To provide grants and cooperative agreements of
biological, socio-economic and physical science research on the stocks of
fishery and protected resources of the United States and their environment
that will contribute to their optimal management for the benefit of the
Nation; also, to award grants and cooperative agreements to develop innovative
approaches and methods for marine and estuarine science.
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 on high-priority marine and estuarine resource issues,
especially for resources and/or their habitat currently under, or proposed for
future Federal or interjurisdictional management.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Eligible applicants for assistance include: State and local governments,
including their universities and colleges; U.S. territorial agencies;
federally and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments; private universities
and colleges; private profit and nonprofit research and conservation
organizations and/or individuals.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
This program benefits Federal, State and interstate marine resource
conservation 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 applications and conduct.
Pre-application Coordination:
The standard application forms as furnished by the agency. 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) Regional Director, Science and Research, or Office
Director. This program is subject to the provisions of 15 CFR Part 24 (Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and
Local Governments), and OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-87. 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 pertinent NMFS Office/Region/Science 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 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: Project
applications must be received by the receiving NMFS office at least 120 days
before the requested start date of the project.
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, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance
procedures.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: Renewal of an
award to increase funding and/or extend the period of an award is at the sole
discretion of the Department.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
This program has no statutory formula. Projects are funded at up to 100
percent of the Federal share. Grantee matching contributions are not required,
but are encouraged.
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 in accordance with DOC/NOAA
finance and reporting procedures.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Reporting
requirements are outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Financial
Assistance Award. Progress reports summarize work accomplished and explain
situations where expected work has not been completed. Financial reports
indicate use of funds on a semi-annual schedule.
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: (Grants and
Cooperative Agreements) FY 01 $20,318,855; FY 02 est $19,000,000; and FY 03
est $5,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $25,000 to $2,455,000. Average: $546,000.
Alaska Region: Conduct research and carry out
educational and demonstration projects related to the North Pacific Marine
ecosystem. Northeast Region: Development of a long-term water quality and
fishery management initiative in Narragansett Bay, RI.; Contributions to
enhance data collection for the American lobster resource along the coasts of
Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and to provide improved information
for stock assessments and management. Southeast Region: Conservation and
management of threatened and endangered marine species in Georgia, South
Carolina, and North Carolina; U.S. Gulf of Mexico marine stock enhancement
program; Contributions to the biology of the red drum in South Carolina;
funded research to examine the biological and hydrographic characteristics of
the Charleston Bump; provided support for research into pathogens affecting
shrimp in the southeastern United States; funded sampling survey to develop an
index of sea turtle abundance along the southern U.S. Atlantic coast.
Southwest Region: One award to develop and test a trend detection statistical
algorithm for juvenile coho salmon abundance.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
For grants management principles, see OMB Circular No.
A-102, as implemented by 15 CFR Part 24 (State and local governments), and OMB
Circular No. A-110 (educational institutions and nonprofit organizations).
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office:
Alaska: Peter Jones, Alaska Regional Office, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK
99802-1668. Telephone: (907) 586-7280, Fax: (907) 586-7255. Use the same
numbers for FTS. Email: peter.d.jones@noaa.gov. Northeast: Harold C. Mears,
Director, State, Federal, and Constituent Programs Office, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930-2298. Telephone: (978) 281-9243. Fax: (978) 281-9117. Email:
Grants.Information@noaa.gov. Northwest: Kevin Ford, National Marine Fisheries
Service, Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115.
Telephone: (206) 526-6115. Fax: (206) 526-4461. Email: Kevin.Ford@noaa.gov.
Southeast: Jeffrey Brown, State/Federal Liaison Staff, Southeast Regional
Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432.
Telephone: (727) 570-5324. Fax: (727) 570-5364. Email: jeff.brown@noaa.gov.
Southwest: Patricia J. Donley, Federal Program Officer, Southwest Regional
Office, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. Telephone:
(562) 980- 4033. Fax: (562) 980-4047 Email: pat.donley@noaa.gov.
Headquarters Office: JoAnna
Grable, Management and Administration Division, National Marine Fisheries
Services, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone (301)
713-1364. Use the same numbers for FTS. Fax: (301) 713-2258. Email:
joanna.grable@noaa.gov.
Web Site Address: Alaska:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/omi/grants/default.htm Southeast Region:
http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/programs
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Alaska: Activities include conducting educational and
demonstration projects related to the North Pacific marine ecosystem, with
emphasis on marine mammal, sea bird, fish, and shellfish populations in the
Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska including populations located in or near Kenai
Fjord National Park and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
Northeast Region: Activities include investigating the movements and ecology
of migrating Atlantic salmon within Maine waters, and the growth, recruitment
and survival of hard clams in Long Island's South Shore Estuary. Southeast
Region: Funded a cooperative program that investigated the technical, economic
and commercial feasibility of farm raising marine finfish in cages in the
northern Gulf of Mexico utilizing oil and gas production platforms as
operation centers. Provided funds to refine, field-test and demonstrate a
successful marine fisheries stock management program for the Gulf of Mexico
that blends aquaculture technology with traditional fishery management
practices. Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina were funded for their
endangered species programs on sea turtles. Funded research in red drum
biology to better understand survival rates in the wild. South Carolina was
funded to create a taxonomic center to identify and archive marine specimens.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Proposals are selected from several sources: Unsolicited
proposals; special solicitations in the Federal Register or Commerce Business
Daily; or Congressionally-mandated projects. Regardless of source, proposals
must undergo rigorous technical review and comply with all OMB, DOC, and NOAA
grants policies and procedures.
