[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 190 (Tuesday, September 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56797-56800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22970]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 080626787-81233-04]
RIN 0648-ZB96


Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2009

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
publishes this notice to add proposal format requirements, place a 
limit on proposed indirect costs, further clarify cost sharing 
requirements and change the full proposal submission deadline to 
November 3, 2008 for the solicitation ``Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant 
Program,'' in order to give the public more time to respond to these 
new requirements. The initial solicitation, which was originally 
announced in the Federal Register on July 11, 2008, gave a proposal due 
date of October 1, 2008.

DATES: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on November 
3, 2008. Applications received after the deadline will be rejected/
returned to the sender without further consideration. No facsimile or 
electronic mail applications will be accepted.

ADDRESSES FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS: Applications must be submitted 
through www.grants.gov, unless an applicant does not have Internet 
access. In that case, hard copies with original signatures may be sent 
to: Mr. Steve Aguzin, S-K Program Manager, NOAA/NMFS (F/MB5), 1315 
East-West Highway, Room 13134, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The point of contact is: Steve Aguzin, 
S-K Program Manager, NOAA/NMFS (F/MB5), 1315 East-West Highway, Room 
13134, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; or by Phone at (301) 713-2358 ext. 
215, or fax at (301) 713-1306, or via E-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA publishes this notice to add proposal 
format requirements, place a limit on proposed indirect costs, further 
clarify cost sharing requirements and change the full proposal 
submission deadline to November 3, 2008 for the solicitation 
``Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program,'' announced in the Federal 
Register on July 11, 2008 (73 FR 40052). The deadline for full 
submissions is changed from October 1, 2008 to November 3, 2008 in 
order to give the public more time to respond to these new 
requirements. All other requirements for this solicitation remain the 
same.

Application And Submission Information

    You must follow the instructions in this document in order to apply 
for a grant or cooperative agreement under the Saltonstall-Kennedy 
Grant Program. Your application must be complete and must follow the 
format described here.

A. Cover Sheet

    You must use Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Standard Form 
424 and 424B as the cover sheet for each project.

B. Project Summary

    You must complete a Project Summary for each project. You must list 
the specific priority to which the application responds.

C. Project Budget

    You must submit a budget for each project and provide detailed cost 
estimates showing total project costs. Indicate the breakdown of costs 
between Federal and non-Federal shares, divided into cash and in-kind 
contributions. To support the budget, describe briefly the basis for 
estimating the value of the cost sharing derived from in-kind 
contributions. Specify estimates of the direct costs in the categories 
listed on the Project Budget form.
    You may also include in the budget an amount for indirect costs if 
you have an established indirect cost rate with the Federal government. 
For this solicitation, the total dollar amount of the indirect costs 
you propose in your application must not exceed the indirect cost rate 
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the 
proposed effective date of the award, or 100 percent of the total 
proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is 
less.
    Furthermore, the Federal share of the indirect costs you propose 
may not exceed 25 percent of the total proposed direct costs. If your 
application requests more than 25 percent of the total costs as Federal 
funds to cover indirect costs, the application will be returned to you 
and will not be considered for funding.
    If you have an approved indirect cost rate above 25 percent of the 
total proposed direct cost, you may use the amount above the 25-percent 
level up to the 100-percent level as part of the non-Federal share. You 
must include a copy of the current, approved, negotiated indirect cost 
agreement with the Federal government with your application.
    We will not consider fees or profits as allowable costs in your 
application.
    The total costs of a project consist of all allowable costs you 
incur, including the value of in-kind contributions, in accomplishing 
project objectives during the life of the project. A project begins on 
the effective date of an award agreement between you and an authorized 
representative of the U.S. Government and ends on the date specified in 
the award. Accordingly, we cannot reimburse you for time that you 
expend or costs that you incur in developing a project or preparing the 
application, or in any discussions or negotiations you may have with us 
prior to the award. We will not accept such expenditures as part of 
your cost share.

D. Narrative Project Description

    You must provide a narrative description of your project that may 
be up to 25 pages long. All pages must be single-spaced and should be 
composed in at least a 12-point font with one-inch margins on 8 1/2 x 
11 paper. The project description may not exceed 25 pages, exclusive of 
the title page, project synopsis, literature cited, budget information, 
and resumes of investigator. Any PDF or other attachments that are 
included in an electronic application must meet the above format 
requirement when printed out. Failure to follow the requirements will 
result in the rejection of the application and subsequent return.
    The narrative should demonstrate your knowledge of the need for the 
project, and show how your proposal builds upon any past and current 
work in the subject area, as well as relevant work in related fields. 
You should not assume that we already know the relative merits of the 
project you describe. You must describe your project as follows:
    1. Project goals and objectives. Identify the specific priority 
listed earlier in the solicitation to which the proposed project 
responds. Identify the problem/opportunity you intend to address and 
describe its significance to the fishing community. State what you 
expect the project to accomplish.
    If you are applying to continue a project we previously funded 
under the S-K Program, describe in detail your progress to date and 
explain why you need additional funding. We will consider this 
information in evaluating your current application.
    2. Project impacts. Describe the anticipated impacts of the project 
on the fishing community in terms of reduced bycatch, increased product 
yield, or other measurable benefits. Describe how you will make the 
results of the project available to the public.
    3. Evaluation of project. Specify the criteria and procedures that 
you will use to evaluate the relative success or failure of a project 
in achieving its objectives.
    4. Need for government financial assistance. Explain why you need 
government financial assistance for the proposed work. List all other 
sources of funding you have or are seeking for the project.
    5. Federal, state, and local government activities and permits. 
List any existing Federal, state, or local government programs or 
activities that this project would affect, including activities 
requiring: certification under state Coastal Zone Management Plans; 
section 404 or section 10 permits issued by the Corps of Engineers; 
experimental fishing or other permits under FMPs; environmental impact 
statements to meet the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act; scientific permits under the ESA and/or the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act; or Magnuson-Stevens Act EFH consultation if the project 
may adversely affect areas identified as EFH. Describe the relationship 
between the project and these FMPs or activities, and list names and 
addresses of persons providing this information. You can get 
information on these activities from the NMFS Regions (see Section 
I.F., Application ADDRESSES). If we select your project for funding, 
you are responsible for complying with all applicable requirements.
    6. Project statement of work. The statement of work is an action 
plan of activities you will conduct during the period of the project. 
You must prepare a detailed narrative, fully describing the work you 
will perform to achieve the project goals and objectives. The narrative 
should respond to the following questions:

[[Page 56799]]

    (a) What is the project design? What specific work, activities, 
procedures, statistical design, or analytical methods will you 
undertake?
    (b) Who will be responsible for carrying out the various 
activities? (Highlight work that will be subcontracted and provisions 
for competitive subcontracting.)
    (c) What are the major products and how will project results be 
disseminated? Describe products of the project, such as a manual, 
video, technique, or piece of equipment. Indicate how project results 
will be disseminated to potential users.
    (d) What are the project milestones? List milestones, describing 
the specific activities and associated time lines to conduct the scope 
of work. Describe the time lines in increments (e.g., month 1, month 
2), rather than by specific dates. Identify the individual(s) 
responsible for the various specific activities.
    This information is critical for us to conduct a thorough review of 
your application, so we encourage you to provide sufficient detail.
    7. Participation by persons or groups other than the applicant. 
Describe how government and non-government entities, particularly 
members of fishing communities, will participate in the project, and 
the nature of their participation. We will consider the degree of 
participation by members of the fishing community in determining which 
applications to fund.
    8. Project management. Describe how the project will be organized 
and managed. Identify the principal investigator and other participants 
in the project. If you do not identify the principal investigator, we 
will return your application without further consideration. Include 
copies of any agreements between you and the participants describing 
the specific tasks to be performed. Provide a statement no more than 
two pages long of the qualifications and experience (e.g., resume or 
curriculum vitae) of the principal investigator(s) and any consultants 
and/or subcontractors, and indicate their level of involvement in the 
project. If any portion of the project will be conducted through 
consultants and/or subcontracts, you must follow procurement guidance 
in 15 CFR part 24, ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and 
Local Governments,'' and 15 CFR part 14, ``Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, Other Non-Profit, and Commercial Organizations.'' 
If you select a consultant and/or a subcontractor prior to submitting 
an application, indicate the process that you used for selection.

E. Supporting Documentation

    You should include any relevant documents and additional 
information (i.e., maps, background documents) that will help us to 
understand the project and the problem/opportunity you seek to address.

Cost Sharing Requirements

    We are requiring cost sharing in order to leverage the limited 
funds available for this program and to encourage partnerships among 
government, industry, and academia to address the needs of fishing 
communities. You must provide a minimum cost share of 10 percent of 
total project costs, but your cost share must not exceed 50 percent of 
total costs.
    You may find this formula useful:
    1. Total Project Cost (Federal and non-Federal cost share combined) 
x .9 = Maximum Federal Share.
    2. Total Cost - Federal share = Applicant Share.
    For example, if the proposed total budget for your project is 
$100,000, the maximum Federal funding you can apply for is $90,000 
($100,000 x .9). Your cost share in this case would be $10,000 
($100,000 - $90,000).
    For a total project cost of $100,000, you must contribute at least 
$10,000, but no more than $50,000 (10-50 percent of total project 
cost). Accordingly, the Federal share you apply for would range from 
$50,000 to $90,000. If your application does not comply with these cost 
share requirements, we will return it to you and will not consider it 
for funding.
    The funds you provide as cost sharing may include funds from 
private sources or from state or local governments, or the value of in-
kind contributions. You may not use Federal funds to meet the cost 
sharing requirement except as provided by Federal statute. In-kind 
contributions are non-cash contributions provided to you by non-Federal 
third parties. In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited 
to, personal services volunteered to perform tasks in the project, and 
permission to use, at no cost, real or personal property owned by 
others.
    We will determine the appropriateness of all cost sharing 
proposals, including the valuation of in-kind contributions, on the 
basis of guidance provided in 15 CFR parts 14 and 24. In general, the 
value of in-kind services or property you use to fulfill your cost 
share will be the fair market value of the services or property. Thus, 
the value is equivalent to the cost for you to obtain such services or 
property if they had not been donated. You must document the in-kind 
services or property you will use to fulfill your cost share.
    If we decide to fund your application, we will require you to 
account for the total amount of cost share included in the award 
document.

Limitation of Liability

    Funding for programs listed in this notice is contingent upon the 
availability of Fiscal Year 2009 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, NEPA Questionnaire, http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/questionnaire.pdf, and the Council on Environmental Quality 
implementation regulations, http://ceq.hss.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

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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 feasible measures to 
reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their 
proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for not 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. The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification 
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the 
Federal Register notice of February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696) 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, 424A, 424B, 424C, 424D, and SF-LLL has been approved by OMB under 
the respective control numbers 4040-0004, 0348-0044, 4040-0007, 0348-
0041, 4040-0009, and 0348-0046. 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: September 24, 2008.
James W. Balsiger,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22970 Filed 9-29-08; 8:45 am]
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