[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13718-13723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6230]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 000218045-0045-01]
RIN 0648-ZA80


Sea Grant Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program; 
Request for Proposals for FY 2000

AGENCY: National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) is 
soliciting proposals for innovative partnerships to strengthen the 
capacity of Minority Serving Institutions to foster student careers, 
research, and workforce competitiveness in marine and related sciences. 
Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) include educational institutions 
identified by the Department of Education as (i) Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, (ii) Hispanic-Serving Institutions, (iii) 
Tribal Colleges and Universities, and (iv) MSIs located in U.S. insular 
areas (see Section III. Eligibility.) Marine sciences are defined as 
those fields relevant to the protection, management, and development of 
the Nation's ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.
    Beginning in Fiscal Year 2000, Sea Grant expects to make available 
about $300,000 per year, depending on available funding, to support the 
Sea grant Minority Serving Institution (SG-MSI) Partnership Program. Up 
to $150,000 will be reserved for proposals related to acquaculture in a 
cooperative effort with Department of Commerce's Minority Business 
Development Agency. Sea Grant expects to fund four to six projects per 
year. Proposals may request up to $75,000 per year in federal funds and 
projects may run up to three years maximum. Matching funds from non-
federal sources must provide at least one-third of the total project 
costs, or in other words, for every $2 in federal support, a minimum of 
$1 in non-federal matching funds is required to be committed to the 
project.
    The SG-MSI Partnership Project projects are intended to provide 
additional access for MSI students and faculty to research 
opportunities, career-related experience, and work-study or internships 
that enhance career opportunities and career growth in the marine 
sciences and related marine fields. Projects should establish 
partnerships between the MSI and Sea Grant programs or other 
universities, research institutions, industry, or organizations 
(public, nonprofit, or private) engaged in the marine sciences or 
related marine fields. Proposals must be submitted by the MSI and must 
identify partner institutions by name in their applications.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Applicants are encouraged to submit their 
proposals to their state's Sea Grant program (contact the appropriate 
state Sea Grant Program from the list below to obtain the mailing 
address or the address may be obtained on the web site http://
www.nsgo.seagrant.org/SGDirectors.html); or, if your state does not 
have a Sea Grant program, to an adjacent state Sea Grant Program.

[[Page 13719]]

Proposals must be received before 5:00 p.m. (local time) on May 15, 
2000.
    Direct submission to the National Sea Grant College Program Office 
in Silver Spring, MD, while not encouraged, is acceptable. The address 
is: National Sea Grant College Program, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor, 
SG-MSI Competition, Room 11732, NOAA (R/SG), 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Proposals submitted to the National Sea Grant 
Office must be received by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on May 15, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Francis Schuler, Executive 
Director, National Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, NOAA, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel. (301) 713-2445 ext. 158; e-
mail: [email protected].

Sea Grant Programs

Alaska, University of Alaska (907) 474-7086
California, University of California, San Diego (858) 534-4440
California, University of Southern California (213) 812-1335
Connecticut, University of Connecticut (860) 405-9128
Delaware, University of Delaware (302) 831-2841
Florida, University of Florida (352) 392-5870
Georgia, University of Georgia (706) 542-5954
Hawaii, University of Hawaii (808) 956-7031
Illinois-Indiana, Purdue University (765) 494-3593
Louisiana, Louisiana Sea Grant (225) 388-6710
Maine, University of Maine (207) 581-1435
Maryland, University of Maryland (301) 405-6371
Massachusetts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (617) 253-7131
Massachusetts, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (508) 289-2557
Michigan, University of Michigan (734) 763-1437
Minnesota, University of Minnesota (218) 726-8710
Mississippi-Alabama, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (228) 
875-9368
New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire (603) 862-0122
New Jersey, New Jersey Marine Science Consortium (732) 872-1300, Ext. 
21
New York, New York Sea Grant Institute, SUNY (631) 632-6905
North Carolina, North Carolina State University (919) 515-2454
Ohio, Ohio State University (614) 292-8949
Oregon, Oregon State University (541) 737-2714
Puerto Rico, University of Puerto Rico (787) 832-3585
Rhode Island, University of Rhode Island (401) 874-6800
South Carolina, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (843) 727-2078
Texas, Texas A&M University (409) 845-3854
Virginia, Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium (804) 924-5965
Washington, University of Washington (206) 543-6600
Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison (608) 262-0905

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

I. Program Authority

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131. Catalog of Federal Assistance 
Number: 11.417, Sea Grant Support.

II. Program Description

Background

    In an effort to address the under-representation of minorities in 
the marine sciences, Sea Grant established a pilot program in the mid-
1990s to enhance the capabilities of Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCU) nationwide in the coastal and marine sciences. The 
Federal investment in this program has been $750,000 over three years. 
Awards of $50,000 per year were made to HBCU institutions via Sea Grant 
College Programs in their states. The HBCU institutions were Clark-
Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Hampton University, 
Savannah State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern 
Shore.
    In accord with the Sea Grant mission and with the policy of the 
U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to reach minority institutions, the goals of the SG-MSI 
Partnership Program are:
    1. To significantly increase the exposure of undergraduate MSI 
students to the marine and coastal sciences and to increase the 
participation of under-represented minorities in the marine sciences.
    2. To enhance the quality of undergraduate majors and graduate 
studies to facilitate entrance into existing marine science graduate 
programs or marine careers.
    3. To accelerate the development of strong partnerships and to 
encourage graduate research, student experiential internships, and 
faculty development opportunities between MSIs and Sea Grant programs 
or other universities, research institutions, industry, or 
organizations (public, nonprofit, or private) engaged in the marine 
sciences or related marine fields.
    4. To design and encourage the structuring and implementation of 
curricula and training opportunities for students interested in 
pursuing business careers as entrepreneurs in the field of 
acquaculture.

Rationale

    The recruitment of minorities into the fields of science and 
engineering, and especially under-represented minorities, lags behind 
expectations. According to the National Science Foundation (Women, 
Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 
1996) the percentage of minority scientists and engineers in the 
workforce ranges from 0.2% for American Indians to 3.5% for African-
Americans and Hispanics. Although data are not available for marine 
sciences in particular, they are included in the general heading of 
science and natural sciences, and there is every reason to expect the 
percentages to be similar if not lower.
    The quality and nature of academic experience at each step of the 
educational pipeline are crucial to bringing more minorities into 
marine science and engineering fields. Bachelors, Master's and Doctoral 
degrees are the underpinnings of science career achievement and 
employment. In both undergraduate and graduate levels, Hispanics, 
African Americans, and Native Americans complete fewer degrees than 
majority ethnic groups. At the Bachelor's level, National Science 
Foundation (NSF) data show that African Americans and Hispanics each 
receive about 4.5% of the bachelor degrees in natural science and 
engineering; native Americans receive 0.4%. At the Master's level 
African-Americans and Hispanics receive about 3% of the degrees (NSF 
Science and Engineering Indicators, 1996), There is additional evidence 
to suggest that MSI's are underserved in the proportion of grants that 
they receive from the U.S. Department of Commerce. In FY 1998, MSIs 
received only 5.8% of Department grants to institutions of higher 
education. In FY 1999, NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research provided 0.5% of its extramural grants to MSIs.
    NOAA and Sea Grant share the commitment of the Department of 
Commerce to bring more under-represented minorities into marine science 
and engineering through working with MSIs. Sea Grant's authorizing 
legislation includes a strong educational mandate at institutions of 
higher learning.

[[Page 13720]]

SG-MSI Partnership Program

    The intent of the SG-MSI Partnership Program is to increase the 
exposure of undergraduate and graduate students from MSIs to the marine 
and coastal sciences and, ultimately, to increase the capacity of MSIs 
to promote and launch more students into marine science careers. A SG-
MSI Partnership project should develop strong partnerships between MSIs 
and Sea Grant programs or other universities, research institutions, 
industry, or organizations (public, nonprofit, or private) engaged in 
the marine sciences or related marine fields that will augment the 
capabilities of MSIs. Possible partnership mechanisms include: student 
research and/or experiential internship opportunities, faculty 
development opportunities, access to facilities and laboratories or 
field research, mentoring programs, or other enabling programs to 
increase interest and participation in marine sciences or related 
marine fields, including aquaculture. Projects using aquaculture as a 
tool to teach science, business and as a way to stimulate relationships 
between MSI's and industry or business are encouraged. These projects 
should aim at stimulating students' interest in and ability to enter 
the field of aquaculture as a business endeavor.
    Proposals must be submitted from an eligible MSI and are expected 
to have a rigorous work plan, a strong rationale, and clearly 
identified and achievable goals. Roles, responsibilities and 
contributions of all partners must be clearly identified.
    Proposals should emphasize innovative approaches to solving the 
problem of encouraging, preparing, and graduating MSI students into 
marine science career fields. Proposals should build creatively on 
existing expertise and research programs of academia, state and 
national efforts. Innovative, imaginative approaches to the issue are 
sought that take maximum advantage of the synergies of partnership.
    Proposals may request up to $75,000 per year in federal funds and 
projects may run up to three years duration. Matching funds from non-
federal sources must provide at least one-third of total project costs, 
or in other words, for every $2 in federal support, a minimum of $1 in 
non-federal matching funds in required to be committed to the project. 
The required non-federal matching funds may be contributed by the MSI, 
by the partners, or any other non-federal source. Awards are contingent 
on Federal funding availability.

III. Eligibility

    Minority Serving Institutions eligible to submit proposals include 
institutions of higher education identified by the Department of 
Education as (i) Historically Black Colleges and Universities, (ii) 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions, (iii) Tribal Colleges and Universities, 
on the ``1999 United States Department of Education Accredited Post-
Secondary Minority Institutions'' list: (http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/
99minin.html). Also, because of their unique dependence on marine 
resources, (iv) institutions of higher education located in U.S. 
insular areas that are on the ``1999 United States Department of 
Education Accredited Post-Secondary Minority Institutions'' are 
eligible to submit proposals. (United States' insular areas include the 
territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the freely associated 
states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.)

IV. Evaluation Criteria

    The evaluation criteria for proposals submitted for support under 
the SG-MSI Partnership Program are weighted as follows:
    (1) Impact of Proposed Project (40%): The contributions the project 
makes to enhancing the capability of the MSI to bring its student 
population, either undergraduate or graduate, into the marine sciences 
and related marine fields. The benefit accruing to a faculty from his/
her participation in the SG-MSI Partnership Program, including exposure 
to research and opportunities for professional growth in the marine 
sciences and related marine fields.
    (2) Quality of Partnership Relationships (30%): The strength, 
stability and quality of the proposed partnership. The demonstrated 
capabilities and interest in marine science or related marine field of 
the MSI and/or the partner. The degree to which the partners contribute 
time or in-kind match. Evidence that the partnership has been thought 
through carefully, with roles and responsibilities clearly identified. 
Evidence that the partnership can have long term sustainability and 
usefulness once established. The ability of the partnerships to provide 
enhanced career opportunities for faculty and students.
    (3) Innovativeness (15%): The degree to which new approaches are 
developed to solve problems and exploit opportunities for student and 
faculty engagement in marine science and marine resource management.
    (4) Project Personnel (15%): The caliber of the principal 
investigators including special skills, past experiences of 
institutions and investigators, or training that renders the project 
especially qualified for the SG-MSI Partnership Program.

V. Selection Procedures

    Reviews of the proposals will be conducted by an independent peer 
review panel consisting of university educators, scientists, 
administrators, and senior level individuals with expertise in academic 
partnerships and/or familiarity with MSIs and their students. Proposals 
will be ranked in accordance with the above evaluation criteria 
(Section IV) by the panel members. The panel members will provide 
individual evaluations on proposals, but there will be no consensus 
advice. Their recommendations and evaluations will be considered by the 
National Sea Grant Office in the final selection of proposals to be 
funded. The National Sea Grant Office may also consider programmatic or 
geographic balance and budge availability in the final selection of 
proposals to be funded. Hence, awards may not necessarily be made to 
the peer review panel's highest-scored proposals. Investigators may be 
asked to modify objectives, work plans, budget levels, or project 
duration prior to final approval of an award.

VI. Instructions for Application

Proposal Preparation

    The National See Grant Office, NOAA, encourages applicants to 
discuss their proposal concepts with a local Sea Grant program. The 
state Sea Grant programs are a valuable source of information about 
marine issues in their state and region, and can advise applicants new 
to Sea Grant on the preparation of NOAA and Sea Grant applications.

Timetable

    May 15, 2000--Proposals are due 5 p.m., May 15, 2000. (See Section 
VII. How To Submit for further details.)
    July, 2000--Successful applicants can expect to be notified at the 
beginning of July 2000. Successful applicants may be asked to provide 
revised narratives and/or budgets which would be due in mid-July.
    October 1, 2000--Funds will be awarded through a grant with an 
expected start date of October 1, 2000. Multiple-year proposals will be 
funded in annual increments.

[[Page 13721]]

Proposal Guidelines

    Each proposal should include the items listed below. All pages 
should be single- or double-spaced, typewritten in at least a 10-point 
font, and printed on metric A4 (210 mm  x  297 mm) 8\1/2\"  x  11" 
paper. Brevity will assist reviewers and program staff in dealing 
effectively with proposals. Therefore, the proposals may not exceed 15 
pages. Tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, 
photographs and other pictorial presentations are included in the 15-
page limitation; literature citations are not included in the 15-page 
limitation. Conformance to the 15-page limitation will be strictly 
enforced. All information needed for review of the proposal should be 
included in the main text; no appendices are permitted. The following 
information should be included:
    (1) Signed title page: The title page should be signed by the 
Principal Investigator and the institutional representative and should 
clearly identify the program area being addressed by starting the 
project title with ``SG-MSI Partnership Program.'' The Principal 
Investigator and institutional representative should be identified by 
full name, title, organization, telephone number, e-mail and mailing 
address. The total amount of Federal funds and matching funds being 
requested should be listed for each budget period.
    (2) See Grant Project Summary Form (90-2): This information is very 
important. It is critical that the project summary accurately describe 
the essential elements of the project being proposed. The project 
summary should include: 1. Title: Use the exact title as it appears in 
the rest of the application. 2. Investigators: List the names and 
affiliations of each investigator who will significantly contribute to 
the project. Start with the Principal Investigator. 3. Funding request 
for each year of the project, including matching funds if appropriate. 
4. Project Period: Start and completion dates. Proposals should request 
a start date of October 1, 2000. 5. Objectives, Methodology, and 
Rationale: This should include concise statement of the objectives of 
the project, the scientific or educational methodology to be used, and 
the rationale for the work proposed. (See below #10 Standard 
Application Forms.)
    (3) Project Description (15-page limit).
    (a) Introduction/Background/Justification: What is the problem or 
opportunity being addressed and what is its scientific, educational, or 
economic importance to the region or nation?
    (b) Technical Plan: What are the goals, objectives, and anticipated 
approach of the proposed project? While a detailed work plan is not 
expected, the proposal should present evidence that there has been 
thoughtful consideration of the approach to the problem under study. 
What capabilities does the partner possess that will benefit the 
project, faculty member and students?
    (c) Output/Anticipated Benefits: Upon successful completion of the 
project, what are the anticipated benefits to the institutions, 
students, and the partner?
    (d) Literature Cited: Should be included here, but does not count 
against the 15-page limit.
    (4) Budget and Budget Justification: There should be a separate 
annual budget for each year of the project as well as a cumulative 
budget for the entire project. Applicants are encouraged to use the Sea 
Grant Budget Form 90-4 (see below #10 Standard Application Forms), but 
may use their own form as long as it provides the same information as 
the Sea Grant form. Subcontracts should have a separate budget page. 
Matching funds must be indicated; failure to provide adequate matching 
funds will result in the proposal being rejected without review. Each 
annual budget should include a separate budget justification page that 
itemizes all budget items in sufficient detail to enable reviewers to 
evaluate the appropriateness of the funding requested. Please pay 
special attention to any travel, supply or equipment budgets and 
provide details.
    (5) Current and Pending Support: Applicants must provide 
information on all current and pending support for ongoing projects and 
proposals, including subsequent funding in the case of continuing 
grants. All current project support from whatever source (e.g., 
Federal, State or local government agencies, private foundations, 
industrial or other commercial organizations) must be listed. The 
proposed project and all other projects or activities requiring a 
portion of time of the principal investigator and other senior 
personnel should be included, even if they receive no Federal salary 
support from the project(s). The number of person-months per year to be 
devoted to the projects must be stated, regardless of source of 
support. Similar information must be provided for all proposals already 
submitted or submitted concurrently to other possible sponsors, 
including those within NOAA.
    (6) Results from Prior Sea Grant Support.
    If the Principal Investigator (or any co-PI identified on the 
proposal) has received Sea Grant funding in the past five years, the 
following information on the prior award(s) is required:
    (a) The NOAA award number, amount and period of support;
    (b) The title of the project;
    (c) Brief summary of the results of the completed work;
    (d) Brief description of the contribution the project has made.
    (e) Publications resulting from the Sea Grant award.
    Reviewers will be asked to comment on the quality of the prior work 
described in this section of the proposal. Please note that a PI with 
prior Sea Grant support may use up to two additional pages to describe 
the results.
    (7) Vitae (2 pages maximum per investigator).
    (8) Letter of commitment from the partnering organizations.
    (9) A brief (less than one-page) description of the partnering 
organization.
    (10) Standard Application Forms: Applicants may obtain all required 
application forms at website: http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/research/
rfp/index.html#3 or from a state Sea Grant program: http://
www.nsgo.seagrant.org/SGDirectors. html, or from Dr. Francis Schuler at 
the National Sea Grant Office (phone: 301-713-2445 x158 or e-mail: 
[email protected]). For proposals selected for funding, the 
following forms must also be submitted:
    (a) Standard Forms 424, Application for Federal Assistance, 424B, 
Assurances--Non-Construction Programs, (Rev 4-88). Please note that 
both the Principal Investigator and an administrative contact should be 
identified in Section 5 of the SF424 or Section 10, applicants should 
enter ``11.417'' for the CFDA Number and ``Sea Grant Support'' for the 
title. The form must contain the original signature of an authorized 
representative of the applying institution.
    (b) Primary Applicant Certifications. All primary applicants must 
submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby 
provided:
    (i) Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR part 26, ``Nnon-Procurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the 
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;

[[Page 13722]]

    (ii) 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;
    (iii) Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28 section 
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, 
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal 
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of 
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids 
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than 
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the 
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever 
is greater; and
    (iv) Anti-Lobbying Disclosures. Any applicant that has paid or will 
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.
    (c) Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier 
covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if 
applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding 
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier 
Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL, 
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' ORM CD-512 is intended for the 
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to the Department of 
Commerce (DOC). F-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient 
should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions 
contained in the award document.

VII. How To Submit

    Proposals must be submitted according to the Timetable outlined in 
Section VI, Instructions for Application. Although investigators are 
not required to submit more than three copies of the proposal, the 
normal review process requires 10 copies. Applicants are encouraged to 
submit sufficient proposal copies for the full review process if they 
wish all reviewers to receive color, unusually sized (not 8.5"  x  
11"), or otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of the proposal. 
Only three copies of the Federally required forms are needed.
    Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals to their state 
Sea Grant program, (see: http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/
SGDirectors.html); or, if your state does not have a Sea Grant program, 
to a Sea Grant program in an adjacent state. Proposals must be received 
before 5 p.m. (local time) on May 15, 2000.
    Direct submission to the National Sea Grant College Program Office 
in Silver Spring, MD, while not encouraged, is acceptable. The address 
is: National Sea Grant College Program, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor, 
SG-MSI Competition, Room 11732, NOAA (R/SG), 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Proposals submitted to the National Sea Grant 
Office must be received by 5 p.m. (EST) on May 15, 2000.
    Applications received after the deadline and applications that 
deviate substantially from the format described above will be returned 
to the sender without review. Facsimile transmissions and electronic 
mail submission of applications will not be accepted.

 VIII. Other Requirements

    (A) Federal Policies and Procedures--Recipients and subrecipients 
are subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Department of Commerce 
(DOC) policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal 
financial assistance awards.
    (B) Past Performance--Unsatisfactory performance under prior 
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for 
funding.
    (C) 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.
    (D) No Obligation for Future Funding--If an application is selected 
for funding, DOC has no obligation to provide any additional future 
funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase 
funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion 
of DOC.
    (E) Delinquent Federal Debts--No award of Federal funds shall be 
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal 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.
    (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) 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.
    (H) Intergovernmental Review--Applications for support from the 
National Sea Grant College Program are not subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
    (I) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and 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.
    (J) For awards receiving funding for the collection or production 
of geospatial data (e.g., GIS data layers), the recipient will comply 
to the maximum extent practicable with E.O. 12906, Coordinating 
Geographic Data Acquisition and Access, The National Spatial Data 
Infrastructure, 59 Fed. Reg. 17671 (April 11, 1994). The award 
recipient shall document all new geospatial data collected or produced 
shall document all new geospatial data collected or produced using the 
standard developed by the Federal Geographic Data Center, and make that 
standardized documentation electronically accessible. The standard can 
be found at the following Internet website: (http://www.fgdc.gov/
standards/standards/html).

Classification

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not 
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this 
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a 
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of E.O. 12866.
    This notice contains collection of information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Sea Grant budget Form, 90-4, Sea 
Grant Summary Form, 90-2, and Standard Forms 424, and 424b have been 
approved under control numbers 0648-0362, 0648-0362, 0348-0043, and 
0348-0040 with average responses estimated to take 15, 20, 45, and 15 
minutes,

[[Page 13723]]

respectively. These estimates include the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Send comments on these estimates or any 
other aspect of these collections to National Sea Grant College 
Program, R/SG, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 
(Attention: Francis S. Schuler). Notwithstanding any other provision of 
the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be 
subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of 
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
Control Number.

Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-6230 Filed 3-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-M