[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81819-81824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32924]


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GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL

[Document ID: 112312015-1111-11]


Request for Applications for Funding for the 12/09/2015 Funded 
Priorities List

AGENCY: Federal Agency Name: Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

SUMMARY: This announcement provides guidance to members of the Gulf 
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) to apply for funding 
under the Council-Selected Restoration Component of the Resources and 
Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies 
of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C. 
1321(t)(2)) to implement projects and programs approved on the 12/09/
2015 Funded Priorities List (FPL) Addendum to the Initial Comprehensive 
Plan.
    RFA Name: Council-Selected Restoration Component 12/09/2015 Funded 
Priorities List Grant and Interagency Agreement Application 
Requirements.
    Announcement Type: Supplemental announcement to Council Member 
Summary Notice of Application Process for Council-Selected Restoration 
Component Projects and Programs, published on May 4, 2015 (80 FR 
25294).
    Funding Opportunity Number: GCC-FPL-16-001.
    Fiscal Year: FY 2016 and 2017.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 87.051 Gulf 
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Component 
Program.
    Funding Instrument: Grant or Interagency Agreement.
    Funding Amount: $156,553,618.
    Closing Date for Submissions: Applications are due by December 31, 
2016. Eligible applicants may submit their applications for Council-
Selected Restoration Component projects and programs beginning upon 
publication of the 12/09/2015 Funded Priorities List (FPL) Addendum to 
the Initial Comprehensive Plan and continuing through and including 
December 31, 2016.
    Funding Opportunity Description: Through this announcement, members 
of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) may submit 
applications to fund projects and programs under the Council-Selected 
Restoration Component of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, 
Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States 
Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2)). Council members 
include the Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, the Army, 
Commerce, the Interior, and Homeland Security, the Administrator of the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the governors of the Gulf 
Coast States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. 
The submission process is composed of two phases: (1) The submission of 
proposals to the Council for inclusion in a Funded Priorities List 
(FPL) (proposal phase), and (2) once a project or program has been 
approved by the Council for inclusion in an FPL, the submission of a 
grant or interagency agreement (IAA) application in order to receive 
funding (application phase).
    The first phase of the process (proposal phase) is complete for the 
12/09/2015 FPL. This announcement provides guidance to eligible 
entities on the necessary steps to complete the second phase of 
submitting their grant application if a proposal was selected for 
funding in the 12/09/2015 FPL (available at: https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/FPL_FINAL_Dec9Vote_EC_Library_Links.pdf).
    Council members are the only entities eligible to submit 
applications under this funding announcement and are the only entities 
eligible to receive Council-Selected Restoration Component funds under 
grant awards or IAAs.

Full Announcement Text

Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Description

    Through this announcement, member agencies and States of the Gulf 
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) may submit applications 
to fund projects and programs under the Council-Selected Restoration 
Component of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist 
Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 
2012 (RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2)). Council members include the 
Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, the Army, Commerce, the 
Interior, and Homeland Security, the Administrator of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, and the governors of the Gulf Coast 
States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The 
submission process is composed of two phases: (1) The submission of 
proposals to the Council for inclusion in a Funded Priorities List 
(FPL), (proposal phase) and (2) once a project or program has been 
approved by the Council for inclusion in an FPL, the submission of a 
grant application in order to receive grant funding (application 
phase). The first phase (proposal phase) was completed with the 
approval of an FPL by the Council on December 9, 2015 and publication 
of the FPL in the Federal Register on December 15, 2015. 80 FR 77585. 
This announcement provides guidance to eligible entities on the 
necessary steps to complete the second phase of submitting their grant 
application if a proposal was selected for funding in the 12/09/2015 
FPL (available at: https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/FPL_FINAL_Dec9Vote_EC_Library_Links.pdf).
1. Background
    Passed in July 2012, the RESTORE Act dedicates 80 percent of 
certain Clean Water Act administrative and civil penalties paid by 
responsible parties in connection with the

[[Page 81820]]

DEEPWATER HORIZON oil spill to the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund 
(Trust Fund). The RESTORE Act also outlines a structure by which the 
funds can be utilized to restore and protect the natural resources, 
ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal 
wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast region.
    In order to carry out certain functions of the RESTORE Act, 
Congress established the Council, which is comprised of governors from 
the five affected Gulf Coast States (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and Texas); the Secretaries from the U.S. Departments of 
Agriculture, the Army, Commerce, the Interior, and Homeland Security; 
and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The 
Gulf States recommended, and President Obama appointed, the Secretary 
of Commerce as the Council's initial Chairperson. The Council was 
tasked with publishing a Comprehensive Plan under which the Council 
will fund and implement projects and programs to restore and protect 
the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife 
habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region (known 
as the Council-Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act). 33 
U.S.C. 1321(t)(2).
    The Council approved the Initial Comprehensive Plan in August of 
2013 (available at: https://restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/Final%20Initial%20Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf). The Initial Comprehensive 
Plan guides decision-making related to the evaluation, approval, 
funding, and implementation of projects and programs under the Council-
Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act in the form of an 
FPL. On August 21, 2014, the Council published on its Web site, the 
Council Member Proposal Submission Guidelines for Comprehensive Plan 
Funded Priorities List of Projects and Programs (``Submission 
Guidelines'', available at https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/Submission_Guidelines_Final%20Aug%202014_0.pdf). These 
Guidelines outlined the process for the first phase of the submission 
process for the grants and interagency agreements (IAAs) that are the 
subject of this announcement. On May 4, 2015, the Council published the 
Council Member Summary Notice of Application Process for Council-
Selected Restoration Component Projects and Programs which outlined the 
entire two-phase process for the Council-Selected Restoration 
Component. 80 FR 25294. Council members submitted proposals detailing 
projects and programs for possible inclusion in the first FPL. 
Submitted proposals were independently reviewed against a set of 
specific criteria; the results of this review are available online 
(https://www.restorethegulf.gov/council-selected-restoration-component/draft-initial-funded-priorities-list). Based on this independent 
review, the Council developed and approved a draft FPL and solicited 
public comment. After taking into account public comments, the initial 
FPL was approved by Council vote on December 9, 2015. The number and 
type of projects and programs contained in the initial 12/09/2015 FPL 
was based, in part, on the amount and timing of funds currently 
available in the Trust Fund.
    As additional funds become available in the future, the Council 
will periodically request proposals from its eleven State and federal 
members in order to develop additional FPLs. The Council may also carry 
forward proposals submitted under prior requests for proposals when 
formulating future FPLs. Council members are the only entities eligible 
to submit proposals or receive Council-Selected Restoration Component 
funds under grant awards or IAAs.
    Now that the Council has published the initial 12/09/2015 FPL, the 
Council will accept applications for grant awards from its five Gulf 
Coast State members or IAAs from its six federal agency members in 
order to fund each project and program included in the FPL.
    The remainder of this Notice of Funding Opportunity details the 
requirements for grant and IAA applications to carry out the projects 
and programs in the FPL. Funding to State Council members will be 
provided through grants. Funding to federal Council members will be 
provided through IAAs.
2. Program Authority
    33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2).

B. Federal Award Information

    The application phase is not competitive. Rather, once a proposal 
for a project or program has been selected under phase 1 (see section 
A(1) of this announcement for discussion of the proposal phase) the 
grants to be awarded (to State Council members) or IAAs are entered 
into (with federal agency Council members) through the administrative 
process detailed in this announcement.
    All State Council member proposals selected for funding under phase 
1 of this announcement must apply for a grant through the Restoration 
Assistance and Awards Management System (RAAMS) to implement the 
project or program described in the approved project proposal. All 
federal agency Council member proposals selected for funding under 
phase 1 of this announcement must submit an application through RAAMS 
prior to entering into an IAA to implement a project or program 
described in the approved project proposal.
1. Funding Availability
    Up to $156,553,618 is available to fund grants and IAAs under this 
announcement. These funds are expected to fund 45 projects and 
programs. The exact number of grants and IAAs required to fund these 45 
projects and programs depends on the State or federal member applicant. 
The Council may request an applicant split an application into more 
than one application for administrative efficiency. The amount of each 
grant or IAA will depend on the exact project(s) or program(s) 
contained therein. The amount is not to exceed the amount approved in 
the 12/09/2015 FPL.
2. Project/Award Period
    The duration of projects and programs under this announcement is 
anticipated to be three to ten years; however, subject to Council 
approval projects may have a longer duration. Award start dates will 
depend on when the applicant submits a complete application.
3. Type of Funding Instrument
    The funding instrument for awards to Council member States will be 
a grant. The funding mechanism for Council member federal agencies will 
be an IAA. Funding for contractual arrangements for services and 
products for delivery to the Council is not available under this 
announcement.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants
    Eligible applicants are limited to members of the Council, or their 
administrative agents, that have had a proposal selected for funding 
pursuant to phase 1, found in section (A)(1) of this announcement. 
Council members include: The States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and Texas; the Departments of Agriculture, the Army, 
Commerce, Homeland Security and the Interior; and the Environmental 
Protection Agency. No other entity is eligible to apply under this 
announcement.

[[Page 81821]]

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement
    None.
3. Other Criteria That Affect Eligibility
    Applications are limited to the category 1 restoration activities 
included in the 12/09/2015 FPL.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package
    Eligible entities can access the link to RAAMS and download 
application forms and other materials necessary to apply for funding 
through the RESTORE Council Web site at https://restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office.
2. Content and Form of Application for Awards and Agreements
    Please refer to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council 
Recipient Proposal and Award Guide (RPAG) (available at: https://restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office) for comprehensive guidance on 
all phases of the submission, application, and award implementation 
process.
    The following application requirements are for grants to Gulf Coast 
States and IAAs with federal Servicing Agencies. A complete application 
will include all of the below information, which is entered directly 
into RAAMS or uploaded as an attachment(s). Application material will 
include all data from required federal standard forms and may include 
Council-specific supporting information and schedules.
    a. Data from OMB Standard Form (SF) SF-424A ``Application for 
Federal Assistance'' and associated forms.
    b. Certifications:
    i. RESTORE Council Applicant Certifications; and
    ii. Appropriate SF-424 Assurances:
    (1) For applications involving construction or real property/land 
acquisition, complete the SF-424D ``Assurances--Construction 
Programs''.
    (2) For non-construction applications, complete the SF-424B 
``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs''.
    c. A copy of the applicant's Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (IDCRA), 
if applicable.
    d. Executive Summary.
    e. Project/Program Narrative:
    i. Description of how the project/program meets statutory 
requirements and commitments the Council made in the Initial 
Comprehensive Plan including identification of objectives and goals as 
well as focus and emphasis areas.
    ii. Metrics for gauging the success of the project or program.
    iii. Milestones, including activity-based costs and any 
deliverables for each milestone.
    iv. Description of leveraged resources.
    f. Observational Data Plan.
    g. Preliminary Data Management Plan.
    h. Location information and map(s).
    i. Budget documentation:
    i. This documentation is more detailed than the budget required to 
be submitted in phase 1.
    ii. SF-424 budget information:
    (1) For all projects/programs, data equivalent to that provided on 
the SF-424A ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs'' is 
required.
    (2) For construction projects or real property/land acquisition, 
data equivalent to that provided on the SF-424C ``Budget Information--
Construction Programs'' is required in addition to the SF-424A data.
    (3) Budget data must also be provided by SF-424A and/or SF-424C 
object classes for leveraged funding that is required to complete the 
objectives of the project/program (i.e., ``co-funding'').
    (4) Where the applicant will ``pass through'' or otherwise provide 
funds to one or more subrecipients, a separate detailed budget using 
object categories from the SF-424A and/or SF-424C, as appropriate, must 
be provided for each proposed subaward that is known at the time the 
application is submitted.
    (5) Any program income anticipated during the award period should 
be included in the budget.
    iii. Budget Narrative/Justification:
    (1) A detailed description of the expenses listed on the budget 
forms and how they address the proposed work is required.
    (2) Item descriptions and justifications must be provided for each 
applicable object class from the SF-424A and/or C, including salaries, 
fringe benefits, equipment, supplies, travel, construction, etc.
    (3) Applicants who will not be requesting funds for salaries for 
contributing personnel, must still list those personnel, indicating 
their estimated time of commitment.
    (4) Purchases of equipment greater than $5,000 must include a 
purchase versus lease justification.
    (5) Where the applicant plans to procure goods and services through 
a contractual or subrecipient relationship, information is required on 
the proposed method of selection, period of performance scope of work, 
and method(s) of accountability.
    (6) A description of any leveraged funding that is required to 
complete the objectives of the project/program must be provided, 
including the source(s), amount of funding and work to be accomplished.
    (7) Detailed information must be provided regarding any pre-award 
costs requested including a justification for each item. Such costs are 
allowable only to the extent that they would have been allowable if 
incurred after the grant award date and only with the written approval 
of the Grants Officer. All costs incurred before the Council awards the 
grant are at the recipient's risk. Requests for pre-award costs should 
be kept to a minimum. Generally, the period for such costs should not 
exceed 90 days prior to the start of the award period.
    j. Cash Forecasting. The applicant must forecast cash requirements/
draws throughout the life of the award in semi-annual increments.
    k. Current and pending support. Applicants must submit a list of 
all current and pending federal support that includes project title, 
supporting agency with grant number, dollar value, and duration. 
Requested values should be listed for pending support.
    l. DUNS Number. All applications must have a DUNS (Dun and 
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System) number when applying for 
federal grants. No application is deemed complete without the DUNS 
number, and only the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may grant 
exceptions.
    m. Environmental Compliance Documentation. The Council must comply 
with the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, 
National Historic Preservation Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
Act, as applicable, before approving funding under the Council-Selected 
Restoration Component. In addition, the Council must address, as 
applicable, Executive Order 11988 (``Floodplain Management''), 
Executive Order 11990 (``Protection of Wetlands''), Executive Order 
12898 (``Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income 
Populations'') and Executive Order 13653 (``Preparing the United States 
for the Impacts of Climate Change''). These laws and Executive Orders 
requirements have been addressed, where applicable, for all activities 
listed in Category 1 of the FPL. Documentation regarding compliance 
with the foregoing requirements for each FPL Category 1 activity can be 
found on the Council Web site (available at https://www.restorethegulf.gov/funded-priorities-list). Prior to awarding a 
grant or entering into an IAA under the Council-Selected Restoration 
Component, the Council must also comply with the Coastal Zone 
Management Act, Coastal Barrier Resources Act and Farmland Protection

[[Page 81822]]

Policy Act, as applicable. Applicants should submit information 
indicating whether the above requirements have been met, and if not, 
the status of any efforts to meet the requirements. Applicants are also 
responsible for complying with all other applicable federal 
environmental laws prior to full disbursement of grant or IAA funding. 
Specifically, applicants are responsible for identifying other 
applicable federal environmental laws and providing the Council with 
information regarding compliance with such laws.
    i. Applicants may be 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).
    ii. Applicants may also be required to cooperate with the Council 
in identifying feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified 
adverse environmental impacts of their application. Any failure to do 
so shall be grounds for deeming an application incomplete. In some 
cases if additional information is required after an application is 
submitted, funds may be withheld by the Grants Officer pursuant to a 
special award condition requiring the recipient to submit additional 
environmental compliance information sufficient to enable the Council 
to make an assessment of any impacts that a project may have on the 
environment.
    iii. Applicants also must submit documentation to the Council 
demonstrating that all applicable permits or authorizations from other 
state, federal or local agencies have been secured. Funds may be 
withheld by the Grants Officer pursuant to a special award condition 
requiring the recipient to submit all required permits and 
authorizations prior to implementation.
    Additional requirement for State applications for grant funding:
    Organizational Self-Assessment (OSA). Each non-federal applicant 
must certify and submit the Council's Organizational Self-Assessment 
form. The form must be received by the Council no later than the 
application submission date of the entity's first grant application to 
the Council. The OSA will be updated annually.
    Additional requirements for IAAs with Federal Servicing Agencies:
    A completed and approved application will be followed by an IAA. 
The IAA will contain information indicating whether the above 
requirements have been met, and if not, the status of any efforts to 
meet the requirements. Servicing Agencies are also responsible for all 
applicable federal environmental laws and requirements prior to full 
disbursement of grant or interagency agreement funding.
    All applicants are required to: (i) Be registered in the System for 
Award Management (SAM) before submitting its application; (ii) provide 
a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue 
to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all 
times during which it has an active federal award or an application or 
plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. The Council will 
not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with 
all applicable unique entity-identifier and SAM requirements and, if an 
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the 
Council is ready to make a Federal award, the Council may determine 
that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award.
4. Submission Dates and Times
    Subject to Section D.7 below, applications may be submitted at any 
time after publication of the initial FPL but no later than December 
31, 2016. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and are to 
be submitted through RAAMS.
5. Intergovernmental Review
    Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.
6. Funding Restrictions
    Of the amounts received by an eligible entity in a grant or IAA 
under this announcement, not more than three percent (3%) may be used 
for administrative costs. The three percent limit is applied to the 
total amount of funds received by a recipient under each grant or IAA. 
The three percent limit does not apply to the administrative costs of 
subrecipients. All subrecipient costs are subject to the cost 
principles in federal law and policies on grants. Administrative costs 
means those indirect costs for administration incurred by the eligible 
entity that are allocable to activities authorized under the Act. 
Administrative costs do not include indirect costs that are identified 
specifically with, or readily assignable to, facilities as defined in 2 
CFR 200.414. See the https://restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office/gcerc-grants-resources Web page for an example of administrative cost 
calculations.
    Fees and profit are disallowed.
7. Other Submission Requirements
    Applications will be completed and submitted electronically by way 
of the Council's Restoration Assistance and Award Management System 
(RAAMS) (https://raams.restorethegulf.gov). Applicants will not be 
eligible to submit an application until they have completed RAAMS 
training. There will be multiple training opportunities available 
starting in January 2016.

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria
    At the organizational level, the Council will conduct risk 
assessments of first-time non-federal recipients in order to 
effectively implement the statutory, regulatory, administrative, and 
program requirements of a potential federal award. Once an initial 
assessment has been made, it will be reviewed on an annual basis. As 
the Council-Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act is a new 
federal program, all non-federal recipients will be treated as first-
time recipients for the initial Council awards.
    Upon receipt of an application through RAAMS, the Council will 
review the application for completeness. Once it has been determined 
that the application is complete, the staff will review this funding 
opportunity announcement, the application and supporting documentation, 
the System for Award Management, and any other information available to 
determine the following:
     Whether the recipient and any subrecipients are eligible 
for funding;
     Whether the project or program as described in the 
application is compliant with the proposal contained in the FPL or the 
Full SEP, whichever is applicable;
     Whether award activities are eligible and attainable;
     Whether staff time is appropriate to perform proposed 
tasks;
     Whether best available science is applied;
     Whether the recipient has established a suitable 
monitoring plan;
     Whether milestones and metrics are feasible, measurable 
and achievable;
     Whether observational data and management plans are 
adequate (if applicable);
     Whether environmental compliance requirements have been 
met;

[[Page 81823]]

     Whether budget line items are allowable, allocable, and 
reasonable;
     Whether any proposed procurement complies with applicable 
laws and policies;
     Whether budget line items are accurately calculated;
     Whether pre-award costs are requested, and if so, is the 
documentation sufficient;
     Whether the period of performance requires an adjustment; 
and
     Whether any special award conditions are needed.
2. Review and Selection Process
    The review and selection process was completed with the approval of 
an FPL on 12/09/2015 and publication of the FPL in the Federal Register 
on December 15, 2015. 80 FR 77585. However, the detailed project or 
program narrative description of activities will be closely reviewed 
and compared to the project narrative description submitted in the 
initial proposal to verify the scope of the activities in the 
application.
3. Agency Review of Information Concerning Recipient Integrity and 
Performance
    The Council is required to review and consider any information 
about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance 
system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). 
The applicant may, at its option, review information in the designated 
integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on 
any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously 
entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance 
system accessible through SAM. Furthermore, the Council consider any 
comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the 
designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about 
the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance 
under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by 
applicants as described in 2 CFR 200.205, ``Federal awarding agency 
review of risk posed by applicants.''
4. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
    Applications will be received on a rolling basis. It is anticipated 
that awards will be made within 90 days of submission of a complete 
grant application.

F. Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices
    a. For State Council members, official notification of grant 
funding, signed by the Council Executive Director, is the authorizing 
document that allows the project or program to begin. Notifications 
will be issued to the Authorizing Official designated by the Council 
member for the project or program.
    b. For federal Council members, an IAA is the mechanism for 
transferring funds from the Council to the member agency. IAAs will be 
executed and finalized in accordance with applicable federal 
requirements. All federal Council members having proposals selected for 
funding under phase 1 of this announcement must work with the Council 
to establish an IAA. Pursuant to 31 CFR 34.803(d), any federal Council 
member (``Servicing Agency'') must use funds only for the purposes 
identified in the IAA. All activities under the IAA must meet the 
eligibility requirements for the Council-Selected Restoration Component 
as defined in 31 CFR 34.202.
    c. The Servicing Agency, and all non-federal entity recipients and 
subrecipients, must comply and require each of its contractors and 
subcontractors employed in the completion of the project to comply with 
all applicable statutes, regulations, Executive Orders (E.O.s), Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars, terms and conditions, 
agreements and approved applications. Any inconsistency or conflict in 
terms and conditions specified in the IAA will be resolved according to 
the following order of precedence: Public laws, regulations, applicable 
notices published in the Federal Register, E.O.s, OMB circulars, and 
the IAA's terms and conditions. The Servicing Agency shall also 
administer the project in compliance with the Servicing Agency's 
existing statutes, regulations, and grant policies.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
    The Council Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register notice of 
November 24, 2014 (https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-27719) is 
applicable to this announcement.
    The Council's Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions 
(STCs) contained in the Federal Register notice of August 31, 2015 
(https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-21417) are applicable to grants 
awarded under this announcement. The Council's IAA Standard Terms and 
Conditions (IAA STCs) are applicable to IAAs executed under this 
announcement. Both the STCs and the IAA STCs may be found at https://restorethegulf.gov/resources/council-documents-foia-library.
3. Reporting
    Award recipients are required to submit financial, technical 
progress, performance and outcome reports. These reports are to be 
submitted electronically via RAAMS.
    Reporting Periods: Semi-annual reporting periods will be specified 
in the award for either the periods ending:
     March 31 and September 30, or any portion thereof; or
     June 30 and December 31, or any portion thereof.
    Due Dates: Semi-annual performance reports are due no later than 30 
days following the end of each reporting period. A final performance 
report is due within 90 days after the expiration of the project 
period.
    As part of the required Data Management Plan (DMP), the recipient 
will develop a data/information management plan and submit appropriate 
data and information with progress reports on a yearly basis. Due dates 
will be included in the award agreement.
    Applicants must also comply with the Federal Funding Accountability 
and Transparency Act of 2006. This Act includes a requirement for 
awardees of applicable federal grants to report information about 
first-tier sub-awards and executive compensation under federal 
assistance awards issued in FY 2011 or later. All awardees of 
applicable grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to 
the Federal Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.FSRS.gov 
on all sub-awards over $25,000.
    If the award will include more than $500,000 over the period of 
performance, applicants must also comply with the post award reporting 
requirements reflected in 2 CFR part 200 Appendix XII_Award Term and 
Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

G. Agency Contacts

Kristin Smith, Senior Grants Management Officer, 
[email protected], 504-444-3558.

H. Other Information

    Please refer to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council 
Recipient Proposal and Award Guide (RPAG), available at https://restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office,

[[Page 81824]]

for comprehensive guidance on all phases of the submission, 
application, and award implementation process.

Will D. Spoon,
Program Analyst, Gulf Coast Ecosystem, Restoration Council.
[FR Doc. 2015-32924 Filed 12-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P