[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 43 (Friday, March 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10623-10628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5114]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 990125028-9028-01]
RIN 0648-ZA54
Aquatic Nuisance Species Research and Outreach and Improved
Methods for Ballast Water Treatment and Management: Request for
Proposals for FY 1999
AGENCY: National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the
National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) is entertaining
preliminary proposals and subsequently full proposals for innovative
research, outreach, and demonstration projects that address the
problems of Aquatic Nuisance Species in U.S. coastal waters. In FY 1999
and 2000, Sea Grant expects to make available about $2,300,000 per year
to support projects to prevent and/or control nonindigenous species
invasions in all U.S. marine waters, the Great Lakes, and Lake
Champlain; matching funds equivalent to a minimum of 50% of the Federal
request must be provided. In FY 1999 only, Sea Grant also expects to
make available about $1,000,000 to support demonstration projects to
improve ballast water treatment and management in Chesapeake Bay and
the Great Lakes, matching funds may also be included for these
projects, but are not required. Successful projects will be selected
through national competitions.
DATES: Preliminary proposals must be submitted before 5 pm (local time)
on April 5, 1999 to the nearest state Sea Grant College Program or the
National Sea Grant Office (NSGO). After evaluation at the NSGO, some
proposers will be encouraged to prepare full proposals, which must be
submitted before 5 pm (local time) on May 27, 1999 to the nearest state
Sea Grant College Program or NSGO.
ADDRESSES: Investigators located in states with Sea Grant Programs must
submit their preliminary proposals and full proposals through those
programs. The addresses of the Sea Grant College Program directors may
be found on Sea Grant's home page (http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/NSGO/
index.html) or may also be obtained by contacting the Program Manager
at the National Sea Grant Office (see below). Investigators from non-
Sea Grant states applying for the ``Ballast Water Treatment and
Management Program,'' only, may submit their preliminary proposals and
proposals directly to the National Sea Grant Office at: National Sea
Grant College Program, R/SG, Attn: Aquatic Nuisance Species
Competition, Room 11841, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leon M. Cammen, Aquatic Nuisance
Species Coordinator, National Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, NOAA,
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or Mary Robinson,
Secretary, National Sea Grant Office, 301-713-2435; facsimile 301-713-
0799.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Program Authority
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131.
Catalog of Federal Assistance Number: 11.417, Sea Grant Support.
II. Program Description
Background
Nonindigenous species introductions are increasing in frequency and
causing substantial damage to the Nation's environment and economy.
Although the most prominent of these has been the zebra mussel, many
other nonindigenous species have been introduced and have truly become
a nationwide problem that threatens many aquatic ecosystems. While some
intentional introductions may have had beneficial effects, there are
many other nonindigenous species already present in U.S. waters, or
with the potential to invade, that may cause significant damage to
coastal resources and the economies that depend upon them. In response,
the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990
(16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) established a framework for the Nation to
address the problems of aquatic nuisance species invasions of coastal
and Great Lakes ecosystems.
Although problems such as the zebra mussel and the sea lamprey
within the Great Lakes have received the most attention, invasions of
nonindigenous species in coastal marine environments are an increasing
and serious threat. The National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (16
U.S.C. 4711-4714) recognized this by calling for Federal funding to
support aquatic nuisance species prevention and control along the
Nation's marine coast.
In addition, the Act recognized the serious threat posed by ballast
water discharge in causing new invasions and called for ballast water
management demonstration programs. A 1996 National Research Council
study of the ballast water problem, ``Stemming the Tide,'' concluded
that with the growth of global shipping, and the changes in modern
shipping practices, introductions of nonindegenous species through
ballast water discharge were likely to remain a serious problem. The
study called for the development of improved technology for the
management of ballast water to eliminate this threat to the Nation's
ecosystems. A demonstration project testing filtration of ballast water
as a method of reducing introductions is currently underway in the
Great Lakes, but it is acknowledged that there is unlikely to be a
single solution that is acceptable for all modes of shipping operations
and classes of vessels.
Funding Availability and Priorities
The National Sea Grant College Program encourages proposals that
address one of the following two program areas:
(1) Research and Outreach to Prevent and Control Aquatic Nuisance
Species Invasions
An interagency Ad Hoc Committee on Exotic Species in the Great
Lakes has prepared a report entitled, ``Coordinated Program of Research
for Exotic Species in the Great Lakes.'' Although targeted for the
Great Lakes, the report provides a useful framework for research and
outreach on any nonindigenous species problems and is therefore being
used to structure this more general request for proposals covering U.S.
marine waters, the Great Lakes, and Lake Champlain. Research and
outreach proposals are requested that address one or more of the
following program areas:
(a) Biology and Life History: Basic biological research into
population dynamics, genetics, physiology, behavior, and parasites and
diseases of nonindigenous species with the potential to lead to the
development of ecologically safe, effective, and inexpensive control.
Research on the ecological and environmental tolerances of
nonindigenous species with the potential for prediction of eventual
geographic and ecological impacts.
(b) Effects on Ecosystems: Research on the impacts of nonindigenous
species at
[[Page 10624]]
each stage of their life history with the potential for helping natural
resource managers determine how to minimize the impacts on established
biota and their habitats.
(c) Socio-Economic Analysis: Costs and Benefits: Research on the
potential impacts of nonindigenous species on human health in terms of
spread of disease, concentration of pollutants, and contamination or
purification of drinking water sources. Economic impact on sport,
commercial and tribal fisheries, the recreation and tourism industry,
and tribal fisheries, the recreation and tourism industry, the shipping
and navigation industry, and municipal and industrial water users. Use
of research results to provide a scientific basis for developing sound
policy and environmental law, and for public education and technology
transfer.
(d) Control and Mitigation: Research into various types of
control--engineering (redesigning water intakes, etc.), physical
(scraping, filtering, etc.), chemical (biocides, antifoulants, etc.),
biological (parasites, predators, etc.), and physicochemical (heat,
salinity, pH, etc.)--to develop selective, effective controls that
minimize adverse ecological/environmental impacts. Outreach activities
that will transfer these technologies to the appropriate users.
(e) Preventing New Introductions: Research and outreach into
identifying vectors of introduction, developing cost-effective,
realistic methods of prevention, and transferring the information to
appropriate users. In particular, research to develop workable and
effective methods to eliminate ballast water discharge as a source of
nonindigenous species introductions without imposing undue hardships on
the shipping industry.
(f) Reducing the Spread of Established Populations: Research and
outreach to identify mechanisms for further dispersal of individual
established species that will lead to the development of safeguards and
protocols to prevent and/or slow the spread of nonindigenous species to
uninfested areas, and transfer of that information to appropriate
users.
(g) Ballast Water Pathogens and Public Health: Research to assess
the public health risks posed by pathogens released in ballast waters
discharges in U.S. ports.
About $2,300,000 is available from the National Sea Grant College
Program to support these projects in FY 1999; an additional $2,300,000
may be available in FY 2000 depending on the overall funding
appropriation for the National Sea Grant College Program. Of this
amount, 70% of the funds will be made available to support research
projects and 30% for outreach activities. Project activities should
include identified milestones for each project year, and the second
year of funding is contingent upon availability of funds and submission
of an annual report showing satisfactory progress. Proposals may
request up to $150,000 per year and each proposal must include
additional matching funds equivalent to at least 50% of the Federal
funds requested; for example, a proposal requesting a total of $200,000
in Federal support for two years would have to include at least an
additional $100,000 in matching funds. Regardless of any approved
indirect cost rate applicable to the award, the maximum dollar amount
of allocable indirect costs for which the Department of Commerce will
reimburse the Recipient shall be the lesser of: (a) the Federal share
of the total allocable indirect costs of the award based on the
negotiated rate with the cognizant Federal agency as established by
audit or negotiation; or (b) The line item amount for the Federal share
of indirect costs contained in the approved budget of the award.
(2) Ballast Water Treatment and Management
Research to develop workable and effective methods to eliminate
ballast water discharge as a source of nonindigenous species
introductions without imposing undue hardships on the shipping
industry. Possible approaches include (but are not limited to)
development and/or demonstration of technologies for treatment or
management of ballast water on-board ship or for on-shore management.
Projects that include on-vessel or on-shore demonstrations of
feasibility will be given priority. Projects must be clearly targeted
toward addressing ballast water management in either Chesapeake Bay or
the Great Lakes, but investigators located outside those regions may
participate if all demonstrations are carried out in the targeted
regions.
About $1,000,000 is available for this activity in FY 1999, of
which as least $240,000 will be used to support Chesapeake Bay
activities. Proposals are limited to one year of funding, but
activities may extend for up to two years; an annual report showing
satisfactory progress must be submitted at the end of the first year.
Project activities should include identified milestones for each
project year. Proposals may request up to $500,000 in Federal support;
matching funds may also be included, but are not required. Regardless
of any approved indirect cost rate applicable to the award, the maximum
dollar amount of allocable indirect costs for which the Department of
Commerce will reimburse the Recipient shall be the lesser of: (a) The
Federal share of the total allocable indirect costs of the award based
on the negotiated rate with the cognizant Federal agency as established
by audit or negotiation; or (b) the line item amount for the Federal
share of indirect costs contained in the approved budget of the award.
III. Eligibility
Applications may be submitted by individuals; public or private
corporations, partnerships, or other associations or entities
(including institutions of higher education, institutes, or non-Federal
laboratories), or any State, political subdivision of a State, or
agency or officer thereof.
IV. Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation criteria for proposals submitted for support under
the ``Research and Outreach to Prevent and Control Aquatic Nuisance
Species Invasions'' program area are:
(1) Impact of proposed project (50%): Significance of the aquatic
nuisance species problem that will be addressed; the effect this
activity will have on reducing the impact of nonindigenous species on
the environment and/or the economy, or the need for this activity as a
necessary step toward such a reduction in impact.
(2) Scientific or Professional Merit (20%): Degree to which the
activity will advance the state of the science or discipline through
use and extension of state-of-the-art methods.
(3) User Relationships (15%): Degree to which potential users of
the results of the proposed activity have been involved in planning the
activity and/or will be involved in the execution of the activity.
(4) Innovativeness (10%): Degree to which new approaches to solving
problems and exploiting opportunities in resource management or
development, or in public outreach on such issues will be employed;
alternatively, the degree to which the activity will focus on new types
of important or potentially important resources and issues.
(5) Qualifications and Past Record of Investigators (5%): Degree to
which investigators are qualified by education, training, and/or
experience to execute the proposed activity; record of achievement with
previous funding.
[[Page 10625]]
The evaluation criteria for proposals submitted for support under
the ``Ballast Water Treatment and Management'' program area are:
(1) Impact of proposed project (40%): Potential effectiveness of
ballast water treatment technologies or practices in reducing
introductions of nonindigenous species.
(2) Field-Scale Demonstration (10%): Inclusion of a field-scale
demonstration of the proposed ballast water treatment technology or
practices.
(3) Scientific or Professional Merit (20%): Degree to which the
activity will advance the state of the science or discipline through
use and extension of state-of-the-art methods.
(4) User Relationships (15%): Degree to which potential users of
the results of the proposed activity have been involved in planning the
activity, will be involved in the execution of the activity, and/or are
providing matching funds.
(5) Innovativeness (10%): Degree to which new approaches to solving
problems and exploiting opportunities in resource management or
development, or in public outreach on such issues will be employed;
alternatively, the degree to which the activity will focus on new types
of important or potentially important resources and issues.
(6) Qualifications and Past Record of Investigators (5%): Degree to
which investigators are qualified by education, training, and/or
experience to execute the proposed activity; record of achievement with
previous funding.
V. Selection Procedures
Preliminary proposals will be reviewed at the NSGO by a panel
composed of government, academic, and industry experts. The panel will
be asked to assess each proposal according to the evaluation criteria
listed above. The panel will make individual recommendations to the
Director of the NSGO regarding which preliminary proposals may be
suitable for further consideration. On the basis of the panel's
recommendations, the Director of the NSGO will advise proposers whether
or not the submission of full proposals is encouraged. Invitation to
submit a full proposal does not constitute an indication that the
proposal will be funded. Interested parties who are not invited to
submit full proposals will not be precluded from submitting full
proposals if they have submitted a preliminary proposal in accordance
with the procedures described below.
Full proposals will be received at the individual state SEa Grant
Programs or at the National Sea Grant Office, if from a non-Sea Grant
state, and sent to peer reviewers for written reviews. The National Sea
Grant Office will obtain the written reviews for proposals from non-Sea
Grant states. Complete full proposals and their written reviews will be
sent by the state Sea Grant programs to the National Sea Grant Office
to be ranked in accordance with the assigned weights of the above
evaluation criteria by one of two independent peer review panels
consisting of government, academic, and industry experts; one panel
will review the ``Research and Outreach to Prevent and Control Aquatic
Nuisance Species Invasions'' proposals and a second panel will review
the ``Ballast Water Treatment and Management'' proposals. These panel
members will provide individual evaluations on each proposal, but there
will be no consensus advice. Their recommendations and evaluations will
be considered by the National Sea Grant Office in the final selection.
Only those proposals rated by the panel as either Excellent, Very Good
or Good will be eligible for funding. For those proposals, the National
Sea Grant Office will: (a) ascertain which proposals best meet the
program priorities, and do not substantially duplicate other projects
that are currently funded or are approved for funding by NOAA and other
federal agencies, hence, awards may not necessarily be made to the
highest-scored proposals; (b) select the proposals to be funded; (c)
determine which components of the selected projects will be funded; (d)
determine the total duration of funding for each proposal; and (e)
determine the amount of funds available for each proposal.
Investigators may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets
prior to final approval of the award. Subsequent grant administration
procedures will be in accordance with current NOAA grants procedures. A
summary statement of the scientific review by the peer panel will be
provided to each applicant.
VI. Instructions for Application
Timetable
April 5, 1999, 5 pm (local time)--Preliminary proposals due at
state Sea Grant Program.
April 8, 1999, 5 pm EST--Preliminary proposals due at NSGO.
May 27, 1999, 5 pm (local time)--Full proposals due at state Sea
Grant Program.
July 7, 1999, 5 pm EST--Full proposals due at NSGO.
October 1, 1999 (approximate)--Funds awarded to selected
recipients; projects begin.
General Guidelines
The ideal proposal attacks a well-defined problem that will be or
is a significant societal issue. The organization or people whose task
it will be to make related decisions, or who will be able to make
specific use of the projects results, will have been identified and
contacted by the Principal Investigator(s). The project will show an
understanding of what constitutes necessary and sufficient information
for responsible decision-making or for applied use, and will show how
that information will be provided by the proposed activity, or in
concert with other planned activities.
Research projects are expected to have: a rigorous, hypothesis-
based scientific work plan, or a well-defined, logical approach to
address an engineering problem; a strong rationale for the proposed
research; and a clear and established relationship with the ultimate
users of the information. Research undertaken jointly with industry,
business, or other agencies with interest in the problem will be seen
as being meritorious. Their contribution to the research may be in the
form of collaboration, in-kind services, or dollars support. Projects
that are solely monitoring efforts are not appropriate for funding.
What to Submit
Preliminary Proposal Guidelines
To prevent the expenditure of effort that may not be successful,
proposers must first submit preliminary proposals. Preliminary
proposals must be single- or double-spaced, typewritten in at least a
10-point font, and printed on metric A4 (210 mm x 297 mm) or 8\1/2\''
x 11'' paper. The following information should be included:
(1) Signed Title Page: The title page should be signed by the
Principal Investigator and should clearly identify the program area
being addressed by starting the project title with either ``Research
and Outreach to Prevent and Control Aquatic Nuisance Species
Invasions'' or ``Ballast Water Treatment and Management.'' Principal
Investigators and collaborators should be identified by affiliation and
contact information. The total amount of Federal funds and matching
funds being requested should be listed for each budget period, as well
as the source of the matching funds. Preliminary proposals for
``Research and Outreach to Prevent and Control Aquatic Nuisance
[[Page 10626]]
Species Invasions'' must include matching funds equivalent to at least
50% of the Federal funds requested; matching funds are encouraged, but
not required, for ``Ballast Water Treatment and Management'' proposals.
(2) A concise (2-page limit) description of the project, its
expected output or products, the anticipated users of the information,
and its anticipated impact. Proposers may wish to use the Evaluation
Criteria for additional guidance in preparing the preliminary
proposals.
(3) Resumes (1-page limit) of the Principal Investigators.
(4) Proposers are encouraged (but not required) to include a
separate page suggesting reviewers that the proposers believe are
especially well qualified to review the proposal. Proposers may also
designate persons they would prefer not review the proposal, indicating
why. These suggestions will be considered during the review process.
Three copies of the preliminary proposals must be submitted to the
state Sea Grant Program Director or, for investigators in non-Sea Grant
states, directly to the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) before 5 pm
(local time) on April 5, 1999. Preliminary proposals submitted to state
Sea Grant Programs will be forwarded, along with a cover letter, to Dr.
Leon Cammen, Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator, at the address below
so as to reach the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) on or before 5 pm
on April 8, 1999. No institutional signatures or federal government
forms are needed while submitting preliminary proposals.
Full Proposal Guidelines
Each full proposal should include the items listed below. All pages
should be single- or double-spaced, typewritten in at least a 10-point
font, and printed on metric A4 (210 mm x 297 mm) or 8\1/2\'' x 11''
paper. Brevity will assist reviewers and program staff in dealing
effectively with proposals. Therefore, the Project Description may not
exceed 15 pages. Tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs,
maps, photographs and other pictorial presentations are included in the
15-page limitation; literature citations are not included in 15-page
limitation. Conformance to the 15-page limitation will be strictly
enforced. All information needed for review of the proposal should be
included in the main text; no appendices are permitted.
(1) Signed Title Page: The title page should be signed by the
Principal Investigator and the institutional representative and should
clearly identify the program area being addressed by starting the
project title with either ``Aquatic Nuisance Species Research and
Outreach'', or ``Ballast Water Treatment and Management'' as
appropriate. The Principal Investigator and institutional
representative should be identified by full name, title, organization,
telephone number and address. The total amount of Federal funds being
requested should be listed for each budget period.
(2) Project Summary: This information is very important. Prior to
attending the peer review panel meetings, some of the panelists may
read only the project summary. Therefore, it is critical that the
project summary accurately describe the research being proposed and
convey all essential elements of the research. The project summary
should include: 1. Title: Use the exact title as it appears in the rest
of the application. 2. Investigators: List the names and affiliations
of each investigator who will significantly contribute to the project.
Start with the Principal Investigator. 3. Funding request for each year
of the project, including matching funds if appropriate. 4. Project
Period: Start and completion dates. Proposals should request a start
date of October 1, 1999, or later. 5. Project Summary: This should
include the rationale for the project, the scientific or technical
objectives and/or hypotheses to be tested, and a brief summary of work
to be completed.
(3) project Description (15-page limit):
(a) Introduction/Background/Justification: Subjects that the
investigator(s) may wish to include in this section are: (i) current
state of knowledge; (ii) contributions that the study will make to the
particular discipline or subject area; and (iii) contributions the
study will make toward addressing the problem of nonindigenous species.
(b) Research or Technical Plan: (i) Objectives to be achieved,
hypotheses to be tested; (ii) Plan of work--discuss how stated project
objectives will be achieved; and (iii) Role of project personnel.
(c) Output: Describe the project outputs that will enhance the
Nation's ability to manage and control nonindigenous species impacts.
(d) Coordination with other Program Elements: Describe any
coordination with other agency programs or ongoing research efforts.
Describe any other proposals that are essential to the success of this
proposal.
(e) Literature Cited: Should be included here, but does not count
against the 15-page limit.
(4) Budget and Budget Justification: There should be a separate
budget for each year of the project as well as a cumulative annual
budget for the entire project. Applicants are encouraged to use the Sea
Grant Budget Form 90-4, but may use their own form as long as it
provides the same information as the Sea Grant form. Subcontracts
should have a separate budget page. Matching funds must be indicated if
required; failure to provide adequate matching funds will result in the
proposal being rejected without review. Applicants should provide
justification for all budget items in sufficient detail to enable the
reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness of the funding requested. For
all applications, regardless of any approved indirect cost rate
applicable to the award, the maximum dollar amount of allocable
indirect costs for which the Department of Commerce will reimburse the
Recipient shall be the lesser of: (a) The Federal share of the total
allocable indirect costs of the award based on the negotiated rate with
the cognizant Federal agency as established by audit or negotiation; or
(b) The line item amount for the Federal share of indirect costs
contained in the approved budget of the award.
(5) Current and Pending Support: Applicants must provide
information on all current and pending support for ongoing projects and
proposals, including subsequent funding in the case of continuing
grants. All current project support from whatever source (e.g.,
Federal, State or local government agencies, private foundations,
industrial or other commercial organizations) must be listed. The
proposed project and all other projects or activities requiring a
portion of time of the principal investigator and other senior
personnel should be included, even if they receive no Federal salary
support from the project(s). The number of person-months per year to be
devoted to the projects must be stated, regardless of source of
support. Similar information must be provided for all proposals already
submitted or submitted concurrently to other possible sponsors,
including those within NOAA.
(6) Vitae (2 pages maximum per investigator).
(7) Research Protocol (if appropriate): Research activities funded
under this program must not accelerate the spread of nonindigenous
species to non-invested watersheds. Therefore, investigators whose
laboratories or research study sites are in currently uninfested areas
must adopt procedures for handling the particular nonindigenous species
that will prevent
[[Page 10627]]
its release into the environment. Such proposals must contain a
research protocol for review by interagency committee created under the
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16
U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) before the grant can be awarded. Guidelines for
developing suitable protocols are available through the World Wide Web
(www.mdsg.umd.edu/
NSGO/research/nonindigenous/RFP99.html) or from Dr. Leon Cammen at the
National Seat Grant Office (phone: 301-713-2435 x136 or e-mail:
leon.cammen
@noaa.gov). Proposals lacking a suitable protocol will not be eligible
for funding.
(8) Declaration of Vessel Selection (if appropriate): Applications
proposing on-board demonstrations of ballast water management should
address the requirements and priorities listed in the National Invasive
Species Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 4711-4714) for selecting vessels for
demonstration projects. These requirements are available through the
World Wide Web (www.
mdsg.umd.edu/NSGO/research/nonindigenous/RFP99.html) or from Dr. Leon
Cammen at the National Sea Grant Office (phone: 301-713-2435 x136 or e-
mail: leon.cammen@noaa.gov).
(9) Standard Application Forms: Applicants may obtain all required
application forms through the World Wide Web at http://www.mdsg.umd.
edu/NSGO/research/rfp/index.html, from the state Sea Grant Programs or
from Dr. Leon Cammen at the National Sea Grant Office (phone: 301-713-
2435 x136 or e-mail: leon.
cammen@noaa.gov). The following forms must be included:
(a) Standard Forms 424, Application for Federal Assistance, 424A,
Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs; and 424B, Assurances--
Non-Construction Programs, (Rev 4-88). Applications should clearly
identify the program area being addressed by starting the project title
with either ``Aquatic Nuisance Species Research and Outreach'' or
``Ballast Water Management'' as appropriate. Please note that both the
Principal Investigator and an administrative contact should be
identified in Section 5 of the SF424. For Section 10, applicants should
enter ``11.417'' for the CFDA Number and ``Sea Grant Support'' for the
title. The form must contain the original signature of an authorized
representative of the applying institution.
(b) Primary Applicant Certifications. All primary applicants must
submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby
provided:
(i) 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;
(ii) 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;
(iii) 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
(iv) Anti-Lobbying Disclosure. 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.
(c) Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall required
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.
VII. How to Submit
Preliminary proposals and proposals must be submitted to the state
Sea Grant Programs or, for investigators in non-Sea Grant states,
directly to the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO), according to the
schedule outlined above. Although investigators are not required to
submit more than 3 copies of either preproposals or full proposals, the
normal review process requires 10 copies. Investigators are encouraged
to submit sufficient copies for the full review process if they wish
all reviewers to receive color, unusually sized (not 8.5 x 11''), or
otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of the proposal. Only
three copies of the Federally required forms are needed. The addresses
of the Sea Grant College Program directors may be found on Sea Grant's
World Wide Web home page (http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/NSGO/index.html) or
may also be obtained by contracting the Program Manager, Dr. Leon M.
Cammen, at the National Sea Grant Office (phone: 301-713-2435 x136 or
e-mail: leon.cammen@noaa.gov). Preproposals and proposals sent to the
National Sea Grant Office should be addressed to: National Sea Grant
Office R/SG, Attn: Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator, NOAA, Room
11841, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone 301-713-
2535 for express mail applications).
Applications received after the deadline and applications that
deviate from the format described above will be returned to the sender
without review. Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail submission
of full proposals will not be accepted. If you have any questions or
require further information, contact one of the agency coordinators
listed above.
VIII. Other Requirements
(A) Federal Policies and Procedures--Recipients and subrecipients
are subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Department of Commerce
(DOC) policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal
financial assistance awards.
(B) Past Performance--Unsatisfactory performance under prior
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for
funding.
(C) 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.
(D) No Obligation for Future Funding--If an 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.
[[Page 10628]]
(E) Delinquent Federal Debts--No award of Federal funds shall be
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt
until either:
(1) The delinquent account is paid in full,
(2) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received, or
(3) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.
(F) 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 applicant have been
convicted of or are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud,
theft, perjury, or other matters which significantly reflect on the
applicant's management honesty or financial integrity.
(G) 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.
(H) Intergovernmental Review--Applications for support from the
National Sea Grant College Program are not subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.
(I) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products--Applicants
are hereby notified that they will be encouraged to the greatest extend
practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and products with
funding provided under this program.
Classification
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of E.O. 12866.
This notice contains collection of information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Sea Grant Budget Form and Standard
Forms 424, 424a and 424b have been approved under control numbers 0648-
0362, 0348-0043, 0348-0044, and 0348-0040 with average responses
estimated to take 15, 45, 180, and 15 minutes, respectively. These
estimates include the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments
on these estimates or any other aspect of these collections to National
Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910 (Attention: Francis S. Schuler) and to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20503 (Attention: NOAA Desk Officer). Notwithstanding
any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to,
nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply
with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays
a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Dated: February 25, 1999.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-5114 Filed 3-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-M
