[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 2 (Friday, January 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 355-359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-58]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 020325069-2311-02]


Request for Proposals for FY 2003--NOAA Educational Partnership 
Program With Minority Serving Institutions: Environmental 
Entrepreneurship Program

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for preliminary proposals and subsequent full 
proposals.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States 
Department of Commerce is soliciting preliminary proposals and 
subsequent full proposals for the NOAA Educational Partnership Program 
with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI): Environmental 
Entrepreneurship Program: For the purposes of this program, 
Environmental Entrepreneurship is defined as an education and training 
mechanism to engage students in applyng the necessary skills, tools, 
methods and technologies is sciences directly related to NOAA's 
mission. This includes fostering educational opportunities in coastal, 
oceanic, atmospheric, environmental, and remote sensing sciences 
coupled with training in economics, marketing, product development, and 
services to create jobs, businesses and economic development 
opportunities. The Environmental Entrpreneurship Program promotes 
partnerships with MSIs, NOAA and the public-private sector. The goal of 
the program is to strengthen the capacity of Minority Serving 
Institutions to foster student careers, entrepreneurship opportunities 
and advanced academic study in the sciences directly related to NOAA.
    In Fiscal Year 2003, NOAA expects to make available a total of 
$3,300,000 (subject to congressional appropriations) to support the 
EPP/MSI Environmental Entrepreneurship Program. The program will 
provide funds, on a competitive basis, to support programs and projects 
at eligible Minority Serving Institutions, for a minimum of one year 
and a maximum of three years duration, in the following two categories:
    (1) Program Development and Enhancement--approximately six grants 
or cooperative agreement awards, each up to a total of $250,000 for a 
period of one, two or three years to support the capacity of MSIs in 
the development and enhancement of entrepreneurship training and 
educational opportunities for students directly related to the NOAA 
sciences.
    (2) Environmental Demonstration Projects--approximately six grants 
or cooperative agreement awards, each up to a total of $300,000 for a 
period of one, two or three years to support MSI students and faculty 
in hands-on demonstration projects focused on applying environmentally 
sound methods and technologies to address real world environmental 
issues in local communities directly related to the NOAA sciences.

DATES: Preliminary Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. (Eastern 
Standard Time) on February 17, 2003. After evaluation by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, acceptable proposals will be 
recommended to prepare full proposals, which must be received by 5 p.m. 
(Eastern Daylight Savings Time) on April 17, 2003. (See Section VI. 
Instructions for Application: Timetable). Facsimile transmissions and 
electronic mail submission of proposals will not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Preliminary proposals and full proposals must be submitted 
to:

Jewel G. Linzey, Program Manager, Environmental Entrepreneurship 
Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Educational 
Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions, Room 10725, 
SSMC III, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jewel G. Linzey, NOAA. EPP/MSI: 
Environmental Entrepreneurship Program, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Room 10725, SSMC III, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel. (301) 713-9437 x 118; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Program Authority:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1540. Catalog of Federal Assistance Number: 
11.481--Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving 
Institutions:

II. Program Description

Background

    NOAA provides science, technology and services to describe and 
predict changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage 
wisely the Nation's coastal and marine resources to ensure sustainable 
economic

[[Page 356]]

opportunities. The agency has made a commitment to expand and 
strengthen its partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions that 
will serve as a means to meet its principal goals of environmental 
stewardship, assessment, and prediction. In accordance with the policy 
of the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA to foster environment 
education and economic sustainability and the agency's mission, the 
purposes of the NOAA EPP/MSI Environmental Entrepreneurship Program are 
to support:
    (1) Educational and Training Opportunities. To prepare students 
with the necessary compliment of educational opportunities, business 
acumen and technical skills that will enable them to pursue careers, 
entrepreneurship opportunities and advanced academic study in sciences 
directly related to NOAA's mission.
    (2) Capacity Building. To develop or enhance the capacity of 
academic programs at MSIs, directly related to the NOAA sciences, to 
ensure they are effective pipelines through which students and faculty 
can gain the necessary experience as a baseline for both educational 
and training opportunities.
    (3) Partnerships. To facilitate or strengthen MSI partnerships 
between NOAA programs, laboratories and facilities, community colleges 
and universities, industry, governments (state, local, commonwealth, 
territorial and tribal), and organizations (public, nonprofit, or 
private) that foster cooperative educational and training opportunities 
for students and facilities.
    (4) Community Economic Development. To support MSIs and partners in 
preparing students with the necessary knowledge, skills, tools and 
technologies that may be applied outside the classroom to create 
minority business enterprise and foster environmentally sustainable and 
economically viable local communities.
Rationale
    The recruitment of minorities, particularly underrepresented 
minorities, in the fields of science and engineering, lags behind 
national expectations. Statistics from the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) show that of the 17, 347 doctoral degrees granted in NOAA-related 
sciences in 2000 (the most recent data available as of July 2002), 1.9 
percent were granted of African Americans, 2.3 percent were granted to 
Hispanics, and 0.3 percent were granted to American Indians and Alaska 
Natives. NOAA statistics also indicate that 3.8 percent of scientist 
and engineers employed by NOAA are African Americans, 1.8 percent are 
Hispanics, and .25 percent are American Indians and Alaska Natives. In 
contrast, these groups make up 26 percent of the U.S. population 
(African Americans, 12.3 percent, Hispanics, 12.5 percent, and American 
Indians and Alaska Natives, 1.2 percent). The quality and nature of 
academic experiences at each point of the educational pipeline are 
crucial to bringing more minorities into earth and environmental 
science and engineering fields. Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees 
are the underpinnings of environmental science career achievement and 
employment.
NOAA EPP/MSI Environmental Entrepreneurship Program
    The goal of the NOAA EPP/MSI Environmental Entrepreneurship Program 
is to strengthen the capacity of Minority Serving Institutions to 
foster student careers, entrepreneurship opportunities, and advanced 
academic study in sciences directly related to NOAA. Proposals must be 
firmly grounded in ``environmental fields'' directly related to NOAA's 
mission. The term ``environmental fields'' is defined as those 
environmental, natural sciences (i.e., biology, earth sciences), 
physical and social sciences (i.e., economics, anthropology, geography, 
and history), engineering, professional and technical fields that are 
directly related to NOAA's mission which is to ``describe and predict 
changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage wisely the 
Nation's coastal and marine resources.'' (See http://www.noaa.gov/)
    Proposals should identify mechanisms to be employed that involve an 
interdisciplinary approach to enhancing MSIs capacity to foster student 
opportunities, interest in, and pursuit of careers, entrepreneurship 
and advanced study in the NOAA sciences.
    Proposals will be accepted that address one of the following 
categories:
    (i) Program Development and Enhancement--approximately six grants 
or cooperative agreement awards, each up to a total of $250,000 for a 
period of one, two or three years to support the capacity of MSIs in 
the development and enhancement of entrepreneurship training and 
educational opportunities for students directly related to the NOAA 
sciences. Developing and enhancing outreach, education, applied 
research and training capabilities at MSIs is intended to expand 
opportunities for students to develop the technical skills, 
entrepreneurial training, and experiences needed to pursue careers, 
entrepreneurship opportunities and advanced academic study in NOAA-
related environmental fields. Activities funded under this element 
should include an interdisciplinary approach to developing or 
enhancing: coastal, oceanic, atmospheric, environmental and remote 
sensing science courses coupled with entrepreneurship training through 
curriculum enhancement in economics, marketing, product development and 
services, practical learning experiences for students, applied research 
or hands-on training. These activities a re designed to foster student 
careers, entrepreneurship opportunities and advanced academic study 
directly related to NOAA's mission.
    (ii) Environmental Demonstration Projects--approximately six grants 
or cooperative agreement awards, each up to a total of $300,000 for a 
period of one, two or three years, to support the engagement of MSI 
students and faculty in hands-on demonstration projects that apply 
environmentally sound methods and technologies to address real world 
environmental issues in local communities that directly relate to the 
NOAA sciences. Field demonstration projects should encourage 
partnerships that enable students to address challenging environmental 
issues such as, enhancing and restoring coastal and estuarine habitats, 
preventing marine pollution, reducing coastal hazards, assessing marine 
protected areas, protecting coral reefs, reducing the spread of 
invasive species, restoring fisheries and fisheries habitat, developing 
and expanding aquaculture, planning community waterfront 
revitalization, improving the prediction of weather and climate 
phenomena, or employing remotely sensed data and information systems to 
support environmental monitoring and prediction. The demonstration 
projects should involve students in collaborative field projects that 
will empower them to pursue careers, entrepreneurship opportunities and 
advanced academic study. Projects should train students with the 
necessary knowledge, skills, tools and technology that may be applied 
outside the classroom to create minority business enterprise and 
promote environmental sustainability and economic viability in their 
local communities. Projects should engage students in applied research 
to understand the nature and extent of environmental degradation within 
communities and to test and monitor methods for preventing, 
controlling, and reducing the degradation of natural environments.

[[Page 357]]

Partnerships
    Strong linkages or collaborations with NOAA programs, laboratories 
and facilities are required. Innovative approaches to training students 
are sought that take maximum advantage of the synergies and 
partnerships with other universities, community colleges, research 
institutions, industry, government and nongovernmental agencies, and 
other organizations (public, nonprofit, or private). Partnerships 
should engage students in applied research projects, internships, 
entrepreneurial and hands-on training experiences, mentored by academic 
and industry professionals, that will facilitate the entry of MSI 
students into careers, advanced study and environmental 
entrepreneurship directly related to NOAA's mission. There is no 
requirement for a MSI or partner to provide matching funds. NOAA 
retains the right to allocate funds differently than indicated above if 
the number of proposals received is not balanced across these two 
categories, or the proposal quality does not warrant the stated 
allocation. In such cases, funds may be shifted between the two funding 
categories.
Proposals
    Preliminary Proposals must not exceed five pages and must clearly 
articulate how the MSI and partners will foster student careers, 
entrepreneurship opportunities and advanced academic study directly 
related to NOAA sciences.
    Full Proposals must be submitted by an eligible MSI (see Section 
III. Eligibility) and must submit a rigorous work plan, a strong 
rationale, and clearly identified and achievable goals. Proposals must 
identify strong linkages or collaborations with NOAA programs, 
laboratories and facilities. Proposals should emphasize innovative 
approaches to encouraging, preparing, and graduating MSI students for 
environmental entrepreneurial careers and opportunities. Direct student 
support must be at least twenty-five percent [25%] of the total budget. 
Projects must contain multiple-year participation by students and 
include effective use of role models and mentors from academia and 
partner organizations. A plan for evaluating the outcome of the project 
must be included. Proposals must identify the Principal Investigator 
and Co-Principal Investigator(s) who will be significantly involved in 
carrying out the proposal. At least one Co-Principal Investigator must 
be identified who is experienced enough to assume the responsibility of 
carrying out the proposal in the absence of the Principal Investigator.

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,
(iv) Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions

on the most recent ``2002 United States Department of Education 
Accredited Post-Secondary Minority Institutions'' list: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/minorityinst.html

IV. Evaluation Criteria

    The evaluation criteria for proposals submitted under the NOAA EPP/
MSI Environmental Entrepreneurship Program are weighted as follows:
    (1) Technical and Educational Merit (40 percent): The degree to 
which the activity will advance or transfer knowledge and understanding 
of environmental fields, education, or professional fields directly 
related to NOAA's mission; the qualifications and capability of the MSI 
(including sufficient time for the Principal Investigator, Co-Principal 
Investigator and other pertinent individuals and partners) to conduct 
the project, the ability to involve a significant number of individuals 
from the MSI's student population successfully in the project 
(including at least 25% in direct student support), and multi-year 
participation by students that includes the effective use of role 
models and mentors from academia and partner organizations; the degree 
to which the activity explores creative and original concepts; the 
overall design and organizations of the planned activity; the strength 
of proposed partnerships between the MSI, NOAA and the public-private 
sector to help meet the goals of the project (including sufficient 
travel funds directed for the Principal Investigator to participate in 
the NOAA Educational Partnership Program annual meeting).
    (2) Impact of Proposed Project (60 percent): The contributions the 
project will make to enhancing the capability of the MSI to bring 
education, applied research or hands-on training opportunities to its 
student and faculty populations in the environmental fields directly 
related to NOAA's mission; the benefit accruing to the institution from 
participation in the NOAA EPP/MSI: Environmental Entrepreneurship 
Program; the degree to which the proposed activity develops mechanisms 
that will broaden and sustain the capacity of MSIs to prepare students 
for careers, advanced academic study and entrepreneurship opportunities 
in environmental fields directly related to NOAA's mission; the extent 
to which the proposed activity will enhance and improve outreach, 
education, training, and applied research at MSIs; and the adequacy of 
the plan for evaluating the outcome of the project. For environmental 
demonstration projects, the degree to which the project is expected to 
prevent, control, and reduce environmental degradation to communities.

V. Selection Procedures

    Preliminary proposals will be reviewed by NOAA. NOAA will conduct a 
review to assess which preliminary proposals best meet the program 
goals and objectives and eligibility criteria (stated in Section IV). 
NOAA will make a determination of the preliminary proposals and 
recommend which preliminary proposals should be fully developed for 
evaluation. On the basis of these recommendations, the Director of the 
EPP/MSI program will advise proposers whether or not the submission of 
full proposal is recommended for consideration. Invitation to submit a 
full proposal does not constitute an indication that proposal will be 
funded. Preliminary proposals are required and must be submitted by the 
deadline prior to full proposal. A full proposal cannot be submitted if 
a preliminary proposal has not been submitted. Interested parties who 
submitted preliminary proposals in accordance with the procedure 
described in this notice may, if they wish, submit full proposals even 
if the Director of the EPP/MSI program does not encourage full proposal 
submission.
    Full proposals submitted by April 17, 2003 will be reviewed by an 
independent peer review panel comprised of a broad representation of 
government, industry and academic experts. The panel members will rank 
proposals in accordance with the above evaluation criteria (Section 
IV). The panel members will provide individual evaluations on 
proposals, but there will be no consensus recommendation. The panel 
rankings and evaluations will be considered by NOAA in the final 
selection of proposals to be funded. NOAA may also consider 
programmatic or geographic balance and budget availability in the final 
selection of proposals, hence, awards may not necessarily be made to 
the highest-scored proposal.

[[Page 358]]

    Unsuccessful preliminary proposals and applications will be held in 
the program office for a period not to exceed three years. Unsuccessful 
applications will be notified and provided with feedback by e-mail to 
the Principal Investigator that may assist applicants in developing 
improved proposals in the future. Successful applications may be asked 
to modify objectives, work plans, budget levels, or project duration 
prior to final approval of financial assistance award. Financial 
Assistance awards may be a grant (e.g., whereby no substantial 
involvement is anticipated between NOAA and the recipient during the 
project performance) or cooperative agreement award that requires 
substantial involvement (e.g., significant collaboration, 
participation, or intervention by NOAA in the management of the 
project).

VI. Instructions for Application

Timetable

    February 17, 2003--Preliminary Proposals due: Preliminary Proposals 
must be mailed (no attachments) to Jewel G. Linzey. Information 
contained should include a brief description of the scope of the work, 
the parties involved, and an estimated budget. Preliminary Proposals 
must not exceed five pages and must clearly articulate how the MSI and 
partners will foster student careers, entrepreneurship opportunities 
and advanced academic study directly related to NOAA sciences.
    April 17, 2003--Full Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. 
(Eastern Standard Time), April 17, 2003. (See Section VII. HOW TO 
SUBMIT for further details.). Facsimile transmissions and electronic 
mail submission of proposals will not be accepted.
    May 2003--Applicants will be reviewed--Successful applicants may be 
asked to provide revised narratives and/or budgets.
    July 1, 2003--Funds will be awarded through a grant or cooperative 
agreement with an expected start date July 1, 2003.

Full Proposal Guidelines

    All full proposals must be typewritten on 8\1/2\ x 11 paper in 12-
point font and may not exceed 20-pages. The 20 page limit includes 
signed title page, abstract, project description including all text and 
any tables and visual materials (such as charts, graphs, maps, 
photographs and other pictorial presentations), budget and budget 
justification and all standard application forms. The 20 page 
limitation does not include literature citation, current and pending 
support, curriculum vitae and letters of commitment. All information 
needed for review of the proposal is indicated below; no appendices are 
permitted.
    The following information is included in the 20 page limitation:
    (1) Signed title page: The title page must 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 ``NOAA EPP/MSI: Environmental Entrepreneurship 
Program'' followed by either ``Program Development and Enhancement'' or 
``Environmental Demonstration Project,'' depending upon the type of 
financial assistance award application that is submitted. The Principal 
Investigator and institutional representative should be identified by 
full name, title, organization, telephone number, fax number, e-mail 
and mailing address. The federal funding for each year of the project 
and total funding being requested must be listed.
    (2) Abstract: It is critical that the abstract accurately describe 
the essential elements of the project being proposed. The abstract 
should include: 1. Title--Use the exact title as it appears in the 
application. 2. Investigators--List the names and affiliations of each 
investigator who will significantly contribute to the project. The 
Principal Investigator should be listed first followed by the Co-
Principal Investigator that will assume the responsibility of carrying 
out the proposal in the absence of the Principal Investigator. 3. 
Funding request for each year of the project as well as total funding 
requested. 4. Project Period--Start and completion dates. Proposals 
should request a start date of July 1, 2003. 5. Objectives, 
Methodology, and Rationale--This should include a concise statement of 
the objectives of the project, the scientific or educational 
methodology to be used, and the rationale for the work proposed.
    (3) Project Description
    (a) Introduction/Background/Justification: How will the MSI foster 
student careers, entrepreneurship opportunities and advanced academic 
study directly related to the NOAA sciences? What is the problem or 
issue being addressed directly related to the NOAA sciences and what is 
its scientific, technical, educational, or socioeconomic 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 do the partners possess that will benefit the 
project, faculty member and students?
    (c) Output/Anticipated Benefits: What measures will be used to 
evaluate the outcome of the proposed project? Upon completion of the 
project, what are the anticipated benefits to the MSI, its students, 
NOAA and the environmental community?
    (4) Budget and Budget Justification: Form SF424A Budget Information 
Non-Construction Programs and budget justification narrative are 
required. There should be an annual budget for each year of the project 
as well as a cumulative budget for the entire project. Subcontracts 
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. The budget must include at 
least twenty-five percent [25%] directed to student support including 
travel to attend relevant conferences, site visits to NOAA programs, 
laboratories, facilities or other training experiences. The budget must 
include sufficient travel funds directed for the Principal Investigator 
to participate in the NOAA Educational Partnership Program annual 
meeting. (Please see the NOAA budget guidelines at http://
www.rdc.noaa.gov/[tilde]grants/BUDGTGUD.PDF).
    (5) Standard Application Forms: Proposals submitted in response to 
this solicitation must be complete and submitted in accordance with 
instructions in the standard NOAA Grants Application package. 
Applicants may obtain all required application forms through the NOAA 
internet site http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/[tilde]grants/pdf or from Ms. 
Arlene Simpson Porter, NOAA Grants Management Division, (301) 713-0926 
ext. 152, [email protected].
    (a) Standard Forms 424. Application for Federal Assistance; SF424A 
Budget Information Non-Construction Programs; SF424B Assurances Non-
Construction, (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 
``11.481'' for the CFDA Number and ``NOAA Educational Partnership 
Program with Minority Serving Institutions'' 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,

[[Page 359]]

``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, ``Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the 
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    (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; 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 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.'' ORM CD-512 is intended for the 
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to the Department of 
Commerce (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.
    The following information is not included in the 20 page 
limitation:
    (6) Literature Citation: Literature cited should be included here.
    (7) Current and Pending Support: Applicants must provide 
information on all their current and pending Federal support for 
ongoing projects and proposals, including potential subsequent funding 
in the case of continuing grants. The proposed project and all other 
projects or activities using Federal assistance or that require a 
portion of time of the principal investigator or other senior personnel 
should be included. The relationship between the proposed project and 
these other projects should be described, and the number of person-
months per year to be devoted to the projects must be stated.
    (8) Curriculum Vitae two pages maximum per all Principal and Co-
Principal Investigator(s) involved in carrying out the proposal.
    (9) Letters of commitment from partnering organizations. Letters of 
commitment from partners must be included. The letters from partnering 
organizations should describe the type of commitment, identify key 
participants, and state their role in the project.

VII. How To Submit

    The eligible MSI must submit three copies of the full proposal 
including all standard application forms (stated in Section VI, 8). 
Although investigators are not required to submit more than three 
copies of the proposal, the normal review process utilizes 12 copies. 
If investigators wish all reviewers to receive color materials 
submitted as part of the proposal, they should submit sufficient 
proposal copies for the full review process.
    Full Proposals must be received no later than 5 p.m. (Eastern 
Daylight Savings Time) on April 17, 2003 to: Jewel G. Linzey, NOAA EPP/
MIS: Environmental Entrepreneurship Program, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Room 10725, SSMC3, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail 
submission of proposals will not be accepted.

VIII. Other Requirements

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification of Requirements 
for Grants and Cooperative Agreement contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal 
Register published on October 30, 2002 (66 FR 66109), is applicable to 
this solicitation.
    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 FR 17671 (April 11, 1994). The award recipient 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 Web site: (http://www.fqdc.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 collections of information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. Standard 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. 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. 03-58 Filed 1-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KD-M