[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49162-49164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23480]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 990713192-9192-01; I.D. No. 080399D]
RIN 0648-ZA67
General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions of the Coastal
Ocean Program
AGENCY: Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean
Program (CSCOR), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice for Financial Assistance for Project Research Grants and
Cooperative Agreements.
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SUMMARY: It is the intent of NOAA/NOS/CSCOR/COP to continue to provide
direct financial assistance in the form of discretionary Research
Grants and Cooperative Agreements under its own program for the
management of coastal ecosystems.
This document does not solicit proposals; but rather describes the
general grant administration terms and conditions of the CSCOR/COP
program for fiscal year 2000. It is CSCOR/COP's intent to issue
supplemental Announcements of Opportunities (AOs) to request proposals
on specific projects throughout the year on an as-needed basis. Any
Announcements of Funding Opportunity will be issued through the Federal
Register, the CSCOR/COP Home Page, and CSCOR/COP's e-mail list, and
provide specific program descriptions.
CSCOR/COP supports research on critical issues which exist in the
Nation's estuaries, coastal waters and the Great Lakes, and translates
its findings into accessible information for coastal managers,
planners, lawmakers and the public. CSCOR/COP's projects are multi-
disciplinary, large in scale and long in duration (usually 3 to 5
years). Projects covering more than 1 year will usually be funded on an
annual basis.
DATES: September 10, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean
Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East
West Highway, Room 9700, Silver Spring, MD 20910
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie McDonald, CSCOR/COP Grants
Administrator,(301)713-3338/x137.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
(1) Program Authority(s): 33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq., 33 U.S.C. 883a et
seq., 33 U.S.C. 1442, 16 U.S.C. 1456c, Section 201(c) of P.L. 102-567
and Title VI of P.L. 105-383.
(2) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): 11.478 Coastal
Ocean Program
(3) Program Description: NOAA's CSCOR/COP provides predictive
capability for managing coastal ecosystems through sponsorship of
research. CSCOR/COP seeks to deliver the highest quality science in a
timely manner for important coastal decisions. It supports research on
critical issues which exist in the Nation's estuaries, coastal waters,
and Great Lakes and translates its findings into accessible information
for coastal managers, planners, lawmakers, and the public.
Coastal Ecosystem Oceanography
CSCOR/COP supports the conservation and management of marine
ecosystems through sponsorship of improved ecological and oceanographic
predictions for resource management. Studies focus on: (1) identifying
critical processes that control replenishment of fishery resources; (2)
determining critical habitat process that influence fishery ecosystems;
and (3) quantifying species interactions so models can be used in
management decisions. Current efforts support studies dealing with
Bering Sea pollack, cod and haddock on Georges Bank, and salmon in the
Pacific Northwest.
Cumulative Coastal Impacts
CSCOR/COP sponsors a series of regional watershed projects on the
causes and impacts of multiple stresses on coastal ecosystems. Studies
focus on: (l) developing indicators of stress; (2) predicting impacts
of multiple stresses (3) valuing natural resources in
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ecological and economical terms; and (4) predicting the outcomes of
management strategies. Current efforts are located in Chesapeake Bay,
Florida Bay and the Keys, the Great Lakes and South Carolina.
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
CSCOR/COP also sponsors studies on the ecology and oceanography of
harmful algal blooms (HABs), focusing on identifying and modeling
linkages between the physiology, ecology, behavior and toxicity of HABs
and local/regional circulation patterns and water quality. These
results will not only generate greater general knowledge of problematic
species in U.S. coastal waters, but provide foundations for development
of regional HAB forecasting capabilities, eventually providing a means
to assess the effectiveness of prevention, control and mitigation
strategies developed in the proframe. Current regional efforts are
located in the Gulf of Maine, eastern Long Island, the mid-Atlantic
States, and the western coast of Florida.
Benefits of the CSCOR/COP
Continued population pressures on the Nation's coastal areas and
on-going changes in the environment will continue to stress our coastal
waters, bays and estuaries and the Great Lakes. CSCOR/COP has focused
on developing information for longer-range U.S. management and policy
at large and complex scales. CSCOR/COP research will help the U.S.
respond to the major challenges of the next century and to balance the
needs of economic growth with those of conserving the environment.
(4) Funding Availability: On average, annual funding for each
Announcement of Opportunity is approximately $l,000,000. Each CSCOR/COP
project generally consists of several coordinated investigations with
separate awards, ranging from $5,000 to $200,000. Actual funding levels
will depend upon the final budget appropriations for the fiscal year.
AOs will be released with specific applicable dollar amounts.
Financial History of CSCOR/COP Grants: FY97 $10.00M; FY98 $8.5M;
FY99 $8.5M. Publication of this notice does not obligate Commerce/NOAA
to any specific award or to obligate any part of the entire amount of
funds available. Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all
Federal laws and agency policies, regulations and procedures applicable
to Federal financial assistance awards.
If an application for a financial assistance award is selected for
funding, CSCOR/COP has no obligation to provide any additional
prospective funding in connection with that award in subsequent years.
(5) Matching Requirements: None
(6) Type of Funding Instrument: Discretionary research grants and
cooperative agreements
(7) Eligibility Criteria: CSCOR/COP funding opportunities are open
to all interested, qualified, non-Federal, and Federal researchers.
Non-Federal researchers should comply with their institutional
requirements for proposal submission. Non-NOAA Federal applicants will
be required to submit certifications or documentation which clearly
show that they can receive funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC)
for this research. Foreign researchers must subcontract with U.S.
proposers. Non-federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University
Joint Institutes should comply with joint institutional requirements
and will be funded either through grants to their institutions or joint
institutes. Proposals deemed acceptable from Federal researchers will
be funded through a mechanism other than a grant or cooperative
agreement. DOC requirements will prevail if there is a conflict between
DOC requirements and institutional requirements.
(8) Award Period: Typically, CSCOR/COP's projects average one to
five years. Projects covering more than 1 year will usually be funded
on an annual basis.
(9) Application Forms and Kit: When applying for financial
assistance under a published AO, applicants will be able to obtain a
standard NOAA Application Kit at the following World Wide Web address:
http://www.cop.noaa.gov in a read-only format. If you are unable to
access this information, you may also call (301)713-3338 to leave a
mail request. At time of submission, the applicant will follow the
requirements presented in the funding announcement.
The Standard Forms 424 (Rev July 1997) Application for Federal
Assistance; 424A (Rev July 1997); Budget Information-Non-Construction
Programs; and 424B (Rev July 1997) Assurances-Non Construction
Programs, will be submitted at time of application for financial
assistance as part of the initial review process. Applications not
adhering to these stated guidelines will be returned to the applicant
without further review.
In addition, other forms required as part of a complete application
package include the CD-511, Certifications Regarding Debarment,
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying; the CD-512, Certification Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier
Covered Transactions and Lobbying (this certification is to remain with
the recipient and is not forwarded to the Grants Officer); and SF-LLL,
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable). These forms may be
submitted at time of application, or at a later date if the application
is subsequently notified of selection for funding.
(10) Project Funding Priorities: Priority considerations will be
given to proposals that promote balanced coverage of the science goals,
avoid duplication of completed or ongoing work and increase geographic
diversity. Additional priorities may be detailed in CSCOR/COP
Announcements of Funding Opportunities.
(11) Evaluation Criteria: The following criteria and evaluation
weightings will be used for evaluating proposals:
(a) Scientific Merit (20 percent): Intrinsic scientific value of
the proposed work and the likelihood that it will lead to fundamental
advancements, new discoveries, or have substantial impact on progress
in that field;
(b) Research Performance Competence (20 percent): The capability of
the investigator and collaborators to complete the proposed work as
evidenced by past research accomplishments, previous cooperative work,
timely communication, and sharing of findings, data, and other research
products;
(c) Relevance (20 percent): Likelihood that the research will make
substantial contributions or develop products leading to improved
management of coastal resources;
(d) Technical Approach (20 percent): The proposed work has focused
science objectives and a complete but efficient strategy for making
measurements and observations in support of the objectives. The
approach is sound and logically planned throughout the cycle of the
proposed work;
(e) Linkages (10 percent): Connections to existing or planned
studies, or demonstrated cooperative arrangements to provide or use
data or other research results to achieve the objectives.
(f) Costs (10 percent): Adequacy of the proposed resources to
accomplish the proposed work, and the appropriateness of the requested
proportion of the total available funds.
(l2) Selection Procedures: All proposals will be evaluated and
ranked individually in accordance with the assigned weights of the
above evaluation criteria by independent peer mail review and/or by
independent peer panel review. Both Federal and non-
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Federal experts in the field may be used in this process. The peer mail
reviewers will be several individuals with expertise in the subjects
addressed by particular proposals. Each mail reviewer will see only
certain individual proposals within their area of expertise, and rank
them individually on a scale of one to five, where scores represent
respectively: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.
The peer panel will be comprised of 8 to 10 individuals, with each
individual having expertise in a separate area, so that the panel as a
whole covers a range of scientific expertise. The panel will have
access to all mail reviews of proposals, and will use the mail reviews
in discussion and evaluation of the entire slate of proposals.
The program officer(s) will not vote as part of the independent
peer panel. Those proposals receiving an average panel rank of Fair or
Poor will not be given further consideration and proposers will be
notified of non-selection. For the proposals rated by the panel as
either Excellent, Very Good, or Good, the program managers will first
select the proposals to be recommended for funding by applying the
project funding priorities listed above and in each funding
announcement; second, determine the total duration of funding for each
proposal; and third, determine the amount of funds available for each
proposal. Because of consideration of the project funding priorities,
awards may not necessarily be made to the most highly-ranked proposals.
Investigators may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or
budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency
prior to the award. When a decision has been made (whether an award or
declination), verbatim copies of reviews and summaries of review panel
deliberations, if any, are available to the proposer.
(13) Other Requirements:
(a) 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.
(b) Past Performance: Unsatisfactory performance by a recipient
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 assurance that
they may have received, there is no obligation on the part of the
Department of Commerce to cover pre-award costs unless approved by the
Grants Officer as part of the terms when the award is made.
(d) No Obligation for Future Funding: If an application is selected
for funding, DOC/NOAA has no obligation to provide any additional
future funding in connection with that award. Amendment of an award to
increase funding or, unless the award specifically provides to the
contrary, to extend the period of performance is at the total
discretion of DOC/NOAA.
(e) Delinquent Federal Debts: No award of Federal funds shall be
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt
until:
(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 the Department of Commerce
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) Debarment, Suspension, Drug-Free Workplace, and Lobbying
Provisions: All applicants must comply with the requirements of l5 CFR
part 26, ``Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (nonprocurement)
and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and
l5 CFR part 28, ``New Restrictions on Lobbying,'' including the
submission of required forms and obtaining certifications from lower
tier applicants/bidders.
(h) 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 l8 U.S.C. l00l.
(i) Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are
not subject to Executive Order l2372, ``Intergovernmental Review of
Federal Programs.''
(j) This action was determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
(k) This document involves collections of information subject to
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) which have been approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control numbers 0348-
0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-0046. 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 PRA unless that collection displays
a current valid OMB control number.
Dated: September 2, 1999.
Captain Ted I. Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administrator National Ocean Service.
[FR Doc. 99-23480 Filed 9-9-99; 8:45 am]
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