[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34586-34590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14577]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERECE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 030528135-3135-01; I.D. 050103F]


Financial Assistance for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) 
Culture and Large Scale Restoration Activities in Chesapeake Bay

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to invite the public to submit 
proposals for available funding toward research and development 
projects that address various aspects of Chesapeake Bay Submerged 
Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) culture and large scale restoration projects. 
Funds are available to State, local and Indian tribal governments, 
institutions of higher education, other non-profit organizations and 
commercial organizations. This notice describes the conditions under 
which project proposals will be accepted and criteria under which 
proposals will be evaluated for funding consideration. Depending upon 
the level of Federal involvement in individual projects, selected 
recipients will enter into either a cooperative agreement or a grant.

DATES: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. eastern daylight savings 
time on July 10, 2003. Applications received after that time will not 
be considered for funding.
    Statements of Intent (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) should be 
submitted by June 30, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You can obtain an application package from, and send 
completed proposals to: Peter Bergstrom, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, 
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403. You can also obtain 
the application package from the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Home Page 
http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/. Applications will not be accepted 
electronically nor by facsimile machine submission. The statement of 
intent (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) should be sent to Peter 
Bergstrom ([email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Bergstrom, NOAA Chesapeake Bay 
Office, telephone: (410) 267-5660, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    A statement of intent to submit a full proposal is requested 
although not required and will assist the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office in 
setting up technical reviewers. It is requested that this statement 
provide a project title, associated investigators and approximate 
budget.

A. Authority

    The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, at 16 U.S.C. 753a, 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), for the purpose of 
developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training 
programs for fish and wildlife resources, to continue to enter into 
cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, with game and 
fish departments of the several states, and with non-profit 
organizations relating to cooperative research units. The Secretary of 
Commerce is authorized under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 
U.S.C. 661-666c, to provide assistance to, and cooperate with, Federal, 
State, and public or private agencies and organizations in the 
development, protection, rearing, and stocking of fisheries, resources 
thereof, and for fisheries habitat restoration.

B. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    The projects to be funded are in support of the Chesapeake Bay 
Studies Program (CFDA 11.457).

C. Program Description

    The Chesapeake Bay Studies Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Program is 
a new program initiated this year in response to language in the House 
Report (H.R. Rep. No. 108-10, at 712 (2003)). The main purpose of the 
program is to enhance and increase this important fisheries habitat in 
Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. Funding will be directed to 
complement existing and future efforts in this area by Federal, State, 
and local agencies, and community watershed associations.
    Principle investigators will be expected to prepare for and attend 
one

[[Page 34587]]

or two workshops with other NCBO supported researchers to encourage 
interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, and presentation of 
results of supported work.

II. Areas of Interest

    Proposals should exhibit familiarity with related work that is 
completed or ongoing. When appropriate, proposals should be multi-
disciplinary. Coordinated efforts involving multiple eligible 
applicants or individuals are encouraged. Proposals must address one of 
the areas of interest listed here. If the proposal addresses more than 
one area of interest, it should list first on the application the area 
of interest that most closely reflects the objective of the proposal. 
Proposals should follow and refer to the guidance in the Chesapeake Bay 
Program's ``Strategy to Accelerate the Protection and Restoration of 
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay'' which is available 
at: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/ or via Peter Bergstrom (see 
ADDRESSES).
    All proposals should address the manner in which the applicant will 
obtain the necessary permits (if applicable) for collecting plant 
materials from tidal waters and bottom disturbance or putting 
structures in tidal waters. For collecting permit requirements in 
Maryland, see: http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/savrrc/index.html. For 
permit information for Virginia tidal waters, see: http://www.mrc.state.va.us/page3.htm.
    These areas of interest are not listed in any particular order of 
importance: A. Enhance supply of SAV propagules for restoration, 
especially seeds. Propagate seeds, rooted cuttings, and/or whole plants 
of SAV species native to Chesapeake Bay to use in restoration projects. 
Priority will be given to proposals to produce seeds of species that 
are known to grow well from seed, especially eelgrass (Zostera marina) 
and wild celery (Vallisneria americana). Proposals for other 
propagation techniques that will minimize the ongoing need to harvest 
plant materials from the field are also encouraged. Source materials 
should come from the Chesapeake Bay watershed if possible, and the 
applicant must have all required collecting permits before collecting 
any source material from tidal waters. If a proposal is solely for 
propagation, the application should list organizations that are 
interested in using the plant materials they produce in restoration 
projects in Chesapeake Bay. If the propagules produced will be sold, 
the applicant must explain in his or her proposal how this income will 
be used to promote program objectives.
    B. Applied research to increase the success of planting SAV 
directly from seeds. Investigate factors directly related to improving 
the large-scale cultivation and planting of SAV from seeds in 
Chesapeake Bay. These factors may include the following: optimal 
conditions for seed production and maturation, seed viability and 
germination; seed harvest and storage methods; natural modes of seed 
transport and fates of seeds that disperse naturally; distribution and 
viability of seed banks; and other factors. Collecting information 
useful to the direct planting of seeds of wild celery and/or redhead 
grass (Potamogeton perfoliatus) is encouraged. Proposals that would 
increase our knowledge of the seed ecology of eelgrass are also 
encouraged.
    C. Large-scale SAV planting in 2003 and/or 2004. Conduct large-
scale SAV restoration, including one or more projects that can be done 
in fall 2003 and/or in 2004. Proposed projects may be expansions of 
projects already planned, especially if done in 2003. Projects should 
use native species that have grown well when planted in past Chesapeake 
Bay projects and sites that have been assessed and shown to have a good 
chance of SAV survival and include regular evaluation of success for at 
least 2 years from date of planting. Projects that involve harvesting 
whole plants from donor beds and transplanting them are discouraged.
    D. Site assessments needed to choose SAV planting sites for 2005. 
Conduct site assessments in 2003 and 2004 of potential sites for large-
scale planting projects to be done in 2005 or later. Sites that are 
assessed should be pre-screened for good SAV growth potential using a 
GIS targeting tool that uses existing monitoring data. Site assessments 
may include measuring light availability (water clarity), salinity, 
temperature, bottom substrate characteristics, water depth, waves and 
currents, and epiphyte occurrence; mapping current and historical SAV 
presence by species; conducting small test plantings or other 
bioassays; and measuring other pertinent water chemistry and 
environmental parameters.

III. Funding

A. Funding Availability

    This solicitation announces that approximately $425,000 will be 
made available through the NCBO for SAV culture and large scale 
restoration projects in FY 2003. This document describes how interested 
persons can apply for funding and how funding decisions will be made.
    There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to 
make awards for all qualified projects. The exact amount of funds that 
may be awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this notice does not 
oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available 
funds. 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 verbal or written assurance that may have 
been received, there is no obligation on the part of NOAA to cover pre-
award costs unless approved by the Grants Officer as part of the terms 
when the award is made.

B. Award Limits

    There are no specified award limits for proposals submitted under 
this solicitation.

C. Funding Instrument

    Whether the funding instrument is a grant or a cooperative 
agreement will be determined by the degree of NOAA's involvement in the 
project. A cooperative agreement will be used if NOAA shares 
responsibility for management, control, direction, or performance of 
the project with the recipient. Specific terms regarding substantial 
involvement will be contained in special award conditions.

D. Cost-sharing Requirements

    The NOAA strongly encourages applicants applying for either area of 
interest to share as much of the costs of the award as possible. Funds 
from other Federal awards may not be considered matching funds. The 
nature of the contribution (cash versus in-kind) and the amount of 
matching funds will be taken into consideration in the final selection 
process. Priority selection will be given to proposals that propose 
cash rather than in-kind contributions.

IV. Instructions for Application

A. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include state, local and Indian tribal 
governments, institutions of higher education, other non-profit 
organizations and commercial organizations.
    The Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to broadening the 
participation of historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic 
serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and 
institutions that work in underserved areas. The NOAA

[[Page 34588]]

encourages proposals involving any of the above institutions.

B. Project Award Period

    Under this solicitation, NCBO will fund SAV related projects as 12-
month cooperative agreements or grants. Proposals may be submitted for 
up to a 2-year project period. However, funds will be made available 
for only a 12-month award period, and any continuation of the award 
period will be subject to an approved scope of work, satisfactory 
progress, a panel review, and available funding to continue the award. 
No assurances for a funding continuation exists; funding will be at the 
complete discretion of NOAA.
    All proposals must include a full description of the activities and 
budget for the first year as described in this announcement, a summary 
description of the proposed work for each subsequent year, and an 
estimated budget by line item (without supporting budget detail pages) 
for review and analysis. If selected for funding, the applicant will be 
required to submit a full proposal for the second year by the deadline 
announced in the following year's competitive cycle. Proposals will be 
evaluated through a review panel process, but will not be subject to 
competition with new proposals. Projects should not be scheduled to 
begin before September 1, 2003.

C. Format and Requirements

    Proposals must be complete and must follow the format described in 
this notice. Potential recipients may submit separate proposals for 
each area of interest. Applicants should not assume prior knowledge on 
the part of the NOAA as to the relative merits of the project described 
in the application.
    1. Proposal format. Applicants are required to submit one signed 
original and two copies of the full proposal (submission of five 
additional hard copies is encouraged to expedite the review process, 
but it is not required). Proposals must be written in at least a 10-
point font, double-spaced, unbound, and one-sided. Brevity will assist 
reviewers and program staff in dealing effectively with proposals. 
Therefore, the Project Description may not exceed 15 pages. Tables and 
visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and 
other pictorial presentations are not included in the 15-page 
limitation. Appendices may be included but must not exceed a total of 
10 pages in length. Appendices may include information such as 
curriculum, resumes, and/or letters of endorsement. Additional 
informational material will be disregarded. Proposals must include the 
following information:
    a. Project summary (1-page limit). It is recommended that each 
proposal contain a summary of no more than one page that provides the 
following:
    (1) Organization title.
    (2) Address, telephone number, and email address of applicant.
    (3) Area of interest for which you are applying (see section II).
    (4) Project title.
    (5) Project duration (1-year project period, starting on the first 
of the month and ending on the last day of the month).
    (6) Principal Investigator(s) (PI).
    (7) Project objectives.
    (8) Summary of work to be performed.
    (9) Total Federal funds requested.
    (10) Cost-sharing to be provided from non-Federal sources, if any. 
Specify whether contributions are cash or in-kind.
    (11) Total project cost.
    b. Project description (15-page limit). Each project must be 
completely and accurately described. The main body of the proposal 
should be a clear statement of the work to be undertaken and should 
include specific objectives and performance measures for the period of 
the proposed work and the expected significance; relation to longer-
term goals of the PI's project; and relation to other work planned, 
anticipated, or in progress under Federal Assistance. Each project must 
be described as follows:
    (1) Identification of problem(s): Describe the specific problem or 
area of interest to be addressed (see section II, above).
    (2) Project objectives: Objectives should be simple and 
understandable; as specific and quantitative as possible; clear as to 
the ``what and when,'' but should avoid the ``how and why''; and 
attainable within the time, money, and human resources available. 
Projects should be accomplishment oriented and identify specific 
performance measures.
    (3) Project narrative: The project narrative is the scientific or 
technical action plan of activities that are to be accomplished during 
each budget period of the project. This description must include the 
specific methodologies, by project or job activity, proposed for 
accomplishing the proposal's objective(s).
    Investigators submitting proposals in response to this announcement 
are strongly encouraged to develop inter-institutional, inter-
disciplinary research teams in the form of single, integrated proposals 
or as individual proposals that are clearly linked together. The 
project narrative must include a milestone table that summarizes the 
procedures/objectives that are to be attained in each project month 
covered. Table format should follow sequential month rather than 
calendar month (i.e., Project period Month 1, Month 2 * * * versus 
October, November * * *).
    (4) Benefits or results expected: Identify and document the results 
or benefits to be derived from the proposed activities.
    (5) Need for Government financial assistance: Demonstrate the need 
for assistance. Explain why other funding sources cannot fund all the 
proposed work. List all other sources of funding that are already in 
place or have been sought for the project.
    (6) Federal, state and local government activities: List any 
program (Federal, State, or local government or activities, including 
Sea Grant, state Coastal Zone Management Programs, NOAA Oyster Disease 
Research Program, the State/Federal Chesapeake Bay Program, etc.) this 
project would affect and describe the relationship between the project 
and this plan or activity.
    (7) Project management: Describe how the project will be organized 
and managed. Include resumes of principal investigators. List all 
persons directly employed by the applicant who will be involved with 
the project. If a consultant and/or subcontractor is selected prior to 
application submission, include the name and qualifications of the 
consultant and/or subcontractor and the process used for selection.
    (8) Results from prior NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office support: If any 
PI or co-PI identified on the project has received support from the 
NCBO in the past 5 years, information on the prior award(s) is 
required. The following information should be provided:
    (a) The NOAA award number, amount and period of support;
    (b) The title of the project;
    (c) Summary of the results of the completed work, including, or a 
research project, any contribution to the development of human 
resources in science/biology;
    (d) Publications resulting from the award (applicable reprints are 
requested for documentation);
    (e) Brief description of available data, samples, physical 
collections and other related research products not described 
elsewhere; and
    (f) If the proposal is for renewed support, a description of the 
relation of the completed work to the proposed work.
    (9) Monitoring of project performance: Identify who will 
participate in monitoring the project.

[[Page 34589]]

    (10) Project impacts: Describe how these products or services will 
be made available to the fisheries and management communities.
    (11) Education and outreach: Describe how this project would 
provide a focused and effective education and outreach strategy 
regarding NOAA's mission to protect the Nation's natural resources.
    (12) Evaluation of project: Provide an evaluation of project 
accomplishments and progress toward the project objectives and 
performance measures at the end of each budget period and in the final 
report. The application must describe the methodology or procedures to 
be followed to determine technical feasibility or to quantify the 
results of the project in promoting increased production, product 
quality and safety, plant survival, or other measurable factors.
    c. Total project costs and budget narrative. Total project costs 
are the amount of funds required, contributions and donations included, 
to accomplish what is proposed in the Project Description.
    Explain the calculations and provide a narrative to support 
specific items or activities, such as personnel/salaries, fringe 
benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs, and indirect 
costs. The budget detail and narrative submitted with the application 
should match the dollar amounts on all required forms. Additional cost 
detail may be required prior to a final analysis of overall cost 
allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.
    2. Funding restrictions. Please note the following:
    a. The budget may include an amount for indirect costs if the 
applicant has an established indirect cost rate with the Federal 
Government, see Administrative Requirements, section VI, C.
    b. Funds for salaries and fringe benefits may be required only for 
those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed 
project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are directly related to 
specific products or outcomes of the proposed project. NOAA strongly 
encourages applicants to request reasonable amounts of funding for 
salaries and fringe benefits to ensure that their proposals are 
competitive.
    3. Supporting documentation. Provide any required documents and any 
additional information necessary or useful to the description of the 
project. The amount of information given in this section will depend on 
the type of project proposed, but should be no more than 20 pages. The 
applicant should present any information that would emphasize the value 
of the project in terms of the significance of the problems addressed. 
Without such information, the merits of the project may not be fully 
understood, or the value of the project may be underestimated. The 
absence of adequate supporting documentation may cause reviewers to 
question assertions made in describing the project and may result in 
lower ranking of the project. Information presented should be clearly 
referenced in the project description.

D. Federal forms

    Applicants may obtain required Federal forms from the NOAA 
Chesapeake Bay Office Web site (see ADDRESSES) or from the NOAA Grants 
Web site: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/[sim]grants/index.html.
    1. Cover sheet. All applicants must use Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Standard Form 424 (revised 7/97) as the cover sheet for 
each project.
    2. Budget form. All applicants must use a Standard Budget Form (SF-
424A) required for all Federal grants.
    3. Form CD-511. All applicants must submit a CD-511, 
``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and 
Lobbying''.
    4. SF-424B. All applicants must submit a SF-424B, ``Assurances of 
Non-Construction Programs''.
    5. CD-346 ``Applicant for Funding Assistance.'' Required for the 
following individuals--Sole Proprietorship, Partnerships, Corporations, 
Joint Venture, Non-profit Organizations.

E. Evaluation Criteria

    1. Project Design/Conceptual Approach. Projects will be evaluated 
on your conceptual approach and how you have integrated this into the 
project design. (25 points)
    2. Project evaluation. Projects will be evaluated based on your 
explanation of how you will ensure that you are meeting the goals and 
objectives of your project, as required in Section IV.C.1.b.12, so that 
results may be reported in performance reports. (10 points)
    3. Project Management. Projects will be evaluated based on the 
management, experience and qualifications of personnel with respect to 
the applicants being capable of conducting the scope and scale of the 
proposed work (i.e., education, experience, training, facility, and 
administrative resources/capabilities). (5 points)
    4. Justification and allocation of the proposed budget. Proposals 
will be evaluated on the reasonableness, allowability, and allocability 
of the proposed budget, as set forth in Section IV.C.1.c. (10 points)

V. Selection Procedures

A. Initial Evaluation of the Applications

    NCBO will review all applications to assure that they meet all the 
requirements of this announcement, including eligibility and relevance 
to the NCBO. Proposals that do not support the areas of interest of the 
Chesapeake Bay, as defined in section II of this document above, will 
not be considered for funding.

B. Technical Review

    Applications meeting the requirements of this solicitation will 
undergo an external technical review. This review will normally involve 
individuals in the field of SAV and habitat restoration from both NOAA 
and non-NOAA organizations. Proposals will be scored based on the 
evaluation criteria as defined in section IV. D. of this document. 
Reviewers will be asked to review independently and to provide a score 
and comments on each proposal. All comments submitted to NCBO will be 
taken into consideration in the evaluation of projects. No consensus 
advice will be given by the technical reviewers.

C. Funding Decision

    Scores for each proposal will then be averaged and the proposals 
will be ranked numerically for funding based upon the technical review 
scores. After the proposals have been ranked, the Chief of the NOAA 
Chesapeake Bay Office, in consultation with Program staff, will 
determine which projects will be recommended for funding.
    Although numerical ranking will be the primary method used for 
deciding which of the proposals will be selected for funding, it will 
not be the sole selection factor. Duplication with other projects, 
geographic diversity, program goals, inter-jurisdictional and inter-
institutional collaboration and duplication, and the nature and the 
amount of any cost share contribution may also be considered in making 
the final selections. A written justification will be prepared for any 
recommendation for funding that falls outside the ranking order. The 
exact amount of funds awarded to each project will be determined in 
pre-award negotiations among the applicant, the Grants Office, and the 
Program staff. Potential grantees should not initiate projects in 
expectation of Federal funding until an award document

[[Page 34590]]

signed by an authorized NOAA official has been received.
    Unsuccessful applications will be kept on file in the Program 
office for a period of at least 12 months, then destroyed.

VI. Administrative Requirements

A. Pre-Award Notification Requirements

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification of 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 October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), is applicable 
to this solicitation.

B. Indirect Cost Rates

    Regardless of any approved indirect cost rate applicable to the 
award, the maximum dollar amount of allocable indirect costs for which 
the Department of Commerce will reimburse the recipient shall be the 
lesser of the line item amount for the Federal share of indirect costs 
contained in the approved budget of the award, or the Federal share of 
the total allocable indirect costs of the award based on the indirect 
cost rate approved by an oversight or cognizant Federal agency and 
current at the time the cost was incurred, provided the rate is 
approved on or before the award end date. However, the Federal share of 
the indirect costs may not exceed 25 percent of the total proposed 
direct costs for this Program. Applicants with indirect costs above 25 
percent may use the amount above the 25 percent level as cost sharing. 
If the applicant does not have a current negotiated rate and plans to 
seek reimbursement for indirect costs, documentation necessary to 
establish a rate must be submitted within 90 days of receiving an 
award.

C. Allowable Costs

    Funds awarded cannot necessarily pay all the costs that the 
recipient might incur in the course of carrying out the project. 
Allowable costs are determined by reference to the Office of Management 
and Budget Circulars A-122, ``Cost Principles for Nonprofit 
Organizations''; A-21, ``Cost Principles for Education Institutions''; 
and A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal 
Governments.'' Generally, costs that are allowable include salaries, 
equipment, supplies, and training, as long as these are ``necessary and 
reasonable.'' Funds cannot be used for construction activities beyond 
minor facility upgrades, e.g., adding tanks or plumbing.

Classification

    This action has been determined to be ``not significant'' for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866. Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2), prior notice and opportunity for 
public comment are not required for rules concerning public property, 
loans, grants, benefits and contracts. Because notice and an 
opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or 
any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601  et. seq. are inapplicable.
    Under section 553(a)(2) of the Administrative Procedure Act, prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required for this 
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a 
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for the purposes of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 
424B, and CD-346 has been approved by OMB under the respective control 
numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, and 0605-0001.
    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 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.

    Dated: June 4, 2003.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-14577 Filed 6-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M