[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 30724-30726] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-15073] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket No. 980427106-8106-01] RIN 0648-ZA42 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship National Sea Grant College Federal Fellows Program AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces that applications may be submitted for a Fellowship program which was initiated by the National Sea Grant College Program Office (NSGCPO), in fulfilling its broad educational responsibilities, to provide educational experience in the policies and processes of the Legislative and Executive Branches of the Federal Government to graduate students in marine related fields. The Fellowship program accepts applications once a year during the month of September. All applicants must submit an application to one of the Sea Grant College Programs in their state. If there is no program in the applicant's state they should apply through the closest state Sea Grant College Program. DATES: Deadlines vary from state to state, but are generally due in early August. Contact your state Sea Grant College Program for specific deadlines (see list below). ADDRESSES: Applications should be addressed to the Sea Grant College Program in your state or the closest state. Contact your state Sea Grant College Program for the mailing address from the list below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information and brochures can be obtained from Dr. Shirley J. Fiske, Director, National Sea Grant Federal Fellows Program, National Sea Grant College Program, 1315 East- West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, telephone (301) 713-2431 extension 148 or call your nearest Sea Grant program: University of Alaska--(907) 474-7086 University of California--(619) 534-4440 University of Connecticut--(860) 405-9128 University of Delaware--(302) 831-2841 University of Florida--(352) 392-5870 University of Georgia--(706) 542-6009 University of Hawaii--(808) 956-7031 University of Illinois--(317) 494-3593 Louisiana State University--(504) 388-6710 University of Maine--(207) 581-1436 University of Maryland--(301) 405-6371 Massachusetts Institute of Technology--(617) 253-7131 University of Michigan--(313) 763-1437 University of Minnesota--(218) 726-8106 Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium--(601) 875-9341 University of New Hampshire--(603) 862-3505 [[Page 30725]] New Jersey Marine Science Consortium--(908) 872-1300 State University of New York--(516) 632-6905 University of North Carolina--(919) 515-2454 The Ohio State University--(614) 292-8949 Oregon State University--(541) 737-3396 University of Puerto Rico--(787) 832-3585 Purdue University--(317) 494-3593 University of Rhode Island--(401) 874-6800 South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium--(803) 727-2078 University of Southern California--(213) 740-1961 Texas A&M University--(409) 845-3854 Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium--(804) 924-5965 University of Washington--(206) 543-6600 University of Wisconsin--(608) 262-0905 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute--(508) 457-2000 ext. 2665 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, National Sea Grant College Federal Fellows Program. Purpose of the Fellowship Program In 1979, the National Sea Grant College Program Office (NSGCPO), in fulfilling its broad educational responsibilities, initiated a program to provide educational experience in the policies and processes of the Legislative and Executive Branches of the Federal Government to graduate students in marine related fields. The U.S. Congress recognized the value of this program and in 1987, Pub. L. 100-220 stipulated that the Sea Grant Federal Fellows Program was to be a formal part of the National Sea Grant College Program Act. The recipients are designated Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellows pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 1127(b). Announcement Fellows program announcements are sent annually to all participating Sea Grant institutions and campuses by the state Sea Grant Director upon receipt of notice from the National Sea Grant College Program Office (NSGCPO). A brochure describing the program is also available from the NSGCPO for distribution by both that office and the state Sea Grant programs. Eligibility Any student who, on September 30, 1998, is in a master's, doctoral or professional program in a marine related field from any accredited institution of higher education in the United States may apply to the NSGCPO through the state or closest state Sea Grant program. NOAA makes financial assistance funds available to the National Sea Grant Colleges to implement the fellowship program. The National Sea Grant College Program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under number 11.417: Sea Grant Support. Deadlines Applications must be obtained from and submitted with their signature (no copies required) to the state Sea Grant Director by the date set by the Directors in their individual program announcement (usually early to mid-September). State Sea Grant programs may select and forward to the National Office no more than four (4) finalists according to a selection criteria comparable to that of the National Office. Applications are to be submitted to the NSGCPO by the sponsoring state Sea Grant Director, no later than close of business on September 30th of any given year. The competitive selection process and subsequent notification will be completed by October 31st of any given year. Stipend and Expenses For 1999 a Fellow will receive an award of $36,000 which is distributed between salary (stipend) and living expenses in accordance with University guidelines. Other expenses covered are travel, moving costs, health insurance and institutional overhead. Application An application will include: Personal and academic resume or curriculum vitae. Personal education and career goal statement which emphasizes expectations from the experience in the way of career development (not to exceed 2 pages). No more than two letters of recommendation with at least one being from the student's major professor. A letter of endorsement from the sponsoring state Sea Grant Director. Copy of undergraduate and graduate student transcripts. Thesis papers nor additional supporting documents are desired. It is our intent that all applicants be evaluated only on their ability, therefore letters of endorsements from members of Congress, friends, relatives or others will not be considered. Placement preference in the Executive or Legislative Branches of the Government may be stated, and will be honored to the extent possible. Selection Criteria The selection criteria will include: Strength of academic performance. Communications skills (both written and oral). Diversity of academic background. Work experience. Support of major professor. Support of Sea Grant Director. Ability to work with people. Selection Applicants will be individually reviewed and ranked by a panel chaired by the Director of Federal Fellowships of the NSGCPO and include representation from (1) the Sea Grant Association, (2) the Office of the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and (3) the current and possibly last past group of Fellows. The individuals representative of these groups will be chosen on a year by year basis according to availability, timing, and other exigencies. Selection of finalists by the panel will be done by the Panel Chair according to the criteria outlined above. Relative weights for the evaluation criteria are equal. After selection, the panel chair will group applicants into the two categories, legislative and executive, based upon the applicant's stated preference and/or judgment of the panel based upon material submitted. The number of fellows assigned to the Congress will be limited to 10. Federal Policies and Procedures Fellows receive funds directly from the National Sea Grant Colleges and are considered to be subrecipients of Federal assistance subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Commerce Department policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards. Past Performance Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for funding. Pre-Award 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 Department of Commerce to cover pre-award costs. [[Page 30726]] No Obligation for Further Funding If an application is selected for funding, Department of Commerce 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 Department of Commerce. Delinquent Federal Debts No award of Federal funds shall be made to a Fellows applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt or fine 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 Department of Commerce are made. 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. Primary Application 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. 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 Department of Commerce. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to Department of Commerce in accordance with the instructions contained in the award document. 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. Intergovernmental Review Applications under this program are 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. This document contains a collection-of-information requirement subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of this information has been approved by OMB under control number 0648-0294. Notwithstanding any other provision of 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: June 1, 1998. Elbert W. Friday, Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. [FR Doc. 98-15073 Filed 6-4-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-12-M