[Federal Register: April 18, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 75)]
[Notices]
[Page 19190-19193]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ap03-33]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 030409079-3079-01; 040303A]
RIN 0648-ZB45
Coastal Services Center Financial Assistance for Coastal
Observing System Projects
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of federal assistance.
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SUMMARY: The NOAA Coastal Services Center is soliciting applications
for federal assistance for the Director's Office in Coastal Observing
System Support. This announcement provides guidelines which includes
details for the evaluation criteria, and selection procedures. Selected
recipients will enter into a grant with the Coastal Services Center.
DATES: Applications are due by 5 p.m., e.d.t., May 30, 2003.
Applications received after that time will not be reviewed.
ADDRESSES: Send all proposals to NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234
South Hobson Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina 29405-2413, Attention
Geno Olmi, Room 234A.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrative questions should be
directed to Violet Legette, 843-740-1222 or Violet.Legette@noaa.gov.
Technical point of contact is Geno Olmi at 843-740-1230 or
Geno.Olmi@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coastal Services Center is soliciting
applications for federal assistance for Coastal Observing System
Projects. Recipients will enter into a grant with the Coastal Services
Center.
All applicants are required to submit a NOAA Grants application
package, budget narrative, curriculum Vitae for each principal
investigator, and project proposal. The standard NOAA grants
application package includes SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, CD-511, CD-512,
SF-LLL and CD-346. These forms can be obtained from the NOAA grants Web
site at http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/grants/pdf/. NOTE: CD-512 is a form
that the recipient maintains. DO NOT submit this form to the Coastal
Services Center. Also, SF-LLL should only be submitted as part of the
grant application, if the recipient is reporting lobbying activities.
If applicant is any of the following, a CD-346 is required to be
submitted with
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grant application: sole proprietor, a partnership, a corporation, a
joint venture and a non-profit organization. Other applicants are not
required to submit a CD-346 with application.
If recipients have difficulty downloading grant forms, please
contact Violet Legette at 843-740-1222 for assistance.
Authority
Statutory authority for this program is 16 U.S.C. 1456c.
CFDA Number: 11.473 Coastal Services Center.
Project Description
The Coastal Services Center seeks proposals for projects that
enhance the organization, implementation, and application of regional
coastal ocean observing systems. For the purposes of this announcement,
coastal ocean observing systems are meant to include the sensors,
personnel, and data management that obtain regular and sustained in-
situ and/or remote observations of the physical, chemical, and
biological environment of Great Lakes, estuaries, and the near shore
ocean of the United States. Total available funding under this
announcement is expected to not exceed $750,000. The Coastal Services
Center desires to fund two types of projects to benefit the development
of regional coastal ocean observing systems: (1) projects that
facilitate building partnerships and regional organizational structures
for regional observing systems, and (2) regional pilot projects.
For the first type of project, Regional Observation System
Coordination, the Coastal Services Center seeks to fund projects that
will engage stakeholders in a given region to develop collaborative
partnerships (Regional Associations) among data collectors, data
managers, and users of data and information from coastal ocean
observing systems. Proposals should clearly articulate an approach to
identify stakeholders, bring them together in a meaningful way, and
develop plans for governance and communication, implementation, data
management, and product development. The Coastal Services Center
believes that it is important to engage end users in the design and
implementation of observing systems to maximize the benefits to science
and society. Of particular interest to the Coastal Services Center is
the utility of such systems for management of coastal and ocean
resources and for the benefit of coastal communities. Total available
funding for this type of project is anticipated to be between $200,000
to $350,000, subject to the availability of federal appropriations. The
Coastal Services Center expects to award two to five grants of $20,000
- $100,000 each under this announcement for Regional Observation System
Coordination.
The second type of proposal requested is to support implementation
of a Regional Coastal Ocean Observation Pilot Project. Pilot project(s)
should demonstrate inter-institutional collaboration within a region
for sensor deployment, data management, and creation of information
products from the data collected. Projects should emphasize regular and
sustained in-situ and/or remote observations of the physical, chemical,
and biological coastal ocean environment. The pilot project should
demonstrate data documentation and management protocols that meet or
exceed national standards (FGDC compliant) and ensure accuracy and
interoperability with the developing Integrated Ocean Observing System
(IOOS). The pilot project should have a defined set of users and create
information products relevant to those users. The Coastal Services
Center encourages proposals that demonstrate active involvement of
public mission agencies. The Coastal Services Center also encourages
proposals that develop or sustain observing systems under the auspices
of an established or planned regional association with a defined
governance structure. Total available funding for Regional Pilot
Project(s)is anticipated to be between $250,000 to $500,000, subject to
the availability of federal appropriations. The Coastal Services Center
expects to award only one to two grants under this announcement.
Background
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a long-
standing responsibility to observe, assess and predict conditions in
the Nation's oceans and atmosphere. NOAA has a number of operational
programs that routinely and systematically measure environmental
variables in the atmosphere, open and coastal ocean, estuaries, and the
Great Lakes. In addition to its own operational programs, NOAA develops
collaborative partnerships with states, universities and for profit and
non-profit organizations to increase the scope of its environmental
data collection.
Congress has directed the interagency National Ocean Research
Leadership Council to develop a plan by which the nation can achieve an
Integrated Ocean Observing System. Responsibility for development of
this plan has been given to the Ocean.US Office www.ocean.us. The
Integrated Ocean Observing System is envisioned to consist of a
``national backbone'' of federally-maintained observations integrated
with ``regional'' systems that contribute to and benefit from the
national backbone and also focus on interests of a local/regional
nature. Integration of regional and national components into a national
coastal observing system will rely on common data management standards
that allow data integration to create products that benefit a broad
community of users. While the fully mature IOOS is envisioned to be
mostly operational in nature, the developmental stages are expected to
include research, pilot, pre-operational and operational components.
The Coastal Services Center has a strong interest in working with
regional observing systems and partners to achieve integration into a
national system. The Coastal Services Center is particularly interested
in regional systems that provide timely and appropriate information to
public mission agencies. Therefore, the Coastal Services Center
anticipates offering grant funds to projects that help achieve these
goals.
Project Proposals
The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the
proposal(s) by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on May 30, 2003 to the attention
of Geno Olmi, Room 234A at the NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234 South
Hobson Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405-2413. In addition to the
proposal(s), the applicant must submit a complete NOAA grant
application package (with signed originals). No e-mail or fax copies
will be accepted. All project proposals must total no more than 20
pages (double spaced, 12-point font, and exclusive of appendices).
Appendices should be limited to materials that directly support the
main body of the proposal (e.g., support letters, resumes, lists of
data sources, maps). Letters of support may be mailed separately, but
must be received by the 30 May 2003, deadline. All appendix material
must be unbound. All proposals must include sections on the seven
following topics:
1. Background. Provide sufficient background information for
reviewers to independently assess the significance of the proposed
project. Summarize the problem to be addressed and the status of your
ongoing efforts to address the problem.
2. Benefits. Identify specific potential users of the information
derived from this work and the benefits that will be achieved to those
users as well as society as a whole. Describe how this
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information from this project will be delivered to those users.
3. Goal(s) and Objective(s). Describe in the narrative the specific
project goals and objectives to be achieved. Describe how these project
goals support the broader goals of the Integrated Ocean Observing
System.
4. Project Description/Methodology. Provide a general work plan
that identifies specific tasks to be accomplished, explains the
technical approach (including quality control protocols) needed to
accomplish the tasks, identifies the roles of partners and cooperators,
and identifies potential obstacles to successful completion of the
goals and objectives. Describe how potential users are involved in the
planning and design process.
5. Milestone Schedule. Display time lines for major tasks, target
milestones for important intermediate and final products, and key
project outcomes. The time period (period of performance) for the award
may be 1-3 years, but funding is assured for only the first year.
6. Project Budget. Provide a detailed budget description that
follows the categories and formats in the NOAA grants package and a
brief narrative justification of the budget.
7. Resumes. Provide resumes of the Principal Investigator for the
project and for other key personnel critical to the success of the
project. Ensure that resumes address qualifications relevant to
conducting the proposed work. Please limit to two pages for each.
Evaluation Criteria (with Weights) and Selection Process
A review panel, composed of two NOAA and two non-NOAA reviewers,
will be established to evaluate the proposals on the basis of the
evaluation criteria listed below. The panelists will provide individual
evaluations of proposals, thus there will be no consensus
recommendation. All proposals reviewed will be ranked according to the
average score and the selecting official (the Center's Director) will
use those rankings as the basis for the final funding decisions. The
selecting official may also consider the following program policy
factors: geographic and institutional balance. Thus proposals with the
highest scores may not necessarily be selected for award. Reviewers of
the proposal will be asked to judge the merits of the proposal with
respect to the following criteria:
1. Significance (25%):
How well does the proposal demonstrate that the project will
directly or indirectly address critical national, regional, state or
local management needs? Are the goals and objectives clearly
articulated and relevant tot he stated management or science need?
2. Approach (20%):
Is the technical approach appropriate for the stated goals and
objectives? Are the goals and objectives achievable within the proposed
timeframe? Does the proposed approach follow a logical work plan with
clearly defined and measurable milestones? Do the proposed approaches
incorporate innovative or state of the art methodologies? Does the
proposal explicitly address data management practices that meet or
exceed FGDC standards and promote interoperability with other
components of a national ocean observing system?
3. Project Management (10%):
Does the proposal demonstrate institutional support for the
project? Are the principal investigators and the organizational
framework and personnel qualified to conduct a project of the nature
and scope proposed?
4. Partnerships (15%):
Does the proposed project engage external partners to make
effective use of complimentary capabilities and competencies beneficial
to this project? Is the user community clearly identified and are
members of the identified user community engaged in the design and
execution of the project or its products? Is duplication of effort
reduced through strategic partnerships?
5. Application of Results (20%):
Does the proposal demonstrate that it will significantly address
relevant science and management issues? Does the proposal demonstrate
that information generated by the project will reach its target
audience and have a positive impact on the users ability to perform
their responsibilities? Does the proposal include outreach and
education components that will ensure the results are effectively
applied to address the identified issues?
6. Cost Efficiency (10%):
Does the proposal demonstrate that the budget is commensurate with
project needs?
Selection Schedule
Proposals will be reviewed once during the year. The following
schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process
for grants: Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) May 30,
2003. The review process will take up to three months, and applicants
will not be notified of the status of their application until the
review process is completed. Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date 1
October 2003. Note: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business
(5 p.m. Eastern time) on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and
grant package (with original signatures) will be time stamped.
Unsuccessful applications will be destroyed by the Program Manager and
not returned to the applicant.
Funding Availability
Total funding available for the Coastal Observing System Projects
with the Director's Office is anticipated to be no more than $750,000
and funding will be distributed among multiple Projects. The Coastal
Services Center desires to fund two types of projects to benefit the
development of regional coastal ocean observing systems: (1) projects
that facilitate building partnerships and regional organizational
structures for regional observing systems (estimated funding for this
type of project is anticipated to be between $200,000 to $350,000 with
two to five grants being awarded ranging from $20,000 to $100,000), and
(2) regional pilot projects (estimated funding for this type of project
is anticipated to be between $250,000 to $500,000 with only one or two
grants being awarded). Publication of this document does not obligate
NOAA to fund any specific grant or to award all or any parts of the
available funds.
Cost Sharing
There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to this
program announcement.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, non-
profit and for-profit organizations, foreign governments, organizations
under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, international
organizations, and state, local and Indian tribal governments.
Organizations are encouraged to collaborate in development of multi-
institutional proposals, however, funding for such a proposal must be
awarded to a single (lead) entity that then has responsibility for
administration and execution of any subawards. Federal agencies or
institutions are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this
announcement, but may be project partners. Note: Federal agencies or
institutions who are project partners must demonstrate that they have
legal
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authority to receive funds from outside sources in excess of their
appropriation.
General Information
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of October 01, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), is
applicable to this solicitation.
Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
The recipients must comply with Executive Order 12906 regarding any
and all geospatial data collected or produced under grants or
cooperative agreements. This includes documenting all geospatial data
in accordance with the Federal Geographic Data Committee Content
Standard for digital geospatial data.
Classification
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required
by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) or any other law for this
notice concerning grants, cooperative agreements, benefits, and
contracts, 5 U.S.C. 533 (a) (2). Therefore, a regulatory flexibility
analysis is not required for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq and has not been prepared.
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. The use of the standard grants application package
referred to in this notice involves collection-of-information
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of
Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 have been approved
by OMB under the respective Control Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-
0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001.
Dated: April 14, 2003.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone
Management
[FR Doc. 03-9634 Filed 4-17-03; 8:45 am]