[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7787-7788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3159]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Biological Service
State Partnership Program
AGENCY: National Biological Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Biological Service (NBS) is announcing the
availability of funds to States for research, inventory and monitoring,
and the dissemination of information relating to biological resources.
This program is intended to encourage and reinforce cooperative working
relationships between NBS and the States, and among States and their
agencies. It is anticipated that the resulting cooperation and
collaboration will produce and make available more and better
biological information at less cost by leveraging public funds for
greater efficiency.
DATES: Materials concerning this program, proposals, and applications
for Federal assistance must be received by March 22, 1995. Decisions on
the proposals will be made in April 1995.
ADDRESSES: Proposals should be sent to the National Biological Service
State Partnership Program; Mail Stop 3070-MIB, 1849 C Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Anne Young, Mail Stop 3070-
MIB, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240, telephone 202-482-3188,
or on internet as [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Purpose
The NBS is developing a multi-dimensional State Partnership Program
intended to build upon relationships between States and the Department
of the Interior (DOI) bureau elements that have been transferred to NBS
with the goals of (1) fostering collaborative efforts within and
between States to increase the availability of sound ecological and
biological science to decisionmakers; (2) producing information and
products regarding biological and ecological resources useful for
decisionmaking to all levels of government and the private sector; (3)
promoting more efficient use of both NBS and State funding by fostering
collaboration, and (4) promoting overall closer relationships with the
States. This program is conducted in furtherance of the Secretary's
obligations under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-j)
and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-667e). NBS
solicits applications for project funding.
B. Background
The NBS was created in November 1993, as an independent science
bureau in DOI. The Secretary of the Interior issued Order No. 3185 on
January 5, 1995, changing the name of ``the National Biological
Survey'' to ``the National Biological Service'' to more accurately
reflect the mission of the agency. Sec. 6.b. of Order No. 3185 reads:
``States have significant resource management responsibilities,
including species other than those entrusted to the Federal Government.
Also, they hold much of the information necessary to understand
important resource issues. The NBS will work with States to understand
the biological resource issues and share data, working with them to
establish common protocols and standards for data collection, analysis,
and dissemination.''
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) 1993 report on the NBS, A
Biological Survey for the Nation, stated that effective conservation
and protection of the Nation's resources depended on strong
partnerships between Federal and State agencies. The NBS concurs
strongly and seeks to expand its interactions with States. A key to NBS
success is the development of close collaboration between NBS and
States, and among various State agencies.
States have diverse capabilities for collecting data useful to a
variety of decisionmakers. Each State has legal mandates for conserving
and managing its fish and wildlife resources for values including
cultural, aesthetic, educational, scientific, economical, and
recreational. The NBS inherited constructive working relationships with
States through the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit programs
and a wide variety of programs and projects at the Fish and Wildlife
Research Centers now generally referred to as Science Centers--and
other field units. NBS therefore is keenly aware of the array of
biological information and expertise available from State agencies, and
how many of their missions and goals correlate well with NBS programs.
C. Availability of Funds
The NBS is inviting State agencies and institutions whose primary
focus is on natural resources to submit applications for funding for
Fiscal Year 1995. The total funding available for Fiscal Year 1995 is
$600,000. These monies will be provided to successful applicants on a
competitive basis. In order to maximize the number of States able to
participate, there is no minimum project cost. The maximum project cost
will be $150,000. Proposals showing matching funds and in-kind
contributions are encouraged as are proposals that are submitted as
collaborative projects among State entities or involving two or more
States.
D. Eligibility Requirements
Any agency or instrumentality of the several States, The District
of Columbia, and all Territories, Possessions and Commonwealths of the
United States, that conducts natural resource identification,
monitoring, or research, may apply.
E. Application Process
Any parties interested in obtaining more information from the NBS
State Partnership program and/or information on how to apply for
available funds should write to: The National Biological Service, State
Partnership Information Request, Mail Stop 3070-MIB, 1849 C Street NW.,
Washington, D.C. 20240, Attn: Mr. Robin O'Malley; or Internet:
O'[email protected]
All requestors will receive an information package with detailed
application instructions including the proposal format, the criteria
for funding, the methods by which proposals will be selected, a
description of NBS programs and priorities for FY 1995, a list of NBS
contacts for the specific areas, and an Application for Federal
Assistance (Standard Form 424). [[Page 7788]]
F. Dates
Proposals and Applications for Federal Assistance must be submitted
to the above address by March 22, 1995. Decisions on the proposals will
be made in April 1995.
F. Eugene Hester,
Deputy Director, NBS.
[FR Doc. 95-3159 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]
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