[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11949]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 16, 1994]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part VI





Department of Commerce





_______________________________________________________________________



National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration



_______________________________________________________________________



Oyster Disease Research; Financial Assistance; Availability of Funds; 
Notice
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 94-0528-4128, I.D. 031894A]
RIN: 0648-ZA02

 

Financial Assistance for Oyster Disease Research

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: A total of $1.3 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 1994 funds is 
available through the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office to assist 
interested state fishery agencies, academic institutions, and other 
nonprofit organizations relating to cooperative research units, in 
carrying out research projects to provide information on oyster 
diseases through cooperative agreements. NMFS issues this notice 
describing the conditions under which eligible applications will be 
accepted and how NMFS will determine which applications will be 
selected for funding.

DATES: Applications for funding under this program will be accepted 
between May 16, 1994 and 6 p.m. eastern standard time on June 30, 1994. 
Applications received after that time will not be considered for 
funding. No applications will be accepted by facsimile machine 
submission.
    Successful applicants generally will be selected approximately 90 
days from the date of publication of this notice and the earliest date 
for awards will be about 180 days after the date of publication of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Send applications to: M. Elizabeth Gillelan, Division Chief, 
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, NMFS, 410 Severn Avenue, suite 107A, 
Annapolis, MD 21403.
    Questions of an administrative nature should be referred to: Grants 
Management Division, Attn: Jean West, Chief, Grants Operations Branch, 
NOAA, SSMC2, OA321, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, at 
301/713-0926.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: M. Elizabeth Gillelan, 410/267-5660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, at 16 U.S.C. 753 
(a), authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), for the purpose 
of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training 
programs for fish and wildlife resources, to continue to enter into 
cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, with game and 
fish departments of the several states, and with non-profit 
organizations relating to cooperative research units. The Departments 
of Commerce (DOC), Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act of 1994 makes funds available to the Secretary.
    The research to be funded is in support of the Oyster Disease 
Research Program, which provides information on American oyster 
disease-related research and management concerns in the northeastern 
United States. The program investigates selected aspects of the life 
cycle of oyster pathogens, physiological and genetic factors that 
influence disease resistance in the American oyster, Crassostrea 
virginica, and management strategies that would enhance survival of the 
public fishery and prospects for resource rehabilitation.
    Oyster disease research is essential, given the recent devastating 
effect of oyster diseases on the Maryland and Virginia oyster 
fisheries. Oyster harvests from the Chesapeake Bay reached record lows 
in 1992-1993. Fishery management approaches that manage around the 
diseases have not been able to guard against widespread disease 
outbreaks. New research into the diseases should provide new knowledge 
and new tools for managing and restoring these oyster populations.

II. Areas of Special Emphasis

    A. Proposals should exhibit familiarity with related work that is 
completed or ongoing. Where appropriate, proposals should be 
multidisciplinary. Coordinated efforts involving multiple eligible 
applicants or persons are encouraged. Eligible women and minority 
scientists, associated with eligible applicants, are encouraged to 
submit applications. While the areas for special emphasis are listed 
below, proposals in other areas will be considered on a funds-available 
basis. Primary consideration for funding will be given to applications 
addressing the specific priorities listed in this section. These 
priorities are not listed in any implied order. NMFS will accept 
proposals that address other significant areas of research on C. 
virginica; however, consideration cannot be guaranteed.
    Consideration will be given to applications that address the 
following American oyster disease research and management priorities 
for the northeastern United States:

1. Technical Priorities

    a. Investigate the basic mechanisms (physiological, genetic, 
immunological, biochemical, etc.) that may make C. virginica resistant/
susceptible to the diseases currently affecting the Northeast Region's 
oyster populations. This includes the genetic basis for disease 
resistance and the possible development of gene transfer techniques 
that could lead to improved native oysters.
    b. Investigate selected aspects of the life cycle and natural 
history of C. virginicus pathogens, with emphasis on transmission 
dynamics; identification of intermediate hosts; and determination of 
the time/age when young oysters first become susceptible to 
Haplosporidium nelsoni, commonly known as MSX, or Perkinsus marinus, 
known as Dermo.
    c. Utilize P. marinus cultures and isolated cells to investigate 
the biochemistry and physiology of this pathogen, with emphasis on 
osmotic tolerance of cells in vitro and the role of virulence factors 
in pathogenicity.
    d. Investigate juvenile oyster mortalities occurring in the 
Northeast Region, including the identification of the definitive 
disease agent, its range, and impact on the oyster industry.

2. Management-Related Priorities

    a. Develop and test new management strategies that would enhance 
survival of a fishery in the continuous presence of disease, such as 
the establishment of brood stock sanctuaries, genetic selection 
programs, aquaculture techniques, and oyster reef research and 
development.
    b. Develop resource survey techniques that can be adopted to manage 
disease-affected oyster populations effectively and provide background 
data to support development of management options for resource 
rehabilitation.
    c. Evaluate the potential of a Geographic Information System 
approach for characterizing the transmission dynamics of oyster 
diseases throughout the Chesapeake Bay.
    B. Applications addressing the priorities should build upon, or 
take into account, any related past or current work. During FY 92 and 
FY 93, funds under this program were awarded for the following 
projects, at a total cost of $1.3 million, for each year.
    1. FY 93:
    a. Role of Oyster Lysosomal Enzymes in Disease Resistance.
    b. Field and Laboratory Study of the Process and Dynamics of 
Perkinsus marinus Infection of the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea 
virginica.
    c. Extracellular Protein from Perkinsus marinus: Analysis of 
Pathogenic Mechanisms and Development of Enhanced Diagnoses.
    d. Population Genetic Structure of Perkinsus marinus.
    e. Intertidal Oyster Reefs as a Tool for Estuarine Environmental 
Rehabilitation and Rejuvenation of the Virginia Oyster Fishery.
    f. Replenishment Strategies in the Continuous Presence of Disease.
    g. Infectivity of Cultured Perkinsus marinus: Effects of Parasite 
Life Stage and Delivery Method.
    h. Development of Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX)-Specific DNA Probes 
for Diagnostic Applications and Life Cycle Studies.
    i. Hybridization of Eastern and Pacific Oysters Using Bridging 
Taxa.
    j. Development of Culture Strategies to Reduce Losses Due to 
Juvenile Oyster Mortalities in the Northeast.
    k. Physiological Responses of the Oyster Crassostrea virginica to 
Infections of Perkinsus marinus: Effects of Environmental Variables on 
Acid-base Status.
    l. ELISA Assay for Detection of Perkinsus marinus in Oyster Tissue.
    m. American Oyster Stock Assessment in Maryland.
    n. Technical Support for Maryland's Oyster Recovery Action Plan.
    o. Flow Cytometric Enumeration of P. marinus Cells in Chesapeake 
Bay Waters.
    p. Development and Evaluation of Nucleic Acid Probes for Diagnosis 
and Detection of Genetic Polymorphisms of Perkinsus marinus.
    q. Utilization of Genetically Selected Lines to Reduce the Impact 
of Juvenile Oyster Mortality.
    2. FY 92:
    a. Use of Immuno-Stimulants to Augment the Resistance of the 
Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica to Infection by Perkinsus marinus.
    b. A Stock-Recruitment Model of the James River Oyster Fishery.
    c. Studies of Genetic Variation Between and Within Strains of the 
American Oyster Selected for Disease Resistance II. Analysis of 
Anonymous Nuclear Loci.
    d. Development of a Microcomputer-Based Geographic Information 
System (GIS) for the Visualization, Interpretation, and Analysis of 
Maryland Chesapeake Bay Oyster Disease and Population Information.
    e. American Oyster Stock Assessment in Maryland.
    f. In vitro Propagation of Perkinsus marinus.
    g. Resistance of Crassostrea virginica Races to Perkinsus marinus 
Isolates: A Foundation for Breeding and Management.
    h. Life Cycle Studies of Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) Spores and 
Non-Oyster Hosts.
    i. Relative Effects of Harvest Pressure and Disease Mortality on 
the Population Dynamics of the Eastern Oyster in Delaware Bay.
    j. Development of a DNA Probe to Investigate the Life Cycle of 
Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX).
    k. Life Cycle Studies of Perkinsus marinus-Host Specificity.
    l. Flow Cytometric Quantification and Analysis of Perkinsus marinus 
Cells Present in Estuarine Waters.
    m. Integrated Physiological Investigation of the Effects of 
Protozoan Parasitism in the Oyster, Crassostrea virginica.

III. How To Apply

A. Eligible Applicants

    The cooperative agreement has been determined as the appropriate 
funding instrument because of the substantial involvement of NMFS in 
(1) developing program research priorities, (2) performing cooperative 
research jointly with eligible applicants through the NMFS unit at the 
Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, (3) evaluating the performance of the 
program for effectiveness in meeting national and regional goals for 
Chesapeake Bay oyster conservation and restoration, (4) monitoring the 
progress of each funded project, (5) holding periodic workshops with 
investigators to encourage inter-disciplinary dialogue and forge 
synthesis of results, and (6) working with recipients in preparation of 
annual reports summarizing current accomplishments of the Oyster 
Disease Research Program.
    Applications for cooperative agreements under the oyster disease 
research program may be submitted, in accordance with the procedures 
set forth in this notice, by any state game and fish department, 
college or university, or other nonprofit organizations relating to 
cooperative research units. Eligible applicants outside the 
northeastern United States (Maine to Virginia) may submit proposals, as 
long as their objectives support the technical and management 
priorities of the Northeast Region, as defined in sections II.A.1. and 
II.A.2. above. All solicited proposals received by the closing date 
will be considered by NMFS. Applicants will be expected to identify the 
principal investigators who will be conducting the research. Curricula 
vitae should also be provided for all essential personnel.
    Investigators submitting proposals in response to this announcement 
are strongly encouraged to develop interinstitutional, inter-
disciplinary research teams in the form of single, integrated proposals 
or as individual proposals that are clearly linked together. Such 
collaborative efforts will be factored into the final funding decision. 
These efforts may be among external eligible applicants, as well as 
with NMFS scientists at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory. NMFS 
personnel may participate in joint efforts with non-NMFS persons or 
groups in these projects, as long as these non-NMFS persons or groups 
have applied and successfully competed for oyster disease research 
funds through the process outlined in this announcement and as long as 
these applications refer to, or include, an internal NMFS proposal that 
details how NMFS personnel plan to cooperate. Any activities to be 
undertaken by NMFS personnel under such cooperative agreements will be 
funded by direct transfer of oyster disease research funds or regular 
appropriated funds within NMFS. No such NMFS activity is to be funded 
by non-NMFS persons or groups using oyster disease research funds other 
than those who have successfully competed for funds under this 
announcement.

B. Amount and Duration of Funds

    Under this solicitation, NMFS will fund American oyster disease 
research projects under this program for 1-year cooperative agreements. 
Project dates should be scheduled to begin on December 1, 1994. 
Cooperative agreements are approved on an annual basis but may be 
considered eligible for continuation beyond the first project and 
budget period subject to the approved scope of work, satisfactory 
progress, and availability of funds at the total discretion of NMFS. 
However, there are no assurances for such continuation. Publication of 
this notice does not obligate NMFS to award any specific cooperative 
agreement or to obligate any part of the entire amount of funds 
available.

C. Cost-Sharing Requirements

    Applications must reflect the total budget necessary to accomplish 
the project, including contributions and/or donations. Cost sharing is 
not required under the oyster disease research program. However, cost 
sharing is encouraged to enhance the value of a project, and in case of 
a tie in considering proposals for funding, cost-sharing may affect the 
final decision. The appropriateness of all cost-sharing will be 
determined on the basis of guidance provided in applicable Federal cost 
principles. If an applicant chooses to share cost, and if that 
application is selected for funding, the applicants will be bound by 
the percentage of cost sharing reflected in the grant award.
    The non-Federal share may include funds received from private 
sources or from state or local governments or the value of in-kind 
contributions. Federal funds may not be used to meet the non-Federal 
share of matching funds, except as provided by Federal statute. In-kind 
contributions may be in the form of, but are not limited to, personal 
services rendered in carrying out functions related to the project, and 
permission to use real or personal property owned by others (for which 
consideration is not required) in carrying out the project.
    The total cost of a project begins on the effective date of a 
cooperative agreement between the applicant and an authorized 
representative of the U.S. Government and ends on the date specified in 
the award. Accordingly, the time expended and costs incurred in either 
the development of a project or the financial assistance application, 
or in any subsequent discussions or negotiations prior to the award, 
are neither reimbursable nor recognizable as part of the recipient's 
cost share.

D. Format

    1. Applications for project funding must be complete. Applicants 
must identify the specific research priority or priorities to which 
they are responding. For applications containing more than one project, 
each project component must be identified individually using the format 
specified in this section. If an application is not in response to a 
priority, it should be so stated. Applicants should not assume prior 
knowledge on the part of NMFS as to the relative merits of the project 
described in the application. Applications are not to be bound in any 
manner and should be one-sided. All incomplete applications will be 
returned to the applicant. Applicants must submit one signed original 
and two copies of the complete application.
    2. Applications must be submitted in the following format:
    a. Cover Sheet: An applicant must use OMB Standard Form 424 
(revised 4/92) as the cover sheet for each project. Applicants may 
obtain copies of these forms from the NOAA Grants Management Division 
or the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (see ADDRESSES).
    b. Project Summary: Each proposal must contain a summary of not 
more than one page that provides the following:
    (1) Project title.
    (2) Project status (new).
    (3) Project duration (beginning and ending dates).
    (4) Name, address, and telephone number of applicant.
    (5) Principal Investigator(s).
    (6) Project objectives.
    (7) Summary of work to be performed.
    (8) Total Federal funds requested.
    (9) Cost-sharing to be provided from non-Federal sources, if any. 
Specify whether contributions are project-related cash or in-kind.
    (10) Total project cost.
    c. Project Description: Each project must be completely and 
accurately described. Each project description may be up to 15 pages in 
length. If an application is awarded, NMFS will make all portions of 
the project description available to the public for review; therefore, 
NMFS cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any information submitted 
as part of any project, nor will NMFS accept for consideration any 
project requesting confidentiality of any part of the project.
    Each project must be described as follows:
    (1) Identification of Problem(s): Describe the specific problem to 
be addressed and the area of emphasis to which the project responds 
(see section II above).
    (2) Project Objectives: This is one of the most important parts of 
the Project Proposal. Use the following guidelines for stating the 
objective of the project.
    (a) Keep it simple and easily understandable.
    (b) Be as specific and quantitative as possible.
    (c) Specify the ``what and when;'' avoid the ``how and why.''
    (d) Keep it attainable within the time, money, and manpower 
available.
    (e) Use action verbs that are accomplishment oriented.
    (3) Need for Government Financial Assistance: Demonstrate the need 
for assistance. Any appropriate database to substantiate or reinforce 
the need for the Project should be included. Explain why other funding 
sources cannot fund all the proposed work. List all other sources of 
funding that are or have been sought for the project.
    (4) Benefits or Results Expected: Identify and document the results 
or benefits to be derived from the proposed activities.
    (5) Project Statement of Work: The Statement of Work is the 
scientific or technical action plan of activities that are to be 
accomplished during each budget period of the project. This description 
must include the specific methodologies, by project job activity, 
proposed for accomplishing the proposal's objective(s). If the work 
described in this section does not contain sufficient detail to allow 
for proper technical evaluation, NMFS will not consider the application 
for funding and will return it to the applicant. Each Statement of Work 
must include the following information:
    (a) The applicant's name.
    (b) The inclusive dates of the budget period covered under the 
Statement of Work.
    (c) The title of the proposal.
    (d) The scientific or technical objectives and procedures that are 
to be accomplished during the budget period. Devise a detailed set of 
objectives and procedures to answer who, what, how, when, and where. 
The procedures must be of sufficient detail to enable competent workers 
to be able to follow them and to complete scheduled activities.
    (e) Location of the work.
    (f) A list of all project personnel and their responsibilities.
    (g) A milestone table that summarizes the procedures (from item 
III.D.(c)(5)(d)) that are to be attained in each month covered by the 
Statement of Work.
    (6) Participation by Persons or Groups Other Than the Applicant: 
Describe the level of participation required in the project(s) by NOAA 
or other government and non-government entities. Specific NOAA 
employees should not be named in the initial proposal.
    (7) Federal, State and Local Government Activities: List any 
programs (Federal, state, or local government or activities, including 
Sea Grant, state Coastal Zone Management programs, NOAA Chesapeake Bay 
Stock Assessment Committee, the state/Federal Chesapeake Bay Program, 
etc.) this project would affect and describe the relationship between 
the project and those plans or activities.
    (8) Project Management: Describe how the project will be organized 
and managed. Include resumes of principal investigators. List all 
persons directly employed by the applicant who will be involved with 
the project, their qualifications, and their level of involvement in 
the project.
    (9) Monitoring of Project Performance: Identify who will 
participate in monitoring the project.
    (10) Project Impacts: Describe the impact of the project in terms 
of anticipated increased production, sales, product quality and safety, 
improved management, or any other values that will be produced by this 
project. Describe how these products or services will be made available 
to the fisheries and management communities.
    (11) Evaluation of Project: The applicant is required to provide an 
evaluation of project accomplishments at the end of each budget period 
and in the final report. The application must describe the methodology 
or procedures to be followed to determine technical feasibility, or to 
quantify the results of the project in promoting increased production, 
product quality and safety, management effectiveness, or other 
measurable factors.
    (12) Total Project Costs: Total project costs is the amount of 
funds required to accomplish what is proposed in the Statement of Work, 
and includes contributions and donations. All costs must be shown in a 
detailed budget. Cost-sharing must not come from another Federal 
source. Costs must be allocated to the Federal share and non-Federal 
share provided by the applicant or other sources. Non-Federal costs are 
to be divided into cash and in-kind contributions. A standard budget 
form (SF-424A) is available from the offices listed (see ADDRESSES). 
NMFS will not consider fees or profits as allowable costs for grantees. 
To support the budget, the applicant must describe briefly the basis 
for estimating the value of the non-Federal funds derived from in-kind 
contributions. Additional cost detail may be required prior to a final 
analysis of overall cost allowability, allocability, and 
reasonableness. The date, period covered, and findings for the most 
recent financial audit performed; as well as the name of the audit 
firm, the contact person, and phone number and address; must be also 
provided.
    d. Supporting Documentation: This section should include any 
required documents and any additional information necessary or useful 
to the description of the project. The amount of information given in 
this section will depend on the type of project proposed, but should be 
no more than 20 pages. The applicant should present any information 
that would emphasize the value of the project in terms of the 
significance of the problems addressed. Without such information, the 
merits of the project may not be fully understood, or the value of the 
project may be underestimated. The absence of adequate supporting 
documentation may cause reviewers to question assertions made in 
describing the project and may result in lower ranking of the project. 
Information presented in this section should be clearly referenced in 
the project description.

IV. Review Process and Criteria

A. Initial Evaluation of Applications

    Applications will be reviewed to assure that they meet all 
requirements of this announcement, including eligibility and relevance 
to the Oyster Disease Research Program.

B. Consultation With Experts in the Field of Oyster Disease Research

    For applications meeting the requirements of this solicitation, 
NMFS will conduct a technical evaluation of each project prior to any 
other review. This review normally will involve experts from non-NOAA 
as well as NOAA organizations. All comments submitted to NMFS will be 
taken into consideration in the technical evaluation of projects. 
Reviewers will be asked to comment on the following evaluation 
criteria:
    1. Problem description and project conceptual approach toward 
resolution, especially the applicant's comprehension of the problem(s), 
familiarity with related work that is completed or ongoing, and the 
overall concept proposed to resolve the problem(s) (30 points).
    2. Soundness of project design/technical approach, especially 
whether the applicant provided sufficient information to technically 
evaluate the project and, if so, the strengths and weaknesses of the 
technical design proposed for problem resolution (35 points).
    3. Project management and experience and qualifications of 
personnel, including organization and management of the project, and 
the personnel experience and qualifications (15 points).
    4. Justification and allocation of the budget in terms of the work 
to be performed (20 points).

C. Review Panel

    NMFS will convene a review panel of nationally or regionally 
recognized experts in the scientific and management aspects of oyster 
disease research who will review each proposal as follows:
    1. Review field review responses.
    2. Provide their own reviews based on the same criteria as the 
field reviews.
    3. Discuss all review comments as a panel.
    4. Provide individual panelist scores and suggestions for 
modifications (i.e., budget, personnel, technical approach, etc.).

D. Funding Decision

    1. Applications will be ranked by NMFS into two groups: (a) 
Recommended, and (b) not recommended. As previously stated (section 
III.A.1., above), collaborative proposals are strongly encouraged, and 
therefore will be given added weight in the selection process. Numeric 
ranking will be the major consideration for deciding which of the 
``recommended'' proposals will be selected for funding. Because NMFS 
will seek to balance technical and management priorities of the 
program, the highest-ranked ``recommended'' proposals may not 
necessarily receive funding.
    2. After projects have been ranked for funding, the Chief of the 
NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office, in consultation with the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, will ascertain which projects do not 
substantially duplicate other projects that are currently funded by 
NOAA or are approved for funding by other Federal offices, determine 
the projects to be recommended for funding, and determine the amount of 
funds available for the program. The exact amount of funds awarded to 
each project will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant, the Grants Office, and the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office 
staff. A project must not be initiated by a recipient until a signed 
award is received from the Grants Officer.

V. Other Requirements

A. Deliverables

    In addition to quarterly status and budget reports, and at the time 
of submission of the final report of results of funded projects, 
recipients must submit a four-to-five page summary of project work and 
results that will be compiled in a report of oyster disease research 
program results. Projects that produce non-experimental data must have 
copies of these data transferred to the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office 
in both compiled, hard copy format, and as a verified, electronic data 
file. Full, clearly stated documentation of the contents of such data 
files must be submitted with these data.

B. Periodic Workshops

    Investigators will be expected to attend periodic workshops with 
other Oyster Disease Research Program researchers to encourage inter-
disciplinary dialogue and forge synthesis of results.

C. Administrative

    Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to 
Federal financial assistance awards.
    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.
    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding. In addition, any 
recipient and/or researcher who is past due for submitting acceptable 
progress reports on any previous project funded under this program may 
be ineligible to be considered for new awards until the delinquent 
reports are received, reviewed and deemed acceptable by NMFS.
    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 DOC are made.
    Primary Applicant Certifications--All primary applicants must 
submit a completed FORM CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; 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 26.105) are subject to 15 CFR part 
26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the related 
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    2. Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26.605) 
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 applies;
    3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR 28.105) are subject 
to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of 
appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and 
financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification 
form prescribed above 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 Disclosure--Any applicant who has paid or will pay 
for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.
    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 Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding 
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier 
Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form SF-LLL, 
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the 
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL 
submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to 
DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award 
document.
    Potential recipients may be required to submit an ``Identification-
Application for Funding Assistance'' (Form CD-346), which is used to 
ascertain background information on key individuals associated with the 
potential recipient. 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 that significantly reflect on the 
applicant's management honesty or financial integrity. Applicants will 
also be subject to credit check reviews.
    A false statement on the 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. Applications under this 
program are subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs.''
    If an application is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation to 
provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Renewal 
of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is 
at the total discretion of DOC.
    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 DOC to cover preaward 
costs.
    Cooperative agreements awarded pursuant to pertinent statutes shall 
be in accordance with the Fisheries Research Plan (comprehensive 
program of fisheries research) in effect on the date of the award.
    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).

Classification

    This action 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 for this notice 
concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a regulatory 
flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act.
    This notice contains collections of information subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, which have been approved by OMB under OMB 
control numbers 0348-0043 and 0605-0001.

    Dated: May 12, 1994.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-11949 Filed 5-12-94; 1:03 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P