[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14135-14138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6544]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-ZC16


Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund

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

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: NOAA announces the availability of Pacific Coastal Salmon 
Recovery Funding (PCSRF), as authorized in the Northern Boundary and 
Transboundary Rivers Restoration and Enhancement Fund and Southern 
Boundary Restoration and Enhancement Fund, to support the restoration 
and conservation of Pacific salmon and steelhead populations and their 
habitat. The program makes funding available to the States of Alaska, 
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Nevada and Federally-
recognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast for projects 
necessary for conservation of salmon and steelhead populations that are 
listed as threatened or endangered, or identified by a State as at-risk 
or to be so-listed; for maintaining populations necessary for exercise 
of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing; or for 
conservation of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead habitat. This 
announcement outlines the guidelines that will be used to distribute 
funding to eligible entities.

DATES: Pre-Applications are not mandatory, but highly encouraged. They 
must be received no later than April 23, 2010 if the applicant expects 
to receive any feedback from NMFS on completeness of package and 
initial determination of compliance with minimum requirements. Final 
Applications should be submitted via www.grants.gov and must be 
received no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on May 10, 2010. No facsimile or 
electronic mail applications will be accepted. Paper

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applications must be postmarked by May 10, 2010. Any application 
transmitted or postmarked, as the case may be, after the deadline will 
be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding in 
this competition. Applications submitted through Grants.gov will have a 
date and time indication on them. Hard copy applications will be date 
and time stamped when they are received.
    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.

ADDRESSES: All application materials can be found at the grants.gov 
portal at http://www.grants.gov. If an applicant does not have internet 
access, applications can be received from the following address: 
Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest Region Building 1, 7600 Sand 
Point Way, Seattle, WA 98115. NMFS' Internet website at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov contains additional information on PCSRF. For further 
information on PCSRF, please contact Scott Rumsey, NMFS Northwest 
Region PCSRF Program Coordinator at (503) 872-2791. Questions regarding 
this announcement should be directed to Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest 
Region PCSRF Federal Program Officer, at (206) 526-4358 or 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on PCSRF, 
please contact Scott Rumsey, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Program 
Coordinator, at (503) 872-2791. Questions regarding this announcement 
should be directed to Nicolle Hill, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Federal 
Program Officer, at (206) 526-4358 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PCSRF was established in Fiscal Year 
2000 to address the need to protect, restore and conserve Pacific 
Chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon and steelhead, and their 
habitat. Authorization of PCSRF was in response to the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) listings of Pacific salmon and steelhead in 
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California as well as the effects of the 
harvest restrictions placed on Southeast Alaska fishers through the 
1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement between the United States and 
Canada. The PCSRF supplements existing state, tribal and Federal 
programs to foster development of Federal-state-tribal-local 
partnerships in salmon recovery and conservation by providing grants to 
the eligible states, tribal commissions, and tribes. Under this 
solicitation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks applications for 
projects from individual eligible Indian tribes, eligible States, and 
representative Tribal commissions so that it can allocate the FY 2010 
Federal funds for PCSRF grants on a merit basis. An applicant can only 
submit one application to the Federal Government for PCSRF program 
funding. Application submissions, requesting any funding from both the 
representative Tribal Commission and a Tribe represented by that 
Commission will not be accepted.

Electronic Access

    The full text of the full funding opportunity announcement for this 
program can be accessed via the Grants.gov web site at http://www.grants.gov. The announcement will also be available by contacting 
the program officials identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
Applicants must comply with all requirements contained in the full 
funding opportunity announcement.

Statutory Authority

    16 U.S.C. 3645 (d)(2) and The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2010, P.L. 111-117
    CFDA
    11.438, Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery - Pacific Salmon Treaty 
Program

Funding Availability

    Up to $80,000,000 may be available for fiscal year (FY) 2010 for 
projects. There are no restrictions on minimum funding request, but 
there is a limit of $30,000,000, on a maximum amount requested by any 
recipient. Award periods may extend to a maximum of five years.

Eligibility

    Eligible state applicants are the States of Alaska, Washington, 
Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and California. Eligible tribal applicants are 
any federally recognized Pacific Coastal or Columbia River tribes.

Cost Sharing Requirements

    State applicants are required to match or document in-kind 
contributions of at least 33% of received Federal funds. Indian tribes 
are exempt from any cost share requirement. Matching funds consist of 
PCSRF projects funded totally or partially by state appropriated funds; 
PCSRF projects that are funded totally or partially by sub-recipient or 
contractor funds; or PCSRF projects funded partially by other pre-
approved sources of Federal funding. In-kind contributions must be 
applied directly to a PCSRF project in order to be considered match.

Evaluation and Selection Procedures

    The general evaluation criteria and selection factors that apply to 
full applications to this funding opportunity are summarized below. 
Further information about the evaluation criteria and selection factors 
can be found in the full funding opportunity announcement.

Evaluation Criteria for Projects

    NOAA standardized the evaluation and selection process for its 
competitive assistance programs. All proposals submitted in response to 
this notice shall be evaluated and selected in accordance with the 
process set out below. In considering the funding allocation for 
projects and program applications, all proposals will be evaluated on 
the following criteria with the maximum weighted values for each 
category listed below for a total of 100 points maximum:
    1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposed 
project to the program goals [30 Points]: This ascertains whether there 
is intrinsic value in the proposed work and its relevance to the PCSRF 
authorized activities and program priorities. Proposals will be 
evaluated based on how relevant and applicable their projects or 
program missions are to the authorized activities and program 
priorities listed at I.B. Successful applicants will be those that 
demonstrate their proposal directly addresses the PCSRF authorized 
activities and program priorities.
    2. Technical/scientific merit [30 Points]: 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. 
Proposals will be evaluated on whether there is a technically sound 
approach to manage and implement proposed projects; whether there is 
sufficient information to evaluate the project or program technically; 
and, if so, the strengths and/or weaknesses of the project or program 
approach to securing productive results. Successful program and project 
proposals will include:
    a. A description of how the applicant organization will ensure that 
funded projects are part of a larger program plan.
    b. A description of the proposed methods used for monitoring, 
measuring and evaluating the success or failure of the projects funded 
by the program.
    c. A quantified amount of dedicated funding to monitoring 
activities, including salmon status and trend and habitat monitoring.
    d. A description of how project details will be reported in order 
to track

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performance including: information detailing the project reporting 
mechanisms, the staffing resources that will be dedicated to reporting, 
and the specific information that will be reported.
    e. A description of how the organization will communicate results 
of projects to target audiences. Successful program proposals (states 
and tribal commissions) will describe the organization's selection 
evaluation method and allocation and implementation process for 
proposed projects; set forth selection priorities reflecting PCSRF 
authorized activities and program priorities, detail decision processes 
and allocation timelines; and describe how technical merit is defined 
and determined and how project feasibility is evaluated. Successful 
project proposals (tribes) will describe the specified approaches to 
achieving the project objectives, including timelines, geographic areas 
and methods.
    3. Overall qualifications of applicants [15 Points]: This 
ascertains whether the applicant possesses the necessary education, 
experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to 
accomplish the project. The organization and its management will be 
evaluated. The principal investigator and other personnel, including 
subcontractors and consultants participating in the project or program 
will be evaluated in terms of related experience and qualifications. 
Successful applications will include the following:
    a. Details about the organization's administrative resources, 
credibility, financial stability, business management systems, 
capability to comply with Federal requirements, history of strong 
performance in the management of Federal funds, and knowledge and 
demonstrated history of Federal cost principles compliance and sub-
recipient fiscal monitoring (if applicable).
    b. Applicants should illustrate that their organization has the 
appropriate management authority to implement actions identified in the 
proposal.
    c. Applicants should describe how they adhered to past reporting 
requirements including reporting data into the PCSRF database, and how 
they resolved database reporting issues, inconsistencies or missing 
metrics, if applicable.
    4. Project costs [25 Points]: Proposals will be evaluated on their 
budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the 
program or project needs and time-frame. Successful proposals will 
include:
    a. A needs statement which summarizes the extent, severity or 
prevalence of funding needed in the serving geographical area to meet 
the PCSRF program priorities. The needs statement should be supported 
by evidence and described quantitatively (i.e. miles/acres of habitat 
needing restoration; number or extent of ESA listed Pacific salmon or 
Pacific salmon at risk; stocks important for tribal treaty fishing 
rights or native subsistence fishing, etc.). The needs statement will 
also address the recipients other source of funding for proposed 
programs and projects.
    b. A detailed budget by program or project level which also 
itemizes the proposal level and overall level of administrative and 
overhead costs.
    c. A budget detail identifying a minimum of 10% proposed budget for 
monitoring, either comprehensive project effectiveness monitoring or 
status and trend monitoring, as part of a comprehensive program. 
Individual project proposals should specify costs for monitoring 
project-level implementation and effectiveness.
    d. State applications must provide a budget detail which identifies 
the minimum matching or in-kind requirements of 33% of Federal funds 
requested.
    5. Outreach and education [0 Points]: Outreach and education, as 
defined in section IV.B.4.g. (States and Tribal Commissions) and 
IV.B.4.f. (Tribes), will be evaluated under section V.A.2.e. Review and 
Selection Process. Upon receipt of an application, an initial 
administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with 
requirements and completeness of the application. The application will 
need to meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for 
funding:
    1. Applicant is eligible to apply
    2. Received application by deadline
    3. Application is complete and includes all mandatory forms
    4. Matching requirements are met (State Only)
    5. Administrative programmatic costs are not exceeded (State and 
Commissions Only) Individual evaluations comprised of at least three 
(3) or more private and public experts will independently evaluate the 
applications and score them using the evaluation criteria set forth 
above. No consensus advice will be given. The reviewer' ratings will be 
averaged to produce a rank order of the proposals. Technical reviewers 
will be required to certify that they do not have a conflict of 
interest and that they will maintain confidentiality of the 
applications.
    Panel Review: After the projects have been evaluated and ranked, 
the Agency will solicit comments and input on funding recommendation 
from a panel of at least three (3) Federal full-time employees 
comprised of the NMFS Alaska Region, Northwest Region and Southwest 
Region. The Agency will provide the panelists with a summary of the 
technical review evaluations, and, the rank order of the proposals.

Selection Factors for Projects

    The Assistant Administrator for NMFS will be the Selecting 
Official. The Selecting Official will review the rank order, funding 
recommendations and comments from the Panel Review Committee and 
determine the recipients to be funded and how much funding shall be 
awarded to each selected recipient. 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 of the 
selection factors below:
    1. Availability of Funding
    2. Balance/distribution of funds:
    a. Geographically
    b. By type of institutions
    c. By type of partners
    d. By research areas
    e. By project types
    3. Whether this project duplicates other projects funded or 
considered for funding by NOAA or other Federal agencies
    4. Program priorities and policy factors as set forth in the Full 
Funding Opportunity Sections I.A. and B.
    5. Applicant's prior award performance. (Accomplishments related to 
PCSRF goals.)
    6. Partnerships and/or Participation of targeted groups

Intergovernmental Review

    Applications under this program from state or local governments are 
subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs.''

Limitation of Liability

    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.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required 
by the National Environmental Policy Act

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(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 website: http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for 
NEPA, http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6_TOC.pdf, and the Council on 
Environmental Quality implementation regulations, http://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.

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, and SF-LLL and CD-346 has been approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under the respective control numbers 
0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to, nor shall a 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 for the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not 
been prepared.

    Dated: March 18, 2010.
Gary C. Reisner,
Chief Financial Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-6544 Filed 3-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S