[Federal Register: May 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 92)]
[Notices]
[Page 25578-25584]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13my03-52]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No.021127290-3113-02; I.D. 033103C]
RIN 0648-ZB44
Financial Assistance for Research and Development Projects in the
Gulf of Mexico and Off the U.S. South Atlantic Coastal States; Marine
Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation for applications.
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SUMMARY: The MARFIN program provides financial assistance for research
and development projects that optimize the use of fisheries in the Gulf
of Mexico and off the South Atlantic States of North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, and Florida involving the U.S. fishing industry
(recreational and commercial), including fishery biology, resource
assessment, socio-economic assessment, management and conservation,
selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and processing.
DATES: We must receive your application by close of business (5 p.m.
eastern standard time on June 27, 2003. Applications received after
that time will not be considered for funding. The earliest start date
of awards is about 200 days after the date of publication of this
notice. Applicants should consider this processing time in developing
requested start dates for their applications.
ADDRESSES: You can obtain an application package from, and send your
completed applications(s) to: National Marine Fisheries Service, State/
Federal Liaison office, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg,
FL 33702. You may also obtain the application package from the
[[Page 25579]]
MARFIN Home Page at: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/grants.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellie Francisco Roche, Chief, State/
Federal Liaison Office at 727-570-5324.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Funding Opportunity Description
MARFIN is a competitive Federal assistance program that funds
projects seeking to optimize research and development benefits from
U.S. marine fishery resources through cooperative efforts involving the
best research and management talents to accomplish priority activities.
Projects funded under MARFIN provide answers for fishery needs covered
by the NMFS Strategic Plan, available from the Southeast Regional
Office (see ADDRESSES), particularly those goals relating to:
rebuilding over-fished marine fisheries, maintaining currently
productive fisheries, and integrating conservation of protected species
and fisheries management. Funding priorities for MARFIN are formulated
from recommendations received from non-Federal scientific and technical
experts and from NMFS' research and operations officials.
Your proposal must address one of the funding priorities listed
below as they pertain to federally managed species or species relevant
to Federal fisheries management. If you select more than one priority,
you should list first on your application the priority that most
closely reflects the objectives of your proposal.
Highest consideration is given to funding projects that have the
greatest probability of recovering, maintaining, improving, or
developing fisheries; improving the understanding of factors affecting
recruitment success; and/or generating increased values and
recreational opportunities for fisheries. Projects are evaluated as to
the likelihood of achieving these objectives, with consideration of the
magnitude of the eventual economic or social benefits that may be
realized. Priority is given to funding projects in the subject areas
listed in this section, but proposals in other areas are considered on
a funds-available basis. There is no preference between short-term and
long-term projects.
A. Bycatch
The bycatch of biological organisms (including interactions with
sea turtles and marine mammals) by various fishing gears can have wide-
reaching impacts from a fishery's management and an ecological
standpoint, with the following major concerns:
1. Shrimp trawl fisheries. Studies are needed to contribute to the
regional shrimp trawl bycatch program (including the southern U.S.
Atlantic rock shrimp fishery) being conducted by NMFS in cooperation
with state fisheries management agencies, commercial and recreational
fishing organizations and interests, environmental organizations,
universities, Councils, and Commissions. Specific guidance and research
requirements are contained in the Cooperative Bycatch Plan for the
Southeast, available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). In particular, the
studies should address:
(a) Data collection and analyses to expand and update current
bycatch estimates, temporally and spatially emphasizing areas of
greatest impact by shrimping. Sampling effort should include estimates
of numbers, weight, and random samples of size (age) structure of
associated bycatch complex, with emphasis on those overfished species
under the jurisdiction of the Councils. Date collection should also
include mortality, age, and length information for red drum in both
inshore and offshore shrimp fisheries.
(b) Assessment of the status and condition of fish stocks
significantly impacted by shrimp trawler bycatch, with emphasis given
to overfished species under the jurisdiction of the Councils. Other
sources of fishing and nonfishing mortality should be considered and
quantified as well.
(c) Identification, development, and evaluation of gear, non-gear,
and tactical fishing options to reduce bycatch.
(d) Improved methods for communicating with and improving
technology and information transfer to the shrimp industry.
(e) Development and evaluation of statistical methods to estimate
the bycatch of priority management species in the Gulf and South
Atlantic shrimp trawl fisheries.
2. Pelagic longline fisheries. Several pelagic longline fisheries
exist in the Gulf and South Atlantic, targeting highly migratory
species, such as tunas, sharks, and swordfish. Priority areas include:
(a) Development and evaluation of gear and fishing tactics to
minimize bycatch of undersized and unwanted species, including sea
turtles, marine mammals, billfish, and overfished finfish species/
stocks.
(b) Assessment of the biological impact of longline bycatch on
related fisheries.
3. Reef fish fisheries. The reef fish complex is exploited by a
variety of fishing gear and tactics. The following research on bycatch
of reef fish species is needed: Characterization and assessment of the
impact of bycatch of undersized target species, including release
mortality, during recreational fishing and during commercial longline,
bandit gear and trap fishing.
4. Finfish trawl fisheries. Studies are needed on quantification
and qualification of the bycatch in finfish trawl fisheries, such as
the flounder and fly-net fisheries in the South Atlantic.
B. Reef Fish
Some species within the reef fish complex are exhibiting signs of
being overfished, either because of directed efforts or because of
being the bycatch of other fisheries. The ecology of reef fish makes
them vulnerable to overfishing, because they tend to concentrate over
specific types of habitat with patchy distribution. This behavior
pattern can make traditional fishery statistics misleading. Priority
research areas include:
1. Collection of basic biological data for species in commercially
and recreationally important fisheries. (a) Age and growth of reef
fish. (1) Description of age and growth patterns, especially for
vermilion, gray, and cubera snappers; gray triggerfish; gag; black
grouper; hogfish; red porgy; and other less dominant forms in the
management units for which data are lacking.
(2) Collect otoliths on groupers, snappers and other reef fish
according to Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) otolith
manual. If proposal is selected for funding, coordinate studies and
design of sampling systems to provide production-style aging programs
for the reef fish fishery with Steve VanderKooy at GSMFC (228) 875-
5912.
(b) Reproduction studies of reef fish. (1) Maturity schedules,
fecundity, and sex ratios of commercially and recreationally important
reef fish, especially gag and other groupers in the Gulf and South
Atlantic.
(2) Studies of all species to characterize the actual reproductive
contribution of females by age.
(3) Identification and characterization of spawning aggregations by
species, area, size group and season, especially for gag and other
groupers.
(4) Effects of fishing on changes of sex ratios for gag, red
grouper, and scamp, and disruption of aggregations.
(5) Investigations of the reproductive biology of gag, red grouper
and other grouper species.
[[Page 25580]]
(c) Recruitment of reef fish. (1) Source of recruitment in Gulf and
South Atlantic waters, especially for snappers, groupers, amberjacks,
and other reef fish.
(2) Annual estimation of the absolute or relative recruitment of
juvenile gag, gray snapper, and lane snapper to estuarine habitats off
the west coast of Florida and to similar estuarine nursery habitats
along the South Atlantic Bight; development of an index of juvenile gag
recruitment for the South Atlantic based on historical databases and/or
field studies.
(3) The contribution of live-bottom habitat and habitat areas of
particular concern (Oculina banks) off Fort Pierce, Florida and off
west central Florida to reef fish recruitment.
(d) Stock structure of reef fish. (1) Movement and migration
patterns of commercially and recreationally valuable reef fish species,
especially gag in the Gulf and South Atlantic and greater amberjack
between the South Atlantic and Gulf.
(2) Stock structure of greater amberjack in the Gulf and South
Atlantic.
(3) Fishery dependent and fishery independent data of wreakfish
from the eastern North Atlantic.
2. Population assessment of reef fish. (a) Effect of reproductive
mode and sex change (protogynous hermaphroditism) on population size
and characteristics, with reference to sizes of fish exploited in the
fisheries and the significance to proper management.
(b) Determination of the habitat and limiting factors for important
reef fish resources in the Gulf and South Atlantic.
(c) Description of habitat and fish populations in the deep reef
community and the prey distributions supporting the community.
(d) Development of statistically valid indices of abundance for
important reef fish species in the South Atlantic and Gulf, especially
red grouper, Goliath grouper, speckled hind, red porgy, Warsaw grouper
and Nassau grouper.
(e) Stock assessments to establish the status of major recreational
and commercial species. Innovative methods are needed for stock
assessments of aggregate species, including the effect of fishing on
genetic structure and the incorporation of sex change for protogynous
hermaphrodites into stock assessment models.
3. Management of reef fish. (a) Research in direct support of
management, including catch-and-release mortalities, by gear and depth.
(b) Characterization and evaluation of biological impacts (e.g.,
changes in age or size structure of reef fish populations in response
to management strategies).
C. Red Snapper Research
1. Red snapper bycatch. The bycatch of red snapper can have
significant impacts from a fisheries management and ecological
standpoint. Research on bycatch of red snapper should focus on the
following:
(a) Directed red snapper fisheries. The reef fish fishery is
exploited by a variety of fishing gear and tactics. The following
research on regulatory discards is needed to better evaluate the
effectiveness of management measures such as minimum size limits and
closed seasons:
(1) Development and evaluation of gear and fishing tactics to
minimize the bycatch of or increase the survival of discarded red
snapper and other reef fish species.
(2) Characterization and assessment of the impact of bycatch of
undersized reef fish species, including release mortality, during
recreational and commercial fishing. Research on the catch-and-release
mortality of red snapper and other reef fish species, by gear (e.g.,
capture by commercial bandit rigs that are electrically or
hydraulically powered), fishery (e.g., headboat, private boat, charter
boat, commercial), and depth. Studies are needed to specifically relate
``sink or swim'' data, which can be obtained through observer programs,
with long-term survival rates.
(3) Research to document predation rates on discarded red snapper
and other reef fish species.
3. Red snapper population assessment. (a) Determination of the
habitat and limiting factors for important red snapper populations in
the Gulf.
(b) Estimates of red snapper abundance, age structure and
population dynamics on oil platforms and other artificial structures.
4. Management of red snapper. (a) Characterization and evaluation
of biological impacts (e.g., changes in age or size structure of red
snapper populations in response to management strategies).
(b) Research to evaluate the use of minimum size limits as a
management tool in the red snapper fishery.
D. Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fisheries
The commercial and recreational demand for migratory coastal
pelagics has led to overfishing for certain species. Additionally, some
are transboundary with Mexico and other countries and may ultimately
demand international management attention. Current high priorities
include:
1. Recruitment indices for king and Spanish mackerel, cobia,
dolphin, wahoo, and bluefish, primarily from fishery-independent data
sources.
2. Fishery-independent methods of assessing stock abundance of king
and Spanish mackerel, dolphin and wahoo.
3. Release mortality data for all coastal pelagic species.
4. Improved catch statistics for all species in Mexican waters,
with special emphasis on king mackerel, dolphin, and wahoo. This
includes length-frequency and life history information.
5. Information on populations of coastal pelagics overwintering off
the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic States of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, especially concerning population
size, age, and movement patterns; and for dolphin and wahoo during the
entire year throughout their migratory patterns. Calculate the mixing
rates for Atlantic/Gulf king mackerel on an annual basis.
6. Development of a practical method for aging dolphin.
7. Basic biostatistics for cobia, dolphin, and wahoo to develop
age-length keys and maturation schedules for stock assessments and to
evaluate stock structures.
8. Impact of bag limits on total catch and landings of king and
Spanish mackerel, dolphin, wahoo, and cobia.
E. Groundfish and Estuarine Fishes
Substantial stocks of groundfish and estuarine species occur in the
Gulf and South Atlantic. Most of the database for assessments comes
from studies conducted by NMFS and state fishery management agencies.
Because of the historical and current size of these fish stocks, of
their importance as predator and prey species, and of their current or
potential use as commercial and recreational fisheries, more
information on their biology and life history is needed. General
research needs are:
1. Red drum. (a) Size and age structure of the offshore adult stock
in the Gulf and South Atlantic.
(b) Catch-and-release mortality rates from inshore and nearshore
waters.
(c) Estimates of absolute abundance of red drum in the Gulf of
Mexico and the Atlantic.
2. Life history and stock structure for weakfish, menhaden, spot,
croaker, flounder, sheepshead, black drum, mullet, and white trout in
the Gulf and the South Atlantic: Migratory patterns, long-term changes
in abundance, growth rates, and age structure and comparisons of the
inshore and offshore components of recreational and commercial
fisheries.
[[Page 25581]]
F. Essential Fish Habitat
1. Determine the effects of fishing gears (e.g., trawls and traps)
and practices (e.g., gear retrieval and anchoring) on essential fish
habitat (EFH), with emphasis on benthic habitats within the EEZ of the
Caribbean, southern U.S. Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico regions.
2. Develop scientific data to allow the identification and
refinement, as appropriate, of EFH designations for the various life
stages of Federally managed species.
3. Develop scientific data to allow the identification and
refinement, as appropriate, of Habitat Areas of Particular Concern
(HAPC) designation for the various life stages of Federally managed
species.
4. Develop GIS mapping protocols and tools to allow the
presentation of EFH, HAPC, fishery distribution information, and other
relevant data for the southeastern United States, including Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
G. Economic and Sociocultural Studies
1. Development and application of models to evaluate the economic
impacts of bycatch reduction. The models should explicitly consider the
impacts on the directed fishery and gains to the bycatch fishery. The
models should be developed for fisheries in general and for major
fisheries (e.g., shrimp and red snapper). The models should describe
criteria for determining the economically and socially efficient level
of bycatch reduction.
2. Development of economic incentives and other innovative
alternatives, including bycatch quotas, to gear and season/area
restrictions as ways to reduce bycatch. The project should contrast the
relative costs, potential gains, and level of bycatch reduction
associated with traditional methods and any innovative alternatives
addressed by the project.
3. Evaluation of vessel logbook data for monitoring fishery
performance and providing economic information for management.
4. Estimation of demand models for recreational fishing trips when
the target species include a single species, an aggregate of related
species, or all species combined. Studies using new data from the
Southeast economics add-ons to Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics
Survey are highly encouraged. Studies can be proposed on species such
as, red drum, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, red grouper, gag, black
grouper, dolphin, wahoo, vermilion snapper, yellowtail snapper, and
Atlantic black sea bass. Fishing quality (stock size, catch per unit
effort, average fish size) as a determinant of fishing demand should be
emphasized.
5. Identification of the motivational factors behind the selection
of specific charter types by recreational anglers. These include but
are not limited to cost, duration (half day versus full day), time of
day, size of the charter (number of passengers), services offered, etc.
6. Determination of the value and economic impact of recreational
angling in the headboat fishery. This will require the collection of
data to generate recreational trip demand equations for fishing in
general and for various key species. Economic impact assessment will
require the collection of appropriate expenditure data and imputation
using standard impact assessment software.
7. Design and evaluation of limited access options for recreational
fisheries with specific emphasis on modes of fishing and jurisdictional
issues. Key species of emphasis are red snapper, king mackerel, red
grouper, gag and black grouper.
8. Estimation of fishing behavioral models, and effort supply and
production functions for the commercial and for-hire sectors. Specific
attention should be given to species target behavior, time and space
decisions, and whether profit maximization is an appropriate
motivational assumption for the supply of fishing effort. This intent
of this research is to determine the basis upon which fishermen make
their fishing related decisions (e.g., when to fish, where to fish, how
much to fish, what species to target, what gear to use, etc.)
9. Description of the social, cultural, and /or economic aspects of
establishing fishery reserves. Studies should employ accepted data
collection methods. Various management alternatives should be
considered in the studies, e.g., exclude all users, all consumptive
users, varying the size of the reserve, anchoring rules, and other
relevant management tools.
10. Comparison of the expected economic and social impacts of
previously implemented fisheries regulations with realized impact for
all regulated species. Attempts should be made to identify and isolate
behavioral causes of divergence as opposed to environmental causes.
11. In-depth community profiles of communities previously
identified by NOAA Fisheries as fishing communities in the South
Atlantic. Profiles to include descriptions of the community, commercial
and recreational fishing-related activities and businesses, historical
information on fishing related activities, community structure and
social ties based on fishing, and changes in the community due to
federal regulations on the fisheries. The project should also focus on
demographics of people in the community to determine the relative
income and poverty index for the community and potential of employment
outside the fishing industry.
12. Non-market valuation of protected species and other marine
resources.
13. Examination of the feasibility and efficacy of vessel and/or
license buy-back programs. Key fisheries are the shrimp and reef fish
fisheries (red snapper, vermilion snapper, king mackerel, red grouper,
gag).
14. Evaluation of alternative effort control management measures in
federally managed commercial fisheries. Analyses should include a
comparison of potential economic, social, cultural, and ecological
impacts at the vessel, individual, and community level, and examine the
desirability of single species versus multiple species approaches.
Depending on the fishery and its current management structure, possible
alternatives include but are not limited to: control dates for permits;
limited entry; transferable or non-transferable individual catch,
individual effort, community catch, or community effort quotas; and
cooperatives or other forms of co-management. For catch and effort
quotas, the efficacy of initially allocating and segmenting quota
markets by gear, vessel fishing power capacity, and by state or
community should be explicitly addressed.
15. Evaluation of the extent and impact of recreational sales (all
species, by species) on recreational harvests, commercial closures and
demand for recreational fishing.
16. Evaluation of the transference of fishing opportunity between
commercial, recreational, and conservation sectors under a transferable
rights program. Key fisheries are the red snapper, vermilion snapper,
king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, red grouper, and gag fisheries.
17. Development of improved methods and procedures for transferring
technology and educating constituency groups concerning fishery
management and conservation programs. Of special importance are
programs concerned with controlled access and introduction of
conservation gear.
18. Research that examines the effects of factors other than
fishery management on the welfare of the Southeast's fishermen and
fishing communities, including but not necessarily limited to: domestic
and
[[Page 25582]]
foreign trade policies, macroeconomic conditions, energy policies/
prices, insurance rates, foreign aid policies (e.g. World Bank, IMF,
OECD, etc.), and coastal economic development (including both land use
and water use, with a particular focus on pollution generating
activities and gentrification).
19. A comparative analysis of management/regulation in the seafood
industry relative to other food producing industries that operate under
the USDA's control.
20. Development of methodologies to accurately assess the
cumulative economic and social impacts of fishery management
regulations on fishermen and fishing communities, and to separate such
from the impacts of non-fishery management factors.
21. An empirically based assessment of how and to what extent
``demand side'' policies and programs are likely to affect the welfare
of domestic fishermen and fishing communities, as well as domestic
consumers. Analyses should specifically include estimation of supply
and consumer demand elasticities by product form and type, explicitly
taking the role of imports into account. Such policies and programs
would include: product and quality standards (similar to those employed
in the beef, pork, and poultry industries), eco-labeling, country of
origin labeling, and marketing of domestically produced seafood (i.e.
``Buy U.S.''). This research should specifically address the magnitude
and distribution of costs and benefits for providing additional product
information to seafood consumers.
22. Development of point of sales materials (recipes, posters, etc.
to be used in retail establishments) to promote sales of domestic wild
harvested shrimp.
23. Evaluation of the economic effects of hypoxia on Gulf of Mexico
fisheries.
II. Award Information
We are soliciting applications for Federal assistance pursuant to
15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d). This document describes how to apply for funding
under the MARFIN Grant Program and how we will determine which
applications we will fund.
Approximately $2.2 million may be available in fiscal year (FY)
2004 for projects. This amount includes possible in-house projects and
$500,000 for 1-year projects for red snapper research. (See I. Funding
Opportunities.) Publication of this notice does not obligate NMFS to
fund an award or any parts of an award since funds will be contingent
upon availability of funding.
Project proposals accepted for funding with a project period over 1
year do not have to compete for the additional years of funding.
However, funding for the additional years, is contingent upon the
availability of funds and satisfactory performance and is at the sole
discretion of the agency.
This program is described in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance'' under program number 11.433, Marine Fisheries Initiative
(MARFIN).
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education,
hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, and state, local
and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not
eligible. Foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of
foreign governments, and international organizations are excluded for
purposes of this solicitation since the objective of the MARFIN program
is to optimize research and development benefits from U.S. marine
fishery resources.
We are strongly committed to broadening the participation of
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving
Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities in its educational
and research programs. DOC/NOAA's goals are to achieve full
participation by Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in order to
advance the development of human potential, to strengthen the nation's
capacity to provide high-quality education, and to increase
opportunities for MSIs to participate in and benefit from Federal
financial assistance programs. DOC/NOAA encourages all applicants to
include meaningful participation of MSIs.
2. Cost Sharing: Cost-sharing is not required for the MARFIN
program. Applications must provide the total budget necessary to
accomplish the project, including contributions and/or donations.
Because 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(c)(4)(B) provides that the amount of Federal
funding must be at least 50 percent of the estimated cost of the
project, the total costs shown in the proposal will be evaluated for
appropriateness according to the administrative rules, including 15 CFR
14.23 and 15 CFR 24.24, as appropriate. If an applicant chooses to
cost-share, and if that application is selected for funding, the
applicant is bound by the percentage of the cost share reflected in the
grant or cooperative agreement award. Note: Costs incurred in either
the development of a project or the financial assistance application,
or time expended in any subsequent discussions or negotiations prior to
the award, are neither reimbursable nor recognizable as part of the
recipient's cost share.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package from, and send your completed applications(s) to:
Ellie Francisco Roche, Chief, State/Federal Liaison Office, Southeast
Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive, N., St. Petersburg,
FL 33702. You may also obtain the application package from the MARFIN
Home Page at: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/grants.htm.
You must submit one signed original and nine signed copies of the
completed application (including supporting information). We will
accept neither facsimile applications, nor electronically forwarded
applications.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission - We will award
grants or cooperative agreements for a maximum period of up to 3 years,
consisting of one, two, or three budget periods. The award period
depends upon the duration of funding requested in the application, the
decision of the NMFS selecting official on the amount of funding, the
results of post-selection negotiations between the applicant and NOAA
officials, and pre-award review of the application by NOAA and
Department of Commerce (DOC) officials. Normally, each project budget
period is 12 months in duration.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification 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 on October 30, 2002 (67FR 55109), is
applicable to this solicitation. The standard forms in a MARFIN
application include the MARFIN Project Budget and the MARFIN Project
Summary. Applicants should contact the NMFS Southeast Regional Office
for a copies of this solicitation's MARFIN application forms (see
ADDRESSES). You may also obtain the application package from the MARFIN
Home Page at: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/grants.htm.
Project applications must identify the principal participants, and
include copies of any agreements describing the specific tasks to be
performed by participants. Project applications should give a clear
presentation of the proposed work, the methods for carrying out the
project, its relevance to managing and
[[Page 25583]]
enhancing the use of Gulf of Mexico and/or South Atlantic fishery
resources, and cost estimates as they relate to specific aspects of the
project. Budgets must include a detailed breakdown, by category of
expenditures, with appropriate justification for both the Federal and
non-Federal shares.
Applications should exhibit familiarity with related work that is
completed or ongoing. Where appropriate, proposals should be multi-
disciplinary. In addition to referencing specific area(s) of special
interest, proposals should state whether the research applies to the
Gulf of Mexico only, the South Atlantic only, or to both areas.
Successful applicants may be required to collect and manage data in
accordance with standardized procedures and formats approved by NMFS
and to participate with NMFS in specific cooperative activities that
are determined by consultations between NMFS and successful applicants
before project grants are awarded. All applications must include
funding for the principal investigator to participate in an annual
MARFIN Conference in the southeast regional area at the completion of
the project.
Applications must be one-sided and unbound. Incomplete applications
will be returned to the applicant. Ten copies (one original and nine
copies) of each application are required and should be submitted to the
NMFS Southeast Regional Office, State/Federal Liaison Office (see
ADDRESSES). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved 10
copies, under OMB Control No. 0648-0175.
3. Submission Dates and Times - We must receive your application by
close of business (5 p.m. eastern daylight time on June 27, 2003.
Applications received after that time will not be considered for
funding. The earliest start date of awards is about 200 days after the
date of publication of this notice. Applicants should consider this
processing time in developing requested start dates for their
applications.
When we receive applications we will screen them to ensure that
they were received by the deadline date (see DATES); include SF 424
signed and dated by an authorized representative; were submitted by an
eligible applicant; address one of the funding priorities for federally
managed species; and include a budget, statement of work, and
milestones, and identify the principal investigator. We do not have to
screen applications before the submission deadline in order to identify
deficiencies that would cause your application to be rejected so that
you would have an opportunity to correct them. However, should we do so
and provide you information about deficiencies, or should you
independently decide it is desirable to do so, you may correct any
deficiencies in your application before the deadline. After the
deadline, the application must remain as submitted; no changes can be
made to it. If your application does not conform to these requirements
and the deadline for submission has passed, the application will be
returned without further consideration.
4. Intergovernmental Review - Applications under this program are
subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental
Review of Federal Programs.'' Applicants must contact their State's
Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about and comply with the
State's process under EO 12372. The names and addresses of the SPOCs
are listed in the Office of Management and Budget's home page at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html
.
5. Funding Restrictions - Construction is not an allowable activity
under this program. Therefore, applications will not be accepted for
construction projects.
Indirect Costs - If you have a negotiated rate with a Federal
agency, the total dollar amount of the indirect costs awarded under
this program will not exceed the indirect cost rate negotiated and
approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the proposed effective
date of the award or 25 percent of the Federal share of the total
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is
less. A copy of the current negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement with the
Federal Government must be included with the application. If the
applicant does not have a negotiated cost rate, then they may direct
cost all charges, or submit a request to establish a rate.
6. Other Submission Requirements - You must meet all application
requirements and provide all information necessary for the evaluation
of the proposal, including one signed original and nine signed copies
of the application to the NMFS Southeast Regional Office, State/Federal
Liaison Office (see ADDRESSES). You must also be available to respond
to questions during the review and evaluation of the proposal(s).
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria - Applications responsive to this solicitation will be
evaluated by three or more appropriate private and/or public sector
experts to determine their technical merit. These reviewers will
provide individual evaluations of the proposals. No consensus advice
will be given. These reviewers provide comments and assign scores to
the applications based on the following criteria, with the weights
shown in parentheses:
a. Does the proposal have a clearly stated goal(s) with associated
objectives that meet the needs outlined in the project narrative? (30
points maximum)
b. Does the proposal clearly identify and describe, in the project
outline and statement of work, scientific methodologies and analytical
procedures that will adequately address project goals and objectives?
(30 points maximum)
c. Do the principal investigators provide a realistic timetable to
enable full accomplishment of all aspects of the research? (20 points
maximum)
d. How effective are the proposed methods in enabling the principal
investigators to maintain stewardship of the project performance,
finances, cooperative relationships, and reporting requirements? (10
points maximum)
e. Does the budget appropriately allocate and justify costs? (10
points maximum)
2. Review and Selection Process - Following the technical review,
we will determine the weighted score for each individual review and
average the individual technical review scores to determine the final
technical score for each application. Then, we will rank applications
in descending order by their final technical scores. A ``cutoff'' score
of 70% will be used and those applications that scored below the cutoff
will be eliminated from further consideration.
MARFIN Panel. Those applications at or above the cutoff technical
evaluation score will be presented to a panel of non-NOAA fishery
experts known as the MARFIN Panel. Each member of the MARFIN Panel
individually considers if needs of the Agency are addressed in each
proposal, if the project assists industry, and if the project addresses
issues that are important to regional fisheries management. The
individuals on the MARFIN Panel provide comments and rate each of these
proposals as either ``Recommended for Funding'' or ``Not Recommended
for Funding.'' No consensus advice will be given by the panel. The
Program Manager ranks the proposals in the order of preferred funding,
based on the number of MARFIN Panel members recommending the proposal
for funding.
Regional Administrator. The ranked proposals are provided to the
Regional Administrator, who is the selecting official, in the order of
preferred
[[Page 25584]]
funding, based on the number of MARFIN Panel members recommending the
proposal for funding. If there are ties in the rankings, those ties
will be distinguished by the peer review score. The Regional
Administrator also receives the MARFIN Panel members' individual
comments.
The Regional Administrator, in consultation with the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, determines the projects to be recommended
for funding. Though rarely used, the Regional Administrator has an
option to make a selection that falls outside the MARFIN Panel's order
of preferred funding on the following grounds: for geographic
diversity, if not enough projects have addressed a priority, or because
of duplication with other funded grants within NOAA. The Regional
Administrator will justify in writing any such selection.
The exact amount of funds awarded, the final scope of activities,
the project duration, and specific NMFS cooperative involvement with
the activities of each project are determined in pre-award negotiations
between the applicant, the NOAA Grants Office and the NMFS Program
Office. Projects must not be initiated by recipients until a signed
award is received from the NOAA Grants Office. Substantial involvement
is described as collaboration, participation, or intervention by NMFS
in the management of the project. Whether the funding instrument is a
grant or a cooperative agreement will be determined by whether there is
substantial involvement in the project. A cooperative agreement will be
used if NOAA shares responsibility for management, control, or
direction with the recipient.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices - Successful applications generally are
recommended within 150 days from the date of publication of this
notice. The earliest start date of awards average 90 days after each
project is selected and after all NMFS/applicant negotiations of
cooperative activities have been completed. The earliest start date of
awards is about 200 days after the date of publication of this notice.
Applicants should consider this selection and processing time in
developing requested start dates for their applications. Unsuccessful
applications will be returned to the applicant.
2. Administrative Requirements - If you are selected to receive a
grant or cooperative agreement, you must:
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the project, be responsible
for the performance of all activities for which funds are granted, and
be responsible for the satisfaction of all administrative and
managerial conditions imposed by the award.
- Keep records sufficient to document any costs incurred under the
award, and allow access to these records for audit and examination by
the Secretary of Commerce, the Comptroller General of the United
States, or their authorized representatives; and, submit financial
status reports (SF 269) to NOAA Grants in accordance with the award
conditions.
3. Reporting - Successful applicants will be required to:
- Submit semiannual project status reports on the use of funds and
progress of the project to us within 30 days after the end of each 6-
month period. You will submit these reports to the individual
identified as the NMFS Program Officer in the funding agreement.
- Submit a final report within 90 days after completion of each
project to the NMFS Program Officer. The final report must describe the
project and include an evaluation of the work you performed and the
results and benefits in sufficient detail to enable us to assess the
success of the completed project. We will provide you with formats for
the semiannual and final reports.
- In addition to the final report, we request that you submit any
publications printed with grant funds (such as manuals, surveys, etc.)
To the NMFS Program Officer for dissemination to the public.
We are committed to using available technology to achieve the
timely and wide distribution of final reports to those who would
benefit from this information. Therefore, you are encouraged to submit
final reports in electronic format, in accordance with the award terms
and conditions, for publication on the NMFS MARFIN Home Page. You may
charge the costs associated with preparing and transmitting your final
reports in electronic format to the grant award.
This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424 and 269
has been approved by OMB under the respective control numbers 0348-0043
and 0348-0039. The use of the MARFIN Project Budget and MARFIN Project
Summary have been approved under the control number 0648-0175.
Public reporting burden for each of the two MARFIN forms is
estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing the collection
of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any
other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions
for reducing this burden, to the NMFS Southeast Regional Office, State/
Federal Liaison Office (see ADDRESSES).
Notwithstanding any other provision of 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 Paperwork
Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
VII. Agency Contact(s)
For questions regarding the application process, you may contact:
Ellie Francisco Roche, Chief, State/Federal Liaison Office, (727) 570-
5324, or at Ellie.Roche@noaa.gov.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d).
Dated: May 7, 2003.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-11917 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S