[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60163-60172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28787]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 991014275-9275-01 I.D. 102799B]
RIN 0648-ZA73
Coastal Services Center Broad Area Announcement
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of Federal assistance.
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SUMMARY: The NOAA Coastal Services Center announces the availability of
Federal assistance for fiscal year (FY) 2000 in the following areas:
Landscape Characterization and Restoration, Integration and
Development, Coastal Change and Analysis Program, Coastal Technology
Services, and Special Projects. This announcement provides guidelines
for these program areas and includes details for the technical program,
evaluation criteria, and selection procedures of each. Selected
recipients will either enter into a cooperative agreement with the
Center or receive a grant depending upon the amount of the Center's
involvement in the project-substantial involvement means a cooperative
agreement, while independent work requires a grant.
DATES: For the specific dates of each program, see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: Send all proposals to NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234
South Hobson Ave., Charleston, SC 29405-2413. Particularly, send
proposals for
Landscape Characterization and Restoration to Pace Wilber;
Integration and Development to Cindy Fowler;
Coastal Change and Analysis Program to Dorsey Worthy;
Coastal Technology Services to Jeff Payne;and Special Project to
Jan Kucklick.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Violet Legette, (843)-740-1222, Administrative questions.
Pace Wilber, (843)-740-1235, Landscape Characterization and
Restoration.
Cindy Fowler, (843)-740-1249, Integration and Development.
Dorsey Worthy, (843)-740-1234, Coastal Change and Analysis Program.
Jeff Payne, (843)-740-1207, Coastal Technology Services.
Jan Kucklick, (843)-740-1279, Special Projects.
For detail information about electronic e-mail address, see
Electronic Access under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority
Statutory authority for these programs is provided under 16 U.S.C.
1456c (Technical Assistance); 15 U.S.C. 1540 (Cooperative Agreements);
33 U.S.C. 1442 (research program respecting possible long-range effects
of pollution, overfishing, and man-induced changes of ocean
ecosystems); 33 U.S.C. 883a (surveys and other activities); 33 U.S.C.
883b (dissemination of data); 33 U.S.C. 883C (geomagnetic data
collection, correlation, and dissemination); 33 U.S.C. 883d
(improvement of methods, instruments, and equipments; investigations
and research); and 33 U.S.C. 883E (cooperative agreement for surveys
and investigations).
Electronic Access
Submit comments or questions for specified programs by sending
electronic mail to:
Violet.Legette @noaa.gov;
Pace.Wilber @noaa.gov;
Cindy.Fowler @noaa.gov
Dorsey.Worthy @noaa.gov
Jeff.Payne @noaa.gov
Janet.Kucklick @noaa.gov
All applicants are required to submit a NOAA grants application
package and project proposal. The standard NOAA grants application
package (which includes forms SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-424C, SF-
424D, CD-511, CD-512, and SF-LLL) can be obtained from the NOAA grants
website at http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/grants/pdf/. Funding will be subject
to the availability of Federal appropriations.
The recipients must comply with Executive Order 12906 regarding any
and all geospatial data collected or produced under grants or
cooperative agreements. This includes documenting all geospatial data
in accordance with the Federal Geographic Data Committee Content
Standard for digital geospatial data.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
The NOAA Coastal Services Center Program is listed in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance under Number 11.473.
General Background
Guiding the conservation and management of coastal resources is a
primary function of NOAA. NOAA accomplishes this goal through a variety
of mechanisms, including collaborations with the coastal resource
management programs of the nation's states and
[[Page 60164]]
territories. The mission of the NOAA Coastal Services Center is to
foster and sustain the environmental and economic well being of the
coast by linking people, information, and technology. The goal of the
Center is to build capabilities throughout the nation to address
pressing issues of coastal health and change by promoting coastal
resource conservation and efficient and sustainable commercial and
residential development.
Landscape Characterization and Restoration - Information Resource
for the Management Needs of a Northeastern United States Estuarine
Watershed or Coastal Management Area.
Project Description
NOAA's Coastal Services Center seeks proposals from regional,
state, or local government agencies; academic institutions; or
nonprofit organizations for a 2-year cooperative agreement under which
a cooperator and the Center will jointly develop a digital information
resource for an estuarine watershed or management area within the
northeastern United States. For this announcement, ``northeastern
United States'' is defined as an area extending from North Carolina
through Maine. Cooperators can choose any estuarine watershed or
coastal management area within these boundaries. The information
resource must focus on one or more resource management needs of the
chosen watershed or area. The cooperator will choose the management
needs that will be focused on, such as a regional habitat restoration
plan, non-point source pollution management plan, long-term dredged
material management plan, watershed management plan, or detailed
environmental characterization. The information resource must integrate
the ecological and socioeconomic information needed to address the
management issues chosen and clearly help coastal managers make
resource management, regulatory, or land-use planning decisions. Total
anticipated funding is $270,000 over 2-year and is subject to the
availability of Federal FY 2000 and FY 2001 appropriations. Only one
award is anticipated from this announcement.
Background
This announcement is a call for proposals for work under the
Center's Landscape Characterization and Restoration (LCR) Program. The
goal of the program is to help Federal, state, and local coastal
managers include ecosystem processes in their resource management,
regulatory, and land-use planning decisions. The program and program
partners will work toward this goal by examining interrelationships
among ecological, land use, human demographic, and socioeconomic trends
in coastal watersheds and by developing tools needed to integrate those
relationships into management practices.
LCR projects directly address management issues that are both
locally significant and of regional importance (e.g., habitat
restoration, non-point source pollution reduction, growth management).
Projects generally include development of habitat, wetland function,
demographic, and land use maps; information syntheses; natural resource
databases; environmental models; and customized geographic information
system (GIS) or similar software to forecast results of management
alternatives.
The program's principal products are environmental
characterizations of watersheds that integrate the ecological and
socioeconomic information needed to address management issues
identified by cooperators. Final products are in a digital format and
distributed via CD-ROM and the Internet and include a spatial database,
a customized GIS interface, and a narrative that provides a detailed
overview of the focal management issues, how the accompanying
information was used to examine potential solutions, and how the
overall product can be used in future examinations of coastal
management issues. The program and its cooperators are currently
working on, or have completed, characterizations of Otter Island (South
Carolina), the ACE Basin (South Carolina), Kachemak Bay (Alaska), and
Rookery Bay/Belle Meade (Florida). Overviews of the program and these
projects are available through the Internet (http://www.csc.noaa.gov/
lcr/).
Roles and Responsibilities
By working in a cooperative partnership, the unique skills,
capabilities, and experiences of the Center and the cooperator will be
combined and offer an opportunity for each organization to further its
goals. In their proposals, potential cooperators shall propose the
respective roles and responsibilities of the Center and the cooperator.
In past projects, the Center provided general guidance on how to
develop the information resource and the application of spatial
analysis to address the identified management issues; led design of GIS
and HTML architectures, user interfaces, and any needed software
customization; contributed to the development of GIS-based models of
the management issues and proposed solutions; and compiled the final
products onto a CD-ROM.
At a minimum, the roles and responsibilities of the cooperators
shall include: identifying the management issues that guide development
of the information resource; identifying the information needed to
address the issues; developing partnerships with other members of the
coastal management community; developing and collecting the information
(text, tables, graphics, charts, and maps) and tools (organizational
structure and models) needed to address the management issues;
developing all metadata and other information needed to assess the
quality of the data and tools; and determining how the products should
be organized to maximize utility to the cooperator and other members of
the coastal management community.
Project Proposals
The Center must receive proposals by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on
December 21, 1999. Proposals postmarked December 21, 1999, but not
received until after December 21, 1999, will NOT be accepted. In
addition to providing the following requested information, the
cooperator must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed
originals). No e-mail or fax copies will be accepted. All project
proposals must include the sections listed here and total no more than
10 pages (double spaced, 12-point font, and exclusive of appendices):
Goal, Objective(s), and Geographic Area-Identify the specific
geographic area that will be examined. Identify the specific management
objective(s) of the project, including description of current
management goals that are not being achieved, how products from this
cooperative agreement will significantly address that deficiency, and
the benefits that will result to the cooperators, partners, public, and
coastal management community.
Background/Introduction - Provide sufficient background information
for reviewers to independently assess the local significance and
regional importance of the management objectives that will be addressed
by the project. Summarize the status of any existing efforts by the
cooperator and partners to address these objectives.
Audience-Identify potential users of the product, how those users
will incorporate the product in their management of coastal resources,
and identify any training that will be needed for users to make full
use of the information resource.
[[Page 60165]]
Project Description/Methodology-Provide a general work plan that
divides the project into discrete steps, identifies critical decision
points, and discusses any obstacles to completing the project that may
require special planning. One of the initial tasks of the cooperative
agreement will be for the Center and the cooperator to prepare a
detailed task plan that explains how the resources of both groups will
be leveraged to produce the information resource. The work plan
requested for this part of the proposal should demonstrate that the
cooperator and partners have sufficient local knowledge of the
management problems to lead a joint effort directed toward developing
appropriate solutions.
Project Partners and Support-Identify project partners and describe
their respective roles. Include a letter from partners acknowledging
their participation in the project. Describe the resources the
cooperators and partners have for conducting the project, including
personnel qualifications (education, experience, and time available to
work on the project), facilities, equipment, and, to the extent
practicable, the information and tools already available. Describe how
widely the project is supported within the coastal management community
and offer evidence of that support.
Milestone Schedule-List target milestones, timelines, and describe
how each milestone addresses project objectives.
Project Budget-Provide a detailed budget breakdown that follows the
categories and formats
in the NOAA grants package and a brief narrative justification of
the budget.
Evaluation Criteria (with weights) and Selection Process
Review panels will be set up using two NOAA and at least two non-
NOAA reviewers to assist in the evaluation of the proposals. All
proposals received will be ranked according to score, and the selecting
official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the
final decision. The selecting official may also consider program policy
factors in the final decision to ensure that Center projects are
balanced geographically and institutionally. Evaluation criteria are:
Significance (20 points) - How well the proposal demonstrates the
local significance and regional importance of the issues(s) or
management objective(s) that will guide development of the information
resource. At a minimum, the proposal must identify management goals
that currently are not being achieved, describe how products from this
cooperative agreement will significantly address that deficiency, and
state the benefits that will result to the public and coastal
management community.
Technical Approach (30 points)-How well the proposal divides the
project into discrete tasks that make effective use of the technical
capabilities of the cooperator, partner(s), and Center. This factor
also includes the technical merit of the process that the cooperator
has outlined for developing the information resource.
Outcomes (20 points)-How well the proposing agency demonstrates
that the project outcomes will significantly address the management
issue(s) targeted by the project and that the collective resources of
the proposing agency and partners will ensure projected outcomes are
met.
Partnerships (20 points) - How well the proposal demonstrates that
the project is broadly supported by the coastal management community,
that a broad groups of coastal managers and constituents will
contribute to the design and assembly of product(s); that a broad group
of coastal managers will use the product(s); and that the knowledge and
expertise of the cooperator, partner(s), and Center will be effectively
leveraged.
Cost Efficiency (10 points)-How well the proposing agency
demonstrates that the budget is commensurate with project needs and
that the partnerships employed will improve the overall cost
effectiveness of the project and value of the products. There is no
requirement for cost sharing; however, up to 5 additional points
(beyond the 10 allotted to this category) will be awarded for cost
sharing.
Selection Schedule
Proposals will be reviewed once during the year. The following
schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process
for grants and/or cooperative agreements:
Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 21, 1999
Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date May 1, 2000
NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m.
Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant
package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. E-mail or fax
copies will not be accepted. One original and one copy of the proposal
and grant paperwork is required.
Funding Availability
Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA
funds for FY 2000 are authorized. Total funding available for this
cooperative agreement with the LCR program is anticipated to be
$270,000 over two years. One award is anticipated from this
announcement. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA toward
any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any
parts of the available funds.
Cost Sharing
There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to these
guidelines, however, proposals that include cost sharing will likely
score highly under evaluation criteria #5 above.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications for cooperative agreements under this announcement may
be submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these
specific guidelines, by any regional, state or local government agency;
college or university; nonprofit organization; or cooperative research
unit. Other Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible to
receive assistance under this notice but may be project partners.
Integration and Development - Bathymetric Data Collection
Project Description
The NOAA Coastal Services Center seeks proposals from state, local
or regional resource management agencies, port authorities, and
academic institutions for projects that conduct new acquisition and
supporting documentation of bathymetric data in the Southeastern
Atlantic region. Private companies and agencies in partnership with the
above mentioned collaborators are also invited to submit proposals. The
intent of this program is to support high quality hydrographic digital
data collection efforts for public resource management needs that can
be used to supplement current NOAA NOS nautical chart data collection
programs. It is expected that this funding will supplement agencies who
are already considering hydrographic surveys for beach renourishment
projects, sand and sediment transport studies, fisheries management,
benthic habitat evaluations, dredging, dredge disposal siting projects,
and other related projects. A major objective of this program is to
rescue, document, and make available bathymetric data for marine
applications. The geographic extent of desired data is from the area
(on-shore) of tidal influence out to the
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Exclusive Economic Zone in the four-state region of Florida, Georgia,
South Carolina, and North Carolina. Maximum anticipated funding for FY
2000 is $200,000 and it is intended that this funding will be
distributed amongst multiple projects. The award level is contingent on
methodology, the level of detail, and the geographic scope of the
project. It is also expected that proposal recipients will cost-share
in the project.
Background
Under the NOAA, NOS strategic efforts to support safe navigation,
hydrographic surveys are conducted to produce nautical charts. For
safety reasons, these surveys are conducted using strict hydrographic
survey procedures (see http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/ocs/text/
prodserv.htm). In addition to its intended charting purpose,
hydrographic survey data is very useful to the coastal and ocean
resource management community in the production of bathymetry.
Moreover, hydrographic survey requirements for resource management need
not be as rigorous as navigation surveys that protect life and limb.
Supporting this community is an additional mandate of NOS under its
coastal stewardship strategic goal. Due to financial constraints, NOS
has only been able to commit to new surveys in major commercial
shipping areas. Near shore and estuarine areas not generally deemed a
navigational hazard are currently not routinely surveyed. Many of these
areas are of interest to the coastal resource managers for projects
related to dredging, dredge disposal, habitat studies, sediment
transport, and beach renourishment projects.
NOAA is interested in supplementing its current hydrographic survey
data collection with data from non-NOAA sources to meet strategic
goals. In addition, NOAA is interested in helping non-NOAA sources
acquire data using standards and documentation that will increase the
usability and longevity of the data. NOAA is committed to helping
third-party data creators document and make these data available to the
marine community using standards and protocols outlined in the
Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). Specifically, the Center is
interested in helping foster the development of high quality accurate
digital bathymetric data for use in desktop GIS for coastal and ocean
resource management.
Project Proposals
The Center must receive proposals by 5 PM (Eastern time) on
December 21, 1999. Proposals postmarked December 21, 1999, but not
received until after December 21, 1999, will NOT be accepted. In
addition to providing the information requested below, the cooperator
must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No
E-mail or FAX copies will be accepted. All project proposals must
include the following sections and total no more than 20 pages (double
spaced, 12-point font, and exclusive of appendices):
Project Description/Methodology-This section should address the
general work plan and deliverables. Methodology should address specific
methods of data collection and documentation that as a minimum include
the methods of sounding, methods of correcting for motion of the survey
platform, methods of horizontal positioning, and methods of corrections
for tide. In addition, proposal should include limits of survey area
and density of line spacing and sounding interval. Proposal should
include a section of chart that outlines the survey area and
orientation to the depth contour. Database format must be adequately
described and include a supplemental descriptor file or metadata that
contains the information necessary for completing a FGDC-compliant
metadata record for the survey.
Project Partners and Subcontractors-Proposal should identify
project partners and describe their respective roles. Include a letter
from partners and subcontractors acknowledging their participation and
area of responsibility. All projects must have a state, local or
regional coastal resource management agency as a primary participant.
Milestone Schedule-Proposal should list target milestones and their
respective time lines.
Project Budget-Proposal should provide a detailed budget breakdown
that follows the categories and formats in the NOAA grants package and
a brief narrative that justifies each item.
Evaluation Criteria (With Weights) and Selection Process
Review panels will be set up using four NOAA and two non-NOAA
experts in the field of hydrographic survey methodology and spatial
data acquisition. All proposals received will be ranked according to
score and the selecting official (Center Director) will use those
scores to aid in making the final decision. The selecting official may
also consider program policy factors in the final decision to ensure
Center projects are balanced geographically and institutionally.
Evaluation criteria are:
Technical Merit (65 points)-The proposal will be judged on the
methodology used to collect the data. This includes the corrections for
vessel motion (heave, roll and pitch), equipment used, and method of
sounding and corrections for tide. It is expected that differential
Global Positioning System (GPS) will be used as the method of
horizontal positioning, but this should be specifically addressed.
Though not required, any corrections for sound velocity (in shallow
water) or settlement and squat could positively influence this
weighting.
Data Density, Geographic Scope, and Orientation (10 points)-This
weighting will be based on the level of detail of the survey. Project
description should include a map or graphic that outlines the intended
spatial extent of the survey, the density of the line spacing, or
number of soundings and the orientation of the survey platform to the
depth contour.
Data Delivery Mechanism and Documentation (10 points)-Project will
be judged on the database schema and documentation of the delivered
data. Points will be awarded or deleted for the inclusion or absence of
a coherent metadata strategy.
Cost Sharing and Theme (15 points) - There is no requirement for
cost sharing; however, additional points will be awarded to proposals
based on the level of funding provided by the proposing agency(s). The
purpose or theme of the survey will be part of the weighting criteria.
As stated above, one of the objectives of the Center is to foster
improved bathymetric data access for the coastal and ocean resource
community. Projects deemed to fall within this scope will be given
additional weight. Additional weight will be given for the project's
demonstrated applicability to coastal or ocean resource management.
Selection Schedule
Proposals will be reviewed once during the year. The following
schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process
for grants and/or cooperative agreements:
Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 21, 1999
Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date May 1, 2000
NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m.
Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant
package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. or fax copies
will not be accepted. One original and one copy of
[[Page 60167]]
the proposal and grant paperwork is required.
Funding Availability
Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA
funds for FY 2000 are authorized. Total funding available for this
grant or cooperative agreement with the Integration and Development
program is anticipated to be no more than $200,000 and funding will be
distributed over multiple projects. Publication of this notice does not
obligate NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to
obligate all or any parts of the available funds.
Cost Sharing
There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to these
guidelines, however, proposals that include cost sharing will likely
score highly under evaluation criteria #4 above.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications for grants under this program announcement may be
submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth in these specific
guidelines by any state, local or regional resource management agency,
ports authority, non-profit agency, or academic institution. Private
industry is encouraged to apply and must have an active state or local
coastal resource management partner to qualify.
Coastal Change and Analysis Program
Project Description
The NOAA Coastal Services Center is seeking to expand its national
effort to monitor change in coastal habitats. The Center will be
soliciting proposals from regional, state, and local government
agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations for two to
three year cooperative agreements. Under these agreements, a cooperator
and the Center's Coastal Change and Analysis Program (C-CAP) will
jointly develop terrestrial land cover change data and benthic habitat.
Combined funding for all proposals is anticipated at $100,000, with a
maximum limit of $75,000 per proposal. A 20 percent cost share will be
required.
Background
The NOAA Coastal Services Center's C-CAP is a nationwide effort to
produce standardized and consistent terrestrial and benthic habitat
maps and change data for coastal areas of the United States. C-CAP data
are used for identifying and protecting essential fish habitat, to help
determine the impacts of nearshore habitat change on living marine
resources, and to provide a context for more informed coastal decision
making. Consideration for funding will be limited to project proposals
for Hawaii or Florida based on gaps in previous C-CAP habitat
characterization efforts. These projects must be accomplished in close
cooperation with state and local resource management agencies. This
work must be based on the established NOAA C-CAP land cover and benthic
characterization protocol: NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program
Guidance for Regional Implementation (Dobson, et al., 1995, NOAA
Technical Report - NMFS 123, United States Department of Commerce). The
C-CAP protocol is available via the web at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/
ccap/protocol/protocoltxt.html.
Roles and Responsibilities
These projects are intended to be cooperative in nature. The
project proposals should demonstrate cooperative efforts among various
participants such as , state, and local governments. Successful
proposals will establish a consortium of key participants, and identify
appropriate responsibilities for these project partners. The following
items identify the minimum project participation expected by the Center
and the project applicant. Additional roles and responsibilities should
be identified by the applicant.
NOAA Coastal Services Center: C-CAP and the Center shall have
primary responsibility for the following activities associated with the
project:
Provide all Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery or aerial
photography needed for the project. The original, government-provided
data are property of the Center and must be returned to the Center upon
completion of the project.
Provide technical guidance for image processing, field
verification, and accuracy assessment to ensure all procedures and
products meet the guidelines presented in Dobson et al., 1995 (which is
available on the C-CAP homepage of the Center web site or upon request
from the Center library). This includes:
The provision of guidance and manpower in all field
exercises deemed necessary by both parties; and
Site visits by Center personnel to the facilities of the
cooperator(s) to provide technical assistance as necessary during data
processing.
Provide all necessary forms, information and assistance to
document Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) compliant metadata for the
change detection product.
Monitor progress and evaluate biannual progress reports.
Cooperator: The cooperator shall have primary responsibility for
the following activities associated with the project:
Organize and manage project planning and partnership
development.
Administer the cooperative agreement in accordance with
the terms of the cooperative agreement award.
Identify a technical coordinator that will take the lead
for all technical aspects of the change detection and a management
coordinator that will be responsible for relating the data to key
management issues and ensuring that the data are integrated into
pertinent coastal management programs.
Perform a change detection analysis for the study area as
per this announcement presented in Dobson et al., 1995.
Furnish for the change detection analysis all digital
(i.e. NWI) or hard copy (i.e. aerial photos) data at their disposal
that may be valuable as ancillary data.
Provide complete FGDC-compliant metadata for the change
detection products.
Provide all georeferenced field data collected during
image verification and accuracy assessment.
Submit biannual progress reports.
Both Parties: Both C-CAP and the cooperator will provide final
field accuracy assessment of the product, which may require either
party to supply such equipment as laptop computers for field use, GPS
units, four-wheel drive vehicles, etc.
Project Proposals
The Center must receive proposals by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on
December 21, 1999. Proposals postmarked December 21, 1999, but not
received until after December 21, 1999, will NOT be accepted. In
addition to providing the information requested below, the cooperator
must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No
or fax copies will be accepted. All project proposals must include the
following sections and total no more than 8 pages (double spaced, 12-
point font, and exclusive of appendices):
Goals and Objectives-Identify broad project goals and
quantifiable objectives.
Background/Introduction- State the problem and summary of
existing /state/local efforts.
Audience-Describe specifics of how the project will
contribute to improving or resolving coastal management issues with the
primary target audience, and explicitly identify the
audience.
[[Page 60168]]
Project Description/Methodology-Describe the specifics of
the project (in 3 pages maximum), with a complete and explicit
description of the project area (i.e. Thematic
Mapper scene path, row; number and location of aerial photos,
flightlines, etc.) and a demonstration of understanding and adherence
to the C-CAP protocol.
Project Partners-Identify project partners and their
respective roles.
Milestones and Outcomes-List target milestones, timelines, and
desired outcomes in terms of products or services.
Project Budget-Provide a detailed budget breakdown by
category and provide a brief narrative budget justification, including
identification of 20% cost share.
Evaluation Criteria (with weights) and Selection Process
Review panels will be set up using two NOAA and at least two non-
NOAA reviewers to assist in the evaluation of the proposals. All
proposals received will be ranked according to score and the selecting
official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the
final decision. The selecting official also may consider program policy
factors in the final decision to ensure Center projects are balanced
geographically and institutionally. It is not anticipated that funding
will be sufficient to award grants in all state project areas.
Applications that do not meet the required 20% cost share will not be
considered. Evaluation criteria are:
Coastal management relevance (40 points).
- Does the project tie into ongoing , state or local management
activities and/or programs? (25 points).
- Does the project address critical , state or local coastal
management policies relating to benthic and coastal land cover and land
cover change (i.e. non-point source runoff)? (15 points).
Strength of partnerships (25 points).
- Does the project have a clearly defined audience, and products
have clearly defined
users? (10 points).
- Will the project foster ongoing , state or local partnerships for
use of land cover change to answer coastal management needs? (15
points).
Technical merit (35 points).
- Does the proposed project maximize the use of existing
information and technical resources? (10 points).
- Is the approach scientifically sound and relevant at the local
level? (10 points).
- Is the approach consistent with the C-CAP protocol? (15 points).
Selection Schedule
Proposals will be reviewed once during the year. The following
schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process
for grants and/or cooperative agreements:
Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 21, 1999
Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date May 1, 2000
NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m.
Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant
package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. or fax copies
will not be accepted. One original and one copy of the proposal and
grant paperwork is required.
Funding Availability
Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA
funds for FY 2000 are authorized. Total funding available for this
cooperative agreement with C-CAP will be $100,000, with a maximum of
$75,000 per proposal. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA
toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all
or any parts of the available funds.
Cost Sharing
Cost sharing at 20% of the total project funding cost is required
in response to these guidelines and should be provided by the applicant
or third party contributions.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications for grants under this program announcement may be
submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these
specific guidelines, by any state or local resource management agency,
college or university, private industry, nonprofit organization, or
cooperative research unit. Other agencies or institutions are not
eligible to receive assistance under this notice.
Coastal Technical Services - Coastal Technology Demonstration and
Verification
Project Description
NOAA's Coastal Services Center seeks proposals from state or local
resource management agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit
organizations, and private sector companies for projects in two areas:
Pilot projects under which a cooperator(s) and the Center will
scope out or design and apply prototype decision making tools and
information products for coastal resource management. Emphasis will be
placed on projects that address coastal habitat management and coastal
hazards mitigation. Projects must be based on ``market research'' of ,
state, and local coastal managers' needs and assessment of their
capabilities to address these needs. Scoping (initial pilot) projects
will seek to develop a conceptual framework to clearly define the
applications of new decision support tools. Full-scale pilot projects
will include the design of customized training products for advanced,
distributed, learning platforms to accelerate introduction of project
products to the target audience and to guide users through performing
procedures and making decisions using new tools. Total available
funding for all proposals is anticipated at $200,000 to $300,000 per
year, subject to the availability of appropriations. The maximum
available annual funding for individual pilot scoping projects is
$25,000 while maximum funding for full-scale pilot projects is
$150,000.
Technology verification and transfer projects under which a
cooperator(s) and the Center will work together to demonstrate and
validate innovative technologies that target the coastal resource
management and regulatory communities' most urgent technological needs.
The Center currently is focused on three areas of technology need: in-
situ coastal and ocean monitoring, coastal habitat restoration and
enhancement, and estuarine contaminant mitigation. Lab-proven
technologies are moved to the field for rigorous trials that document
their cost, performance, and market potential. Total available funding
for all proposals may be in the range of $75,000 to $200,000 per year.
The maximum available annual funding for individual projects is
$200,000, although projects of special merit may be considered at
annual levels above $200,000, subject to the availability of
appropriations.
Background
The goal of the Coastal Technology Demonstration and Verification
program is to make it possible for coastal managers and regulators at
all levels to use the latest, best, and most efficient technology and
information to make science-based decisions for managing coastal
resources. The program works toward this goal by establishing
coalitions of the Center and government agencies at all levels,
academia, and the private and non-profit organizations to:
(1) develop and test prototype decision making tools and
information products for coastal management; and (2) demonstrate and
verify existing and
[[Page 60169]]
lab-proven coastal and marine technologies.
Pilot projects to develop and test new decision making tools and
information products must directly address management issues that are
both locally significant and of regional importance. Products must be
market driven and compatible with end users' capabilities. Full-scale
pilot projects would involve design and development of a prototype,
field application and evaluation with end users, final product
development, and training. Past experience has revealed that this
iterative process is best accomplished by coalitions of technology
developers, technology deliverers, and end users.
Technology verification and transfer programs are conducted in two
phases. The initial phase will include an assessment of technologies
and user needs. Once this phase is completed, an evaluation by the
Center will be conducted to determine whether a verification program
should be implemented. If the evaluation is favorable, project
cooperators and end users will begin establishing priorities and
defining procedures and protocols for implementing the demonstration
and verification activities. Following each verification project, a
comprehensive technology delivery system will be designed to employ
report dissemination, training, and public outreach to meet technology
users' and developers' information needs. The Center currently is
working to establish programs on in situ environmental monitoring
sensors and habitat restoration technologies.
Roles and Responsibilities
Projects are intended to be cooperative partnerships among the
Center, project cooperators, and end-users of the project's products.
By working in a cooperative partnership, the unique skills,
capabilities, and experiences of the Center and the cooperator will be
combined and offer an opportunity for each organization to further
their goals. In their proposals, potential cooperators should propose
the respective roles and responsibilities of the Center, the
cooperator, and project partners. In general, the Center will provide
basic guidance on the desired nature of the project product to address
the identified management issues. At a minimum, the roles and
responsibilities of the cooperators shall include:
- Identifying the management issues that guide development of the
product.
- Identifying the information needed to address the issues.
- Developing partnerships with other end users, including members
of the coastal management community.
- Developing and collecting the information and tools needed to
address the management issues.
- Developing all other information needed to assess the quality and
utility of the data and tools.
- Determining how the products should be organized to maximize
utility to the cooperator and end users.
Project Proposals
The Center will accept proposals twice during the year (see
``Selection Schedule'' below). All
proposals are due by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date specified
below. Proposals postmarked on the due date but not received until
after the due date will NOT be accepted. In addition to
providing the information requested below, the cooperator must
submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No e-
mail or fax copies will be accepted. All
project proposals must include the following sections and total no
more than 15 pages (double spaced, 12-point font, and exclusive of
appendices):
Goal and Objective(s) - Identify the specific management
objective(s) of the project, including description of current
management goals that are not being achieved, how products from the
project will significantly address that deficiency, and the benefits
that will result to the coastal management community and other end
users.
Background/Introduction - Provide sufficient background information
for reviewers to independently assess the local significance and
regional importance of the management objectives that will be addressed
by the project. Summarize the status of any existing efforts to address
these objectives.
Audience-Identify potential users of the product, how those users
will incorporate the product into their management of coastal
resources, and identify any training that will be needed for users to
make full use of the products.
Project Description/Methodology-Provide a general work plan that
divides the project into discrete steps, identifies critical decision
points, and discusses any obstacles to completing the project that may
require special planning. One of the initial tasks of the project will
be for the Center and the cooperator to prepare a detailed task plan
that explains how the resources of both groups will be leveraged to
produce the information resource. The work plan requested for this part
of the proposal should demonstrate that the cooperator and partners
have sufficient local knowledge of the management problems to lead a
joint effort directed towards developing appropriate solutions.
Project Partners and Support - Identify project partners and
describe their respective roles. Include a letter from partners
acknowledging their participation in the project. Describe the
resources the cooperators and partners have for conducting the project,
including personnel qualifications (education, experience, and time
available to work on the project), facilities, equipment, and, to the
extent practicable, the information and tools already available.
Describe how widely the project is supported within the coastal
management community and provide evidence of that support.
Milestone Schedule-List target milestones, timelines, and describe
how each milestone addresses project objectives.
Project Budget-Provide a detailed budget breakdown that follows the
categories and format in the NOAA grants package and a brief narrative
justification of the budget.
Evaluation Criteria (with weights) and Selection Process
Review panels will be set up using two NOAA and at least two non-
NOAA reviewers to assist in the evaluation of the proposals. All
proposals received will be ranked according to score and the selecting
official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the
final decision. The selecting official may also consider program policy
factors in the final decision to ensure Center projects are balanced
geographically and institutionally. Evaluation criteria are:
Significance (20 points) - How well the proposal demonstrates the
local significance and regional importance of the issues(s) or
management objective(s) that will guide development of the project
products. At a minimum, the proposal must identify management goals
that currently are not being achieved, describe how products from the
project will significantly address that deficiency, and the benefits
that will result to the public and coastal management community.
Technical Approach (30 points)-How well the proposal divides the
project into discrete tasks that make effective use of the technical
capabilities of the cooperator, partner(s), and Center. This factor
also includes the technical merit of the process that the cooperator
has outlined for developing the project's products.
[[Page 60170]]
Outcomes (20 points)-How well the cooperator demonstrates that the
project outcomes significantly will address the management issue(s)
targeted by the project and that the collective resources of the
cooperator and partners will ensure projected outcomes are met.
Partnerships (20 points)-How well the proposal demonstrates that
the project is broadly supported by the coastal management community,
that a broad group of end users, including coastal managers and
constituent groups, will contribute to design and assembly of
product(s); that a broad group of coastal managers and other end users
will use the product(s); and that the knowledge and expertise of the
cooperator, partner(s) and Center will be effectively leveraged.
Cost Efficiency (10 points)-How well the proposing agency
demonstrates that the budget is commensurate with project needs and
that the partnerships employed will improve the overall cost
effectiveness of the project and value of the products. There is no
requirement for cost sharing; however, up to 5 additional points
(beyond the 10 allotted to this category) will be awarded for cost
sharing.
Selection Schedule
Proposals will be reviewed twice during the year. The following
schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process
for cooperative agreements. An unsuccessful application for cycle 1
(December 1 due date) will have to be resubmitted for cycle 2 (June 1
due date):
Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 1, 1999
Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date April 1, 2000
Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) June 1, 2000
Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date September 1, 2000
NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m.
Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant
package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. E-mail or FAX
copies will not be accepted. One original and one copy of the proposal
and grant paperwork is required.
Funding Availability
Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA
funds for FY 2000 are appropriated. Funding available under this
announcement for pilot projects to scope, develop and test prototype
decision-making tools and information products will be between $25,000
and $150,000 per year. Funding for projects to establish technology
demonstration and evaluation programs may range from $75,000 to
$200,000 per year, although projects of special merit may be considered
at annual levels above $200,000. Publication of this notice does not
obligate NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to
obligate all or any parts of the available funds.
Cost Sharing
There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to these
guidelines. However, proposals that include cost sharing or other in-
kind resources will likely score highly under evaluation criteria #5
above.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications for projects under this announcement may be submitted,
in accordance with the procedures set forth in these specific
guidelines, by any regional, state or local government agency; college
or university; nonprofit organization; cooperative research unit; or
private sector firm. Other agencies or institutions are not eligible to
receive assistance under this notice but may be project partners.
Special Projects
Project Description
The NOAA Coastal Services Center is seeking proposals for special
technical, management, or planning projects that relate to growth
management in coastal areas or human use of coastal resources. Project
proposals are due December 21, 1999, (with earliest start date of May
1, 2000). See ``Selection Schedule'' below. Anticipated funding in FY
2000 will be between $100,000 and $150,000. Four to six projects will
be funded in the $20,000 to $25,000 range for one year with the
potential for option years (depending on the availability of funds
through the appropriation process). Projects above $25,000 will not be
considered.
Background
The Center conducts a variety of projects that directly apply to
the state and local coastal management community. The goal of Special
Projects is to provide assistance to the local coastal management
community for technical or management issues on specific topics
relating directly to growth management in coastal areas or human use of
coastal resources.
In FY 2000, the Center expects to award grants and cooperative
agreements (for those projects with substantial Center involvement) to
organizations across the United States with proven abilities to
implement practical solutions at a state and local level. Proposed
study topics must relate to growth management in coastal areas or to
human use of coastal resources. All project proposals received that
meet the above topic criteria will be reviewed for technical merit and
management relevance.
Project Proposals
The Center must receive proposals by 5 PM (Eastern time) on
December 21, 1999. Proposals postmarked December 21, 1999, but not
received until after December 21, 1999, will NOT be accepted. In
addition to providing the information requested below, the cooperator
must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No
or fax copies will be accepted. All project proposals must include the
following sections and total no more than 10 pages (double spaced, 12-
point font, and exclusive of appendices):
Goals and Objectives-Identify broad project goals and quantifiable
objectives.
Background/Introduction - state the problem and summarize existing
efforts at all levels.
Audience-Describe specifics of how the project will contribute to
improving or resolving an issue with the primary target audience. The
target audience must be explicitly stated.
Project Description/Methodology-Describe the specifics of the
projects (3 pages maximum).
Project Partners - Identify project partners and their respective
roles.
Milestones and Outcomes-List target milestones, timelines, and
desired outcomes in terms of products and services.
Project Budget - Proposal should provide a detailed budget
breakdown that follows the categories and formats in the NOAA grant
package and a brief narrative that justifies each item.
Evaluation Criteria (with weights) and Selection Process
Review panels will be set up using two NOAA and at least two non-
NOAA reviewers to assist in the evaluation of the proposals. All
proposals received will be ranked according to score and the selecting
official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the
final decision. The selecting official also may consider program policy
factors in the final decision to ensure Center projects are balanced
geographically and institutionally. Evaluation criteria are:
Management Relevance (30 points)
- Does the proposed project (directly or indirectly) address a
critical national, regional, state, or local management need relating
directly to growth
[[Page 60171]]
management of coastal areas or human use of coastal resources?
- Are the project goals and objectives clear and concise?
- Are there direct ties to the state coastal management agency,
National Estuarine Research Reserve, and/or National Marine Sanctuary?
- Does the proposed project have a clearly defined management
audience and do the products have clearly defined users?
- Will the outreach/transfer mechanisms be effective (in
transferring science tools and information to management)?
Technical Merit (25 points)
- Is the approach technically sound?
- Does the proposed project build on existing knowledge?
- Is the approach innovative?
Applicability and Effectiveness of Products and their Delivery (25
points)
- Will the proposed project produce useful (and easily used)
products, services, or an understanding for the target audience and
users?
- Is project implementation likely to be flexible and responsive to
public and user input?
- Will the products be delivered in a timely and appropriate manner
to appropriate recipients?
- Will the products have long-term (lasting) value and widespread
applicability?
- Will the outreach/transfer mechanisms be effective (in
transferring science tools and information to management)?
- Is an effective evaluation mechanism built into the project
process?
Efficiency (15 points)
- Is the budget commensurate with the project needs?
- Are appropriate partnerships going to be employed to achieve the
highest quality content and maximal efficiency?
Overall Qualifications (5 points)
- Are the proposers capable of conducting a project of the scope
and scale proposed? (i.e., Are there adequate professional, facility,
and administrative capabilities?)
Selection Schedule
Special projects will be reviewed once during the year. The
following schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award
process for grants and/or cooperative agreements:
Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 21, 1999
Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date May 1, 2000
NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m.
Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant
package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. E-mail or FAX
copies will not be accepted. One original and one copy of the proposal
and grant paperwork is required.
Funding Availability
Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA
funds for FY 2000 are authorized. Total funding available for this
announcement will be between $100,000 and $150,000. Publication of this
notice does not obligate NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative
agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds.
Cost Sharing
There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to this
program announcement and no additional weight will be given to
proposals with cost sharing.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications for grants under this program announcement may be
submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these
specific guidelines, by any state or local resource management agency,
college or university, private industry, nonprofit organization, or
cooperative research unit. Other agencies or institutions are not
eligible to receive assistance under this notice.
General Information For All Programs
Indirect Costs
The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an
application under any of these programs must not exceed the current
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by the applicant's cognizant
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. If a rate has not been established, one
will be negotiated by the Department of Commerce (DOC) Office of
Inspector General.
Policies and Procedures
Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all laws and DOC
policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to assistance awards.
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 recipient have been convicted of, or
are presently facing, criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury,
or other matters that significantly reflect on the recipient's
management, honesty, or financial integrity.
Past Performance
Unsatisfactory performance under prior 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 DOC to cover pre-award
costs should an award not be made or funded at a level less than
requested.
No Obligation for Future Funding
If the 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.
Delinquent Debts
No award of funds shall be made to an applicant who has an
outstanding delinquent debt until either:
(1) The delinquent account is paid in full,
(2) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received, or
(3) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.
Primary Applicant Certifications
All organizations or individuals preparing grant applications must
submit a completed Form CD-511 ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and explanations are hereby provided:
- Non-Procurement 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.
- Drug-Free Workplace
Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, Section 605) are subject to
15 CFR part 26, subpart f, ``Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form
prescribed above applies.
- Anti-Lobbying
[[Page 60172]]
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 contracting and financial transactions,'' and the
lobbying section of the certification form prescribed above applies to
application/bids for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for
more than $100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than
$150,000.
- Anti-Lobbying Disclosures
Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any
funds must submit an SF-LLL form, ``Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.
Lower Tier Certifications
Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for sub-grants,
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 sub-
recipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the
instructions contained in the aware 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 Programs.''
Buy American-Made Equipment or 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.
Classification
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866. Prior notice and an opportunity for public
comment are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) or
any other law for this notice concerning grants, cooperative
agreements, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a regulatory
flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA).
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 Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB control number. This notice
contains a collection-of-information requirements subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection-of-information has been
approved by OMB, OMB Control Numbers 0348-0041, 0348-0042, 0348-0043,
0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001.
Dated: October 29, 1999.
Captain Ted I. Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administratorfor Ocean Services and Coastal Zone
Management.
[FR Doc. 99-28787 Filed 10-29-99; 4:53 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F