[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13963-13967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6312]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 95-0222054-5054-01; I.D. 021495A]
RIN 0648-ZA15
Financial Assistance for Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessments to
Encourage Research Projects for Improvement in the Stock Conditions of
the Chesapeake Bay Fisheries
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: A total of $540,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 1995 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 for Chesapeake
Bay Stock Assessments through cooperative agreements. About $180,000 of
the base amount is available to initiate new projects in FY 1995, as
described in this announcement. 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
until May 1, 1995, 6 p.m. eastern standard time. 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 in the Federal Register of this
notice. The earliest date for awards will be approximately 180 days
after the date of publication in the Federal Register 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: M. Elizabeth Gillelan, 410/267-5660.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
A. Authority. 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 nonprofit
organizations relating to cooperative research units. The Departments
of Commerce (DOC), Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act of 1995 makes funds available to the Secretary.
B. Catalog of Federal assistance. The research to be funded is in
support of the Chesapeake Bay Studies (CFDA 11.457), under the
Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee (CBSAC).
C. Program description. The CBSAC was established in 1985 to plan
and review Bay-wide resource assessments, coordinate relevant actions
of state and Federal agencies, report on fisheries status and trends,
and determine, fund and review research projects. The program
implements a Bay-wide plan for the assessment of commercially,
recreationally, and selected ecologically important species in the
Chesapeake Bay. In 1988, CBSAC developed a Bay-wide Stock Assessment
Plan, in response to provisions in the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of
1987. The plan identified that key obstacles to assessing Bay stocks
were the lack of consistent, Bay-wide, fishery-dependent and fishery-
independent data. Research projects funded since 1988 have focused on
developing and improving fishery-independent surveys and catch
statistics for key Bay species, such as striped bass, oysters, blue
crabs, and alosids. Stock assessment research is essential, given the
recent declines in harvest and apparent stock condition for many of the
important species of the Chesapeake Bay.
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 owned
and operated non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply.
Consideration for funding will be given to applications that
address the following stock assessment research and management
priorities for the Chesapeake Bay. These are listed in priority order:
1. Design and development of a Bay-wide recreational survey for
blue crabs. This study should provide not only estimates of blue crab
harvest by category (eg., hard, soft, peeler) and associated effort,
but also biological [[Page 13964]] sample data on size or age
distribution of the recreational harvest. This could be designed as a
stand-alone survey, or as a supplement to the NMFS Marine Recreational
Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS).
A major impediment to understanding the status of the fishery
resources in the Chesapeake Bay is the lack of knowledge of the total
removals, by fishing, of important fish and shellfish species. While
estimates of commercial catches from both Maryland and Virginia are
available based on state reporting requirements, estimates of
recreational blue crab harvest are not available for most years. A main
concern to be addressed in the design of this survey is the difficulty
in obtaining estimates of recreational blue crab catches since much of
the harvest is landed at private, rather than public, docks and ramps.
The recreational survey design should be consistent with the model
of the NMFS MRFSS, with its two principal design components. First, a
telephone survey instrument used to enumerate total period and seasonal
directed fishing effort by mode. Secondly, an access intercept survey
component to estimate period/seasonal mean catch-rate by mode and
category, and the collection of biological characterization data.
Proposals for this priority must address the following aspects of
the survey design.
a. Identification of the access-intercept sampling frame,
including:
(1) List of all access sites.
(2) Detailed model for scheduling the temporal and geographic
distribution of field interviews within the sampling frame, and the
routing scheme among access sites.
(3) Description of information to be obtained from interviews,
specifically the interview survey questionnaire.
(4) Description of the nature and manner of collection of
biological samples which will minimally include size, sex, and category
by mode.
b. Identification of the telephone survey sampling frame,
including:
(1) Specifications of who is included in the sampling frame and how
this was determined.
(2) Complete description of the temporal distribution of telephone
calls and associated sample size requirements.
(3) Specification of the interview survey questionnaire.
c. Completion of a pilot study, which will successfully demonstrate
the effectiveness of the above two survey components for the estimation
and characterization of blue crab recreational harvest. The pilot study
should minimally address the following:
(1) Comparisons of catch rates among the various fishing modes,
methods, and times, etc. which will serve as the basis for determining
the proportional sampling needed to provide unbiased estimates.
(2) Identification and resolution of any deficiencies in the
sampling frame.
(3) Final estimates of the pilot study period recreational harvest
by category, mode (with associated effort) and measures of percent
standard error about the point estimates.
Copies of a report of a workshop which discussed concerns specific
to the design of a recreational blue crab survey may be obtained from
the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office.
2. Design and conduct a study to determine the discard mortality
and discard size frequencies in the commercial and recreational
fisheries in Chesapeake Bay. This study should provide information on
the reason for discard (e.g., minimum size regulation, lack of market,
etc.), the length distribution of discards, and discard mortality
rates, primarily for summer flounder and bluefish, as well as other
important Bay species. This is to be a onetime study, not a design
effort for future implementation.
Discard information is limited and current assessments are forced
to use analogous information from other species and limited areas. Data
from this study would be a valuable improvement in coastwide
assessments.
3. Design of a cost-effective American shad mark-and-recapture
(tagging) study which would provide abundance and mortality estimates
for Chesapeake Bay stocks. There is currently a Bay-wide moratorium on
the harvest of American shad, yet coastal intercept fisheries continue
to harvest this species. This study should be designed to identify
which fisheries harvest Bay stocks, and provide estimates of the
abundance and mortality rates for those stocks.
B. Applications addressing the priorities should build upon, or
take into account, any related past or current work.
III. How to Apply
A. Eligible Applicants. Applications for cooperative agreements
under the Chesapeake Bay Studies 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. Other Federal
agencies or institutions are not eligible to receive Federal assistance
under this notice.
DOC/NOAA/NMFS employees, including full-time, part-time, and
intermittent personnel (or their spouses or blood relatives who are
members of their immediate households) are not eligible to submit an
application under this solicitation or aid in the preparation of an
application, except to provide information on program goals, funding
priorities, application procedures, and completion of application
forms. Since this is a competitive program, assistance will not be
provided in conceptualizing, developing, or structuring proposals.
Eligible applicants outside the Chesapeake Bay region may submit
proposals, as long as their objectives support the technical and
management priorities of the Chesapeake Bay, as defined in section
II.A. above. All solicited proposals received by the closing date will
be considered by NMFS.
B. Duration and terms of funding. Under this solicitation, NMFS
will fund Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Research Projects for 1 year
cooperative agreements. 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. Evaluating the performance of the program for effectiveness in
meeting regional goals for Chesapeake Bay stock assessments;
3. Monitoring the progress of each funded project;
4. Holding periodic workshops with investigators; and
5. Working with recipients in preparation of annual reports
summarizing current accomplishments of the Chesapeake Bay Stock
Assessment Committee. Project dates should be scheduled to begin no
later than 1 October 1995. 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. Applications must reflect the total budget
necessary to accomplish the project, including contributions and/or
donations. Cost sharing is not required under the Chesapeake Bay Stock
Assessment Research Program. However, cost sharing is encouraged to
enhance the [[Page 13965]] 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 costs, and if that application is
selected for funding, the applicant will be bound by the percentage of
cost sharing reflected in the award documents.
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 are noncash contributions provided by the applicant or
non-Federal third parties. 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. 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.
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 human resources
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.
Investigators submitting proposals in response to this announcement
are strongly encouraged to develop inter-institutional, 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.
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.2.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 Oyster Disease
Research Program, the state/Federal Chesapeake Bay Program, etc.) this
project would affect and describe the relationship
[[Page 13966]] 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. If a consultant and/or subcontractor is selected prior to
application submission, include the name and qualifications of the
consultant and/or subcontractor and the process used for selection.
(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 cost 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. 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. 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: Provide any required documents and any
additional information necessary or useful to the description of the
project. The amount of information 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. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Procedures
A. Initial evaluation of applications. Applications will be
reviewed by NOAA to assure that they meet all requirements of this
announcement, including eligibility and relevance to the Chesapeake Bay
Stock Assessment Research Program.
B. Consultation with experts in the field of stock assessment
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. Technical evaluators will submit independent reviews to NMFS.
Reviewers will be asked to comment on the following evaluation
criteria:
1. Problem description and conceptual approach for 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 consisting of at
least three regionally recognized experts in the scientific and
management aspects of stock assessment research who will conduct
reviews as follows:
1. Evaluate technical reviews.
2. Provide independent review based on the same criteria as the
technical review.
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.), collaborative proposals and applications
which propose a cost share 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.
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 determine the projects to be
recommended for funding based upon the technical evaluations, panel
review, and the evaluation factors; ascertain which projects do not
substantially duplicate other projects that are currently funded by
NOAA or are approved for funding by other Federal offices; and,
determine the amount of funds available for the program. The exact
amount of funds awarded to each project will be determined in preaward
negotiations between the applicant, the Grants Office, and the NOAA/
NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office staff.
V. Administrative Requirements
A. Obligations of the applicant. 1. 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 Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment 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.
2. Periodic workshops--Investigators will be expected to attend one
or two workshops with other Stock Assessment Research Program
researchers to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and forge synthesis
of results.
3. Primary applicant certifications--All primary applicants must
submit a [[Page 13967]] 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:
a. 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;
b. Drug-free workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR 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;
c. 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
d. 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.
4. 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.
B. Other requirements. 1. Federal policies and procedures--
Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to
Federal financial assistance awards.
2. Indirect cost rates--The total dollar amount of the indirect
costs proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the
current indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant
Federal agency. NOAA's acceptance of negotiated rates is subject to
total indirect costs not to exceed 100% of total direct costs. This
language is pursuant to the NOAA Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Policy Manual, Chapter 3(B)(2).
3. Past performance--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.
4. Financial management certifications/preaward accounting survey--
Successful applicants, at the discretion of the NOAA Grants Officer,
may be required to have their financial management systems certified by
an independent public accountant as being in compliance with Federal
standards specified in the applicable OMB Circulars prior to execution
of the award. Any first-time applicant for Federal grant funds may be
subject to a preaward accounting survey by the DOC prior to execution
of the award.
5. Delinquent Federal debts--No award of Federal funds shall be
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt
until either:
a. The delinquent account is paid in full;
b. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received; or
c. Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.
6. Name checks--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.
7. False statements--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.
8. 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.
9. Purchase of American-made equipment and products--Applicants are
hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the greatest extent
practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and products with
funding provided under this program in accordance with Congressional
intent as set forth in the resolution contained in Public Law 103-317,
sections 607(a) and (b).
10. Other--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.
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.
Classification
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of E.O. 12866.
Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
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, 0348-0044, and 0605-0001.
Dated: March 7, 1995.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-6312 Filed 3-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F