[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11949]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 16, 1994]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VI
Department of Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
Oyster Disease Research; Financial Assistance; Availability of Funds;
Notice
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 94-0528-4128, I.D. 031894A]
RIN: 0648-ZA02
Financial Assistance for Oyster Disease Research
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: A total of $1.3 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 1994 funds is
available through the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office to assist
interested state fishery agencies, academic institutions, and other
nonprofit organizations relating to cooperative research units, in
carrying out research projects to provide information on oyster
diseases through cooperative agreements. NMFS issues this notice
describing the conditions under which eligible applications will be
accepted and how NMFS will determine which applications will be
selected for funding.
DATES: Applications for funding under this program will be accepted
between May 16, 1994 and 6 p.m. eastern standard time on June 30, 1994.
Applications received after that time will not be considered for
funding. No applications will be accepted by facsimile machine
submission.
Successful applicants generally will be selected approximately 90
days from the date of publication of this notice and the earliest date
for awards will be about 180 days after the date of publication of this
notice.
ADDRESSES: Send applications to: M. Elizabeth Gillelan, Division Chief,
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, NMFS, 410 Severn Avenue, suite 107A,
Annapolis, MD 21403.
Questions of an administrative nature should be referred to: Grants
Management Division, Attn: Jean West, Chief, Grants Operations Branch,
NOAA, SSMC2, OA321, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, at
301/713-0926.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: M. Elizabeth Gillelan, 410/267-5660.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, at 16 U.S.C. 753
(a), authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), for the purpose
of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training
programs for fish and wildlife resources, to continue to enter into
cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, with game and
fish departments of the several states, and with non-profit
organizations relating to cooperative research units. The Departments
of Commerce (DOC), Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act of 1994 makes funds available to the Secretary.
The research to be funded is in support of the Oyster Disease
Research Program, which provides information on American oyster
disease-related research and management concerns in the northeastern
United States. The program investigates selected aspects of the life
cycle of oyster pathogens, physiological and genetic factors that
influence disease resistance in the American oyster, Crassostrea
virginica, and management strategies that would enhance survival of the
public fishery and prospects for resource rehabilitation.
Oyster disease research is essential, given the recent devastating
effect of oyster diseases on the Maryland and Virginia oyster
fisheries. Oyster harvests from the Chesapeake Bay reached record lows
in 1992-1993. Fishery management approaches that manage around the
diseases have not been able to guard against widespread disease
outbreaks. New research into the diseases should provide new knowledge
and new tools for managing and restoring these oyster populations.
II. Areas of Special Emphasis
A. Proposals should exhibit familiarity with related work that is
completed or ongoing. Where appropriate, proposals should be
multidisciplinary. Coordinated efforts involving multiple eligible
applicants or persons are encouraged. Eligible women and minority
scientists, associated with eligible applicants, are encouraged to
submit applications. While the areas for special emphasis are listed
below, proposals in other areas will be considered on a funds-available
basis. Primary consideration for funding will be given to applications
addressing the specific priorities listed in this section. These
priorities are not listed in any implied order. NMFS will accept
proposals that address other significant areas of research on C.
virginica; however, consideration cannot be guaranteed.
Consideration will be given to applications that address the
following American oyster disease research and management priorities
for the northeastern United States:
1. Technical Priorities
a. Investigate the basic mechanisms (physiological, genetic,
immunological, biochemical, etc.) that may make C. virginica resistant/
susceptible to the diseases currently affecting the Northeast Region's
oyster populations. This includes the genetic basis for disease
resistance and the possible development of gene transfer techniques
that could lead to improved native oysters.
b. Investigate selected aspects of the life cycle and natural
history of C. virginicus pathogens, with emphasis on transmission
dynamics; identification of intermediate hosts; and determination of
the time/age when young oysters first become susceptible to
Haplosporidium nelsoni, commonly known as MSX, or Perkinsus marinus,
known as Dermo.
c. Utilize P. marinus cultures and isolated cells to investigate
the biochemistry and physiology of this pathogen, with emphasis on
osmotic tolerance of cells in vitro and the role of virulence factors
in pathogenicity.
d. Investigate juvenile oyster mortalities occurring in the
Northeast Region, including the identification of the definitive
disease agent, its range, and impact on the oyster industry.
2. Management-Related Priorities
a. Develop and test new management strategies that would enhance
survival of a fishery in the continuous presence of disease, such as
the establishment of brood stock sanctuaries, genetic selection
programs, aquaculture techniques, and oyster reef research and
development.
b. Develop resource survey techniques that can be adopted to manage
disease-affected oyster populations effectively and provide background
data to support development of management options for resource
rehabilitation.
c. Evaluate the potential of a Geographic Information System
approach for characterizing the transmission dynamics of oyster
diseases throughout the Chesapeake Bay.
B. Applications addressing the priorities should build upon, or
take into account, any related past or current work. During FY 92 and
FY 93, funds under this program were awarded for the following
projects, at a total cost of $1.3 million, for each year.
1. FY 93:
a. Role of Oyster Lysosomal Enzymes in Disease Resistance.
b. Field and Laboratory Study of the Process and Dynamics of
Perkinsus marinus Infection of the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea
virginica.
c. Extracellular Protein from Perkinsus marinus: Analysis of
Pathogenic Mechanisms and Development of Enhanced Diagnoses.
d. Population Genetic Structure of Perkinsus marinus.
e. Intertidal Oyster Reefs as a Tool for Estuarine Environmental
Rehabilitation and Rejuvenation of the Virginia Oyster Fishery.
f. Replenishment Strategies in the Continuous Presence of Disease.
g. Infectivity of Cultured Perkinsus marinus: Effects of Parasite
Life Stage and Delivery Method.
h. Development of Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX)-Specific DNA Probes
for Diagnostic Applications and Life Cycle Studies.
i. Hybridization of Eastern and Pacific Oysters Using Bridging
Taxa.
j. Development of Culture Strategies to Reduce Losses Due to
Juvenile Oyster Mortalities in the Northeast.
k. Physiological Responses of the Oyster Crassostrea virginica to
Infections of Perkinsus marinus: Effects of Environmental Variables on
Acid-base Status.
l. ELISA Assay for Detection of Perkinsus marinus in Oyster Tissue.
m. American Oyster Stock Assessment in Maryland.
n. Technical Support for Maryland's Oyster Recovery Action Plan.
o. Flow Cytometric Enumeration of P. marinus Cells in Chesapeake
Bay Waters.
p. Development and Evaluation of Nucleic Acid Probes for Diagnosis
and Detection of Genetic Polymorphisms of Perkinsus marinus.
q. Utilization of Genetically Selected Lines to Reduce the Impact
of Juvenile Oyster Mortality.
2. FY 92:
a. Use of Immuno-Stimulants to Augment the Resistance of the
Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica to Infection by Perkinsus marinus.
b. A Stock-Recruitment Model of the James River Oyster Fishery.
c. Studies of Genetic Variation Between and Within Strains of the
American Oyster Selected for Disease Resistance II. Analysis of
Anonymous Nuclear Loci.
d. Development of a Microcomputer-Based Geographic Information
System (GIS) for the Visualization, Interpretation, and Analysis of
Maryland Chesapeake Bay Oyster Disease and Population Information.
e. American Oyster Stock Assessment in Maryland.
f. In vitro Propagation of Perkinsus marinus.
g. Resistance of Crassostrea virginica Races to Perkinsus marinus
Isolates: A Foundation for Breeding and Management.
h. Life Cycle Studies of Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) Spores and
Non-Oyster Hosts.
i. Relative Effects of Harvest Pressure and Disease Mortality on
the Population Dynamics of the Eastern Oyster in Delaware Bay.
j. Development of a DNA Probe to Investigate the Life Cycle of
Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX).
k. Life Cycle Studies of Perkinsus marinus-Host Specificity.
l. Flow Cytometric Quantification and Analysis of Perkinsus marinus
Cells Present in Estuarine Waters.
m. Integrated Physiological Investigation of the Effects of
Protozoan Parasitism in the Oyster, Crassostrea virginica.
III. How To Apply
A. Eligible Applicants
The cooperative agreement has been determined as the appropriate
funding instrument because of the substantial involvement of NMFS in
(1) developing program research priorities, (2) performing cooperative
research jointly with eligible applicants through the NMFS unit at the
Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, (3) evaluating the performance of the
program for effectiveness in meeting national and regional goals for
Chesapeake Bay oyster conservation and restoration, (4) monitoring the
progress of each funded project, (5) holding periodic workshops with
investigators to encourage inter-disciplinary dialogue and forge
synthesis of results, and (6) working with recipients in preparation of
annual reports summarizing current accomplishments of the Oyster
Disease Research Program.
Applications for cooperative agreements under the oyster disease
research program may be submitted, in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this notice, by any state game and fish department,
college or university, or other nonprofit organizations relating to
cooperative research units. Eligible applicants outside the
northeastern United States (Maine to Virginia) may submit proposals, as
long as their objectives support the technical and management
priorities of the Northeast Region, as defined in sections II.A.1. and
II.A.2. above. All solicited proposals received by the closing date
will be considered by NMFS. Applicants will be expected to identify the
principal investigators who will be conducting the research. Curricula
vitae should also be provided for all essential personnel.
Investigators submitting proposals in response to this announcement
are strongly encouraged to develop interinstitutional, inter-
disciplinary research teams in the form of single, integrated proposals
or as individual proposals that are clearly linked together. Such
collaborative efforts will be factored into the final funding decision.
These efforts may be among external eligible applicants, as well as
with NMFS scientists at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory. NMFS
personnel may participate in joint efforts with non-NMFS persons or
groups in these projects, as long as these non-NMFS persons or groups
have applied and successfully competed for oyster disease research
funds through the process outlined in this announcement and as long as
these applications refer to, or include, an internal NMFS proposal that
details how NMFS personnel plan to cooperate. Any activities to be
undertaken by NMFS personnel under such cooperative agreements will be
funded by direct transfer of oyster disease research funds or regular
appropriated funds within NMFS. No such NMFS activity is to be funded
by non-NMFS persons or groups using oyster disease research funds other
than those who have successfully competed for funds under this
announcement.
B. Amount and Duration of Funds
Under this solicitation, NMFS will fund American oyster disease
research projects under this program for 1-year cooperative agreements.
Project dates should be scheduled to begin on December 1, 1994.
Cooperative agreements are approved on an annual basis but may be
considered eligible for continuation beyond the first project and
budget period subject to the approved scope of work, satisfactory
progress, and availability of funds at the total discretion of NMFS.
However, there are no assurances for such continuation. Publication of
this notice does not obligate NMFS to award any specific cooperative
agreement or to obligate any part of the entire amount of funds
available.
C. Cost-Sharing Requirements
Applications must reflect the total budget necessary to accomplish
the project, including contributions and/or donations. Cost sharing is
not required under the oyster disease research program. However, cost
sharing is encouraged to enhance the value of a project, and in case of
a tie in considering proposals for funding, cost-sharing may affect the
final decision. The appropriateness of all cost-sharing will be
determined on the basis of guidance provided in applicable Federal cost
principles. If an applicant chooses to share cost, and if that
application is selected for funding, the applicants will be bound by
the percentage of cost sharing reflected in the grant award.
The non-Federal share may include funds received from private
sources or from state or local governments or the value of in-kind
contributions. Federal funds may not be used to meet the non-Federal
share of matching funds, except as provided by Federal statute. In-kind
contributions may be in the form of, but are not limited to, personal
services rendered in carrying out functions related to the project, and
permission to use real or personal property owned by others (for which
consideration is not required) in carrying out the project.
The total cost of a project begins on the effective date of a
cooperative agreement between the applicant and an authorized
representative of the U.S. Government and ends on the date specified in
the award. Accordingly, the time expended and costs incurred in either
the development of a project or the financial assistance application,
or in any subsequent discussions or negotiations prior to the award,
are neither reimbursable nor recognizable as part of the recipient's
cost share.
D. Format
1. Applications for project funding must be complete. Applicants
must identify the specific research priority or priorities to which
they are responding. For applications containing more than one project,
each project component must be identified individually using the format
specified in this section. If an application is not in response to a
priority, it should be so stated. Applicants should not assume prior
knowledge on the part of NMFS as to the relative merits of the project
described in the application. Applications are not to be bound in any
manner and should be one-sided. All incomplete applications will be
returned to the applicant. Applicants must submit one signed original
and two copies of the complete application.
2. Applications must be submitted in the following format:
a. Cover Sheet: An applicant must use OMB Standard Form 424
(revised 4/92) as the cover sheet for each project. Applicants may
obtain copies of these forms from the NOAA Grants Management Division
or the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (see ADDRESSES).
b. Project Summary: Each proposal must contain a summary of not
more than one page that provides the following:
(1) Project title.
(2) Project status (new).
(3) Project duration (beginning and ending dates).
(4) Name, address, and telephone number of applicant.
(5) Principal Investigator(s).
(6) Project objectives.
(7) Summary of work to be performed.
(8) Total Federal funds requested.
(9) Cost-sharing to be provided from non-Federal sources, if any.
Specify whether contributions are project-related cash or in-kind.
(10) Total project cost.
c. Project Description: Each project must be completely and
accurately described. Each project description may be up to 15 pages in
length. If an application is awarded, NMFS will make all portions of
the project description available to the public for review; therefore,
NMFS cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any information submitted
as part of any project, nor will NMFS accept for consideration any
project requesting confidentiality of any part of the project.
Each project must be described as follows:
(1) Identification of Problem(s): Describe the specific problem to
be addressed and the area of emphasis to which the project responds
(see section II above).
(2) Project Objectives: This is one of the most important parts of
the Project Proposal. Use the following guidelines for stating the
objective of the project.
(a) Keep it simple and easily understandable.
(b) Be as specific and quantitative as possible.
(c) Specify the ``what and when;'' avoid the ``how and why.''
(d) Keep it attainable within the time, money, and manpower
available.
(e) Use action verbs that are accomplishment oriented.
(3) Need for Government Financial Assistance: Demonstrate the need
for assistance. Any appropriate database to substantiate or reinforce
the need for the Project should be included. Explain why other funding
sources cannot fund all the proposed work. List all other sources of
funding that are or have been sought for the project.
(4) Benefits or Results Expected: Identify and document the results
or benefits to be derived from the proposed activities.
(5) Project Statement of Work: The Statement of Work is the
scientific or technical action plan of activities that are to be
accomplished during each budget period of the project. This description
must include the specific methodologies, by project job activity,
proposed for accomplishing the proposal's objective(s). If the work
described in this section does not contain sufficient detail to allow
for proper technical evaluation, NMFS will not consider the application
for funding and will return it to the applicant. Each Statement of Work
must include the following information:
(a) The applicant's name.
(b) The inclusive dates of the budget period covered under the
Statement of Work.
(c) The title of the proposal.
(d) The scientific or technical objectives and procedures that are
to be accomplished during the budget period. Devise a detailed set of
objectives and procedures to answer who, what, how, when, and where.
The procedures must be of sufficient detail to enable competent workers
to be able to follow them and to complete scheduled activities.
(e) Location of the work.
(f) A list of all project personnel and their responsibilities.
(g) A milestone table that summarizes the procedures (from item
III.D.(c)(5)(d)) that are to be attained in each month covered by the
Statement of Work.
(6) Participation by Persons or Groups Other Than the Applicant:
Describe the level of participation required in the project(s) by NOAA
or other government and non-government entities. Specific NOAA
employees should not be named in the initial proposal.
(7) Federal, State and Local Government Activities: List any
programs (Federal, state, or local government or activities, including
Sea Grant, state Coastal Zone Management programs, NOAA Chesapeake Bay
Stock Assessment Committee, the state/Federal Chesapeake Bay Program,
etc.) this project would affect and describe the relationship between
the project and those plans or activities.
(8) Project Management: Describe how the project will be organized
and managed. Include resumes of principal investigators. List all
persons directly employed by the applicant who will be involved with
the project, their qualifications, and their level of involvement in
the project.
(9) Monitoring of Project Performance: Identify who will
participate in monitoring the project.
(10) Project Impacts: Describe the impact of the project in terms
of anticipated increased production, sales, product quality and safety,
improved management, or any other values that will be produced by this
project. Describe how these products or services will be made available
to the fisheries and management communities.
(11) Evaluation of Project: The applicant is required to provide an
evaluation of project accomplishments at the end of each budget period
and in the final report. The application must describe the methodology
or procedures to be followed to determine technical feasibility, or to
quantify the results of the project in promoting increased production,
product quality and safety, management effectiveness, or other
measurable factors.
(12) Total Project Costs: Total project costs is the amount of
funds required to accomplish what is proposed in the Statement of Work,
and includes contributions and donations. All costs must be shown in a
detailed budget. Cost-sharing must not come from another Federal
source. Costs must be allocated to the Federal share and non-Federal
share provided by the applicant or other sources. Non-Federal costs are
to be divided into cash and in-kind contributions. A standard budget
form (SF-424A) is available from the offices listed (see ADDRESSES).
NMFS will not consider fees or profits as allowable costs for grantees.
To support the budget, the applicant must describe briefly the basis
for estimating the value of the non-Federal funds derived from in-kind
contributions. Additional cost detail may be required prior to a final
analysis of overall cost allowability, allocability, and
reasonableness. The date, period covered, and findings for the most
recent financial audit performed; as well as the name of the audit
firm, the contact person, and phone number and address; must be also
provided.
d. Supporting Documentation: This section should include any
required documents and any additional information necessary or useful
to the description of the project. The amount of information given in
this section will depend on the type of project proposed, but should be
no more than 20 pages. The applicant should present any information
that would emphasize the value of the project in terms of the
significance of the problems addressed. Without such information, the
merits of the project may not be fully understood, or the value of the
project may be underestimated. The absence of adequate supporting
documentation may cause reviewers to question assertions made in
describing the project and may result in lower ranking of the project.
Information presented in this section should be clearly referenced in
the project description.
IV. Review Process and Criteria
A. Initial Evaluation of Applications
Applications will be reviewed to assure that they meet all
requirements of this announcement, including eligibility and relevance
to the Oyster Disease Research Program.
B. Consultation With Experts in the Field of Oyster Disease Research
For applications meeting the requirements of this solicitation,
NMFS will conduct a technical evaluation of each project prior to any
other review. This review normally will involve experts from non-NOAA
as well as NOAA organizations. All comments submitted to NMFS will be
taken into consideration in the technical evaluation of projects.
Reviewers will be asked to comment on the following evaluation
criteria:
1. Problem description and project conceptual approach toward
resolution, especially the applicant's comprehension of the problem(s),
familiarity with related work that is completed or ongoing, and the
overall concept proposed to resolve the problem(s) (30 points).
2. Soundness of project design/technical approach, especially
whether the applicant provided sufficient information to technically
evaluate the project and, if so, the strengths and weaknesses of the
technical design proposed for problem resolution (35 points).
3. Project management and experience and qualifications of
personnel, including organization and management of the project, and
the personnel experience and qualifications (15 points).
4. Justification and allocation of the budget in terms of the work
to be performed (20 points).
C. Review Panel
NMFS will convene a review panel of nationally or regionally
recognized experts in the scientific and management aspects of oyster
disease research who will review each proposal as follows:
1. Review field review responses.
2. Provide their own reviews based on the same criteria as the
field reviews.
3. Discuss all review comments as a panel.
4. Provide individual panelist scores and suggestions for
modifications (i.e., budget, personnel, technical approach, etc.).
D. Funding Decision
1. Applications will be ranked by NMFS into two groups: (a)
Recommended, and (b) not recommended. As previously stated (section
III.A.1., above), collaborative proposals are strongly encouraged, and
therefore will be given added weight in the selection process. Numeric
ranking will be the major consideration for deciding which of the
``recommended'' proposals will be selected for funding. Because NMFS
will seek to balance technical and management priorities of the
program, the highest-ranked ``recommended'' proposals may not
necessarily receive funding.
2. After projects have been ranked for funding, the Chief of the
NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office, in consultation with the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, will ascertain which projects do not
substantially duplicate other projects that are currently funded by
NOAA or are approved for funding by other Federal offices, determine
the projects to be recommended for funding, and determine the amount of
funds available for the program. The exact amount of funds awarded to
each project will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the
applicant, the Grants Office, and the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office
staff. A project must not be initiated by a recipient until a signed
award is received from the Grants Officer.
V. Other Requirements
A. Deliverables
In addition to quarterly status and budget reports, and at the time
of submission of the final report of results of funded projects,
recipients must submit a four-to-five page summary of project work and
results that will be compiled in a report of oyster disease research
program results. Projects that produce non-experimental data must have
copies of these data transferred to the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office
in both compiled, hard copy format, and as a verified, electronic data
file. Full, clearly stated documentation of the contents of such data
files must be submitted with these data.
B. Periodic Workshops
Investigators will be expected to attend periodic workshops with
other Oyster Disease Research Program researchers to encourage inter-
disciplinary dialogue and forge synthesis of results.
C. Administrative
Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to
Federal financial assistance awards.
The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an
application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the
proposed effective date of the award, or 100 percent of the total
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is
less.
Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in
an application not being considered for funding. In addition, any
recipient and/or researcher who is past due for submitting acceptable
progress reports on any previous project funded under this program may
be ineligible to be considered for new awards until the delinquent
reports are received, reviewed and deemed acceptable by NMFS.
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.
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:
1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective
participants (as defined at 15 CFR 26.105) are subject to 15 CFR part
26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the related
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
2. Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26.605)
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;
3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR 28.105) 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
4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure--Any applicant who has paid or will pay
for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.
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.
Potential recipients may be required to submit an ``Identification-
Application for Funding Assistance'' (Form CD-346), which is used to
ascertain background information on key individuals associated with the
potential recipient. 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 that significantly reflect on the
applicant's management honesty or financial integrity. Applicants will
also be subject to credit check reviews.
A false statement on the 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. Applications under this
program are subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental
Review of Federal Programs.''
If an application is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation to
provide any additional 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.
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.
Cooperative agreements awarded pursuant to pertinent statutes shall
be in accordance with the Fisheries Research Plan (comprehensive
program of fisheries research) in effect on the date of the award.
Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products
authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program
must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible in accordance with
Public Law 103-121, sections 606(a) and (b).
Classification
This action has been determined to be ``not significant'' for
purposes of E.O. 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, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a regulatory
flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act.
This notice contains collections of information subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act, which have been approved by OMB under OMB
control numbers 0348-0043 and 0605-0001.
Dated: May 12, 1994.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-11949 Filed 5-12-94; 1:03 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
