The objectives of the overall program are to facilitate
education, research and development in the fields of marine and atmospheric
science, through the provision of assistance for the construction of suitable
facilities for these activities.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Funds can be used for construction of facilities and
construction-related activities to support education, research and development
associated with issues of atmospheric or marine sciences. Specific
restrictions, other than those mandated for grants, are evaluated on an
individual grant or program basis.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Eligible applicants include State and local governments, including their
universities and colleges, quasi- governmental agencies, private universities
and colleges, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and/or
individuals.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Through assistance for the construction of educational, research and
development facilities, this program benefits Federal, State, local
governments, public and private universities and colleges, profit and
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 application and conduct.
Pre-application Coordination:
The standard application forms are furnished by the agency. Executive Order
12372 does not apply to this program. An environmental analysis is required
for each project funded under this program under the provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act, 40 CFR 1500. As a result of this analysis,
an Environmental Assessment and/or Environmental Impact Statement also may be
required.
Application Procedure:
Submission of an application on Standard Form 424 as furnished by NOAA,
including all required certifications, to the Program Officer, Congressionally
Identified Construction Projects, Office of Finance and Administration,
Acquisitions and Grants 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: Awards are
made on the basis of proposal evaluations and technical and administrative
reviews.
Deadlines: Time frame to
submit application according to Federal Register announcement (if applicable),
or as indicated in specific application cover letter furnished to applicants.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
Approval time is expected to range from 90 to 180 days from the time of
receipt of a complete application. This timeframe includes processing of the
award through the NOAA and DOC financial assistance functions.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: By negotiations
with the Office of Finance and Administration. Projects which are only
partially funded in any one budget period are subject to the availability of
funding for subsequent budget periods. Renewal of an award to increase funding
or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of the
Department.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
This program has no matching requirements. Projects are accepted at up to 100
percent Federal share.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Awards are usually for a 12-month period. In some instances, award periods may
extend beyond 12 months. The funding is spent in the award's budget period
unless otherwise negotiated between the recipient and NOAA and approved by the
NOAA Grants Management Division.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: 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 or as otherwise
required under special award conditions. Progress reports summarize work
accomplished, relate the progress to the original approved proposal and
timelines, explain situations where expected work has not been completed, and
request modifications to the project plan as necessary.
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. 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 the 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
with the terms of the award. The recipient must retain records for 3 years
from the date when the final financial status report is submitted.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
13-1450-0-1-306.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01
$45,000,000. No competitive funds identified for future fiscal years.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
Historically awards have ranged from $140,000 to $28,500,000.
In fiscal year 2001, one grant award each was made to,
the New York Botanical Garden ($3,450,000), and PRIDE, Inc. ($28,500,000).
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Congressional appropriations, Public Law (for FY 1998,
Public Law 105-119, Nov. 13, 1997; for FY 1999, Public Law 105-277, Oct. 19,
1998). Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for
institutions of higher education, OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local
governments, and OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations. Grants
management will be in accordance with provisions of 15 CFR Part 14 for
institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations or 15 CFR
24 for State and local governments.
American Maritime Education and Research Center, Mystic
Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut; Newport, Oregon, Marine Science Center, Oregon
State University; Boston Biotechnology Innovation Center, Boston, MA; Indiana
State University Multidisciplinary Research and Education Center; Graveyard of
the Atlantic Museum; Multispecies Aquaculture Center, Rutgers University;
Alaska Fisheries Center at Near Island, Kodiak, AK; Environmental Technology
Facility, University of New Hampshire; Eastern Kentucky PRIDE Inc.
Infrastructure systems & construction; Canaan Valley Institute, WV,
facility for aquatic ecosystems; Gulf Coast Research Lab, University of
Southern Mississippi; New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY; Long Island
Aquarium, Bayshore, NY.
