[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 112 (Monday, June 13, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-14222] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: June 13, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [Docket No. 940420-4120] RIN 0648-ZA05 Announcement of Opportunities for Research Funding in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System for Fiscal Year 1995 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Sanctuaries and Reserves Division of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management is soliciting proposals for funding research within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. The focus of funding for the upcoming annual grant period is the restoration of estuarine and estuarine-like ecosystems. This notice sets forth funding priorities, selection criteria, and procedures for proposal submission. DATES: All pre-proposals must be postmarked no later than July 15, 1994. Notification regarding the disposition of the pre-proposals will be issued on or about September 1, 1994. Final proposals must be postmarked no later than November 1, 1994. ADDRESSES: CAPT. Francesca M. Cava, Chief, Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, NOAA/Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 1305 East-West Highway, SSMC4, #12520, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: FY95 NERRS Research. FAX: 301-713-0404. See Appendix I for National Estuarine Research Reserve addresses. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:For further information on research opportunities under the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, contact the on-site personnel listed in Appendix I or CAPT. Francesca M. Cava of the Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (see Addresses above). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Authority and Background Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (CZMA), 16 U.S.C. 1461, establishes the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). 16 U.S.C. 1461 (e)(1)(B) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make grants to any coastal state or public or private person for purposes of supporting research and monitoring within a national estuarine reserve that are consistent with the research guidelines developed under subsection (c). This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under ``Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserve,'' Number 11.420. II. Information on Established National Estuarine Research Reserves The NERRS consists of estuarine areas of the United States which are designated, developed, and managed for research and educational purposes. Each National Estuarine Research Reserve (Reserve) within the NERRS is chosen to reflect regional differences and to include a variety of ecosystem types in accordance with the classification scheme of the national program as presented in 15 CFR part 921. Each Reserve is suited to support a wide range of beneficial uses of ecological, economic, recreational, and aesthetic value which are dependent upon maintenance of a healthy ecosystem. Each site provides habitat for a wide range of ecologically and commercially important species of fish, shellfish, birds, and other aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Each Reserve has been designed to ensure its effectiveness as a conservation unit and as a site for long-term research and monitoring. As part of a national system, the Reserves collectively provide an excellent opportunity to address research questions and estuarine management issues of national significance. For a detailed description of the sites, contact individual site Managers and/or Research Coordinators. The on-site contacts and addresses of the National Estuarine Research Reserves are provided in Appendix I. III. Availability of Funds Funds are available on a competitive basis to any public or private university, qualified public or private institution, individual, or coastal state (including Great Lakes States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas Islands) to conduct research within National Estuarine Research Reserves. Because NOAA has substantial involvement in the research, NERRS research funds are normally awarded through a cooperative agreement. NOAA may be involved in the project in the following manner: The Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (SRD), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, reserves the right to immediately halt activity on this project if it becomes obvious that the project is not fulfilling the mission of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System goals. Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the Principal Investigators, however, frequent guidance and direction is provided by the Federal Government for the successful conduct of this project. Non-compliance with a Federally approved management plan may result in immediate halting of the project. It is our intention to review and approve each stage of work before the next begins to assure quality scientific progression and results that will produce viable information on which to form valid, productive coastal management decisions. Managers, Research Coordinators, and all other staff at NERRS sites are ineligible to submit competitive research proposals under this Announcement. In FY92 through FY94, SRD provided funding in the amount of approximately $700,000, each year, for research in the NERRS. The approximate range of funding per successful project in recent years has been between $30,000 and $70,000. In FY95, it is expected that approximately $700,000 will be available for funding new one- and two- year projects at similar levels. Federal funds requested must be matched by the applicant by at least 30% of the total cost of the project. For example, it the total project cost is $10,000, the Federal share is $7,000, the non-Federal match is $3,000. Note: The match requirement was decreased from 50% to 30% by Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990. The required match must be with cash or the value of goods and services directly benefiting the project in accordance with 15 CFR part 24, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments,'' and OMB Circular A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations.'' It is anticipated that projects receiving funding under this announcement will begin in the spring/summer of 1995. Earliest anticipated start date is May 1, 1995. Applicants not familiar with the requirements of a cooperative agreement or who need additional information on application requirements are encouraged to contact SRD. IV. Purpose and Priorities Research funds are used to support management-related projects that will: enhance scientific understanding of Reserve environments; provide information needed by Reserve Managers and coastal zone decision makers; and improve public awareness of estuaries and estuarine management issues. Research projects may be oriented to specific Reserves; however, projects that involve or benefit more than one Reserve in the national system will be given higher priority. The primary research objective for the NERRS is the study of the causes and effects of natural and anthropogenically-induced change in the ecology of esturaine and estuarine-like ecosystems. All research funded through SRD should be designed to provide information of significant value to the development and implementation of resource management policy governing the U.S. coastal zone, for which NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management has management and regulatory responsibilities. Beginning in FY93, SRD established a series of two-year research priority categories to serve as foci for the SRD competitive research program (see below). The FY95-96 research priority, which is the subject of this notice, is habitat restoration. Every two years, SRD will review future research needs and establish the next two-year research priority. NERRS Research Priorities for FY 1993-1998 FY 1993, 1994: Non-point Source Pollution. FY 1995, 1996: Habitat Restoration. FY 1997, 1998: Effects of Habitat Alteration on Coastal Biota. Research proposals for FY95 should be designed to answer some aspect(s) of the following broad management-oriented question: What are the most appropriate methods, experimental designs, models and/or evaluative criteria for restoring estuarine and estuarine-like ecosystems? While this theme is the primary funding priority for SRD in FY95/96, consideration may also be given to other projects of special merit that address other significant coastal management issues (e.g., non-point source pollution) on a regional or national scale. The availability of funding for such projects of special merit will, however, be extremely limited, and will be determined after the primary research priority has been addressed. Research proposals submitted in response to this announcement must: address coastal management issues identified as having regional or national significance; relate them to the National Research Priority described in this announcement; and be conducted (at least partially) within one or more designated NERRS sites. Research projects are funded for a duration of either one or two years. Multiple year projects will always be initiated in the first year of a two-year priority. One-year projects may be submitted in either year of a two-year priority. Therefore, proposals submitted under this announcement for FY95 funding may be of one- or two-year duration. The research topic and the Reserve must be carefully chosen to ensure that the resource management issues of primary concern to the Reserve and the NERRS are addressed. Thus, it is critical that all prospective researchers contact the appropriate Reserve manager or research coordinator before submitting a proposal responding to this announcement. V. Guidelines for Proposal Preparation, Proposal Review and Evaluation, and Reporting Requirements Applicants for SRD research funds must follow the guidelines presented herein when preparing pre-proposals and proposals for research in Reserves. Pre-proposals and proposals not following these guidelines will be returned to the applicant without further review. Proposals for research in the NERRS are solicited annually for award the following fiscal year. Proposal due dates and other pertinent information are contained in this announcement of research opportunities. All proposals sent to SRD must cite and reference this Federal Register notice. Proposers must submit an original and two (2) copies of each proposal and all supporting documents (curricula vitae, literature referenced, etc.). Each proposal will be reviewed only as a one- or two-year project, as specified by the applicant. Applicants whose pre-proposals are approved for further review must submit an original and two (2) copies of their full proposals as well. A. Pre-proposals Pre-proposals will be used by SRD to evaluate the applicability of the research plan with regard to the goals of this announcement. Pre- proposals may not exceed six (6) double-spaced pages including the abstract, introduction, objectives, statement of hypothesis, brief methods description, and discussion of anticipated results and benefits. A discussion of coordination with other research in progress or proposed is encouraged. Each pre-proposal must include a cover page which lists principal investigator(s) name(s), address(es) and telephone number(s), proposal title, name of institution providing matching funds, amount of Federal funds requested and amount of match, requested start date (month), and site(s) where research is to be conducted. Curricula vitae (not to exceed 3 pages each) for each researcher and a detailed budget showing matching funds must be included. The 6 double-spaced page limit does not include budget and budget description, cover page, curriculum vitae, literature cited section, and any tables or figures. No Federal forms need be submitted with a pre-proposal. The pre-proposal and additional sections should be submitted to CAPT Francesca M. Cava at the address provided in the Addresses section. Receipt of all pre-proposals will be acknowledged and a copy sent to the appropriate Reserve Manager. All pre-proposals will be reviewed by SRD research staff, the SRD Headquarters Regional Managers and their staff, an outside technical review panel, and the relevant Reserve Manager, Research Coordinator, and their research advisory committees, where applicable. Pre-proposals will be rated using the criteria listed in section C below, ``Proposal Review and Evaluation.'' Applicants whose research projects are selected for further consideration will be requested to submit full proposal. Applicants whose projects are eliminated at this point will be notified. Incomplete pre-proposals will be returned to the Principal Investigator without further review. B. Full Proposals Full proposals may be submitted only by those individuals requested to do so following review of pre-proposals. Unsolicited full proposals will be returned without review. One (1) original and two (2) copies of the proposal (including all forms, curricula vitae, etc.) must be submitted to the same address as the pre-proposals. The proposal may not exceed 20 double-spaced pages, excluding Federal forms, table of contents, title page, literature cited, curricula vitae, budget, and figures and table. Incomplete proposals will be returned without further review. An Application Kit will be sent to those individuals who are requested to submit full proposals. This kit will include all required Federal forms, with instructions, as well as SRD guidelines for content and format of the full proposal. C. Proposal Review and Evaluation Pre-proposals will be reviewed as outlined in section A, ``Pre- proposals,'' above. All full proposals will be reviewed by: SRD research staff; at least two outside individuals who are acknowledged experts in the particular field represented by the proposal; and an outside panel of experts. Each full proposal is also forwarded to the appropriate SRD Regional, State Coastal Zone Management, and Reserve staffs for comments. Verbatim copies of all peer reviews, excluding the name of the reviewer, will be sent to the applicant. Applicants will have two weeks to address and rebut peer reviews. These rebuttals will be considered by SRD when final funding decisions are made. All recommendations for funding by SRD must be approved by the NOAA Grants Management Division before awards are made. In order to provide for the fair and equitable selection of the most meritorious research projects for support, SRD has established specific criteria for their review and evaluation. These criteria are intended to be applied to all research proposals in accordance with the SRD Research Priorities set forth in this announcement. The criteria used in both pre-proposal and full proposal review process are listed below, together with the elements that constitute each criterion and their relative weights (in parenthesis): 1. Scientific Merit (40%). This criterion is used to evaluate whether the objectives of the proposal are: important to the field; consistent with the stated national research priorities; and likely to improve the scientific understanding of estuarine processes within the Reserve(s) as well as in other similar estuaries. 2. Technical Approach (40%). This criterion is used to assess: the technical feasibility of the proposed effort; the reasonableness of the hypotheses; the degree to which the proposed timeline is realistic; the appropriateness and scientific validity of the proposed analytical methods; the degree to which the proposal demonstrates an understanding of the Reserve environment and management needs; the current state of knowledge in the particular field of research interest; and the total research requirements. 3. Qualifications of P.I. and Key Personnel (10%). This criterion relates to the experience and past performance of the principal investigator and key personnel, their familiarity with the geographic area of the proposed study, and their publication record. 4. Institutional Support and Capabilities (5%). This criterion relates to the extent of the applicant institution's support for and commitment to the proposed research and what facilities, equipment, and other resources are available to the principal investigator and key personnel from his/her institution for use in accomplishing the proposed work. 5. Budget (5%). This criterion is used to determine whether the budget is realistic and reasonable for accomplishing the proposed tasks. The external panel will review and rank the proposals based solely on the technical criteria above. The panel will submit its rankings to SRD. In making final funding decisions among qualified proposals ranked highly by the above technical criteria, SRD will also take into consideration the following programmatic policy factors: Utility to Reserve Management and to Regional Coastal Management Issues. This criterion is used to assess the likelihood that results of this research will support the management of the affected Reserve(s) and will enhance wise coastal resource management within the region(s) of study. Relevance to National Research Priorities and Utility to National Coastal Management Issues. This criterion is used to assess the relationship between the objectives of the proposed project and the National Research Priorities established by NOAA, and to assess the likelihood that results of this research will be important to national coastal management issues across the NERR System and coastal states. Consequently, proposals ranked highest on technical criteria will not necessarily receive funding from SRD. Final funding decisions will be made by the Chief of the Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, based upon review panel rankings and programmatic considerations. VI. Other Requirements Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and Federal and DOC policies, regulations, 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. 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. Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for funding. In addition, any recipients who are past due for submitting acceptable final reports under 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. 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. 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 total discretion of DOC. However, funding priority will be given to the second year of multi-year proposals upon satisfactory completion of the first year of research. Applications under this program are 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 applies; 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 applies; 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,'' 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 form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' 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. Buy American-Made Equipment or Products: Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program should be American-made to the extent feasible in accordance with Public Law 103-121, sections 606(a) and (b). Indirect 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. Preaward Activities: 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. VII. Classification This notice has been determined to be ``not significant'' for purposes of E.O. 12866. This action is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment by NOAA Administrative Order 216-6. This notice does not contain policies with federalism implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism assessment under Executive Order 12612. This notice contains a collection of information requirement subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of this information has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget, OMB Control Number 0648-0121. (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.420 Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves) Dated: June 1, 1994. Frank W. Maloney, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management. Appendix I--Nerrs On-Site Staff Alabama Mr. Thomas McAlpin, Manager, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 10936-B, U.S. Highway 98, Fairhope, AL 36532, (205) 928- 9792 California Mr. Steve Kimple, Manager, Dr. Andrew deVogelaere, Research Coordinator, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA 95076, (408) 728-2822 Mr. Ed Navarro, Acting Manager, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, 3990 Old Town Ave., Suite 300C, San Diego, CA 92110, (619) 220-5400 Delaware Mr. Lee Emmons, Manager, Dr. Bill Meredith, Research Coordinator, Delaware NERR, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, DE 19903, 302-739-6444 Florida Mr. Woodard Miley II, Manager, Mr. Lee Edmiston, Research Coordinator, Apalachicola River National Estuarine Research Reserve, 261 7th Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (904) 653-8063 Mr. Gary Lytton, Manager, Dr. Thomas Smith, Research Coordinator, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 10 Shell Island Road, Naples, FL 33942, (813) 775-8845 Georgia Mr. Buddy Sullivan, Manager, Dr. Stuart Stevens, Research Coordinator, Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 19, Sapelo Island, GA 31327, (912) 485-2251 (Sullivan), (912) 264-7218 (Stevens) Hawaii Mr. William Stormont, Manager, Waimanu Valley National Estuarine Research Reserve, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, (808) 587-0051 Note: The State of Hawaii has requested that Waimanu Valley NERR be formally removed from the NERRS. This may affect future research resources and opportunities at this site. Maine Mr. James List, Manager, Dr. Michelle Dionne, Research Coordinator, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, RR #2, Box 806, Wells, ME 04090, (207) 646-1555. Maryland Ms. Mary Ellen Dore, Manager, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland, Dept. of Natural Resources, Tawes State Office Building, B-3, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 974-3382 Massachusetts Ms. Christine Gault, Manager, Dr. Richard Crawford, Research Coordinator, Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Dept. of Environmental Management, P.O. Box 92W, Waquoit, MA 02536, (508) 457-0495 New Hampshire Mr. Peter Wellenberger, Manager, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 37 Concord Road, Durham, NH 03824, (603) 868-1095 New York Ms. Elizabeth Blair, Manager, Mr. Chuck Nieder, Research Coordinator, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, c/o Bard College Field Station, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504, (914) 758-5193 North Carolina Dr. John Taggart, Manager, Dr. Steve Ross, Research Coordinator, North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 7205 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403, (919) 256-3721 Ohio Mr. Eugene Wright, Manager, Dr. David Klarer, Research Coordinator, Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve, 2514 Cleveland Road, East, Huron, OH 44839, (419) 433-4601 Oregon Mr. Michael Graybill, Manager, Dr. Steve Rumrill, Research Coordinator, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, P.O. Box 5417, Charleston, OR 97420, (503) 888-5558 Puerto Rico Mr. Ramon Martinez, Manager, Mr. Carlos J. Cianchini, Research Coordinator, Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Dept. of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 1170, Guayama, PR 00655, (809) 864-0105 Rhode Island Mr. Al Beck, Manager, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Dept. of Environmental Management, Box 151 Prudence Island, RI 02872, (401) 683-5061 South Carolina Mr. Michael D. McKenzie, Manager, Dr. Elizabeth Wenner, Research Coordinator, Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin, South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, P.O. Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29412, (803) 762-5052 Dr. Dennis Allen, Manager, Dr. Joe Schubauer-Berigan, Research Coordinator, North Inlet-Winyah Bay, Baruch Marine Field Laboratory, P.O. Box 1630, Georgetown, SC 29442, (803) 546-3623 Virginia Dr. Maurice P. Lynch, Manager, Dr. Jeffrey Shields, Research Coordinator, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, P.O. Box 1347, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, (804) 642-7135 Washington Mr. Terry Stevens, Manager, Dr. Douglas Bulthuis, Research Coordinator, Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1043 Bayview-Edison Road, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273, (206) 428-1558 [FR Doc. 94-14222 Filed 6-10-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-08-M