[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81841-81844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32998]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 001027301-0301-01]
RIN 0648-ZA97
Sea Grant Industry Fellows Program: Request for Proposals for FY
2001
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
proposals for the Industry Fellowship program to fulfill its broad
educational responsibilities and to strengthen ties between academia
and industry. With required matching funds from private industrial
sponsors, Sea Grant expects to support five new Industry Fellows in FY
2001. Each fellow will be a graduate student selected through national
competition, and will be known as a Company Name/Sea Grant Industry
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 before 5 pm (local time) on April
24, 2001 to a state Sea Grant Program office. Applications from non Sea
Grant states, if submitted directly to the National Sea Grant Office,
must be received by 5 pm (local time) on April 24, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Proposals originating from institutions in Sea grant states
must be submitted through the state Sea Grant Program. Proposals
originating elsewhere may be submitted either through the nearest Sea
Grant Program or directly to the Program Manager at the National Sea
Grant Office. 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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Vijay G. Panchang, Program
Manager, National Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, NOAA, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel. (301) 713-2435 ext. 142; e-mail;
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Program Authority
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1127(a).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 11. 417, Sea
Grant Support.
II. Program Description
Background
Today's global economy is putting unprecedented demands on the U.S.
industrial community for innovation and new technology. This situation
presents challenges to industry and universities to develop new
paradigms leading to more efficient utilization of available human,
fiscal, and technical resources. This can be accomplished through the
recruitment of graduates trained in technologies relevant to an
industry's future and the creation of opportunities for collaboration
between industrial and academic scientists and engineers. Academically
well-trained students with exposure to advanced industrial issues
constitute a critical component of success in that endeavor.
To strengthen ties between academia and industry, Sea Grant
developed the industry Fellows Program in 1995. With required matching
funds from private industrial sponsors, Sea Grant expects to support
five new Industry Fellows in FY 2001. Each fellow will be a graduate
student selected through national competition, and will be known as a
Company Name/Sea Grant Industry Fellow.
Fellowship Program Objectives
The goals of the program are: to enhance the education and training
provided to top graduate students in U.S. colleges and universities; to
provide real-world experience of industrial issues to graduate students
and 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.
Program Description
The Sea Grant Industry Fellows Program provides, in cooperation
with specific companies, support for highly-qualified graduate students
who are pursuing research and development projects on topics of
interest to a particular industry/company. In a true partnership, the
student, the faculty advisor, 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.
III. Eligibility
Proposals must be prepared by individuals affiliated with
institutions
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of higher education in the United States. If the institution is in one
of the 29 Sea Grant states, then the proposal must be submitted to the
state's Sea Grant College Program, who will submit the final grant
application to the National Sea Grant Office. If the institution is in
a state with no Sea Grant College Program, applications may be
submitted to the nearest state Sea Grant College Program who will then
submit the final grant application to the National Sea Grant Office, or
the institution may submit the application directly to the National Sea
Grant Office.
IV. Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation criteria for proposals submitted for support under
the Sea Grant Industry Fellows Program are:
A. the importance of the problem and the benefits expected to the
industrial partner and the nation due to the advancement of technology
(25%).
B. The benefit accruing to the student from his or her
participation as a Sea Grant Industry Fellow, including exposure to
industrial methods and mentoring by the industrial partner (25%).
C. The level of commitment of the industrial partner to the
project, particularly student stipend support (25%).
D. The caliber of the proposed Fellow, including special skills,
past experiences, or training that render him/her especially qualified
for the proposed project. Participation by the Fellow in proposal
preparation will be viewed favorably (25%).
V. Selection Procedures
Individual state Sea Grant Programs receiving proposals will
conduct the mail peer review of the proposed projects in accordance
with the Evaluation Criteria listed above. Complete proposals and
copies of the mail reviews will be sent by the state Sea Grant programs
to the National Sea Grant Office. The National Sea Grant Office will
conduct mail reviews for proposals submitted directly to it by
institutions not in Sea Grant states. The applications will be ranked
in accordance with the assigned weights of the above evaluation
criteria by an independent peer review panel consisting of government,
academic, and industry experts with particular expertise in industry/
academic interactions. These panel members will provide individual
evaluations on each proposal; thus 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
awarded a minimum score of 50% by the panel will be eligible for
funding. For those proposals, the National Sea Grant Office will: (a)
Ascertain which proposals best meet the program objectives (stated in
Section II), 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 24, 2001, 5 pm (local time)--Proposals due at state Sea Grant
Program or at NSGO if application is being submitted by a non Sea Grant
College Program.
May 1, 2001, 5 pm (local time)--Proposals received at state Sea
Grant Programs due at NSGO.
September 1, 2001 (approximate)--Funds awarded to selected
recipients; projects begin.
General Guidelines
Interested members of institutions of higher education in the
United States may submit a proposal (See Section III, Eligibility) for
a grant to support up to two-thirds of the total budget. The fellowship
can be for a maximum of two 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 at least half the federal request, from
the industrial partner to support the budget for the proposed project.
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. (See criterion C. under Section IV, Evaluation
Criteria.)
The budget should include adequate travel funds for the student,
the industrial mentor, and the faculty advisor to meet at least twice
per year during the fellowship period, preferably at the site of the
industrial partner. The budget may also include up to one month of
salary of stipend support for one project participant in addition to
the selected Fellow who are affiliated to the academic institution. The
selected Fellow may not be changed during the grant period. If the
selected Fellow is no longer enrolled as a graduate student but
continues to work on the project under the supervision of the grantee
institution, federal funds may be used for the Fellow's support for no
longer than three months beyond the date on which the Fellow's student
status expires. This three-month latitude is meant to enable suitable
conclusion of the ongoing phase of work. In other respects, the Fellow
will be governed by the institution's rules for graduate research
assistants.
Proposal Guidelines
Each full proposal should include the items listed below. All pages
should be single- or double-spaced, typewritten in at least 10-point
font, and printed on metric A4 (210 mm x 297 mm) or 8\1/2\ x 11"
paper. Brevity all assist reviewers and program staff in dealing
effectively with proposals. Therefore, the Project Description may not
exceed 10 pages. Tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs,
maps, photographs and other pictorial presentation are included in the
10-page limit; literature citations are not included in the 10-page
limit. Conformance to the 10-page limit 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 ``Sea Grant Industry Fellow.'' The Principal
Investigator and institutional representative should be identified by
full name, title, organization, telephone number and address. The total
amount of Federal funds and matching 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
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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 funding if
appropriate. 4. Project Period: Start and completion dates. Proposal
should request a start date of September 1, 2001. 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: (10-page limit):
(a) Introduction/Background/Justification: 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?
(b) Research or Technical Plan: What are the goals, objectives, and
anticipated approach of the proposed project? While a detailed work
plan is not expected, the proposal should present evidence that there
has been thoughtful consideration of the approach of the problem under
study. What capabilities does the industrial partner possess that will
benefit the Fellow?
(c) Output/Anticipated Economic 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?
(d) References and Literature Citations: Should be included but
will not be counted in the 10 page project description 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. Subcontractors
should have a separate budget page. Matching funds must be indicated;
failure to provide adequate matching funds will result in the proposal
being rejected without review. Each annual budget should include a
separate budget justification page that itemizes all budget items in
sufficient detail to enable reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness
of the funding requested. Please pay special attention to any travel,
supply or equipment budgets and provide details. The total dollar
amount or indirect costs must not exceed 10 percent of the total
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application.
(5) Current and Pending Support: Applicants must provide
information on all current and pending Federal support for ongoing
projects and proposals, including subsequent funding in the case of
continuing grants. The proposed project and all other projects or
activities using Federal assistance and requiring a portion of time of
the principal investigator or other senior personnel should be
included. The relationship between the proposed project and these other
projects should be described, and the number of person-months per year
to be devoted to the projects must be stated.
(6) Vitae of the student, the faculty advisor, and the company-
appointed research mentor (2 pages maximum per investigator).
(7) Letter of commitment from the industrial partner.
(8) A brief (one-page) description of the collaborating industrial
firm.
(9) 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.
(10) 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. Vijay Panchang at the National Sea Grant Office
(phone: 301-713-2435 x142 or e-mail: [email protected]). 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). 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, ``Government-
wide 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; 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.
(c) 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 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 to the NSGO according to the schedule outlined
above (See ``Addresses'' and ``Timetable''). Although investigators are
not required to submit more than 3 copies of the proposal, the normal
review process requires 10 copies. Investigators are encouraged to
submit sufficient proposal copies for the full review
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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 contacting the Program
Manager, Dr. Vijay Panchang, at the National Sea Grant Office (phone:
301-713-2435 x142 or e-mail: [email protected]). Proposals sent
to the National Sea Grant Office should be addressed to: National Sea
Grant Office, R/SG, Attn: Sea Grant Industry Fellows Program
Coordinator, NOAA, Room 11828, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20910 (phone 301-713-2435 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 applications will not be accepted.
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.
(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 extent
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 purpose
of E.O. 12866.
This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Sea Grant Project Summary Form and
the Sea Grant Budget Form have been approved under Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0648-0362, with estimated times per
response of 20 and 15 minutes respectively. The use of Standard Forms
424, 424A, 424B, and SF-LLL have been approved by OMB under the
respective control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0348-
0046. The response time estimates above 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: December 20, 2000.
David L. Evans,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-32998 Filed 12-26-00; 8:45 am]
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