current
management goals that are not being achieved, how products from this
cooperative agreement will significantly address that deficiency, and
the benefits that will result to the Cooperators, partners, public, and
coastal management community.
Background/Introduction--Provide sufficient background information
for reviewers to independently assess the local significance and
regional importance of the management objectives that will be addressed
by the
[[Page 53016]]
project. Summarize the status of any existing efforts by the Cooperator
and partners to address these objectives.
Audience--Identify potential users of the product and how those
users will incorporate the product in their management of coastal
resources.
Project Description/Methodology--Provide a general work plan that
divides the project into discrete steps, identifies critical decision
points, and discusses any obstacles to completing the project that may
require special planning. One of the initial tasks of the cooperative
agreement will be for the CSC and Cooperator to prepare a detailed task
plan. The general work plan requested here should demonstrate that the
Cooperator and partners have sufficient local knowledge of the
management problems to lead a joint effort directed towards determining
appropriate solutions.
Project Partners and Support--Identify project partners and
describe their respective roles. Include a letter from partners
acknowledging their participation in the project. Describe the
resources the Cooperators and partners have for conducting an
ecological and socioeconomic characterization or preparation of a
regional restoration plan, including personnel qualifications
(education, experience, and time available to work on the project),
facilities, equipment, and, to the extent practicable, the information
and tools already available. Describe how widely the project is
supported within the coastal management community and offer evidence of
that support.
Milestone Schedule--List target milestones, timelines, and describe
how each milestone addresses project objectives. Project Budget--
Provide a detailed budget breakdown that follows the categories and
formats in the NOAA grants package and a brief narrative justification
of the budget.
Selection Process
All projects will be reviewed to make sure they are consistent with
the CSC and NOAA missions as described previously under ``General
Background.'' In addition, all proposals will be reviewed for technical
merit and management relevance per ``Selection Criteria'' as outlined
below. Review panels will be set up with two CSC and at least two non-
NOAA reviewers to assist in evaluation of the proposals. All proposals
received will be ranked according to score and the Selecting Official
(CSC Director) will use those scores to aid the final decision. The
Selecting Official may also consider program policy factors in the
final decision to ensure CSC projects are balanced geographically and
institutionally.
Selection Criteria (with weights)
All proposals will be scored using the following criteria:
Significance (25 points)
How well the proposal demonstrates the local significance and
regional importance of the issues(s) or management objective(s) that
will guide development of the characterization project or regional
restoration plan. At a minimum, the proposal must identify management
goals that currently are not being achieved, describe how products from
this cooperative agreement will significantly address that deficiency,
and the benefits that will result to the public and coastal management
community.
Approach (25 points)
How well the proposing agency demonstrates its abilities to acquire
and synthesize data (including spatial data), including personnel
qualifications, experience, and time available; facilities; and
equipment. How well the proposal divides the project into discrete
steps and outlines how those steps will be accomplished.
Outcomes (20 points)
How well the proposing agency demonstrates that the project
outcomes will significantly address the management issue(s) targeted by
the characterization or regional restoration plan and that the
collective resources of the proposing agency and partners will ensure
projected outcomes are met.
Partnerships (20 points)
How well the proposing agency demonstrates that the project is
broadly supported by the coastal management community (e.g., state and
local, governments, environmental non-governmental agencies), that a
broad group of coastal managers and constituent groups will contribute
to the design and assembly of the product(s), and that a broad group of
coastal managers will use the product(s).
Efficiency (10 points)
How well the proposing agency demonstrates that the budget is
commensurate with project needs and that the partnerships employed will
improve the overall cost effectiveness of the project and value of the
products.
Selection Schedule
The following schedule lists the dates for the project selection
and award process: Proposal Deadline (with completed Grant Package)
November 30, 1998, Earliest Grant Start Date April 1, 1999.
Note: The deadline is for receipt by Close of Business [5:00
P.M., Eastern Standard Time] on the dates identified. Receipt of
proposal and Grant Package will be time stamped.
Funding Availability
Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA
budget for FY 99 is authorized. Maximum total funding available for
this announcement will be $160,000 per year. There is no guarantee that
sufficient funds will be available to make an award for the project.
Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA toward any specific
grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the
available funds.
Cost Sharing
There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to these
guidelines and no additional weight will be given to proposals with
cost sharing.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications for cooperative agreements under this announcement may
be submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these
specific guidelines, by any state or local resource management agency,
college, or university. Federal agencies or institutions are not
eligible to receive federal assistance under this notice.
Training Projects
Program Description
NOAA's Coastal Services Center (CSC) is seeking proposals for
training projects that directly apply to the goals of the state and
local coastal management community. Project proposals may be submitted
based on ``Selection Schedule'' below and will be reviewed twice during
the year--December 1998 (with earliest start date of May 1999) and
March 1999 (with earliest start date of August 1999). Anticipated total
funding in FY 99 for Training Projects is between $50,000 and $500,000.
Individual projects will be funded in the $10,000 to $50,000 range for
one year with the potential for additional option years, depending on
the availability of funds through the federal appropriations process.
Background
The CSC conducts a variety of projects that directly apply to the
state and local coastal management community. The goal of the training
program is to provide assistance to the state and local coastal
management
[[Page 53017]]
community for training and capacity building on a broad range of topics
related to the management of coastal resources.
Projects supported in FY 97 and FY 98 included a variety of
conferences and training workshops related to harmful algal blooms;
coral reef monitoring technologies; mapping and monitoring of submerged
aquatic vegetation; coastal hazards mitigation; collaborative
approaches to the coastal permit review process; public participation
processes; uses of GIS software products, including ArcView,
ArcScan, and Avenue; creating FGDC-compliant
metadata; application of the Public Trust Doctrine to coastal
management; land use planning for local government officials;
collaborative problem-solving skills for mid-level coastal management
professionals; and education on dune protection and beach access for
local officials, as well as coastal homeowners, builders and real
estate agents. The Training Institute also supported a variety of local
as well as national meetings, workshops, and conferences.
The CSC expects to award grants and cooperative agreements (for
those projects with substantial involvement by the CSC) to
organizations across the United States with proven abilities to
implement training and capacity building at the state and local levels.
All project proposals received will be reviewed for technical merit and
relevancy to important coastal management issues (see ``Selection
Criteria'' below). Topics of priority interest for FY99 for which
proposals will be considered include:
Cooperative Agreements
An introduction to the United States coastal management program
(using distance education technologies); Designing and facilitating
collaborative problem-solving processes; local, state, or regional
coastal hazard mitigation planning; and Coastal applications of GIS
technologies.
Grants
Convening public participation processes; Integrating local
cultural concerns with the regulatory process; Coastal conflict
resolution; Designing and facilitating collaborative problem-solving
processes; Facilitating and managing meetings; and Creating and
managing FGDC-compliant metadata.
Project Proposals
Project proposals will be reviewed twice during the year--December
1998 and March 1999 (see ``Selection Schedule'' below for a description
of timelines and start dates). In addition to the information requested
below, the Cooperator must submit a complete NOAA grants package.
All project proposals must include the following sections and total
no more than 8 pages (double-spaced and excluding appendices):
Goals and Objectives--Identify broad project goals and measurable
objectives.
Background Introduction--clearly state the problem or issue to be
addressed and provide a summary of existing efforts at the Federal,
state and local levels.
Audience--explicitly identify the primary target audience(s).
Needs Assessment--describe the process that was, or will be used,
to assess the needs of the target audience(s) for training to improve
technical or management skills required to effectively address the
stated problem.
Grant or Cooperative Agreement--indicate whether the proposal is
for a Grant or a Cooperative Agreement (the latter which requires
substantial involvement by the CSC).
Project Description/Methodology--describe the specifics of the
project and details about how it would be conducted (3 pages maximum).
Project Partners--identify project partners and their respective
roles.
Roles and Responsibilities for Cooperative Agreement proposals
(e.g., with substantial CSC involvement) explicitly describe the roles
and responsibilities of the collaborator and CSC, as well as any joint
responsibilities.
Milestone and Outcomes--list a project timeline (including closing
date), target milestones, and specific outcomes in terms of deliverable
projects or services.
Evaluation--describe the process to be used for evaluating the
short and long-term impacts of the project.
Sustainability--describe how the desired project outcomes would be
sustained and how the project would help to contribute to a long-term
solution to the stated problem or issue.
Contact Persons--identify the primary point of contact for the
project proposal, including an administrative point of contact and/or a
contact person with substantive knowledge of the proposal.
Project Budget--provide a detailed budget breakdown by category
(including in-kind and/or matching contributions) and a brief
justification for budget items.
Selection Process
All projects will be reviewed to ensure they are consistent with
CSC and NOAA missions as described previously under ``General
Background.'' In addition, all projects will be reviewed for technical
merit and relevance to coastal management issues per ``Selection
Criteria'' as outlined below. Review panels will be set up with a
minimum of three reviewers, of which two would be external to NOAA, to
assist in the evaluation of the project proposals. All projects
received during each of the two evaluation periods will be ranked
according to the scores awarded by members of the review panel and
Selection Official (Coastal Management Services Branch Chief) will use
those scores to aid the final decision. The Selection Official may also
consider program policy factors in the final decision to ensure the
projects are balanced by topic area, geographicall and institutionally.
Selection Criteria (with weights)
All proposals will be scored using the following criteria:
Relevance to Priority Coastal Management Issues (25 points)
Does he proposed project address (directly or indirectly) a
critical national, regional, state, or local coastal management
problem, issue, or concern? Does the proposed project identify a
clearly defined coastal management audience for the training?
Does the proposed project address a priority training need
identified by the coastal management community Does the project
proposal have direct linkages with a state coastal management agency, a
National Estuarine Research Reserve, and/or a National Marine
Sanctuary? Does the proposed project have management relevance beyond
the project itself? (i.e, Will it have a broad impact on other related
issues? Will it lay the foundation for other advancements? Will it
create a useful model for others in the coastal management community?)
Technical Merit (25 points)
Are the project goals and objectives clear and concise? Is the
proposed approach technical sound and based on appropriate principles
and process methodologies for adult learning?
Does the project innovative and progressive approaches to coastal
problem solving? Does the project utilize and build upon the latest
knowledge about the substantive issues?
Application and Effectiveness of Delivered Products (20 points).
Will the project produce a tangible product or service for use by
the coastal management community?
[[Page 53018]]
Will the products be delivered to the appropriate audience(s)?
How useful (and easy to use) will the products be to the target
audience(s)?
Does the proposal include an implementation process that ensures
flexibility and responsiveness to the needs and input of the target
audience(s)?
Will the product be delivered in a timely manner?
Will the products have widespread applicability and/or long-term
utility?
Will the outreach methods being utilized effectively transfer
information or skills to the target audience(s)?
Efficient Use of Resources (20 points)
Is the proposed budget commensurate with the project needs?
Will appropriate partnerships be employed to ensure high quality
and maximum efficiency?
Will in-kind and/or matching contributions be used to maximize
leverage of the funds requested?
Will cost recovery methods (e.g., registration fees) be utilized to
maximize leverage of the funds requested?
Has the sustainability of the project and/or the desired outcomes
been addressed?
Does the proposed project use resources in new or innovative ways?
Qualifications (10 points)
Are the proposers capable of conducting a project of the scope and
scale proposed (i.e., do they possess adequate professional,
administrative, and facility capabilities)?
Selection Schedule
Training project proposals will be reviewed twice a year. The
following schedule lists the approximate dates for the project
selection and award process for grants and/or cooperative agreements:
Proposal Deadline (with completed Grant Package) (Cycle #1) December
18, 1998
Earliest Grant Start Date (Cycle May 1, 1999
Proposal Deadline (with completed Grant Package) (Cycle #2) March 19,
1999
Earliest Grant Start Date (Cycle #2) August 1, 1999
Note: All deadlines are for receipt by Close of Business [5:00
p.m., Eastern Standard Time] on the dates identified. Receipt of
proposal and Grant Package will be time stamped.
Funding Availability
Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA
budget for FY 99 is authorized. Total funding available for this
announcement will be between $50,000 and $500,000. There is no
guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for
all approved projects. Publication of this notice does not obligate
NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate
all or any parts of the available funds.
Cost Sharing
Although there is no requirement for cost sharing and cost recovery
to qualify for funding, additional points will be awarded to proposals
that include these provisions. (See Selection Criteria #4 above.)
Eligibility Criteria
Applications for grants under this program announcement may be
submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these
specific guidelines, by any state or local resource management agency,
college or university, private industry, nonprofit organization, or
cooperative research unit. Other Federal agencies or institutions are
not eligible to receive federal assistance under this notice.
Special Projects
Program Description
NOAA's Coastal Services Center (CSC) is seeking proposals for
special technical, management, or planning projects that directly apply
to the goals of the state and local coastal management community.
Project proposals may be submitted based on ``Selection Schedule''
below and will be reviewed twice during the year, December 1998 (with
earliest start date of May 1999) and March 1999 (with earliest start
date of August 1999). Anticipated funding in FY 99 will be between
$50,000 and $750,000. Most projects will be funded in the $25,000 to
$75,000 range for one year with the potential for option years
(depending on the availability of funds through the federal
appropriation process). One or two projects per year of special merit
or management may be considered at annual levels above $75,000
depending on the availability of funds.
Background
The CSC conducts a variety of projects that directly apply to the
state and local coastal management community. The goal of the Special
Projects is to provide assistance to the local coastal management
community for technical or management issues on a very broad range of
topics related to coastal resources and their wise management.
In FY 97 and 98, projects were supported which included boating,
shipping and navigation; beach management and conservation; coastal
hazards mitigation; habitat protection and restoration; protected
areas; all forms of pollution control; training, education and outreach
activities; and technology commercialization and innovation. In some
cases, projects have included use of high-end spatial data in
development of specific GIS tools for application to coastal resource
management issues. Other activities supported included local-level
meetings, workshops, and national meetings and conferences.
The CSC expects to work an equally broad range of topics in FY 99
and will be awarding grants and cooperative agreements (for those
projects with substantial CSC involvement) to organizations across the
United States with proven abilities to implement practical solutions at
a state and local level. All project proposals received will be
reviewed for technical merit and management relevance.
Project Proposals
Project proposals will be reviewed two times a year--December and
March (see ``Selection Schedule'' below for a description of timelines
and start dates). In addition to the information requested below, the
Cooperator must submit a complete NOAA grants package. All project
proposals must include the following sections and total no more than 8
pages (double-spaced and excluding appendices):
Goals and Objectives--identify broad project goals and quantifiable
objectives.
Background/Introduction--state the problem and summarize existing
efforts at all levels.
Audience--describe specifies of how the project will contribute to
improving or resolving an issue with the primary target audience. The
target audience must be explicitly stated.
Project Description/Methodology--describe the specifies of the
projects (3 pages maximum).
Project Partners--identify project partners and their respective
roles.
Milestones and Outcomes--list target milestones, timeliness, and
desired outcomes in terms of products and services.
Project Budget--provide a detailed budget breakdown by category and
provide a brief narrative budget justification.
Selection Process
All projects will be reviewed to ensure they are consistent with
the CSC and NOAA missions as described
[[Page 53019]]
previously under ``General Background.''. In addition, all projects
will be reviewed for technical merit and management relevance per
``Selection Criteria'' as outlined below. Review panels will be set up
with at least two external (non-NOAA) and two internal reviewers to
assist in the evaluation of these special project proposals. All
projects received during one period will be ranked according to score
and the selecting official (CSC Director) will use those scores to aid
in the final decision. The Selection Official may also consider program
policy factors in the final decision to ensure the projects are
balanced by topic area, geographically and institutionally.
Selection Criteria (with weights)
All proposals will be scored using the following criteria:
Management Relevance (30 points)
Does the proposed project (directly or indirectly) address a
critical national, state, or local management need?
Does the proposed project address a priority problem as well as in
immediate concern?
Are the project goals and objectives clear and concise? Are there
direct ties to the state coastal management agency, National Estuarine
Research Reserve, and/or National Marine Sanctuary?
Does the proposed project have a clearly defined management
audience and do the products have clearly defined users?
Will the outreach/transfer mechanisms be effective (in transferring
science tools and information to management)?
Technical Merit (25 points)
Is the approach technically sound?
Does the proposed project have technical relevance beyond the
project (i.e., Will it have a broad impact on other related activities?
Will it lay the groundwork for other major scientific advances? Will it
dissolve a technological/information barrier?)
1. Does the proposed project build on existing knowledge?
2. Is the approach innovative?
3. Quality Control/Quality Assurance (and metadata requirements as
appropriate) adequately addressed?
Applicability and Effectiveness of Products and their Delivery (25
points)
Will the proposed project produce useful (and easily used)
products, services, or an understanding for the target audience and
users?
Is project implementation likely to be flexible and responsive to
public and user input?
Will the products be delivered in a timely and appropriate manner
to appropriate recipients?
Will the products have long-term (lasting) value and widespread
applicability?
Will the outreach/transfer mechanisms be effective (in transferring
science tools and information to management)?
Efficiency (15 points)
Is the budget commensurate with the project needs?
Are appropriate partnerships going to be employed to achieve the
highest quality content and maximal efficiency?
Does the proposed project use resources efficiently or in new,
innovative ways?
Overall qualifications (5 points)
Are the proposers capable of conducting a project of scope and
scale proposed? (i.e., Are there adequate professional, facility, and
administrative capabilities?)
Selection Schedule
Special projects will be reviewed two times a year. The following
schedule lists the approximate dates for the project selection and
award process for grants and/or cooperative agreements:
Proposal Deadline (with completed Grant Package) (Cycle #1 December 21,
1998
Earliest Grant Start Date (Cycle #1) May 1, 1999
Proposal Deadline (with completed Grant Package) (Cycle #2) March 19,
1999
Earliest Grant Start Date (Cycle #2) August 1, 1999
Note: All deadlines are for receipt by Close of Business [5:00
P.M. Eastern Standard Time] on the dates identified. Receipt of
proposal and Grant Package will be time stamped.
Funding availability
Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA
budget for FY99 is authorized. Total funding available for this
announcement will be between $50,000 and $750,000. There is no
guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for
all approved projects. Publication of this notice does not obligate
NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate
all or any parts of the available funds.
Cost Sharing
There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to this
program announcement and no additional weight will be given to
proposals with cost sharing.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications for grants under this program announcement may be
submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these
specific guidelines, by any state or local resource management agency,
college or university, private industry, nonprofit organization, or
cooperative research unit. Other federal agencies or institutions are
not eligible to receive federal assistance under this notice.
General Information for All Programs
Indirect Costs
The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an
application under any of these programs must not exceed the current
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by the applicant's cognizant
Federal agency, prior to the proposed effective date of the award of
100 percent of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the
application, whichever is less. If a rate has not been established, one
will be negotiated by the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector
General.
Federal Policies and Procedures
Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to
Federal assistance awards.
Name Check Review
All non-profit and for-profit applicants 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.
Past Performance
Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in
an application not being considered for funding.
Pre-Award 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 pre-award
costs, should an award not be made or funded at a level less than
requested.
[[Page 53020]]
No Obligation for Future Funding
If the application is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation
to provide any additional future 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 DOC.
Delinquent Federal Debts
No award or Federal Funds shall be made to an applicant who has an
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
(i) The delinquent account is paid in full,
(ii) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least
one payment is received, or
(iii) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.
Primary Applicant Certifications
All organizations or individuals preparing grant applications must
submit a completed Form CD-511 ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and explanations are hereby provided:
Non-Procurement 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;
Drug-Free Workplace
Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 605) are subject to
15 CFR part 26, subpart f, ``Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form
prescribed above applies;
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 application/bids for grants,
cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans
and loan guarantees for more than $150,000; and
Anti-Lobbying Disclosures
Any applicant that 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.
Lower-Tier Certifications
Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for sub-grants,
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 DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or sub-
recipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the
instructions contained in the aware document.
False Statements
A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
Buy American-Made Equipment or Products
Applicants are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the
greatest extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and
products with funding provided under this program in accordance with
Congressional intent.
Classification
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this notice
concerning grants, cooperative agreements, benefits, and contracts.
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for
purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall a
person be subject to, a penalty for failure to comply with a collection
of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA) unless that collection of information displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
This notice contains a collection-of-information requirement
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection-of-information
has been approved by OMB, OMB Control Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044,
0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001.
Dated: September 25, 1998.
Nancy Foster,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 98-26373 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M
