[Federal Register: May 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 92)]
[Notices]
[Page 25574-25578]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13my03-51]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 030502110-3110-01; I.D. 031103B]
RIN 0648-ZB42
Financial Assistance for Environmental Education Projects in the
Monterey Bay (CA) Watershed
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to invite the public to submit
proposals for available funding to implement environmental education
projects in the following two areas of interest: ``Meaningful'' Outdoor
Experiences for Students in the Monterey Bay Watershed and Professional
Development in the Area of Environmental Education for Teachers in the
Monterey Bay Watershed. Potential recipients may submit separate
proposals for each area. Funds are available to K-through-12 public and
independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher
education, community-based and nonprofit organizations, state or local
government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal
governments. This notice describes the conditions under which project
proposals will be accepted and criteria under which proposals will be
evaluated for funding consideration. Depending upon the level of
Federal involvement in individual projects, selected recipients will
enter into either a cooperative agreement or a grant.
DATES: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. eastern daylight savings
time on June 12, 2003. Applications received after that time will not
be considered for funding. Applications will not be accepted
electronically nor by facsimile machine submission.
ADDRESSES: You can obtain an application package from, and send
completed proposals to: Seaberry J. Nachbar, NOAA Chesapeake Bay
Office, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403. You can
also obtain the application package from the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
Education Home Page http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/education.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seaberry J. Nachbar, Education
Coordinator, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, telephone: (410) 267-5664, or
e-mail: seaberry.nachbar@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
A. Authority
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended, at 16 USC 661,
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide assistance to, and
cooperate with, Federal, State, and public or private agencies and
organizations in the development, protection, rearing, and stocking of
all species of wildlife, resources thereof, and their habitat, in
controlling losses of the same from disease or other causes, and in
minimizing damages from overabundant species. Under 15 U.S.C. 1540, the
Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce
for Oceans and Atmosphere, is authorized to enter into cooperative
agreements and other financial agreements with any nonprofit
organization to aid and promote scientific and educational activities
to foster public understanding of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration or its programs.
B. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
The projects to be funded are in support of the Chesapeake Bay
Studies (CFDA 11.457), under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and
Training Program.
C. Program Description
As a Federal agency that is committed to the stewardship of our
Nation's coastal and marine resources, NOAA can and should play a major
role in creating an environmentally literate and informed citizenry.
The NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program was
established in 2002 to improve the understanding of environmental
stewardship of students and teachers. The B-WET Program has an
opportunity to create a population that is knowledgeable about the
environment by supporting organizations that use the environment as the
context for learning. Using the environment, a bay, stream, or the
surrounding landscape, provides the opportunity to teach students about
their connection to the greater
[[Page 25575]]
environment. This has been shown to increase a student's academic
achievement performance, enthusiasm and engagement for learning, and
encourages greater pride and ownership in the environment. The
environment can provide a platform upon which educators can create a
curriculum that interests learners and revitalizes teachers.
Environmentally educated individuals can become effective future
workers, problem solvers, and thoughtful community leaders and
participants.
II. Areas of Interest
Proposals should address one of the two areas of interest: (A)
``Meaningful'' Outdoor Experiences for Students; or (B) Professional
Development in the Area of Environmental Education for Teachers.
Potential recipients may submit separate proposals for each area.
A. ``Meaningful'' Outdoor Experiences
The B-WET Program seeks proposals for projects that provide
opportunities for students (K through 12) in the Monterey Bay (CA)
watershed to participate in a ``meaningful'' outdoor experience. The
environment provides an excellent opportunity for education. In many
cases, tidal and non-tidal waters and the surrounding landscape can
provide ``hands-on'' laboratories where students can see, touch, and
learn about the environment. In other cases, the environment can be
brought alive to the classroom through a strong complement of outdoor
and classroom experiences. The environment can provide a genuine,
locally relevant source of knowledge that can be used to help advance
student learning skills and problem-solving abilities across the entire
school curriculum. The B-WET Program is strongly committed to expanding
the knowledge and participation of a diverse student population in
marine and environmental education. This population may include, for
example, disabled or minority students, or students who are from rural
communities in the Monterey Bay (CA) watershed.
Proposals submitted under this area should address the following
elements and types of activities:
1. ``Meaningful'' outdoor experiences should make a direct
connection to the marine or estuarine environment: Experiences should
demonstrate to students that local actions can impact the greater water
environment(i.e., Monterey Bay). Experiences do not have to be water-
based activities as long as there is an intentional connection made to
water quality, the watershed, and the larger ecological system, outdoor
experiences may include terrestrial activities.
2. ``Meaningful'' outdoor experiences are hands-on and
investigative or project-oriented: Experiences should include
activities where questions, problems, and issues are investigated
through data collection, observation, and hands-on activities.
Experiences should stimulate observation, motivate critical thinking,
develop problem-solving skills, and instill confidence in students.
Experiences should not be limited to tours, museum visits, simulations,
demonstrations, or ``nature'' walks but should encourage the student to
assist, share, communicate, and connect directly with the outdoors.
Experiences can include the following kinds of activities: (1)
Investigative or experimental design activities where students or
groups of students use equipment, take measurements, and make
observations for the purpose of making interpretations and reaching
conclusions; (2) Project-oriented experiences, such as restoration,
monitoring, and protection projects, that are problem solving in nature
and involve many investigative skills; and (3) Social, economic,
historical, and archaeological questions, problems, and issues that are
directly related to California peoples and cultures. These experiences
should involve fieldwork, data collection, and analysis.
3. ``Meaningful'' outdoor experiences are part of a sustained
activity: Experiences should consist of more than just the outdoor
experience. Though an outdoor experience itself may occur as one
specific event, occurring in 1 day, the total duration leading up to
and following the experience should involve a significant investment of
instructional time. An experience should consist of three general
parts, not necessarily occurring in this order- a preparation phase; an
outdoor phase; and an analysis, reporting phase. Projects should
provide teachers with the support, materials, resources, and
information needed to conduct these three parts. The preparation phase
should focus on a question, problem, or issue and involve students in
discussions about it. The action phase should include one or more
outdoor experiences sufficient to conduct the project, make the
observations, or collect the data required. The reflection phase should
refocus on the question, problem, or issue; analyze the conclusions
reached; evaluate the results; and assess the activity and the
learning.
4. ``Meaningful'' outdoor experiences are an integral part of the
instructional program: Experiences must be clearly part of what is
occurring concurrently in the classroom. The outdoor experiences should
be part of the division curriculum and be aligned with the California
academic learning standards. Experiences should make appropriate
connections among subject areas and reflect an integrated approach to
learning. Experiences should occur where and when they fit into the
instructional sequence.
5. Projects demonstrate partnerships: Project proposals should
include partners involving any of the eligible applicants. Partnerships
refers to the forming of a collaborative working relationship between
two or more organizations. The B-WET Program strongly encourages
applicants to partner with schools and/or school systems. All partners
should be actively involved in the project, not just supply equipment
or curricula.
B. Professional Development in the Area of Environmental Education for
Teachers
The B-WET Program seeks proposals for projects that provide K-
through-12 teachers in the Monterey Bay (CA) watershed opportunities
for professional development in the area of environmental education. As
the purveyors of education, teachers can ultimately make meaningful
environmental education experiences for students by weaving together
classroom and field activities within the context of their curriculum
and of current critical issues that impact the environment. Systematic,
long-term professional development opportunities will reinforce a
teacher's ability to teach, inspire, and lead young people toward
thoughtful stewardship of our natural resources. The B-WET Program is
strongly committed to expanding the knowledge and participation of a
diverse teacher population in marine and environmental education. This
population may include, for example, disabled or minority teachers, or
teachers who are from rural communities in the Monterey Bay (CA)
watershed.
Proposals submitted under this area should address the following
elements and types of activities:
1. Professional development courses follow the teaching of a
``meaningful'' outdoor experience and encourage the teacher to conduct
an experience in his/her classroom: Professional development courses
for the teacher should ultimately benefit the student. Projects should
be structured so that the
[[Page 25576]]
teacher learns how to conduct a ``meaningful'' outdoor experience in
his/her classroom (see Section II (A) for details on ``meaningful''
outdoor experiences). Projects should provide teachers with the
background information, materials and resources needed to conduct an
experience. Proposals may include implementation grants for the
teachers to carry out a ``meaningful'' outdoor experience in their
classrooms.
2. Projects involve external sharing and communication:Projects
should promote peer-to-peer sharing and emphasize the need for external
sharing and communication. Projects should include a mechanism that
encourages teachers to share their experiences with other teachers and
with the environmental education community.
3. Projects demonstrate partnerships: Project proposals should
include partners involving any of the eligible applicants. Partnerships
refers to the forming of a collaborative working relationship between
two or more organizations. The B-WET Program strongly encourages
applicants to partner with schools and/or school systems. All partners
should be actively involved in the project, not just supply equipment
or curricula.
III. Funding
A. Funding Availability
This solicitation announces that approximately $250,000 will be
made available for environmental education projects in the Monterey Bay
(CA) watershed in FY 2003. About $125,000 will be for proposals that
provide opportunities for students (K through 12) in the Monterey Bay
(CA) watershed to participate in a ``Meaningful'' Outdoor Experience.
About $125,000 will be for proposals that provide opportunities for
Professional Development in the area of Environmental Education for
Teachers in the Monterey Bay (CA) watershed.
There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to
make awards for all qualified projects. The exact amount of funds that
may be awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the
applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this notice does not
oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available
funds. If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they
do so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the
government. Notwithstanding verbal or written assurance that may have
been received, there is no obligation on the part of NOAA to cover pre-
award costs unless approved by the Grants Officer as part of the terms
when the award is made.
B. Award Limits
The B-WET Program anticipates that typical project awards for
``Meaningful'' Outdoor Experiences for Students and Professional
Development in the Area of Environmental Education for Teachers will
range from $10,000 to $50,000. Proposals will be considered for funds
greater than the specified ranges.
C. Funding Instrument
Whether the funding instrument is a grant or a cooperative
agreement will be determined by the whether there is substantial NOAA
involvement in the project. A cooperative agreement will be used if
NOAA shares responsibility for management, control, direction, or
performance of the project with the recipient. Specific terms regarding
substantial involvement will be contained in special award conditions.
D. Cost-sharing Requirements
The NOAA strongly encourages applicants applying for either area of
interest to share as much of the costs of the award as possible. Funds
from other Federal awards may not be considered matching funds. The
nature of the contribution (cash versus in-kind) and the amount of
matching funds will be taken into consideration in the final selection
process. Priority selection will be given to proposals that propose
cash rather than in-kind contributions.
IV. Instructions for Application
A. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for both areas of interest include state, local
and Indian tribal governments, institutions of higher education, other
non-profit organizations and commercial organizations. These may
include K-through-12 public and independent schools and school systems
and community-based organizations.
The Department of Commerce/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to broadening the
participation of historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic
serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and
institutions that work in undeserved areas. The NOAA encourages
proposals involving any of the above institutions.
B. Project Award Period
The B-WET Program will make awards for a period of one year.
Projects should begin no later than October 1, 2003.
C. Format and Requirements
Proposals must be complete and must follow the format described in
this notice. Potential recipients may submit separate proposals for
each area of interest (i.e., ``Meaningful'' Outdoor Experiences for
Students or Professional Development in the Area of Environmental
Education for Teachers). Applicants should not assume prior knowledge
on the part of the NOAA as to the relative merits of the project
described in the application.
1. Proposal format: Applicants are required to submit one signed
original and two copies of the full proposal (submission of five
additional hard copies is encouraged to expedite the review process,
but it is not required). Proposal format must be in at least a 10-point
font, double-spaced, unbound, and one-sided. Brevity will assist
reviewers and program staff in dealing effectively with proposals.
Therefore, the Project Description may not exceed 15 pages. Tables and
visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and
other pictorial presentations are not included in the 15-page
limitation. Appendices may be included but must not exceed a total of
10-pages in length. Appendices may include information such as
curriculum, resumes, and/or letters of endorsement. Additional
informational material will be disregarded. Proposals must include the
following information:
a. Project summary (1-page limit): It is recommended that each
proposal contain a summary of no more than one page that provides the
following:
(1) Organization title.
(2) Address, telephone number, and email address of applicant.
(3) Area of interest for which you are applying (i.e.,
``Meaningful'' Outdoor Experiences for Students; Professional
Development in the Area of Environmental Education for Teachers).
(4) Project title.
(5) Project duration (1 year project period beginning to end dates,
starting on the first of the month and ending on the last day of the
month).
(6) Principal Investigator(s) (PI).
(7) Project objectives.
(8) Summary of work to be performed (include number of teachers
and/or students that will be involved in your project).
(9) Total Federal funds requested.
(10) Cost-sharing to be provided from non-Federal sources, if any.
Specify whether contributions are cash or in-kind.
(11) Total project cost.
b. Project description (15-page limit): Describe precisely what
your project
[[Page 25577]]
will achieve why, how, who, and where.(1) Why: Explain the purpose of
your project. This should include a clear statement of the work to be
undertaken and include the following:
-Explain which area of interest your project addresses (i.e.,
(1)``Meaningful'' Outdoor Experiences for Students;(2) Professional
Development in the Area of Environmental Education for Teachers).
-Specifically describe how your project addresses each of the
elements and types of activities relating to the project's particular
area of interest (i.e., Section II.A for the ``Meaningful'' Outdoor
Experience for Students area or Section II.B for the Professional
Development in the area of Environmental Education for Teachers area).
(2) How: Outline a plan of action pertaining to the scope and
detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished. Explain your
strategy, objectives, activities, delivery methods, and accomplishments
to establish for reviewers that you have realistic goals and objectives
and that you will use effective methods to achieve them. When
accomplishments cannot be quantified, list the activities in
chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and target
completion dates.
-Project Objectives: Objectives should be simple and
understandable; as specific and quantitative as possible; clear as to
the ``what and when,'' but should avoid the ``how and why.'' Projects
should be accomplishment oriented and identify specific performance
measures.
(3) Who: Explain who will conduct the project. Include the
following:
-List each organization, cooperator, or other key individuals who
will work on the project, along with a short description of the nature
of their effort or contribution.
-Identify the target audience and demonstrate an understanding of
the needs of that audience (include specifically how many students and/
or teachers are involved in your project).
(4) Where: Give a precise location of the project and area(s) to be
served.
c. Need for government financial assistance: Demonstrate the need
for assistance. Explain why other funding sources cannot fund all the
proposed work.
d. Benefits or results expected: Identify and document the results
or benefits to be derived from the proposed activities.
e. Project Evaluation: Explain how you will ensure that you are
meeting the goals and objectives of your project. Evaluation plans may
be quantitative and/or qualitative and may include, for example,
evaluation tools, observation, or outside consultation.
f.Total project costs: Total project costs are the amount of funds
required to accomplish what is proposed in the Project Description and
include contributions and donations.
Explain the calculations and provide a narrative to support
specific items or activities, such as personnel/salaries, fringe
benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs, and indirect
costs. The budget detail and narrative submitted with the application
should match the dollar amounts on all required forms. Additional cost
detail may be required prior to a final analysis of overall cost
allowability, allocability, and reasonableness. Please Note the
following funding restrictions:
-The budget may include an amount for indirect costs if the
applicant has an established indirect cost rate with the Federal
Government, see Administrative Requirements, Section VI, B.
-Funds for salaries and fringe benefits may be requested only for
those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed
project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are directly related to
specific products or outcomes of the proposed project. NOAA strongly
encourages applicants to request reasonable amounts of funding for
salaries and fringe benefits to ensure that your proposal is
competitive.
g. Letters of support from partners: Letters of support should be
included for partners that are making a significant contribution to the
project, if applicable.
Federal forms: Applicants may obtain required Federal forms from
the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Web site (see ADDRESSES) or from the
NOAA Grants Web site: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/grants/index.html.
1. Cover sheet: All applicants must use Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) Standard Form 424 (revised 7/97) as the cover sheet for
each project.
2. Budget form: All applicants must use a Standard Budget
Form (SF-424A) required for all federal grants.
3. Form CD-511: All applicants must submit a CD-511,
``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and
Lobbying''.
4. SF-424B: All applicants must submit a SF-424B, ``Assurances of
Non-Construction Programs''.
5. CD-346 ``Applicant for Funding Assistance'': Required for the
following individuals- Sole Proprietorship, Partnerships, Corporations,
Joint Venture, Non-profit Organizations.
D. Evaluation Criteria
1. Project Design/Conceptual Approach: Projects will be evaluated
on your conceptual approach and how you have integrated this into the
project design. In particular, the extent to which you have addressed
the project elements and activities under Sections II.A, 1 4 and/or
II.B, 1 2, and have complied with the instructions in IV.C.1.b. Project
description, c. Need for government financial assistance, and d.
Benefits or results expected will be evaluated under this criterion.
(50 points)
2. Project evaluation: Projects will be evaluated based on your
explanation of how you will ensure that you are meeting the goals and
objectives of your project, as required in Section IV.C.1.e, so that
results may be reported in performance reports. (15 points)
3. Projects demonstrate partnerships: Project proposals will be
evaluated based on the degree to which they include partners involving
any of the eligible applicants, as provided in Sections II.A.5 or
II.B.3, and whether letters of support from partners have been
included, as required in Section IV.C.1.g. Partnerships refers to the
forming of a collaborative working relationship between two or more
organizations. The B-WET Program strongly encourages applicants to
partner with schools and/or school systems. All partners should be
actively involved in the project, not just supply equipment or
curricula. (15 points)
4. Justification and allocation of the proposed budget: Proposals
will be evaluated on the reasonableness, allowability, and allocability
of the proposed budget, as set forth in Section IV.C.1.f. (20 points)
V. Selection Procedures
A. Initial Evaluation of the Applications
NOAA will review all applications to assure that they meet all the
requirements of this announcement, including eligibility and relevance
to the Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program.
B. Technical Review
Applications meeting the requirements of this solicitation will
undergo an external technical review. This review will normally involve
individuals in the field of environmental education from both NOAA and
non-NOAA organizations. Proposals will be scored based on the
evaluation criteria as defined in Section
[[Page 25578]]
IV.D. Reviewers will be asked to review independently and to provide a
score and comments on each proposal. No consensus advice will be given
by the technical reviewers.
C. Funding Decision
Scores for each proposal will then be averaged and the proposals
will be ranked numerically for funding based upon the technical review
scores. After the proposals have been ranked, the Chief of the NOAA
Chesapeake Bay Office, in consultation with the Superintendent of the
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries and Program staff, will
determine which projects will be recommended for funding.
Numerical ranking will be the primary consideration for deciding
which of the proposals will be selected for funding. However,
duplication with other projects, geographic diversity, program goals,
and the cost share contribution may also be taken into consideration in
making the final selections. Priority selection will be given to
proposals that contribute cash rather than in-kind funding to their
projects. Accordingly, numerical ranking is not the sole factor in
deciding which proposals will be selected for funding. A written
justification will be prepared for any recommendations for funding that
fall outside the ranking order. The exact amount of funds awarded to
each project will be determined in pre-award negotiations among the
applicant, the Grants Office, and the Program staff. Potential grantees
should not initiate projects in expectation of Federal funding until an
award document signed by an authorized NOAA official has been received.
Unsuccessful applications will be kept on file in the Program
office for a period of at least 12 months, then destroyed.
VI. Administrative Requirements
A. Pre-award Notification Requirements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification of Requirements
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal
Register Notice published October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), is applicable
to this solicitation.
B. Indirect Cost Rates
Regardless of any approved indirect cost rate applicable to the
award, the maximum dollar amount of allocable indirect costs for which
the Department of Commerce will reimburse the recipient shall be the
lesser of the line item amount for the Federal share of indirect costs
contained in the approved budget of the award, or the Federal share of
the total allocable indirect costs of the award based on the indirect
cost rate approved by an oversight or cognizant Federal agency and
current at the time the cost was incurred, provided the rate is
approved on or before the award end date. However, the Federal share of
the indirect costs may not exceed 25 percent of the total proposed
direct costs for this Program. Applicants with indirect costs above 25
percent may use the amount above the 25 percent level as cost sharing.
If the applicant does not have a current negotiated rate and plans to
seek reimbursement for indirect costs, documentation necessary to
establish a rate must be submitted within 90 days of receiving an
award.
C. Allowable Costs
Funds awarded cannot necessarily pay for all the costs that the
recipient might incur in the course of carrying out the project.
Allowable costs are determined by reference to the Office of Management
and Budget Circulars A-122, ``Cost Principles for Nonprofit
Organizations''; A-21, ``Cost Principles for Education Institutions'';
and A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal
Governments.'' Generally, costs that are allowable include salaries,
equipment, supplies, and training, as long as these are ``necessary and
reasonable.''
Classification
This action has been determined to be ``not significant'' for
purposes of Executive Order 12866. Applications under this program are
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Under section 553 (a)(2) of the Administrative Procedure Act, prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required for this
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for the purposes of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A,
424B, and CD-346 has been approved by OMB under the respective control
numbers 0348-0044, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0605-0001.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Dated: May 7, 2003.
John Oliver,
Deputy Administrative Assistant for Operations for Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-11912 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
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