[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11003]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 10, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 940403-4103]
RIN 0648-ZA03

 

Request for Proposals for Site Characterizations of the Monterey 
Bay and Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuaries

AGENCY: Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (SRD), Office of Ocean and 
Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), National Ocean Service (NOS), 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of 
Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Sanctuaries and Reserves Division is soliciting proposals 
to complete site characterizations of the Monterey Bay National Marine 
Sanctuary and the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

DATES: Proposals must be postmarked by June 9, 1994. Applicants will be 
notified of results of review by August 8, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Helen Golde, Elizabeth Moore, or Delores Washington. 
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 
#12430, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. Phone: 301-713-3145; Fax: 301-
713-0404.

CDR Terry Jackson. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 299 Foam 
Street, suite D, Monterey, CA 93940. Phone: 408-647-4201; Fax: 408-647-
4250.
Reed Bohne. Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, 30 Ocean Science 
Circle, Savannah, GA 31411. Phone: 912-598-2345; Fax: 912-598-2367.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Monterey Bay: Elizabeth Moore at 301-713-3141, or Terry Jackson at 408-
647-4258. Gray's Reef: Reed Bohne at 912-598-2345, or Delores 
Washington at 301-713-3132. Either site: Helen Golde at 301-713-3145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Authority and Background

    Title III of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1431 et. seq.) (MPRSA) establishes the 
National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP). The Act authorizes the 
Secretary of Commerce to designate discrete areas as National Marine 
Sanctuaries (NMS) to promote comprehensive management of their 
ecological, research, conservation, education, historical, 
recreational, and aesthetic resources. National Marine Sanctuaries may 
be designated in coastal and ocean waters, in submerged lands and in 
the Great Lakes and their connecting waters. The National Marine 
Sanctuaries are administered by the Sanctuaries and Reserves Division 
(SRD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 
the U.S. Department of Commerce. Section 309 of the MPRSA authorizes 
NOAA to conduct research, monitoring, evaluation, and education 
programs within NMS. Cooperative agreements are available to States, 
local governments, regional agencies, or other persons to carry out the 
purposes and policies of the MPRSA as described in this notice and 
authorized under section 311 of the MPRSA. This program is listed in 
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under ``Marine Sanctuary 
Program,'' Number 11.429.

II. Information on National Marine Sanctuaries

A. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

    The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) surrounds 
diverse habitats that are highly productive, due in part to the 
presence of strong upwelling of nutrient-rich waters. The mosaic of 
soft and hard bottoms, submarine canyon, rocky and sandy intertidal 
areas, and kelp forests of giant and bull kelp support a rich and 
abundant population of marine flora and fauna. The species-rich 
invertebrate population includes soft coral, sponges, clams, snails, 
crab, shrimp, abalone, sea urchins, mussels, and sea anemones. Over 345 
species of fish are found in the Sanctuary and include pelagic, 
demersal, and benthic species. About 94 species of birds have been 
identified as utilizing the Sanctuary; the site is important to 
seabirds as a migratory stopover and as wintering grounds. Four species 
of sea turtles (leatherback, green, loggerhead, and Pacific ridley) 
occur within the waters of the Sanctuary. Breeding, feeding, and 
migration areas are provided for over 26 species of marine mammals.
    The Sanctuary is accessible and hosts a high level of recreational 
use. Commercial fisheries such as salmon, rockfish, swordfish, tuna, 
squid, and anchovy are important to the regional economy, as is 
tourism. Oil and gas extraction, sand mining, and designation of ocean 
dump sites are prohibited within the Sanctuary. Major shipping lanes 
and military activity occur in portions of the site. Over 300 
shipwrecks may exist within the boundaries and significant prehistoric 
cultural sites exist throughout the site and coastal areas.

B. Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

    Designated in January 1984, the Gray's Reef National Marine 
Sanctuary (GRNMS) surrounds one of the largest and most diverse 
nearshore ``live bottom'' habitats on the south Atlantic Continental 
Shelf. The variety and abundance of life at Gray's Reef in comparison 
with the barren sand flats which surround it is why the Reef is 
referred to as a ``live bottom.'' The limestone outcrops, deposited 
over 13 million years ago, provide a firm and stable substrate to which 
a variety of sessile invertebrates can attach and prosper. The large 
invertebrate population includes sponges, hydroids, hard and soft 
corals, tubeworms, tunicates, sea urchins, and sea stars. The fish 
population includes pelagic, demersal, and benthic species such as 
blennies, groupers, basses, porgies, spadefishes, amberjacks, and, 
seasonally, the tropical fishes bluefish, mackerals, and barracudas. A 
variety of seabirds use the Sanctuary for feeding and as a migratory 
stopover. The threatened loggerhead sea turtle is frequently 
encountered around the ledges in the Sanctuary. The endangered northern 
right whale uses the waters of the Sanctuary during the winter calving 
season.
    The Sanctuary is located off shore of Savannah, Georgia 
approximately 17.5 nautical miles from the nearest point of land. 
Recreational fishermen and scuba divers are the most frequent visitors 
to the Sanctuary. Commercial fishing is usually not found within the 
Sanctuary as wire fish traps and bottom trawling are prohibited.

III. Scope of Work

    The objective of these projects is to collect and synthesize 
existing information and draft site descriptions of the MBNMS or the 
GRNMS. The recipient(s) will be responsible for gathering existing 
information on environment, communities, habitats, and cultural 
resources in the MBNMS or GRNMS. The scope of these projects does not 
include collection of new data. This information is to be synthesized 
together into documents which provide comprehensive descriptions of the 
Sanctuaries. These documents will give interested parties an overview 
of the resources and characteristics of the Sanctuaries. In addition, 
they will serve to identify gaps in knowledge about the Sanctuaries, 
which will help to target future research and monitoring efforts.

Specific Tasks

    The ideal scope of work includes the following tasks.
    (1) The recipient will be responsible for conducting a search of 
published and unpublished literature and data associated with the MBNMS 
or GRNMS. This should include, but is not limited to, government 
reports; theses, dissertations and other student reports; final reports 
of grants and other competitive awards; scientific literature 
publications; books; and available databases.
    (2) All literature is to be entered into a bibliographic database. 
Claris FileMaker Pro should be used.
    (3) The collected literature is to be evaluated and synthesized 
into a comprehensive document describing the Sanctuary. Existing review 
papers and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary or Gray's Reef 
National Marine Sanctuary Final Environmental Impact Statements should 
be used as a basis for this synthesis. This document should include:
     An introduction to the MBNMS or GRNMS, including a 
description of the National Marine Sanctuary Program.
     Descriptions of the environmental, cultural, historical, 
and socioeconomic resources within the Sanctuary. (The National 
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470), mandates 
that Federal agencies that manage public lands must assess and 
inventory the cultural resources under their aegis).
     Descriptions of the biological communities within the 
Sanctuary. This should include description of the prominent species, 
including threatened and endangered species, and interactions found 
within each of these communities.
     Descriptions of ecosystem functions. This should include 
discussion of how the various biological communities interact with one 
another. Discussions of spatial and temporal variability should also be 
included.
    Identification of data gaps should be included. A detailed outline 
of the topics to be covered in this document is included in Appendices 
I and II. An existing site characterization is available from SRD upon 
request. No new data should be collected for this document; all 
analyses should be based on existing information. The document is to be 
submitted in hard copy and on 3.5'' floppy disk. Microsoft Word for 
Macintosh should be used, if possible. SRD will be responsible for 
printing of the final document.
    All draft and final reports shall be written in clear, concise and 
correct English. All products should be thoroughly proofread by an 
experienced technical editor identified in the work plan. The technical 
editor shall ensure that grammar, punctuation, table and figure 
formats, and sentence and paragraph structure are correct and 
consistent throughout. Particular attention shall be paid to producing 
a final report that communicates technical issues in an understandable 
form.

IV. Availability of Funds & Project Duration

    Up to $100,000 for MBNMS and $30,000 for GRNMS are available in 
FY94 for these projects. Funds will be awarded through a cooperative 
agreement between NOAA and the selected applicant(s). SRD is aware that 
these projects may take longer than one year to complete; the duration 
of the award may be up to 36 months. The Department of Commerce may not 
incrementally fund research work orders of multiple year duration that 
are nonseverable. Thus, although the work under this notice may be 
completed over a period of up to 36 months, a finished work product 
must be completed with the alloted budget. The applicant is responsible 
for determining the scope of the finished work product based on what s/
he feels can be completed with this budget. Future funding may be 
available to complete additional work products. (For example, an 
applicant may determine that only a characterization of the biological 
component of Sanctuary resources may be feasible with the alloted 
budget. Pending the availability of additional funds, the Sanctuary 
might then issue an additional RFP to complete the cultural resources 
assessment.) Although in-kind match of Federal funds is not mandatory, 
it is encouraged (see evaluation criteria).
    If an application is selected for funding, the Department of 
Commerce (DOC) has no obligation to provide any additional future 
funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase 
funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion 
of DOC.
    No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either: (1) The delinquent 
account is paid in full; (2) A negotiated repayment schedule is 
established and at least one payment is received; or (3) Other 
arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce are made. In 
addition, any researchers who are past due for submitting acceptable 
final reports of any previous SRD-funded research will be ineligible to 
be considered for new awards until final reports are received, reviewed 
and deemed acceptable by SRD. Unsatisfactory performance under prior 
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for 
funding. A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or 
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or 
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

V. Guidelines for Proposal Preparation; Proposal Review and 
Evaluation

    Proposals not following these guidelines will be returned to the 
applicant without further review. Applicants should submit three copies 
of proposals postmarked by June 9, 1994, to: Ms. Elizabeth Moore 
(MBNMS) or Ms. Helen Golde (GRNMS) at the Sanctuaries and Reserves 
Division (see addresses section).

A. Application Kit

    Application kits are available from any of the addresses listed in 
the addresses section. Application kits will include all necessary 
Federal forms, checklist for complete application packet, complete 
budget preparation information, and description of necessary proposal 
narrative. The contents of the application kit is outlined below.
1. Federal Forms
    Federal forms SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, CD-511, CD-512 (copy where 
applicable), SF-LLL (where applicable), negotiated indirect cost rate 
and audit information must all be submitted with the application. These 
forms are described in the application kit and Section VI. General 
Requirements, below.
2. Table of Contents, Lists of Figures and Tables
    These should list the major contents of the proposal and the 
appropriate page numbers.
3. Project Description
    The main body of the proposal should be a detailed statement of the 
work to be undertaken, not exceeding 20 double spaced pages. It should 
describe in detail the amount and scope of work to be completed during 
the project, how this work will be completed, the proposed project 
duration, and the qualifications of the applicant and any subrecipients 
to complete the work (see evaluation criteria).
    The proposal must include a complete description of how the project 
will be managed, including the name and expertise of the principal 
investigator and the name(s), expertise, and task assignments of team 
members. Evidence of ability to successfully complete the proposed 
project should be supported by reference to similar efforts performed 
and areas of expertise. Curricula vitae (not to exceed 3 pages for each 
investigator) listing qualifications related to professional and 
technical personnel should be provided. The proposal should discuss and 
explain any portion of work expected to be subcontracted, and identify 
subrecipient(s).
    Complete references for current literature, research, and other 
appropriate published and unpublished documents cited in the text of 
the proposal must also be included.
4. Milestone Schedule
    A milestone schedule is required in the proposal. This schedule 
should show, in table form, anticipated dates for completing data 
collection, data analysis, database completion, progress reports, the 
draft technical report, the final technical report and other related 
activities. Use ``Month 1, Month 2,'' rather than June, July, etc., in 
preparing these charts. (SRD Headquarters requires at least six weeks 
from time of receipt to review draft technical reports.) The milestone 
schedule should reflect the entire duration of the project.
5. Budget
    The applicant may request funds under any of the categories listed 
below as long as the costs are reasonable and necessary to complete the 
projects and are determined to be in accordance with 15 CFR part 24 and 
OMB Circulars A-21, A-122, A-87, and A-110. A complete description of 
budget constraints is provided in the application kit.
    The budget should contain itemized costs with appropriate 
narratives justifying proposed expenditures. Budget categories are to 
be broken down as follows, clearly showing both Federal and any non-
Federal shares side by side:

--Salaries and Wages.
--Fringe Benefits.
--Equipment.
--Travel.
--Other Direct Costs.
--Indirect Costs.

B. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Procedures

    Proposals will be reviewed by SRD staff, Sanctuary research 
advisory committees, and, if necessary, outside peer reviewers. 
Proposals will be evaluated on the criteria listed below. Each reviewer 
will score all proposals on each of the categories and give written 
comments. The scores will be weighted according to the percentages 
listed in parentheses. Final funding decisions will be made by the 
appropriate site and regional managers for each sanctuary based on 
average scores and written comments. If written comments merit, the 
proposal with the highest numerical rank may not be chosen. Applicants 
will be notified of results of review by August 8, 1994.

Scope of Work & Schedule: (45%)

    The specific tasks that the applicants plan to complete over the 
duration of the award will be considered. A realistic schedule to 
complete the entire project should be presented. Preference will be 
given to otherwise qualified applicants able to complete the most 
amount of work.

Applicant Expertise: (30%)

     Literature search ability: The applicant should show 
experience in conducting comprehensive literature searches. Access to 
appropriate data bases should be shown.
     Knowledge of the existing literature and area: The 
applicant should describe their knowledge of the Monterey Bay or Gray's 
Reef area and their familiarity with the existing literature.
     Scientific and technical expertise: The applicant must 
show appropriate background to compile and synthesize the information. 
This should include expertise in marine and coastal sciences, damage 
assessment/restoration, and cultural/historical resources. This 
criterion is very important as the recipient must be able to synthesize 
the information into the final document.
     Writing ability: The applicant should show a history of 
writing and editing ability.

Budget: (25%)

    A realistic budget, appropriate to the amount of work to be 
completed should be presented. Any matching funds should be identified. 
Preference will be given to otherwise qualified applicants able to 
secure matching funds or in-kind services.

VI. General Requirements

    Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and DOC regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to 
Federal financial assistance awards.
    All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name-
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key 
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or are 
presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or 
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's management 
honesty or financial integrity.
    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 any verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of the Department of 
Commerce to cover pre-award costs.
    The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an 
application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate 
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the 
proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total 
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is 
less.
    Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products 
authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program 
must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible in accordance with 
Public Law 103-121, Sections 606 (a) and (b).
    Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
    All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511, 
``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matter; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying,'' 
and the following explanations are hereby provided:
    1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the 
related section of the certification form, prescribed above;
    2. Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, 
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide 
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section 
of the certification form, prescribed above;
    3. Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section 
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, 
``Limitation on the use of appropriated funds to influence certain 
Federal contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying 
section of the certification form which applies to applications/bids 
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than 
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the 
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever 
is greater; and,
    4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosures. Any applicant that has paid or will 
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' prescribed above as required under 15 CFR Part 
28, Appendix B.
    5. Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier 
covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if 
applicable, a completed CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered 
Transactions and Lobbying,'' and disclosure from SF-LLL, ``Disclosure 
of Lobbying Activities,'' prescribed above. The original form CD-512 is 
intended for the use of recipients. SF-LLL submitted by any tier 
recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to DoC in accordance with 
the instructions contained in the award document.

VII. Classification

    This notice has been determined to be ``not significant'' for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law because this 
notice concerns grants, benefits and contracts. Therefore, a regulatory 
flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act.
    This action is categorically excluded from the requirement to 
prepare an environmental assessment by NOAA Directive 02-10.
    This notice does not contain policies with federalism implications 
sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism assessment under 
Executive Order 12612.
    The standard forms have been approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act under OMB Approval 
Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0348-0046.

    Dated: March 30, 1994.
W. Stanley Wilson,
Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.

Appendix I: Outline of MBNMS Site Characterization

I. Executive Summary of the Site Characterization
II. Introduction to the MB National Marine Sanctuary
A. Objective of the Site Characterization
B. The National Program and Establishment of MBNMS
C. Significance of Resources
III. Environmental and Historical/Cultural Conditions That Shape 
MBNMS
A. Geologic History & Mineral Resources
B. Present Geology
    1. Structure and tectonics
    2. Geohazards
    3. Nearshore sedimentary and canyon processes
C. Climate
D. Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
    1. Currents and other physical forces
    2. Water characteristics (i.e. temperature, salinity, chemistry, 
etc.)
    3. Seasonal and other temporal patterns
E. Archaeological, Cultural and Historical Resources
F. Socioeconomic Uses
    1. Fishing
    2. Vessel traffic
    3. Ecotourism
    4. Recreation
IV. Biological Communities
A. Kelp Forest and Rocky Subtidal Habitats
B. Rocky Intertidal Habitat
C. Soft Benthic Habitats
    1. Sandy beaches
    2. Shallow demersal habitats
    3. Deeper demersal (shelf) habitats
D. Canyon and Steep Slope Habitats
E. Pelagic Habitats
    1. Near-surface zone
    2. Mid-water zone
    3. Abyssal zone
F. Estuarine Habitats
V. Ecosystem Function
A. Nutrient Interactions
B. Energy Flow
C. Temporal and Spatial Variability
VI. Appendices
A. Maps
B. Common Species Lists For Biological Communities
C. Lists of Threatened and Endangered Species (State and Federal 
Listing)
D. Bibliography (including both cited and uncited literature)

Appendix II: Outline of GRNMS Site Characterization

I. Executive Summary of the Site Characterization
II. Introduction to the GR National Marine Sanctuary
A. Objective of the Site Characterization
B. The National Program and Establishment of GRNMS
C. Significance of Resources
III. Environmental and Historical/Cultural Conditions That Shape 
GRNMS
A. Geologic History & Mineral Resources
B. Present Geology and Sedimentary Processes
C. Climate
D. Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
    1. Currents and other physical forces
    2. Water characteristics (i.e. temperature, salinity, chemistry, 
etc.)
    3. Seasonal and other temporal patterns
E. Archaeological, Cultural and Historical Resources
F. Socioeconomic Uses
    1. Fishing
    2. Vessel traffic
    3. Tourism
    4. Recreation
    5. Military Operations
IV. Biological Communities
A. Plankton
B. Seaweeds
C. Invertebrates
D. Finfish
E. Turtles and other marine reptiles
F. Pelagic Birds
G. Marine Mammals
V. Ecosystem Function
A. Nutrient Interactions
B. Energy Flow
C. Temporal and Spatial Variability
D. Community Ecology
VI. Appendices
A. Maps
B. Common Species Lists for Biological Communities
C. Lists of Threatened and Endangered Species (State and Federal 
Listing)
D. Bibliography (including both cited and uncited literature)

[FR Doc. 94-11003 Filed 5-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M