AUTHORIZATION:

Fish and Wildlife Act, 16 U.S.C 753a; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C 661; Department of Commerce Appropriation Act of 1999.

OBJECTIVES:

To support through grants and cooperative agreements, enduring partnerships between the Federal government and institutions of research and higher education for cooperative science and education on marine issues, especially living marine resources and their habitat, that confront local, regional, and national resources managers; also, to award grants and cooperative agreements to develop innovative approaches and methods for marine and estuarine science and education.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds can be used by recipients to support a wide variety of research and higher education projects on high-priority marine and estuarine resource issues, especially resources and/or their habitat currently under, or proposed for future Federal or interjurisdictional management.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Eligible applicants for assistance are State, U.S. territorial, and private institutions of higher learning and education, especially universities and colleges, with which the National Marine Fisheries Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has entered into, or may enter into, an enduring partnership for purposes of research and education on the marine environment. Also included are private and public research organizations affiliated with institutions of higher learning, and national and international organizations and programs dedicated to marine and estuarine research, education, and outreach.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   This program benefits Federal, State, and interstate marine resource conversation and management agencies; U.S. and foreign commercial and recreational fishing industries; conservation organizations, academic institutions; international and Indian Tribal treaties; private and public research groups; consumers; and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation:   Applicants are required to satisfy all DOC/NOAA standards and regulations, including routine and special terms and conditions, for financial assistance programs application and conduct. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An 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:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Proposals are submitted through Grants.Gov. Applicants will need to enter the Funding Opportunity Number and/or CFDA number to access the application package and instructions. Application package will then be submitted directly to the (Name of your Office - Example Coastal Services Center). Proposals are subject to the requirements of 15 CFR Parts 14 and 24, as applicable.

Award Procedure:   Proposals are initially evaluated by the appropriate NMFS Science and Research Center, and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, competency of the applicant to perform the proposed work, potential contribution of the project to national or regional research and education goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects approved for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division and the Department of Commerce's Office of Federal Assistance for review and approval.

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

Approval time is expected to range from 90 to 150 days, which includes processing of the award through the NMFS and NOAA.

Appeals:   

Not Applicable.

Renewals:   

Grants and cooperative agreements are approved on an annual basis, but may be continued beyond the first segment, subject to approved time frame and scope of work, satisfactory progress, and availability of funds. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of the Department.

	back to top

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

Awards are normally for a 12 month period but in some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months or may be completed in less than 12 months. Award funds must be spent in the indicated budget period and expended in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Reports are due in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award. The Department's financial assistance standard terms and conditions generally require that financial and performance reports be submitted semi-annually.

Audits:   This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations (to include Hospitals), 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:   Generally, a recipient is required to retain records relating to a particular grant for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final financial report. In cases where litigation, claim or an audit is initiated prior to expiration of the three-year period, records must be retained until the action and resolution of any issues associated with it are complete or until the end of the three-year retention period; whichever is latest.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations:   (Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $1,950,692; FY 09 est $0; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

No Data Available.

	back to top