[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25578-25584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11917]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No.021127290-3113-02; I.D. 033103C]
RIN 0648-ZB44


Financial Assistance for Research and Development Projects in the 
Gulf of Mexico and Off the U.S. South Atlantic Coastal States; Marine 
Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for applications.

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SUMMARY: The MARFIN program provides financial assistance for research 
and development projects that optimize the use of fisheries in the Gulf 
of Mexico and off the South Atlantic States of North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Georgia, and Florida involving the U.S. fishing industry 
(recreational and commercial), including fishery biology, resource 
assessment, socio-economic assessment, management and conservation, 
selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and processing.

DATES: We must receive your application by close of business (5 p.m. 
eastern standard time on June 27, 2003. Applications received after 
that time will not be considered for funding. The earliest start date 
of awards is about 200 days after the date of publication of this 
notice. Applicants should consider this processing time in developing 
requested start dates for their applications.

ADDRESSES: You can obtain an application package from, and send your 
completed applications(s) to: National Marine Fisheries Service, State/
Federal Liaison office, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg, 
FL 33702. You may also obtain the application package from the

[[Page 25579]]

MARFIN Home Page at: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/grants.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellie Francisco Roche, Chief, State/
Federal Liaison Office at 727-570-5324.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    MARFIN is a competitive Federal assistance program that funds 
projects seeking to optimize research and development benefits from 
U.S. marine fishery resources through cooperative efforts involving the 
best research and management talents to accomplish priority activities. 
Projects funded under MARFIN provide answers for fishery needs covered 
by the NMFS Strategic Plan, available from the Southeast Regional 
Office (see ADDRESSES), particularly those goals relating to: 
rebuilding over-fished marine fisheries, maintaining currently 
productive fisheries, and integrating conservation of protected species 
and fisheries management. Funding priorities for MARFIN are formulated 
from recommendations received from non-Federal scientific and technical 
experts and from NMFS' research and operations officials.
    Your proposal must address one of the funding priorities listed 
below as they pertain to federally managed species or species relevant 
to Federal fisheries management. If you select more than one priority, 
you should list first on your application the priority that most 
closely reflects the objectives of your proposal.
    Highest consideration is given to funding projects that have the 
greatest probability of recovering, maintaining, improving, or 
developing fisheries; improving the understanding of factors affecting 
recruitment success; and/or generating increased values and 
recreational opportunities for fisheries. Projects are evaluated as to 
the likelihood of achieving these objectives, with consideration of the 
magnitude of the eventual economic or social benefits that may be 
realized. Priority is given to funding projects in the subject areas 
listed in this section, but proposals in other areas are considered on 
a funds-available basis. There is no preference between short-term and 
long-term projects.

A. Bycatch

    The bycatch of biological organisms (including interactions with 
sea turtles and marine mammals) by various fishing gears can have wide-
reaching impacts from a fishery's management and an ecological 
standpoint, with the following major concerns:
    1. Shrimp trawl fisheries. Studies are needed to contribute to the 
regional shrimp trawl bycatch program (including the southern U.S. 
Atlantic rock shrimp fishery) being conducted by NMFS in cooperation 
with state fisheries management agencies, commercial and recreational 
fishing organizations and interests, environmental organizations, 
universities, Councils, and Commissions. Specific guidance and research 
requirements are contained in the Cooperative Bycatch Plan for the 
Southeast, available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). In particular, the 
studies should address:
    (a) Data collection and analyses to expand and update current 
bycatch estimates, temporally and spatially emphasizing areas of 
greatest impact by shrimping. Sampling effort should include estimates 
of numbers, weight, and random samples of size (age) structure of 
associated bycatch complex, with emphasis on those overfished species 
under the jurisdiction of the Councils. Date collection should also 
include mortality, age, and length information for red drum in both 
inshore and offshore shrimp fisheries.
    (b) Assessment of the status and condition of fish stocks 
significantly impacted by shrimp trawler bycatch, with emphasis given 
to overfished species under the jurisdiction of the Councils. Other 
sources of fishing and nonfishing mortality should be considered and 
quantified as well.
    (c) Identification, development, and evaluation of gear, non-gear, 
and tactical fishing options to reduce bycatch.
    (d) Improved methods for communicating with and improving 
technology and information transfer to the shrimp industry.
    (e) Development and evaluation of statistical methods to estimate 
the bycatch of priority management species in the Gulf and South 
Atlantic shrimp trawl fisheries.
    2. Pelagic longline fisheries. Several pelagic longline fisheries 
exist in the Gulf and South Atlantic, targeting highly migratory 
species, such as tunas, sharks, and swordfish. Priority areas include:
    (a) Development and evaluation of gear and fishing tactics to 
minimize bycatch of undersized and unwanted species, including sea 
turtles, marine mammals, billfish, and overfished finfish species/
stocks.
    (b) Assessment of the biological impact of longline bycatch on 
related fisheries.
    3. Reef fish fisheries. The reef fish complex is exploited by a 
variety of fishing gear and tactics. The following research on bycatch 
of reef fish species is needed: Characterization and assessment of the 
impact of bycatch of undersized target species, including release 
mortality, during recreational fishing and during commercial longline, 
bandit gear and trap fishing.
    4. Finfish trawl fisheries. Studies are needed on quantification 
and qualification of the bycatch in finfish trawl fisheries, such as 
the flounder and fly-net fisheries in the South Atlantic.

B. Reef Fish

    Some species within the reef fish complex are exhibiting signs of 
being overfished, either because of directed efforts or because of 
being the bycatch of other fisheries. The ecology of reef fish makes 
them vulnerable to overfishing, because they tend to concentrate over 
specific types of habitat with patchy distribution. This behavior 
pattern can make traditional fishery statistics misleading. Priority 
research areas include:
    1. Collection of basic biological data for species in commercially 
and recreationally important fisheries. (a) Age and growth of reef 
fish. (1) Description of age and growth patterns, especially for 
vermilion, gray, and cubera snappers; gray triggerfish; gag; black 
grouper; hogfish; red porgy; and other less dominant forms in the 
management units for which data are lacking.
    (2) Collect otoliths on groupers, snappers and other reef fish 
according to Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) otolith 
manual. If proposal is selected for funding, coordinate studies and 
design of sampling systems to provide production-style aging programs 
for the reef fish fishery with Steve VanderKooy at GSMFC (228) 875-
5912.
    (b) Reproduction studies of reef fish. (1) Maturity schedules, 
fecundity, and sex ratios of commercially and recreationally important 
reef fish, especially gag and other groupers in the Gulf and South 
Atlantic.
    (2) Studies of all species to characterize the actual reproductive 
contribution of females by age.
    (3) Identification and characterization of spawning aggregations by 
species, area, size group and season, especially for gag and other 
groupers.
    (4) Effects of fishing on changes of sex ratios for gag, red 
grouper, and scamp, and disruption of aggregations.
    (5) Investigations of the reproductive biology of gag, red grouper 
and other grouper species.

[[Page 25580]]

    (c) Recruitment of reef fish. (1) Source of recruitment in Gulf and 
South Atlantic waters, especially for snappers, groupers, amberjacks, 
and other reef fish.
    (2) Annual estimation of the absolute or relative recruitment of 
juvenile gag, gray snapper, and lane snapper to estuarine habitats off 
the west coast of Florida and to similar estuarine nursery habitats 
along the South Atlantic Bight; development of an index of juvenile gag 
recruitment for the South Atlantic based on historical databases and/or 
field studies.
    (3) The contribution of live-bottom habitat and habitat areas of 
particular concern (Oculina banks) off Fort Pierce, Florida and off 
west central Florida to reef fish recruitment.
    (d) Stock structure of reef fish. (1) Movement and migration 
patterns of commercially and recreationally valuable reef fish species, 
especially gag in the Gulf and South Atlantic and greater amberjack 
between the South Atlantic and Gulf.
    (2) Stock structure of greater amberjack in the Gulf and South 
Atlantic.
    (3) Fishery dependent and fishery independent data of wreakfish 
from the eastern North Atlantic.
    2. Population assessment of reef fish. (a) Effect of reproductive 
mode and sex change (protogynous hermaphroditism) on population size 
and characteristics, with reference to sizes of fish exploited in the 
fisheries and the significance to proper management.
    (b) Determination of the habitat and limiting factors for important 
reef fish resources in the Gulf and South Atlantic.
    (c) Description of habitat and fish populations in the deep reef 
community and the prey distributions supporting the community.
    (d) Development of statistically valid indices of abundance for 
important reef fish species in the South Atlantic and Gulf, especially 
red grouper, Goliath grouper, speckled hind, red porgy, Warsaw grouper 
and Nassau grouper.
    (e) Stock assessments to establish the status of major recreational 
and commercial species. Innovative methods are needed for stock 
assessments of aggregate species, including the effect of fishing on 
genetic structure and the incorporation of sex change for protogynous 
hermaphrodites into stock assessment models.
    3. Management of reef fish. (a) Research in direct support of 
management, including catch-and-release mortalities, by gear and depth.
    (b) Characterization and evaluation of biological impacts (e.g., 
changes in age or size structure of reef fish populations in response 
to management strategies).

C. Red Snapper Research

    1. Red snapper bycatch. The bycatch of red snapper can have 
significant impacts from a fisheries management and ecological 
standpoint. Research on bycatch of red snapper should focus on the 
following:
    (a) Directed red snapper fisheries. The reef fish fishery is 
exploited by a variety of fishing gear and tactics. The following 
research on regulatory discards is needed to better evaluate the 
effectiveness of management measures such as minimum size limits and 
closed seasons:
    (1) Development and evaluation of gear and fishing tactics to 
minimize the bycatch of or increase the survival of discarded red 
snapper and other reef fish species.
    (2) Characterization and assessment of the impact of bycatch of 
undersized reef fish species, including release mortality, during 
recreational and commercial fishing. Research on the catch-and-release 
mortality of red snapper and other reef fish species, by gear (e.g., 
capture by commercial bandit rigs that are electrically or 
hydraulically powered), fishery (e.g., headboat, private boat, charter 
boat, commercial), and depth. Studies are needed to specifically relate 
``sink or swim'' data, which can be obtained through observer programs, 
with long-term survival rates.
    (3) Research to document predation rates on discarded red snapper 
and other reef fish species.
    3. Red snapper population assessment. (a) Determination of the 
habitat and limiting factors for important red snapper populations in 
the Gulf.
    (b) Estimates of red snapper abundance, age structure and 
population dynamics on oil platforms and other artificial structures.
    4. Management of red snapper. (a) Characterization and evaluation 
of biological impacts (e.g., changes in age or size structure of red 
snapper populations in response to management strategies).
    (b) Research to evaluate the use of minimum size limits as a 
management tool in the red snapper fishery.

D. Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fisheries

    The commercial and recreational demand for migratory coastal 
pelagics has led to overfishing for certain species. Additionally, some 
are transboundary with Mexico and other countries and may ultimately 
demand international management attention. Current high priorities 
include:
    1. Recruitment indices for king and Spanish mackerel, cobia, 
dolphin, wahoo, and bluefish, primarily from fishery-independent data 
sources.
    2. Fishery-independent methods of assessing stock abundance of king 
and Spanish mackerel, dolphin and wahoo.
    3. Release mortality data for all coastal pelagic species.
    4. Improved catch statistics for all species in Mexican waters, 
with special emphasis on king mackerel, dolphin, and wahoo. This 
includes length-frequency and life history information.
    5. Information on populations of coastal pelagics overwintering off 
the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic States of North Carolina, 
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, especially concerning population 
size, age, and movement patterns; and for dolphin and wahoo during the 
entire year throughout their migratory patterns. Calculate the mixing 
rates for Atlantic/Gulf king mackerel on an annual basis.
    6. Development of a practical method for aging dolphin.
    7. Basic biostatistics for cobia, dolphin, and wahoo to develop 
age-length keys and maturation schedules for stock assessments and to 
evaluate stock structures.
    8. Impact of bag limits on total catch and landings of king and 
Spanish mackerel, dolphin, wahoo, and cobia.

E. Groundfish and Estuarine Fishes

    Substantial stocks of groundfish and estuarine species occur in the 
Gulf and South Atlantic. Most of the database for assessments comes 
from studies conducted by NMFS and state fishery management agencies. 
Because of the historical and current size of these fish stocks, of 
their importance as predator and prey species, and of their current or 
potential use as commercial and recreational fisheries, more 
information on their biology and life history is needed. General 
research needs are:
    1. Red drum. (a) Size and age structure of the offshore adult stock 
in the Gulf and South Atlantic.
    (b) Catch-and-release mortality rates from inshore and nearshore 
waters.
    (c) Estimates of absolute abundance of red drum in the Gulf of 
Mexico and the Atlantic.
    2. Life history and stock structure for weakfish, menhaden, spot, 
croaker, flounder, sheepshead, black drum, mullet, and white trout in 
the Gulf and the South Atlantic: Migratory patterns, long-term changes 
in abundance, growth rates, and age structure and comparisons of the 
inshore and offshore components of recreational and commercial 
fisheries.

[[Page 25581]]

F. Essential Fish Habitat

    1. Determine the effects of fishing gears (e.g., trawls and traps) 
and practices (e.g., gear retrieval and anchoring) on essential fish 
habitat (EFH), with emphasis on benthic habitats within the EEZ of the 
Caribbean, southern U.S. Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico regions.
    2. Develop scientific data to allow the identification and 
refinement, as appropriate, of EFH designations for the various life 
stages of Federally managed species.
    3. Develop scientific data to allow the identification and 
refinement, as appropriate, of Habitat Areas of Particular Concern 
(HAPC) designation for the various life stages of Federally managed 
species.
    4. Develop GIS mapping protocols and tools to allow the 
presentation of EFH, HAPC, fishery distribution information, and other 
relevant data for the southeastern United States, including Puerto Rico 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

G. Economic and Sociocultural Studies

    1. Development and application of models to evaluate the economic 
impacts of bycatch reduction. The models should explicitly consider the 
impacts on the directed fishery and gains to the bycatch fishery. The 
models should be developed for fisheries in general and for major 
fisheries (e.g., shrimp and red snapper). The models should describe 
criteria for determining the economically and socially efficient level 
of bycatch reduction.
    2. Development of economic incentives and other innovative 
alternatives, including bycatch quotas, to gear and season/area 
restrictions as ways to reduce bycatch. The project should contrast the 
relative costs, potential gains, and level of bycatch reduction 
associated with traditional methods and any innovative alternatives 
addressed by the project.
    3. Evaluation of vessel logbook data for monitoring fishery 
performance and providing economic information for management.
    4. Estimation of demand models for recreational fishing trips when 
the target species include a single species, an aggregate of related 
species, or all species combined. Studies using new data from the 
Southeast economics add-ons to Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics 
Survey are highly encouraged. Studies can be proposed on species such 
as, red drum, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, red grouper, gag, black 
grouper, dolphin, wahoo, vermilion snapper, yellowtail snapper, and 
Atlantic black sea bass. Fishing quality (stock size, catch per unit 
effort, average fish size) as a determinant of fishing demand should be 
emphasized.
    5. Identification of the motivational factors behind the selection 
of specific charter types by recreational anglers. These include but 
are not limited to cost, duration (half day versus full day), time of 
day, size of the charter (number of passengers), services offered, etc.
    6. Determination of the value and economic impact of recreational 
angling in the headboat fishery. This will require the collection of 
data to generate recreational trip demand equations for fishing in 
general and for various key species. Economic impact assessment will 
require the collection of appropriate expenditure data and imputation 
using standard impact assessment software.
    7. Design and evaluation of limited access options for recreational 
fisheries with specific emphasis on modes of fishing and jurisdictional 
issues. Key species of emphasis are red snapper, king mackerel, red 
grouper, gag and black grouper.
    8. Estimation of fishing behavioral models, and effort supply and 
production functions for the commercial and for-hire sectors. Specific 
attention should be given to species target behavior, time and space 
decisions, and whether profit maximization is an appropriate 
motivational assumption for the supply of fishing effort. This intent 
of this research is to determine the basis upon which fishermen make 
their fishing related decisions (e.g., when to fish, where to fish, how 
much to fish, what species to target, what gear to use, etc.)
    9. Description of the social, cultural, and /or economic aspects of 
establishing fishery reserves. Studies should employ accepted data 
collection methods. Various management alternatives should be 
considered in the studies, e.g., exclude all users, all consumptive 
users, varying the size of the reserve, anchoring rules, and other 
relevant management tools.
    10. Comparison of the expected economic and social impacts of 
previously implemented fisheries regulations with realized impact for 
all regulated species. Attempts should be made to identify and isolate 
behavioral causes of divergence as opposed to environmental causes.
    11. In-depth community profiles of communities previously 
identified by NOAA Fisheries as fishing communities in the South 
Atlantic. Profiles to include descriptions of the community, commercial 
and recreational fishing-related activities and businesses, historical 
information on fishing related activities, community structure and 
social ties based on fishing, and changes in the community due to 
federal regulations on the fisheries. The project should also focus on 
demographics of people in the community to determine the relative 
income and poverty index for the community and potential of employment 
outside the fishing industry.
    12. Non-market valuation of protected species and other marine 
resources.
    13. Examination of the feasibility and efficacy of vessel and/or 
license buy-back programs. Key fisheries are the shrimp and reef fish 
fisheries (red snapper, vermilion snapper, king mackerel, red grouper, 
gag).
    14. Evaluation of alternative effort control management measures in 
federally managed commercial fisheries. Analyses should include a 
comparison of potential economic, social, cultural, and ecological 
impacts at the vessel, individual, and community level, and examine the 
desirability of single species versus multiple species approaches. 
Depending on the fishery and its current management structure, possible 
alternatives include but are not limited to: control dates for permits; 
limited entry; transferable or non-transferable individual catch, 
individual effort, community catch, or community effort quotas; and 
cooperatives or other forms of co-management. For catch and effort 
quotas, the efficacy of initially allocating and segmenting quota 
markets by gear, vessel fishing power capacity, and by state or 
community should be explicitly addressed.
    15. Evaluation of the extent and impact of recreational sales (all 
species, by species) on recreational harvests, commercial closures and 
demand for recreational fishing.
    16. Evaluation of the transference of fishing opportunity between 
commercial, recreational, and conservation sectors under a transferable 
rights program. Key fisheries are the red snapper, vermilion snapper, 
king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, red grouper, and gag fisheries.
    17. Development of improved methods and procedures for transferring 
technology and educating constituency groups concerning fishery 
management and conservation programs. Of special importance are 
programs concerned with controlled access and introduction of 
conservation gear.
    18. Research that examines the effects of factors other than 
fishery management on the welfare of the Southeast's fishermen and 
fishing communities, including but not necessarily limited to: domestic 
and

[[Page 25582]]

foreign trade policies, macroeconomic conditions, energy policies/
prices, insurance rates, foreign aid policies (e.g. World Bank, IMF, 
OECD, etc.), and coastal economic development (including both land use 
and water use, with a particular focus on pollution generating 
activities and gentrification).
    19. A comparative analysis of management/regulation in the seafood 
industry relative to other food producing industries that operate under 
the USDA's control.
    20. Development of methodologies to accurately assess the 
cumulative economic and social impacts of fishery management 
regulations on fishermen and fishing communities, and to separate such 
from the impacts of non-fishery management factors.
    21. An empirically based assessment of how and to what extent 
``demand side'' policies and programs are likely to affect the welfare 
of domestic fishermen and fishing communities, as well as domestic 
consumers. Analyses should specifically include estimation of supply 
and consumer demand elasticities by product form and type, explicitly 
taking the role of imports into account. Such policies and programs 
would include: product and quality standards (similar to those employed 
in the beef, pork, and poultry industries), eco-labeling, country of 
origin labeling, and marketing of domestically produced seafood (i.e. 
``Buy U.S.''). This research should specifically address the magnitude 
and distribution of costs and benefits for providing additional product 
information to seafood consumers.
    22. Development of point of sales materials (recipes, posters, etc. 
to be used in retail establishments) to promote sales of domestic wild 
harvested shrimp.
    23. Evaluation of the economic effects of hypoxia on Gulf of Mexico 
fisheries.

II. Award Information

    We are soliciting applications for Federal assistance pursuant to 
15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d). This document describes how to apply for funding 
under the MARFIN Grant Program and how we will determine which 
applications we will fund.
    Approximately $2.2 million may be available in fiscal year (FY) 
2004 for projects. This amount includes possible in-house projects and 
$500,000 for 1-year projects for red snapper research. (See I. Funding 
Opportunities.) Publication of this notice does not obligate NMFS to 
fund an award or any parts of an award since funds will be contingent 
upon availability of funding.
    Project proposals accepted for funding with a project period over 1 
year do not have to compete for the additional years of funding. 
However, funding for the additional years, is contingent upon the 
availability of funds and satisfactory performance and is at the sole 
discretion of the agency.
    This program is described in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance'' under program number 11.433, Marine Fisheries Initiative 
(MARFIN).

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, 
hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, and state, local 
and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not 
eligible. Foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of 
foreign governments, and international organizations are excluded for 
purposes of this solicitation since the objective of the MARFIN program 
is to optimize research and development benefits from U.S. marine 
fishery resources.
    We are strongly committed to broadening the participation of 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving 
Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities in its educational 
and research programs. DOC/NOAA's 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.
    2. Cost Sharing: Cost-sharing is not required for the MARFIN 
program. Applications must provide the total budget necessary to 
accomplish the project, including contributions and/or donations. 
Because 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(c)(4)(B) provides that the amount of Federal 
funding must be at least 50 percent of the estimated cost of the 
project, the total costs shown in the proposal will be evaluated for 
appropriateness according to the administrative rules, including 15 CFR 
14.23 and 15 CFR 24.24, as appropriate. If an applicant chooses to 
cost-share, and if that application is selected for funding, the 
applicant is bound by the percentage of the cost share reflected in the 
grant or cooperative agreement award. Note: Costs incurred in either 
the development of a project or the financial assistance application, 
or time expended in any subsequent discussions or negotiations prior to 
the award, are neither reimbursable nor recognizable as part of the 
recipient's cost share.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package from, and send your completed applications(s) to: 
Ellie Francisco Roche, Chief, State/Federal Liaison Office, Southeast 
Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive, N., St. Petersburg, 
FL 33702. You may also obtain the application package from the MARFIN 
Home Page at: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/grants.htm.
    You must submit one signed original and nine signed copies of the 
completed application (including supporting information). We will 
accept neither facsimile applications, nor electronically forwarded 
applications.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission - We will award 
grants or cooperative agreements for a maximum period of up to 3 years, 
consisting of one, two, or three budget periods. The award period 
depends upon the duration of funding requested in the application, the 
decision of the NMFS selecting official on the amount of funding, the 
results of post-selection negotiations between the applicant and NOAA 
officials, and pre-award review of the application by NOAA and 
Department of Commerce (DOC) officials. Normally, each project budget 
period is 12 months in duration.
    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal 
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67FR 55109), is 
applicable to this solicitation. The standard forms in a MARFIN 
application include the MARFIN Project Budget and the MARFIN Project 
Summary. Applicants should contact the NMFS Southeast Regional Office 
for a copies of this solicitation's MARFIN application forms (see 
ADDRESSES). You may also obtain the application package from the MARFIN 
Home Page at: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/grants.htm.
    Project applications must identify the principal participants, and 
include copies of any agreements describing the specific tasks to be 
performed by participants. Project applications should give a clear 
presentation of the proposed work, the methods for carrying out the 
project, its relevance to managing and

[[Page 25583]]

enhancing the use of Gulf of Mexico and/or South Atlantic fishery 
resources, and cost estimates as they relate to specific aspects of the 
project. Budgets must include a detailed breakdown, by category of 
expenditures, with appropriate justification for both the Federal and 
non-Federal shares.
    Applications should exhibit familiarity with related work that is 
completed or ongoing. Where appropriate, proposals should be multi-
disciplinary. In addition to referencing specific area(s) of special 
interest, proposals should state whether the research applies to the 
Gulf of Mexico only, the South Atlantic only, or to both areas. 
Successful applicants may be required to collect and manage data in 
accordance with standardized procedures and formats approved by NMFS 
and to participate with NMFS in specific cooperative activities that 
are determined by consultations between NMFS and successful applicants 
before project grants are awarded. All applications must include 
funding for the principal investigator to participate in an annual 
MARFIN Conference in the southeast regional area at the completion of 
the project.
    Applications must be one-sided and unbound. Incomplete applications 
will be returned to the applicant. Ten copies (one original and nine 
copies) of each application are required and should be submitted to the 
NMFS Southeast Regional Office, State/Federal Liaison Office (see 
ADDRESSES). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved 10 
copies, under OMB Control No. 0648-0175.
    3. Submission Dates and Times - We must receive your application by 
close of business (5 p.m. eastern daylight time on June 27, 2003. 
Applications received after that time will not be considered for 
funding. The earliest start date of awards is about 200 days after the 
date of publication of this notice. Applicants should consider this 
processing time in developing requested start dates for their 
applications.
    When we receive applications we will screen them to ensure that 
they were received by the deadline date (see DATES); include SF 424 
signed and dated by an authorized representative; were submitted by an 
eligible applicant; address one of the funding priorities for federally 
managed species; and include a budget, statement of work, and 
milestones, and identify the principal investigator. We do not have to 
screen applications before the submission deadline in order to identify 
deficiencies that would cause your application to be rejected so that 
you would have an opportunity to correct them. However, should we do so 
and provide you information about deficiencies, or should you 
independently decide it is desirable to do so, you may correct any 
deficiencies in your application before the deadline. After the 
deadline, the application must remain as submitted; no changes can be 
made to it. If your application does not conform to these requirements 
and the deadline for submission has passed, the application will be 
returned without further consideration.
    4. Intergovernmental Review - Applications under this program are 
subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs.'' Applicants must contact their State's 
Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about and comply with the 
State's process under EO 12372. The names and addresses of the SPOCs 
are listed in the Office of Management and Budget's home page at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
    5. Funding Restrictions - Construction is not an allowable activity 
under this program. Therefore, applications will not be accepted for 
construction projects.
    Indirect Costs - If you have a negotiated rate with a Federal 
agency, the total dollar amount of the indirect costs awarded under 
this program will not exceed the indirect cost rate negotiated and 
approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the proposed effective 
date of the award or 25 percent of the Federal share of the total 
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is 
less. A copy of the current negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement with the 
Federal Government must be included with the application. If the 
applicant does not have a negotiated cost rate, then they may direct 
cost all charges, or submit a request to establish a rate.
    6. Other Submission Requirements - You must meet all application 
requirements and provide all information necessary for the evaluation 
of the proposal, including one signed original and nine signed copies 
of the application to the NMFS Southeast Regional Office, State/Federal 
Liaison Office (see ADDRESSES). You must also be available to respond 
to questions during the review and evaluation of the proposal(s).

V. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria - Applications responsive to this solicitation will be 
evaluated by three or more appropriate private and/or public sector 
experts to determine their technical merit. These reviewers will 
provide individual evaluations of the proposals. No consensus advice 
will be given. These reviewers provide comments and assign scores to 
the applications based on the following criteria, with the weights 
shown in parentheses:
    a. Does the proposal have a clearly stated goal(s) with associated 
objectives that meet the needs outlined in the project narrative? (30 
points maximum)
    b. Does the proposal clearly identify and describe, in the project 
outline and statement of work, scientific methodologies and analytical 
procedures that will adequately address project goals and objectives? 
(30 points maximum)
    c. Do the principal investigators provide a realistic timetable to 
enable full accomplishment of all aspects of the research? (20 points 
maximum)
    d. How effective are the proposed methods in enabling the principal 
investigators to maintain stewardship of the project performance, 
finances, cooperative relationships, and reporting requirements? (10 
points maximum)
    e. Does the budget appropriately allocate and justify costs? (10 
points maximum)
    2. Review and Selection Process - Following the technical review, 
we will determine the weighted score for each individual review and 
average the individual technical review scores to determine the final 
technical score for each application. Then, we will rank applications 
in descending order by their final technical scores. A ``cutoff'' score 
of 70% will be used and those applications that scored below the cutoff 
will be eliminated from further consideration.
    MARFIN Panel. Those applications at or above the cutoff technical 
evaluation score will be presented to a panel of non-NOAA fishery 
experts known as the MARFIN Panel. Each member of the MARFIN Panel 
individually considers if needs of the Agency are addressed in each 
proposal, if the project assists industry, and if the project addresses 
issues that are important to regional fisheries management. The 
individuals on the MARFIN Panel provide comments and rate each of these 
proposals as either ``Recommended for Funding'' or ``Not Recommended 
for Funding.'' No consensus advice will be given by the panel. The 
Program Manager ranks the proposals in the order of preferred funding, 
based on the number of MARFIN Panel members recommending the proposal 
for funding.
    Regional Administrator. The ranked proposals are provided to the 
Regional Administrator, who is the selecting official, in the order of 
preferred

[[Page 25584]]

funding, based on the number of MARFIN Panel members recommending the 
proposal for funding. If there are ties in the rankings, those ties 
will be distinguished by the peer review score. The Regional 
Administrator also receives the MARFIN Panel members' individual 
comments.
    The Regional Administrator, in consultation with the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, determines the projects to be recommended 
for funding. Though rarely used, the Regional Administrator has an 
option to make a selection that falls outside the MARFIN Panel's order 
of preferred funding on the following grounds: for geographic 
diversity, if not enough projects have addressed a priority, or because 
of duplication with other funded grants within NOAA. The Regional 
Administrator will justify in writing any such selection.
    The exact amount of funds awarded, the final scope of activities, 
the project duration, and specific NMFS cooperative involvement with 
the activities of each project are determined in pre-award negotiations 
between the applicant, the NOAA Grants Office and the NMFS Program 
Office. Projects must not be initiated by recipients until a signed 
award is received from the NOAA Grants Office. Substantial involvement 
is described as collaboration, participation, or intervention by NMFS 
in the management of the project. Whether the funding instrument is a 
grant or a cooperative agreement will be determined by whether there is 
substantial involvement in the project. A cooperative agreement will be 
used if NOAA shares responsibility for management, control, or 
direction with the recipient.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices - Successful applications generally are 
recommended within 150 days from the date of publication of this 
notice. The earliest start date of awards average 90 days after each 
project is selected and after all NMFS/applicant negotiations of 
cooperative activities have been completed. The earliest start date of 
awards is about 200 days after the date of publication of this notice. 
Applicants should consider this selection and processing time in 
developing requested start dates for their applications. Unsuccessful 
applications will be returned to the applicant.
    2. Administrative Requirements - If you are selected to receive a 
grant or cooperative agreement, you must:
    - Manage the day-to-day operations of the project, be responsible 
for the performance of all activities for which funds are granted, and 
be responsible for the satisfaction of all administrative and 
managerial conditions imposed by the award.
    - Keep records sufficient to document any costs incurred under the 
award, and allow access to these records for audit and examination by 
the Secretary of Commerce, the Comptroller General of the United 
States, or their authorized representatives; and, submit financial 
status reports (SF 269) to NOAA Grants in accordance with the award 
conditions.
    3. Reporting - Successful applicants will be required to:
    - Submit semiannual project status reports on the use of funds and 
progress of the project to us within 30 days after the end of each 6-
month period. You will submit these reports to the individual 
identified as the NMFS Program Officer in the funding agreement.
    - Submit a final report within 90 days after completion of each 
project to the NMFS Program Officer. The final report must describe the 
project and include an evaluation of the work you performed and the 
results and benefits in sufficient detail to enable us to assess the 
success of the completed project. We will provide you with formats for 
the semiannual and final reports.
    - In addition to the final report, we request that you submit any 
publications printed with grant funds (such as manuals, surveys, etc.) 
To the NMFS Program Officer for dissemination to the public.
    We are committed to using available technology to achieve the 
timely and wide distribution of final reports to those who would 
benefit from this information. Therefore, you are encouraged to submit 
final reports in electronic format, in accordance with the award terms 
and conditions, for publication on the NMFS MARFIN Home Page. You may 
charge the costs associated with preparing and transmitting your final 
reports in electronic format to the grant award.
    This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424 and 269 
has been approved by OMB under the respective control numbers 0348-0043 
and 0348-0039. The use of the MARFIN Project Budget and MARFIN Project 
Summary have been approved under the control number 0648-0175.
    Public reporting burden for each of the two MARFIN forms is 
estimated to average 1 hour per response, including 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 regarding this burden estimate or any 
other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions 
for reducing this burden, to the NMFS Southeast Regional Office, State/
Federal Liaison Office (see ADDRESSES).
    Notwithstanding any other provision of 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 Paperwork 
Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

    For questions regarding the application process, you may contact: 
Ellie Francisco Roche, Chief, State/Federal Liaison Office, (727) 570-
5324, or at [email protected].

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d).

    Dated: May 7, 2003.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-11917 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S