[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44116-44119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21137]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 000616179-1190-02]
RIN: 0648-ZA90


Office of Research and Applications Ocean Remote Sensing Program 
Notice of Financial Assistance

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 
(NESDIS).

ACTION: Notice of availability of Federal assistance.

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SUMMARY: The NESDIS Office of Research and Applications (ORA) announces 
the availability of Federal assistance in the area of satellite 
oceanography. This program responds to a need for research and 
activities that expand the use of and improve access to satellite 
oceanographic data. Funded proposals will help build capabilities 
nationwide in the application of satellite oceanographic data to 
environmental monitoring and prediction and coastal management as well 
as guide the development of future oceanographic satellite systems.

DATES: Proposals with a completed Grants Applications Package must be 
postmarked on or before October 22, 2001. Final selection is 
anticipated to be completed by approximately January 25, 2002. The 
earliest anticipated start date is June 1, 2002. To verify the date 
actually sent, applicants must request and include with the application 
either a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable proof of timely mailing.
    Late Applications: Applications that do not meet the proposal 
deadline above will be considered late. Late applications will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

ADDRESSES: Send all proposals to the Office of Research and 
Applications; NOAA/NESDIS; 5200 Auth Road; Room 711; Camp Springs, MD 
20746-4304. Proposals should cite this Notice and be sent to the 
attention of William Pichel, Office of Research and Applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrative questions should be 
directed to Kathy LeFevre, (301) 763-8127 or [email protected]. 
Technical point of contact is William Pichel, (301) 763-8231 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Award Arrangement

    Selected recipients will either receive a grant, or enter into a 
cooperative agreement with ORA, depending upon the amount of the 
Office's involvement in the project. A grant will be awarded where the 
proposed work is considered substantially independent work. A 
cooperative agreement will be implemented where there is substantial 
involvement by ORA in the proposed work.

NOAA Grants Application Package

    All applicants are required to submit a NOAA Grants Application 
Package with the project proposal. The standard NOAA grants application 
forms can be obtained from the NOAA Website at http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/
~grants/index.html. If Internet access is not available, forms can be 
obtained by mail by contacting the NOAA/NESDIS/ORA at (301) 763-8102. 
All Grants Application Packages must include Forms SF-424, SF-424A, SF-
424B, and CD-511. If applicable, applicants must also include Anti-
lobbying Disclosure Form SF-LLL, and Lower-Tier Certification Form CD-
512. To determine SF-LLL and CD-512 applicability, applicants are 
directed to the ``General Information for All Programs'' section of 
this notice, Anti-lobbying Disclosures and Lower-Tier Certifications 
subheadings.

Funding Availability

    FY 2002 funding for this program will be contingent upon the 
availability of funds but is anticipated to be approximately $400,000. 
Individual awards for FY 2002 are expected to range from a minimum of 
$50,000 up to $150,000, although successful proposals that are deemed 
to be exceptionally meritorious by the Selection Panel may be larger. 
There is no guarantee that all the areas of research interest 
identified in this Notice will be able to receive funding 
consideration.

Minority Serving Institutions

    Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876, 12900, and 13021, the 
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to broadening the participation of 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving 
Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) in its 
educational and research programs. The DOC/NOAA vision, mission, and 
goals are to achieve full participation by Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSI) in order to advance the development of human 
potential, to strengthen the Nation's capacity to provide high-quality 
education, and to increase opportunities for MSIs to participate in and 
benefit from Federal Financial Assistance programs. DOC/NOAA encourages 
all applicants to include meaningful participation of MSIs.

Authority

    Statutory authority for these programs is provided under 33 U.S.C. 
1442 (Research program respecting possible long-range effects of 
pollution, overfishing, and man-induced changes of ocean ecosystems); 
and 49 U.S.C. 44720 (Meteorological Services).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under Number 11.440 (Research in Remote Sensing of the Earth 
and Environment).

General Information

    Environmental prediction, assessment, and the conservation and 
management of coastal and oceanic resources are among NOAA's primary 
functions. NESDIS, one of the five principal offices within NOAA, is 
the world's largest civil, operational environmental space organization 
and operates the Nation's civil geostationary and polar-orbiting 
environmental satellites. NESDIS also facilitates the acquisition of 
non-U.S. environmental satellite data through international agreements. 
Satellite systems provide data and information that are critical to 
weather forecasting; natural disaster response and mitigation; climate 
change forecasts and research; living and non-living marine resources 
management; and coastal and open ocean oceanographic research. ORA 
provides overall guidance and direction to the oceanic, atmospheric, 
and climate research and applications activities of NESDIS. The Ocean 
Remote Sensing Program, managed by ORA's Oceanic Research and 
Applications Division, has as its goal to help build capabilities 
nationwide to make expanded and improved use of earth-orbiting 
satellite data and information. The Program has particular interest in 
activities relating to sustaining healthy coasts, building sustainable 
fisheries, recovering protected species, providing improved

[[Page 44117]]

environmental forecasts, and preparing for future NOAA operational 
satellite missions.

Program Description

    The Ocean Remote Sensing Program seeks to expand the use of and 
improve access to operational satellite oceanographic data by state, 
Federal, regional governmental, and non-profit entities. The program is 
seeking proposals in each of the following research areas listed in 
priority order: (1) The application of satellite oceanographic data and 
information in support of coastal and oceanic marine resources 
management (living and non-living); (2) The application of satellite 
oceanographic data in fisheries and critical ecosystems research or 
monitoring applications (e.g., marine protected areas, essential fish 
habitat, early life recruitment and survival, stock assessment, 
protected species, important socio-economic interactions, and coral 
reefs); (3) Research leading to the development of innovative data 
archiving and data management techniques that may significantly 
simplify and improve user access to satellite oceanographic data, 
especially by users employing Internet access and geographic 
information systems (GIS) spatial analysis software technologies; (4) 
Research to increase the accuracy, precision and quantitative use of 
satellite oceanographic data in coastal and ocean surface research 
investigations (e.g., sea surface temperature, ocean color, ocean 
surface winds, sea level and surface height, and sea surface 
measurements derived from spaceborne synthetic aperture radar); (5) 
Research supporting the development of future ocean sensing capable 
U.S. satellite systems (e.g., the National Polar-Orbiting Operational 
Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS)); and (6) Research leading to 
improved coastal and oceanic climatologies using satellite 
oceanographic data. All proposals will be evaluated in the context of 
the potential value of the proposed work to a targeted user community 
(to be identified in the proposal), and the relationship of the 
proposed work to the NOAA/NESDIS mission (as described in the ``General 
Information'' section of this Notice).

Background

    ORA provides overall guidance and direction to the research and 
application activities of NESDIS. ORA provides expert services to other 
NESDIS Offices and Centers relating to satellite sensor development, 
instrument performance, and systems hardware components. It coordinates 
with other NESDIS Offices and Centers, appropriate NOAA units, and U.S. 
Government agencies in the implementation and evaluation of operational 
and research satellite data and products that result from research 
activities. It coordinates research activities of mutual interest with 
the academic community, NASA laboratories, and with foreign 
organizations, particularly those in satellite operating countries. ORA 
provides advice to the Assistant Administrator concerning interfaces 
among the Centers and Offices of NESDIS and among the major NOAA 
elements in relation to broad scale scientific projects. It also 
produces and provides specific programmatic studies, statistics, and 
scientific recommendations as needed.

Project Proposals

    A signed original and two copies of each project proposal, must be 
sent to ORA by the date indicated in the ``DATES'' section of this 
Notice. Proposals received after that time and date will not receive 
consideration. In addition to the information requested below, the 
applicant must submit a complete NOAA grants application package (with 
signed originals,) and curriculum vitae (CV) for the principal 
investigator(s). All project proposals must include the sections 
identified below and total no more than eight pages in double-spaced, 
12-point font format. The title page, detailed budget, investigator(s) 
CV, and any appendices are not included in the eight page limit. 
Proposals that exceed the eight page limit described here will be 
considered ineligible for consideration and shall be returned to the 
applicant. Multi-year proposals, in annual increments up to a maximum 
of three years, will be considered; however, funding beyond the first 
year will be dependent upon satisfactory performance and the continued 
availability of funds.
    1. Title Page. The title page shall provide the project title, the 
name(s) of the lead Principal Investigator (PI), Partner name(s) if 
any, the respective affiliations, complete addresses, telephone, FAX, 
and e-mail information. The title page will also present the total 
proposed cost, the proposed budget period, and a brief abstract of the 
proposed work. The title page shall also identify the specific research 
area of interest (the one most relevant area from those listed by 
number in the ``Program Description'' in this Notice), and clearly 
identify that the proposal is in response to this Notice. The title 
page should be signed by the PI(s) and the institutional representative 
of the PI's organization.
    2. Goals and Objectives. Identify broad project goals and 
quantifiable objectives.
    3. Background/Introduction. State the problem and summarize 
existing efforts in the context of present knowledge and/or 
capabilities.
    4. User Application Audience. Describe specifics of how the project 
will contribute to improving or resolving an issue with an identified 
primary target audience. The target audience must be explicitly stated.
    5. Project Description/Methodology. Describe the specifics of the 
proposed project (4 pages maximum).
    6. Project Partners. Identify any project partners, their 
respective roles, and their contributions/relationships to the proposed 
effort.
    7. Milestones and Outcomes. List target milestones, time lines, and 
desired outcomes (in multi-year proposed efforts, by year). The 
potential value of the proposed work to the identified target 
audience's needs should be identified in this section of the proposal.
    8. Project Budget. Provide a detailed budget breakdown by category 
(and in multi-year proposed efforts, by year) and a brief narrative to 
provide the basis for the budget. For accounting purposes, do not 
include NOAA sub-award funds in the budget information on grant 
application forms (SF424, SF424a).

Selection Process

    A project selection panel will be convened to review and to provide 
recommendations on selection using the criteria published in these 
guidelines. Each proposal will be reviewed by at least three reviewers 
who are qualified to review the proposed work. These reviewers may 
include both Federal and non-Federal individuals each of whom will 
independently review and rank the proposal. No more than one reviewer 
(of the three) may be from the Oceanic Research and Applications 
Division. Proposals will be ranked according to a score (explained 
below) and presented to the Selecting Official (the Chief, Oceanic 
Research and Applications Division) for final selection. In addition to 
the individual proposal rankings assigned by the panel, the Selecting 
Official may consider the following program policy factors: balance 
among the prioritized research areas of programmatic interest described 
in the ``Program Description'' section of this Notice, and (for 
cooperative agreements that have substantial ORA involvement) 
geographic location in making a final decision.

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Selection Criteria (With Weights)

    All proposals will be scored by the panel members individually 
according to the following criteria:

Criteria

1. Relevance of the Proposed Research to NESDIS and NOAA Missions (25 
points)

    Does the proposed project (directly or indirectly) address a 
critical need? Are the project goals and objectives clear and concise? 
Does the proposed project have a clearly defined user audience? Are 
there direct ties to relevant NESDIS, NOAA, Federal, regional, state or 
local activities?

2. Technical Merit (25 points)

    Is the approach technically sound? Does the proposed project build 
on existing knowledge? Is the approach innovative?

3. Applicability and Effectiveness (20 points)

    Does the proposed work have the potential of increasing the 
accessibility, usability (i.e., easily understood and used), and 
relevance of satellite observed oceanographic data and information by 
the identified target user community? Does the proposed work provide 
for flexible, early and effective opportunities for user involvement 
(e.g., through cooperative experiments, demonstrations, or user 
evaluations)? Does the proposed work have the potential for long-term 
(lasting) value and widespread applicability? Does the proposed work 
include an effective mechanism by which the project's progress can be 
evaluated?

4. Cost Efficiency (10 points)

    Is the budget realistic and commensurate with the project needs? 
Does the budget narrative justify the proposed expenditures?

5. Meaningful Participation of Minority Serving Institution(s) (10 
points)

    Is there meaningful participation by an MSI in the proposed work? 
Are there subgrants, subcontracts or other partnership arrangements 
proposed with MSIs?

6. Overall Qualifications (10 points)

    Are the proposers capable of conducting a project of the scope and 
scale proposed (i.e., scientific, professional, facility, and 
administrative resources/capabilities)? Are appropriate partnerships 
going to be employed to achieve the highest quality content and maximal 
efficiency?

Selection Schedule

    Proposals submitted in response to this Notice will be reviewed 
according to the following schedule:

Proposals postmarked by--October 22, 2001
Final Selection--Approximately January 25, 2002
Grant start date--Approximately June 1, 2002

Funding Availability

    Specific funding available for awards in response to this Notice 
will be finalized after the NOAA budget for FY 2002 is authorized. 
Total funding available for this Notice is anticipated to be 
approximately $400,000. Individual annual awards are expected to range 
from a minimum of $50,000 to $150,000. Successful proposals that are 
deemed by the selection panel to be exceptionally meritorious may be 
larger. There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available 
to make awards for all approved projects, nor that all research areas 
of interest will be supported. 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

    Eligible applications are institutions of higher education, non-
profits, commercial organizations, state, local and Indian tribal 
governments. Federal agencies or institutions are eligible to receive 
Federal assistance under this Notice as sub-awardees, and are limited 
in the amount of assistance to be received to not more than twenty 
percent of the total budget (direct plus indirect costs) requested in 
the proposal. Proposals with Federal agency or institution sub-award 
amounts exceeding twenty percent of the total amount requested shall be 
considered ineligible, and will be returned to the applicant without 
being reviewed.


    Note: Non-NOAA Federal agency or institution sub-awardees must 
demonstrate that they have legal authority to receive funds for the 
purpose of this program in excess of their appropriation. Because 
this announcement is not proposing to procure goods or services from 
another Federal agency, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535) is not an 
appropriate legal basis. Federally Funded Research and Development 
Centers (FFRDCs) and Government Owned and Operated Laboratories 
(GOCOs), are eligible to receive Federal assistance under this 
Notice as sub-awardees so long as the receipt of funds would be 
consistent with the legal authorities under which they were 
established and operate.

General Information for all Programs

Indirect Costs

    The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an 
application under this program notice must not exceed the current 
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by the applicant's cognizant 
Federal agency (prior to the proposed effective date of the award), or 
35 percent of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the 
application, whichever is less. Proposals that include indirect costs 
exceeding 35 percent shall be considered ineligible for consideration 
under this Notice and shall be returned to the applicant.

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to 
Federal 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 skills, honesty, or financial integrity.

Past Performance

    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.

Pre-Award Activities

    If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do 
so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. 
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of 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 the award. 
Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend

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the period of performance is at the total discretion of DOC.

Delinquent Federal Debts

    No award or Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
    (i) The delinquent account is paid in full,
    (ii) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least 
one payment is received, or
    (iii) Other arrangements satisfactory to 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

    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 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, ``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 award document.

False Statements

    A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or 
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or 
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

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

Executive Order 12866
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.
    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 use of Standards Forms 424, 424A, 424B, 
and SF-LLL have been approved by OMB under the respective control 
numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0348-0046.

    Dated: August 13, 2001.
Gregory W. Withee,
Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services.
[FR Doc. 01-21137 Filed 8-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-HR-P