[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26571-26574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12750]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 980427105-8105-01]
RIN 0648-ZA41
Sea Grant Industry Fellows Program
AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces that proposals may be submitted for a
Fellowship program sponsored by the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) to
strengthen ties between academia and industry and to fulfill its broad
educational responsibilities. With required matching funds from private
industrial sponsors, Sea Grant expects to support up to four new
Industrial fellows in 1998. Each fellow will be a graduate student
selected through national competition, and will be known as a Company
Name/Sea Grant Industrial Fellow. Proposals must be submitted by
academic institutions who have identified a graduate fellow and an
industrial sponsor who will provide matching funds.
DATES: Proposals must be submitted by June 12, 1998 to the nearest
state Sea Grant College Program.
[[Page 26572]]
ADDRESSES: Applications should be requested from the nearest Sea Grant
college program. The addresses of the Sea Grant college program
directors can be found on Sea Grant's home page (http://
www.mdsq.umd.edu/NSGO/index.html). The addresses may also be obtained
by contacting the Program Manager at the National Sea Grant Office (see
below).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Vijay G. Panchang, Program
Manager, National Sea Grant Office/NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910. Tel. (301) 713-2435 ext. 142; e-mail:
Vijay.Panchang@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Program Authority
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1127(a).
B. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
CFDA No. 11.417--Sea Grant Support.
C. Introduction
Today's global economy is putting unprecedented demands on the US
industrial community for innovation and new technology. Two critical
components of success in that endeavor are well-trained human resources
and high rates of technology commercialization. This situation presents
challenges to industry and universities to develop new paradigms that
will create more efficient utilization of available human, fiscal, and
technical resources and closer collaboration between universities and
industry. Successful methods of transferring technology from academia
to industry include hiring graduates trained in particular technologies
and developing opportunities for collaboration between industrial and
academic scientists and engineers. To strengthen ties between academia
and industry, Sea Grant developed the Industrial Fellows Program in
1995. With required matching funds from private industrial sponsors,
Sea Grant expects to support up to four new Industrial fellows in 1998.
Each fellow will be a graduate student selected through national
competition, and will be known as a Company Name/Sea Grant Industrial
Fellow.
D. Fellowship Program Goals
To enhance the education and training provided to top graduate
students in US colleges and universities; to provide real-world
experience of industrial issues to graduate students to accelerate
their career development; to increase interactions between the nation's
top scientists and engineers and their industrial counterparts; to
accelerate the exchange of information and technologies between
universities and industry; to provide a mechanism for industry to
influence Sea Grant research priorities and solve problems of
importance to industry; and to forge long-term relationships between
Sea Grant colleges and industrial firms.
E. Program Description
The Sea Grant Industrial Fellows Program provides, in cooperation
with specific companies, support for highly-qualified graduate students
who are pursuing research on topics of interest to a particular
industry/company. In a true partnership, the student, the faculty
adviser, the Sea Grant college or institute, and the industry
representative work together on a project from beginning to end.
Research facilities and the cost of the activity are shared. University
faculty are the major source for identifying potential industrial
collaborators and suitable research topics. However, other sources can
be used to identify potential industrial partners including the Sea
Grant Marine Advisory Services, university industrial relations
offices, and the Sea Grant Review Panel. Sea Grant directors are
encouraged to use a variety of sources in building successful
partnerships with industry.
F. Proposal Features
Interested members of US institutions of higher education may
submit a proposal through the nearest Sea Grant program for a grant to
support up to 50 percent of the total budget. The fellowship can be for
a maximum of three years, though funding will be in annual increments.
No more than $30,000 of federal funds may be requested per year.
Indirect costs on federal funds are limited to 10 percent of total
modified direct costs. The proposal must include a written matching
commitment, equal to the federal request, from the industrial partner
to support the budget for the period of the award. Allocation of
matching funds must be specified in the budget. Use of the industrial
matching funds for student stipend support will be looked on favorably.
The budget should include adequate travel funds for the student and
the faculty advisor to meet at least twice per year during the
fellowship period, preferably at the site of the industrial partner.
Funds should also be allocated for one trip per year to NOAA offices in
Silver Spring, Maryland, for a meeting of all fellows, advisors, and
industrial partners.
Proposal Form and Content
Proposals are limited to 10 pages of text (8.5 inches by 11 inches,
10 point type) exclusive of budgets, vitae, letters of commitment,
company description, and required forms. Proposals should contain the
following:
1. The problem and its importance: What is the problem being
addressed and what is its scientific and economic importance to the
advancement of technology, to the cooperating industrial partner, and
to the region or nation?
2. The research proposed: What are the goals, objectives, and
anticipated approach of the proposed research? While a detailed work
plan is not expected, the proposal should present evidence that there
has been thoughtful consideration of the approach to the problem under
study. What capabilities does the industrial partner possess that will
benefit the research program?
3. Benefits: Upon successful completion of the project, what are
the anticipated benefits to the student, the industrial partner, the
university and its faculty, the sponsoring Sea Grant program, and the
nation?
4. References/Bibliography.
5. Budget for each year and a cumulative budget.
6. Letter of commitment from the industrial partner.
7. Vitae of the student, the faculty advisor, and the company-
appointed research mentor (limited to two pages per person).
8. A brief (one-page) description of the industrial firm.
Participant Interest
Interested graduate students or faculty advisors should contact the
nearest Sea Grant program director for further details regarding
proposal submission. Proposals must be submitted to the nearest Sea
Grant program director by June 12, 1998. The addresses of the directors
can be found on Sea Grant's home page (http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/NSGO/
index.html). The addresses of the directors may also be obtained from
Dr. Vijay Panchang, Program Manager, National Sea Grant Office/NOAA,
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Tel. 301-713-2435,
ext. 142.
Sea Grant Program--Proposal Submission
The Sea Grant program directors must ensure that the original and
two copies of all proposals, all required NOAA forms (Sea Grant Project
Summary and Budget forms), OMB forms (SF424, SF424a, SF424b), form CD-
511, mail reviews, and a cover letter are received at the NSGO on or
before July 13, 1998.
[[Page 26573]]
Proposals should be mailed to: Dr. Vijay Panchang, Program Manager,
National Sea Grant Office/NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20910. Tel. (301) 713-2435, ext. 142. Fellows receive funds directly
from the National Sea Grant Colleges as part of a project awarded to
the submitting Sea Grant program.
Proposal Evaluation
1. The sponsoring Sea Grant program is responsible for conducting
the mail peer review of the proposed project for significance and
importance of the problem being addressed; scientific and technical
merit; and benefit to the discipline, field, and nation. Proposals may
be revised on the basis of reviewer comments. All proposals must be
accompanied by copies of the peer reviews and a letter from the Sea
Grant director describing what, if any, changes have been made to the
proposal as a result of the review process.
2. Proposals will be reviewed at the National Sea Grant Office by a
panel composed of individuals from academia, industry, and the federal
government with particular expertise in industry/academic interactions.
The panel will be asked to assess each proposal, taking into account
all mail peer review ratings, based on the following criteria:
a. The importance of the problem and the benefits expected to the
industrial partner and the nation due to the advancement of technology
(40%).
b. The benefit accruing to the student from his or her
participation as a Sea Grant Industrial Fellow (20%).
c. The level of commitment of the industrial partner to the
project, particularly student stipend support (20%).
d. The potential for the establishment of a long-term relationship
between the Sea Grant program and the industrial firm (20%).
Selection Procedures
All proposals will be evaluated and ranked by the peer review
panelists, who will make individual recommendations to the selecting
officer, the Director of the National Sea Grant College program.
G. Timetable
June 12, 1998--Proposals due in the nearest Sea Grant College
Program office.
July 13, 1998--Proposals due in the National Sea Grant September 1,
1998 (approximate)--Funds awarded to selected recipients; fellowship
begins.
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) Past Performance--Unsatisfactory performance under prior
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for
funding.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) Delinquent Federal Debts--No award of 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.
(6) 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.
(7) 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 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.
(8) Lower Tier Certifications--Recipients 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 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.
(9) 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.
(10) Intergovernmental Review--Applications under this program are
not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of
Federal Programs.''
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.
[[Page 26574]]
This notice contains collection of information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Project Summary Form has been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number
0648-0019, with an average response estimated to take 20 minutes; the
Sea Grant Budget Form has been approved under Control Number 0648-0034,
with an average response estimated to take 15 minutes. 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 Office/NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 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: May 8, 1998.
Elbert W. Friday, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-12750 Filed 5-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M
