NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
AUTHORIZATION:
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of
1972, Title III, Public Law 92-532, 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.; Marine Sanctuaries
Amendments of 1984, Public Law 98-498; Marine Sanctuaries Amendments of 1988,
Public Law 100-627; National Marine Sanctuaries Program Amendments Act of
1992, Public Law 102-587.
To identify areas of the marine environment of special
national significance due to their resource or human-use values; to provide
authority for comprehensive and coordinated conservation and management of
these marine areas that will complement existing regulatory authorities; to
support, promote, and coordinate scientific research on, and monitoring of,
the resources of these marine areas; to enhance public awareness,
understanding, appreciation, and wise use of the marine environment; and to
facilitate, to the extent compatible with the primary objective of resource
protection, all public and private uses of the resources of these marine areas
not prohibited pursuant to other authorities.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Cooperative agreements are entered into for the purpose
of conducting research and educational programs; for the solicitation of
private donations for the support of such activities in the Marine sanctuary
system; to conduct enforcement activities at Marine sanctuary sites; and for
other activities to carry out the purposes of the National Marine Sanctuaries
Act.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: States,
local governments, regional agencies, interstate agencies, or other persons.
Agreements to solicit private donations may only be made with nonprofit
organizations.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Financial assistance is made for a public purpose. The ultimate beneficiary is
the public.
Credentials/Documentation:
Proposal with statement of work and budget estimate. Costs will be determined
in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-87 for State and local governments,
A-21 for educational institutions and A-122 for nonprofit organizations.
Pre-application Coordination:
The standard application forms, as furnished by NOAA and required by 15 CFR
Part 24, must be used when applying for Federal funding. These forms can be
obtained from the NOAA Grants Management Division. Informal pre-application
conferences are recommended. Consultation and assistance is available from
NOAA in the preparation of an application. This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: This
program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110, for
institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations, and with
15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.
Award Procedure: The award
is approved by NOAA.
Deadlines: Proposals should
be submitted 120 days prior to the beginning date of the cooperative
agreement.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
From 90 to 120 days.
Appeals: No formal
procedure.
Renewals: Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching
requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Awards are usually made for a 1 year period. Funds are released as required.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Financial Status
Reports and Performance Reports are required quarterly or semi-annually.
Audits: In accordance with
the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, recipients that are States, Local
Governments, Nonprofit Organizations, and Institutions of Higher Learning
shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act
Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be
subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document.
Records: All financial and
programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other
records of grantees or sub grantees are required to be maintained by the terms
of the agreement. The grantee must retain records for 3 years from the date
when the final expenditure report is submitted.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
13-1450-0-1-306.
Obligations: (Cooperative
Agreements) FY 01 $2,607,900; FY 02 est $9,359,500; and FY 03 est $8,595,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
$95,000 to $5,000,000. Average: $1,871,900.
There are currently 13 designated marine sanctuaries. In
fiscal year 2001, the steam engine of the USS MONITOR was raised and began a
stabilization process. In fiscal year 2002, a 14th sanctuary site is in the
designation process; Management Plan Reviews are underway at five sites.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
15 CFR Part 922.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: CDR
Scott Kuester (301) 713-3125 and Matthew Stout (301) 713-3125. Offices at each
sanctuary.
Headquarters Office:
Director, MSD/OCRM/NOS, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Telephone: (301) 713-3125.
Web Site Address: http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Long-term management efforts at Fagatele Bay National
Marine Sanctuary; Educational programming and interpretation to create greater
public awareness of the significance of the USS MONITOR; Jason Foundation to
support an innovative science and technology education program for
middle-school students and teachers.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
A set of ranking criteria was developed to establish the
priority of proposed efforts funded through the SRD. The criteria include: 1)
importance of the information or transaction for sanctuary management
decisions; 2) date of the available information or accomplishment for which
funds are expended; 3) status of information or accomplishment; and 4) generic
applicability of information or techniques receivable from effort.
