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11.441 REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCILS

FEDERAL AGENCY
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AUTHORIZATION
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1852.

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils are to prepare, monitor and revise fishery management plans and data collection programs for domestic and foreign fishing within the 200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is done with approval and implementation by the Secretary of Commerce who has stewardship responsibility for living marine resources in the EEZ under the MSFCMA.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
Funds are used by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils to prepare plans and amendments to recommend to the Secretary of Commerce, under the MSFCMA.

Applicant Eligibility
Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils (New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Pacific, North Pacific and Western Pacific) as established by the MSFCMA. These councils can best be described as "quasi-government" because they are sponsored by the Federal government, specifically funded by Congress but the members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from the private sector; they are not Federal employees.

Beneficiary Eligibility
This program benefits commercial and recreational fishing enterprises in the EEZ. Foreign fishing enterprises may also benefit from this program if authorized to conduct fishing operations. U.S. consumers will benefit as a result of availability of seafood. Imports may be reduced and exports may be increased.

Credentials/Documentation
Generally a work plan for the funding year.

Preapplication Coordination
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. States are not directly included in this program, though each coastal State has an official representative on the appropriate Council(s).

Application Procedure
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
Applications are initially evaluated by the respective National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrators and are forwarded to NMFS Headquarters for final approval. They are then forwarded for processing to the Grants Management Division, Office of Administration, NOAA.

Deadlines
Project applications should be submitted 120 days in advance of desired effective date.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 30 to 60 days.

Appeals
Not applicable.

Renewals
Multi-year awards of up to five years may be approved. 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.

Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards can be approved for one year due to annual Congressional appropriation schedule. Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.

Reports
Reporting requirements are outlined in 50 CFR Part 605, Guidelines for Council Operation/Administration.

Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records
Records will be retained in accordance with provisions of 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations and with 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments. 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.

Account Identification
13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations
FY 07 $22,000,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$890,500 to $2,034,500. Average: $1,637,500.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Grants focus on NEPA; Ecosystem Management; Fisheries Management; Database and Information Processing; Marine Protected Areas & Sanctuaries; Strategic Planning & Outreach; Capacity Reduction; Research, Planning and Coordination; Marine Turtle Conservation; and Coral Reef.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE
50 CFR Chapter 6; the Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures, and 50 CFR Part 605 Operational Guidelines for Council Operations. Allowable cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes; OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit and for- profit organizations; OMB Circular A-21 for institutions of higher education; and 48 CFR Part 31 for commercial organizations. Financial assistance management will be in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit and commercial organizations, and with 15 CRF Part 24 for state and local governments.

Regional or Local Office
Alaska: Alaska Regional Office, Barbara Fosburg, NMFS, P.O. Box 12668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telephone: (907) 586-7273. Use the same numbers for FTS. Email: barbara.fosburg@noaa.gov. Northeast: Harold C. Mears, State, Federal and Constituent Programs Office; Northeast Region, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298. Telephone: (978) 281-9243. Fax: (978) 281- 9117. Email: grants.information@noaa.gov. Northwest Regional Office, Kevin Ford or Stehpen Freese, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98115-6349 Telephone: (206) 526-6115 or 6113). Email Kevin.Ford@noaa.gov or Stephen.Freese@noaa.gov. Pacific Islands Region: Scott Bloom or Dan Namur, Federal Program Officer, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814-4700. Telephone: (808) 973-2941. Email: scott.bloom@noaa.gov or dan.namur@noaa.gov. Southeast: Cynthia Binkley, Federal Program Officer, State/Federal Liaison Branch, 263 13 Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Telephone: (727) 824-5324.. Fax: (727) 824-5364 Email: Cynthia.Binkley@noaa.gov. Southwest: Patricia Culver, Federal Program Officer, Southwest Region Office, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802- 4213. Telephone: (310) 980-4239. Fax: (562) 980-4047. Email: trisha.culver@noaa.gov.

Headquarters Office
None.

Web Site Address
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/index.htm

RELATED PROGRAMS
None.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS
Cooperative Research; Administrative Cooperative Agreement; Ecosystem Management.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS
This program is non- competitive. It is Congressionally mandated.


General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)