[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 112 (Monday, June 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33898-33929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5225]



[[Page 33897]]

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Part IV





Department of Commerce





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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration



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Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2007; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 112 / Monday, June 12, 2006 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 030602141-6143-38; I.D. 051906D]
RIN 0648-ZB55


Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2007

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes 
this notice to provide the general public with a consolidated source of 
program and application information related its competitive grant and 
cooperative agreement (CA) award offerings for fiscal year (FY) 2007. 
This Omnibus notice is designed to replace the multiple Federal 
Register notices that traditionally advertised the availability of 
NOAA's discretionary funds for its various programs. It should be noted 
that additional program initiatives unanticipated at the time of the 
publication of this notice may be announced through subsequent Federal 
Register notices. All announcements will also be available through the 
Grants.gov website.
    In addition, this notice announces information related to a non-
competitive financial assistance project to be administered by NOAA. 
This project will award federal financial assistance to the National 
Undersea Research Center at the University of Hawaii to administer 
competitive coral reef research grant programs for the Caribbean, 
Southeastern United States, Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii and the 
Western Pacific.

DATES: Proposals must be received by the date and time indicated under 
each program listing in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to the addresses listed in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for each program. The 
FR and Full Funding Opportunity (FFO) notices may be found on the 
Grants.gov Web site. The URL for Grants.gov is http://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the person listed 
within this notice as the information contact under each program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicants must comply with all requirements 
contained in the FFO announcements for each of the programs listed in 
this omnibus notice. These FFOs are available at http://www.grants.gov.
    The list of entries below describe the basic information and 
requirements for competitive grant/cooperative agreement programs 
offered by NOAA. These programs are open to any applicant who meets the 
eligibility criteria provided in each entry. To be considered for an 
award in a competitive grant/cooperative agreement program, an eligible 
applicant must submit a complete and responsive application to the 
appropriate program office. An award is made upon conclusion of the 
evaluation and selection process for the respective program.

NOAA Project Competitions

    This omnibus notice describes funding opportunities for the 
following NOAA discretionary grant programs:

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service

    1. Research in Satellite Data Assimilation for Numerical Weather, 
Climate, and Environmental Forecast Systems.

National Marine Fisheries Service

    1. Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program FY 2007
    2. Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education & Training (B-WET) Program
    3. Community-based Habitat Restoration National and Regional 
Partnerships
    4. Community-based Habitat Restoration Project Grants
    5. Community-based Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Project 
Grants
    6. Cooperative Research Program FY 2007
    7. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - General Coral Reef 
Conservation Grants
    8. Implementation of Marine Protected Areas, Southern California 
Coast
    9. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program
    10. MARFIN Fisheries Initiative Program (MARFIN) FY 2007
    11. Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program
    12. Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Outreach and Education 
Mini-grants
    13. National Estuarine Research Reserves System FY 2007 Land 
Acquisition and Construction Competitive Program
    14. Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management 
Plans Grant Program
    15. Protected Species Cooperative Conservation
    16. Restoration of Full Tidal Exchange Wetlands, Southern 
California Coast

National Ocean Service

    1. California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program- 
Meaningful Watershed Experiences for San Francisco, Monterey, and Santa 
Barbara
    2. Bay Watershed Education and Training-B-WET Hawaii
    3. FY 2007 Climate and Weather Impacts on Society and the 
Environment (CWISE), FY 2007
    4. Coastal Hypoxia Research Program (CHRP)
    5. Reef Ecosystem Studies (CRES)
    6. Cumulative Impacts of Multiple Stressors (MultiStress)
    7. Information Resource Supporting the Resiliency of Coastal Areas 
in the US Portion of the Gulf of Mexico
    8. Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB)
    9. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - International Coral 
Reef Conservation Grants
    10. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - State and 
Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Grant
    11. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - State and 
Territory Coral Reef Management Grants

National Weather Service

    1. Automated Flood Warning Systems (AFWS) Program
    2. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    3. Hydrologic Research

Oceans and Atmospheric Research

    1. Administration of NOAA's Graduate Sciences Program
    2. Administration of NOAA's Undergraduate Scholarship Program
    3. Ballast Water Technology Demonstration Program Competitive 
Funding Announcement (Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation 
Facility)
    4. Ballast Water Technology Demonstration Program Competitive 
Funding Announcement (Treatment Technology Demonstration Projects)
    5. Joint Hurricane Testbed
    6. National Sea Grant College Program Aquatic Invasive Species 
Research and Outreach
    7. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration Announcement of Opportunity, FY 
2007
    8. Sea Grant - The Gulf of Mexico Oyster Industry Program (GOIP)
    9. Sea Grant - Oyster Disease Research Program (ODRP)

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NOAA Fellowship, Scholarship and Internship Programs

National Ocean Service

    1. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program; Financial Assistance for 
Graduate Students
    2. National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Graduate Research 
Fellowship Program (GRF)

Ocean and Atmospheric Research

    1. GradFell 2008 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship 
(Knauss Fellowship Program)
    2. GradFell 2007 NMFS - Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship Program 
in Marine Resource Economics
    3. Gradfell 2007 NMFS - Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship Program 
in Population Dynamics
Non-Competitive Projects Announcement
    The entry below provides information for a non-competitive project 
administered by NOAA. To receive an award for this project, an eligible 
applicant must submit a complete and responsive application to the 
appropriate program office. An award is made upon conclusion of the 
evaluation and selection process for the respective project.

Oceans and Atmospheric Research

    1. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - Coral Reef 
Ecosystem Research Grants

NOAA Mission Goals

    The mission of the agency is to understand and predict changes in 
the Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine 
resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and environmental 
needs. Below is a listing of the program solicitations that generally 
fall under one or more areas of NOAA's strategic plan, i.e., mission 
goals. It is imperative that potential applicants tie their proposals 
to one of the mission goals. Program solicitations are provided from 
each of the five operating units within NOAA.

NOAA Project Competitions listed by NOAA Mission Goals

1. Protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources 
through ecosystem-based management.
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Coastal areas are among the most developed in 
the Nation. More than half the population lives on less than one-fifth 
of the land in the contiguous United States. Furthermore, employment in 
near shore areas is growing three times faster than population. Coastal 
and marine waters support over 28 million jobs and provide a tourism 
destination for nearly 90 million Americans a year. The value of the 
ocean economy to the United States is over $115 billion. The value 
added annually to the national economy by the commercial and 
recreational fishing industry alone is over $48 billion. U.S. 
aquaculture sales total almost $1 billion annually. With its Exclusive 
Economic Zone of 3.4 million square miles, the United States manages 
the largest marine territory of any nation in the world. Funded 
proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    A. Healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystems that 
benefit society; and
    B. A well-informed public that acts as a steward of coastal and 
marine ecosystems
    Program Names:
    1. 2007 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program
    2. Community-based Habitat Restoration Project Grants
    3. Community-based Habitat Restoration National and Regional 
Partnerships
    4. Cooperative Research Program FY 2007
    5. Marfin Fisheries Initiative Program (MARFIN) FY 2007
    6. Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program
    7. Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Outreach and Education 
Mini-grants
    8. Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management Plans 
Grant Program
    9. Restoration of Full Tidal Exchange Wetlands, Southern California 
Coast
    10. Implementation of Marine Protected Areas, Southern California 
Coast
    11. Protected Species Cooperative Conservation
    12. Community-based Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Project 
Grants
    13. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - General Coral Reef 
Conservation Grants
    14. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program
    15. Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education & Training (B-WET) Program
    16. Coastal Hypoxia Research Program (CHRP)
    17. Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CRES)
    18. Cumulative Impacts of Multiple Stressors (MultiStress)
    19. Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB)
    20. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - State and 
Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Grant
    21. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - State and 
Territory Coral Reef Management Grant
    22. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - International 
Coral Reef Conservation Grant
    23. California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) 
Program- Meaningful Watershed Experiences for San Francisco, Monterey, 
and Santa Barbara
    24. Bay Watershed Education and Training-B-WET Hawaii
    25. Ballast Water Technology Demonstration Program Competitive 
Funding Announcement (Treatment Technology Demonstration Projects)
    26. National Sea Grant College Program Aquatic Invasive Species 
Research and Outreach
    27. Grant - The Gulf of Mexico Oyster Industry Program (GOIP)
    28. Sea Grant - Oyster Disease Research Program (ODRP)
    29. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration Announcement of Opportunity, 
FY 2007
    30. National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Graduate Research 
Fellowship Program (GRF)
    31. GradFell 2008 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship 
(Knauss Fellowship Program)
    32. GradFell 2007 NMFS - Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship 
Program in Marine Resource Economics
    33. Gradfell 2007 NMFS - Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship 
Program in Population Dynamics
    34. National Estuarine Research Reserves System FY 2007 Land 
Acquisition and Construction Competitive Program
2. Understand climate variability and change to enhance society's 
ability to plan and respond.
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Climate shapes the environment, natural 
resources, economies, and social systems that people depend upon 
worldwide. While humanity has learned to contend with some aspects of 
climate's natural variability, major climatic events, combined with the 
stresses of population growth, economic growth, public health concerns, 
and land-use practices, can impose serious consequences on society. The 
1997-98 El Nino, for example, had a $25 billion impact on the U.S. 
economy - property losses were $2.6 billion and crop losses approached 
$2 billion. Long-term drought leads to increased and competing demands 
for fresh water with related effects on terrestrial and marine 
ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and even the spread of 
infectious diseases. Decisions about mitigating

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climate change also can alter economic and social structures on a 
global scale. We can deliver reliable climate information in useful 
ways to help minimize risks and maximize opportunities for decisions in 
agriculture, public policy, natural resources, water and energy use, 
and public health. We continue to move toward developing a seamless 
suite of weather and climate products. The Climate Goal addresses 
predictions on time scales of up to decades or longer.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    A. A predictive understanding of the global climate system on time 
scales of weeks to decades with quantified uncertainties sufficient for 
making informed and reasoned decisions; and
    B. Climate-sensitive sectors and the climate-literate public 
effectively incorporating NOAA's climate products into their plans and 
decisions.
    Program Names:
    1. FY 2007 Climate and Weather Impacts on Society and the 
Environment (CWISE)
3. Serve society's needs for weather and water information.
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, 
tsunamis, wildfires, and other severe weather events cause $11 billion 
in damages each year in the United States. Weather is directly linked 
to public health and safety, and nearly one-third of the U.S. economy 
(about $3 trillion) is sensitive to weather and climate. With so much 
at stake, NOAA's role in understanding, observing, forecasting, and 
warning of environmental events is expanding. With our partners, we 
seek to provide decision makers with key observations, analyses, 
predictions, and warnings for a range of weather and water conditions, 
including those related to water supply, air quality, space weather, 
and wildfires. Businesses, governments, and non-governmental 
organizations are getting more sophisticated about how to use this 
weather and water information to improve operational efficiencies, to 
manage environmental resources, and to create a better quality of life. 
On average, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and other severe weather 
events cause $11 billion in damages per year. Weather, including space 
weather, is directly linked to public safety and about one-third of the 
U.S. economy (about $3 trillion) is weather sensitive. With so much at 
stake, NOAA's role in observing, forecasting, and warning of 
environmental events is expanding, while economic sectors and its 
public are becoming increasingly sophisticated at using NOAA's weather, 
air quality, and water information to improve their operational 
efficiencies and their management of environmental resources, and 
quality of life.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    A. Reduced loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy;
    B. Better, quicker, and more valuable weather and water information 
to support improved decisions; and
    C. Increased customer satisfaction with weather and water 
information and services.
    Program Names:
    1. FY2007 Information Resource Supporting the Resiliency of Coastal 
Areas in the US Portion of the Gulf of Mexico
    2. Automated Flood Warning Systems (AFWS) Program
    3. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    4. Hydrologic Research
    5. Joint Hurricane Testbed
4. Support the Nation's commerce with information for safe, efficient, 
and environmentally sound transportation.
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Safe and efficient transportation systems are 
crucial to the U.S. economy. The U.S. marine transportation system 
ships over 95 percent of the tonnage and more than 20 percent by value 
of foreign trade through U.S. ports, including 48 percent of the oil 
needed to meet America's energy demands. At least $4 billion is lost 
annually due to economic inefficiencies resulting from weather-related 
air-traffic delays. Improved surface weather forecasts and specific 
user warnings would reduce the 7,000 weather related fatalities and 
800,000 injuries that occur annually from crashes on roads and 
highways. The injuries, loss of life, and property damage from weather-
related crashes cost an average of $42 billion annually.
    We provide information, services, and products for transportation 
safety and for increased commerce on roads, rails, and waterways. We 
will improve the accuracy of our information for marine, aviation, and 
surface weather forecasts, the availability of accurate and advanced 
electronic navigational charts, and the delivery of real-time 
oceanographic information. We seek to provide consistent, accurate, and 
timely positioning information that is critical for air, sea, and 
surface transportation. We will respond to hazardous material spills 
and provide search and rescue routinely to save lives and money and to 
protect the coastal environment. We will work with port and coastal 
communities and with Federal and state partners to ensure that port 
operations and development proceed efficiently and in an 
environmentally sound manner. We will work with the Federal Aviation 
Administration and the private sector to reduce the negative impacts of 
weather on aviation without compromising safety. Because of increased 
interest by the public and private sectors, we also will expand weather 
information for marine and surface transportation to enhance safety and 
efficiency.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    A. Safe, secure, efficient, and seamless movement of goods and 
people in the U.S. transportation system; and
    B. Environmentally sound development and use of the U.S. 
transportation system.
    Program Names:
    1. Ballast Water Technology Demonstration Program Competitive 
Funding Announcement (Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation 
Facility)
    2. Ballast Water Technology Demonstration Program Competitive 
Funding Announcement (Treatment Technology Demonstration Projects)
5. Provide critical support for NOAA's mission
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: Strong, effective, and efficient support 
activities are necessary for us to achieve our Mission Goals. Our 
facilities, ships, aircraft, environmental satellites, data-processing 
systems, computing and communication systems, and our approach to 
management provide the foundation of support for all of our programs. 
This critical foundation must adapt to evolving mission needs and, 
therefore, is an integral part of our strategic planning. It also must 
support U.S. homeland security by maintaining continuity of operations 
and by providing NOAA services, such as civil alert relays through NOAA 
Weather Radio and air dispersion forecasts, in response to national 
emergencies.
    NOAA ships, aircraft, and environmental satellites are the backbone 
of the global Earth observing system and provide many critical mission 
support services. To keep this capability strong and current with our 
Mission Goals, we will ensure that NOAA has adequate access to safe and 
efficient ships and aircraft through the use of both NOAA platforms and 
those of other agency, academic, and commercial partners. We will work 
with academia and partners in the public and private sectors to ensure 
that future satellite systems are designed,

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developed, and operated with the latest technology.
    Leadership development and program support are essential for 
achieving our Mission Goals. We must also commit to organizational 
excellence through management and leadership across a ``corporate'' 
NOAA. We must continue our commitment to valuing NOAA's diverse 
workforce, including effective workforce planning strategies designed 
to attract, retain and develop competencies at all levels of our 
workforce. Through the use of business process reengineering, we will 
strive for state-of-the-art, value-added financial and administrative 
processes. NOAA will ensure state-of-the-art and secure information 
technology and systems. By developing long-range, comprehensive 
facility planning processes NOAA will be able to ensure right-sized, 
cost-effective, and safe facilities.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    A. A dynamic workforce with competencies that support NOAA's 
mission today and in the future.
    Program Names:
    1. Administration of NOAA's Graduate Sciences Program
    2. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program; Financial Assistance for 
Graduate Students
    3. Gradfell 2007 NMFS - Sea Grants Joint Graduate Fellowship 
Program in Population Dynamics
Non-Competitive Projects Announcement
    1. Protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean 
resources through ecosystem-based management. See SUMMARY DESCRIPTION 
above.
1. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - Coral Reef Ecosystem 
Research Grants

Electronic Access

    The full funding announcement for each program is available via the 
Grants.gov Web site: http://www.grants.gov. These announcements will 
also be available by contacting the program official identified below. 
You will be able to access, download and submit electronic grant 
applications for NOAA Programs in this announcement at http://www.grants.gov. The closing dates will be the same as for the paper 
submissions noted in this announcement. NOAA strongly recommends that 
you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the 
application process through Grants.gov. Getting started with Grants.gov 
is easy! Go to http://www.grants.gov. There are two key features on the 
site: Find Grant Opportunities and Apply for Grants. Everything else on 
the site is designed to support these two features and your use of 
them. While you can begin searching for grant opportunities for which 
you would like to apply immediately, it is recommended that you 
complete the remaining Get Started steps sooner rather than later, so 
that when you find an opportunity for which you would like to apply, 
you are ready to go.

Get Started Step 1 Find Grant Opportunity for Which You Would Like to 
Apply

    Start your search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities 
and register to receive automatic email notifications of new grant 
opportunities or any modifications to grant opportunities as they are 
posted to the site by clicking the Find Grant Opportunities tab at the 
top of the page.

Get Started Step 2 Register with Central Contractor Registry (CCR)

    Your organization will also need to be registered with Central 
Contractor Registry. You can register with them online. This will take 
about 30 minutes. You should receive your CCR registration within 3 
business days. Important: You must have a DUNS number from Dun & 
Bradstreet before you register with CCR. Many organizations already 
have a DUNS number. To determine if your organization already has a 
DUNS number or to obtain a DUNS number, contact Dun & Bradstreet at 1-
866-705-5711. This will take about 10 minutes and is free of charge. Be 
sure to complete the Marketing Partner ID (MPIN) and Electronic 
Business Primary Point of Contact fields during the CCR registration 
process. These are mandatory fields that are required when submitting 
grant applications through Grants.gov.

Get Started Step 3 Register with the Credential Provider

    You must register with a Credential Provider to receive a username 
and password. This will be required to securely submit your grant 
application.

Get Started Step 4 Register with Grants.gov

    The final step in the Get Started process is to register with 
Grants.gov. This will be required to submit grant applications on 
behalf of your organization. After you have completed the registration 
process, you will receive email notification confirming that you are 
able to submit applications through Grants.gov.

Get Started Step 5 Log on to Grants.gov

    After you have registered with Grants.gov, you can log on to 
Grants.gov to verify if you have registered successfully, to check 
application status, and to update information in your applicant 
profile, such as your name, telephone number, email address, and title. 
In the future, you will have the ability to determine if you are 
authorized to submit applications through Grants.gov on behalf of your 
organization.

Electronic Application File Format and Naming Conventions

    After the initial grant application package has been submitted to 
NOAA (e.g., via Grants.gov), requests for additional or modified forms 
may be requested by NOAA. Applicants should resubmit forms in Portable 
Document File Format (PDF) and follow the following file naming 
convention to name resubmitted forms. For example: 98042--SF-424--
mmddyy--v2.pdf.
(1) 98042 = Proposal  (provided to applicant by Grants.gov 
&NOAA)
(2) SF-424 = Form Number
(3) mmddyy = Date
(4) v2 = Version Number
    To learn how to convert documents to PDF go to: http://www.grants.gov/assets/PDFConversion.pdf.

Evaluation Criteria and Selection Procedures

    NOAA standardized the evaluation and selection process for its 
competitive assistance programs. All proposals submitted in response to 
this notice shall be evaluated and selected in accordance with the 
following procedures. There are two sets of evaluation criteria and 
selection procedures, one for project proposals, and the other for 
fellowship, scholarship, and internship programs. These evaluation 
criteria and selection procedures apply to all of the programs included 
below.

Proposal Review and Selection Process for Projects

    Some programs may include a pre-application process which provides 
an initial review and feedback to the applicants that have responded to 
a call for letters of intent or pre-proposals; however, not all 
programs will include such a process. If a pre-application process is 
used by a program, it shall be described in the Summary Description and 
the deadline shall be provided in the Application Deadline section. 
Upon receipt of a full application by NOAA,

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an initial administrative review is conducted to determine compliance 
with requirements and completeness of the application. A merit review 
is conducted to individually evaluate, score, and rank applications 
using the evaluation criteria. A second merit review may be conducted 
on the applicants that meet the program's threshold (based on scores 
from the first merit review) to make selections using the selection 
factors provided below. Merit review is conducted by mail reviewers 
and/or peer panel reviewers. Each reviewer will individually evaluate 
and rank proposals using the evaluation criteria provided below. No 
consensus advice shall be provided by either merit review group if 
there are any non-Federal members. A minimum of three merit reviewers 
per proposal is required. The merit reviewer's ratings are used to 
produce a rank order of the proposals. The NOAA Program Officer may 
review the ranking of the proposals and make recommendations to the 
Selecting Official based on the mail and/or panel review(s) and 
selection factors listed below. The Selecting Official selects 
proposals after considering the mail and/or peer panel review(s) and 
recommendations of the Program Officer. In making the final selections, 
the Selecting Official will award in rank order unless the proposal is 
justified to be selected out of rank order based upon one or more of 
the selection factors below. The Program Officer and/or Selecting 
Official may negotiate the funding level of the proposal. The Selecting 
Official makes final recommendations for award to the Grants Officer 
who is authorized to obligate the funds.
Evaluation Criteria for Projects
    1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposed 
project to the program goals: This ascertains whether there is 
intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, federal, 
regional, state, or local activities.
    2. Technical/scientific merit: This assesses whether the approach 
is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are appropriate, 
and whether there are clear project goals and objectives.
    3. Overall qualifications of applicants: This ascertains whether 
the applicant possesses the necessary education, experience, training, 
facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project.
    4. Project costs: The Budget is evaluated to determine if it is 
realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time-frame.
    5. Outreach and education: NOAA assesses whether this project 
provides a focused and effective education and outreach strategy 
regarding NOAA's mission to protect the Nation's natural resources.
Selection Factors for Projects
    The merit review ratings shall provide a rank order to the 
Selecting Official for final funding recommendations. A program officer 
may first make recommendations to the Selecting Official applying the 
selection factors below. The Selecting Official shall award in the rank 
order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order 
based upon one or more of the following factors:
    1. Availability of funding.
    2. Balance/distribution of funds:
    a. Geographically
    b. By type of institutions
    c. By type of partners
    d. By research areas
    e. By project types
    3. Whether this project duplicates other projects funded or 
considered for funding by NOAA or other federal agencies.
    4. Program priorities and policy factors.
    5. Applicant's prior award performance.
    6. Partnerships and/or Participation of targeted groups.
    7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a NEPA 
determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations 
for funding are made to the Grants Officer.

Proposal Review and Selection Process for NOAA Fellowship, Scholarship 
and Internship Programs

    Some programs may include a pre-application process which provides 
an initial review and feedback to the applicants that have responded to 
a call for letters of intent or pre-proposals; however, not all 
programs will include such a process. If a pre-application process is 
used by a program, it shall be described in the Summary Description and 
the deadline shall be provided in the Application Deadline section. An 
initial administrative review of full applications is conducted to 
determine compliance with requirements and completeness of 
applications. A merit review is conducted to individually evaluate, 
score, and rank applications using the evaluation criteria. A second 
merit review may be conducted on the applicants that meet the program's 
threshold (based on scores from the first merit review) to make 
selections using the selection factors provided below. The Program 
Officer may conduct a review of the rank order and make recommendations 
to the Selecting Official based on the panel ratings and the selection 
factors listed below. The Selecting Official considers merit reviews 
and recommendations. The Selecting Official will award in rank order 
unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based 
upon one or more of the selection factors below. The Selecting Official 
makes final recommendations for award to the Grants Officer who is 
authorized to obligate the funds.
Evaluation Criteria for Fellowship/Scholarships/Internships
    1. Academic record and statement of career goals and objectives of 
student
    2. Quality of project and applicability to program priorities
    3. Recommendations and/or endorsements of student
    4. Additional relevant experience related to diversity of 
education; extra-curricular activities; honors and awards; 
interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills
    5. Financial need of student
Selection Factors for Fellowship/Scholarships/Internships
    1. Balance/Distribution of funds:
    a. Across academic disciplines
    b. By types of institutions
    c. Geographically
    2. Availability of funds
    3. Program-specific objectives
    4. Degree in scientific area and type of degree sought

NOAA Project Competitions

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

1. Research in Satellite Data Assimilation for Numerical Weather, 
Climate, and Environmental Forecast Systems.
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Environmental Satellite, Data, 
and Information Service (NESDIS), Office of Research and Applications 
(ORA) and the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) 
announces the availability of Federal assistance for research in the 
area of Satellite Data Assimilation in Numerical Weather, Climate, and 
Environmental Forecast Systems. The goal of the JCSDA is to accelerate 
the use of observations from earth-orbiting satellites in operational 
numerical prediction models for the purpose of improving weather, ocean 
mesoscale, and other environmental forecasts, improving seasonal to 
interannual climate forecasts, and increasing the physical accuracy of

[[Page 33903]]

climate reanalysis. The advanced instruments of current and planned 
NOAA, NASA, DOD, and international agency satellite missions will 
provide large volumes of data on atmospheric, oceanic, and land surface 
conditions with accuracies and spatial resolutions never before 
achieved. The JCSDA will strive to ensure that the Nation realizes the 
maximum benefit of its investment in space as part of an advanced 
global observing system. Funded proposals will help accelerate the use 
of satellite data from both operational and experimental spacecraft in 
operational weather, ocean mesoscale, climate, and environmental 
prediction environments, improve community radiative transfer models 
and surface emissivity models, improve characterization of the error 
covariances related to forecast models, radiative transfer models and 
satellite observations, and advance data assimilation science. The 
program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support 
goal of: Weather and Water - Serve Society's Needs for Weather and 
Water Information.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: The total amount available for proposals is 
anticipated to be approximately $600,000 per year. Individual annual 
awards in the form of grants or cooperative agreements are expected to 
range from $50,000 per year to a maximum of $150,000 per year for no 
more than three years, although greater amounts may be awarded. It is 
anticipated that 4-6 awards will be made.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 15 U.S.C. 313, 49 U.S.C. 44720(b); 15 U.S.C. 2901 et 
seq.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.440, 
Environmental Sciences, Applications, Data, and Education.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Letters of Intent (LOI) must be received no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern daylight time, August 11, 2006, and full 
proposals must be received by NOAA/NESDIS no later than 5 p.m. eastern 
daylight time, October 2, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Letters of Intent should be 
emailed to [email protected] or may be mailed or faxed to the JSCDA. 
Proposals must be submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov, 
or as hard copy (by postal mail, commercial delivery service, or hand 
delivery) to: ATTN: James G. Yoe, NOAA/NESDIS Joint Center for 
Satellite Data Assimilation, 5200 Auth Rd., Room 808, Camp Springs, MD 
20746.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Administrative questions: Ms. Patty Mayo, by 
phone at 301-763-8127 ext. 107, fax: 301-763-8108, or e-mail: 
[email protected]. Technical questions: James G. Yoe (NOAA Program 
Officer), by phone at 301-763-8172 ext. 186, fax to 301-763-8149, or 
via e-mail: [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applications can be from U.S. institutions of 
higher education, other non-profits, commercial organizations, and 
state, local and Indian tribal governments. U.S. Federal agencies or 
institutions are eligible to receive Federal assistance under this 
Notice. PLEASE NOTE: Before non-NOAA Federal applicants may be funded, 
they must demonstrate that they have legal authority to receive funds 
from another Federal agency in excess of their appropriation. The only 
exception to this is governmental research facilities for awards issued 
under the authority of 49 USC 44720(b). Because this announcement is 
not proposing to procure goods or services from applicants, the Economy 
Act (31 USC 1535) is not an appropriate legal basis.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

1. 2007 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
requests research proposals for the 2007 scallop fishing year (March 1, 
2007 - February 28, 2008) to utilize portions of the total allowable 
catch (TAC) and Days-at-Sea (DAS) set-asides proposed by the New 
England Fishery Management Council (Council) in Framework 18 to the Sea 
Scallop Fishery Management Plan (Framework 18). The set-asides are to 
be used for sea scallop research endeavors under a research set-aside 
(RSA) program. The RSA Program provides a mechanism to fund research 
through the sale of fish harvested under the research quota. Vessels 
participating in an approved research project may be authorized by the 
Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), to 
harvest and to land species in excess of any imposed trip limit or 
during fishery closures. Landings from such trips would be sold to 
generate funds that would compensate participating vessel owners and 
help defray the costs associated with research projects. No Federal 
funds will be provided for research under this notification. The 
program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support 
goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and 
Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: In order to set a value on the RSAs, the 
value of scallops must be estimated. This Federal Funding Opportunity 
(FFO) uses an estimated price per pound of $7.25 based on the average 
2005 (March through October) price per pound calculated from dealer 
reports. In addition, based on the Council's analysis in Framework 18, 
the daily catch rate was calculated to be 1,746 lb (792 kg) per DAS. By 
requiring researchers to use these values in requesting TAC and DAS, 
all proposals will relate scallop catch to research costs similarly.
    Research proposals are sought to utilize the four set-asides 
proposed by Framework 18 for the 2007 fishing year. With the value for 
the scallops estimated as $7.25 per lb, the estimated TAC values are 
estimated as follows: (1) The DAS set-aside for the open fishing areas 
is 330 DAS with a value of $4,177,305; (2) the research TAC set-aside 
for the NLS Access Area is 157,454 lb (71 mt), with a value of 
$1,141,542; (3) the research TAC set-aside for the CAI Access Area is 
86,414 lb (39 mt), with a value of $626,502; and (4) the research TAC 
set-aside for the ET Access Area is 544,000 lb (247 mt), with a value 
of $3,944,000. Thus, for fishing year 2007, the total value of the set-
asides available for scallop-related research is approximately 
$9,889,350 (42% from the open area DAS set-aside, 12% from the NLS 
Access Area, 6% from the CAI Access Area and 40% from the ET Access 
Area). Researchers must specify the amount of set-aside (TAC or DAS, as 
appropriate) sought from each area.
    If 2006 scallop resource surveys indicate the exploitable biomass 
in the Elephant Trunk Access Area is lower than current projections, 
Framework 18 proposes three scenarios to reduce the 2007 TAC. If an 
adjustment is necessary, it will be finalized on or about December 1, 
2006.

[[Page 33904]]



               Elephant Trunk Access Area Adjustment Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Less than
                                  50.5     50.5 to    63.2 to    Greater
                                million    63.1 mlb   75.7 mlb    than
                                lb (mlb)   (22,920    (28,651   75.8 mlb
                                (22,920   to 28,650  to 34,380   (34,381
                                  mt)        mt)        mt)        mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted 2007 ET RSA TAC       228,000    346,000    461,000    No
                                lb (103    lb (157    lb (209    adjustm
                                mt)        mt)        mt)        ent
                                                                 544,000
                                                                 lb (247
                                                                 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Issuing grants is consistent with sections 
303(b)(11), 402(e), and 404(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1853(b)(11), 16 U.S.C. 
1881a(e), and 16 U.S.C. 1881(c), respectively.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) Number: 11.454, 
Unallied Management Projects
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Full proposals must be received by 5 p.m., 
eastern daylight time, on August 11, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Proposals may be submitted 
electronically via http://www.grants.gov, or as hard copy (by postal 
mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to NMFS, Northeast 
Regional Office, Attention: 2007 Sea Scallop Research Proposals, One 
Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: For administrative questions about the 
research set aside program contact Ryan Silva (One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930), by phone (978) 281-9326, fax (978) 281-9135, or 
e-mail [email protected]. For an application kit contact Rich Maney 
(One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930), by phone (978) 281-9265, 
fax (978) 281-9117, or e-mail [email protected]. For information on 
the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as it relates 
to this funding opportunity, contact Deirdre Boelke, New England 
Fishery Management Council, phone (978) 465-0492, or Ryan Silva, by 
phone (978) 281-9326, fax (978) 281-9135, or e-mail 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: 1. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, 
individuals, state, local, and Native American tribal governments. 
Federal agencies and institutions are not eligible to receive Federal 
assistance under this notice. Additionally, employees of any Federal 
agency or Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) are ineligible 
to submit an application under this program. However, Council members 
who are not Federal employees may submit an application.
    2. DOC/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and encourages 
women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications to the 
RSA program. In addition, 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. DOC/NOAA encourages 
proposals involving any of the above institutions.
    3. DOC/NOAA encourages applications from members of the fishing 
community and applications that involve fishing community cooperation 
and participation.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applicants will need to determine if 
their State participates in the intergovernmental review process. This 
information can be found at the following Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. This information will assist 
applicants in providing either a Yes or No response to Item 16 of the 
Application Form, SF-424, entitled ``Application for Federal 
Assistance.''
2. Community-based Habitat Restoration Project Grants
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NMFS is inviting the public to submit 
proposals for available funding to implement grass-roots habitat 
restoration projects that will benefit living marine resources, 
including anadromous fish, under the NOAA Community-based Restoration 
Program. Projects funded through the Community-based Restoration 
Program will be expected to have strong on-the-ground habitat 
restoration components that provide long-term ecological habitat 
improvements for NOAA trust resources as well as educational and social 
benefits for people and their communities. Proposals selected for 
funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a 
cooperative agreement. The program priorities for this opportunity 
support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, 
and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Funding of up to $3,000,000 is expected to be 
available for Community-based Habitat Restoration Project Grants in FY 
2007. The NOAA Restoration Center (RC) anticipates that typical project 
awards will range from $50,000 to $200,000.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under 
the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by 
the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, to provide grants or cooperative 
agreements for fisheries habitat restoration.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.463 
Habitat Conservation.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications for project funding under the 
Community-based Restoration Program must be submitted by September 28, 
2006 11:59 PM EDT if submitted via grants.gov , or if mailed, 
postmarked by September 28, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applicants should apply through 
http://www.grants.gov. If unable to reasonably apply through 
grants.gov, send paper applications to Christopher D. Doley, Chief, 
NOAA Restoration Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East 
West Highway (F/HC3), Rm. 14727, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; ATTN: 
CRP Project Applications.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Cathy Bozek or Melanie Gange at (301) 713-
0174, or by fax at (301) 713-0184, or by e-mail at [email protected] 
or [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other non-profits, commercial (for profit) 
organizations, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments, international organizations, state, local and Indian 
tribal governments whose projects have the potential to benefit NOAA 
trust resources. Applications from federal agencies or employees of 
federal agencies will not be considered.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: 1:1 non-Federal match is encouraged, but 
applicants with less than 1:1 match will not be disqualified.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

[[Page 33905]]

3. Community-based Habitat Restoration National and Regional 
Partnerships
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NMFS is inviting the public to submit multi-
year proposals for establishing innovative habitat restoration 
partnerships at the national or regional level for up to 3 years to 
further community-based habitat restoration that will benefit living 
marine resources, including anadromous fish, under the NOAA Community-
based Restoration Program (CRP). Proposals for partnerships funded 
through the CRP will involve joint selection and co-funding of multiple 
community-based habitat restoration projects as sub-awards made through 
the partner organization. Proposals selected for funding through this 
solicitation will be implemented through a cooperative agreement. The 
program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support 
goal of: Ecosystems - protect, restore, and manage use of coastal and 
ocean resources through ecosystem-based management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Funding of up to $10 million is expected to 
be available for establishing multi-year partnerships in FY 2007; 
annual funding is anticipated to maintain successful partnerships for 
up to 3 years duration. The NOAA Restoration Center (RC) anticipates 
that typical partnership awards will range from $200,000 to $600,000 
per year, funded annually.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under 
the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by 
the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, to provide grants or cooperative 
agreements for fisheries habitat restoration.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.463 
Habitat Conservation.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications for partnership funding under 
the CRP must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT on September 25, 2006 if 
submitted via Grants.gov, or if mailed, postmarked by September 25, 
2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applicants should apply through 
http://www.grants.gov. If unable to apply through grants.gov, send 
paper applications to Christopher D. Doley, Chief, NOAA Restoration 
Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East West Highway (F/
HC3), Rm. 14701, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; ATTN: CRP Partnership 
Applications.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Melanie Gange or Robin Bruckner at 
(301)713-0174, or by fax at (301) 713-0184, or by e-mail at 
[email protected] or [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other non-profits, commercial (for profit) 
organizations, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments, international organizations, state, local and Indian 
tribal governments whose projects have the potential to benefit NOAA 
trust resources. Applications from federal agencies will not be 
considered.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: 1:1 match non-Federal match is 
encouraged, but applicants with less than 1:1 match will not be 
disqualified.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
4. Cooperative Research Program (CRP) FY 2007
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The NMFS is inviting the public to submit 
research and development projects that seek to increase and improve the 
working relationship between researchers from the NMFS, state fishery 
agencies, universities, and fishermen. The program is a means of 
involving commercial and recreational fishermen in the collection of 
fundamental fisheries information. Collection efforts support the 
development and evaluation of management and regulatory options. 
Projects accepted for funding will need to be completed within 24 
months. The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's 
mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and manage Use 
of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $2.0 million may be available 
in fiscal year 2007 for projects. The NMFS Southeast Regional Office 
estimates awarding eight awards that will range from $25,000 to 
$400,000. The average award is $150,000.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.454 
Unallied Management Projects.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: We must receive your application by 5 p.m. 
eastern daylight time on August 11, 2006. Applications received after 
that time will not be considered for funding.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should be submitted 
through http://www.grants.gov. If an applicant does not have Internet 
access, hard copies should be sent to the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, State/Federal Liaison Branch, 263 13th Avenue South, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33701.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sadler, State/Federal Liaison Branch at 
(727) 824-5324.
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include Institutions of higher 
education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, state, local and 
Indian tribal governments and individuals. 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 CRP is to optimize research and development benefits 
from U.S. marine fishery resources.
    OTHER INFORMATION: Applicants who are not a commercial or 
recreational fisherman must have commercial or recreational fisherman 
participating in their project. There must be a written agreement with 
a fisherman describing the involvement in the project activity.
    All applicants must include a written agreement with a person 
employed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), who will act 
as a partner in the proposed research project. The NMFS partner will 
assist the applicant to develop a design (statistical or analytical) 
for the project to assure that the outcome will provide suitable, 
scientific data and results to support needed fisheries management 
information.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Cost sharing is not required.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
5. Marfin Fisheries Initiative Program (MARFIN) FY 2007
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The NMFS is inviting the public to submit 
research and development projects that will 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, socioeconomic assessment, management and 
conservation, selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and 
processing. Proposals may be selected for funding for up to three years 
through a cooperative agreement. The program priorities for this 
opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - 
Protect, Restore, and

[[Page 33906]]

Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $2.4 million may be available 
in fiscal year (FY) 2007 for projects. This amount includes possible 
in-house projects. The NMFS Southeast Regional Office estimates 
awarding ten projects that will range from $35,000 to $300,000. The 
average award is $100,000.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.433 Marine 
Fisheries Initiative.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: We must receive your application by close of 
business (5 p.m. eastern daylight time) on July 12, 2006. Applications 
received after that time will not be considered for funding.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should be submitted 
through http://www.grants.gov. If an applicant does not have Internet 
access, hard copies should be sent to the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, State/Federal Liaison Branch, 263 13th Avenue South, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33701.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Scot Plank, State/Federal Liaison Branch at 
(727) 824-5324.
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include Institutions of higher 
education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, 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.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Cost sharing is not required.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
6. Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
announces that the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Councils (Councils) have set aside 500 monkfish days-at-sea (DAS) to be 
used for research endeavors under a research set-aside (RSA) program. 
NMFS is soliciting proposals to utilize the DAS for research activities 
concerning the monkfish fishery for fishing year 2007 (May 1, 2007-
April 30, 2008). Through the allocation of research DAS, the Monkfish 
RSA Program provides a mechanism to reduce the cost for vessel owners 
to participate in cooperative monkfish research. The intent of this RSA 
program is for fishing vessels to utilize these research DAS to conduct 
monkfish related research, rather than their allocated monkfish DAS, 
thereby eliminating any cost to the vessel associated with using a 
monkfish DAS. The program priorities for this opportunity support 
NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and 
Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: No Federal funds are provided for research 
under this notification. Rather, projects funded under the Monkfish RSA 
Program would be provided with additional opportunity to harvest 
monkfish, and the catch sold to generate income to offset research 
costs. The Federal Government (i.e., NMFS) may issue an Exempted 
Fishing Permit (EFP), if needed, to provide special fishing privileges 
in response to research proposals selected under this program. For 
example, vessels participating in an approved research project may be 
authorized by the Northeast Regional Administrator, NMFS, to harvest 
monkfish in excess of established possession limits. Two awards were 
issued under the 2006 Monkfish RSA Program, and these projects are 
expected to commence in May 2006. Therefore, information concerning the 
income generated from those awards is not yet available.
    Funds generated from landings harvested and sold under the Monkfish 
RSA Program shall be used to cover the cost of research activities, 
including vessel costs. For example, the funds may be used to pay for 
gear modifications, monitoring equipment, the salaries of research 
personnel, or vessel operation costs. The Federal Government shall not 
be liable for any costs incurred in the conduct of the project. 
Specifically, the Federal Government is not liable for any costs 
incurred by the researcher or vessel owner should the sale of catch not 
fully reimburse the researcher or vessel owner for his/her expenses.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Issuing grants is consistent with sections 
303(b)(11), 402(e), and 404(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1853(b)(11), 16 U.S.C. 
1881a(e), and 16 U.S.C. 1881(c), respectively.
    The ability to set aside monkfish DAS for research purposes was 
established in the final rule implementing Amendment 2 to the Monkfish 
Fishery Management Plan (70 FR 21927, April 28, 2005), and codified in 
the regulations at 50 CFR 648.92(c).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: In the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, the program number is 11.454, 
and the program name is Unallied Management Projects.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received on or before 5 
p.m. eastern daylight time on August 11, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Proposals must be submitted 
electronically through http://www.grants.gov, or as hard copy (by 
postal mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to NMFS, 
Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. 
Delays may be experienced when registering with Grants On-line near the 
end of a solicitation period. Therefore, NOAA strongly recommends that 
applicants do not wait until the deadline date to begin the application 
process through http://www.grants.gov. Electronic or hard copies 
received after the deadline will not be considered, and hard copy 
applications will be returned to the sender.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Administrative questions: Allison Ferreira, 
Fishery Policy Analyst, NMFS, by phone 978-281-9103, fax 978-281-9135, 
or e-mail at [email protected]. Technical questions: Peter 
Burns, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930, by phone 978-281-92144, fax 978-281-9117, or 
email at [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other non-profits, commercial organizations, 
individuals, state, local, and Native American tribal governments. 
Federal agencies and institutions are not eligible to receive Federal 
assistance under this notice. Additionally, employees of any Federal 
agency or Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) are ineligible 
to submit an application under this program. However, Council members 
who are not Federal employees may submit an application.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under ths program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

[[Page 33907]]

7. Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management Plans 
Grant Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant 
Program/ Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management 
Plans (CRFMPGP), provides funding to the Regional Fishery Management 
Councils for projects to conserve and manage coral reef fisheries, as 
authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. Projects 
funded through the CRFMPGP are for activities that 1) provide better 
scientific information on the status of coral reef fisheries resources, 
critical habitats of importance to coral reef fishes, and the impacts 
of fishing on these species and habitats; 2) identify new management 
approaches that protect coral reef biodiversity and ecosystem function 
through regulation of fishing and other extractive uses; and 3) 
incorporate conservation and sustainable management measures into 
existing or new Federal fishery management plans for coral reef 
species. Proposals selected for funding will be implemented through a 
cooperative agreement. The role of NOAA in the CRFMPGP is to help 
identify potential projects that reduce impacts of fishing on coral 
reef ecosystems, strengthen the development and implementation of the 
projects, and assist in coordination and support of these efforts with 
Federal, state, territory or commonwealth management authorities and 
various coral reef user groups.
    For this solicitation, all applications must fall within at least 
one of the 7 categories: (1) identification, mapping, characterization, 
monitoring and protection of critically important habitats of coral 
reef fishes and associated spawning populations; (2) monitoring reef 
fish stocks; (3) identification of the adverse impacts of fishing gear 
and fishing methods and implementation of actions to reduce habitat 
damage; (4 assessment of the adequacy of current coral reef fishing 
regulations and revision of regulations as needed; (5) education and 
outreach efforts to recreational and commercial fishers; (6) enhanced 
enforcement of fishery regulations and/or no-take fishery resources; 
and (7) ecosystem-scale studies and inclusion of ecosystem approaches 
into coral reef FMP's. Proposed projects should provide necessary 
information and contribute to the identification of specific actions to 
reduce overfishing of coral reef resources and mitigate habitat damage 
caused by destructive fishing gears or methods. The program priorities 
for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems 
- Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources 
through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Funding up to $1,050,000 is expected to be 
available for Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery 
Management Plans. The NOAA Coral reef Conservation Program anticipates 
that typical project awards will range from about $175,000 to $525,000. 
Funding will be subject to the availability of federal appropriations.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Authority for the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation 
Grant Program is provided by Section 6403.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.441 - 
Regional Fishery Management Councils.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications should be submitted via http://www.grants.gov and must be received no later than 11:59 PM EST on 
November 10, 2006. If applicants do not have access to Grants.gov, 
paper applications must be postmarked, or provided to a delivery 
service and documented with a receipt by Nov. 10, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should be submitted 
via http://www.grants.gov. If this site cannot be reasonably used, 
applications can be sent to: Andrew Bruckner, NOAA Coral Reef 
Conservation Program, NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation 
(F/HC), 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. ATTN: CRCGP 
Project Applications.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrative questions: Andy Bruckner, 301-
713-3459, extension 190 or e-mail at [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are limited to the Western Pacific 
Regional Fishery Management Council, the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and 
the Caribbean Fishery Management Council.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
8. Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Outreach and Education 
Mini-grants
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: In November 2005, the Natural Resource 
Trustees for the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program (MSRP) 
released a Restoration Plan. The plan identifies projects for restoring 
natural resources injured by past releases of DDTs and PCBs into the 
marine environment off the coast of Southern California 
www.montroserestoration.gov. These contaminants continue to injure 
natural resources over a wide region of the Southern California Bight.
    The MSRP is funded by settlement agreements entered into by 
multiple defendants in the case of the United States and the State of 
California versus Montrose Chemical Corporation of California and other 
defendants. MSRP restoration priorities include the restoration of 
fishing opportunities lost as a result of local fish consumption 
advisories and catch bans now in place. The restoration plan highlights 
both fish habitat restoration projects and a public education project 
to address these losses.
    MSRP has partnered with Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to create an 
educational comic book, geared to children at the 4th-6th grade level, 
which tells the story of DDT and PCB contamination off the coast of 
Southern California and includes information on ways to enjoy and 
benefit from fishing despite the presence of fishing advisories. The 
comic book is available online at www.montroserestoration.gov. The 
Trustees intend to provide up to $50,000 in seed money (for grants up 
to $15,000) to develop curricula, programs or activities to educate 
young people who consume locally-caught fish (and through them, their 
parents) on safe ways to enjoy or benefit from fishing along the Los 
Angeles and Orange County coasts where fish consumption advisories have 
impacted fishing. Projects should use the comic book and/or concepts 
outlined in the comic book as a basis, and are encouraged to draw from 
any other educational materials available through the Fish 
Contamination Education Collaborative www.pvsfish.org as appropriate. 
The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of 
Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: This solicitation announces that a total 
amount of $50,000 may be awarded for grants up to $15,000. The number 
of awards to be made as a result of this solicitation will depend on 
the number of eligible applications received, the amount of funds 
requested for initiating restoration projects by the applicants, and 
the merit and ranking of the proposals.

[[Page 33908]]

    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 661-667e, 42 U.S.C. 9601-9626.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.463 
Habitat Conservation.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received or postmarked 
by 5 p.m. eastern time on August 15, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should either be 
submitted online through http://www.grants.gov or sent to: NOAA 
Restoration Center, Attn: Leah Mahan, 777 Sonoma Ave, Suite 325, Santa 
Rosa, California, 95404, phone (707) 575-6077.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Leah Mahan, 777 Sonoma Ave, Suite 325, Santa 
Rosa, California, 95404, phone (707) 575-6077.
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include institutions of higher 
education; state, local and Indian tribal governments; federal 
government agencies; and other nonprofit and commercial organizations 
or individuals.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: While matching funds are not required, 
applicants are encouraged to include matching funds using cash or in-
kind contributions where possible. If cost sharing is proposed, the 
respondent is asked to account for both the Trustee and non-Trustee 
amounts
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
9. Restoration of Full Tidal Exchange Wetlands, Southern California 
Coast
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: In November 2005, the Natural Resource 
Trustees for the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program (MSRP) 
released a Restoration Plan. The plan identifies projects for restoring 
natural resources injured by past releases of DDTs and PCBs into the 
marine environment off the coast of Southern California 
www.montroserestoration.gov. These contaminants continue to injure 
natural resources over a wide region of the Southern California Bight. 
The MSRP is funded by settlement agreements entered into by multiple 
defendants in the case of the United States and the State of California 
versus Montrose Chemical Corporation of California and other 
defendants.
    As part of the MSRP Restoration Plan, funds are being made 
available to support coastal wetlands restoration projects in the 
region that promote the production of commonly caught coastal fish 
species. NOAA and the other Trustees seek specifically to restore 
coastal wetland/estuarine habitats in the region that have direct tidal 
links to the ocean and serve as nursery habitats for fish, especially 
species that are targeted by ocean anglers. Such actions restore fish 
and the habitats on which they depend, one of the purposes for which 
settlement funds may be utilized. Such projects also help restore lost 
fishing opportunities, to the extent that they increase production of 
recreationally valuable species that are lower in contamination and 
eventually inhabit ocean fishing sites. The program priorities for this 
opportunity support NOAA's mission goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, 
Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through 
Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: This solicitation announces that funding of 
up to $3,000,000 is expected to be available. NOAA and the other 
Trustees may award portions of available funding to several projects, 
or up to the full amount of available funding to a single project. 
There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make 
awards for all proposals. The number of awards to be made as a result 
of this solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications 
received, the amount of funds requested for initiating restoration 
projects by the applicants, and the merit and ranking of the proposals. 
Applicants for amounts greater than $1,000,000 may at their option 
consider identifying divisible components of the proposal that may be 
undertaken for less than the full amount of funding requested in the 
application.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 661-667e, 42 U.S.C. 9601-9626.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.463 
Habitat Conservation.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received or postmarked 
by 5 p.m. eastern time on July 27, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should either be 
submitted online via http://www.grants.gov or sent to: NOAA Restoration 
Center, Attn: Leah Mahan, 777 Sonoma Ave, Suite 325, Santa Rosa, 
California, 95404, phone (707) 575-6077.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Leah Mahan, 777 Sonoma Ave, Suite 325, Santa 
Rosa, California, 95404, phone (707) 575-6077.
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include institutions of higher 
education; state, local and Indian tribal governments; federal 
government agencies; and other nonprofit and commercial organizations 
or individuals.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: While matching funds are not required, 
applicants are encouraged to include matching funds using cash or in-
kind contributions where possible. If cost sharing is proposed, the 
respondent is asked to account for both the Trustee and non-Trustee 
amounts.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
10. Implementation of Marine Protected Areas, Southern California Coast
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: In November 2005, the Natural Resource 
Trustees for the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program (MSRP) 
released a Restoration Plan. The plan identifies projects for restoring 
natural resources injured by past releases of DDTs and PCBs into the 
marine environment off the coast of Southern California 
www.montroserestoration.gov. These contaminants continue to injure 
natural resources over a wide region of the Southern California Bight. 
The MSRP is funded by settlement agreements entered into by multiple 
defendants in the case of the United States and the State of California 
versus Montrose Chemical Corporation of California and other 
defendants.
    As part of the MSRP Restoration Plan, funds are being made 
available to support the Implementation of Marine Protected Areas in 
the region that promotes the production of commonly caught coastal fish 
species. NOAA and the other Trustees seek specifically to support 
projects directed towards evaluating the effectiveness of Marine 
Protected Areas (MPAs) as a management tool for promoting ecosystem 
health and sustainable fishing in California Marine waters. The program 
priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: 
Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean 
Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: This solicitation announces that funding of 
up to $400,000 is expected to be available. NOAA and the other Trustees 
may award portions of available funding to several projects, or up to 
the full amount of available funding to a single project. There is no 
guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for 
all proposals. The number of awards to be made as a result of this 
solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications

[[Page 33909]]

received, the amount of funds requested for initiating restoration 
projects by the applicants, and the merit and ranking of the proposals.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 661-667e, 42 U.S.C. 9601-9626.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.463 
Habitat Conservation.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received or postmarked 
by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on September 15, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should either be 
submitted online via http://www.grants.gov or sent to: NOAA Restoration 
Center, Attn: Leah Mahan, 777 Sonoma Ave, Suite 325, Santa Rosa, 
California, 95404, phone (707) 575-6077.
    INFORMATION CONTACTs: Leah Mahan, 777 Sonoma Ave, Suite 325, Santa 
Rosa, California, 95404, phone (707) 575-6077.
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include institutions of higher 
education; state, local and Indian tribal governments; federal 
government agencies; and other nonprofit and commercial organizations 
or individuals.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: While matching funds are not required, 
applicants are encouraged to include matching funds using cash or in-
kind contributions where possible. If cost sharing is proposed, the 
respondent is asked to account for both the Trustee and non-Trustee 
amounts
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
11. Protected Species Cooperative Conservation
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
announces the availability of Federal assistance to support the 
conservation of threatened and endangered species, recently de-listed 
species, and candidate species under the jurisdiction of the NMFS or 
under the joint jurisdiction of the NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (e.g. sea turtles). Any state that has entered into an 
agreement with the NMFS and maintains an adequate and active program 
for the conservation of endangered and threatened species pursuant to 
section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is eligible to 
apply. These financial assistance awards can be used to support 
management, monitoring, research, and outreach activities that provide 
direct conservation benefits to listed species, recently de-listed 
species, or candidate species that reside within that state. Projects 
involving North Atlantic right whales will not be considered for 
funding under this grant program; such projects may be submitted under 
the North Atlantic Right Whale Research Program of the NMFS Northeast 
Regional Office. The program priorities for this opportunity support 
NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and 
Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: A minimum of $300K to a maximum of $800K in 
funding may be available for grants in FY 2007. Award periods may 
extend up to 3 years with annual funding contingent on the availability 
of Federal appropriations and satisfactory performance by the grant 
recipient. There are no restrictions on maximum or minimum award 
amounts within the available funding.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Under section 6 of the ESA, the NMFS is 
authorized to provide Federal assistance to eligible states for the 
purpose of assisting the states in the development of programs for the 
conservation of listed, recently de-listed, and candidate species that 
reside within that state (16 U.S.C. 1535).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.472, 
Unallied Science Programs.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. eastern 
daylight time on September 8, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should be submitted 
electronically via http://www.grants.gov. If online submission is not 
possible, hard copy applications may be submitted (by postal mail, 
commercial delivery, or hand delivery) to NOAA/NMFS/Office of Protected 
Resources, Attn: Lisa Manning, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Lisa Manning, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910; email: [email protected]; phone: 301-713-1401.
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are states that, through their 
respective state agencies, have entered into an agreement with the NMFS 
pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA. The terms ``state'' and ``state 
agency'' are used as defined in section 3 of the ESA. Currently 
eligible state agencies are from the following states: Florida, 
Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North 
Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Any 
state agency that enters into a section 6(c) agreement with the NMFS 
prior to the application deadline (September 8, 2006) is also eligible 
to apply.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: In accordance with section 6(d) of the 
ESA, all proposals submitted must include a minimum non-Federal cost 
share of 25 percent of the total projects costs if the proposal 
involves a single state. If a proposal involves collaboration of two or 
more states, the minimum non-Federal cost share decreases to 10 percent 
of the total project costs.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
12. Community-based Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Project Grants
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NMFS is inviting the public to submit 
proposals for funding available through the NOAA Marine Debris Program 
(MDP) to implement grass-roots projects to prevent or remove marine 
debris that will benefit living marine resource habitats. Projects 
funded through the NOAA Community-based Marine Debris Prevention and 
Removal Project Grants competition will be expected to have strong on-
the-ground marine debris prevention or removal components that provide 
educational and social benefits for people and their communities in 
addition to long-term ecological habitat improvements for NOAA trust 
resources. Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation 
will be implemented through a cooperative agreement.
    Marine debris removal may include, but is not limited to:
     Detection and removal of derelict fishing gear, such as 
abandoned crab pots and fish nets, monofilament line, or ``casitas'' 
(lobster aggregating devices);
     Removal of persistent debris from coastal habitats 
including marshes, bays, mangroves, and coral reefs. This includes 
activities such as removal of abandoned vessels, their associated 
debris, and/or large material washed up on shorelines;
     Removal of debris from marine, estuarine or beach 
environments resulting from hurricanes or other natural disasters; and
     Detection and removal of derelict pilings and bulkheads 
that diminish habitat quality.
    Marine debris prevention may include, but is not limited to:

[[Page 33910]]

     Prevention activities related to reception facilities at 
marinas and fishing ports including recycling initiatives for 
monofilament fishing line and other types of fishing gear, or debris;
     The development of debris reduction incentives for 
prevention, removal, and safe disposal of plastics and derelict fishing 
gear; and
     Outreach/education focused projects.
    The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of 
Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Funding of up to $2,000,000 is expected to be 
available for Community-based Marine Debris Prevention and Removal 
Grants Projects in FY 2007. The NOAA Restoration Center anticipates 
that typical project awards will range from $15,000 to $150,000.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under 
the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by 
the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, to provide grants or cooperative 
agreements for habitat restoration.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) 11.463 Habitat 
Conservation
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications for project funding under the 
MDP must be submitted via grants.gov by October 30, 2006 11:59 PM EST 
or if mailed, postmarked by October 30, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applicants should apply through 
http://www.grants.gov. If unable to reasonably apply through 
grants.gov, send paper applications to Christopher D. Doley, Chief, 
NOAA Restoration Center (F/HC3), National Marine Fisheries Service, 
1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; ATTN: MDP Project 
Applications.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): For further information contact David 
Landsman at [email protected] or 301-713-0174.
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other non-profits, commercial (for profit) 
organizations, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments, international organizations, state, local and Indian 
tribal governments whose projects have the potential to benefit NOAA 
trust resources. Applications from federal agencies or employees of 
federal agencies will not be considered.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: 1:1 non-Federal match is encouraged, 
will be considered in the review process, but applicants with less than 
1:1 match will not be disqualified.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications submitted by state and local 
governments are subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs.''
13. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - General Coral Reef 
Conservation Grants
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program/
General Coral Reef Conservation Grants (GCRCGP) provides funding to 
institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, commercial 
organizations, Freely Associated State government agencies, and local 
and Indian tribal governments to support coral reef conservation 
projects in the United States and the Freely Associated States in the 
Pacific, as authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. 
Projects funded through the GCRCGP support on-the-ground efforts that: 
(1) help preserve, sustain and restore the condition of coral reef 
ecosystems, (2) promote the wise management and sustainable use of 
coral reef resources, (3) increase public knowledge and awareness of 
coral reef ecosystems and issues regarding their conservation and (4) 
develop sound scientific information on the condition of coral reef 
ecosystems and the threats to such ecosystems. Projects must address 
one of the following 7 categories: coral reef monitoring and 
assessment; socio-economic assessments and resource valuation; marine 
protected areas and associated management activities; coral reef 
fisheries management and enforcement; coral reef restoration; public 
education and outreach; and local action strategy implementation. 
Projects should complement and fill gaps in state, territorial and 
commonwealth coral reef programs, emphasize community-based 
conservation, or address local action strategy priorities. Research 
activities are eligible only if they directly relate to management or 
are listed as a project within a local action strategy. The program 
priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: 
Ecosystem - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean 
Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Funding up to $600,000 is expected to be 
available for NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program -General Coral 
Reef Conservation Grants. Individual awards in the form of grants can 
range from $15,000 to a maximum of $50,000. Applications over $50,000 
will not be accepted. Funding will be subject to the availability of 
federal appropriations.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Authority for the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation 
Grant Program is provided by Section 6403.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.463 
Habitat Conservation.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received no later than 
11:59 PM EST on November 10, 2006. If grants.gov cannot be reasonably 
used, applications must be postmarked, or provided to a delivery 
service and documented with a receipt by Nov. 10, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should be submitted 
via http://www.grants.gov. If grants.gov cannot be reasonably used, 
applications can be sent to: Andrew Bruckner, NOAA Coral Reef 
Conservation Program, NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation 
(F/HC), 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. ATTN: CRCGP 
Project Applications.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy Bruckner, Office of Habitat Conservation, 
F/HC1, Room 15836, NOAA Fisheries, 1315 East West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, phone 301-713-3459 extension 190, e-mail at 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include institutions of higher 
education, non-profit organizations, commercial organizations, Freely 
Associated State government agencies, and local and Indian tribal 
governments. U.S. Federal, State, Territory, and Commonwealth 
government agencies are not eligible under this program.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: 1:1 non-federal match is required. The 
NOAA Administrator may waive all or part of the matching requirement if 
the Administrator determines that the project meets the following two 
requirements: (1) No reasonable means are available through which an 
applicant can meet the matching requirement, and (2) The probable 
benefit of such project outweighs the public interest in such matching 
requirement. In the case of a waiver request, the applicant must 
provide a detailed justification explaining the need for the waiver.

[[Page 33911]]

    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
14. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NMFS is inviting eligible marine mammal 
stranding network participants to submit proposals to fund the recovery 
or treatment (i.e., rescue and rehabilitation) of live stranded marine 
mammals, data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals 
for scientific research regarding marine mammal health, and facility 
operations directly related to the recovery or treatment of stranded 
marine mammals and collection of data from living or dead stranded 
marine mammals. The Prescott Grant Program is administered through the 
NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP). It 
is anticipated that awards funded through the Prescott Grant Program 
will facilitate achievement of MMHSRP goals and objectives by providing 
financial assistance to eligible stranding network participants. 
Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be 
implemented through either a grant or cooperative agreement. The 
program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support 
goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and 
Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Funding of up to $4,000,000 is expected to be 
available in FY 2007. The maximum Federal award for each grant cannot 
exceed $100,000, as stated in the statutory language (16 U.S.C.1421f-
1). Applicants are hereby given notice that these funds have not yet 
been appropriated for this program and therefore exact dollar amounts 
cannot be given.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 
2000 amended the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to establish the 
John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program (16 
U.S.C.1421f-1).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) Number: 11.439 Marine 
Mammal Data Program.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications for funding under the Prescott 
program must be received by Grants.gov or if mailed postmarked by 11:59 
PM, eastern time, on Wednesday, September 27, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should either be 
submitted online at http://www.grants.gov or sent to: NOAA/NMFS/Office 
of Protected Resources, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response 
Program, Attn: Michelle Ordono, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 3501, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3283, phone 301-713-2322 ext 177.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Technical questions: Sarah Wilkin or Janet 
Whaley, by phone at 301-713-2322 ext. 104, or fax to 301-427-2525 or 
via email: [email protected] or [email protected]. 
Administrative questions: Michelle Ordono, by phone at 301-713-2322 
ext. 177, fax: 301-427-2525, or e-mail: [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: There are 5 categories of eligible stranding network 
participants that may apply for funds under this Program: (1) Letter of 
Agreement (LOA) holders; (2) LOA designee organizations; (3) 
researchers; (4) official Northwest Region participants; and, (5) 
state, local, eligible federal government or tribal employees. For 
these organizations and individuals to apply for award funds under the 
Prescott Grant Program, they must meet eligibility criteria specific to 
their category of participation.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: All proposals submitted must provide a 
minimum non-Federal cost share of 25 percent of the total budget (i.e., 
at least .25 x total project costs).
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
15. Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education &Training (B-WET) Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Chesapeake B-WET grant program is a 
competitively based program that supports existing environmental 
education programs, fosters the growth of new programs, and encourages 
the development of partnerships among environmental education programs 
throughout the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funded projects assist 
in meeting the Stewardship and Community Engagement goals of the 
Chesapeake 2000 Agreement. Projects support organizations that provide 
students ``meaningful'' Chesapeake Bay or stream outdoor experiences 
and teachers professional development opportunities in the area of 
environmental education related to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The 
program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support 
goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and 
Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: This solicitation announces that 
approximately $3.0M may be available in FY 2007 in award amounts to be 
determined by the proposals and available funds. Annual funding is 
anticipated to maintain partnerships for up to 3 years duration, but is 
dependant on funding made available by Congress. Applicants are hereby 
given notice that funds have not yet been appropriated for this 
program.
    1. About $1.75M will be for exemplar programs that successfully 
integrate teacher professional development on the Chesapeake Bay 
watershed with in-depth classroom study and outdoor experiences for 
their students.
    2. About $1.0M will be for proposals that provide opportunities 
either for students (K through 12) to participate in ``Meaningful'' 
Watershed Educational Experiences related to Chesapeake Bay or 
Professional Development in the area of Chesapeake Bay watershed 
education for teachers.
    3. About $250K will be for proposals that incorporate the newly 
designed Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System (providing real-time 
water quality data and web-based content) into meaningful watershed 
educational experiences.
    The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office anticipates that typical awards for 
B-WET Exemplar Programs that successfully integrate teacher 
professional development with in-depth classroom student and outdoor 
experiences for their students will range from $50,000 to $200,000. 
Projects that represent either meaningful watershed educational 
experiences for students or teacher professional development in 
watershed education will range from $10,000 to $75,000. Projects 
focusing on the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy system will range from 
$10,000 to $100,000.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY:16 U.S.C. 742f; 16 U.S.C. 753a.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.457; 
Chesapeake Bay Studies, Education.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. eastern 
time on October 23, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Electronic submission: http://www.grants.gov/. Paper applications may be submitted by postal mail, 
commercial delivery service, or hand-delivery. Paper applications must 
be sent to: NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office; Education Coordinator; 410

[[Page 33912]]

Severn Avenue, Suite 107A; Annapolis, Maryland 21403.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Shannon W. Sprague, NOAA Chesapeake Bay 
Office, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 2140 
[email protected] or 410-267-5664.
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are K-through-12 public and 
independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher 
education, community-based and nonprofit organizations, state or local 
government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments 
in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: No cost sharing is required under this 
program, however, the NCBO strongly encourages applicants 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 review process with cash being 
the preferred method of contribution. Further details can be found in 
the full funding opportunity announcement.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

National Ocean Service

1. FY2007 Climate and Weather Impacts on Society and the Environment 
(CWISE)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA invites applications to establish a 
cooperative agreement with the agency under the Climate and Weather 
Impacts on Society and the Environment (CWISE) program. The agreement 
will be established between the National Climatic Data Center, the 
Coastal Services Center, the Climate Program Office and the award 
recipient to further understanding and increase the resiliency of 
natural, economic and social systems to weather and climate-related 
environmental stressors through interdisciplinary research, information 
and services delivery, education and outreach. The program priorities 
for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Climate - 
Understand Climate Variability and Change to Enhance Society's Ability 
to Plan and Respond
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: The total amount available for a proposal is 
anticipated to be approximately $600,000 per year for the term of the 
cooperative agreement which is expected to be four years in length. 
Project funding is contingent upon availability of appropriations and 
is at the sole discretion of NOAA. No more than one award is 
anticipated from this announcement.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 49 U.S.C. 44720; 33 U.S.C. 883d; 15 U.S.C. 2907; 16 
U.S.C. 1451 et seq.; the Global Change Research Act, 15 U.S.C. 2921-
2961; and the National Climate Program Act, 15 U.S.C. 2901-2908
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.473, 
Coastal Services Center.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Proposals must be received no later than 4 
p.m. eastern daylight time on August 28, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Proposals must be submitted 
electronically via http://www.grants.gov, or in hard copy (by postal 
mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to the Coastal 
Services Center office. Hard copy proposals must be submitted to: Attn: 
Shauna Harris, DOC/NOAA/NOS/Coastal Services Center, 2234 South Hobson 
Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405; (843) 740-1149; email: 
[email protected].
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrative questions should be directed to 
Shauna Harris by telephone (843) 740-1149, by fax (843) 740-1315, or by 
e-mail [email protected]. Technical questions on the CWISE 
announcement should be directed to Stephanie Fauver, by telephone (843) 
740-1287, by fax (843) 740-1329, or by e-mail 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible Applicants are U.S. institutions of higher 
education, other non-profits, commercial organizations, and state, 
local and Indian tribal governments.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Applicant will be required to contribute 
at least 5 percent (from non-Federal funds) of the total amount 
contributed by NOAA each year if the application is approved.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
2. FY2007 Information Resource Supporting the Resiliency of Coastal 
Areas in the US Portion of the Gulf of Mexico
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Coastal Services Center (the Center) seeks 
proposals for a two-year cooperative agreement under which the 
cooperator and the Center will jointly develop a regional framework for 
a Community Resilience Index (CRI) to increase the capacity of coastal 
communities to survive, mitigate the effects of, and recover from the 
effects of natural and other hazards. The purpose of the CRI is to 
define quantifiable indicators of community resilience; develop 
methodologies, tools, and information resources for the assessment of 
community resilience; and enhance the resilience of coastal 
communities. The design of the CRI will facilitate community self-
assessment and adaptation.
    Proposals should focus on developing pilot applications focusing on 
the U.S. portion of the northern Gulf of Mexico, addressing all or part 
of two main activities:
    Activity 1. Developing an information resource that integrates 
spatial and non-spatial data to identify scientifically defensible 
indicators for community resilience (ecological, economic, socio-
cultural and physical). This activity will also include identifying 
indicators and sources of information for measuring indicators, 
establishing baseline measurements and developing performance metrics 
for local, state, and/or regional agencies within the focus region. 
This activity will also evaluate and recommend potential options for 
integrating this information into locally-relevant geospatial decision 
support tools.
    Activity 2. Developing a strategy for implementing the use of the 
CRI to enhance the resilience of coastal communities. Through a series 
of workshops engaging appropriate agencies, researchers, practitioners 
and end users, collaboratively develop recommendations concerning the 
implementation of the use of the CRI. The plan should address 
communications strategies for developing and sustaining a networked 
community of practitioners engaged in measuring and enhancing community 
resilience. The plan should also identify the training needs and 
recommended approaches for meeting the needs of practitioners related 
to community resilience concepts, performance measurement, and 
implementation practices.
    The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Weather and Water - Serve Society's Needs for Weather 
and Water Information.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Total anticipated funding available for all 
awards is $700,000 and is subject to the availability of FY 2007 
appropriations. Two to five awards are anticipated from

[[Page 33913]]

this announcement. Awards will range from $50,000 to $350,000.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under the Coastal Zone Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1456c 
(Technical Assistance).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.473, 
Coastal Services Center.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Letters of Intent must be received by the 
Coastal Services Center by 5 p.m. EDT on June 30, 2006. Full 
applications must be submitted through Grants.gov no later than 5 p.m. 
EDT, August 15, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Proposals must be submitted 
electronically via http://www.grants.gov, or hard copy (by postal mail, 
commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to the NOAA Coastal 
Services Center. Hard copy proposals must be submitted to: Attn: 
Jeffery Adkins, NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, 
Charleston, South Carolina, 29405-2413
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: For administrative issues, contact James 
Lewis Free at 843-740-1185 (phone) or 843-740-1315 (fax) or email him 
at [email protected]. For technical questions, contact Jeffery 
Adkins by telephone at 843-740-1244 or by email at 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other non-profits, commercial organizations, 
foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments, international organizations, and state, local and Indian 
tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible 
to receive Federal assistance under this announcement, but may be 
project partners. Note: Federal agencies or institutions who are 
project partners must demonstrate that they have legal authority to 
receive funds from outside sources in excess of their appropriations.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 121372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs.''
3. Coastal Hypoxia Research Program (CHRP)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA, National Ocean Service (NOS), National 
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science(NCCOS), Center for Sponsored Coastal 
Oceans Research (CSCOR) is soliciting proposals for projects of 2 to 5 
years in duration that advance understanding, predicting, and managing 
the causes and ecological and economic impacts of hypoxia in 
representative coastal ecosystems. The program priorities for this 
opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - 
Protect, Restore, and Manage use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through 
Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: This solicitation announces that award 
amounts will be determined by the proposals and available funds will 
typically not exceed $500,000 per project per year with project 
durations from 2 to 5 years. It is anticipated that 3 to 6 total 
projects will be funded. Support in out years after FY 2007 is 
contingent upon the availability of funds.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 1442 and Pub. L. 108-456.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.478 Center 
for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, Coastal Ocean Program.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: The deadline for receipt of proposals at the 
NCCOS/CSCOR office is 3 p.m., EST, September 11, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications submitted in 
response to this announcement are strongly encouraged to be submitted 
via http://www.grants.gov. The full funding announcement for this 
program is also available at this site. Non-electronic submissions 
should be sent to Laurie Golden, NOAA National Ocean Service, NCCOS/
CSCOR Grants Administrator, SSMC IV, 1305 East West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Technical Information. Alan Lewitus, CHRP 
2007 Program Manager, NCCOS/CSCOR, 301-713-3338/ext 178, Email: 
[email protected]. Business Management Information. Laurie Golden, 
NCCOS/CSCOR Grants Administrator, 301-713-3338/ext 151, Email: 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other non-profits, state, local, Indian Tribal Governments, 
commercial organizations and agencies that possess the statutory 
authority to receive financial assistance. NCCOS/CSCOR will not fund 
any Federal FTE salaries, but will fund travel, equipment, supplies, 
and contractual personnel costs associated with the proposed work.
    (1) Researchers must be employees of an eligible entity listed 
above; and proposals must be submitted through that entity. Non-Federal 
researchers should comply with their institutional requirements for 
proposal submission.
    (2) Non-NOAA Federal applicants will be required to submit 
certifications or documentation showing that they have specific legal 
authority to receive funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC) for 
this research.
    (3) NCCOS/CSCOR will accept proposals that include foreign 
Researchers as collaborators with a researcher who has met the above 
stated eligibility requirements.
    (4) Non-Federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University Joint 
Institutes should comply with joint institutional requirements; they 
will be funded through grants either to their institutions or to joint 
institutes.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
4. Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CRES)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA, National Ocean Service (NOS), National 
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science(NCCOS), Center for Sponsored Coastal 
Oceans Research (CSCOR) is soliciting proposals for projects of 3-5 
years in duration for the Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies Program (CRES), 
and 1-3 years in duration for the Deep Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies 
Program (Deep-CRES). The program priorities for this opportunity 
support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, 
and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Funding is contingent upon availability of 
Federal appropriations. NOAA is committed to continual improvement of 
the grants process and accelerating the award of financial assistance 
to qualified recipients in accordance with the recommendations of the 
Business Process Reengineering Team. In order to fulfill these 
responsibilities, this solicitation announces that award amounts to be 
determined by the proposals and available funds are typically not to 
exceed $1,000,000 per year with project duration from 3-5 years for the 
West Florida Shelf study; and $500,000 per year with a project duration 
of up to 3 years for the deep hermatypic coral reef study. It is 
anticipated that one project will be funded for the West Florida Shelf 
study, and one project will be funded for the deep hermatypic coral 
reef study. Support in out years after FY 2007 is contingent upon the 
availability of funds.

[[Page 33914]]

    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 6403.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER:
    11.478 Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, Coastal Ocean 
Program.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: The deadline for receipt of proposals at the 
NCCOS/CSCOR office is 3 p.m., EST, November 13, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications submitted in 
response to this announcement are strongly encouraged to be submitted 
via http://www.grants.gov. The full funding announcement for this 
program is also available at this site. Non-electronic submissions 
should be sent to Laurie Golden, NOAA National Ocean Service, NCCOS/
CSCOR Grants Administrator, SSMC IV, 1305 East West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Technical Information. Michael Dowgiallo, 
NCCOS/CSCOR Program Manager, 301-713-3338/ext 161, Email: 
[email protected]. Business Management Information. Laurie 
Golden, NCCOS/CSCOR Grants Administrator, 301-713-3338/ext 151, Email: 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other non-profits, state, local, Indian Tribal Governments, 
commercial organizations and Federal agencies that possess the 
statutory authority to receive financial assistance. NCCOS/CSCOR will 
not fund any Federal FTE salaries, but will fund travel, equipment, 
supplies, and contractual personnel costs associated with the proposed 
work.
    (1) Researchers must be employees of an eligible entity listed 
above; and proposals must be submitted through that entity. Non-Federal 
researchers should comply with their institutional requirements for 
proposal submission.
    (2) Non-NOAA Federal applicants will be required to submit 
certifications or documentation showing that they have specific legal 
authority to receive funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC) for 
this research.
    (3) NCCOS/CSCOR will accept proposals that include foreign 
researchers as collaborators with a researcher who has met the above 
stated eligibility requirements.
    (4) Non-Federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University Joint 
Institutes should comply with joint institutional requirements; they 
will be funded through grants either to their institutions or to joint 
institutes.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs''.
5. Cumulative Impacts of Multiple Stressors (MultiStress)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CSCOR is soliciting proposals 
for projects of up to 5 years in duration to investigate the impacts of 
multiple stressors in coastal ocean ecosystems, including estuaries and 
the Great Lakes. These projects should be interdisciplinary, multiple 
investigator, and well-integrated studies designed to develop 
capabilities for understanding, predicting, and managing the effects of 
multiple stressors (both anthropogenic and natural) in coastal 
ecosystems. The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's 
mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use 
of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: This solicitation announces that award 
amounts will be determined by the proposals and available funds 
typically not to exceed $1.0 million per project per year, exclusive of 
ship costs, with project durations from 3 to 5 years. It is anticipated 
that 1 to 2 total projects will be funded. Support in out years after 
FY 2007 is contingent upon the availability of funds.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 1456c
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER:
    11.478 Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, Coastal Ocean 
Program.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: The deadline for receipt of proposals at the 
Chesapeake Bay Watershed NCCOS/CSCOR office is 3 p.m., EST October 23, 
2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications submitted in 
response to this announcement are strongly encouraged to be submitted 
via http://www.grants.gov. The full funding announcement for this 
program is also available at this site. Non-electronic submissions 
should be sent to Laurie Golden, NOAA National Ocean Service, NCCOS/
CSCOR Grants Administrator, SSMC IV, 1305 East West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Technical Information. Susan Banahan, 
MultiStress 2007 Program Manager, NCCOS/CSCOR, 301-713-3338/ext 148, 
Email: [email protected]. Business Management Information. Laurie 
Golden, NCCOS/CSCOR Grants Administrator, 301-713-3338/ext 151, Email: 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other non-profits, state, local, Indian Tribal Governments, 
commercial organizations and Federal agencies that possess the 
statutory authority to receive financial assistance. NCCOS/CSCOR will 
not fund any Federal FTE salaries, but will fund travel, equipment, 
supplies, and contractual personnel costs associated with the proposed 
work.
    (1) Researchers must be employees of an eligible entity listed 
above; and proposals must be submitted through that entity. Non-Federal 
researchers should comply with their institutional requirements for 
proposal submission.
    (2) Non-NOAA Federal applicants will be required to submit 
certifications or documentation showing that they have specific legal 
authority to receive funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC) for 
this research.
    (3) NCCOS/CSCOR/COP will accept proposals that include foreign 
researchers as collaborators with a researcher who has met the above 
stated eligibility requirements.
    (4) Non-Federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University Joint 
Institutes should comply with joint institutional requirements; they 
will be funded through grants either to their institutions or to joint 
institutes.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
6. Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: National Centers for Coastal Ocean 
Science(NCCOS), Center for Sponsored Coastal Oceans Research (CSCOR) is 
soliciting proposals for two types of research projects MERHAB-targeted 
and MERHAB-regional. MERHAB-targeted proposals will incorporate tools, 
approaches and technologies from HAB research programs into existing 
harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring programs. MERHAB regional 
proposals will create partnerships to enhance and sustain routine HAB 
monitoring capabilities and provide managers with timely information 
needed to mitigate HAB impacts on coastal communities. The program 
priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: 
Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean 
Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.

[[Page 33915]]

    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: This solicitation announces that award 
amounts to be determined by the proposals and available funds typically 
not to exceed $100,000 per project per year with project durations from 
1-3 years for targeted research projects and $600,000 per project per 
year with projects duration from 3-5 years for regional research 
projects. It is anticipated that 5 to 15 total projects will be funded 
with no more than two being regional intensive projects.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 1442 and Pub.L. 108-456.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER:
    11.478 Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, Coastal Ocean 
Program.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: The deadline for receipt of proposals at the 
NCCOS/CSCOR office is 3 p.m., EST October 2, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications submitted in 
response to this announcement are strongly encouraged to be submitted 
via http://www.grants.gov. The full funding announcement for this 
program is also available at this site. Non-electronic submissions 
should be sent to Laurie Golden, NCCOS/CSCOR Grants Administrator, 301-
713-3338/ext 151, Internet: [email protected].
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Technical Information. Marc Suddleson, NCCOS/
CSCOR Program Manager, 301-713-3338/ext 163, Email: 
[email protected]. Business Management Information. Laurie 
Golden, NCCOS/CSCOR Grants Administrator, 301-713-3338/ext 151, Email: 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other non-profits, state, local, Indian Tribal Governments, 
commercial organizations and Federal agencies that possess the 
statutory authority to receive financial assistance. NCCOS/CSCOR will 
not fund any Federal FTE salaries, but will fund travel, equipment, 
supplies, and contractual personnel costs associated with the proposed 
work.
    (1) Researchers must be employees of an eligible entity listed 
above; and proposals must be submitted through that entity. Non-Federal 
researchers should comply with their institutional requirements for 
proposal submission.
    (2) Non-NOAA Federal applicants will be required to submit 
certifications or documentation showing that they have specific legal 
authority to receive funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC) for 
this research.
    (3) NCCOS/CSCOR will accept proposals that include foreign 
researchers as collaborators with a researcher who has met the above 
stated eligibility requirements.
    (4) Non-Federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University Joint 
Institutes should comply with joint institutional requirements; they 
will be funded through grants either to their institutions or to joint 
institutes.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
7. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - State and Territory 
Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Grant
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: This program is soliciting proposals to 
support implementation of a nationally coordinated, comprehensive, long 
term monitoring program to assess the condition of U.S. coral reef 
ecosystems, and to evaluate the efficacy of coral ecosystem management. 
This program is part of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program 
under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 which provides matching 
grants of financial assistance for coral reef monitoring projects. NOS 
will accept initial applications for peer review. Selected applicants 
may be asked to revise award objectives, work plans or budgets prior to 
submittal of a final application, including required Federal financial 
assistance forms, to NOS. The program priorities for this opportunity 
support NOAA's mission support goals of Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, 
and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $1,100,000 may be available in 
FY 2007 to support awards under this program. Each eligible 
jurisdiction can apply for a maximum $130,000, with the exception of 
the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the 
Republic of the Marshall Islands who can apply for a maximum of 
$30,000. The amount of funding awarded to each jurisdiction will be 
subject to the eligibility and evaluation requirements described in 
this announcement.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 16 U.S.C. 6403.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.426, 
Coastal Zone Management Program.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Initial applications are due to NOAA by 11:59 
p.m. eastern time on Monday, November 13, 2006. Final applications are 
due to NOAA by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Friday March 2, 2007.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: David Kennedy, NOAA Coral Reef 
Conservation Program, Office of Response and Restoration, NOAA National 
Ocean Service, N/ORR, Room 10102, 1305 East West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910 or [email protected]. Submissions by e-mail are 
preferred.
    Address for submitting final applications: http://www.grants.gov, 
the Federal grants portal. If internet access is unavailable, hard 
copies can be submitted to David Kennedy, at the address above. 
Applicants are required to include one original and two copies of the 
signed, hard/paper of the Federal financial assistance forms for each 
final application package that is not submitted through http://www.grants.gov.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: John Christensen, 1305 East West Highway, 9th 
Floor, N/SCI1, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone 301-713-3028 extension 
153, e-mail at [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are the governor-appointed point 
of contact agencies for coral reef coordination in each of the 
jurisdictions of American Samoa, Florida, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of Palau, the 
Federated States of Micronesia (including Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, and 
Chuuk), the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. 
Virgin Islands.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Any coral conservation project funded 
under this program requires a 1:1 match. Matching funds must be from 
non-Federal sources and can include in-kind contributions and other 
non-cash support. The NOAA Administrator may waive all or part of the 
matching requirement if the Administrator determines that the project 
meets the following two requirements: (1) No reasonable means are 
available through which an applicant can meet the matching requirement, 
and (2) The probable benefit of such project outweighs the public 
interest in such matching requirement. The Program shall waive any 
requirement for local matching funds for any project under $200,000 
(including in-kind contribution) to the governments of Insular Areas, 
defined as the jurisdictions of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

[[Page 33916]]

    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs''.
8. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - State and Territory 
Coral Reef Management Grants
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: This program is soliciting proposals to 
support comprehensive projects for the conservation and management of 
coral reefs and associated fisheries in the jurisdictions of Puerto 
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. Funding will also 
support jurisdictional participation in national coral reef planning 
activities, such as U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meetings. This program 
is part of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program under the 
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 which provides matching grants of 
financial assistance for coral reef conservation projects. NOS will 
accept initial applications for peer review. Selected applicants may be 
asked to revise award objectives, work plans or budgets prior to 
submittal of a final application, including required Federal financial 
assistance forms, to NOS. The program priorities for this opportunity 
support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, 
and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $4,000,000 may be available in 
FY 2007 to support awards under this program. Each eligible 
jurisdiction can apply for a maximum $685,000. A minimum of 40% of the 
final award amount must be dedicated to the implementation and support 
of the Local Action Strategy initiative in each Funding is subject to 
the availability of federal appropriations. The amount of funding 
awarded to each jurisdiction will be subject to the eligibility and 
evaluation requirements described in this announcement.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 16 U.S.C. 6403.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.419, 
Coastal Zone Management Program.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Pre-applications must be received no later 
than 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on Monday, November 13, 2006. 
Final applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern 
standard time on Friday, March 2, 2007.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Pre-applications must be 
submitted electronically via e-mail to [email protected] or as hard 
copy (by postal mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to 
David Kennedy, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, Office of Response 
and Restoration, NOAA National Ocean Service, N/ORR, Room 10102, 1305 
East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Pre-application submissions 
by e-mail are preferred.
    Final applications must be submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov or, if internet access is not available, as hard copy 
(by postal mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to 
David Kennedy, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, Office of Response 
and Restoration, NOAA National Ocean Service, N/ORR, Room 10102, 1305 
East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Submissions by grants.gov 
are preferred.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Wusinich-Mendez, 1305 East West Highway, 
11th Floor, N/ORM3, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone 301-713-3155 
extension 159, e-mail at [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are the governor-appointed point 
of contact agencies for coral reef coordination in each of the 
jurisdictions of American Samoa, Florida, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin 
Islands.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Any coral conservation project funded 
under this program requires a 1:1 match. Matching funds must be from 
non-Federal sources and can include in-kind contributions and other 
non-cash support. The NOAA Administrator may waive all or part of the 
matching requirement if the Administrator determines that the project 
meets the following two requirements: (1) No reasonable means are 
available through which an applicant can meet the matching requirement, 
and (2) The probable benefit of such project outweighs the public 
interest in such matching requirement. The Program shall waive any 
requirement for local matching funds for any project under $200,000 
(including in-kind contribution) to the governments of Insular Areas, 
defined as the jurisdictions of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
9. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - International Coral 
Reef Conservation Grants
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: This Program solicits proposals under four 
funding categories: 1) Promote Watershed Management in the Wider 
Caribbean, Brazil, and Bermuda; 2) Regional Enhancement of Marine 
Protected Area Management Effectiveness; 3) Encourage the Development 
of National Networks of Marine Protected Areas in the Wider Caribbean, 
Bermuda, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific; and 4) Promote 
Regional Socio-Economic Training and Monitoring in Coral Reef 
Management in the Wider Caribbean, Brazil, Bermuda, the Western Indian 
Ocean, the Red Sea, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Each funding 
category has specific applicant and project eligibility criteria. The 
program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support 
goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and 
Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $500,000 may be available in FY 
2007 to support awards under this program. Each eligible applicant can 
apply for the following maximum amounts: Watershed Management $40,000; 
Management Effectiveness: Regional capacity building projects $80,000; 
MPA National Networks: $50,000; Socio-economic Monitoring Regional 
projects $35,000. The amount of funding awarded to each applicant will 
be subject to the eligibility and evaluation requirements described in 
this announcement.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 16 U.S.C. 6403.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.463 - 
Habitat Conservation.
    PRE-APPLICATION AND FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINES: Pre-applications 
are due to NOAA by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Monday, November 13, 
2006. Final applications by invitation only are due to NOAA by 11:59 
p.m. eastern time on Friday, March 2, 2007.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PRE-APPLICATION: Preferred address for 
submitting pre-applications: [email protected]. Paper pre-
applications may be sent to: David Kennedy, NOAA Coral Reef 
Conservation Program, Office of

[[Page 33917]]

Response and Restoration, NOAA National Ocean Service, N/ORR, Room 
10102, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or to faxed to 
301-713-4389.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING FINAL APPLICATION BY INVITATION ONLY: 1) 
http://www.grants.gov, the Federal grants portal and the preferred 
method; 2) By electronic mail to [email protected] including signed 
and scanned copies of all pages requiring original signatures and 
signed and scanned copies of original support letters; 3) If internet 
access is unavailable, one hard copy can be submitted David Kennedy, 
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, Office of Response and 
Restoration, N/ORR, Room 10102, NOAA National Ocean Service, 1305 East 
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Applicants are required to 
include one signed original copy of the signed, paper Federal financial 
assistance forms.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Scot Frew, NOAA/NOS International Program 
Office, 1315 East West Highway, 5th Floor, N/IP, Room 5735, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910. Phone: 301-713-3078, extension 220; e-mail: 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include all international, 
governmental (except U.S. federal agencies), and non-governmental 
organizations. For specific country eligibility per category, please 
refer to individual category descriptions in Section V. The proposed 
work must be conducted at a non-U.S. site. Eligible countries are 
defined as follows: The Wider Caribbean includes the 37 States and 
territories that border the marine environment of the Gulf of Mexico, 
the Caribbean Sea, and the areas of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent 
thereto, and Brazil and Bermuda, but excluding areas under U.S. 
jurisdiction. The South Pacific Region includes South Pacific Regional 
Environment Program's 19 Pacific island countries and territories, 
including the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, and 
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, but excluding U.S. territories 
and four developed country members. Southeast Asia Region includes 
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, 
Thailand, and Vietnam. The Western Indian Ocean Region includes 
Comoros, France (La Reunion), Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, 
Seychelles, the United Republic of Tanzania, and South Africa. The Red 
Sea Region includes five member countries of the Regional Organization 
for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden 
(PERSGA): Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and 
Yemen.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Any coral conservation project funded 
under this program requires a 1:1 match. Matching funds must be from 
non-Federal sources and can include in-kind contributions and other 
non-cash support. The NOAA Administrator may waive all or part of the 
matching requirement if the Administrator determines that the project 
meets the following two requirements: (1) No reasonable means are 
available through which an applicant can meet the matching requirement, 
and (2) The probable benefit of such project outweighs the public 
interest in such matching requirement. The Program shall waive any 
requirement for local matching funds for any project under $200,000 
(including in-kind contribution) to the governments of Insular Areas, 
defined as the jurisdictions of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs''.
10. California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program- 
Meaningful Watershed Experiences for San Francisco, Monterey, and Santa 
Barbara
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The California B-WET grant program, is a 
competitively based program that supports existing environmental 
education programs, fosters the growth of new programs, and encourages 
the development of partnerships among environmental education programs 
throughout the San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, and Santa Barbara 
Channel watersheds. Funded projects provide Meaningful Watershed 
Experiences to students and teachers. The program priorities for this 
opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - 
Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through 
Ecosystem-Based Management
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: This solicitation announces that 
approximately $1,650,000 may be available in FY 2007 in award amounts 
to be determined by the proposals and available funds. About $700,000 
will be made available to the San Francisco Bay watershed area, 
$600,000 will be made available to the Monterey Bay watershed area, and 
about $350,000 will be made available to the Santa Barbara Channel 
watershed area. Individual annual awards in the form of grants or 
cooperative agreements are expected to range from $10,000 per year to a 
maximum of $55,000 per year for no more than three years.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 16 U.S.C. 1440.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.429, 
Marine Sanctuary Program.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific 
standard time on October 2, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Proposals must be submitted 
either electronically via http://www.grants.gov, or as hard copy (by 
postal mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to the 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Program. Hard copy proposals 
must be submitted to: ATTN: Seaberry Nachbar, 299 Foam Street, 
Monterey, CA 93940. Tel: 831-647-4204.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Seaberry Nachbar, Monterey Bay National Marine 
Sanctuary office; 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940, or by phone at 
831-647-4201, or fax to 831-647-4250, or via Internet at 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are K-through-12 public and 
independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher 
education, nonprofit organizations, state or local government agencies, 
and Indian tribal governments.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: No cost sharing is required under this 
program; however, the National Marine Sanctuary Program strongly 
encourages applicants applying for either area of interest to share as 
much of the costs of the award as possible.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
11. Bay Watershed Education and Training-B-WET Hawaii
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The B-WET Hawaii Program is an annually 
awarded, competitively-based grant that supports existing environmental 
education programs, fosters the growth of new programs, and encourages 
the development of partnerships among environmental education programs 
throughout Hawaii. Funded projects provide meaningful outdoor 
experiences for K-12 students and professional development 
opportunities for teachers in the area of environmental education. 
Funds will be made available for only

[[Page 33918]]

a 12 month award period. The program priorities for this opportunity 
support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, 
and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Total anticipated funding for all awards is 
approximately $1,000,000 in award amounts to be determined by the 
proposals and available funds. It is anticipated that approximately 
five to fifteen grants will be awarded and a typical project award will 
range from approximately $10,000 to $100,000. Funds are subject to the 
availability of 2007 appropriations.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 15 U.S.C. 1540; 33 U.S.C. 883d.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) Number: 11.473, 
Coastal Services Center.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Proposals must be received no later than 5 
p.m. eastern standard time (11 a.m. Hawaii standard time) on August 30, 
2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Proposals must be submitted 
electronically via http://www.grants.gov, or as hard copy (by postal 
mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to the Pacific 
Services Center office. Hard copy proposals must be submitted to: Attn: 
Sam Thomas, NOAA Pacific Services Center; 737 Bishop Street, Mauka 
Tower, Suite 2250, Honolulu, HI 96813-3212. Tel: 808-532-3960.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrative and technical questions: 
Contact Sam Thomas by phone at 808-532-3960 or fax to 808-532-3224, or 
via e-mail: [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applications are K-12 public and independent 
schools and school systems, institutions of higher education, 
commercial and nonprofit organizations, state or local government 
agencies, and Indian tribal governments. Applicants that are not 
eligible are individuals and Federal agencies. 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, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian 
institutions, and institutions that service undeserved areas.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
12. National Estuarine Research Reserves System FY 2007 Land 
Acquisition and Construction Competitive Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Estuarine Reserves Division (ERD) of NOAA 
is soliciting proposals from the National Estuarine Research Reserve 
System (NERRS) for land acquisition and construction funding. The 
National Estuarine Research Reserve system consists of estuarine areas 
of the United States and its territories which are designated and 
managed for research and educational purposes. Each reserve within the 
system is chosen to represent different biogeographic regions and to 
include a variety of ecosystem types. Through the funding of designated 
reserve agencies and universities to undertake land acquisition and 
construction projects that support the NERRS purpose, NOAA will 
strengthen protection of key land and water areas; enhance long-term 
protection of the area for research and education, and provide for 
facility and exhibit construction. This notice sets forth funding 
priorities, selection criteria, and application procedures. The program 
priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: 
Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean 
Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: The ERD of NOAA announces the availability of 
funding for the NERRS for land acquisition and/or construction. The ERD 
anticipates that approximately $7.178 million, pending availability of 
funds, will be competitively awarded to qualified National Estuarine 
Research Reserves that meet the funding priorities and selection 
criteria.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 1461 (e)(1)(A)(i),(ii), and (iii).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.420, 
Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Proposals must be received by later than 6 
p.m. eastern time, December 1, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applicants are strongly encourage 
to submit proposals electronically through the Grants.gov Web site 
http://www.grants.gov. Paper applications should be submitted to NOAA/
NOS; 1305 East West Highway, Room 10509; Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(s): Doris Grimm, NOAA/NOS; 1305 East-West 
Highway, Room 10509; Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, or by phone at 301-
713-3155 ext. 107, or fax to 301-713-4012, internet at 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are coastal states in which the 
NERRs are located and are directed to the Reserves' lead state agencies 
or universities.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Matching requirements include 50 percent 
match of the total grant project for land acquisition and 30 percent 
match of the total grant project for construction.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

National Weather Service

1. Automated Flood Warning Systems (AFWS) Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Weather Service (NWS) is 
soliciting requests to provide capital funds for the creation, 
renovation, or enhancement of rain and stream gage networks that are 
locally operated and maintained with non-NOAA resources. The expected 
period of performance may be up to two years with an anticipated start 
date of May 1, 2007. The NWS will partner with entities that can 
demonstrate a long-term ability to operate and maintain an AFWS and 
provide the data to the NWS. The program priorities for this 
opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Weather and Water - 
Serve Society's Needs for Weather and Water Information.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $400,000 will be available each 
fiscal year subject to the availability of funds. NWS will only accept 
proposals that are less than $100,000 and one year in duration; or less 
than $200,000 and two years in duration. Proposals that exceed these 
limits will be returned without review. It is anticipated that 5 to 10 
awards will be granted each year.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 15 U.S.C. 313 and 33 U.S.C. 883d.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.450, 
Automated Flood Warning System
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Proposals must be received by the NWS no 
later than 4 p.m., eastern daylight savings time, October 31, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applicants are strongly 
encouraged to submit proposals electronically through the Grants.gov 
Web site http://www.grants.gov. Hard copy applications can be submitted 
(by postal mail, commercial delivery

[[Page 33919]]

service, or hand delivery)to NOAA/NWS; 1325 East-West Highway, Room 
13396; Silver Spring, MD 20910-3283.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): John Bradley, NOAA/NWS; 1325 East-West 
Highway, Room 13396; Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3283, or by phone at 
301-713-0624 ext. 154, or fax to 301-713-1520, or via internet at 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations, 
state, local and Indian tribal governments.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None. However, applicant resource 
commitment will be considered in the competitive selection process.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, An ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs''.
2. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Weather Service (NWS), Office of 
Science and Technology, announces the availability of Federal 
assistance via the CSTAR Program. The CSTAR Program represents an NOAA/
NWS effort to create a cost-effective transition from basic and applied 
research to operations and services through collaborative research 
between operational forecasters and academic institutions which have 
expertise in the environmental sciences. These activities will engage 
researchers and students in applied research of interest to the 
operational meteorological community and will improve the accuracy of 
forecasts and warnings of environmental hazards by applying scientific 
knowledge and information to operational products and services. Program 
priorities focus on addressing the identified science priorities from 
NWS Regions and National Centers for Environmental Prediction service 
centers and/or incorporating solutions to science issues related to 
interactive forecast preparation systems and gridded data bases. The 
program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support 
goal of: Weather and Water - Serve Society's Needs for Weather and 
Water Information.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: The total funding amount available for 
proposals is anticipated to be approximately $500,000 per year. 
However, there is no appropriation of funds at this time and no 
guarantee that there will be. Individual annual awards in the form of 
cooperative agreements are limited to a maximum of $125,000 per year 
for no more than three years. We anticipate making 4 awards.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Authority for the CSTAR program is provided by 
the following: 15 U.S.C. 313; 49 U.S.C. 44720 (b); 33 U.S.C. 883d; 15 
U.S.C. 2904; 15 U.S.C. 2934.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.468, 
Applied Meteorological Research.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Proposals must be received no later than 5 
p.m. eastern daylight time, October 20, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Proposals must be submitted 
electronically via http://www.grants.gov, or as hard copy (by postal 
mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to NWS/OST only if 
the applicant has no internet access. Hard copy proposals must be 
submitted to: Sam Contorno, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910. Tel: 301-713-3557 X150.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Contorno (NOAA Program Officer), by phone 
at 301-713-3557 ext. 150, or fax to 301 713-1253, or via email: 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education and federally funded educational institutions such as the 
Naval Postgraduate School. At least two of the principal investigators 
(PIs) within this program must be full, assistant, or associate college 
or university professors with substantial documented involvement in the 
proposal. Proposals must be submitted by at least two PIs from the same 
college or university.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
3. Hydrologic Research
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: This program announcement is for projects to 
be conducted by research investigators for a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year 
period. June 1, 2007, should be used as the proposed start date on 
proposals. This program represents an NOAA/NWS effort to create a cost-
effective continuum of basic and applied research through collaborative 
research between the Hydrology Laboratory of the NWS Office of 
Hydrologic Development and academic communities or other private or 
public agencies which have expertise in the hydrometerologic, 
hydrologic, and hydraulic routing sciences. These activities will 
engage researchers and students in basic and applied research to 
improve the scientific understanding of river forecasting. Ultimately 
these efforts will improve the accuracy of forecasts and warnings of 
rivers and flash floods by applying scientific knowledge and 
information to NWS research methods and techniques, resulting in a 
benefit to the public. NOAA's program is designed to complement other 
agency contributions to that national effort. The program priorities 
for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Weather 
and Water - Serve Society's Needs for Weather and Water Information.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Because of funding uncertainty, the Office of 
Hydrologic Development requests that interested organizations prepare 
eight-page (maximum) pre-proposals. Once funding availability is 
confirmed, (or earlier if the likelihood of funding is considered 
high), the Office of Hydrologic Development will invite the authors of 
the best pre-proposals to submit full proposals. Proposals should be 
prepared assuming an annual budget of no more than $125,000. It is 
expected that approximately four awards will be made, depending on 
availability of funds.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 15 U.S.C. 313.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.462, 
Hydrologic Research.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Pre-proposals are due no later 3 pm eastern 
daylight time on September 15, 2006. Invitation for full-proposal 
submittal will be sent on October 13, 2006 Full-proposals are due no 
later than 3 p.m. eastern standard time on November 15th, 2006. Pre-
proposals should be submitted by email to [email protected]. For 
applicants without internet access, they should be sent to NOAA/NWS; 
1325 East-West Highway, Room 8346; Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3283. 
Full proposals should be submitted through http://www.grants.gov. For 
applicants without internet access, they may be sent to NOAA/NWS; 1325 
East-West Highway, Room 8346; Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3283.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Dr. Pedro Restrepo by phone at 301-713-0640 
ext. 210, or fax to 301 713-0963, or via internet at 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are Federal agencies, institutions 
of higher education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, 
foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of

[[Page 33920]]

foreign governments, and international organizations, state, local and 
Indian tribal governments.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    PLEASE NOTE: Before non NOAA Federal applicants may be funded, they 
must demonstrate that they have legal authority to receive funds from 
another Federal agency in excess of their appropriation. Because this 
announcement is not proposing to procure goods or services from 
applicants, the Economy Act (31 USC 1535) is not an appropriate legal 
basis.

Oceans and Atmospheric Research

1. Ballast Water Technology Demonstration Program Competitive Funding 
Announcement (Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Facility)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS) expect to entertain proposals to develop a Cooperative Agreement 
to establish Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDTE) 
facilities in US Coastal Regions other than the Great Lakes. The 
mission of any funded RDTE facility will be to support progress in the 
development of commercially viable ballast water treatment 
technologies. NOAA and FWS will also entertain proposals to support 
planning activities which could lead to additional ballast water RDTE 
facilities in the future.
    The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of 
Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management and 
NOAA's Commerce and Transportation mission support goal of: Support the 
Nation's Commerce with Information for Safe, Efficient and 
Environmentally Sound Transportation.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Depending on 2007 appropriations and the 
quality of proposals received, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 
expect to make available up to about $1 million in funds in FY 2007 for 
four-year cooperative agreements involving federal, state, 
nongovernmental and private entities to create and operate ballast 
water research, development, testing and evaluation (RDTE) facilities. 
We anticipate making 1 or 2 awards in FY2007. Depending on funding 
available in future years, a total of up to $1,250,000 is anticipated 
to be awarded over the four years of the cooperative agreement.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.; 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131; 46 U.S.C. 
App 1211 (2000); 50 U.S.C. App 1744 (2000).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.417, Sea 
Grant Support.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Preliminary proposals must be received by the 
National Sea Grant Office by 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, September 14, 
2006. Full proposals must be received by 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday, 
December 19, 2007.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS: Preliminary proposals must be 
submitted to the National Sea Grant Office, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine 
Taylor, SG-Ballast Water, 1315 East-West Highway, R/SG, Rm 11732, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone number for express mail applications 
is 301-713-2445. Full proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov 
http://www.grants.gov or those applicants without internet access, hard 
copy proposals may be sent to the above address.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Competition Coordinator: Melissa Pearson, 
NOAA National Sea Grant Office, 301-713-2451 x190, 
[email protected]. Agency Program Managers: Dorn Carlson, NOAA 
National Sea Grant Office, 301- 713-2435, [email protected]; or 
Pamela Thibodeaux, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 703-358-2493, 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Individuals, institutions of higher education, 
nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, Federal, State, 
local and Indian tribal governments, foreign governments, organizations 
under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and international 
organizations are eligible. Only those who submit preliminary proposals 
by the deadline are eligible to submit full proposals.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Applications for RDTE facility 
cooperative agreements must include additional matching funds equal to 
at least 20% of the NOAA funds requested. In-kind services are eligible 
to satisfy the match requirement. Applications for startup grants have 
no cost sharing requirement.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
2. Ballast Water Technology Demonstration Program Competitive Funding 
Announcement (Treatment Technology Demonstration Projects)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and 
the U.S. Maritime Administration expect to entertain proposals to 
conduct ballast water treatment technology testing and demonstration 
projects. The Ballast Water Technology Demonstration Program supports 
projects to develop, test, and demonstrate technologies that treat 
ships' ballast water in order to reduce the threat of introduction of 
aquatic invasive species to U.S. waters through the discharge of 
ballast water.
    The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of 
Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management and 
NOAA's Commerce and Transportation mission support goal of: Support the 
Nation's Commerce with Information for Safe, Efficient and 
Environmentally Sound Transportation.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Depending on 2007 appropriations, NOAA and 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) expect to make available up to 
about $1.5 Million in FY 2007, and the U.S. Maritime Administration 
(MARAD) expects to make available several vessels for use as test 
platforms, to support ballast water treatment technology demonstration 
projects. The maximum amount of award will vary with the scale of the 
proposed project. Depending on the funding available and the number and 
quality of proposals received, approximately 5 grants with a median 
value of about $200,000 are anticipated to be awarded.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.; 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131; 46 U.S.C. 
App 1211 (2000); 50 U.S.C. App 1744 (2000).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.417, Sea 
Grant Support; 15.FFA Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Letters of Intent to apply must be received 
by the National Sea Grant Office by 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, September 
14, 2006. Full-proposals must be received by 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, 
January 10, 2007.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS: Letters of intent must be 
submitted to the National Sea Grant Office, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine 
Taylor, SG-Ballast Water, 1315 East-West Highway,

[[Page 33921]]

R/SG, Rm 11732, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone number for express 
mail applications is 301-713-2445. Full proposals should be submitted 
through Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov or those applicants without 
internet access, hard copy proposals (1 unbound original and 1 copy) 
may be sent to the above address.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Competition Coordinator: Melissa Pearson, 
NOAA National Sea Grant Office, 301-713-2451 x190, 
[email protected]. Agency Program Managers: Dorn Carlson, NOAA 
National Sea Grant Office, 301- 713-2435, [email protected]; 
Pamela Thibodeaux, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 703-358-2493, 
[email protected]; or Carolyn Junemann, U.S. Maritime 
Administration, 202-366-1920, [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Individuals, institutions of higher education, 
nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, Federal, State, 
local and Indian tribal governments, foreign governments, organizations 
under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and international 
organizations are eligible. Only those who submit letters of intent by 
the deadline are eligible to submit full proposals.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
3. National Sea Grant College Program Aquatic Invasive Species Research 
and Outreach
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Sea Grant College Program seeks 
to fund research and outreach projects addressing the introduction and 
spread of aquatic invasive species. The goal of the program is to 
discover and develop information and tools that can lead to the 
prevention, monitoring and control of aquatic invasive species 
threatening United States coastal, oceanic and Great Lakes communities, 
resources and ecosystems.
    The program seeks especially to support NOAA-relevant regional 
research and outreach priorities identified by the Regional Panels of 
the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Consult the full Federal 
Funding Opportunity for these priorities.
    Appropriate areas of research may include: biology and life history 
research, population dynamics, genetics, physiology, behavior, and 
parasites and diseases of invasive species, ecological and 
environmental tolerances of invasive species, impacts of invasive 
species at each stage of their life history on the environment, 
resources, and human health, research into invasive species control 
measures (engineering, physical, chemical, biological, physicochemical, 
administrative, and educational), and economic impact analysis of 
invasive species on marine and coastal resources, sport, commercial and 
tribal fisheries, the recreation and tourism industry, the shipping and 
navigation industry, and municipal and industrial water users.
    Other appropriate areas of endeavor may include: use of research 
results to provide a scientific basis for developing sound policy and 
environmental law, public education and technology transfer, research 
and outreach into identifying vectors of aquatic invasive species 
introduction, and education and outreach activities that will transfer 
this information to the appropriate users.
    The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of 
Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Depending on the 2007 funding appropriation, 
about $250,000 is anticipated to be available to support invasive 
species research and outreach projects, in FY 2007. Federal funding 
will be limited to $100,000 per project. Projects may be for up to two 
years duration. It is anticipated that no more than five projects will 
be funded in 2007. Depending on 2008 appropriations, additional 
projects may be funded in 2008 without further competition.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.417, Sea 
Grant Support.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Preliminary proposal/Full Proposal: All 
applicants have the same application deadlines, regardless of where 
they are sending the application. Applications must be received by 4 
p.m. EDT on August 17, 2006 for preliminary proposals and by 4 p.m. EST 
on December 19, 2006 for full proposals. Forwarding of application 
materials: Applications received by state Sea Grant Programs must be 
forwarded by August 24, 2006 for preliminary proposals and by 4 p.m. 
EST January 18, 2007 for full proposals.
    ADDRESSES FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: APPLICANTS IN SEA GRANT STATES: 
Applicants from Sea Grant states must submit preliminary and full 
proposals to their state Sea Grant Program, to the addresses and 
following the submission procedures provided by that Program. Consult 
your state Sea Grant Program or the full Federal Funding Opportunity 
for information on addresses and submission procedures. (A list of Sea 
Grant states is in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, below). APPLICANTS NOT IN 
SEA GRANT STATES: Preliminary and full proposals from applicants not in 
Sea Grant states may be submitted to the nearest state Sea Grant 
Program, in which case they must comply with the submission procedures 
set by that Program. Alternatively, they may be sent directly to the 
NSGO. If they are sent directly to NSGO, preliminary proposals must be 
submitted in paper hardcopy, to National Sea Grant Office, Attn: Mrs. 
Geraldine Taylor, Invasive Species, 1315 East-West Highway, R/SG, Rm 
11732, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone 301 713 2445. Full proposals 
must be submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov. Consult the 
Full Funding Opportunity for information on how applicants without 
internet access may submit full proposals.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Dorn Carlson, NOAA National Sea Grant 
Office, 301-713-2435; via internet at [email protected]. 
Contact information for state Sea Grant Programs can be found at http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/other/programsdirectors.html.
    ELIGIBILITY: Individuals, institutions of higher education, 
nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, State, local and 
Indian tribal governments, foreign governments, and international 
organizations are eligible. Only those who submit pre-proposals by the 
deadline are eligible to submit full proposals.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Applicants are required to provide one 
dollar non-Federal funds for every two dollars of Federal funds 
requested.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    OTHER INFORMATION: Sea Grant states are: Alabama; Alaska; 
California; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois, 
Indiana, Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; 
Minnesota; Mississippi; New York; New Hampshire; New Jersey; North 
Carolina; Ohio; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; South 
Carolina; Texas; Vermont;

[[Page 33922]]

Virginia; Washington; and Wisconsin. Information and internet links to 
state Sea Grant Programs can be found at: http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/colleges/colleges.html.
4. Sea Grant - The Gulf of Mexico Oyster Industry Program (GOIP)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Sea Grant College Program (Sea 
Grant) within OAR is seeking proposals to participate in innovative 
research, outreach and demonstration to continue the Gulf of Mexico 
Oyster Industry Program. The goal of the Gulf Oyster Industry Program 
is to encourage multi-disciplinary research and extension projects that 
contribute directly to the recovery, efficiency, and profitability of 
oyster-related businesses and to the safety of oyster products. Oyster 
businesses seek innovative solutions at all producing and processing 
levels, including: habitat restoration, planting and production 
(landings), oyster disease diagnostics, harvesting, post-harvest 
treatment, processing, distribution, marketing, consumer education, and 
food safety. The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's 
mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use 
of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $2 million is available for the 
GOIP in FY 2007 and a similar amount is expected, but not assured for 
FY 2008. Therefore, two-year proposals are being accepted. Funding will 
be on an annual basis, with renewal dependent upon satisfactory 
demonstration of progress and availability of funds. There is no limit 
on the budget for the proposals so that multiple partners can come 
together to address the significant issues that are identified under 
the Program Priorities for this competition. We anticipate making six 
to ten awards per year with an anticipated start date of June 1, 2007.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under: 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.417, Sea 
Grant Support.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Preliminary proposal/Full Proposal: All 
applicants have the same application deadlines, regardless of where 
they are sending the application. Applications must be received by 4 
p.m. EDT on August 17, 2006 for preliminary proposals and by 4 p.m. EST 
on December 19, 2006 for full proposals. Forwarding of application 
materials: Applications received by state Sea Grant Programs must be 
forwarded by August 24, 2006 for preliminary proposals and by 4 p.m. 
EST January 18, 2007 for full proposals.
    ADDRESSES FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: SEA GRANT PROGRAMS: Sea Grant 
Programs must consult with the National Sea Grant Office on procedures 
and addresses for submitting preliminary proposals. Full proposals must 
be submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov. ALL OTHER 
APPLICANTS IN SEA GRANT STATES: Applicants from Sea Grant states must 
submit preliminary and full proposals to their state Sea Grant Program, 
to the addresses and following the submission procedures provided by 
that Program. Consult your state Sea Grant Program or the full Federal 
Funding Opportunity for information on addresses and submission 
procedures. (A list of Sea Grant states is in SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION, below). APPLICANTS NOT IN SEA GRANT STATES: Preliminary 
and full proposals from applicants not in Sea Grant states may be 
submitted to the nearest state Sea Grant Program, in which case they 
must comply with the submission procedures set by that Program. 
Alternatively, they may be sent directly to the NSGO. If they are sent 
directly to NSGO, preliminary proposals must be submitted in paper 
hardcopy, to National Sea Grant Office, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor, 
Invasive Species, 1315 East-West Highway, R/SG, Rm 11732, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, telephone 301 713 2445. Full proposals must be 
submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov. Consult the Full 
Funding Opportunity for information on how applicants without internet 
access may submit full proposals.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Dr. Jacques L. Oliver, 301-713-2431,e-mail: 
[email protected], or any state Sea Grant Program. Contact 
information for state Sea Grant Programs can be found at http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/other/programsdirectors.html.
    ELIGIBILITY: Individuals, institutions of higher education, 
nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, Federal, State, 
local and Indian tribal governments, foreign governments, and 
international organizations are eligible. Only those who submit 
preliminary proposals by the preliminary proposal deadline are eligible 
to submit full proposals. Those applicants who submitted preliminary 
proposals by the preliminary proposal deadline, but who are not 
recommended by the pre-proposal review process would still be eligible 
to submit full proposals.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Applicants are required to provide one 
dollar for every two of Federal funds.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    OTHER INFORMATION: Sea Grant states are: Alabama; Alaska; 
California; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois, 
Indiana, Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; 
Minnesota; Mississippi; New York; New Hampshire; New Jersey; North 
Carolina; Ohio; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; South 
Carolina; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; and Wisconsin. 
Information and internet links to state Sea Grant Programs can be found 
at: http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/colleges/colleges.html.
5. Sea Grant - Oyster Disease Research Program (ODRP)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The National Sea Grant College Program within 
OAR is seeking proposals to participate in innovative research that 
provides technology and management strategies to combat oyster disease 
and bring about the restoration of oysters and the oyster industry in 
U.S. coastal areas. The goal of the Oyster Disease Research Program 
(ODRP) is to improve the survivability of oysters in U.S. coastal 
waters and to improve technology for disease management and control. 
The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of 
Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $2 million is available for the 
ODRP in FY 2007 and a similar amount is expected, but not assured for 
FY 2008. Therefore, two-year proposals are being accepted. Funding will 
be on an annual basis, with renewal dependent upon satisfactory 
demonstration of progress and availability of funds. There is no limit 
on the budget for the proposals so that multiple partners can come 
together to address the significant issues that are identified under 
the Program Priorities for this competition. We anticipate making six 
to ten awards per year with an anticipated start date of June 1, 2007.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under: 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.417, Sea 
Grant Support.

[[Page 33923]]

    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Preliminary proposal/Full Proposal: All 
applicants have the same application deadlines, regardless of where 
they are sending the application. Applications must be received by 4 
p.m. EDT on August 17, 2006 for preliminary proposals and by 4 p.m. EST 
on December 19, 2006 for full proposals. Forwarding of application 
materials: Applications received by state Sea Grant Programs must be 
forwarded by August 24, 2006 for preliminary proposals and by 4 p.m. 
EST January 18, 2007 for full proposals.
    ADDRESSES FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: SEA GRANT PROGRAMS: Sea Grant 
Programs must consult with the National Sea Grant Office on procedures 
and addresses for submitting preliminary proposals. Full proposals must 
be submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov. ALL OTHER 
APPLICANTS IN SEA GRANT STATES: Applicants from Sea Grant states must 
submit preliminary and full proposals to their state Sea Grant Program, 
to the addresses and following the submission procedures provided by 
that Program. Consult your state Sea Grant Program or the full Federal 
Funding Opportunity for information on addresses and submission 
procedures. (A list of Sea Grant states is in OTHER INFORMATION, 
below). APPLICANTS NOT IN SEA GRANT STATES: Preliminary and full 
proposals from applicants not in Sea Grant states may be submitted to 
the nearest state Sea Grant Program, in which case they must comply 
with the submission procedures set by that Program. Alternatively, they 
may be sent directly to the NSGO. If they are sent directly to NSGO, 
preliminary proposals must be submitted in paper hardcopy, to National 
Sea Grant Office, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor, Invasive Species, 1315 
East-West Highway, R/SG, Rm 11732, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone 
301 713 2445. Full proposals must be submitted electronically via 
http://www.grants.gov. Consult the Full Funding Opportunity for 
information on how applicants without internet access may submit full 
proposals.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Dr. Jacques L. Oliver, 301-713-2431, e-
mail: [email protected], or any state Sea Grant Program. Contact 
information for state Sea Grant Programs can be found at http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/other/programsdirectors.html.
    ELIGIBILITY: Individuals, institutions of higher education, 
nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, Federal, State, 
local and Indian tribal governments, foreign governments, and 
international organizations are eligible. Only those who submit 
preliminary proposals by the preliminary proposal deadline are eligible 
to submit full proposals. Those applicants who submitted preliminary 
proposals by the preliminary proposal deadline, but who are not 
recommended by the pre-proposal review process would still be eligible 
to submit full proposals.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Applicants are required to provide one 
dollar for every two of Federal funds.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
    OTHER INFORMATION: Sea Grant states are: Alabama; Alaska; 
California; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois, 
Indiana, Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; 
Minnesota; Mississippi; New York; New Hampshire; New Jersey; North 
Carolina; Ohio; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; South 
Carolina; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; and Wisconsin. 
Information and internet links to state Sea Grant Programs can be found 
at: http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/colleges/colleges.html.
6. Joint Hurricane Testbed
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 
(OAR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is 
soliciting letters of intent under the United States Weather Research 
Program (USWRP), as administrated by the USWRP Joint Hurricane Testbed 
(JHT). This notice also provides guidelines for the submission of full 
proposals and describes the application procedures for the transfer of 
relevant research and technology advances into tropical cyclone 
analysis and forecast operations. This notice calls for researchers to 
submit proposals to test and evaluate, and modify if necessary, in a 
quasi operational environment, their own scientific and technological 
research applications. Projects satisfying metrics for success and 
operational constraints may be selected for operational implementation 
by the operational center(s) after the completion of the JHT funded 
work. The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's 
mission support goal of: Weather and Water - Serve Society's Needs for 
Weather and Water Information.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: The total amount available for proposals is 
anticipated to be approximately $1,500,000 per year. Approximately 10 
to 15 new projects are expected to be funded in the form of cooperative 
agreements with individual awards expected to mostly range between 
$50,000 per year and $200,000 per year for no more than two years.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 33 U.S.C. 883d and 49 U.S.C. 44720(b).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) Number: 11.431, 
Climate and Atmospheric Research
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Letters of intent must be received no later 
than 5 p.m. eastern daylight time, July 31, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Full proposals must be submitted 
electronically via http://www.grants.gov, or as hard copy (by postal 
mail, commercial delivery service, or hand delivery) to the Tropical 
Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center of the National Weather 
Service. Letters of intent and hard copy full proposals must be 
submitted to: ATTN: Dr. Jiann Gwo Jiing, Director, Joint Hurricane 
Testbed, Tropical Prediction Center, 11691 SW 17th Street, Miami, FL 
33165, phone (305) 229-4443.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorothy Fryar, DOC/NOAA, Office of Weather 
&Air Quality Research, Routing Code R/WA, 1315 East West Highway, Room 
11445, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone (301) 713 0460 ext. 168, e-mail 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applications can be from institutions of 
higher education, other non-profits, commercial organizations, and 
state, local and Indian tribal governments, and Federal agencies.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
7. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration Announcement of Opportunity, FY 
2007
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration (OE) is 
seeking pre-proposals and full proposals to support its mission to 
search, investigate, and document unknown and poorly known areas of the 
ocean and Great Lakes through interdisciplinary exploration, and to 
advance and disseminate knowledge of the ocean environment and its 
physical, chemical, biological, and historical resources. Successful OE 
proposals will

[[Page 33924]]

be, innovative, and broad-based in terms of their approach and 
objectives. OE is soliciting proposals whose objectives fall within one 
of the following categories: Ocean Exploration, Marine Archaeology, and 
Education. The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's 
mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use 
of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Through this announcement, NOAA OE 
anticipates awarding 14 projects totaling approximately $2,100,000, 
including ship and submersible costs. Submissions focusing solely on 
technology development will not be accepted. Total funding estimates 
are: Ocean Exploration $1,400,000; Archaeology $400,000; and Education 
$300,000.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 883d.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER: 11.460, Special 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Projects.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Pre-proposals must be received by 5 p.m. 
(EDT) on July 10, 2006. Full proposal submissions must be received by 5 
p.m. (Eastern) on September 8, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Pre-proposals must be sent to: 
ATTN: Proposal Manager, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration, 1315 East-
West Highway, SSMC3, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Tel: 301-
713-9444. Full proposals should be submitted to http://www.grants.gov. 
For applicants without internet access and federal applicants, full 
proposals should be sent to ATTN: Proposal Manager, NOAA Office of 
Ocean Exploration, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, 10th Floor, Silver 
Spring, MD, 20910. Tel: 301-713-9444. No e-mail or facsimile pre-
proposals will be accepted.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): For further information contact the NOAA 
Office of Ocean Exploration at 301-713-9444 x130 or submit inquiries 
via e-mail to the Frequently Asked Questions address: 
[email protected]. E-mail inquiries should include the Principal 
Investigator's name in the subject heading.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, organizations 
under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, international 
organizations, state, local and Indian tribal governments. Applications 
from Federal agencies will be considered. Please Note: Before non-NOAA 
federal applicants may be funded, they must demonstrate that they have 
legal authority to receive funds from another federal agency in excess 
of their appropriation. Because this announcement is not proposing to 
procure goods or services from applicants, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 
1535) is not an appropriate legal basis.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Cost-sharing is not required.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are 
subject to 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 Web site: http://www/whitehouse.gov/
omb/grants/spoc.html.
8. Administration of NOAA's Graduate Sciences Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA's Office of Education, Educational 
Partnership Program announces the availability of Federal assistance to 
a not-for-profit organization for the administration of its EPP 
Graduate Sciences Program. The goal of the Graduate Sciences Program is 
to provide college graduates who have received at least a Bachelor's 
degree in mathematics, science, economics, law, and engineering, entry-
level employment and hands-on research and work experience at NOAA. The 
program's objective is to increase the number of students who undertake 
course work and graduate with degrees in the targeted areas integral to 
NOAA's mission.
    The goal of the NOAA, Office of Education, EPP/MSI Graduate 
Sciences Program (GSP) is aimed primarily at increasing opportunities 
and available programs for students in NOAA related fields to pursue 
research and educational training in atmospheric, environmental, and 
oceanic sciences at Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) when possible. 
All students are competitively selected for positions in NOAA offices 
and facilities.
    This program provides for formal periods of work, study, and 
structured classroom training programs in meteorology, hydrology, 
cartography, oceanography, ecology, remote sensing technology, 
environmental science and planning, marine science, fisheries biology, 
computer science, and environmental law. GSP pays for tuition, books, 
lab fees, campus housing allowance, and travel expenses for an 
orientation program at NOAA Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, at 
the beginning of their appointment. NOAA scientists are assigned as 
mentors to graduate scientists during the training period.
    The progress of the students is monitored throughout the academic 
year and during the intermittent career work experiences. Under the 
program, graduate students are required to present their research at 
conferences, scientific meetings and workshops, education and science 
forums, etc.
    The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Critical Support - Facilities, ships, aircraft, 
environmental satellites, data-processing systems, computing and 
communications systems.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Subject to appropriations, this solicitation 
announces that funding at a maximum of $700,000 will be available for 
program administration of the Graduate Sciences Program over a four 
year period. The proposal is limited to one award. Funds will be 
provided incrementally on an annual basis in the amount of $175,000 for 
four years. Up to 18% is allowed for administrative overhead and at 
least 82% is for student support. Funding for each year's activity is 
contingent upon the availability of funds from Congress, satisfactory 
performance, submission and approval of a progress report, and is at 
the sole discretion of the agency. It is anticipated that the funding 
instrument will be a cooperative agreement since NOAA will be 
substantially involved in coordinating the student's career work 
experiences, and with collaboration, participation, or intervention in 
project performance.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITIES: 15 U.S.C. 1540, 49 U.S.C. 44720, 33 U.S.C. 
883d, 33 U.S.C. 1442, 16 U.S.C. 1854(e), 16 U.S.C. 661, 16 U.S.C. 
753(a), 16 U.S.C 1451 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 1431, 33 U.S.C. 883a and 
Executive Orders 12876, 12900, 13021, 13336, and 13339.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA)NUMBER: 11.481 - 
Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received by NOAA Office 
of Education, Educational Partnership Program (EPP) no later than 5 
p.m. (eastern standard time), on December 1, 2006.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications submitted in 
response to this announcement are strongly encouraged to submit via 
http://www.grants.gov. Electronic access to the full funding 
announcement for this program is also available at this site.

[[Page 33925]]

The announcement will also be available at the NOAA EPP web site http://epp.noaa.gov or by contacting the program official identified below. 
If internet access is unavailable, paper applications (a signed 
original and two copies) may also be submitted to the NOAA, Office of 
Education, Educational Partnership Program at the following address: 
NOAA/EPP, 1315 East West Highway, Room 10703, Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910. No facsimile applications will be accepted. Institutions are 
encouraged to submit Letters of Intent to NOAA/EPP within 30 days of 
this announcement to aid in planning the review processes.
    Letters of Intent may be submitted via e-mail to 
[email protected]. Information should include a general 
description of the program administration proposal.
    INFORMATION CONTACTS: Chantell Haskins, Program Manager at (301) 
713-9437 ext. 125 or [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Proposals will only be accepted from non-profit 
organizations.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
9. Administration of NOAA's Undergraduate Scholarship Program
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this document is to advise the 
public that NOAA's Office of Education (OEd), Educational Partnership 
Program is announcing the availability of Federal assistance for a not-
for-profit organization to administer its Undergraduate Scholarship 
Program. The goal of the Undergraduate Scholarship Program is to 
increase the number of students who undertake course work and graduate 
with degrees in the targeted areas integral to NOAA's mission. This 
program targets students who have completed their sophomore year; 
attend Minority Serving Institutions; major in mathematics, science, or 
engineering; and have recently declared, or about to declare a major in 
atmospheric, oceanic, remote sensing technology, or environmental 
science disciplines.
    The Undergraduate Scholarship participants must be U.S. citizens 
and attend an MSI including Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal College and Universities, 
Alaska-Native Serving Institutions, and Native Hawaiian Serving 
Institutions full-time, be pursuing studies in atmospheric science, 
biology, cartography, chemistry, computer science, engineering, 
environmental science, geodesy, geography, marine science, mathematics, 
meteorology, physical science, oceanography, marine biology, 
photogrammetry, or physics. Participants must have, and maintain, a 3.0 
grade point average.
    This program provides travel to students to approved NOAA offices 
and facilities; have students participate in current research and 
development activities; and provides financial assistance for tuition 
and fee costs to students for two academic years and two summers. 
Progress of the students is monitored throughout the academic years and 
during the summer internships. The program requires that the first 
summer internship be spent at a NOAA facility in the Washington, DC 
metropolitan area. The program requires that each student attend a 
roundtable discussion and give oral presentations on their research at 
NOAA Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, at the conclusion of 
summer internships. The program requires that each second year student 
travel during their winter semester break to an approved NOAA site for 
the second summer internship.
    The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of Critical Support - Facilities, ships, aircraft, 
environmental satellites, data-processing systems, computing and 
communications systems.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Subject to appropriations, this solicitation 
announces that funding at a maximum of $1,000,000 will be available for 
program administration of the Undergraduate Scholarship Program over a 
four-year period. The proposal is limited to a total of $500,000 for a 
maximum for a two year period and one proposal will be funded. Up to 
18% of $500,000 is allowed for administrative overhead and at least 82% 
of $500,000 is for student support. It is anticipated that the funding 
instrument will be a cooperative agreement since NOAA will be 
substantially involved in identifying NOAA facilities to place students 
during the two summer internships.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITIES: 15 U.S.C. 1540, 49 U.S.C. 44720, 33 U.S.C. 
883d, 33 U.S.C. 1442, 16 U.S.C. 1854(e), 16 U.S.C. 661, 16 U.S.C 
753(a), 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 1431, 33 U.S.C. 883a and 
Executive Orders 12876, 12900, 13021, 13336, and 13339.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.481 - 
Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received by NOAA 
Educational Partnership Program (EPP) by November 1, 2006, no later 
than 5 p.m. (eastern daylight time).
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications submitted in 
response to this announcement should be submitted via http://www.grants.gov. Electronic access to the full funding announcement for 
this program is available via this site. The announcement will also be 
available at the NOAA EPP web site http://epp.noaa.gov or by contacting 
the program official identified below. Paper applications (a signed 
original and two copies) may also be submitted to the Educational 
Partnership Program at the following address: NOAA/EPP, 1315 East West 
Highway, Room 10703, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. No facsimile 
applications will be accepted. Organizations are encouraged to submit 
Letters of Intent to NOAA/EPP within 30 days of this announcement to 
aid in planning the review processes. Letters of Intent may be 
submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. Information should 
include a general description of the program administration proposal.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Chantell Haskins, Program Manager at (301) 
713-9437 ext. 125 or [email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Proposals will only be accepted from non-profit 
organizations.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

NOAA Fellowship, Scholarship and Internship Programs

National Ocean Service (NOS)

1. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program; Financial Assistance for 
Graduate Students
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is 
announcing funding availability for graduate students pursuing masters 
or doctoral level degrees in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime 
archaeology. Approximately $160,000 will be available through this 
announcement for fiscal year 2007. It is expected that approximately 
five awards will be made, depending on the availability of funds. The 
intent of this program is to recognize outstanding scholarship and 
encourage independent graduate level research in the above mentioned 
fields. The program

[[Page 33926]]

priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: 
Critical Support - Facilities, ships, aircraft, environmental 
satellites, data-processing systems, computing and communications 
systems.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 1445c-1.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.429 
National Marine Sanctuary Program
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received between 
December 1, 2006, and February 9, 2007, no later than 5 p.m. eastern 
standard time.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications should be sent via 
http://www.grants.gov. If it is necessary to submit a hard copy 
application or any part thereof, it should be sent to the Dr. Nancy 
Foster Scholarship Program, Attention: Chantell Haskins, Office of 
Education, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 10703, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Send your request for information to the 
Program Manager, Chantell Haskins, at the address shown above, by 
telephone (301) 713-9437 x125, or via e-mail to 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Only individuals who are United States citizens 
currently pursuing or accepted to pursue a masters or doctoral level 
degree in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology, 
including the curation, preservation, and display of maritime 
artifacts, are eligible for an award under this scholarship program. 
Universities or other organizations may not apply on behalf of an 
individual. Prospective scholars do not need to be enrolled, but must 
be admitted to a graduate level program in order to apply for this 
scholarship. Eligibility must be maintained for each succeeding year of 
support and semi-annual reporting requirements, to be specified at a 
later date, will apply.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: None.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs''.
2. National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Graduate Research 
Fellowship Program (GRF)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Estuarine Reserves Division of NOAA is 
soliciting applications for graduate fellowship funding within the 
National Estuarine Research Reserve System. The Estuarine Reserves 
Division anticipates that 31 Graduate Research Fellowships will be 
competitively awarded to qualified graduate students whose research 
occurs within the boundaries of at least one reserve. The National 
Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research Fellowship program is 
designed to fund high quality research focused on enhancing coastal 
zone management while providing students with an opportunity to 
contribute to the research or monitoring program at a particular 
reserve site. Students are required to work with the research 
coordinator or reserve manager to develop a plan to participate in the 
research or monitoring program for up to 15 hours per week. These 
management-related research projects will enhance scientific 
understanding of the Reserve ecosystem, provide information needed by 
Reserve management and coastal management decision-makers, and improve 
public awareness and understanding of estuarine ecosystems and 
estuarine management issues. Research projects must address one of the 
following scientific areas of support: non-point source pollution, 
biodiversity, invasive species, habitat restoration, sustaining 
resources in estuarine ecosystems, and socioeconomic research 
applicable to estuarine ecosystem management. The program priorities 
for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems 
- Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources 
through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: The amount of the fellowship is anticipated 
to be $20,000; at least 30% of total project cost match is required by 
the applicant (i.e. $8,572 match for $20,000 in federal funds for a 
total project cost of $28,572). Applicants may apply for one to three 
years of funding.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 16 U.S.C. 1461 (e)(1)(B).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.420 
Coastal Zone Management.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be postmarked or received 
by November 1, 2006 no later than 11 p.m.(EST).
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applicants are strongly 
encouraged to submit applications through http://www.grants.gov. 
However, if internet access is unavailable, paper applications should 
be submitted to Susan White, Program Coordinator at NOAA/Estuarine 
Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, SSMC4, Station 
10500, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan White, NOAA's Estuarine Reserves 
Division; 1305 East-West Highway; SSMC4, Station 10500, N/ORM5; Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, or by phone at 301-713-3155 extension 124, or fax to 
301-713-4363, email at [email protected] or http://www.nerrs.noaa.gov/fellowship. If Dr. White is unavailable, please 
contact Erica Seiden at 301-713-3155 ext. 172 or via email at 
[email protected].
    ELIGIBILITY: Institutions eligible to receive awards include 
institutions of higher education, other non-profits, commercial 
organizations, state, and local governments. Minority students are 
encouraged to apply to eligible institutions.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Requested federal funds must be matched 
by at least 30 percent of the TOTAL cost of the project, not a portion 
of only the federal share, (e.g. $8,572 match for $20,000 in federal 
funds for a total project cost of $28,572).
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

Ocean and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

1. GradFell 2008 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship (Knauss 
Fellowship Program)
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy 
Fellowship matches graduate students who have an interest in ocean, 
coastal and Great Lakes resources, and in the national policy and 
management decisions affecting these resources, with hosts in the 
Legislative and Executive branches of the Federal government for a one 
year paid fellowship. The program priorities for this opportunity 
support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, 
and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based 
Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: No less than 30 applicants will be selected. 
Up to 11 selected applicants will be assigned to the Congress. The 
overall cooperative agreement is $41,500 per student.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 1127(b).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.417, Sea 
Grant Support.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Eligible graduate students must submit 
applications to state Sea Grant college programs. State Sea Grant 
program deadlines vary. Contact the individual state Sea Grant program 
for due dates.

[[Page 33927]]

SEA GRANT PROGRAMS: Selected applications from the sponsoring Sea Grant 
program are to be received in the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) no 
later than 5 p.m. eastern standard time (EST) on April 5, 2007 through 
http://www.grants.gov. If an applicant is not from a state that has a 
Sea Grant program, the applicant can apply through the nearest Sea 
Grant program. Applicants should consult the Sea Grant program before 
submitting an application to it. Facsimile transmissions and electronic 
mail submission of applications will not be accepted. Hard copy 
applications will only be accepted if a Sea Grant program can justify 
in writing that internet access is not available to them at the time of 
submission. Hard copy applications must be received by the NSGO by 5 pm 
EST on April 5, 2007. Applications received after the deadline will not 
be reviewed.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS: Applications from Sea Grant 
programs should be submitted through http://www.grants.gov. Hard copy 
justification and applications should be submitted to: Dr. Jacques L. 
Oliver, Program Manager, Knauss Fellowship Program, National Sea Grant 
College Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    INFORMATION CONTACT(S): Dr. Jacques L. Oliver, Program Manager, 
Knauss Fellowship Program, National Sea Grant College Program, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; tel: (301) 713-2431 ext. 
124. Inquiries can also be made to any state Sea Grant Program. Contact 
information for state Sea Grant Programs can be found at: http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/other/programsdirectors.html.
    ELIGIBILITY: Any student, regardless of citizenship, who, on April 
5, 2007, is in a graduate or professional program in a marine or 
aquatic-related field at a United States-accredited institution of 
higher education in the United States or U.S. Territories may apply.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: There will be one-third required cost 
share for those applicants selected as legislative fellows.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sea Grant states are: Alabama; Alaska; 
California; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois, 
Indiana, Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; 
Minnesota; Mississippi; New York; New Hampshire; New Jersey; North 
Carolina; Ohio; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; South 
Carolina; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; and Wisconsin. 
Information and internet links to state Sea Grant Programs can be found 
at: http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/colleges/colleges.html.
2. GradFell 2007 NMFS - Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship Program in 
Marine Resource Economics
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA's mission is to understand and predict 
changes in Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and 
marine resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and 
environmental needs. One of NOAA's mission-supporting goals is to 
protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources 
through an ecosystem approach to management. In that context, the 
National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) is seeking applications 
for one of its fellowship programs to fulfill its broad educational 
responsibilities and to strengthen the collaboration between Sea Grant 
and NMFS. Fellows will work on thesis problems of public interest and 
relevance to NMFS and work with NMFS mentors at participating NMFS 
Science Centers or Laboratories. The program priorities for this 
opportunity support NOAA's mission support goal of: Ecosystems - 
Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through 
Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: The NMFS Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship 
Program in Marine Resource Economics expects to support two new Fellows 
for 2 years beginning in FY 2007. The award for each fellowship will be 
a cooperative agreement of $40,000 per year, with an anticipated start 
date of June 1, 2007.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 1127(a).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER: 11.417, Sea Grant 
Support.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal grants portal - http://www.grants.gov - by the sponsoring Sea Grant program. Applications must 
be received by the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) by 4 p.m. EST on 
February 16, 2007. Local Sea Grant programs may wish to set an internal 
deadline one week prior to the National Sea Grant Office receipt date 
deadline to facilitate the entry of non-electronic applications into 
Grants.gov.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS: Applications from Sea Grant 
programs should be submitted through http://www.grants.gov. Facsimile 
transmissions and electronic mail submission of applications will not 
be accepted.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Terry Smith, National Sea Grant College 
Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; tel: (301) 
713-2435 ext. 144; e-mail: [email protected]; any state Sea Grant 
Program; or any participating NMFS facility.
    ELIGIBILITY: Prospective Fellows must be United States citizens. At 
the time of application, prospective Marine Resource Economics Fellows 
must be admitted to a PhD degree program in natural resource economics 
or a related field at an institution of higher education in the United 
States or its territories, or submit a signed letter from the 
institution indicating provisional acceptance to a PhD degree program 
conditional on obtaining financial support such as this fellowship. 
Applications must be submitted through the local Sea Grant program and 
approved by the institution of higher education.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Required 50 percent match of the NSGO 
funds by the academic institution (i.e., $6,667/year).
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''
3. Gradfell 2007 NMFS - Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship Program in 
Population Dynamics
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: NOAA's mission is to understand and predict 
changes in Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and 
marine resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and 
environmental needs. One of NOAA's mission-supporting goals is to 
protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources 
through an ecosystem approach to management. In that context, the 
National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) is seeking applications 
for one of its fellowship programs to fulfill its broad educational 
responsibilities and to strengthen the collaboration between Sea Grant 
and the NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS). Fellows will work on thesis 
problems of public interest and relevance to NMFS and work with NMFS 
mentors at participating NMFS Science Centers or Laboratories.
    The program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission 
support goal of: Ecosystems - Protect,

[[Page 33928]]

Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources through 
Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: The NMFS Sea Grant Joint Graduate Fellowship 
Program in Population Dynamics expects to support at least two new 
Fellows for 3 years beginning in FY 2007. The award for each fellowship 
will be a cooperative agreement of $40,000 per year, with an 
anticipated start date of June 1, 2007.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 1127(a).
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 11.417, Sea 
Grant Support.
    APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal grants portal - http://www.grants.gov - by the sponsoring Sea Grant program. Applications must 
be received by the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) by 4 p.m. EST on 
February 16, 2007. Local Sea Grant programs may wish to set an internal 
deadline one week prior to the National Sea Grant Office receipt date 
deadline to facilitate the entry of non-electronic applications into 
Grants.gov.
    ADDRESS FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS: Applications from Sea Grant 
programs should be submitted through http://www.grants.gov. Facsimile 
transmissions and electronic mail submission of applications will not 
be accepted.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Terry Smith, National Sea Grant College 
Program, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; tel: (301) 
713-2435 ext. 144; e-mail: [email protected]; any state Sea Grant 
Program; or any participating NMFS facility.
    ELIGIBILITY: Prospective Fellows must be United States citizens. At 
the time of application, prospective Population Dynamics Fellows must 
be admitted to a PhD degree program in population dynamics or a related 
field such as applied mathematics, statistics, or quantitative ecology 
at an institution of higher education in the United States or its 
territories, or submit a signed letter from the institution indicating 
provisional acceptance to a PhD degree program conditional on obtaining 
financial support such as this fellowship. Applications must be 
submitted through the local Sea Grant program and approved by the 
institution of higher education.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: Required 50 percent match of the NSGO 
funds by the academic institution (i.e., $6,667/year).
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs''.
Non-Competitive Project
    The following entry provides the description and requirements of 
NOAA's noncompetitive project.
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program - Coral Reef Ecosystem 
Research Grants
    SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program 
announces that it is providing funding to the NOAA Undersea Research 
Program (NURP) Centers for: the Caribbean Region, the Caribbean Marine 
Research Center; the Southeastern U.S., Florida, and Gulf of Mexico 
Region, the Southeast U.S. and Gulf of Mexico Center; and the Hawaii 
and Western Pacific Region, the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory to 
administer three external, competitive coral reef ecosystem research 
grants programs. Research supported through these programs will address 
priority information needs identified by coral reef ecosystem managers 
and scientists. Broad coral reef research priorities supported through 
these programs may include research on coral disease and bleaching, 
fisheries population dynamics and ecology, coral reef restoration and 
mitigation approaches, effects of anthropogenic stressors on benthic 
invertebrates, impacts and spread of invasive species, and evaluation 
of management actions and strategies. Specific priorities within these 
broad areas, and geographic preferences, will be indicated in each NURP 
Center's request for proposals. The NURP Center external coral reef 
research grants programs are part of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation 
Grants Program under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. The 
program priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission support 
goal of: Ecosystems - Protect, Restore, and Manage Use of Coastal and 
Ocean Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management.
    FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Approximately $600,000 may be available in FY 
2007 to support awards under this program.
    STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 16 U.S.C. 6403.
    CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) Number: 11.430, 
National Undersea Research Program.
    INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Puglise, 301-713-2427, extension 199 
or e-mail at [email protected]. Announcements requesting 
proposals will be announced on: http://www.uncw.edu/nurc, for the NURP 
Center for the Southeastern U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico; http://www.perryinstitute.org, for the NURP Center for the Caribbean, the 
Caribbean Marine Research Center; and http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/HURL/
, for the NURP Center for Hawaii and the Western Pacific, the Hawaii 
Undersea Research Laboratory.
    COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS: The awards require a 1:1 federal to non-
federal match.
    INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

Limitation of Liability

    Funding for programs listed in this notice is contingent upon the 
availability of Fiscal Year 2007 appropriations. Applicants are hereby 
given notice that funds have not yet been appropriated for the programs 
listed in this notice. In no event will NOAA or the Department of 
Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if these 
programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled because of other 
agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige 
NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.

Universal Identifier

    Applicants should be aware that, they are required to provide a Dun 
and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number during the 
application process. See the October 30, 2002 Federal Register, (67 FR 
66177) for additional information. Organizations can receive a DUNS 
number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number 
request line at 1-866-705-5711 or via the internet http://www.dunandbradstreet.com.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required 
by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects 
or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities. 
Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the 
following NOAA NEPA Web site: http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for NEPA, http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_--6_--TOC.pdf, and the Council on Environmental Quality 
implementation regulations, http://

[[Page 33929]]

ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc--ceq.htm.
    Consequently, as part of an applicant's package, and under their 
description of their program activities, applicants are required to 
provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, 
locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible 
construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist 
(e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, 
introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and 
threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef 
systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve 
as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be 
requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if 
NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be 
required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying and implementing 
feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified adverse 
environmental impacts of their proposal. The failure to do so shall be 
grounds for the denial ofnot selecting an application. In some cases if 
additional information is required after an application is selected, 
funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer under a special award 
condition requiring the recipient to submit additional environmental 
compliance information sufficient to enable NOAA to make an assessment 
on any impacts that a project may have on the environment.

Compliance with Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security 
Export Administration Regulations

    (a) This clause applies to the extent that this financial 
assistance award involves access to export-controlled information or 
technology.
    (b) In performing this financial assistance award, the recipient 
may gain access to export-controlled information or technology. The 
recipient is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws and 
regulations regarding export-controlled information and technology, 
including deemed exports. The recipient shall establish and maintain 
throughout performance of the financial assistance award effective 
export compliance procedures at non-NOAA facilities. At a minimum, 
these export compliance procedures must include adequate controls of 
physical, verbal, visual, and electronic access to export-controlled 
information and technology.
    (c) Definitions
    (1) Deemed export. The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) 
define a deemed export as any release of technology or source code 
subject to the EAR to a foreign national, both in the United States and 
abroad. Such release is ``deemed'' to be an export to the home country 
of the foreign national. 15 CFR 734.2(b)(2)(ii).
    (2) Export-controlled information and technology. Export-controlled 
information and technology is information and technology subject to the 
EAR (15 CFR parts 730 et seq.), implemented by the DOC Bureau of 
Industry and Security, or the International Traffic I Arms Regulations 
(ITAR) (22 CFR parts 120-130), implemented by the Department of State, 
respectively. This includes, but is not limited to, dual-us items, 
defense articles and any related assistance, services, software or 
technical data as defined in the EAR and ITAR.
    (d) The recipient shall control access to all export-controlled 
information and technology that it possesses or that comes into its 
possession in performance of this financial assistance award, to ensure 
that access is restricted, or licensed, as required by applicable 
Federal laws, Executive Orders, and/or regulations.
    (e) Nothing in the terms of this financial assistance award is 
intended to change, supersede, or waive and of the requirements of 
applicable Federal laws, Executive Orders or regulations.
    (f) The recipient shall include this clause, including this 
paragraph (f), in all lower tier transactions (subawards, contracts, 
and subcontracts) under this financial assistance award that may 
involve access to export-controlled information technology.

NOAA implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 12

    If the performance of a financial assistance award, if approved by 
NOAA, requires recipients to have physical access to Federal premises 
for more than 180 days or access to a Federal information system. Any 
items or services delivered under a financial assistance award shall 
comply with the Department of Commerce personal identity verification 
procedures that implement Homeland Security Presidential Directive -12, 
FIPS PUB 201, and the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-05-
24. The recipient shall insert this clause in all subawards or 
contracts when the subaward recipient or contractor is required to have 
physical access to a Federally controlled facility or access to a 
Federal information system.
    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements. The Department of Commerce Pre-Award 
Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
contained in the Federal Register notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 
78389) are applicable to this solicitation.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Standard Forms 
424 and 424A, 424B, SF LLL, CD-346, SF 424 Research and Related Family, 
SF 424 Short Organizational Family, SF 424 Individual Form family has 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
respective control numbers 4040-0004, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, 
0605-0001, 4040-0001, 4040-0003, and 4040-0005. 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 requirements of the PRA unless 
that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules 
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and 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. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not 
been prepared.

    Dated: June 1, 2006.
Daniel L. Clever,
Deputy Director Acquisition and Grants Office, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 06-5225 Filed 6-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-S