[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26571-26574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12750]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 980427105-8105-01]
RIN 0648-ZA41


Sea Grant Industry Fellows Program

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that proposals may be submitted for a 
Fellowship program sponsored by the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) to 
strengthen ties between academia and industry and to fulfill its broad 
educational responsibilities. With required matching funds from private 
industrial sponsors, Sea Grant expects to support up to four new 
Industrial fellows in 1998. Each fellow will be a graduate student 
selected through national competition, and will be known as a Company 
Name/Sea Grant Industrial Fellow. Proposals must be submitted by 
academic institutions who have identified a graduate fellow and an 
industrial sponsor who will provide matching funds.

DATES: Proposals must be submitted by June 12, 1998 to the nearest 
state Sea Grant College Program.


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ADDRESSES: Applications should be requested from the nearest Sea Grant 
college program. The addresses of the Sea Grant college program 
directors can be found on Sea Grant's home page (http://
www.mdsq.umd.edu/NSGO/index.html). The addresses may also be obtained 
by contacting the Program Manager at the National Sea Grant Office (see 
below).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Vijay G. Panchang, Program 
Manager, National Sea Grant Office/NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910. Tel. (301) 713-2435 ext. 142; e-mail: 
Vijay.P[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Program Authority

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1127(a).

B. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    CFDA No. 11.417--Sea Grant Support.

C. Introduction

    Today's global economy is putting unprecedented demands on the US 
industrial community for innovation and new technology. Two critical 
components of success in that endeavor are well-trained human resources 
and high rates of technology commercialization. This situation presents 
challenges to industry and universities to develop new paradigms that 
will create more efficient utilization of available human, fiscal, and 
technical resources and closer collaboration between universities and 
industry. Successful methods of transferring technology from academia 
to industry include hiring graduates trained in particular technologies 
and developing opportunities for collaboration between industrial and 
academic scientists and engineers. To strengthen ties between academia 
and industry, Sea Grant developed the Industrial Fellows Program in 
1995. With required matching funds from private industrial sponsors, 
Sea Grant expects to support up to four new Industrial fellows in 1998. 
Each fellow will be a graduate student selected through national 
competition, and will be known as a Company Name/Sea Grant Industrial 
Fellow.

D. Fellowship Program Goals

    To enhance the education and training provided to top graduate 
students in US colleges and universities; to provide real-world 
experience of industrial issues to graduate students to accelerate 
their career development; to increase interactions between the nation's 
top scientists and engineers and their industrial counterparts; to 
accelerate the exchange of information and technologies between 
universities and industry; to provide a mechanism for industry to 
influence Sea Grant research priorities and solve problems of 
importance to industry; and to forge long-term relationships between 
Sea Grant colleges and industrial firms.

E. Program Description

    The Sea Grant Industrial Fellows Program provides, in cooperation 
with specific companies, support for highly-qualified graduate students 
who are pursuing research on topics of interest to a particular 
industry/company. In a true partnership, the student, the faculty 
adviser, the Sea Grant college or institute, and the industry 
representative work together on a project from beginning to end. 
Research facilities and the cost of the activity are shared. University 
faculty are the major source for identifying potential industrial 
collaborators and suitable research topics. However, other sources can 
be used to identify potential industrial partners including the Sea 
Grant Marine Advisory Services, university industrial relations 
offices, and the Sea Grant Review Panel. Sea Grant directors are 
encouraged to use a variety of sources in building successful 
partnerships with industry.

F. Proposal Features

    Interested members of US institutions of higher education may 
submit a proposal through the nearest Sea Grant program for a grant to 
support up to 50 percent of the total budget. The fellowship can be for 
a maximum of three years, though funding will be in annual increments. 
No more than $30,000 of federal funds may be requested per year. 
Indirect costs on federal funds are limited to 10 percent of total 
modified direct costs. The proposal must include a written matching 
commitment, equal to the federal request, from the industrial partner 
to support the budget for the period of the award. Allocation of 
matching funds must be specified in the budget. Use of the industrial 
matching funds for student stipend support will be looked on favorably.
    The budget should include adequate travel funds for the student and 
the faculty advisor to meet at least twice per year during the 
fellowship period, preferably at the site of the industrial partner. 
Funds should also be allocated for one trip per year to NOAA offices in 
Silver Spring, Maryland, for a meeting of all fellows, advisors, and 
industrial partners.

Proposal Form and Content

    Proposals are limited to 10 pages of text (8.5 inches by 11 inches, 
10 point type) exclusive of budgets, vitae, letters of commitment, 
company description, and required forms. Proposals should contain the 
following:
    1. The problem and its importance: What is the problem being 
addressed and what is its scientific and economic importance to the 
advancement of technology, to the cooperating industrial partner, and 
to the region or nation?
    2. The research proposed: What are the goals, objectives, and 
anticipated approach of the proposed research? While a detailed work 
plan is not expected, the proposal should present evidence that there 
has been thoughtful consideration of the approach to the problem under 
study. What capabilities does the industrial partner possess that will 
benefit the research program?
    3. Benefits: Upon successful completion of the project, what are 
the anticipated benefits to the student, the industrial partner, the 
university and its faculty, the sponsoring Sea Grant program, and the 
nation?
    4. References/Bibliography.
    5. Budget for each year and a cumulative budget.
    6. Letter of commitment from the industrial partner.
    7. Vitae of the student, the faculty advisor, and the company-
appointed research mentor (limited to two pages per person).
    8. A brief (one-page) description of the industrial firm.

Participant Interest

    Interested graduate students or faculty advisors should contact the 
nearest Sea Grant program director for further details regarding 
proposal submission. Proposals must be submitted to the nearest Sea 
Grant program director by June 12, 1998. The addresses of the directors 
can be found on Sea Grant's home page (http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/NSGO/
index.html). The addresses of the directors may also be obtained from 
Dr. Vijay Panchang, Program Manager, National Sea Grant Office/NOAA, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Tel. 301-713-2435, 
ext. 142.

Sea Grant Program--Proposal Submission

    The Sea Grant program directors must ensure that the original and 
two copies of all proposals, all required NOAA forms (Sea Grant Project 
Summary and Budget forms), OMB forms (SF424, SF424a, SF424b), form CD-
511, mail reviews, and a cover letter are received at the NSGO on or 
before July 13, 1998.

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Proposals should be mailed to: Dr. Vijay Panchang, Program Manager, 
National Sea Grant Office/NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910. Tel. (301) 713-2435, ext. 142. Fellows receive funds directly 
from the National Sea Grant Colleges as part of a project awarded to 
the submitting Sea Grant program.

Proposal Evaluation

    1. The sponsoring Sea Grant program is responsible for conducting 
the mail peer review of the proposed project for significance and 
importance of the problem being addressed; scientific and technical 
merit; and benefit to the discipline, field, and nation. Proposals may 
be revised on the basis of reviewer comments. All proposals must be 
accompanied by copies of the peer reviews and a letter from the Sea 
Grant director describing what, if any, changes have been made to the 
proposal as a result of the review process.
    2. Proposals will be reviewed at the National Sea Grant Office by a 
panel composed of individuals from academia, industry, and the federal 
government with particular expertise in industry/academic interactions. 
The panel will be asked to assess each proposal, taking into account 
all mail peer review ratings, based on the following criteria:
    a. The importance of the problem and the benefits expected to the 
industrial partner and the nation due to the advancement of technology 
(40%).
    b. The benefit accruing to the student from his or her 
participation as a Sea Grant Industrial Fellow (20%).
    c. The level of commitment of the industrial partner to the 
project, particularly student stipend support (20%).
    d. The potential for the establishment of a long-term relationship 
between the Sea Grant program and the industrial firm (20%).

Selection Procedures

    All proposals will be evaluated and ranked by the peer review 
panelists, who will make individual recommendations to the selecting 
officer, the Director of the National Sea Grant College program.

G. Timetable

    June 12, 1998--Proposals due in the nearest Sea Grant College 
Program office.
    July 13, 1998--Proposals due in the National Sea Grant September 1, 
1998 (approximate)--Funds awarded to selected recipients; fellowship 
begins.

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) Past Performance--Unsatisfactory performance under prior 
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for 
funding.
    (3) 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.
    (4) No Obligation for Future Funding--If an application is selected 
for funding, 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.
    (5) Delinquent Federal Debts--No award of Federal funds shall be 
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt 
until either:
    i. The delinquent account is paid in full,
    ii. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received, or
    iii. Other arrangements satisfactory to DoC are made.
    (6) Name Check Review--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.
    (7) 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:
    i. 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;
    ii. 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;
    iii. 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 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
    iv. 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.
    (8) 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.
    (9) False Statements. 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.
    (10) Intergovernmental Review--Applications under this program are 
not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs.''

Classification

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments 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 action has been determined to be not 
significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.

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    This notice contains collection of information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Project Summary Form has been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
0648-0019, with an average response estimated to take 20 minutes; the 
Sea Grant Budget Form has been approved under Control Number 0648-0034, 
with an average response estimated to take 15 minutes. These estimates 
include the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data 
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and 
reviewing the collection of information. Send comments on these 
estimates or any other aspect of these collections to National Sea 
Grant Office/NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and 
to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 (Attention: NOAA Desk 
Officer). Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

    Dated: May 8, 1998.
Elbert W. Friday, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-12750 Filed 5-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M