[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49162-49164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23480]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 990713192-9192-01; I.D. No. 080399D]
RIN 0648-ZA67


General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions of the Coastal 
Ocean Program

AGENCY: Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean 
Program (CSCOR), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice for Financial Assistance for Project Research Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements.

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SUMMARY: It is the intent of NOAA/NOS/CSCOR/COP to continue to provide 
direct financial assistance in the form of discretionary Research 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements under its own program for the 
management of coastal ecosystems.
    This document does not solicit proposals; but rather describes the 
general grant administration terms and conditions of the CSCOR/COP 
program for fiscal year 2000. It is CSCOR/COP's intent to issue 
supplemental Announcements of Opportunities (AOs) to request proposals 
on specific projects throughout the year on an as-needed basis. Any 
Announcements of Funding Opportunity will be issued through the Federal 
Register, the CSCOR/COP Home Page, and CSCOR/COP's e-mail list, and 
provide specific program descriptions.
    CSCOR/COP supports research on critical issues which exist in the 
Nation's estuaries, coastal waters and the Great Lakes, and translates 
its findings into accessible information for coastal managers, 
planners, lawmakers and the public. CSCOR/COP's projects are multi-
disciplinary, large in scale and long in duration (usually 3 to 5 
years). Projects covering more than 1 year will usually be funded on an 
annual basis.

DATES: September 10, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean 
Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East 
West Highway, Room 9700, Silver Spring, MD 20910

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie McDonald, CSCOR/COP Grants 
Administrator,(301)713-3338/x137.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    (1) Program Authority(s): 33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq., 33 U.S.C. 883a et 
seq., 33 U.S.C. 1442, 16 U.S.C. 1456c, Section 201(c) of P.L. 102-567 
and Title VI of P.L. 105-383.
    (2) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): 11.478 Coastal 
Ocean Program
    (3) Program Description: NOAA's CSCOR/COP provides predictive 
capability for managing coastal ecosystems through sponsorship of 
research. CSCOR/COP seeks to deliver the highest quality science in a 
timely manner for important coastal decisions. It supports research on 
critical issues which exist in the Nation's estuaries, coastal waters, 
and Great Lakes and translates its findings into accessible information 
for coastal managers, planners, lawmakers, and the public.

Coastal Ecosystem Oceanography

    CSCOR/COP supports the conservation and management of marine 
ecosystems through sponsorship of improved ecological and oceanographic 
predictions for resource management. Studies focus on: (1) identifying 
critical processes that control replenishment of fishery resources; (2) 
determining critical habitat process that influence fishery ecosystems; 
and (3) quantifying species interactions so models can be used in 
management decisions. Current efforts support studies dealing with 
Bering Sea pollack, cod and haddock on Georges Bank, and salmon in the 
Pacific Northwest.

Cumulative Coastal Impacts

    CSCOR/COP sponsors a series of regional watershed projects on the 
causes and impacts of multiple stresses on coastal ecosystems. Studies 
focus on: (l) developing indicators of stress; (2) predicting impacts 
of multiple stresses (3) valuing natural resources in

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ecological and economical terms; and (4) predicting the outcomes of 
management strategies. Current efforts are located in Chesapeake Bay, 
Florida Bay and the Keys, the Great Lakes and South Carolina.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

    CSCOR/COP also sponsors studies on the ecology and oceanography of 
harmful algal blooms (HABs), focusing on identifying and modeling 
linkages between the physiology, ecology, behavior and toxicity of HABs 
and local/regional circulation patterns and water quality. These 
results will not only generate greater general knowledge of problematic 
species in U.S. coastal waters, but provide foundations for development 
of regional HAB forecasting capabilities, eventually providing a means 
to assess the effectiveness of prevention, control and mitigation 
strategies developed in the proframe. Current regional efforts are 
located in the Gulf of Maine, eastern Long Island, the mid-Atlantic 
States, and the western coast of Florida.

Benefits of the CSCOR/COP

    Continued population pressures on the Nation's coastal areas and 
on-going changes in the environment will continue to stress our coastal 
waters, bays and estuaries and the Great Lakes. CSCOR/COP has focused 
on developing information for longer-range U.S. management and policy 
at large and complex scales. CSCOR/COP research will help the U.S. 
respond to the major challenges of the next century and to balance the 
needs of economic growth with those of conserving the environment.
    (4) Funding Availability: On average, annual funding for each 
Announcement of Opportunity is approximately $l,000,000. Each CSCOR/COP 
project generally consists of several coordinated investigations with 
separate awards, ranging from $5,000 to $200,000. Actual funding levels 
will depend upon the final budget appropriations for the fiscal year. 
AOs will be released with specific applicable dollar amounts.
    Financial History of CSCOR/COP Grants: FY97 $10.00M; FY98 $8.5M; 
FY99 $8.5M. Publication of this notice does not obligate Commerce/NOAA 
to any specific award or to obligate any part of the entire amount of 
funds available. Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all 
Federal laws and agency policies, regulations and procedures applicable 
to Federal financial assistance awards.
    If an application for a financial assistance award is selected for 
funding, CSCOR/COP has no obligation to provide any additional 
prospective funding in connection with that award in subsequent years.
    (5) Matching Requirements: None
    (6) Type of Funding Instrument: Discretionary research grants and 
cooperative agreements
    (7) Eligibility Criteria: CSCOR/COP funding opportunities are open 
to all interested, qualified, non-Federal, and Federal researchers. 
Non-Federal researchers should comply with their institutional 
requirements for proposal submission. Non-NOAA Federal applicants will 
be required to submit certifications or documentation which clearly 
show that they can receive funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC) 
for this research. Foreign researchers must subcontract with U.S. 
proposers. Non-federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University 
Joint Institutes should comply with joint institutional requirements 
and will be funded either through grants to their institutions or joint 
institutes. Proposals deemed acceptable from Federal researchers will 
be funded through a mechanism other than a grant or cooperative 
agreement. DOC requirements will prevail if there is a conflict between 
DOC requirements and institutional requirements.
    (8) Award Period: Typically, CSCOR/COP's projects average one to 
five years. Projects covering more than 1 year will usually be funded 
on an annual basis.
    (9) Application Forms and Kit: When applying for financial 
assistance under a published AO, applicants will be able to obtain a 
standard NOAA Application Kit at the following World Wide Web address: 
http://www.cop.noaa.gov in a read-only format. If you are unable to 
access this information, you may also call (301)713-3338 to leave a 
mail request. At time of submission, the applicant will follow the 
requirements presented in the funding announcement.
    The Standard Forms 424 (Rev July 1997) Application for Federal 
Assistance; 424A (Rev July 1997); Budget Information-Non-Construction 
Programs; and 424B (Rev July 1997) Assurances-Non Construction 
Programs, will be submitted at time of application for financial 
assistance as part of the initial review process. Applications not 
adhering to these stated guidelines will be returned to the applicant 
without further review.
    In addition, other forms required as part of a complete application 
package include the CD-511, Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying; the CD-512, Certification Regarding 
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier 
Covered Transactions and Lobbying (this certification is to remain with 
the recipient and is not forwarded to the Grants Officer); and SF-LLL, 
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable). These forms may be 
submitted at time of application, or at a later date if the application 
is subsequently notified of selection for funding.
    (10) Project Funding Priorities: Priority considerations will be 
given to proposals that promote balanced coverage of the science goals, 
avoid duplication of completed or ongoing work and increase geographic 
diversity. Additional priorities may be detailed in CSCOR/COP 
Announcements of Funding Opportunities.
    (11) Evaluation Criteria: The following criteria and evaluation 
weightings will be used for evaluating proposals:
    (a) Scientific Merit (20 percent): Intrinsic scientific value of 
the proposed work and the likelihood that it will lead to fundamental 
advancements, new discoveries, or have substantial impact on progress 
in that field;
    (b) Research Performance Competence (20 percent): The capability of 
the investigator and collaborators to complete the proposed work as 
evidenced by past research accomplishments, previous cooperative work, 
timely communication, and sharing of findings, data, and other research 
products;
    (c) Relevance (20 percent): Likelihood that the research will make 
substantial contributions or develop products leading to improved 
management of coastal resources;
    (d) Technical Approach (20 percent): The proposed work has focused 
science objectives and a complete but efficient strategy for making 
measurements and observations in support of the objectives. The 
approach is sound and logically planned throughout the cycle of the 
proposed work;
    (e) Linkages (10 percent): Connections to existing or planned 
studies, or demonstrated cooperative arrangements to provide or use 
data or other research results to achieve the objectives.
    (f) Costs (10 percent): Adequacy of the proposed resources to 
accomplish the proposed work, and the appropriateness of the requested 
proportion of the total available funds.
    (l2) Selection Procedures: All proposals will be evaluated and 
ranked individually in accordance with the assigned weights of the 
above evaluation criteria by independent peer mail review and/or by 
independent peer panel review. Both Federal and non-

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Federal experts in the field may be used in this process. The peer mail 
reviewers will be several individuals with expertise in the subjects 
addressed by particular proposals. Each mail reviewer will see only 
certain individual proposals within their area of expertise, and rank 
them individually on a scale of one to five, where scores represent 
respectively: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.
    The peer panel will be comprised of 8 to 10 individuals, with each 
individual having expertise in a separate area, so that the panel as a 
whole covers a range of scientific expertise. The panel will have 
access to all mail reviews of proposals, and will use the mail reviews 
in discussion and evaluation of the entire slate of proposals.
    The program officer(s) will not vote as part of the independent 
peer panel. Those proposals receiving an average panel rank of Fair or 
Poor will not be given further consideration and proposers will be 
notified of non-selection. For the proposals rated by the panel as 
either Excellent, Very Good, or Good, the program managers will first 
select the proposals to be recommended for funding by applying the 
project funding priorities listed above and in each funding 
announcement; second, determine the total duration of funding for each 
proposal; and third, determine the amount of funds available for each 
proposal. Because of consideration of the project funding priorities, 
awards may not necessarily be made to the most highly-ranked proposals.
    Investigators may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or 
budgets and provide supplemental information required by the agency 
prior to the award. When a decision has been made (whether an award or 
declination), verbatim copies of reviews and summaries of review panel 
deliberations, if any, are available to the proposer.
    (13) Other Requirements:
    (a) 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.
    (b) Past Performance: Unsatisfactory performance by a recipient 
under prior Federal awards may result in an application not being 
considered for funding.
    (c) 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 assurance that 
they may have received, there is no obligation on the part of the 
Department of Commerce to cover pre-award costs unless approved by the 
Grants Officer as part of the terms when the award is made.
    (d) No Obligation for Future Funding: If an application is selected 
for funding, DOC/NOAA has no obligation to provide any additional 
future funding in connection with that award. Amendment of an award to 
increase funding or, unless the award specifically provides to the 
contrary, to extend the period of performance is at the total 
discretion of DOC/NOAA.
    (e) Delinquent Federal Debts: No award of Federal funds shall be 
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt 
until:
    (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 the Department of Commerce 
are made.
    (f) 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.
    (g) Debarment, Suspension, Drug-Free Workplace, and Lobbying 
Provisions: All applicants must comply with the requirements of l5 CFR 
part 26, ``Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (nonprocurement) 
and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and 
l5 CFR part 28, ``New Restrictions on Lobbying,'' including the 
submission of required forms and obtaining certifications from lower 
tier applicants/bidders.
    (h) 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 l8 U.S.C. l00l.
    (i) Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are 
not subject to Executive Order l2372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs.''
    (j) This action was determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.
    (k) This document involves collections of information subject to 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) which have been approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control numbers 0348-
0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-0046. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject 
to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection displays 
a current valid OMB control number.

    Dated: September 2, 1999.
Captain Ted I. Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administrator National Ocean Service.
[FR Doc. 99-23480 Filed 9-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F