[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54447-54450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27258]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 980805207-8207-01]
RIN: 0648-ZA47


Funds Availability for the Southeast Bering Sea Carrying Capacity 
(SEBSCC) Project

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AGENCY: Coastal Ocean Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Supplemental Notice for Financial Assistance for Project 
Grants.

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SUMMARY: The NOAA Coastal Ocean Program (COP) announces an opportunity 
for ecosystem dynamics studies on the southeast Bering Sea shelf as 
part of the Southeast Bering Sea Carrying Capacity (SEBSCC) project. 
This announcement solicits two-year proposals for analysis, monitoring 
and process studies to begin in early fiscal year 1999, contingent on 
the availability of funds and facilities. This Phase II announcement 
addresses Years Three and Four of the SEBSCC program, described in 
detail at http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/sebscc. Phase II will be followed by 
two years of synthesis. Further information is described below and at 
SEBSCC's home page site: http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/sebscc. This 
supplemental notice shall

[[Page 54448]]

be made available at COP's home page site: http://www.cop.noaa.gov/cop-
home.html. Any previous submissions to this announcement on the above 
web pages need not be resubmitted.

DATES: The deadline for proposals is November 9, 1998. It is 
anticipated that final selections for funding will be made during early 
FY l999.

ADDRESSES: Submit the original and one copy of your proposal to Allen 
Macklin, NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point 
Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions or require 
further technical information, contact either Allen Macklin at above-
listed e-mail address and phone number; or Beth Turner, SEBSCC 
Coordinator, Coastal Ocean Program Office, 301-713-3338/ext 135, 
Internet: [email protected]. For Business Management 
Information:: Leslie McDonald, COP Grants Office, (301) 713-3338/ext 
137.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background:

    The Bering Sea ecosystem is influenced by climate variability. 
Summer of 1997 brought +3 deg.C temperature anomalies, unusually strong 
stratification, a coccolithophorid bloom, and reduced numbers of 
foraging sea birds and returning salmon. On longer time scales, there 
was an almost exponential increase in jellyfish populations since 1989. 
Such trends and one-year events may be related to prolonged weather 
patterns in the North Pacific and observed shifts in Arctic climate. A 
key challenge for SEBSCC is to understand how such changes affect the 
food web and food supply to higher trophic level animals. Thus, the 
focus of Phase II for SEBSCC in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 is on how 
such physical changes affect: (1) the availability of nutrients on the 
Bering Sea shelf and (2) the relation of juvenile walleye pollock to 
top predators.
    The Bering Sea ecosystem is among the most productive of high-
latitude seas and supports large populations of marine fish, birds and 
mammals. This productivity is important to the U.S. economy in that 
fish and shellfish from the region constitute almost 5% of the world 
and 40% of the U.S. fisheries harvest. Pollock, salmon, halibut and 
crab generate over two billion dollars a year in fisheries revenue and 
provide a major source of protein. The overwhelming dominance of 
pollock in the Bering Sea suggests that this species currently plays a 
singularly important role in this ecosystem.
    We do not understand the factors controlling the stability of the 
Bering Sea ecosystem, and there are several indications of ongoing 
change that cause concern. Quantifying the relative importance of 
natural variations and human-induced variations in plaining upper 
trophic level ecosystem changes is a key management issue for the 
Bering Sea. Differentiating trends in stock abundance attributable to 
human exploitation from trends due to natural variations is difficult 
because the fisheries and environmental time series are often short or 
incomplete. Trends are seldom stable and can be subject to regional 
variation. Important lower trophic layer changes include those natural 
and anthropogenic variations that cause shifts in the production of new 
organic matter and its vertical distribution.
    SEBSCC postulates that a large fraction of the Bering Sea ecosystem 
energy passes through the pollock population. Juvenile pollock respond 
to and potentially impact primary and secondary production through 
grazing, and influence the availability of food for upper trophic level 
species, including adult pollock, seabirds and marine mammals. Pollock 
provide an important measure of the condition of the present ecosystem, 
and may be an indicator of changes in the Bering Sea over the last 
three decades and in the future. The SEBSCC program is designed to 
improve our understanding of the Bering Sea ecosystem; the results of 
this endeavor will directly assist fishery and resource managers.

SEBSCC Goals and Objectives

    The goal of SEBSCC is to increase understanding of the southeastern 
Bering Sea pelagic ecosystem. New information will be used to develop 
and test annual indices of pre-recruit (age-1) pollock abundance, which 
will support management of pollock stocks and help determine the food 
availability to other species. The overall science goals for SEBSCC are 
to:
    (a) Investigate influences of climate variability on the Bering Sea 
ecosystem; and determine what limits population growth on the Bering 
Sea shelf; and
    (b) Identify effects of oceanographic conditions on biological 
distributions; and
    (c) Understand environmental influences on primary and secondary 
production regimes.

Structure of the Research Program

    SEBSCC is a NOAA COP regional ecosystem project begun in 1996. This 
continuing Phase II effort is managed by the University of Alaska 
Fairbanks, NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and NOAA's Pacific 
Marine Environmental Laboratory. SEBSCC research comprises three 
components: monitoring, synthesis (analysis) and process-oriented field 
studies.
    (a) Monitoring: Broad-scale studies include shipboard surveys, 
multi-disciplinary mooring observations, drifters and analysis of 
regional satellite data. Shipboard studies help to determine the 
distribution and abundance of target organisms in relation to their 
physical environment. There is a particular need for a drifter program 
in the outer domain of the shelf. The aim of the broad-scale studies is 
to provide the basis for interannual comparison of the population 
processes and their coupling to the physical structure and variability 
of the environment.
    (b) Synthesis (Analysis): Synthesis begins to pull together results 
generated by the program and historical data to investigate the 
biological, physical, and geographical structure of food webs and the 
influence of climatic variation. Synthesis includes development of 
theoretical, statistical, and numerical models. In addition to modeling 
of geographical variability, there is an ongoing need for modeling that 
emphasizes trophic level interaction. Thus, proposals that develop 
coupled energetics, life history, and age structured models with 
simplified spatial dependence are strongly encouraged. A critical 
element of SEBSCC is the ability to evaluate models over a 
comprehensive time period, e.g., the suite of years from 1970 to the 
present.
    (c) Process Studies: Process studies are nested within the broad-
scale observations to investigate specific biological and physical 
processes. Such studies provide information necessary to develop and 
parameterize biophysical models. Close cooperation and interaction 
between process studies and the monitoring and synthesis components of 
the program are essential.

Phase I:

    Proposals for Phase l studies were requested in 1996, and funded in 
FY97 and FY98. Summaries and results of all projects funded under Phase 
l of SEBSCC are available at their referenced web site. Central 
Scientific issues for Phase 1 included the following:
    (1) Influence of climate variability on the Bering Sea ecosystem: 
Was there historical evidence for a biophysical regime shift on the 
Bering Sea shelf? How was this reflected in ecological relationships 
and species mix? Are there

[[Page 54449]]

``top-down'' ecosystem effects associated with climate variations as 
well as ``bottom-up'' effects?
    (2) Limited population growth on the Bering Sea shelf: Was there 
evidence of a single species carrying capacity, e.g. for pollock, or a 
more complex structure? What is the ecological role of pollock on the 
Bering Sea shelf, i.e. how are pollock, forage fish, and apex species 
linked through energetics and life history? How important is 
cannibalism?
    (3) Influence of oceanographic conditions of biological 
distribution on the shelf: How do the separate mixing domains, sea ice, 
and the cold pool influence the overlap or separation between predators 
and prey?
    (4) Possible Influences on primary and secondary production 
regimes: What were the sources of nutrients to the southeastern Bering 
Sea shelf, and what processes affected their availability? Has the 
variability in sea ice extent and timing been the primary factor 
influencing productivity? What has determined the relative allocation 
of organic carbon going to benthos versus that remaining in the pelagic 
system? What are the lower trophic level structure and energetics on 
the shelf in summer and winter, especially regarding euphausiids? What 
is the role of gelatinous organisms? Additional information about the 
overall SEBSCC programs supported in Phase 1 is available at http://
pmel.noaa.gov/sebscc.

Phase II:

    The specific objectives for Phase lI are to:
    (1) Determine how changes in on-shelf transport of nutrients impact 
pelagic food webs. This includes determination of how timing, duration, 
magnitude and species composition of primary, secondary and forage fish 
production affect food availability for higher trophic levels.
    (2) Determine how climate variability influences the spatial 
overlap of pollock of different life stages, and how the availability 
of juvenile pollock to predators affects pollock survival rate.

Schedule and Proposal Submission

    This opportunity is open to all interested, qualified, non-federal 
and federal researchers. Foreign researchers must subcontract with U.S. 
proposers. This announcement, and additional background information are 
available on the SEBSCC home page on the World Wide Web. If you are 
unable to access this information, either call Allen Macklin at (206) 
526-6798; or send an e-mail to [email protected]).
    Full Proposals should cover a two-year project period, i.e. from 
date of award for twenty-four (24) consecutive months. Project is 
anticipated to be funded in early FY1999. Prospective investigators 
should provide a full scientific justification for their research and 
not simply reiterate justifications laid out in this Announcement or 
previous documents. Proposals should be written to allow adequate 
review of the details of such things as goals and objectives, 
conceptual framework, methodological approaches, integration with other 
likely projects and synthesis. In addition, it would be helpful if a 
statement is included as to how your proposed efforts are related to 
efforts of other potential investigators; interdisciplinary and multi-
trophic level coordination are particularly encouraged. Because of an 
eight-page limitation for the project description, individual proposals 
with overly complex structure and large numbers of investigators are 
discouraged.
    Non-federal researchers should comply with their institutional 
requirements for proposal submission. Non-federal researchers 
affiliated with NOAA-university Joint Institutes (e.g., JISAO, CIFAR) 
should comply with joint institutional requirements. Proposals deemed 
acceptable from federal researchers will be funded through their 
agencies; non-federal awardees will be funded through their joint 
institutes, as appropriate, or through a NOAA grant. Facsimile 
transmissions and electronic mail submission of full proposals will not 
be accepted.

Required Elements:

    Use the following instructions when preparing your proposal. Each 
proposal shall include six elements:
    (a) Cover page--Provide a title, a short title (<50 characters) if 
needed, principal investigator(s) name(s) and affiliation(s), complete 
address, phone, fax and e-mail information, and a budget summary broken 
out by year and institution.
    (b) Half-page abstract--State the hypothesis to be tested, the 
relationship of the research to the program goal, and a summary of the 
key approach.
    (c) Statement of Work: Project description limited to eight pages 
and four figures--Supply a clear statement of the work to be 
undertaken. Outline the broad design of activities, provide an adequate 
description of methods, and confirm adherence to the data policy that 
is posted on SEBSCC's home page. Include: (1) the objective for the 
period of proposed work and its expected significance, (2) the relation 
to the present state of knowledge in the field and relation to previous 
work and work in progress by the proposing principal investigator(s), 
and (3) a discussion of how the proposed project lends value to the 
program goal. Provide a full scientific justification for the research; 
do not simply reiterate justifications laid out in this Availability of 
Funds document, or other summary documents.
    (d) Milestone chart - covering twenty-four consecutive months.
    (e) Budget--Present the budget in fiscal year increments (1999, 
2000). Include the following categories: salary and wages, fringe 
benefits, equipment, travel, materials and supplies (expendables), 
publication costs, computer services, sub-awards, total cost of this 
proposal, and cost sharing with other programs. Please include a budget 
narrative/justification to support all proposed categories.
    (f) Biographical sketch--Focus on information directly relevant to 
undertaking the proposed research. Use no more than two pages.
    (g) Proposal Format and Assembly:
    Staple the proposal in the upper left-hand corner, but otherwise 
leave it unbound. Use 1 inch (2.5 cm) margins at the top, bottom, left 
and right of each page. Use a clear and easily legible type face in 
standard size of 12 points. Print on one side of the page only.

Further Supplementary Information

    (a) Program Authority (s): 33 U.S.C. 1121; 33 U.S.C. 883a et seq. 
33 U.S.C. 1442; l6 U.S.C. 1456c
    (b) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): 11. 478 Coastal 
Ocean Program
    (c) Program Description: See initial COP General Notice--63 
FR44237, dated August l8, 1998.
    (d) Funding Availability: Funding is contingent upon receipt of 
fiscal years 1999 and 2000 federal appropriations. The program is 
expected to be funded at $1.0M per fiscal year for FY 1999 and FY 2000, 
with final synthesis at $0.7M in 2001 and $0.3M in 2002.
    In FY 1999 and FY 2000, typically we anticipate one month of ship 
time in the winter/spring and one month in the summer. COP is also 
working on having a fall cruise in 1999. Joint work with other research 
institutions on their vessels is a possibility. COP recognizes that 
resources are limited; and therefore encourages potential investigators 
to consider leveraging their proposals with support from other sources, 
although there are no matching requirements. Investigators interested 
in the Bering Sea may also consider becoming no-cost

[[Page 54450]]

collaborators; ship time and modest travel support would be available.
    If an application for a financial assistance award is selected for 
funding, COP has no obligation to provide any additional prospective 
funding in connection with that award in subsequent years. Renewal of 
an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at 
the total discretion of the Department of Commerce. Publication of this 
notice does not obligate Commerce to any specific award or to obligate 
any part of the entire amount of funds available.
    (e) Matching Requirements: None
    (f) Type of Funding Instrument: Project Grants
    (g) Eligibility Criteria: Opportunity is extended to academic, 
private, and federal researchers. Phase lI will be followed by two 
years of synthesis. All prospective investigators for Phase lI, 
including those currently funded under SEBSCC who propose to continue, 
will compete on an equal basis for support.
    (h) Award Period: Multi-year funding will be funded incrementally 
on an annual basis. Therefore, each annual award shall require a 
Statement of Work that is clearly severable and can be easily separated 
into annual increments of meaningful work which represent solid 
accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available.
    (i) Indirect Costs: If Indirect costs are proposed, the following 
statement applies: The total dollar amount of the indirect costs 
proposed in an application under any Announcement of Opportunity 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.
    (j) Application Forms and Kit: When applying for financial 
assistance under this announcement, applicants will be able to obtain a 
copy of the Federal Register Notice and a standard NOAA Application Kit 
from the COP home page on the following World Wide Web address: http://
www.cop.noaa.gov/cop-home.html. If you are unable to access this 
information, you may also call the Coastal Ocean Program (extension 
116) at the address listed above to leave a mail request. The federal 
register notice may be also be accessed at the following Wide Web 
address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su-docs/aces/aces140.html.
    At time of submission, the applicant shall follow the guidelines 
presented in the funding announcement. Applications not adhering to 
those stated guidelines may be returned to the applicant without 
further review.
    (k) Project Funding Priorities: Priority consideration will be 
given to proposals that promote balanced coverage of the overall SEBSCC 
science goals, provide a programmatically balanced approach to Phase lI 
goals, and avoid duplication of completed or ongoing work.
    (l) Evaluation Criteria: The proposal selection criteria and 
weights are: (i.) scientific rationale, quality, and approach--50%; 
(ii.) applicability to Phase lI objectives--30%; (iii) qualifications 
of the investigators--10%; and (iv.). reasonableness of the budget--
10%. Successful PIs may be asked to make minor revisions in their 
proposals to fit into an overall program structure.
    (m) Selection Procedures: The proposal review process for SEBSCC 
Phase lI will be coordinated by the Project Management Team and the COP 
Office. Proposals received after the required thirty days for 
publication deadline, or proposals that deviate from the prescribed 
format, will be returned to the sender un-reviewed. Individual 
proposals will be mailed to at least three (3) reviewers with expertise 
in the proposal subject area. The entire set of proposals will also be 
read by members of SEBSCC's Technical Advisory Committee. All proposals 
submitted will be evaluated in accordance with the assigned weights of 
evaluation criteria stated above.
    A panel, composed of the Technical Advisory Committee and the 
Project Management Team (also a mix of Federal and non-federal 
members), will rank all proposals based on mail and panel evaluations. 
The NOAA SEBSCC Project Coordinator will make recommendations for 
funding based on the panel rankings and the project funding priorities 
discussed in section (k). Selections will be announced early in FY1999.
    (n) Other Requirements: See initial COP Notice--63 FR44237, dated 
August l8, 1998.
    (o) 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 
displays a current valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control 
number. This notice involves collections of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The requirements have been 
approved by OMB under control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040 
and 0348-0046.

    Dated: October 6, 1998.
Captain Evelyn J. Fields,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal 
Zone Managment.
[FR Doc. 98-27258 Filed 10-8-98; 8:45 am]
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