Non-discretionary funding under this authorization
provides support to State agencies for the collection and analysis of
information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact
with State managed fisheries and other marine resources. Information collected
is used by the State and Federal governments to conserve marine mammals,
address or resolve conflicts between marine mammals, fisheries and living
marine resources, and to improve their understanding of the health of
individual marine mammals as well as marine mammal populations. Discretionary
funds may be announced in the Federal Register under competitive programs to
undertake research in subjects which are relevant to the protection and
conservation of marine mammals.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Non-discretionary funds may be non-discretionary and appropriated for a
particular recipient for a particular purpose such as the Marine Mammal
cooperative agreements in Alaska (16 U.S.C. 1388) or allocated to State
agencies for collection of information on marine mammals that occur in State
waters and interact with fisheries and other marine resources. Discretionary
funds announced in the Federal Register under competitive programs may
restrict the use of funds or include additional program restrictions based on
the appropriation language.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: State governments and
quasi-public nonprofit institutions or organizations. U.S. Marine Mammal
Stranding Network participants, including state and local governments,
academia, aquaria, non profits, private individuals and organizations.
Eligibility may vary under programs announced in the Federal Register.
Beneficiary Eligibility: This program benefits
the States that have marine mammals in waters under State jurisdiction and
supports Federal requirements for conservation of marine mammals, and other
public resources. The program also benefits the active volunteer U.S. marine
mammal stranding network members throughout coastal states.
Credentials/Documentation: Proposal from a State
fishery agency or an Interstate Fisheries Commission, or an eligible stranding
network member, submitted in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14; 15 CFR Part 24
and the applicable Federal Register notice.
Pre-application Coordination: This program is
eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of
Federal Programs". A State applicant should consult the office or
official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for
more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying
for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure: Submission of application
on Standard Form 424 to the appropriate Regional or Headquarters Office. The
applicants are subject to the requirements 15 CFR Part 14; or 15 CFR part 24,
as applicable.
Award Procedure: Applications are evaluated by
the National Marine Fisheries Service Regional or Headquarters Offices and
processed by the NOAA Grants Management Division. Pursuant to Section 404 of
Public Law 102- 567, financial assistance awards to a State or Interstate
Fishery Commission may be provided to the State on a non- discretionary basis
for projects involving the collection and analysis of information on marine
mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact with State managed
fisheries and other marine resources. For discretionary funds including
Stranding Networks, a competitive award process is announced in the Federal
Register for projects related to stranding network activities. A small
percentage of discretionary funds will be available to be provided on a
non-competed basis for catastrophic stranding events.
Deadlines: According to the NOAA Grants
Management Division, project applications should be submitted at least 75 days
in advance of desired effective date.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Within 75
calendar days after a complete and acceptable application is received.
Appeals: No formal appeal procedure.
Renewals: For projects involving the collection
and analysis of information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters
and interact with State managed fisheries and other marine resources,
continuation grants can be made on an annual basis for approved multi- year
projects. For projects related to stranding network activities, grants or
cooperative agreements will be awarded for a maximum award period of 3 years;
however the total Federal share of each award is fixed at a maximum of
$100,000 regardless of the funding period requested. Future or continued
funding will be at the discretion of NMFS, based on the availability of each
fiscal year funding and satisfactory performance. Procedures for renewals are
the same as application procedures.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: For projects
involving the collection and analysis of information on marine mammals that
occur in the State's waters and interact with State managed fisheries and
other marine resources, the program has no statutory formula. Projects are
funded at up to 100 percent Federal share. For projects related to stranding
network activities the maximum Federal award for each project will be
$100,000, and a minimum cost share of 25 percent of total project costs is
required.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Grants are
normally made for one year. Assistance is released via the Financial
Assistance Disbursement System (FADS).
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Reporting requirements are outlined in the
Terms and Conditions of the Financial Assistance Award. The Department of
Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions generally require
that performance and financial reports be submitted semi-annually unless a
waiver is provided by the NOAA Grants Officer.
Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB
Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local
Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that
expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a
single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal
entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt
from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No.
A-133.
Records: All financial and programmatic records,
supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of grantees or
sub grantees are required to be maintained in accordance the terms and
conditions of the Financial Assistance Award. The grantee must maintain
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)
Discretionary: FY 01 $20,287,238; FY 02 est $7,400,000; and FY 03 est $0.
Non-discretionary FY 01 $9,173,631, FY 02 est $9,173,631; and FY 03 $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
$50,000 to $2,807,000; Average: $530,826.
Non-discretionary: These programs support marine mammal research and management
efforts relative to developing fishery plans and determining conservation
guidelines for a number of species. Several programs contribute to the United
States participation in the International Whaling Commission and the
fulfillment of native subsistence co-management commitments under section 119
of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In fiscal year 2001, 37 awards were made
and it is anticipated that nine awards will be made in fiscal year 2001 and
nine awards in fiscal year 2003.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
15 CFR Part 14; 15 CFR Part 24; Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: Discretionary: Stranding
Network Contacts-Alaska Region: Kaja Brix, Alaska Region, NMFS, Federal
Building, 709 West 9th Street, 14th Floor, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telehone:
(907) 586-7824 or kaja.brix@noaa.gov. Northeast Fisheries Science Center: Dana
Hartley, NMFS, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543. Telephone: (508)495-2090
or dana.hartley@noaa.gov. Northwest Region: Brent Norberg, NMFS, Brent Norberg,
7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Building 1, Seattle, WA 98115. Telephone: (206)
526-6733 or brent.norberg@noaa.gov; Southeast Region: Kyle Baker, NMFS, 9721
Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432. Telephone: (727)
570-5312 or Kyle.Baker@noaa.gov; Southwest Region: Joe Cordaro, Southwest
Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA:
90802-4213. Telephone: (562) 980-4017 or joe.cordaro@noaa.gov.
Nondiscretionary: Alaska Regional Office: Pete Jones, NOAA/NMFS, P.O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telephone: (907) 586-7280. Use the same number
for FTS. Northwest Regional Office: Joe Scordino, NOAA, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA
98115. Telephone: (206) 526-6150, Fax: (206) 526-6426, Email: Joe.Scordino@noaa.gov;
Headquarters Office: Budget Officer, Administrative and Budget Processes
Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910. Telephone: (301) 713-2245. Fax: (301) 713-2299.
Headquarters Office: Teri Rowles, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, Teri Rowles, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD, 20910. Telephone: 301-713-2322, ext. 178.
Web Site Address: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Discretionary: Such programs include the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue
Assistance Grant Program (16 U.S.C. 1421f-1)which make funding available to
marine mammal stranding network participants for the recovery or treatment of
stranded marine mammals; the collection of data from living or dead stranded
marine mammals for scientific research regarding marine mammal health; and
operation costs that are directly related to these activities;
non-discretionary: Programs designed to carry-out research and operational
support consistent with cooperative management agreements and subsistence
harvest efforts. Projects provide information on abundance and distribution of
marine mammals that occur in Federal and State waters and their interactions
with fisheries and other resources. Examples include aerial surveys, sampling
and tagging of pinnipeds; determining and monitoring the number and trend in
number of pinnipeds at selected sites; assessing the health of ESA listed
Steller sea lions, identifying foraging habits and habitats, and assessments
of pinnipeds predation on salmonids.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Non-discretionary: For projects involving the collection and analysis of
information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact
with State managed fisheries and other marine resources, priority
consideration is given to proposals for the collection of information on
marine mammals involved in interactions with fisheries and other marine
resources, and on activities impacting marine mammals such as native
subsistence; Discretionary: For projects involving stranding network
activities, priorities are published in the Federal Register Notice soliciting
applications for financial assistance. Unsolicited proposals may also be
submitted outside of the competitive process for response to catastrophic
stranding events.
