FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AUTHORIZATION:

Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. 753a; 15 U.S.C. 1540; 16 U.S.C. 661-666c, Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2002; NOAA Authorization Act of 1992, Public Law 102-567.

To provide financial assistance for research and development projects that will provide information for the living marine resources of Chesapeake Bay. In addition, beginning in fiscal year 2002, assistance is provided for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training Initiative (B-WET). The B-WET Program will work with and support organizations that provide environment-based education to students, teachers, and communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, international organizations, state, local and Indian tribal governments.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Federal, State and local governments, universities, nonprofit organizations, 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 applications and conduct.

Pre-application Coordination:   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:   Submission of an application on Standard Form 424 as furnished by NOAA, including all required certifications, to the appropriate National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Program Office. This program is subject to the provisions of 15 CFR 24 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), and OMB Circular No. A-110 (Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations). NOAA reserves the right to withhold the awarding of a grant or cooperative agreement to any individual or organization delinquent on a debt to the Federal government until payment is made or satisfactory arrangements are made with the agency to whom the debt is owed.

Award Procedure:   Proposals are initially evaluated by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, and then 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 and regional goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects recommended for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for Department of Commerce clearance and processing procedures. In additions, funds may be provided on a sole source basis for priority projects for the stewardship of Chesapeake Bay resources.

Deadlines:   Deadlines are published in the annual Federal Register or contact the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 60 to 120 working days.

Appeals:   No formal appeal procedure. If an application is unacceptable, the reasons are fully stated to the applicant.

Renewals:   Multi-year awards of up to three years may be approved. Once awarded, multi-year projects will not compete for funding in subsequent years, however proposals will be subject to a technical evaluation. Funding for multi-year projects beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of program funds in subsequent fiscal years, and the extent to which the recipient meets project objectives and reporting requirements.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula. Projects are funded at up to 100 percent Federal share. Grantee matching contributions are not required but are encouraged.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Grants / cooperative awards are normally made for one year. Assistance is released via the NOAA Financial Assistance Disbursement System (FADS). 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 in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Semi-annual progress and financial reports are due six months after the start date of the award. Progress reports should summarize all work accomplished during the six months following the start date of the award and the financial reports should reflect the use of funds. A final report is due 90 days after completion of the project.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), 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 01 $1,100,336; FY 02 est $2,400,000; and FY 03 est $2,400,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   $14,985 to $212,483. Average: $100,030.

Valuable information has been obtained under this program. All projects are State and Federal cooperative efforts to implement and develop fishery stock assessment programs in Chesapeake Bay. The following are a few of the highlights: Developed a randomized sampling design for the blue crab recreational fishery in Chesapeake Bay; Developed and implemented the Baywide winter dredge survey for blue crab; Designed and field-tested multiple species monitoring program to be conducted on a Baywide scale; Developed a multispecies modeling approach for Management of the Coastal fishery for Atlantic menhaden; Verified techniques to biochemically measure the age of blue crab, and; competed stock assessments for blue crab, oyster, and hard clam.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

15 CFR 24; Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403. Contact: Derek Orner, Fishery Biologist or Seaberry Nachbar, Education Coordinator. Telephone: (410) 267-5660. Fax: (410) 267-5666. E-mail: derek.orner@noaa.gov or seaberry.nachbar@noaa.gov.

Headquarters Office:   Not applicable.

Web Site Address:   http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

All projects are State and Federal cooperative efforts to implement and develop fishery stock assessment programs in Chesapeake Bay. The following are examples of funded projects in fiscal year 2001. Variability in the dynamics of forage fish abundances in Chesapeake Bay; Development and Implementation of multiple species monitoring programs; hard clam, oyster and blue crab stock assessments; Migration of adult female blue crabs to spawning grounds; Age composition analysis of Chesapeake Bay blue crab; blue crab recreational survey; Development of a dynamic mass balance model of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem; and, Professional development courses in environmental education for teachers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Consideration is given to projects that directly relate to the interstate / governmental Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement. Consideration is measured amongst several criterion including: project description and conceptual approach for resolution; soundness of project design / technical approach; project management and experience and qualification of personnel; justification and allocation of the budget in terms of the work to be performed; demonstration of project partnerships; and continued teacher involvement and communication.