[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3092-3120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-721]



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Part IV





Department of Commerce





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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration



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Application Numbers and Proposed Exemptions; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 75 , No. 11 / Tuesday, January 19, 2010 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 0907081109-91435-03; I.D. GF001]
RIN 0648-ZC10


Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2010 and Request for 
Comments on Proposed Implementation Guidelines for the Coral Reef 
Conservation Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes 
this noticeto provide the general public with a consolidated source of 
program and application information related to its competitive grant 
and cooperative agreement (CA) award offerings for fiscal year (FY) 
2010. 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 Web site. In addition, this notice solicits comments on 
Proposed Implementation Guidelines for the Coral Reef Conservation 
Program.

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 
Federal Register 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 Federal Funding Opportunity announcement for each of 
the programs listed in this omnibus notice. These Federal Funding 
Opportunities are available at http://www.grants.gov.
    There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to 
make awards for all qualified projects. The exact amount of funds that 
may be awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this notice does not 
oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available 
funds.
    It is possible that additional funding may be allocated beyond that 
stated for any listed program in the current or a future Fiscal Year. 
If additional allocations of funding are made available, the 
responsible program, at the discretion of the Program Manager, may fund 
additional qualified projects rather than re-compete the funding.
    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.

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Electronic Access
III. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Procedures
IV. NOAA Project Competitions Listed by NOAA Mission Goals
V. NOAA Project Competitions

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

    1. 2010 Hawaii Seafood Program
    2. 2010 Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program
    3. 2010 Western Pacific Demonstration Projects
    4. 2011 Mid-Atlantic Research Set-Aside Program
    5. Fisheries Science Program--FY2010
    6. NOAA Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program Project Grants 
under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
    7. Proactive Species Conservation Program

National Ocean Service (NOS)

    1. Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program--FY 2011 
Competition
    2. FY10 Bay Watershed Education and Training Program, Adult and 
Community Watershed Education in the Monterey Bay
    3. FY2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Community Modeling 
Environment To Support a Super-Regional Test Bed
    4. Joint Hydrographic Center
    5. Marine Debris Prevention and Outreach Partnership Grants

National Weather Service (NWS)

    1. NWS Severe Weather Program
    2. Tsunami Social Science Program

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

    1. NOAA Marine Aquaculture Initiative 2010

Office of the Under Secretary (USEC)

    1. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
    2. Environmental Literacy Grants for Informal/Nonformal Science 
Education
    3. Financial Assistance To Establish Five NOAA Cooperative 
Science Centers at Minority Serving Institutions Announcement

National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service 
(NESDIS)

    1. Satellite Climate Data Record Program for 2010
VI. Request for Comments on Proposed Implementation Guidelines for 
the Coral Reef Conservation Program

I. Background

    Each of the following grant opportunities provide: A description of 
the program, funding availability, statutory authority, catalog of 
federal domestic assistance (CFDA) number, application deadline, 
address for submitting proposals, information contacts, eligibility 
requirements, cost sharing requirements, and intergovernmental review 
under Executive Order 12372.
    In addition, this notice announces information related to a request 
for comments on Proposed Implementation Guidelines for the Coral Reef 
Conservation Program.

II. Electronic Access

    The full funding announcement for each program is available via the 
Grants.gov web site at: http://www.grants.gov. Electronic applications 
for the NOAA Programs listed in this announcement may be accessed, 
downloaded, and submitted to that Web site. The due dates and times for 
paper and electronic submissions are identical. NOAA strongly 
recommends that you do not wait until the application deadline to begin 
the application process through Grants.gov. Your application must be 
received and validated by Grants.gov no later than the due date and 
time. Please Note: Validation or rejection of your application by 
Grants.gov may take up to 2 business days after your submission.
    Please consider the Grants.gov validation/rejection process in 
developing your application submission time line.

Grants.gov

    Getting started with Grants.gov is easy. Users should note that 
there are

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two key features on the Web site: Find Grant Opportunities and Apply 
for Grants. The site is designed to support these two features and your 
use of them.
    While you can begin searching for grant opportunities immediately, 
it is recommended that you complete the steps to Get Started (below) 
ahead of time. This will help ensure you are ready to go when you find 
an opportunity for which you would like to apply.

Applications From Individuals

    In order for you to apply as an individual the announcement must 
specify that the program is open to individuals and it must be 
published on the Grants.gov Web site. Individuals must register with 
the Credential Provider (see Step 3 below) and with Grants.gov (see 
Step 4 below).
    Individuals do not need a DUNS number to register (see Step 4 
below) and submit their applications. The system will generate a 
default value in that field.

Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

    This section provides the application submission and receipt 
instructions for NOAA program applications. Please read the following 
instructions carefully and completely.
    1. Electronic Delivery. NOAA is participating in the Grants.gov 
Initiative that provides the Grant Community a single site to find and 
apply for grant funding opportunities. NOAA encourages applicants to 
submit their applications electronically through: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp.
    2. The following describes what to expect when applying on line 
using Grants.gov/Apply:
    a. Instructions. On the site, you will find step-by-step 
instructions which enable you to apply for NOAA funds. The Grants.gov/Apply feature includes a simple, unified application process that makes 
it possible for applicants to apply for grants online. There are six 
``Get Started'' steps to complete at Grants.gov. The information 
applicants need to understand and execute the steps can be found at: 
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. Applicants should 
read the Get Started steps carefully. The site also contains 
registration checklists to help you walk through the process. NOAA 
recommends that you download the checklists and prepare the information 
requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and 
assembling required information before beginning the registration 
process will make the process fast and smooth and save time.
    b. DUNS Requirement. All applicants applying for funding, including 
renewal funding, must have a Dun and Bradstreet Universal Data 
Numbering System (DUNS) number. The DUNS number must be included in the 
data entry field labeled ``Organizational Duns'' on the form SF-424. 
Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number can be found at the following 
Web site: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    c. Central Contractor Registry. In addition to having a DUNS 
number, applicants applying electronically through Grants.gov must 
register with the Federal Central Contractor Registry. The http://www.grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp provides step-by-step instructions for registering in 
the Central Contractor Registry. All applicants filing electronically 
must register with the Central Contractor Registry and receive a User 
Name and password from Grants.gov in order to apply on line. Failure to 
register with the Central Contractor Registry will result in your 
application being rejected by the Grants.gov portal. The registration 
process is a separate process from submitting an application. 
Applicants are, therefore, encouraged to register early. The 
registration process can take approximately two weeks to be completed. 
Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it 
does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines. You 
will be able to submit your application online anytime after you 
receive your e-authentication credentials.
    d. Electronic Signature. Applications submitted through Grants.gov 
constitute submission as electronically signed applications. The 
registration and e-authentication process establishes the Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR). When you submit the application 
through Grants.gov, the name of your authorized organization 
representative on file will be inserted into the signature line of the 
application. Applicants must register the individual who is able to 
make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the 
Authorized Organization Representative.
    3. Instructions on how to submit an electronic application to NOAA 
via Grants.gov/Apply:
    Grants.gov has a full set of instructions on how to apply for funds 
on its Web site at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp. The following provides simple guidance on what you will 
find on the Grants.gov/Apply site. Applicants are encouraged to read 
through the page entitled, ``Complete Application Package'' before 
getting started.
    Grants.gov allows applicants to download the application package, 
instructions and forms that are incorporated in the instructions, and 
work off line. In addition to forms that are part of the application 
instructions, there will be a series of electronic forms that are 
provided utilizing an Adobe Reader.
    Note for the Adobe Reader, Grants.gov is only compatible with 
versions 8.1.1 and above. Please do not use lower versions of the Adobe 
Reader. Mandatory Fields on Adobe Reader Forms. In the Adobe forms you 
will note fields that appear with a yellow background and red outline 
color. These fields are mandatory and must be completed to successfully 
submit your application. Completion of SF-424 Fields First. The Adobe 
forms are designed to fill in common required fields such as the 
applicant name and address, DUNS number, etc., on all Adobe electronic 
forms. To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 
information first. Once it is completed the information will transfer 
to the other forms.
    Customer Support. The Grants.gov Web site provides customer support 
via (800) 518-4726 (this is a toll-free number) or through e-mail at 
[email protected]. The Contact Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays, to 
address Grants.gov technology issues. For technical assistance to 
program related questions, contact the number listed in the Program 
Section of the program to which you are applying.
    4. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission.
    a. Electronic Submission. All applications must be received by 
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp by the Time on 
the due date established for each program. Proof of timely submission 
is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic time stamp is 
generated within the system when the application is successfully 
received by Grants.gov. The applicant will receive an acknowledgement 
of receipt and a tracking number from Grants.gov with the successful 
transmission of their application. Applicants should print this receipt 
and save it, along with facsimile receipts for information provided by 
facsimile, as proof of timely

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submission. When NOAA successfully retrieves the application from 
Grants.gov, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of 
receipt to the e-mail address of the AOR. Proof of Timely submission 
shall be the date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. 
Applications received by Grants.gov, after the established due date for 
the program will be considered late and will not be considered for 
funding by NOAA. Please Note: Validation or rejection of your 
application by Grants.gov may take up to 2 business days after your 
submission. Please consider the Grants.gov validation/rejection process 
in developing your application submission time line.
    NOAA suggests that applicants submit their applications during the 
operating hours of Grants.gov, so that if there are questions 
concerning transmission, operators will be available to walk you 
through the process. Submitting your application during the Contact 
Center hours will also ensure that you have sufficient time for the 
application to complete its transmission prior to the application 
deadline. Applicants using dial-up connections should be aware that 
transmission may take some time before Grants.gov receives it. 
Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received 
transmission message. Grants.gov reports that some applicants abort the 
transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the 
transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to 
process the application. Uploading and transmitting many files, 
particularly electronic forms with associated XML schemas, will take 
some time to be processed.

III. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Procedures

    NOAA has standardized the evaluation and selection process for its 
competitive assistance programs. There are two separate sets of 
evaluation criteria and selection procedures (see below), one for 
project proposals, and the other for fellowship, scholarship, and 
internship programs.

Project Proposals Review and Selection Process

    Some project proposals may include a pre-application process that 
provides for feedback to applicants that responded to a call for 
letters of intent or pre-proposals; however, not all programs will 
include this pre-application. If a program has a pre-application 
process, it will be described in the Summary Description section of the 
announcement and the deadline will be specified in the Application 
Deadline section.
    Upon receipt of a full application by NOAA, an initial 
administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with 
requirements and completeness of the application. A merit review will 
also be conducted 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 
administrative and/or merit review(s) and selection factors listed 
below. The Selecting Official selects proposals after considering the 
administrative and/or merit 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 award recommendations to the Grants Officer authorized to 
obligate the funds.
    Evaluation Criteria. Each reviewer (one mail and at least three 
peer review panel reviewers) will individually evaluate and rank 
proposals using the following evaluation criteria:
    1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of a proposed 
project to the program goals: This ascertains whether there is 
intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, Federal 
(other than NOAA), 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 project's budget is evaluated to determine if 
it is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and timeframe.
    5. Outreach and education: NOAA assesses whether this project 
provides a focused and effective education and outreach strategy 
regarding its mission to protect the Nation's natural resources.
    Selection Factors. The merit review ratings will be used to 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 listed 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, and
    e. By project types.
    3. Whether the 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 to make a National 
Environmental Policy Act determination and draft necessary 
documentation before funding recommendations are made to the Grants 
Officer.

Fellowship, Scholarship and Internship Programs

    Review And Selection Process. Some fellowship, scholarship and 
internship programs may include a pre-application process that provides 
for feedback to the applicants that have responded to a call for 
letters of intent or pre-proposals; however, not all programs will 
include this pre-application. If a program has a pre-application 
process, the process will be described in the Summary Description 
section of the announcement and the deadline will be specified in the 
Application Deadline section.
    Upon receipt of a full application by NOAA, an initial 
administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with 
requirements and completeness of the application. A merit review will 
also be conducted 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 
administrative and/or merit review(s) and selection factors listed 
below. The Selecting Official selects proposals after considering the 
administrative and/or merit 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

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negotiate the funding level of the proposal. The Selecting Official 
makes final award recommendations to the Grants Officer authorized to 
obligate the funds.
    Evaluation Criteria. Each reviewer (one mail and at least three 
peer review panel reviewers) will individually evaluate and rank 
proposals using the following evaluation criteria.
    1. Academic record and statement of career goals and objectives of 
the student.
    2. Quality of project and applicability to program priorities.
    3. Recommendations and/or endorsements of the student.
    4. Additional relevant experience related to diversity of 
education; extra-curricular activities; honors and awards; and 
interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills.
    5. Financial need of the student.
    Selection Factors. The merit review ratings will be used to provide 
a rank order by the Selecting Official for final funding 
recommendations. A Program Officer may first make recommendations to 
the Selecting Official by applying the selection factors listed 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 funds.
    2. Balance/distribution of funds:
    a. Across academic disciplines,
    b. By types of institutions, and
    c. Geographically.
    3. Program-specific objectives.
    4. Degree in scientific area and type of degree sought.

IV. NOAA Project Competitions Listed by NOAA Mission Goals

1. Protect, Restore, and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources 
Through an Ecosystem Approach to Management

    Summary Description: NOAA's goal to protect, restore, and manage 
the use of living marine and coastal and ocean resources is critical to 
public health and the vitality of the U.S. economy. 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. The value of 
the ocean economy to the United States is more than $138 billion. The 
value added annually to the national economy by the commercial and 
recreational fishing industry alone is over $47 billion. U.S. 
aquaculture sales total almost $1 billion annually. To achieve balance 
among ecological, environmental, and social influences, NOAA has 
adopted an ecosystem approach to management, a concept that is central 
to the recommendations of the 2004 report of the U.S. Commission on 
Ocean Policy and the Administration's response to it, the U.S. Ocean 
Action Plan. NOAA's Ecosystems Goal responds to a specific mandate from 
Congress for NOAA to be a lead federal agency in this conservation, 
management, and restoration effort. Recent statutory revisions (e.g., 
the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act and the Marine Debris 
Research, Prevention and Reduction Act) and emerging legislative 
changes are broadening this mission for NOAA, opening a new chapter in 
NOAA's stewardship of the nation's living marine resources and 
management of the coasts. Funded proposals should help achieve the 
following outcomes:
     1. Healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystems that 
benefit society
     2. A well-informed public that acts as a steward of coastal and 
marine ecosystems
    Program Names:
     1. NOAA Marine Aquaculture Initiative 2010
     2. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
     3. Marine Debris Prevention and Outreach Partnership Grants
     4. Proactive Species Conservation Program
     5. 2010 Hawaii Seafood Program
     6. 2010 Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program
     7. Fisheries Science Program--FY2010
     8. 2010 Western Pacific Demonstration Projects
     9. NOAA Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program Project Grants 
under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
     10. Financial Assistance To Establish five NOAA Cooperative 
Science Centers at Minority Serving Institutions Announcement
     11. 2011 Mid-Atlantic Research Set-Aside Program
     12. FY10 Bay Watershed Education and Training Program, Adult and 
Community Watershed Education in the Monterey Bay
     13. Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program--FY 2011 
Competition
     14. FY2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Community Modeling 
Environment to Support a Super-Regional Test Bed

2. Serve Society's Needs for Weather and Water Information

    Summary Description: Floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, 
tsunamis, wildfires, and other severe weather events cause $11.4 
billion in damage each year in the United States. Weather is directly 
linked to public health and safety, and nearly one-third of the U.S. 
economy (approximately $4 trillion, in 2005 dollars) 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. NOAA will continue to collect and analyze 
environmental data and to issue forecasts and warnings that help 
protect health, life, and property and enhance the U.S. economy. Future 
needs can be better met by exploring new concepts and applications 
through robust weather and water research. A commitment to public 
benefits shapes NOAA's role within the U.S. weather enterprise, 
including its partners in the private sector, academia, and government. 
These partners add value to NOAA services and help disseminate critical 
environmental information. We will work more closely with our partners 
and will develop new partnerships so that the public understands and is 
satisfied with our information. Together, NOAA and its partners will 
continuously improve existing service and expand to support evolving 
national needs, including space weather, freshwater and coastal 
ecosystems, and air quality prediction services.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:

1. Reduced loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy
2. Better, quicker, and more valuable weather and water information to 
support improved decisions

3. Increased customer satisfaction with weather and water information 
and services Program Names:

1. Tsunami Social Science Program
2. NWS Severe Weather Program
3. Financial Assistance To Establish five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions Announcement
 4. FY2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Community Modeling 
Environment to Support a Super-Regional Test Bed

3. Understand Climate Variability and Change To Enhance Society's 
Ability To Plan and Respond

    Summary Description: Climate variability and change influence the 
wellbeing of society, the environment, and the economy. Numerous long-
term changes in climate already have been observed. The changes include 
those in arctic surface temperatures and sea ice, ocean salinity and 
carbonate chemistry,

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and frequency and intensity of extreme weather such as heat and cold 
waves, droughts, and floods. Decision makers are challenged with 
addressing major climatic events compounded by issues such as 
population growth, economic growth, public health concerns, changes in 
geographic distribution of marine species, loss of habitat, and changes 
in land-use practices. They require a new generation of climate 
services. Through legislation, executive orders, and international 
agreements, NOAA has a long-standing commitment to provide reliable and 
timely climate research and information. To meet the demand for 
expanded services, the Climate Goal will focus research to improve 
understanding of complex climate processes and to enhance the 
predictive capacity of the global climate system. The Climate Goal's 
priority is to focus on the development and delivery of climate 
information and services that assist decision makers with national and 
international policy decision making, and assessing risks to ecosystems 
and the U.S. economy in sectors and areas that are sensitive to impacts 
from climate variability and change.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:

1. A predictive understanding of the global climate system on time 
scales of weeks to decades to a century with quantified uncertainties 
sufficient for making informed and reasoned decisions
2. Use of NOAA's climate products by climate-sensitive sectors and the 
climate-literate public to support their plans and decisions

    Program Names:

1. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
2. Satellite Climate Data Record Program for 2010
3. Financial Assistance To Establish five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions Announcement
4. FY2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Community Modeling 
Environment to Support a Super-Regional Test Bed

4. Provide Critical Support for NOAA's Mission

    Summary Description: Satellite Subgoal: Environmental satellites 
are a major component of NOAA's global efforts to better observe, 
understand, and predict various environmental phenomena. The backbone 
of the NOAA satellites includes the Geostationary Operational 
Environmental Satellite (GOES) and Polar-orbiting Operational 
Environmental Satellite (POES) programs. GOES and POES are operated to 
provide critical atmospheric, oceanic, climatic, solar, and space data 
to protect life and property across the United States. The satellites 
carry scientific instruments and communications equipment to support 
the delivery of weather information and aid search and rescue 
operations. NOAA is acquiring the new generation of each satellite 
system, including ground processing systems. In concert with the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), acquisition of 
the next-generation geostationary satellite (GOES-R) series is 
underway. The Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and NOAA are joined 
with industry partners to build the follow-on series of polar orbiting 
satellites, the National Polarorbiting Operational Environmental 
Satellite System. NOAA's satellite systems support other NOAA offices 
in the delivery of improved severe storm warnings, weather forecasts, 
climate predictions, oceanic and ecosystems research and analyses, and 
satellite-aided search and rescue services.
    Fleet Services Subgoal: NOAA operates a fleet of 20 ships and 10 
aircraft to ensure continuous observation of critical environmental 
conditions. The Fleet Services Subgoal manages these platforms to 
increase the number of ship operating days and aircraft flight hours to 
meet NOAA's data collection requirements. It provides ship and aircraft 
support for NOAA's four Mission Goals, upgrades NOAA's fleet of ships 
and aircraft, and partners with the programs to facilitate the 
development, demonstration, and deployment of new observation 
platforms, such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Unmanned Aerial 
Systems.
    Modeling And Observing Infrastructure (MObI) Subgoal: The MObI 
Subgoal's analyses and operational capabilities provide critical 
infrastructure and support for the integrated monitoring and improved 
understanding of the Earth's environment. The subgoal enables NOAA's 
operational forecast products and services and provides NOAA a 
strategic investment portfolio recommendation encompassing observing, 
modeling, and high-performance computing capabilities. NOAA's internal 
forecasting, assessment, and stewardship capabilities--as well as the 
capabilities of partners and customers--require integrated oceanic and 
atmospheric data. Furthermore, NOAA's operations require modeling 
support, high-performance computing, observing system design and 
analysis, research and development of improved modeling and data 
assimilation, and guidance on the architecture of observation and data 
management systems. MObI also manages the integration of NOAA's 
observing systems and associated data with those of other federal 
agencies and nations under the GEO System of Systems framework.
    Leadership And Corporate Services Subgoal: The Leadership and 
Corporate Services Subgoal strives to produce cost-effective, value-
added solutions in the cross-cutting areas of Line Office and 
Headquarters management, workforce management, acquisition and grants, 
facilities, financial services, homeland security, IT, and 
administrative services. This is accomplished by effective and 
strategic leadership at corporate and Line Office levels that optimize 
agency performance and mission accomplishment through streamlined, 
results oriented processes. The development of long-range facility and 
IT modernization plans provides the investment framework to ensure that 
NOAA's facility and IT portfolio will continue to support a safe, 
secure, and state-of-the-art work environment. The development of 
streamlined acquisition and workforce management processes will enable 
NOAA to effectively fulfill its research and operational missions with 
a competent workforce and effective third-party partnerships. The 
public demand for financial stewardship and accountability requires 
NOAA to maintain an effective financial and internal control program. 
The national dependence on NOAA's services and information products 
compels effective continuity of operations planning and all-hazards 
incident management.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:

1. A continuous stream of satellite data and information with the 
quality and accuracy to meet users requirements for spatial and 
temporal sampling and timeliness of delivery
2. Provision of the number of ship operating days and aircraft flight 
hours needed to meet NOAA's data collection requirements with high 
customer satisfaction
3. Integration of observing system architectures, data management 
architectures, and computing and modeling capabilities to better enable 
NOAA's mission
4. One NOAA working together--guided by a clear strategic vision for 
planning, programming, and execution--to achieve NOAA's goals

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5. Secure, reliable, and robust information flows within NOAA and out 
to the public
6. Modern and sustainable facilities providing safe and effective work 
environment
7. Efficient and effective financial, administrative, and acquisition 
management services
8. Workforce management processes that support a diverse and competent 
workforce
9. Integrated Homeland Security and emergency response capabilities
    Program Names:

1. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
2. Financial Assistance To Establish five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions Announcement
3. Environmental Literacy Grants for Informal/Nonformal Science 
Education

5. Support the Nation's Commerce With Information for Safe, Efficient, 
and Environmentally Sound Transportation

    Summary Description: NOAA responds to the specific demands of air, 
sea, and surface transportation with consistent, timely, and accurate 
information to aid sound and routine operational decision making. All 
modes of transportation are affected by significant challenges as they 
operate in the elements of nature. The natural environment is, in turn, 
affected by our transportation systems. Safe, efficient, and 
environmentally sound transportation systems are crucial to the 
nation's commerce, and thus to the nation's economy. For example, more 
than 78 percent of U.S. overseas trade by weight and 38 percent by 
value comes and goes by ship. Nine million barrels of oil come through 
U.S. ports daily, and 8,000 foreign vessels make 50,000 port calls 
annually. Vessel traffic in the U.S. Marine Transportation System, 
which ships over 95 percent of foreign trade by tonnage, will double by 
2020 and contribute roughly $2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. 
NOAA provides information products for transportation systems, 
including marine and surface weather forecasts, navigational charts, 
real-time oceanographic information, and Global Positioning System 
augmentation. NOAA works with the Federal Aviation Administration and 
industry to improve the weather resilience of aviation systems. NOAA 
also provides emergency response services to save lives and money and 
to protect the coastal environment, including hazardous material spill 
response and search and rescue functions. NOAA works with federal, 
state, and local partners to ensure the efficient and environmentally 
sound operation and development of ports.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:

1. Safe, secure, efficient, and seamless movement of goods and people 
in the U.S. transportation system
2. Environmentally sound development and use of the U.S. transportation 
system

    Program Names:

1. Financial Assistance to Establish five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions Announcement
2. Joint Hydrographic Center
3. FY2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Community Modeling 
Environment to Support a Super-Regional Test Bed

V. NOAA Project Competitions

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

2010 Hawaii Seafood Program

    Summary Description: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/
NMFS) is soliciting competitive applications for the 2010 Hawaii 
Seafood Program. The 2010 Hawaii Seafood Program is designed to help 
strengthen and to sustain the economic viability of Hawaii's fishing 
and seafood industry through activities that promotes Hawaii fisheries 
products as high-quality and safe domestic seafood produced by a 
responsible and well-managed fishery. Projects may seek support for 
cooperative seafood safety research, technical assistance, and/or 
seafood education.
    Funding Availability: Total funding available under this notice is 
anticipated to be approximately $1,000,000. Actual funding availability 
for this program is contingent upon FY 2010 Congressional 
appropriations. Proposals in any amount may be submitted. Award amounts 
will be determined by the proposals and available funds. There is no 
set minimum or maximum amount, within the available funding, for any 
award. There is also no limit on the number of applications that can be 
submitted by the same applicant; however, multiple applications 
submitted by the same applicant must clearly identify different 
projects. If an application for a financial assistance award is 
selected for funding, NOAA/NMFS has no obligation to provide any 
additional funding in connection with that award in subsequent years. 
Notwithstanding verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, pre-award costs are not allowed under the award unless 
approved by the NOAA Grants Officer.
    Statutory Authority: The statutory authority for the Hawaii Seafood 
Program is 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d).
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.452, 
Unallied Industry Projects.
    Application Deadline: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Hawaii 
Standard Time March 5, 2010.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Proposals should be submitted 
through Grants.gov. For those applicants without internet access, 
proposals should be submitted to NOAA Federal Program Officer, Pacific 
Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, 
Hawaii, 96814.
    Information Contacts: If you have any questions regarding this 
proposal solicitation, please contact Scott W.S. Bloom at the NOAA/NMFS 
Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, Hawaii, 
96814, by phone at 808-944-2218, or by e-mail at [email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are individuals, institutions of 
higher education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, 
international organizations, foreign governments, organizations under 
the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and state, local and Indian 
tribal governments. Federal agencies, or employees of Federal agencies, 
are not eligible to apply. The Department of Commerce/National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to 
broadening the participation of historically black colleges and 
universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and 
universities, and institutions that work in underserved areas. The 
Hawaii Seafood Program encourages proposals involving any of the above 
institutions.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing or matching is required 
under this program.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.
2010 Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program
    Summary Description: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/
NMFS) is soliciting competitive applications for the 2010 Pacific 
Islands Region Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program. 
Projects are being solicited to improve communication, education, and 
training on marine resource issues throughout the region

[[Page 3098]]

and increase scientific education for marine-related professions among 
coastal community residents, including indigenous Pacific islanders, 
Native Hawaiians, and other underrepresented groups in the region.
    Funding Availability: Total funding available under this notice is 
anticipated to be approximately $150,000. Actual funding availability 
for this program is contingent upon FY 2010 Federal appropriations. 
Proposals in excess of $15,000 are unlikely to be funded. Award amounts 
will be determined by the proposals and available funds. There is no 
limit on the number of applications that can be submitted by the same 
applicant; however, multiple applications submitted by the same 
applicant must clearly identify different projects. If an application 
for a financial assistance award is selected for funding, NOAA/NMFS has 
no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that 
award in subsequent years. Notwithstanding verbal or written assurance 
that may have been received, pre-award costs are not allowed under the 
award unless approved by the NOAA Grants Officer.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for the 2010 Pacific Islands Region 
Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program is provided under 16 
U.S.C. 1855j.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.452, 
Unallied Industry Projects.
    Application Deadline: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Hawaii 
Standard Time March 5, 2010.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Proposals should be submitted 
through Grants.gov. For those applicants without internet access, 
proposals should be submitted to NOAA Federal Program Officer, Pacific 
Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, 
Hawaii, 96814.
    Information Contacts: If you have any questions regarding this 
proposal solicitation, please contact Scott W.S. Bloom at the NOAA/NMFS 
Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, Hawaii, 
96814, by phone at 808-944-2218, or by e-mail at [email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are individuals, institutions of 
higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, state, local 
and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies, or employees of 
Federal agencies are not eligible to apply. The Department of Commerce/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly 
committed to broadening the participation of historically black 
colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal 
colleges and universities, and institutions that work in undeserved 
areas. The 2010 Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program 
encourages proposals involving any of the above institutions.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing or matching is required 
under this program.
    Intergovernmental Review: This federal funding opportunity is 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' An applicant should consult the office or official 
designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more 
information on the process the State requires to be followed in 
applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for 
review. The names and addresses of these contacts are available at 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. 2010 Western Pacific 
Demonstration Projects.
    Summary Description: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/
NMFS) is soliciting applications for financial assistance for Western 
Pacific Demonstration Projects. Eligible applicants are encouraged to 
submit projects intended to foster and promote use of traditional 
indigenous fishing practices and/or develop or enhance Western Pacific 
community-based fishing opportunities benefiting the island communities 
in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
    Funding Availability: Total funding available under this notice is 
anticipated to be approximately $500,000. Actual funding availability 
for this program is contingent upon FY 2010 Congressional 
appropriations. Proposals in any amount may be submitted. Award amounts 
will be determined by the proposals and available funds. There is no 
set minimum or maximum amount, within the available funding, for any 
award. There is also no limit on the number of applications that can be 
submitted by the same applicant; however, multiple applications 
submitted by the same applicant must clearly identify different 
projects. If an application for a financial assistance award is 
selected for funding, NOAA/NMFS has no obligation to provide any 
additional funding in connection with that award in subsequent years. 
Notwithstanding verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, pre-award costs are not allowed under the award unless 
approved by the NOAA Grants Officer.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for the Western Pacific 
Demonstration Projects is provided under 16 U.S.C. 1855 note.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.452, 
Unallied Industry Projects
    Application Deadline: Pre-proposals (letters of intent) must be 
received at the Pacific Islands Regional Office by 5 p.m. Hawaii 
Standard Time, February 18, 2010. NOAA reserves 15 days to review pre-
proposals against NOAA's mission requirements. If an applicant 
submitting a pre-proposal is invited to submit a full proposal, it must 
be received by 5 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time, 75 days after publication 
in the Federal Register. Anticipated start dates will be July 1, 2010.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Proposals should be submitted 
through Grants.gov. For those applicants without internet access, 
proposals should be submitted to NOAA Federal Program Officer, Pacific 
Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, 
Hawaii 96814.
    Information Contacts: Points of contact are Scott W.S. Bloom 
(NMFS), NOAA Federal Program Officer for Western Pacific Demonstration 
Projects, Pacific Islands Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
1601 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814; or by 
telephone at 808-944-2218, or by e-mail at [email protected]; or 
Charles Kaaiai, Indigenous Coordinator for the Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii, 
96813 or by telephone at 808-522-8220, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are limited to communities in the 
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Area, as defined at section 
305(i)(2)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1855(i)(2)(D); and 
meet the standards for determining eligibility set forth in section 
305(i)(2)(B) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1855(i)(2)(B). The eligibility 
criteria developed by the Council and approved by the Secretary was 
published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2002 (67 FR 18512, 
18514). The published criteria supplement those set forth in section 
305(i)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and shall be applied equally 
in determining a party's eligibility to participate in the 
demonstration project. Given this, applicants must:
    1. Be located within the Western Pacific Regional Fishery 
Management Area (American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam or 
Hawaii);

[[Page 3099]]

    2. Consist of community residents descended from aboriginal people 
indigenous to the western Pacific area who conducted commercial or 
subsistence fishing using traditional fishing practices in the waters 
of the western Pacific;
    3. Consist of community residents who reside in their ancestral 
homeland;
    4. Have knowledge of customary practices relevant to fisheries of 
the western Pacific;
    5. Have traditional dependence on fisheries of the western Pacific;
    6. Experience economic or other barriers that have prevented full 
participation in the western Pacific fisheries and, in recent years, 
have not had harvesting, processing or marketing capability sufficient 
to support substantial participation in fisheries in the area; and,
    7. Develop and submit a Community Development Plan to the Western 
Pacific Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service. For the 
purposes of determining eligibility to participate and receive funding 
assistance authorized under Section 111(b) of the Sustainable Fisheries 
Act, Public Law 104-297, as amended, and published in 16 U.S.C. 1855 
note, a project proposal shall be considered a Community Development 
Plan.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing or matching is required 
under this program.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs''. An applicant should consult the office or official 
designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more 
information on the process the State requires to be followed in 
applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for 
review. The names and addresses of these contacts are available at 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. 2011 Mid-Atlantic 
Research Set-Aside Program.
    Summary Description: NMFS, in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council (Council), is soliciting proposals under the 
2011 Mid-Atlantic Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program that address 
research priorities concerning the summer flounder, scup, black sea 
bass, Loligo squid, Illex squid, Atlantic mackerel, butterfish, 
bluefish, and tilefish fisheries. The Mid-Atlantic RSA Program was 
created by the Council as a vehicle to fund research projects through 
the sale of research quota. Under this program, the Council may set 
aside up to 3-percent of the total allowable landings (TAL) from the 
above listed species to fund selected projects. Proceeds from the sale 
of research quota are used to pay for research costs and to compensate 
fishing vessels that harvest research quota. Any additional funds, 
generated through the sale of the fish harvested under the research 
quota, above the cost of the research activities, shall be retained by 
the vessel owner as compensation for use of his/her vessel. 
Participating vessels may be authorized to harvest and land fish in 
excess of Federal possession limits and/or during fishery closures. No 
Federal funds are provided for research under this notification. NMFS 
and the Council will give priority to funding proposals addressing the 
research needs identified in Section I-B of the FFO.
    Funding Availability: No Federal funds are provided for research 
under this notification, but rather the opportunity to fish with the 
catch sold to generate research funds and to provide compensation for 
harvesting of RSA quota. The Federal Government may issue an exempted 
fishing permit (EFP) to selected projects, which may provide special 
fishing privileges, such as exemption from possession limits and 
fishery closures. Funds generated from RSA landings shall be used to 
cover the cost of the research activities, including vessel costs, and 
to compensate boats for expenses incurred during the collection of the 
set-aside species. For example, the funds may be used to pay for gear 
modifications, monitoring equipment, additional provisions (e.g., fuel, 
ice, food for scientists), or the salaries of research personnel. The 
Federal Government is not liable for any costs incurred by the 
researcher or vessel owner should the sale of RSA quota not fully 
reimburse the researcher or vessel owner for his/her expenses. Any 
additional funds, generated through the sale of the fish harvested 
under the research quota, above the cost of the research activities, 
shall be retained by the vessel owner as compensation for use of his/
her vessel. The Council, in consultation with the Commission, will 
incorporate RSA quotas for each of the set-aside species for the 2011 
fishing year into the Council's annual quota specification 
recommendations. NMFS will consider the recommended level of RSA as 
part of the associated rulemaking process. RSA quota available to 
applicants under the 2011 Mid-Atlantic RSA Program will be established 
through the 2011 quota specification rulemaking process. The Council is 
scheduled to adopt quotas, including RSA quotas, by the end of 2010. 
Based on Council recommendations, NMFS may choose to adopt less than 3 
percent of TAL as a set-aside, or decide not to adopt any set-aside for 
a given fishery. The value of RSA quota will be dictated by market 
conditions prevailing at the time the compensation fishing trips are 
conducted. To help researchers develop proposals and proposal budgets 
for the 2011 Mid-Atlantic RSA Program, recent quota amount and quota 
value information is listed below. This information is for guidance 
purposes only; it does not reflect actual RSA quota amounts or quota 
values that will be in effect for fishing year 2011. RSA quota amounts 
are based on 2010 FMP specifications proposed by the Council. RSA quota 
values are based on landings data taken from Fisheries of the United 
States, 2008. This information is listed below in the following format: 
Species/RSA quota amount (lb)/RSA quota total value/RSA value per 
pound. -Summer flounder/663,900 lb/$1,656,845/2.50 lb -Scup/423,300 lb/
$478,327/$1.13 lb -Black sea bass/69,000 lb/$192,076/$2.78 lb -Loligo 
squid/1,256,635 lb/$1,173,033/$0.93 lb -Bluefish/877,914 lb/$376,279/
$0.42 lb -Butterfish/33,069 lb/$17,282/$0.52 lb -Illex squid/1,587,328 
lb/$0/$0.24 lb (no Illex squid was requested) -Atlantic mackerel/0 lb/
$0/$0.14 (no Atlantic mackerel was requested) -Tilefish/0 lb/$0/$2.26 
lb (no tilefish RSA was allocated) Starting in 2010, successful 
projects may not have more than 50 vessels authorized to conduct 
compensation fishing at any given time unless sufficient rationale can 
demonstrate that more than 50 vessels are needed. In addition, 
principal investigators and project coordinators should be aware that 
it may take NMFS up to 4 weeks to process requests to revise the list 
of vessels that are authorized to conduct compensation fishing.
    Statutory Authority: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 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. Statutory 
authority for entering into cooperative agreements and other financial 
agreements with non-profit organizations is found at 15 U.S.C. 1540. 
Framework Adjustment 1 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
FMP, Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP, Bluefish FMP, and 
Tilefish FMP established the Mid-Atlantic RSA Program (66 FR 42156, 
August 10, 2001), which is codified in regulations at 50 CFR 648.21(g).
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.454, 
Unallied Management Projects

[[Page 3100]]

    Application Deadline: Applications must be received on or before 5 
p.m. EST on March 22, 2010. Proposals received after the established 
deadline will be rejected and returned to the sender without 
consideration. For applications submitted through Grants.gov, a date 
and time receipt indication will be the basis of determining 
timeliness. For those not having access to the Internet, one signed 
original and two hard copy applications must be received by the 
established due date for the program at the following address: Cheryl 
A. Corbett, NMFS, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, 
Woods Hole, MA 02543. Use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must 
be documented with a receipt. No facsimile or electronic mail proposals 
will be accepted. January 1, 2011, should be used as the proposed start 
date on proposals, unless otherwise directed by the Program Officer.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: To apply for this NOAA Federal 
Funding Opportunity, please submit applications to http://www.grants.gov and use funding opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-NEFSC-2011-
2002247. Applicants who do not have Internet access may submit their 
application to Cheryl A. Corbett, NMFS, Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543.
    Information Contacts: Information may be obtained from Kathy 
Collins, Public Affairs Specialist, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council, by phone 302-674-2331 ext. 14, or via e-mail at 
[email protected], or Cheryl A. Corbett, Cooperative Programs 
Specialist, NMFS, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, 
Woods Hole, MA 02543, or by phone at 508-495-2070, or fax at 508-495-
2004, or via e-mail at [email protected]; or from Ryan Silva, 
Cooperative Research Liaison, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, by phone 
978-281-9326, or via e-mail at [email protected].
    Eligibility: 1. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, 
individuals, and 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 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 required.
    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.'' Fisheries Science Program--FY2010.
    Summary Description: The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) is 
directed by congressional mandate to provide technical assistance in: 
(1) Identifying science-based management options for restoration and 
protection of living resources and their habitats; (2) monitoring and 
assessing the status of living resources and their habitats; and, (3) 
evaluating the effectiveness of management plan implementation. For 
FY2010, it is anticipated that approximately $500k could be made 
available for projects that address multiple species interactions and 
stock assessment research as identified in the Program Priority Section 
(I.B.1 and I.B.2) of FFO.
    Funding Availability: This solicitation announces approximately 
$500,000 in federal funds that may be available in FY 2010 in award 
amounts to be determined by the proposals. It is expected that these 
funds will provide support for 5-10 projects at approximately $50,000 
to $100,000 per project. Funding for subsequent years of work will 
depend on the performance of grantees to successfully conduct 
activities as determined by the Federal Program Officer through 
performance reports, site visits, and compliance with award conditions. 
There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make 
awards for all qualified projects. The exact amount of funds that may 
be awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this notice does not 
oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available 
funds. If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they 
do so at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the government. 
Notwithstanding verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of NOAA to cover pre-award 
costs unless approved by the Grants Officer as part of the terms when 
the award is made.
    Statutory Authority: The Secretary is authorized under the Fish and 
Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended, at 16 U.S.C. 661, to provide 
assistance to, and cooperate with, Federal, State, and public or 
private agencies and organizations in the development, protection, 
rearing, and stocking of all species of wildlife, resources thereof, 
and their habitat, in controlling losses of the same from disease or 
other causes, and in minimizing damages from overabundant species.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.457, 
Chesapeake Bay Studies
    Application Deadline: Full proposals must be received by 5:00 pm 
eastern time March 5, 2010.
    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. If 
internet access is unavailable, paper applications (a signed original 
and two copies) may also be submitted to the NOAA Chesapeake Bay 
Office, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403. No 
facsimile applications will be accepted. Institutions are encouraged to 
submit Letters of Intent to NCBO 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: For further information about the Chesapeake 
Bay Fisheries Science Program, please visit the NOAA Chesapeake Bay 
Office Web site at: http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/. For assistance with 
forms, application requirements, or submission procedures please 
contact Derek Orner, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office; 410 Severn Avenue, 
Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403, or by phone at 410-267-5676, or fax to 
410-267-5666, or via Internet at [email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other

[[Page 3101]]

 nonprofits, commercial organizations, foreign governments, 
organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, 
international organizations, state, local and Indian tribal 
governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible to 
receive Federal assistance under this notice. The Department of 
Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is 
strongly committed to broadening the participation of historically 
black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal 
colleges and universities, and institutions that work in underserved 
areas. The NCBO encourages proposals involving any of the above 
institutions.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing is required under this 
program, however, the NCBO strongly encourages applicants to share as 
much of the project costs 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. Priority selection will be 
given to proposals that propose cash rather than in-kind contributions.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program (CFDA 
11.457, Chesapeake Bay Studies) are subject to Executive Order 12372, 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. NOAA Great Lakes Habitat 
Restoration Program Project Grants under the Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative
    Summary Description: NOAA delivers funding and technical expertise 
to restore Great Lakes coastal habitats. These habitats support 
valuable fisheries and protected resources; improve the quality of our 
water; provide recreational opportunities for the public's use and 
enjoyment; and buffer our coastal communities from the impacts of 
changing lake levels. Projects funded through NOAA have strong on-the-
ground habitat restoration components that provide social and economic 
benefits for people and their communities in addition to long-term 
ecological habitat improvements. Through this solicitation, NOAA seeks 
to openly compete funding available for habitat restoration under the 
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as proposed in the President's 
FY2010 Budget. Applications should be submitted for any project that is 
to be considered for this funding, even for those projects already 
submitted as applications to other NOAA competitions including the 
recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act solicitation. Competition 
will ensure that the most beneficial restoration projects are selected 
to realize significant ecological gains and ensure that projects are 
truly ``shovel-ready.'' Applications selected for funding through this 
solicitation will be implemented through a grant or cooperative 
agreement, with awards dependent upon the amount of funds made 
available to NOAA for this purpose by the Environmental Protection 
Agency. NOAA anticipates up to $10 million may be available for Great 
Lakes coastal habitat restoration; typical awards are expected to range 
between $1 million to $1.5 million. Funds will be administered by 
NOAA's Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program (GLHRP).
    Funding Availability: NOAA anticipates that up to $10 million may 
be available for Great Lakes coastal habitat restoration; typical 
awards are expected to range between $1 million and $1.5 million. NOAA 
will not accept applications requesting less than $500,000 or more than 
$2.5 million of federal funds under this solicitation. There is no 
guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for 
all applications. 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 habitat restoration 
projects by the applicants, the merit and ranking of the applications, 
and the amount of funds made available. The exact amount of funds that 
may be awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this document does 
not obligate NOAA to award any specific project or obligate all or any 
parts of any available funds.
    Statutory Authority: The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under 
the following statutes to provide grants and cooperative agreements for 
habitat restoration:--Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 16 U.S.C. 661, 
as amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970;--Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, 16 
U.S.C. 1891a;--Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act, 
33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.;--Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as 
amended, 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.--National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 16 
U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.463, 
Habitat Conservation.
    Application Deadline: Applications must be postmarked, provided to 
a delivery service, or received by www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. EST on 
February 16, 2010. Use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be 
documented with a receipt. No facsimile or electronic mail applications 
will be accepted. Please Note: It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) 
business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this 
in mind in developing your submission timeline.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: If an applicant does not have 
internet access, a hard copy application must be postmarked, or 
provided to a delivery service and documented with a receipt, by 11:59 
p.m. EST on February 16, 2010 and sent to: NOAA Restoration Center (F/
HC3) NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation, 1315 East West 
Highway, Rm. 14730, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attn: Great Lakes Habitat 
Restoration Project Applications. Applications postmarked or provided 
to a delivery service after 11:59 p.m. EST February 1, 2010 will not be 
considered for funding. Applications submitted via the U.S. Postal 
Service must have an official postmark; private metered postmarks are 
not acceptable. In any event, applications received later than 5 
business days following the postmark closing date will not be accepted. 
No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted. Paper 
applications should be printed on 8.5 x 11 paper 
(12-point font with 1'' margins; reviewers generally prefer 1.5 line 
spacing) and should not be bound in any manner.
    Information Contacts: For further information contact Jenni Wallace 
at (301) 713-0174 ext. 183, or by e-mail at [email protected]. 
Prospective applicants are invited to contact NOAA staff before 
submitting an application to discuss whether their project ideas are 
within the scope of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative's objectives 
and NOAA's mission and goals. Additional information on habitat 
restoration can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, non-profits, industry and commercial (for profit) 
organizations, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments, international organizations, and state, local and Indian 
tribal governments. Applications from Federal agencies or employees of 
Federal agencies will not be considered. Federal agencies are strongly 
encouraged to work with states, non-governmental organizations, 
municipal and county governments, conservation corps organizations and 
others that are eligible to apply. The Department of Commerce/National 
Oceanic and

[[Page 3102]]

Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to 
broadening the participation of historically black colleges and 
universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and 
universities, and institutions that work in under-served areas. The 
GLHRP encourages applications involving any of the above institutions.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: There is no statutory matching 
requirement for this funding. NOAA typically leverages its Federal 
funding with matching contributions and/or partnerships from a broad 
range of sources in the public and private sector to implement locally 
important coastal habitat restoration. To this end, applicants are 
encouraged to demonstrate a 1:1 non-federal match for GLHRP funds 
requested to conduct the proposed project. Applicants with less than 
1:1 match will not be disqualified, however, applicants should note 
that cost sharing is an element considered in Evaluation Criterion 
4 ``Project Costs'' (Section V.A.4. of the FFO). Match to NOAA 
funds can come from a variety of public and private sources and can 
include in-kind goods and services and volunteer labor.
    Applicants are permitted to combine contributions from non-federal 
partners, as long as such contributions are not being used to match any 
other federal funds and are available within the project period stated 
in the application. Federal sources cannot be considered for matching 
funds, but can be described in the budget narrative to demonstrate 
additional leverage.
    Applicants are also permitted to apply federally negotiated 
indirect costs in excess of Federal share limits as described in 
Section IV.E. ``Funding Restrictions'' of the FFO. Applicants whose 
proposals are selected for funding will be bound by the percentage of 
cost sharing reflected in the award document signed by the NOAA Grants 
Officer. Successful applicants should be prepared to carefully document 
matching contributions, including the overall number of volunteers and 
in-kind participation hours devoted to habitat restoration projects. 
Letters of commitment for any secured resources that will be used as 
match for an award under this solicitation should be submitted as an 
attachment to the application, see Section IV.B. of the FFO.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications submitted by state and local 
governments are subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' Any applicant 
submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 19 
on SF-424 regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) established as a result of EO 12372. To find out about and 
comply with a State's process under EO 12372, the names, addresses and 
phone numbers of participating SPOCs are listed in the Office of 
Management and Budget's home page at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

Proactive Species Conservation Program

    Summary Description: The NMFS is seeking to provide federal 
assistance, in the form of grants or cooperative agreements, to support 
conservation efforts for the current list of marine and anadromous 
species under the Proactive Species Conservation Program. The program 
supports voluntary conservation efforts designed to conserve marine and 
anadromous species before they reach the point at which listing as 
threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) becomes 
necessary. Such proactive conservation efforts can serve as an 
efficient, non-regulatory, and cost-effective means of managing 
potentially at-risk species. To raise awareness of potentially at-risk 
species and to foster their proactive conservation, the NMFS created a 
`species of concern' list in April 2004 (69 FR 19975). `Species of 
concern' are species that are potentially at risk of becoming 
threatened or endangered or may potentially require protections under 
the ESA, yet for which sufficient data are lacking. The species-of-
concern status carries no procedural or regulatory protections under 
the ESA. The list of species of concern and descriptions of each 
species are available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/concern/#list. Under this solicitation, any state, territorial, tribal, or 
local entity that has authority to manage or regulate these species or 
activities that affect these species is eligible to apply to this grant 
program. This document describes how to submit proposals for funding in 
fiscal year (FY) 2010 and how the NMFS will determine which proposals 
will be funded. This document should be read in its entirety, as some 
information has changed from the previous year.
    Funding Availability: This solicitation announces that 
approximately $200,000 may be available for distribution in FY 2010 
under the PSCP; there are no restrictions on minimum or maximum funding 
requests. Applicants may apply for funds for up to 5 years (see below) 
so the total amount requested over the life of the project may be more 
than $200,000, but the limit for FY 2010 should be $200,000. Actual 
funding availability for this program is contingent upon Fiscal Year 
2010 Congressional appropriations. Applicants are hereby given notice 
that funds have not yet been appropriated for this program. There is no 
guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for 
all qualified projects.
    Publication of this notice does not oblige the NMFS to award any 
specific project or to obligate any available funds; and, if an 
application is selected for funding, the NMFS has no obligation to 
provide any additional funding in connection with that award in 
subsequent years. There is also no limit on the number of applications 
that can be submitted by the same applicant. Multiple applications 
submitted by the same applicant must clearly identify distinct 
projects, and single applications should not include multiple, 
unrelated projects. Notwithstanding verbal or written assurance that 
may have been received, pre-award costs are not allowed under the award 
unless approved by the Grants Officer in accordance with 2 CFR Part 
225.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for the Proactive Species 
Conservation Program is provided by 16 U.S.C. 661.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.472, 
Unallied Science Program.
    Application Deadline: Applications must be postmarked, provided to 
a delivery service, or received by http://www.grants.gov/ by 11:59 p.m. 
Eastern Standard Time on February 11, 2010. Use of a delivery service 
other than U.S. mail must be documented with a receipt. PLEASE NOTE: It 
may take Grants.gov up to two business days to validate or reject an 
application. Please keep this in mind when developing your submission 
timeline.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: For applicants without internet 
access, paper applications can be mailed to NOAA/NMFS/Office of 
Protected Resources, Attn: Dwayne Meadows, NMFS Office of Protected 
Resources F/PR3, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. If it is necessary to submit a paper application, then one 
signed original and two signed copies (including supporting 
information) must be submitted; paper applications should not be bound 
in any manner.
    Information Contacts: If you have any questions regarding this 
proposal solicitation, please contact Dwayne Meadows at the NMFS Office 
of Protected Resources F/PR3, Endangered Species Division, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, by phone at 301-713-1401 x199, 
or by e-

[[Page 3103]]

mail at [email protected]. You may also contact one of the 
following people in your region for further guidance: Sarah Laporte, 
Northeast Regional Office ([email protected], 978-282-8477), 
Calusa Horn, Southeast Regional Office ([email protected], 727-824-
5312), Krista Graham, Pacific Islands Regional Office 
([email protected], 808-944-2238), Susan Wang, Southwest Regional 
Office ([email protected], 562-980-4199), Eric Murray, Northwest 
Regional Office ([email protected], 503-872-2791), Brad Smith, 
Alaska Regional Office ([email protected], 907-271-3023).
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are U.S. state, territorial, 
tribal, or local governments that have regulatory or management 
authority over one or more SOC or activities that affect one or more 
SOC. A current list of SOC can be found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/concern/#list or obtained from the Office of Protected 
Resources (see Section VII, Agency Contacts, of the FFO). Applicants 
are not eligible to submit a proposal under this program if they are a 
federal employee; however, federal employees may serve as Cooperators. 
In addition, NMFS employees are not allowed to actively engage in the 
preparation of proposals or write letters of support for any 
application. However, if applicable, NMFS employees can write a letter 
verifying that they are collaborating with a particular project. NMFS 
contacts (see Section VII of the FFO) are available to provide 
information regarding programmatic goals and objectives associated with 
the PSCP, other ongoing ESA programs, regional funding priorities, and, 
along with other Federal Program Officers, can provide information on 
application procedures and completion of required forms.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: There are no cost-sharing or matching 
requirements under this solicitation.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications submitted by state and local 
governments are subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' Any applicant 
submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 16 
on SF-424 regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) established as a result of EO 12372. To find out about and 
comply with a State's process under EO 12372, the names, addresses and 
phone numbers of participating SPOC's are listed on the Office of 
Management and Budget's home page at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
National Ocean Service (NOS) Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation 
Program--FY 2011 Competition
    Summary Description: The purpose of this document is to advise 
eligible coastal states and territories (requirements described below) 
that OCRM is soliciting coastal and estuarine land conservation project 
proposals for competitive funding under the CELCP. States and 
territories must have submitted to NOAA a CELCP plan on or before 
February 19, 2010, in order to be eligible to participate in the FY2011 
funding opportunity. Funding is contingent upon the availability of FY 
2011 Federal appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded 
under this announcement will have a grant start date between June 1, 
2011 and October 1, 2011. The program authority is 16 U.S.C. 1456-1.
    Funding Availability: NOAA anticipates that approximately 20-60 
projects may be included on a competitively-ranked list of projects 
that are ready and eligible for funding in FY 2011. Funding for 
projects selected for the prioritized list is contingent upon 
availability of Federal appropriations for FY 2011. Applicants are 
hereby given notice that funds have not yet been appropriated for this 
program. The FY 2011 President's Budget request for CELCP is $15 
million. Annual appropriated funding levels for the CELCP have ranged 
from $8-$50 million from FY 2002-2009. Eligible coastal states and 
territories may select and submit up to three projects for this 
competition, including subsequent phases of projects previously funded 
by CELCP. Applicants may include multiple parcels in a project proposal 
if the parcels are related; however, please note that NOAA will 
evaluate project readiness and feasibility for completion within the 
required 18 month timeframe. For such projects, NOAA recommends that 
applicants limit the scope to acquiring no more than 5 separate parcels 
(including parcels that would be acquired directly with CELCP funds as 
well as those that would be counted an in-kind match). See Section 
III.C of the FFO for additional details. The maximum amount that may be 
requested for the Federal share of each project is $3,000,000.
    The amount of funding per award in previous years has ranged from 
$105,000 to $3,000,000 for competitively selected projects, depending 
on the amount requested, size, and type of project. There is no 
guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for 
all qualified projects. Publication of this notice and the list of 
projects deemed ready and eligible does not oblige NOAA to award any 
specific project or to obligate any available funds. If an applicant 
incurs any costs prior to receiving an award agreement signed by an 
authorized NOAA official, they do so at their own risk of these costs 
not being included under the award. In no event will NOAA or the 
Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation or other 
project costs if this program fails to receive funding or is cancelled 
because of other agency priorities. Recipients and sub-recipients are 
subject to all Federal laws and agency policies, regulations, and 
procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards. 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 NOAA Program Review Team. 
If funding is appropriated in FY 2011 for projects recommended through 
this competition, NOAA will request final grant applications from 
successful applicants as soon as feasible in order to expedite the 
grant process (see VI. Award Administration Information). Applicants 
must be in good standing with all existing NOAA grants in order to 
receive funds.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for the CELCP is 16 U.S.C. 1456-1 
(formerly authorized under 16 U.S.C. 1456d).
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.419, 
Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards.
    Application Deadline: Applications must be received by Grants.gov 
or be delivered to the OCRM office (address listed in this 
announcement) no later than 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 9, 
2010. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted. 
Paper applications delivered after the deadline will not be accepted, 
regardless of postmark date. Please note that it may take Grants.gov up 
to two (2) business days to validate or reject an application. Please 
keep this in mind when developing your submission timeline; do not wait 
until the last day to submit an application.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: The proposal may be submitted 
electronically through Grants.gov online at: http://www.grants.gov or 
by mailing a signed original and four copies of each proposal to Attn: 
Elaine Vaudreuil, NOAA, Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National 
Policy and Evaluation Division (N/ORM7), 1305

[[Page 3104]]

East-West Highway, SSMC4, Station 10657, Silver Spring MD 20910.
    Information Contacts: CELCP Program Manager, Elaine Vaudreuil, 
Phone: (301) 713-3155 ext 103, E-mail: [email protected].
    Eligibility: Only coastal states and territories with Coastal Zone 
Management Programs or National Estuarine Research Reserves approved 
under the CZMA, and that have submitted a draft CELCP plan to NOAA on 
or before February 19, 2010, are eligible to participate in the FY 2011 
CELCP competition. A list of the status of each state and territory's 
CELCP plan, including the states and territories eligible for this 
competition, is available at http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/land/media/CELCPplans_web.pdf, and will be updated as of February 19, 2010. 
The designated lead agency for implementing CELCP in each state or 
territory (``lead agency'') is eligible to submit projects for funding 
under this competition. The lead agency is presumed to be the agency 
designated as lead for implementing the state or territory's coastal 
management program, as approved under the CZMA, unless otherwise 
designated by the Governor. A list of lead contacts for each state and 
territory is available on the CELCP Web site at http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/land/media/celcpstateleadcontacts.pdf. The 
designated lead agency may solicit, and include in their application, 
project proposals from additional eligible state or territorial 
agencies, local governments as defined at 15 CFR 24.3, or entities 
eligible for assistance under section 306A(e) of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 
1455a(e)), provided that each has the authority to acquire and manage 
land for conservation purposes. As defined at 15 CFR 24.3, local 
government means a county, municipality, city, town, township, local 
public authority (including any public and Indian housing agency under 
the United States Housing Act of 1937), school district, special 
district, intrastate district, council of governments (whether or not 
incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law), any other 
regional or interstate government entity, or any agency or 
instrumentality of a local government. Under section 306A(e) of the 
CZMA, an eligible entity may be a local government, an areawide agency 
designated under Chapter 41, Subchapter II, Section 3334 of Title 42, a 
regional agency, or an interstate agency. The public agencies/entities, 
or types of entities, considered to be eligible within each state or 
territory may be identified within the state or territory's CELCP plan. 
A list of Web sites for state or territory CELCP plans is available at 
http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/land/media/CELCPplans_web.pdf. The 
lead agency will be responsible for: Ensuring that projects are 
consistent with land conservation priorities outlined in the state or 
territory's draft or approved CELCP plan; reviewing proposals for 
completeness and eligibility requirements; prioritizing proposals 
according to CELCP plan criteria; and nominating up to three proposals 
to the national selection process at a requested funding level not to 
exceed $3 million per proposal. For selected projects, NOAA may make 
financial assistance awards to the lead agency, which will be 
responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the purposes 
of and in a manner consistent with this program, including any funds 
awarded to an eligible sub-applicant. NOAA may, with concurrence of the 
state or territory's CELCP lead agency, make a grant directly to the 
identified sub-applicant in order to expedite completion of an approved 
project. In such cases, the sub-applicant (as the grant recipient) will 
be responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the 
approved purposes and in a manner consistent with this program. 
Interested parties should contact the appropriate CELCP lead in each 
state or territory for additional information on their project 
solicitation process. (See http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/land/media/celcpstateleadcontacts.pdf for a list of lead contacts for each 
state and territory.)
    Cost Sharing Requirements: Federal funds awarded under this program 
must be matched with non-Federal funds at a ratio of 1:1, with the 
following exception. In accordance with 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d), the 1:1 
matching requirement is waived for any project under $200,000 for 
Insular Areas, defined as the jurisdictions of the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands. For any project equal to or greater than $200,000, the 
matching requirement would be waived for the portion under $200,000. 
The 1:1 match requirement would apply to the portion equal to or above 
$200,000. Please note: Eligible applicants choosing to apply 48 U.S.C. 
1469a(d) should note the use of the waiver and the total amount of 
funds requested to be waived in the matching funds section of the 
project proposal. Non-Federal matching funds may be derived from state, 
local, non-governmental or private sources in the form of cash or in-
kind contributions. Eligible sources of match and other cost-sharing 
requirements are specified in Section 2.7 of the CELCP Guidelines as 
well as in the 2009 CELCP authorization (16 U.S.C. 1456-1), and are 
outlined in detail in Section III.C. ``Other Criteria that Affect 
Eligibility'' of the FFO. The following costs may not be counted toward 
the non-Federal matching share: (1) Costs associated with CELCP-funded 
properties that are incurred prior to the grant award. (2) Lands or 
services previously used as match to a Federal grant. Any funds or in-
kind contributions, including the value of donated lands or services, 
that have been previously used to satisfy the matching requirements of 
this program or that that have been or will be used to satisfy another 
Federal grant, may not be counted toward the non-Federal matching 
share. (3) Lands or services acquired with Federal funds. Unless 
otherwise provided by Federal law, the value of property, interests in 
property or services acquired with Federal funding may not be used as 
non-Federal match. (4) Cash contribution of Federal funds. Unless 
otherwise provided by Federal law, funding that originated from Federal 
sources may not be used as non-Federal match.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs'' for states that participate in this process. A list of the 
participating states and the clearinghouse points of contact can be 
found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

FY10 Bay Watershed Education and Training Program, Adult and Community 
Watershed Education in the Monterey Bay

    Summary Description: The California B-WET Program, Adult and 
Community Watershed Education, 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 Monterey Bay watershed. 
Funded projects provide meaningful watershed education to adults and 
communities. The term meaningful watershed education is defined as 
outcome-based programs that educate citizens about their role in 
protecting water quality and demonstrate behavioral changes that 
improve water quality and promote environmental stewardship.
    Funding Availability: This solicitation announces that 
approximately $200,000 may be available in FY 2010 in award amounts to 
be determined by the

[[Page 3105]]

proposals and available funds. The Office of National Marine 
Sanctuaries anticipates that approximately 3-6 grants will be awarded 
with these funds and that typical project awards will range from 
$20,000 to $60,000. The California B-WET Program should not be 
considered a long-term source of funds; applicants must demonstrate how 
ongoing programs, once initiated, will be sustained.
    There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to 
make awards for all qualified projects. The exact amount of funds that 
may be awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this notice does not 
oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available 
funds. If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they 
do so at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the government. 
Notwithstanding verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of NOAA to cover pre-award 
costs unless approved by the Grants Officer as part of the terms when 
the award is made.
    Statutory Authority: 33 U.S.C. 893 a(a).
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.429, 
Marine Sanctuary Program
    Application Deadline: Applications must be received and validated 
by Grants.gov on or before 5 p.m. PST on February 12, 2010. Please 
Note: It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or 
reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your 
submission timeline. Both hard copy and electronic proposals received 
after that time will not be considered for funding and will be returned 
to the applicant.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Application packages should be 
submitted through Grants.gov. If an applicant does not have Internet 
access, the applicant should send the application package to: Seaberry 
Nachbar, B-WET Program Manager, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 
Office, 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940.
    Information Contacts: Please visit the Office National Marine 
Sanctuaries B-WET Web site for further information at: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/BWET or contact Seaberry Nachbar, Monterey Bay 
National Marine Sanctuary Office; 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940, 
or by phone at 831-647-4204, or fax to 831-647-4250, or via Internet at 
[email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, nonprofit organizations, state or local government agencies, 
and Indian tribal governments. The Department of Commerce/National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed 
to broadening the participation of historically black colleges and 
universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and 
universities, and institutions that service undeserved areas. The 
National Marine Sanctuary Program encourages proposals involving any of 
the above institutions.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing is required under this 
program; however, the National Marine Sanctuary Program strongly 
encourages applicants to share as much of the costs of the award as 
possible. Funds from other Federal awards will not be accepted as 
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.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.

FY2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Community Modeling Environment 
To Support a Super-Regional Test Bed

    Summary Description: The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) 
is working to link national and regional observations (observations 
subsystem), data management (data management and communications 
subsystem), and modeling and analysis subsystem to provide required 
data and information on local to global scales to address IOOS seven 
societal goals of: (1) Improve predictions of climate change and 
weather and their effects on coastal communities and the nation, (2) 
Improve the safety and efficiency of maritime operations, (3) More 
effectively mitigate the effects of natural hazards, (4) Improve 
national and homeland security, (5) Reduce public health risks, (6) 
More effectively protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems, and 
(7) Enable the sustained use of ocean and coastal resources.
    The IOOS modeling and analysis (MA) subsystem supports the ocean, 
coastal and Great Lakes nowcasting/forecasting/hindcasting and decision 
making capabilities of IOOS that are needed to address these societal 
goals. IOOS observing subsystem and data management and communication 
subsystems are supporting elements for the MA system. Modeling 
expertise is available within the IOOS Regional Associations, other 
academic and research institutes, private sector entities, the Federal, 
local and state government. NOAA, along with other IOOS stakeholders, 
views the development of a community modeling environment that 
successfully demonstrates the capability for modeling scientists to 
share the use of a wide range of oceanic, coastal, atmospheric, 
hydrologic, and ecological models and associated data, tools and 
techniques that supports systematic testing, evaluation and transition 
as appropriate, into operations, as essential to a sustained and 
operational IOOS. This modeling environment should be designed with the 
potential to be used for a variety of different modeling problems and 
over different geographies.
    The program priorities for this funding opportunity are to conduct 
a super-regional test bed demonstration of the community modeling 
environment by transitioning models, tools, toolkits and other 
capabilities to a Federal operational facility to improve the 
understanding, prediction, and mitigation of the consequences of 
extreme events and chronic conditions affecting the U.S. Atlantic and 
Gulf Coasts. Of particular interest are phenomena that intersect the 
mission goals of NOAA, other operational agencies and the IOOS Regional 
Associations. This demonstration should also include estimates of the 
potential costs and benefits of improvements in the current modeling 
systems at Federal operational agencies.
    NOAA seeks proposals for a single cooperative agreement that will 
define and implement the community modeling environment and 
demonstration of a super-regional test bed. This test bed is a common 
environment in which identical variables, boundary conditions, initial 
conditions, parameterizations and other inputs used in various models 
to rigorously test and evaluate forecasting skill and the requirements 
needed for transition to a Federal operational facility or other 
entities as appropriate. The community environment and associated test 
bed must also enable data integration and dissemination, and enable 
scientists to share use of numerical models, observations, and tools; 
and in addition, provide an environment for identifying, prioritizing 
and resolving issues associated with interoperable coupling of a range 
of models such as coastal, oceanic, atmospheric, hydrologic and 
ecological. Such a test bed and community

[[Page 3106]]

modeling environment should include no less than 20 academic partners 
and research institutions, and partnerships with appropriate Federal 
operational modeling groups to guarantee it is multi-disciplinary, 
inclusive of community-modeling, and able to address operational 
constraints inherent in transitioning models into an operational 
Federal environment.
    Submitted proposals should address the following: (1) In 
collaboration with Federal partners, development of metrics and a 
system to evaluate the potential feasibility, costs, and benefits of 
improvement to existing operational capabilities of transitioning 
current and emerging community-based ocean, coastal and Great Lakes 
models into Federal operational facilities. Cooperative development of 
strategies and specific steps needed to transition existing models or 
modeling systems into Federal operational facilities including 
addressing issues of transition costs, reliability, expanded coverage, 
etc. (2) Define and transition into a Federal operational facility one 
or more models, tools, toolkits or other capabilities to advance an 
operational capability to predict an environmental extreme event in the 
U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. The transition to a Federal operational 
agency is not intended to imply a model, tool or other capability is 
operational, but rather has been implemented by the agency under pre-
operational conditions. (3) Use and build upon existing infrastructure, 
models and expertise to maximize the benefits to the modeling community 
and leverage existing resources, capacities and capabilities. (4) 
Define roles and responsibilities of academic, government and private 
sector modeling experts, infrastructure and capabilities in the 
community modeling environment and test bed demonstration. (5) 
Demonstrate engagement of customer or end users that define the 
requirements for modeling improvements and provide feedback and 
evaluation from beginning to end of the project. (6) Conduct the end-
to-end modeling process of data access and assimilation, interoperable 
model coupling, model output delivery, model testing and evaluation, 
analysis, visualization, skill assessment and user evaluation. (7) 
Describe suggested strategies for sustaining the modeling test bed 
infrastructure and expanding to other areas, models or problems.
    Funding Availability: Total anticipated funding for the cooperative 
agreement is subject to the availability of appropriations. The 
anticipated federal funding for this announcement is up to 
$4,500,000.00 for a single award. While the full funding amount will be 
awarded in year one, applicants may submit proposals that identify how 
this project will be implemented within a 1-3 year period.
    Statutory Authority: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act 
of 2009, 33 U.S.C. 3601-3610.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.012, 
Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).
    Application Deadline: Applications must be received no later than 5 
p.m. EST, February 18, 2010. For applications submitted through http://grants.gov/, a date and time receipt indication by Grants.gov will be 
the basis of determining timeliness. Hard copy applications delivered 
by mail will be date and time stamped when they are received. 
Applications received after that time will not be reviewed or 
considered. Important: All applicants, both electronic and paper, 
should be aware that adequate time must be factored into applicant 
schedules for delivery of the application. Electronic applicants are 
advised that volume on Grants.gov is currently extremely heavy, and if 
Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely 
fashion, applicants are encouraged to exercise their option to submit 
applications in paper format. Paper applicants should allow adequate 
time to ensure a paper application will be received on time, taking 
into account that guaranteed overnight carriers are not always able to 
fulfill their guarantees.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: If an applicant does not have 
Internet access, the applicant must submit through surface mail one set 
of originals (signed) and two copies of the proposals and related forms 
to the NOAA IOOS Program. No e-mail or fax copies will be accepted. 
Application packages for proposals are available through Grants.gov 
APPLY. Full proposal application packages submitted by mail must be 
received no later than the deadline. Any U.S. Postal Service 
correspondence should be sent to the attention of Regina Evans, NOAA 
IOOS; 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1225, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910; or 
by phone at 301-427-2422, fax at 301-427-2073, or e-mail at 
[email protected].
    Information Contacts: For questions regarding this announcement, 
contact: Regina Evans, NOAA IOOS; 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1225, Silver 
Spring, Maryland 20910; or by phone at 301-427-2422, fax at 301-427-
2073, or e-mail at [email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible funding applicants are institutions of higher 
education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and state, local 
and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions and 
foreign governments may not be the primary recipient of awards under 
this announcement, but are encouraged to partner with applicants when 
appropriate. If a federal partner is a NOAA office, the funds will be 
transferred internally. If the Federal partner is an agency other than 
NOAA, they must demonstrate that they have legal authority to accept 
funds in excess of their appropriation. Because they would be receiving 
funds from a non-Federal source, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535) would 
not be an appropriate authority.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: There is no requirement for cost sharing 
or matching. NOAA appreciates that the proposers may utilize existing 
modeling and information technology investments to further extend the 
results of this funding opportunity. While a cost share of funding is 
not required, applicants are encouraged to provide a description of 
complementary funding and in-kind contributions from project partners 
so that the government has a more complete picture of the overall 
project and can better interpret progress reports and other project 
outputs.
    Intergovernmental Review: Funding applications under the Center are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' It is the state agency's responsibility to contact their 
state's Single Point of Contact (SPCO) to find out about and comply 
with the state's process under EO 12372. To assist the applicant, the 
names and addresses of the SPOCs are listed on the Office of Management 
and Budget's Web site http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

Joint Hydrographic Center

    Summary Description: The purpose of this notice is to solicit 
proposals for a single cooperative agreement between NOAA and an 
institution of higher learning to operate and maintain a Joint 
Hydrographic Center as authorized in the Ocean and Coastal Mapping 
Integration Act and the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act. 
Proposals submitted in response to this announcement should advance the 
purposes of the Acts including research and development of hydrographic 
technologies necessary to ensure safe and efficient navigation; 
research and development of innovative ocean and coastal mapping 
technologies, equipment, and data products; mapping

[[Page 3107]]

of the United States Outer Continental Shelf and other regions; data 
processing for nontraditional data and uses; advancing the use of 
remote sensing technologies, for related issues, including mapping and 
assessment of essential fish habitat and of coral resources, ocean 
observations, and ocean exploration; and providing graduate education 
and training in ocean and coastal mapping sciences. The program 
priorities for this opportunity support NOAA's mission goal of: Support 
the Nation's commerce with information for safe, efficient, and 
environmentally sound transportation.
    Funding Availability: This will be a 5-year, multiyear award. The 
intent is to make a single 5-year award. Total anticipated funding for 
this award is approximately $32,500,000 with approximately $6,500,000 
to be released in FY 2010 and each subsequent year of the 5 years. This 
award and the subsequent annual releases of funds are subject to the 
availability of FY 2010 appropriations and the appropriations of each 
subsequent FY.
    The initial award and subsequent annual release of funds will be 
adjusted based on available funding.
    Statutory Authority: Statutory authority for this program is 
provided under 33 U.S.C. 883a and 883d, the Coastal and Ocean Mapping 
Integration Act, and the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.400, 
Geodetic Surveys and Services (Applications of the National Geodetic 
Ref System)
    Application Deadline: Letters of Intent must be received by the 
Office of Coast Survey no later than 4 p.m. ET February 3, 2010 . Full 
proposals must be received by the Office of Coast Survey no later than 
4 p.m. ET on March 5, 2010.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Letters of intent (LOI) may be 
sent via e-mail to [email protected]. Insert ``FY 2010 Joint 
Hydrographic Center LOI'' as the subject line of the e-mail. If hard-
copy LOIs are submitted, an original and 3 copies should be sent to the 
attention of Gretchen Imahori at the Office of Coast Survey, 1315 East 
West Highway, SSMC3 Station 6715, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282, tel. 
301-713-2777 ext. 123. Full proposal application packages, including 
any letters of support, should be submitted through Grants.gov APPLY. 
The standard NOAA funding application package is available at 
www.grants.gov. Please be advised that potential funding applicants 
must register with Grants.gov before any application materials can be 
submitted. An organization's one time registration process may take up 
to three weeks to complete so please allow sufficient time to ensure 
applications are submitted before the closing date. The Grants.gov site 
contains directions for submitting an application, the application 
package (forms), and is also where the completed application is 
submitted. If an applicant does not have Internet access, one set of 
originals (signed) and 3 copies of the proposals and related forms 
should be mailed to the attention of Gretchen Imahori at the Office of 
Coast Survey, 1315 East West Highway, SSMC3 Station 6715, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910-3282, tel. 301-713-2777 ext. 123. No e-mail or fax 
copies of the full proposal will be accepted. Full proposal application 
packages, including any letters of support, should be submitted 
together in one package.
    Information Contacts: For administrative and technical questions, 
contact Gretchen Imahori at the Office of Coast Survey, 1315 East West 
Highway, SSMC3 Station 6715, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282, or contact 
her at 301-713-2777 ext. 123 or via e-mail [email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible funding applicants are institutions of higher 
education in the United States. Federal agencies are not allowed to 
receive funds under this announcement but may serve as collaborative 
project partners and may contribute services in kind.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: There is no requirement for cost 
sharing.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

Marine Debris Prevention and Outreach Partnership Grants

    Summary Description: The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP), mandated 
by the Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act in 2006, 
has a lead role in addressing marine debris affecting the marine 
environment and navigation safety in the United States. The MDP defines 
marine debris as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or 
processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, 
disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great 
Lakes. The MDP conducts reduction, prevention, and research activities, 
as well as supports grants, partnerships, cooperative agreements, and 
contracts to address marine debris. It has held regional, national, and 
international workshops and an information exchange forum, and 
established an interactive Web site (www.marinedebris.noaa.gov) which 
includes a nation-wide web educational campaign. The MDP invites the 
public to submit applications requesting funding to establish multi-
year national and regional partnerships focusing on utilizing existing 
networks and expanding on existing resources to address marine debris 
through prevention, education, and outreach activities, and the 
dissemination and/or development of tools to support these activities. 
Partnerships are expected to catalyze the public or a target audience 
to address marine debris in a way that will benefit living marine 
resources and/or navigation safety. NOAA envisions working jointly on 
such partnerships through its Marine Debris Program to identify, 
evaluate, fund, and administer projects that address marine debris and 
help to restore NOAA trust resource species and habitats.
    This document describes the types of marine debris partnerships 
that NOAA envisions establishing, portrays the qualities that NOAA has 
found to be ideal in previous partnerships, and describes criteria 
under which applications will be evaluated for funding consideration. 
Partnership applications selected through this announcement will be 
implemented through a cooperative agreement, and will involve joint 
selection of any multiple marine debris projects funded as sub-awards 
made through the partner organization. Funding requested to establish 
partnerships in FY2010 is expected to be greater than funds available 
for this purpose and the selection process is anticipated to be highly 
competitive. This is not a request for individual project proposals 
addressing marine debris, rather it is a focused effort to establish 
partnerships between the applicant and the MDP that will lead to joint 
projects addressing marine debris prevention and outreach. Funding is 
contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations.
    Funding Availability: Total anticipated funding for all partnership 
awards is approximately $500,000 and is subject to the availability of 
FY 2010 appropriations. Annual funding is anticipated to maintain 
partnerships for up to 3 years duration, but this is dependent upon the 
level of funding made available by Congress. Funding for subsequent 
years will also depend on the ability of partners to successfully 
perform partnership activities as stated in their applications. 
Multiple awards are anticipated from this announcement. The anticipated 
federal funding per partnership award (min-max) is approximately 
$20,000 to $150,000 per

[[Page 3108]]

year. The anticipated number of partnerships ranges from one (1) to ten 
(10), approximately, and will be adjusted based on available funding. 
NOAA will not accept proposals with a single year budget under $15,000 
or over $175,000 under this solicitation. Applicants can request 
increases to continue scaling up partnership activities in subsequent 
budget periods to a limit of 10% per year, however annual funding 
levels and any increases over FY 2010 levels for successful applicants 
will be dependent upon partnership success, regional priorities, and 
the level of funding provided by Congress in the future.
    In accordance with the NOAA Marine Debris Program Grant Program 
Guidelines published on December 21, 2009 in the Federal Register, the 
NOAA Marine Debris Division Chief (Chief) will determine the proportion 
of funds available to the MDP on an annual basis that will be obligated 
to national and regional partnerships each year. The number of 
partnership 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 partnerships by the applicants, the 
merit and ranking of the proposals, and the amount of funds made 
available to the MDP by Congress. NOAA anticipates that between 1 and 
10 awards will be made as a result of this solicitation. There is no 
guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to initiate 
partnerships where funding has been recommended, and the number of 
national and regional partnerships established will be up to the 
discretion of the Chief. The exact amount of funds that may be awarded 
to work within a marine debris outreach partnership will be determined 
in pre-award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA 
representatives, and multi-year funding requests are expected to be 
funded incrementally on an annual basis. Publication of this document 
does not obligate NOAA to establish any specific partnership proposed 
or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds for partnership 
activities.
    Statutory Authority: The Administrator is authorized under the 
under the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (MDRPR 
Act), 33 U.S.C. 1952, to provide grants and cooperative agreements to 
address marine debris.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.463, 
Habitat Conservation
    Application Deadline: Full proposals must be received and validated 
by Grants.gov, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service on or 
before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time February 18, 2010. Validation or 
rejection of your application by Grants.gov may take up to 2 business 
days after submission. Please consider this process in developing your 
submission timeline. Use of a delivery service must be documented with 
a receipt. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be 
accepted.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Applications should be submitted 
via www.grants.gov. If grants.gov cannot reasonably be used, 
applications must be postmarked, or provided to a delivery service and 
documented with a receipt, by January 30, 2010 and sent to: Attn: MD 
Prevention and Outreach Partnership Applications. NOAA Marine Debris 
Division (N/ORR), Office of Response and Restoration, N/ORR, 1305 East 
West Highway, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Information Contacts: For further information contact Sarah Morison 
at 301-713-2989, or by fax 301-713-4389, or via e-mail at 
[email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other non-profits, commercial (for-profit) 
organizations, Regional Fishery Management Councils and Commissions, 
organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, 
international organizations, state, local and Indian tribal governments 
whose applications propose to benefit NOAA trust resources. 
Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies 
will not be considered. Federal agencies are strongly encouraged to 
work with states, non-governmental organizations, national service 
clubs or youth corps organizations and others that are eligible to 
apply. 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, and Tribal Colleges and Universities in its 
educational and research programs. The DOC/NOAA vision, mission, and 
goals are to achieve full participation by Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSI) in order to advance the development of human 
potential, to strengthen the nation's capacity to provide high-quality 
education, and to increase opportunities for MSIs to participate in, 
and benefit from, Federal financial assistance programs. DOC/NOAA 
encourages proposals for innovative national and regional partnerships 
involving MSIs according to the criteria in this document, to 
strengthen the capacity of MSIs to foster student careers, research and 
workforce competitiveness in addressing marine debris through 
identification, development, implementation and monitoring of marine 
debris projects on a national or regional scale.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: A major goal of the MDP is to provide 
seed money to partnerships that leverage funds and other contributions 
from a broad public and private sector to implement locally, regionally 
or nationally important activities to benefit living marine resources 
and navigation safety. To this end, the MDRPR Act requires applicants 
to demonstrate a minimum 1:1 non-Federal match for MDP funds requested 
for the proposed partnership. In addition to formal match, NOAA 
strongly encourages applicants to leverage as much investment as 
possible. However, the MDRPR Act allows the Administrator to waive all 
or part of the matching requirement if the applicant can demonstrate 
that: (1) No reasonable means are available through which applicants 
can meet the matching requirement and (2) the probable benefit of such 
project outweighs the public interest in such matching requirement. In 
addition, the MDP may waive any requirement for matching funds by an 
Insular Area (Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory 
of the Pacific Islands, and the Government of the Northern Mariana 
Islands). Under 48 U.S.C.10.1469a(d.ii.i), any department or agency may 
waive any requirement for matching funds otherwise required by law to 
be provided by the Insular Area involved. Insular Area applicants 
wishing to waive the match requirement must include a letter 
specifically requesting the match waiver. All applicants should note 
that cost sharing is an element considered in Evaluation Criterion 
4. ``Project Costs.'' Match can come from a variety of public 
and private sources and can include in-kind goods and services such as 
private boat use and volunteer labor. Applicants are permitted to 
combine contributions from non-federal partners, as long as such 
contributions are not being used to match any other funds and are 
available within the project period stated in the application. Federal 
sources cannot be considered for matching funds, but can be described 
in the budget narrative to demonstrate additional leverage. Applicants 
are permitted to combine contributions from multiple non-federal 
partners in order to meet the 1:1 match recommendation, as long as such 
contributions are not being used to

[[Page 3109]]

match any other funds. Applicants are also permitted to apply federally 
negotiated indirect costs in excess of federal share limits as 
described in Section IV.E.2. ``Indirect Costs'' of the FFO.
    Applicants should also note that the following activities, in 
general, will not be considered as match under project awards: (1) 
Activities that constitute legally required mitigation for the adverse 
effects of an activity regulated or otherwise governed by local, state 
or Federal law; (2) activities that constitute restoration for natural 
resource damages under Federal, state or local law; and (3) activities 
that are required by a separate consent decree, court order, statute or 
regulation. However, the MDRPR Act allows the Administrator to 
authorize, as appropriate, the non-Federal share of the cost of a 
project to include money paid pursuant to, or the value of any in-kind 
service performed under, an administrative order on consent or judicial 
consent decree that will remove or prevent marine debris. Applicants 
whose proposals are selected for funding will be bound by the 
percentage of cost sharing reflected in the award document signed by 
the NOAA Grants Officer. Successful applicants should be prepared to 
carefully document matching contributions, including the names of 
participating volunteers and the overall number of volunteer or 
community participation hours devoted to individual marine debris 
partnerships. Letters of commitment for any secured resources expected 
to be used as match for an award should be submitted as an attachment 
to the application.
    Intergovernmental Review: Funding applications under NOAA are 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' It is the state agency's responsibility to contact their 
state's Single Point of Contact (SPCO) to find out about and comply 
with the state's process under EO 12372. To assist the applicant, the 
names and addresses of the SPOCs are listed on the Office of Management 
and Budget's Web site http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

National Weather Service (NWS)

NWS Severe Weather Program
    Summary Description: This funding opportunity will support a study 
that evaluates how customers and the public receive and interpret 
operational products, and then make critical decisions. The study 
should apply social science research techniques to evaluate the 
effectiveness of current operational products, including graphics and 
uncertainty information, and to suggest more effective alternatives. It 
is expected the results of this study will be of interest to 
operational units, as well as emergency managers, public officials, and 
the weather enterprise as a whole.
    Funding Availability: The total funding amount available for 
proposals is anticipated to be approximately $125,000. However, there 
is no appropriation of funds at this time and no guarantee that there 
will be. An individual annual award in the form of a cooperative 
agreement is limited to a maximum of $125,000 for one year. We 
anticipate making one award.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for the Severe Weather 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: 11.467, 
Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development
    Application Deadline: Full proposals must be received by Grants.gov 
or by mail on or before 5 p.m. EDT, March 1, 2010. For proposals 
submitted through grants.gov, a date and time receipt indication is 
included and will be the basis of determining timeliness. Please note: 
Validation or rejection of your application by Grants.gov may take up 
to 2 business days after submission. Please consider this process in 
developing your submission timeline. Hard copy proposals will be date 
and time stamped when they are received in the program office. 
Applications received after the deadline will be rejected/returned to 
the sender without further consideration. No facsimile or electronic 
mail applications will be accepted.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Proposals should be submitted 
through www.grants.gov. For those organizations without internet 
access, proposals may be sent to Suzanne Lenihan, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East-
West Highway, Room 14356, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
    Information Contacts: The point of contact is Suzanne Lenihan, 
NOAA/NWS; 1325 East-West Highway, Room 14356; Silver Spring, Maryland 
20910-3283, or by phone at 301-713-1792 ext. 121, by fax to 301-713-
3107, or via e-mail at [email protected]. An alternate point of 
contact is Jennifer Sprague, NOAA/NWS; 1325 East-West Highway, Room 
11404; Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3283, or by phone at 301-713-0217, 
by fax to 301-713-1239, or via e-mail at [email protected]. 
Questions concerning this announcement must be made via e-mail to 
[email protected] or [email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, foreign 
governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments, and international organizations, state, local and Indian 
tribal governments.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing is required under this 
program.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.

Tsunami Social Science Program

    Summary Description: The Tsunami Program's mission is to provide 
reliable tsunami forecasts and warnings and promote community 
resilience and the program is committed to ensuring that all customers 
can receive, understand, and respond appropriately to NOAA forecast and 
warning products. The Tsunami Program recognizes the need to integrate 
social science information to support and improve its mission-related 
activities. This RFA requests social science research support to 
address three primary objectives: (1) Improve Tsunami Warning Center 
(TWC) products, including warnings, advisories, watches, and 
information statements, (2) Evaluate the Tsunami Ready Program 
Improvement, and (3) Assess previous and on-going tsunami-related 
social science studies including regional, state, and local efforts, to 
determine how to best integrate such information at the national level.
    Funding Availability: The total funding amount available to the 
applicants over the course of the project is anticipated to be 
$500,000.00. It is anticipated there will be one recipient of this 
award. Individual annual awards are limited to a maximum of $166,667 
per year for no more than three years.
    Statutory Authority: 33 U.S.C. 3205.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.467, 
Meteorologic and Hydrologic Modernization Development.
    Application Deadline: February 19, 2010
    Address 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: Jenifer Rhoades, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East West Highway, Room 13118, 
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, Phone: 301-713-1677

[[Page 3110]]

x102, e-mail: [email protected]. E-mail and fax submissions will 
not be accepted.
    Information Contacts: Jenifer Rhoades, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East West 
Highway, Room 13118, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, Phone: 301-713-1677 
x102, e-mail: [email protected]. Lewis Kozlosky, NOAA/NWS, 1325 
East West Highway, Room 13123, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, Phone: 
301-713-1677 x108, e-mail: [email protected]. Jennifer Sprague, 
NWS Strategic Planning and Policy, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East West Highway, 
Room 11404, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, Phone: 301-713-0217, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, foreign 
governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments, and international organizations, state, local and Indian 
tribal governments.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing is required under this 
program.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.
    Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
    NOAA Marine Aquaculture Initiative 2010.
    Summary Description: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) is seeking preliminary proposals and full 
proposals for a two-level competition supporting the development of 
environmentally and economically sustainable ocean, coastal, or Great 
Lakes aquaculture. This competition falls under the NOAA Mission to 
Protect, Restore and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources 
Through Ecosystem-Based Management. Small grant projects will support 
regional or national outreach or informational dissemination activities 
including, but not limited to, symposia, conferences, web resources and 
synthesis publications dealing with important marine aquaculture 
issues, with an emphasis on evaluating the social, economic and 
environmental impacts of marine aquaculture on local coastal 
communities. Large grant projects will support innovative, applied 
research that results in short-term implementation of technologies that 
advance economically and environmentally sustainable marine 
aquaculture.
    The top priorities for large grant and small grant projects FY 2010 
and FY 2011 are: (1) Development of technologies and practices to 
advance integrated multi-trophic systems, (2) development of 
environmental and carrying capacity models and GIS tools to aid site 
selection for new facilities in the context of marine spatial planning 
and coastal management, and (3) development of alternative feedstuffs 
and diets that reduce the use of marine forage fish for marine culture 
species. Large grant projects that involve multiple partners (e.g., 
industry, academia, and community collaboration), outreach, and 
specific resource leveraging are encouraged and will be given higher 
rank and consideration.
    Projects funded under this competition must support the NOAA Five-
Year Research Plan performance objective to increase environmentally 
sound aquaculture production and NOAA's broader goals for its marine 
aquaculture program to: (a) Establish a comprehensive regulatory 
program for the conduct of marine aquaculture operations; (b) Develop 
appropriate technologies to support commercial marine aquaculture and 
enhancement of wild stocks; (c) Establish and implement procedures for 
the environmental assessment and monitoring of marine aquaculture 
activities; (d) Conduct education and outreach activities to establish 
a well informed public on marine aquaculture; and (e) Meet 
international obligations to promote environmentally sustainable 
practices for the conduct of marine aquaculture. Accomplishment of 
these goals should lead to a well-managed marine aquaculture industry 
in the United States; a well informed public that understands U.S. 
aquaculture issues, and improved access to the latest aquaculture 
research results.
    Funding Availability: Depending on the FY 2010 and FY 2011 
Congressional appropriations and the quality of proposals, NOAA expects 
to have available up to $4 million for FY 2010 and FY 2011, with 
individual small grant projects up to $50,000 for a two-year period; 
and large grant projects up to $500,000 for a two-year period. Some 
funds in FY 2011 may be used to finish out projects started in FY 2010. 
We intend to fund projects for the full two-year project period (2010 
and 2011) using FY 2010 funds. However, some funds in FY 2011 may be 
used to complete projects started in FY 2010. In addition we may use FY 
2011 funds to start other two year projects identified through this 
competition. We also reserve the option to use some FY 2012 funds to 
finish projects started in FY 2011. It is anticipated that we will make 
approximately three small grant awards and five large grant awards over 
the two-year cycle.
    Statutory Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.417, Sea 
Grant Support.
    Application Deadline: This is a two-level competition covering 
fiscal years 2010 and 2011. NOAA administers a biennial competition for 
marine aquaculture projects. This announcement is for the 2010-2011 
cycle. This Federal Funding Opportunity includes information on 
application and criteria for two levels of grant proposal. ``Small 
grants'' are defined as those that request up to $50,000 in federal 
funding for a two-year period. ``Large grants'' are those that request 
$50,001-$500,000 in federal funding for a two-year period. The timing 
of the application deadlines and review period differs for proposals 
submitted under each level. Small grant projects only require a full 
proposal. Small grant full proposals must be received and validated by 
Grants.gov on or before by 4 p.m. EST on December 3, 2009. Large grants 
require both a preliminary and a full proposal. Large grant preliminary 
proposals must be received by 4 p.m. EST on August 25, 2009. Feedback 
for large grant preliminary proposals is anticipated to be provided by 
NOAA to project applicants by October 14, 2009. Large grant full 
proposals must be received and validated by Grants.gov on or before 4 
p.m. EST on December 10, 2009. The anticipated start date for both 
small grant and large grant projects is June 1, 2010.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Full proposals must be submitted 
through Grants.gov. Preliminary proposals for large grants must be sent 
via electronic mail to oar.hq.sg[email protected]">oar.hq.sg[email protected]. For those 
applicants without proven internet access, preliminary and full 
proposals can be sent by hardcopy to Dr. Gene Kim,: NOAA Sea Grant; 
1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, R/SG; Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
Facsimiles will not be accepted.
    Information Contacts: Address to submit large grant preliminary 
proposals: oar.hq.sg[email protected]">oar.hq.sg[email protected]. Agency contact for 
information regarding the NOAA Marine Aquaculture Initiative: Dr. Gene 
Kim, 301-734-1281; via e-mail at [email protected], Mailing Address: 
NOAA Sea Grant; 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, R/SG; Silver Spring,

[[Page 3111]]

MD 20910. No facsimiles will be accepted.
    Eligibility: Institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
organizations, commercial organizations, Federal, State, local and 
Indian tribal governments and individuals are eligible. Only those who 
submit preliminary proposals by the preliminary proposal deadline are 
eligible to submit large grant full proposals. Small grant projects do 
not require preliminary proposals, but do require a full proposal. 
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 for federal eligibility.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: Matching funds are NOT required. 
However, non-federal matching funds offered by the applicant will be 
considered positively in the Evaluation Criteria of Project Costs. 
Further, those proposals that combine resources from different 
institutions (e.g., private industry, universities, State agencies, 
foundations) to address national or regional issues will be considered 
in relation to Criteria One (Impacts) and Four (Project Cost and 
Budget) in this solicitation. Any matching funds offered by the 
applicant must be used as proposed and tracked and reported as a 
condition of the award.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this Program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

Office of the Under Secretary (USEC)

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
    Summary Description: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program 
provides support for independent graduate-level studies in 
oceanography, marine biology or maritime archaeology (including all 
science, engineering, and resource management of ocean and coastal 
areas), particularly to women and minorities. Individuals who are U.S. 
citizens and are applying to or have been accepted to a graduate 
program at a U.S. accredited institution may apply. Scholarship 
selections are based on academic excellence, letters of 
recommendations, research and career goals, and financial need. 
Applicants must have and maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average 
each term and cumulatively and maintain full-time student status for 
the duration of the appointment. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships may 
provide, subject to appropriations, yearly support of up to $42,000 per 
student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to an education 
allowance of up to $12,000), and up to $10,000 support for a four to 
six week research collaboration at a NOAA facility. A maximum of 
$94,000 may be provided to masters students (up to 2 years of support 
and one research collaboration opportunity) and up to $188,000 may be 
provided to doctoral students (up to 4 years of support and two 
research collaboration opportunities). Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship 
Program recipients will travel to Silver Spring, MD, during the week of 
May 31, 2010, for a NOAA Orientation and to meet with National Marine 
Sanctuaries Program staff. Awards will include travel expenses to 
attend the mandatory Scholarship Program orientation. Dr. Nancy Foster 
Scholarship recipients will also be required to participate in a 
research collaboration at a NOAA facility. Master`s candidates will be 
supported for one research collaboration opportunity and Doctoral 
candidates will be supported for up to two research collaboration 
opportunities over the duration of the scholarship.
    The research collaboration opportunity is designed to allow 
scholars to conduct their research at a NOAA facility and on NOAA 
mission research for four to six weeks. Scholars are required to 
provide their own health insurance coverage during the research 
collaboration. Federal support for the research opportunity may be used 
toward allowable travel costs such as: travel to and from the NOAA 
facility, housing, and per diem; while conducting research at the NOAA 
facility. Applicants who are awarded the Nancy Foster Scholarship will 
identify their research collaboration opportunity(s) topic and NOAA 
facility during the initial scholarship year. NOAA approval is required 
prior to embarking on the research collaboration. Additional 
Information about the scholarship can be obtained in the Federal 
Funding Opportunity announcement.
    Funding Availability: Subject to appropriations, approximately 
$500,000 will be available for FY 2010. Up to 10 new awards may be 
made, based on the availability of funds. The Dr. Nancy Foster 
Scholarship Program provides yearly support of up to $42,000 per 
student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to a tuition 
allowance of up to $12,000) and up to $10,000 support for a four to six 
week research collaboration at a NOAA facility. A maximum of $94,000 
may be provided to masters students (up to 2 years of support and one 
research collaboration opportunity) and up to $188,000 may be provided 
to doctoral students (up to 4 years of support and up to two research 
collaboration opportunities). Travel support will also be provided to 
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients to attend a NOAA 
orientation in Silver Spring, MD, where they will also meet with 
National Marine Sanctuaries Program leadership and staff.
    Statutory Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1445c-1 and 16 U.S.C. 1445c.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.481, 
Educational Partnership Program
    Application Deadline: Completed applications must be received by 
the Program Manager between January 1, 2010, and March 17, 2010, at 5 
p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Please Note: All applicants, both 
electronic and paper, should be aware that adequate time must be 
factored into applicant schedules for delivery of the application. It 
may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject 
the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission 
timeline. Electronic applicants are advised that volume on Grants.gov 
can be extremely heavy resulting in further delays. If Grants.gov is 
unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion, 
applicants are encouraged to exercise their option to submit 
applications in paper format. Paper applicants should allow adequate 
time to ensure a paper application is received on time, taking into 
account that guaranteed overnight carriers are not always able to 
fulfill their guarantees.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Except for institute 
certification, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, as discussed 
in Sections IV.B.6., IV.B.7, and IV.B.8. of the FFO, respectively, 
applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. If an applicant does 
not have internet access to complete the application through 
Grants.gov, hard copy applications may be submitted in one envelope to: 
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program Attn: Dr. Priti Brahma NOAA Office 
of Education 1315 East West Highway SSMC3, Room 10725 Silver Spring, MD 
20910. Failure to submit all application items, except transcripts and 
letters of recommendation, in one envelope will result in 
disqualification of the application.
    Information Contacts: Send requests for information to 
[email protected] or mail requests to Dr. Nancy Foster

[[Page 3112]]

Scholarship Program, ATTN: Dr. Priti Brahma, Office of Education, 1315 
East-West Highway, SSMC3, Room 10725, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Eligibility: Only individuals who are United States citizens 
currently pursuing a masters or doctoral level degree in oceanography, 
marine biology or maritime archaeology (including all science, 
engineering, and resource management of ocean and coastal areas) at a 
U.S. accredited graduate institution are eligible for an award under 
this scholarship program. In addition, students must have and maintain 
a minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.0 and maintain 
full-time student status for every term and for the duration of their 
award. Universities or other organizations may not apply on behalf of 
an individual. Prospective scholars do not need to be enrolled in a 
graduate program at the time of application, but must be admitted to a 
graduate level program in order to be awarded this scholarship. 
Eligibility must be maintained for each succeeding year of support and 
annual reporting requirements, to be specified at a later date, will 
apply.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: There are no matching requirements for 
this award.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.
Environmental Literacy Grants for Informal/Nonformal Science Education
    Summary Description: The goal of this funding opportunity is to 
support projects that engage the public in educational activities that 
utilize emerging and/or advanced technologies and leverage NOAA assets 
to improve understanding, and stewardship of the local and global 
environment. There is specific interest in projects that use emerging 
and/or advanced technologies to (1) facilitate outdoor experiences 
involving scientific inquiry and exploration of the natural world apart 
from formal K-12 curricula and (2) visualize, display, and interpret 
data to improve understanding and provide a systems perspective of 
Earth's dynamic processes. This program has two priorities. Priority 1 
is for large-scale projects that occur over a longer duration with 
regional to national implementation. Priority 2 is for small-scale 
projects that occur over a shorter duration with local to regional 
implementation. Funded projects will be between one and five years in 
duration. This program meets NOAA's Mission Support goal to provide 
critical support for NOAA's mission. It is anticipated that awards 
under this announcement will be made by September 30, 2010 and that 
projects funded under this announcement will have a start date no 
earlier than October 1, 2010. Note: a PDF version of this announcement 
is available at http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/funding_opps.html.
    Funding Availability: NOAA anticipates the availability of 
approximately $7,500,000 of total Federal financial assistance in FY 
2010 and FY 2011 anticipated for Environmental Literacy Grants for 
informal/nonformal science education. Approximately 5 to 10 awards in 
the form of grants or cooperative agreements will be made. For Priority 
1, the total Federal amount that may be requested from NOAA shall not 
exceed $1,250,000 for all years including direct and indirect costs. 
The minimum Federal amount that must be requested from NOAA for all 
years for the direct and indirect costs for this priority is $500,001. 
Applications requesting Federal support from NOAA of more than 
$1,250,000 or less than $500,001 total for all years will not be 
considered for funding. For Priority 2, the total Federal amount that 
may be requested from NOAA shall not exceed $500,000 for all years 
including direct and indirect costs. The minimum Federal amount that 
must be requested from NOAA for all years for the direct and indirect 
costs for this priority is $200,000. Applications requesting Federal 
support from NOAA of less than $200,000 or more than $500,000 total for 
all years will not be considered for funding. The amount of funding 
available through this announcement will be dependent upon final FY 10 
and FY 11 appropriations. Publication of this notice does not oblige 
DOC/NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available 
funds. It is likely that there will be no additional funding 
opportunity issued for these types of projects in FY 11. If an 
applicant incurs any costs prior to receiving an award agreement from 
an authorized NOAA Grants Officer, the applicant would do so solely at 
one's own risk of such costs not being included under the award. The 
exact amount of funds that may be awarded will be determined in pre-
award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA representatives.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for this program is provided by the 
33 U.S.C. 893a(a).
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.008, 
Mission-Related Education Awards.
    Application Deadline: The deadline for letters of intent is 5:00 PM 
EST February 16, 2010. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. EDT on 
April 6, 2010. Applications submitted through Grants.gov are 
automatically date/time stamped when they are validated and submitted 
to the Agency. Hard copy applications must be provided to an expedited 
shipping service by the deadline and proof of this must be provided by 
the applicant. Please Note: When submitting through Grants.gov, you 
will receive 2 e-mails. An initial e-mail will be sent to confirm your 
attempt to submit a proposal. This is NOT a confirmation of acceptance 
of your application. It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days 
to validate or reject the application and send you a second e-mail. 
Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline. An 
informational teleconference with the program officers will occur on 
January 21st 2010 (time TBD). Interested applicants should register by 
contacting [email protected] and include in the Subject line of the 
e-mail: ``Interested in FFO Teleconference--Need Details'' and provide 
the interested parties name, institution and telephone number in the 
body of the e-mail. Whenever possible people from the same institution 
should try to call in through the same phone line.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Address to submit letters of 
intent: Letters of intent must be submitted by e-mail to 
[email protected]. If applicant does not have Internet access, a hard 
copy of the letter will be accepted and should be delivered to: Stacey 
Rudolph, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Office of Education, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, HCHB 6863, Washington, DC 20230; Telephone: 202-482-3739. 
Please note: hard copy applications submitted via the US Postal Service 
can take up to 4 weeks to reach this office; therefore applicants are 
advised to send hard copy applications via expedited shipping methods 
(e.g., Airborne Express, DHL, Fed Ex, UPS). Address to submit 
applications: Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov APPLY 
(http://www.grants.gov). However, if an applicant does not have 
Internet access or Grants.gov is overwhelmed with traffic, hard copy 
applications will be accepted and should be delivered to: Stacey 
Rudolph, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Office of Education, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, HCHB 6863, Washington, DC 20230; Telephone: 202-482-3739. 
Please note: hard copy applications submitted via the US Postal Service 
can take up to 4 weeks to reach this office; therefore applicants are

[[Page 3113]]

advised to send hard copy applications via expedited shipping methods 
(e.g., Airborne Express, DHL, Fed Ex, UPS).--See the Office of 
Education's frequently asked questions site: http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/elg/elg_faqs.html for more details.
    Information Contacts: Please visit the OEd Web site for further 
information at http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/funding_opps.html or contact 
the Program Officers: Carrie McDougall at 202-482-0875; or Sarah 
Schoedinger at 704-370-3528; or John McLaughlin at 202-482-2893 or by 
e-mailing any of them at [email protected]. Projects involving 
spherical display systems require consultation with John McLaughlin, 
[email protected], 202-482-2893 or Carrie McDougall 
[email protected], 202-482-0875 prior to submission of the 
application. For those applicants without Internet access, hard copies 
of referenced documents may be requested from NOAA's Office of 
Education by contacting Stacey Rudolph at 202-482-3739 or sending a 
letter to: Stacey Rudolph, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA Office of Education, 
1401 Constitution Avenue NW., HCHB 6863, Washington, DC 20230; 
Telephone: 202-482-3739.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, other nonprofits, and state, local and Indian tribal 
governments in the United States. For-profit organizations, K-12 public 
and independent schools and school systems, foreign institutions, 
foreign organizations and foreign government agencies are not eligible 
to apply. For-profit and foreign organizations can be project partners. 
Federal agencies are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under 
this announcement, but may be project partners. The Department of 
Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is 
strongly committed to increasing the participation of Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSIs), i.e., Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and 
universities, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian institutions, and 
institutions that work in underserved communities. Applications are 
encouraged that involve any of the above types of institutions. An 
individual may apply only once as principal investigator (PI) through 
this funding opportunity. However institutions may submit more than one 
application and individuals may serve as co-PIs or key personnel on 
more than one application.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: There is no cost share requirement.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications submitted to this funding 
opportunity are not subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs. Financial Assistance to Establish five NOAA 
Cooperative Science Centers at Minority Serving Institutions 
Announcement.
    Summary Description: The purpose of this document is to announce to 
the public that in the spring of 2010, NOAA's Office of Education 
(OEd), Educational Partnership Program (EPP) with MSIs anticipates 
soliciting applications from accredited postsecondary MSIs to establish 
five NOAA Cooperative Science Centers (CSCs). These five Centers are 
designed to create collaborative partnerships among MSIs and NOAA's 
five Line Offices (LOs) including: National Environmental Satellite, 
Data, and Information Service (NESDIS); National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS); National Weather Service (NWS); National Ocean Service 
(NOS); and, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). NOAA's 
mission as stated in the FY2009--2014 NOAA Strategic Plan, is 
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. Additional information about NOAA may 
be found on the Web site: www.noaa.gov. Each NOAA Cooperative Science 
Center must conduct research and education that directly supports 
NOAA's mission. The purpose of these Centers at Minority Serving 
Institutions is to: (1) Conduct research in collaboration with NOAA to 
better understand the significance of changes in the Earth's ocean, 
coasts, Great Lakes, weather and climate; (2) educate students in 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related to the 
Centers' research to expand the size and diversity of NOAA and the 
nations STEM workforce; and, (3) build capacity and sustainability at 
all Center institutions. The Centers are to collaborate with NOAA by 
partnering with NOAA employees to conduct research and education that 
supports NOAA's mission. The Centers are to leverage this research and 
education to train and graduate students in NOAA-mission STEM fields. 
The Centers are to build sustainable capacity, including upgraded lab 
facilities, additional faculty and other research capacity that will 
enhance their ability to conduct NOAA research and education that 
contributes to a pipeline of students trained in STEM fields. The EPP 
is designed to enhance capacity at MSIs that educate, train, and 
graduate students in STEM and serve the purpose of increasing 
environmental literacy by establishing partnerships with academia, the 
private sector, and other Federal, state, tribal and local agencies. 
The program description of EPP may be found on the Web site: 
www.epp.noaa.gov. Please consult both the Federal Register Notice (FRN) 
and the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement that will be available 
spring 2010. Letters of Intent (LOI) are not required. However, 
interested parties may submit LOI to NOAA EPP no later than 2 p.m. 
Eastern Standard Time, January 22, 2010. The LOIs will assist NOAA in 
determining the number and locations for programmatic informational 
sessions. NOAA plans to announce dates of the programmatic information 
sessions in the spring 2010 FRN.
    Funding Availability: Subject to Congressional appropriations, NOAA 
anticipates making awards in the summer 2011. Awards will be made 
annually for a five-year period and are subject to the availability of 
funds and acceptable performance.
    Statutory Authority: 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; 
Executive Orders 13230, 13256, 13270, 13336, and 13339; and, America 
Competes Act H.R. 2272.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.481, 
Educational Partnership Program.
    Application Deadline: The application is July 19, 2010.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Letters of Intent may be e-mailed 
to [email protected] or [email protected]. Hard copies 
may be sent to Jacqueline Rousseau or Meka Laster, NOAA Office of 
Education, Educational Partnership Program, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. The LOI may be faxed to 301-713-9465 and 
directed to Jacqueline Rousseau or Meka Laster. In the Letters of 
Intent please include the following information: (1) The name of the 
MSI per the Department of Education web pages (see eligibility below); 
(2) the full name of the Ph.D.-granting institution; and, (3) the NOAA 
LO with which the Center will partner.
    Information Contacts: Administrative and technical questions: 
Jacqueline Rousseau (Federal Program Officer), telephone 301-713-9437 
ext. 124, fax 301-713-9465, or e-mail [email protected]. 
The alternative technical contact is Meka

[[Page 3114]]

Laster, telephone 301-713-9437 ext. 147.
    Eligibility: For the purpose of this program, Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Indian 
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-Serving 
Institutions, and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, as identified 
on the 2007 United States Department of Education, Accredited 
Postsecondary Minority Institution list (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html and http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst-list-tab.html) are eligible to 
apply. A proposed Center's principal academic institution must be an 
accredited MSI with a Ph.D. -granting degree program in a STEM field 
that supports NOAA's mission. Applications will not be accepted from 
non-profit organizations (that are not classified as Institutions of 
Higher Education), foundations, auxiliary services or any other entity 
submitted on behalf of MSIs.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: Not Applicable.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not 
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS)

Satellite Climate Data Record Program for 2010
    Summary Description: For this program, NOAA announces an amendment 
to the Federal Funding Opportunity (NESDIS-NESDISPO-2009-2001589) 
entitled ``Scientific Data Stewardship Project Office for 2009,'' which 
was originally announced in the Federal Register on Monday, October 6, 
2008 (73 FR 58129). This change concerns the Funding Availability 
published in the October 6, 2008 notice. In FY2010, the Satellite 
Climate Data Record Program (CDRP) does not plan to solicit or accept 
new proposals for FY2010 funding. FY2010 funds will be used to issue 
additional awards for applications submitted in response to the FY2009 
announcement. All other requirements published in the original 
solicitation remain unchanged.
    Funding Availability: The total anticipated federal funding in FY 
2010 is $1,500,000.00 for new awards. The anticipated number of new 
awards is from 3 to 8.
    Statutory Authority: 49 U.S.C. 44720(b) and 33 U.S.C. 883d.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.440, 
Environmental Sciences, Applications, Data, and Education.
    Application Deadline: N/A.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: N/A.
    Information Contacts: Satellite CDRP Manager: Jeff Privette, NOAA 
Satellite Climate Data Record Program Office, 151 Patton Ave, 
Asheville, NC 28801; Phone: 828-271-4331; E-mail: 
[email protected]. Satellite CDRP Grants Manager: Linda S. 
Statler, NOAA Satellite Climate Data Record Program Office, 151 Patton 
Ave, Asheville, NC 28801; Phone: 828-271-4657; E-mail: 
[email protected].
    Eligibility: N/A.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: N/A.
    Intergovernmental Review: N/A.

VI. Request for comments on Proposed Implementation Guidelines for the 
Coral Reef Conservation Program

Summary

    This is a request for comments on NOAA's proposed revisions to the 
Grant Program Implementation Guidelines (Guidelines) for the Coral Reef 
Conservation Program (Program) under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
2000 (Act). The Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), 
through the NOAA Administrator (Administrator) and subject to the 
availability of funds, to provide matching grants of financial 
assistance for coral reef conservation projects under the Act. NOAA has 
developed this set of proposed Implementation Guidelines for the Grant 
Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 through FY 2015. NOAA proposes to 
utilize several existing grant programs and mechanisms to implement the 
Program. Specific Program information including available funding, 
dates, detailed application requirements and proposal evaluation 
criteria will be published annually in separate Federal Register 
solicitations. In accordance with the Act, NOAA developed a National 
Coral Reef Action Strategy (Strategy) in 2002 to provide an 
implementation plan to advance coral reef conservation, including a 
basis for funding allocations to be made under the Program. In response 
to an external program review in 2007, a new program manager, 
development of a ``Roadmap'' for the future of the Program, and 
publication in 2009 of the Program's new 20-year Goals and Objectives 
and International Strategy, the Program is revising its Grant Program 
Implementation Guidelines to align more closely with the Program's new 
direction. The Final Grant Program Implementation Guidelines will be 
published concurrently with the FY 2011 solicitations in mid-2010.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), will be applicable to solicitations 
under this Program. This request is not a solicitation for project 
proposals.

Dates

    In order to be considered, comments on this document must be 
received by NOAA on or before February 12, 2010.

Addresses

    Only written comments will be accepted. Please send your comments 
by mail, e-mail or fax to: Jenny Waddell, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation 
Program, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOAA National 
Ocean Service, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, Fax: 301-713-4389. E-mail transmission of comments should be 
directed to [email protected].

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For further information, contact Jenny 
Waddell, Grants and External Funding Coordinator, OCRM/Coral 
Conservation Division, NOAA National Ocean Service, 1305 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 301-713-3155 extension 150, Internet: 
[email protected]; or Jennifer Koss, NMFS Habitat Conservation, 
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910; 301-713-3459 extension 195, E-mail: 
[email protected].

Supplementary Information: 

Background

    The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) 
was enacted on December 14, 2000, for the following purposes:
    1. To preserve, sustain and restore the condition of coral reef 
ecosystems;
    2. To promote the wise management and sustainable use of coral reef 
ecosystems to benefit local communities and the Nation;
    3. To develop sound scientific information on the condition of 
coral reef ecosystems and the threats to such ecosystems;
    4. To assist in the preservation of coral reefs by supporting 
conservation programs, including projects that involve affected local 
communities and non-governmental organizations;
    5. To provide financial resources for those programs and projects; 
and
    6. To establish a formal mechanism for the collecting and 
allocating of monetary donations from the private

[[Page 3115]]

sector to be used for coral reef conservation projects.
    Under section 6403 of the Act, the Secretary, through the NOAA 
Administrator (Administrator) and subject to the availability of funds, 
is authorized to provide matching grants of financial assistance for 
coral reef conservation projects. Section 6408(c) of the Act authorizes 
up to $8,000,000 annually for projects under the Program. As required 
under section 6403(j) of the Act, NOAA developed Implementation 
Guidelines for the Program in 2002 and through this request, is 
refining those Guidelines. The revised guidelines proposed herein are 
intended to update and replace the existing guidelines in order to 
shift focus toward implementation of the Program's 20-year Goals and 
Objectives and International Strategy in an effort to narrow and 
sharpen the focus of the Program. NOAA is making the revised guidelines 
in this request available for public review and comment in advance of 
implementation.
    Each fiscal year the Program will publish Federal Register notices 
to describe the availability of funds under each grant category and 
solicit project proposals. These annual solicitations provide greater 
detail on the year's program priorities, application process, and 
proposal evaluation criteria. This request is not a solicitation for 
project proposals.

Electronic Access

    The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 can be found on the 
Internet at: http://thomas.loc.gov/(Select Bill Text, then select 106th 
Congress, search on Bill Number HR 1653, select H.R. 1653.EH). 
Information on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, established June 11, 
1998 under Executive Order 13089, can be found at: http://coralreef.gov. The National Coral Reef Action Strategy, which was 
published in 2002, is available at: http://coris.noaa.gov/activities/actionstrategy/. The Program's 20-year Goals and Objectives, which were 
published in 2009, can be found at: http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/currentgoals/resources/3threats_go.pdf and the 
International Strategy, also published in 2009, is available at: http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/currentgoals/resources/intl_strategy.pdf.

Coral Reef Conservation Program

    The objective of the Grant Program is to provide financial 
assistance for coral reef conservation programs and projects consistent 
with the Act, the National Coral Reef Action Strategy, and the 
Program's 20-year Goals and Objectives and International Strategy, 
which were published in June 2009. NOAA's role in administering the 
Program is to strengthen and support the development and implementation 
of sound coral reef conservation projects, as well as ensure that the 
most beneficial projects are recommended for funding.
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
    As per section 6403(c) of the Act, eligible applicants include: Any 
natural resource management authority of a state or other government 
authority with jurisdiction over coral reefs or whose activities 
directly or indirectly affect coral reefs or coral reef ecosystems, or 
educational or non-governmental institutions with demonstrated 
expertise in the conservation of coral reefs. Each category of funding 
under this Program, as described in Section VII of the FFO, encompasses 
a specific subgroup of eligible applicants.
    As a matter of policy, funding of Federal agency activities under 
this Program will be a low priority unless such activities are an 
essential part of a cooperative project with other eligible 
governmental or non-governmental entities.
    NOAA agencies are not eligible for funding under this Program, as 
funding for such activities is provided for under section 6406 of the 
Act (National Program).

Eligible Coral Reef Conservation Activities

    As described in section 6403(g) of the Act, projects considered for 
funding under this Program must be consistent with the National Coral 
Reef Action Strategy. Concordance with the Program's 20-year Goals and 
Objectives and International Strategy guidance documents published in 
2009 to narrow and sharpen the priorities included in the National 
Coral Reef Action Strategy will be an additional criterion in 
evaluating eligible projects and activities. In addition, coral reef 
management priorities identified by states, territories and 
commonwealths containing coral reef ecosystems through a formal 
management priority setting process will be considered when evaluating 
and selecting proposals once those processes have been completed in 
2010. Further, per the same section, the Administrator may not approve 
a project proposal unless it will enhance the conservation of coral 
reefs by addressing at least one of the following:
    1. Implementing coral conservation programs which promote 
sustainable development and ensure effective, long-term conservation of 
coral reefs;
    2. Addressing the conflicts arising from the use of environments 
near coral reefs or from the use of corals, species associated with 
coral reefs, and coral products;
    3. Enhancing compliance with laws that prohibit or regulate the 
taking of coral products or species associated with coral reefs or 
regulate the use and management of coral reef ecosystems;
    4. Developing sound scientific information on the condition of 
coral reef ecosystems or the threats to such ecosystems, including 
factors that cause coral disease;
    5. Promoting and assisting to implement cooperative coral reef 
conservation projects that involve affected local communities, 
nongovernmental organizations, or others in the private sector;
    6. Increasing public knowledge and awareness of coral reef 
ecosystems and issues regarding their long term conservation;
    7. Mapping the location and distribution of coral reefs;
    8. Developing and implementing techniques to monitor and assess the 
status and condition of coral reefs;
    9. Developing and implementing cost-effective methods to restore 
degraded coral reef ecosystems; or
    10. Promoting ecologically sound navigation and anchorages near 
coral reefs.

Program Funding and Distribution

    Section 6408(c) of the Act authorizes up to $8,000,000 annually for 
financial assistance awards administered by the Coral Reef Conservation 
Program. The number of individual awards to be made each year will 
depend on the total amount of funds appropriated for coral reef 
activities within NOAA and the portion of those funds that are 
allocated to this Program.
    More information about each category of funding, including the 
total annual Program funding amount, suggested ranges for funding 
requests, and specific funding categories under which an applicant may 
choose to be considered, will be published in the Program's annual 
Federal Register solicitations.
    Program funding awarded during any given fiscal year will be 
distributed, per section 6403(d) of the Act, in the following manner:
    1. No less than 40 percent of funds available shall be awarded for 
coral reef conservation projects in the Pacific Ocean within the 
maritime areas and zones subject to the jurisdiction or control of the 
United States;
    2. No less than 40 percent of funds available shall be awarded for 
coral reef conservation projects in the Atlantic

[[Page 3116]]

Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea within the maritime areas 
and zones subject to the jurisdiction or control of the United States; 
and
    3. Remaining funds shall be awarded for projects that address 
emerging priorities or threats, including international priorities or 
threats, identified by the Administrator. When identifying emerging 
threats or priorities, the Administrator may consult with the Coral 
Reef Task Force.

Funding Categories and Mechanisms

    In order to ensure adequate funding for each of the purposes 
envisioned under the Act and provide for a balanced overall Program, 
existing NOAA programs will be used to award funds in the funding 
categories described below. Each of the categories references the 
general activity and applicant eligibility requirements associated with 
proposals submitted therein. Specific activity and applicant 
eligibility information and proposal evaluation criteria for each 
category, consistent with Guideline sections: Applicant Eligibility 
Requirements, Program Funding and Distribution, Matching Funds, 
Application Process, and Project Review, will be published in each 
year's solicitations for proposals.
    1. Coral Reef Management and Monitoring Cooperative Agreements 
support U.S. state and territorial government coral reef conservation 
management and monitoring activities, as described in section V(1-10) 
of the Guidelines (section 6403(g) of the Act) for the purposes of 
monitoring and comprehensively managing coral reef ecosystems and 
associated fisheries within their jurisdictions. Monitoring of coral 
reef ecosystems under this category includes the collection, analysis, 
and reporting of long-term coral reef monitoring data pursuant to 
scientifically valid methodologies and protocols. Eligibility to 
receive an award is limited to one agency in each state or territory 
with jurisdiction over coral reefs, as designated by the respective 
governors. These proposals will be reviewed and awarded by the National 
Ocean Service (NOS) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management 
(OCRM) and awarded under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 
number 11.419.
    2. General Coral Reef Conservation Grants provide funding to non-
governmental entities not eligible under other categories, for the 
purpose of implementing cooperative coral reef conservation, 
protection, restoration, or education projects, as described in section 
V(1-10) of the Guidelines (section 6403(g) of the Act) and consistent 
with the Program's 20-year Goals and Objectives, published in 2009. 
These proposals will be reviewed and awarded by the National Ocean 
Service (NOS) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) 
under CFDA 11.419.
    3. Fishery Management Council Cooperative Agreements support 
projects to develop, improve, or amend Fishery Management Plans to 
conserve, protect and restore coral reef habitats and associated 
fishery populations within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, with the 
overall goal of improving the management of coral reefs and associated 
organisms through the avoidance of fishing impacts, ecosystem 
management or similar approaches and practices, as described in section 
V(3) of the Guidelines (section 6403(g)(3) of the Act) and consistent 
with the Program's 20-year Goals and Objectives, published in 2009. 
Eligible applicants include Regional Fishery Management Councils with 
jurisdiction over coral reefs, as established under the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 USC 1801 et seq.). 
These proposals will be reviewed and awarded by the NMFS Office of 
Habitat Conservation under CFDA 11.441.
    4. International Grants and Cooperative Agreements will be awarded 
for the purpose of implementing cooperative coral reef conservation 
activities as described in section V(1-10) of the Guidelines (section 
6403(g) of the Act) and consistent with priorities identified in the 
Program's International Strategy published in June 2009. Eligible 
applicants include international governmental and non-governmental 
entities, including those in the Freely Associated States of the 
Pacific. These proposals will be reviewed and awarded by the NOS 
International Programs under CFDA 11.463.
    Annual solicitations published in the Federal Register will 
establish the range of funds available and specific evaluation criteria 
for each funding category. NOAA may add additional funding categories 
in the annual solicitation based on available funding and/or the 
Program's coral reef conservation priorities. Applicants will be 
required to specify in their application the category(s) under which 
they are applying for funding. Selected applications may be funded and 
awards administered by NOAA, through either NMFS or NOS. Generally, one 
award will be made for each proposal accepted for funding.
    NOAA will determine the most appropriate funding mechanisms (grant, 
cooperative agreement, or interagency agreement) for selected 
individual projects, in consultation with the applicant, based on the 
degree of direct NOAA involvement with the project beyond the provision 
of financial assistance. Substantial federal involvement in cooperative 
agreements may include participation of NOAA/CRCP staff in the 
planning, development and implementation of projects and/or provision 
of technical assistance, and will vary based on the category of 
funding, type of project, and type and experience of the award 
recipient. Proposals from non-Federal applicants that are selected for 
funding will be funded either through a project grant or cooperative 
agreement. Selected Federal proposals will be funded through 
interagency agreements; however, under the Program, such agreements 
must include a local sponsor of the coral reef conservation project.

Matching Funds

    As per section 6403(b)(1) of the Act, Federal funds for any coral 
conservation project funded under this Program may not exceed 50 
percent of the total costs of such project, and NOAA strongly 
encourages applicants to leverage as much investment as possible. 
Matching funds may comprise a variety of public and private sources and 
can include in-kind contributions and other non-cash support, but all 
matching funds must be from non-Federal sources. Federal funds may not 
be considered as matching funds. For applicants who cannot meet the 
match requirement, as per section 6403(b)(2) of the Act, the Secretary 
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.
    Applicants must specify in their proposal the source and amount of 
the proposed match and may be asked to provide letters of commitment to 
confirm stated contributions. In the case of a waiver request, the 
applicant must provide a detailed justification explaining the need for 
the waiver, as described in section IX(6) of these Guidelines. 
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, and in accordance with 48 
U.S.C. 1469a(d), this Program shall waive any requirement for local 
matching funds for any project under $200,000 (including in kind 
contributions) to the governments of Insular Areas, defined as the 
jurisdictions of the U.S. Virgin Islands,

[[Page 3117]]

Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands.

Application Process

    NOAA will publish in the Federal Register annual notifications 
soliciting project proposals under the categories described above and 
pursuant to these Guidelines. Applications submitted in response to 
solicitation notices will be screened for eligibility and conformance 
with the Program Guidelines.
    To submit a proposal, a complete NOAA standard grants application 
package must be filed in accordance with the guidelines in this 
document and instructions in the Department of Commerce Pre-Award 
Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
contained the Federal Register notice of February 11, 2008 (73 FR 
7696).
    A more detailed description of specific application requirements 
will be published in the annual solicitation; however, pursuant to 
section 6403(e) of the Act, each application must include the following 
elements:
    1. A cover sheet with the name of the individual or entity 
responsible for conducting the project;
    2. A description of the qualifications of the individual(s) who 
will conduct the project;
    3. A succinct statement of the purpose(s) of the project, including 
the specific geographic location where the project will be carried out;
    4. An estimate of the funds and time required to complete the 
project including: a detailed breakdown by category of cost estimates 
as they relate to specific aspects of the project, with appropriate 
justification for both the Federal and non-Federal shares;
    5. Evidence of support for the project by appropriate 
representatives of states or other government jurisdictions in which 
the project will be conducted, including obtaining or proceeding to 
obtain all applicable State and/or Federal permits, consultations, and 
consistencies. U.S. state or territorial applicants must also provide 
evidence of coordination with all relevant state or territorial 
agencies, including a list of agencies consulted in developing the 
proposal;
    6. Information regarding the amount of matching funding available 
to the applicant. In the case of a waiver request, the applicant must 
provide a detailed justification explaining the need for the waiver 
including attempts to obtain sources of matching funds, how the benefit 
of the project outweighs the public interest in providing match, and 
any other extenuating circumstances preventing the availability of 
match;
    7. A description of how the project meets one or more of the goals 
and objectives stated in section V of the Guidelines (section 6403(g) 
of the Act) and contributes to the conservation needs identified in the 
Program's 20-year Goals and Objectives and/or addresses jurisdiction-
specific management priorities established through CRCP's management 
priority setting processes; and
    8. Any other information the Administrator considers necessary for 
evaluating the eligibility of the project for funding under this title.
    Applicants must indicate under which category(s) (as described in 
the ``Funding Categories and Mechanisms'' section of these Guidelines) 
they are seeking funds, and ar encouraged to submit only one 
comprehensive application per solicitation.

Project Review

    As per section 6203(f) of the Act, NOAA will review eligible coral 
reef conservation proposals using an external governmental review and 
merit-based peer review. After such reviews, NOAA will implement an 
internal ranking and selection process. The overall project review and 
selection process will include the following five steps:
    1. NOAA will request and consider written comments on the proposal 
from each Federal agency, state government, or other government 
jurisdiction, including the relevant regional Fishery Management 
Councils established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), or any National Marine 
Sanctuary, with jurisdiction or management authority over coral reef 
ecosystems in the area where the project is to be conducted. Pursuant 
to this requirement of the Act, NOAA will apply the following standard 
in requesting comments: (A) Proposals for projects in state or 
territorial waters, including Federal marine protected areas in such 
waters (e.g. National Marine Sanctuaries), will be submitted to that 
state or territorial government's designated U.S. Coral Reef Task Force 
point of contact for comment; (B) Proposals for projects in Federal 
waters will be submitted to the relevant Fishery Management Council for 
comment; (C) Proposals for projects which require Federal permits will 
be submitted to the Federal agency which issued the permit for comment; 
(D) Proposals for projects in Federal marine protected areas managed by 
Federal agencies (e.g. National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, 
National Marine Sanctuaries, etc.) will be submitted to the respective 
Federal management authority for comment; and (E) NOAA will seek 
comments from other government entities, authorities, and/or 
jurisdictions, including international entities for projects proposed 
outside of U.S. waters, as necessary based on the nature and scope of 
the proposed project. Specifically, agencies will be requested to 
comment on: the extent to which the project is consistent with locally 
established coral reef conservation priorities and projects; whether 
the project has been coordinated with existing or planned projects; 
suggestions for improving project coordination and/or technical 
approach; and appropriate staff points of contact. Each entity will be 
provided 21 days to review and comment on subject proposals. Comments 
submitted will be part of the public record.
    2. Each NOAA program office will provide for a merit-based peer 
review and standardized documentation of that review for proposals 
considered appropriate for funding under their respective category(s). 
Each proposal will be reviewed by a minimum of three individuals with 
knowledge of the subject of the proposal. Each reviewer will submit a 
separate and individual review and reviewers will not provide a 
consensus opinion. The identities of the peer reviewers will be kept 
anonymous to the degree permitted by law. Specific evaluation criteria 
for projects submitted under each funding category will be published in 
the category's respective annual Federal Register solicitation.
    3. Each NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Office will 
subsequently implement an internal review process to rank each proposal 
that is appropriate for funding under their program based upon 
consideration of: comments and recommendations from the reviews under 
paragraphs (1) and (2), and their evaluation of each proposal 
consistent with the five following criteria: (A) Direct Benefit to 
Coral Reef Resources and Ecosystems. NOAA will evaluate proposals based 
on the potential of the project to meet goals and objectives stated in 
section 6403(g) of the Act. (B) Technical Merit and Adequacy of 
Implementation Plan. Proposals will be evaluated on the technical 
feasibility of the project and the qualifications of project leaders 
and/or partners based on demonstrated abilities to: (i) Deliver the 
conservation objective stated in the proposal; (ii) Provide educational 
benefits, where appropriate; (iii) Incorporate assessment of project 
success in terms of meeting

[[Page 3118]]

the proposed objectives; (iv) Demonstrate that the conservation 
activity will be sustainable and long-lasting; (v) Provide assurance 
that implementation of the project will meet all state environmental 
laws and Federal consistency requirements by obtaining or proceeding to 
obtain applicable permits and consultations; and (C) Past Performance. 
Proposals will be evaluated on the previous accomplishments of the 
applicants in achieving coral reef conservation objectives similar to 
those outlined in section V. Eligible Coral Reef Conservation 
Activities of these Guidelines. This includes the timely submission of 
all required financial and progress reports and project products, 
including data and FGDC-compliant metadata records if applicable. 
Applicants submitting their first coral reef conservation project 
should document past experience in successfully carrying out related 
grant-funded activities; (D) Consistency with the National Coral Reef 
Action Strategy, the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs, and 
the Program's 20-year Goals and Objectives and International Strategy. 
Proposals will be evaluated on how well they align with the 
programmatic priorities outlined in these guidance documents and the 
jurisdiction-specific priorities established in the CRCP's management 
priority setting processes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
review all relevant documents and identify in their application the 
specific conservation objectives that their project proposal will 
achieve; and (E) Cost-effectiveness and Budget Justification. Proposals 
will be evaluated on their ability to demonstrate that significant 
benefit will be generated for the most reasonable cost. Projects will 
also be reviewed in terms of their need for funding and the ability of 
NOAA funds to act as a catalyst to implement projects and precipitate 
partnerships and other sources of funding to achieve conservation 
objectives. Preference will be given to projects that will be completed 
within a period of 12 months from the time the awards are distributed;
    4. A NOAA review panel made up of representatives from each 
relevant Program office will review the project rankings from each 
program office and make consensus-based, final project selections and 
funding recommendations to be presented to the NOAA Administrator, or 
his designee, for final approval. The review panel and Administrator, 
or designee, will ensure that the Act requirements for geographic 
funding distribution and consistency with the overall Program goals 
have been met. NOAA reserves the right to consult with applicants, 
prior to making an award, to determine the exact amount of funds to be 
awarded, as well as the most appropriate funding category and mechanism 
under which to consider the project for funding; and
    5. NOAA will provide written notification of a proposal's approval 
or disapproval to each applicant within 9 months of submitting a coral 
reef conservation proposal. Similarly, NOAA will also provide written 
notification of a project's approval to each State or other government 
jurisdiction that provided comments and/or reviews.

Definitions

    In this Program:
    1. Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration.
    2. Conservation means the use of methods and procedures necessary 
to preserve or sustain corals and associated species as diverse, 
viable, and self-perpetuating coral reef ecosystems, including all 
activities associated with resource management, such as assessment, 
conservation, protection, restoration, sustainable use, and management 
of habitat; mapping; habitat monitoring; assistance in the development 
of management strategies for marine protected areas and marine 
resources consistent with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 
U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); law enforcement; conflict 
resolution initiatives; community outreach and education; and that 
promote safe and ecologically sound navigation.
    3. Cooperative Agreement means a legal instrument reflecting a 
relationship between the Department of Commerce (DoC) and a recipient 
whenever: (1) The principal purpose of the relationship is to transfer 
money, property, services or anything of value to accomplish a public 
purpose of support or stimulation authorized by Federal statute, and 
(2) substantial involvement (e.g. collaboration, participation, or 
intervention by DoC in the management of the project) is anticipated 
between DoC and the recipient during performance of the contemplated 
activity.
    4. Coral means species of the phylum Cnidaria, including--(A) all 
species of the orders Antipatharia (black corals), Scleractinia (stony 
corals), Gorgonacea (horny corals), Stolonifera (organpipe corals and 
others), Alcyanacea (soft corals), and Coenothecalia (blue coral), of 
the class Anthozoa; and (B) all species of the order Hydrocorallina 
(fire corals and hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa.
    5. Coral Reef means any reefs or shoals composed primarily of 
corals.
    6. Coral Reef Ecosystem means coral and other species of reef 
organisms (including reef plants) associated with coral reefs, and the 
non-living environmental factors that directly affect coral reefs, that 
together function as an ecological unit in nature.
    7. Coral Products means any living or dead specimens, parts, or 
derivatives, or any product containing specimens, parts, or 
derivatives, of any species referred to in paragraph (3).
    8. Grant means a legal instrument reflecting a relationship between 
DoC and a recipient whenever: (1) The principal purpose of the 
relationship is to transfer money, property, services, or anything of 
value in order to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation 
authorized by Federal statute, and (2) no substantial involvement is 
anticipated between DoC and the recipient during the performance of the 
contemplated activity.
    9. Interagency Agreement, for the purposes of these Guidelines, 
means a written document containing specific provisions of governing 
authorities, responsibilities, and funding, entered into between NOAA 
and another Federal agency where NOAA is funding the other Federal 
agency, pursuant to the Act.
    10. Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.
    11. State means any State of the United States that contains a 
coral reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries, American Samoa, 
Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin 
Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States, or 
separate sovereign in free association with the United States, that 
contains a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries.
    Classification: This is a continuing Program and is included in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under the Coastal Zone 
Management Act (11.419), NOS International Programs (11.463), and 
Habitat Conservation (11.441). The Program uses existing NOAA Federal 
assistance application package requirements per 15 CFR parts 14 and 24.
    The program will determine NEPA compliance on a project by project 
basis.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

[[Page 3119]]

    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 4040-0004/0348-0043; 4040-0006/0348-
0044; 4040-0007/0348-0040; 4040-0008/0348-0041; 4040-0009/0348-0042; 
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. The proposed guidelines also 
contain new collection-of-information requirements subject to review 
and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act. These requirements will be submitted to OMB 
for approval. Public reporting burden for these collections of 
information is estimated to average one hour per request for a matching 
funds waiver (section IX(6) of these Guidelines) and one hour per 
comment on proposals (section X(1) of these Guidelines), including the 
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information.
    Public comment is sought regarding: Whether this proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments on 
these or any other aspects of the collection of information to NOAA 
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management at the address above, 
and to OMB at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 (Attention: NOAA Desk 
Officer).
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

Classification

Limitation of Liability
    Funding for programs listed in this notice is contingent upon the 
availability of Fiscal Year 2010 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.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 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.
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 in Arms Regulations 
(ITAR) (22 CFR parts 120-130), implemented by the Department of

[[Page 3120]]

State, respectively. This includes, but is not limited to, dual-use 
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 a 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 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 (sub awards, contracts, 
and subcontracts) under the 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 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 4040-0004/0348-0043; 4040-0006/0348-
0044; 4040-0007/0348-0040; 4040-0008/0348-0041; 4040-0009/0348-0042; 
and 0348-0046.
    As part of its application process, the Coral Reef Conservation 
Program will be implementing new collection-of-information that is 
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. These requirements will be 
submitted to OMB for approval. Public reporting burden for these 
collections of information is estimated to average one hour per request 
for a matching funds waiver (section IX(6) of these Guidelines) and one 
hour per comment on proposals (section X(1) of these Guidelines), 
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data 
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and 
reviewing the information collection.
    Public comment is sought regarding: Whether this proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments on 
these or any other aspects of the collection of information to NOAA 
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management at the address above, 
and to OMB at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 (Attention: NOAA Desk 
Officer).
    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: January 8, 2010.
 Mitchell J. Ross,
Director, Acquisition and Grants Office, Contracting Officer, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-721 Filed 1-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-P