Financial Assistance To Establish New Cooperative Science Centers Under NOAA's Educational Partnership Program (EPP) With Minority Serving Institutions in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Environmental Sciences, Living Marine Resources Science and Management, and Remote Sensing Technology at Minority Serving Institutions, 74294-74297 [E5-7395]
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74294
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 240 / Thursday, December 15, 2005 / Notices
(eastern standard time), February 13,
2006.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[Docket No. 030602141–5303–32]
Financial Assistance To Establish New
Cooperative Science Centers Under
NOAA’s Educational Partnership
Program (EPP) With Minority Serving
Institutions in Atmospheric, Oceanic
and Environmental Sciences, Living
Marine Resources Science and
Management, and Remote Sensing
Technology at Minority Serving
Institutions
Office of Education, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds
and solicitation for proposals for these
funds.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The purpose of this document
is to advise the public that NOAA’s
Educational Partnership Program is
soliciting new accredited post
secondary minority serving institutions
(MSI)—Cooperative Science Center
proposals. These Centers are to establish
partnerships between the accredited
post secondary MSIs and NOAA. The
partnership goal is to expand the
institution’s training and research
capabilities and supporting program
development. The developed programs
will support NOAA’s mission. The
Cooperative Centers must establish in
the NOAA core science areas:
Atmospheric, oceanic and
environmental sciences; living marine
resources science and management; and
remote sensing technology.
The EPP/MSI is a competitive
program designed to strengthen and
enhance the research and training
capabilities and to support the
development of programs directly
related to NOAA’s mission at MSIs. The
EPP is designed to enhance NOAA’s
capability to increase environmental
literacy by establishing partnerships
with academia, the private sector, and
other Federal, State, Tribal and local
agencies. Thus, the funding opportunity
is intended to engage the MSI academic
community in training and collaborative
research across the spectrum of
atmospheric, oceanic and
environmental sciences, living marine
resources science and management, and
remote sensing technology in support of
NOAA’s mission.
DATES: Applications must be received
by NOAA Educational Partnership
Program (EPP) no later than 2 p.m.
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Applications submitted in
response to this announcement are
strongly encouraged to submit through
the Grants.gov Web site. Electronic
access to the Full Funding Opportunity
Announcement for this program is
available via the Grants.gov Web site:
https://www.grants.gov. The
announcement will also be available at
the NOAA EPP Web site https://
epp.noaa.gov or by contacting the
program officials identified below.
Applicants must comply with all
requirements contained in the full
funding opportunity announcement. If
Internet access is unavailable, paper
applications (a signed original and two
copies) may be submitted to the
Educational Partnership Program at the
following address: NOAA/OAR/EPP,
1315 East West Highway, Room 10600,
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. No
facsimile applications will be accepted.
Institutions are encouraged to submit
Letters of Intent to NOAA/EPP within
30 days of this announcement to aid in
planning the review processes.
Letters of Intent may be submitted via
e-mail to
Jacqueline.J.Rousseau@noaa.gov or
Meka.Laster@noaa.gov. Information
should include a general description of
the Center proposal and participating
institutions.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jacqueline J. Rousseau, Program Director
at 301–713–9437 ext. 124 or
Jacqueline.J.Rousseau@noaa.gov. The
alternative contact is Meka E. Laster at
301–713–9437 ext. 147 or
Meka.laster@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Summary Description
NOAA is committed to recruiting and
retaining underrepresented community
employees. NOAA is committed to
training students in NOAA related
sciences and conduct the ongoing
mission of the agency. Therefore, the
agency established a program aimed at
MSI partnering that train and graduate
students in the areas of atmospheric,
oceanic and environmental sciences,
fisheries sciences, and management, and
remote sensing technology. Since
approximately 40% of minority students
receive their undergraduate degrees at
MSIs, direct collaboration with MSIs is
an effective way to increase the number
of minority students trained and
graduated. The MSI students receive
NOAA-related science degrees and may
engage in research and pursue careers
compatible with the Agency’s mission.
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The National Science Foundation
(NSF) Science and Engineering
Indicators 2004 Report furnishes the
doctoral and master’s degree statistics
for selected years, 1994–2003. The
sciences include earth, atmospheric,
and ocean sciences. The minority
student statistics are below the national
average. For example, the 2004 NSF
report lists 26,413 U.S. citizen, science
and engineering doctoral degrees.
However, the number of minority
student graduates awarded doctoral
degrees includes:
• 1708 African Americans;
• 1270 Hispanics;
• 133 American Indian/Alaskan
Natives;
• 1417 Asian/Pacific Islanders.
The 474 earth, atmospheric and ocean
sciences doctoral degrees were awarded
to:
• 15 African Americans;
• 13 Hispanics;
• 2 American Indians and Alaskan
Natives;
• 10 to Asian/Pacific Islanders.
Additionally, minority group master’s
degrees statistics are disproportionately
low. With such a limited pool of
potential employees from
underrepresented communities trained
in NOAA-related sciences, it is
important that NOAA seek new ways to
make students aware of the mission of
the agency and to support activities that
increase opportunities for students
trained in NOAA-related sciences.
Proposals for the Cooperative Science
Centers shall support NOAA’s mission
as defined in NOAA’s Strategic Plan—
located at https://www.noaa.gov—.
The Educational Partnership Program
supports the
• NOAA Strategic Plan.
• U.S. Ocean Action Plan.
• NOAA Education Plan.
• DOC/NOAA Succession Planning
and Management Program Plan.
Institutions may compete for an
award to establish a Cooperative
Science Center based on the following
criteria:
Atmospheric Cooperative Science
Center: Atmospheric Cooperative
Science Center proposals should
address the ability to conduct
collaborative research in numerical
weather prediction, data assimilation,
climate modeling, climate analysis and
prediction, water resources, and/or
studies that lead to improvements in
warning and forecast operations.
Atmospheric Center graduates should
meet the National Weather Service’s
course requirements for meteorologists
which include:
1. Twenty four (24) semester hours in
meteorology including six semester
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hours in weather analysis and
prediction of weather systems
(synoptic/mesoscale); six semester
hours of atmospheric dynamics and
thermodynamics; three semester hours
of physical meteorology; and two
semester hours of remote sensing
technology of the atmosphere and/or
instrumentation;
2. Six semester hours of physics with
at least one course that includes
laboratory sessions;
3. Three semester hours of ordinary
differential equations; and,
4. Nine semester hours of course work
appropriate for a physical science major
in any combination of three or more of
the following: Physical hydrology,
statistics, chemistry, physical
oceanography, physical climatology,
radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced
thermodynamics, advanced electricity
and magnetism, light and optics,
computer science. There is a
prerequisite or co-requisite of calculus
for course work in atmospheric
dynamics and thermodynamics,
physics, and differential equations.
Calculus courses must be appropriate
for a physical science major. The
Center’s proposal should address how
its graduates will meet these course
requirements.
Living Marine Resources Cooperative
Science Center: Living Marine
Resources Cooperative Science Center
(LMRCSC) proposals should address the
ability to support education and
research in marine science including an
emphasis on the following: Biological
assessments; stock assessment; marine
chemical assessments; habitat quality,
coastal ecology—including ecosystem
monitoring; remote sensing technology
and GIS mapping; biodiversity; essential
fish habitat; fishery economics; fisheryrelated social sciences and fishery
biology, to include reproduction and
food habitats; systematics and
taxonomy; biotechnology; aquaculture;
and enhancement.
LMRCSC graduates should meet the
course requirements with a major
studies in biology, zoology, or biological
oceanography that include at least 30
semester hours in biological, marine,
and aquatic science and 15 semester
hours in the physical and mathematical
sciences. The course work must include:
1. At least 15 semester hours in
zoology beyond introductory biology or
zoology in such course as invertebrate
zoology, comparative anatomy,
histology, physiology, embryology,
advanced vertebrate zoology, genetics,
entomology, and parasitology.
2. At least 6 semester hours of training
applicable to fishery biology in such
subjects as fishery biology, ichthyology,
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limnology, oceanography, algology,
planktonology, marine or fresh water
ecology, invertebrate ecology, principles
of fishery population dynamics, or
related course work in the field of
fishery biology.
3. At least 15 semester hours of
training in any combination of two or
more of the following chemistry,
physics, mathematics, or statistics.
Graduates must be able to carry out a
variety of tasks including: predicting
population trends of living marine
resources (LMR); developing harvest
strategies that maintain sustainable
yields of renewable resources; analyzing
the social and economic impacts of
various management decisions on
communities by decisions related to
LMR. In addition, graduates must be
able to design and carry out projects for
LMR.
Environmental Cooperative Science
Center: Environmental Cooperative
Science Center (ECSC) proposals should
address the ability to respond to coastal
and ocean threats, restore damaged
areas, manage coastal and ocean
resources and support maritime
commerce. Key areas of focus could
include:
1. Understanding, predicting,
assessing, managing, and
communicating the impacts of human
and natural stresses on coastal ocean
ecosystems, including impacts from
climate change, pollution, land and
resource use, invasive species, and
extreme natural events;
2. Developing science-based support
and guidance for integrated coastal and
ocean management, including full
integration of biophysical sciences,
ecology, and human dimensions; and,
3. Increased understanding of the
physical, chemical, and biological
processes that both impact and support
coastal navigation and ports, as well as
an integration of this biophysical
understanding with human dimensions
to increase navigation safety and
decrease potential negative impacts to
ecosystems and coastal resources.
ECSC graduates should have at least
24 semester hours that include
coursework in each of the areas of
physical, chemical, biological, and
ecological sciences. Supporting
coursework in engineering (civil,
marine, electrical, chemical,
environmental, mechanical, ocean, as
applicable to Center focus areas) would
be an asset. Knowledge of pertinent
research and analytical methodology, as
well as the ability to apply the
aforementioned sciences and disciplines
to policy and management issues, is
required.
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74295
Remote Sensing Technology
Cooperative Science Center: Remote
Sensing Technology Cooperative
Science Center must have particular
emphasis in environmental satelliterelated research activities directed
toward helping to sustain healthy
coasts, to build sustainable fisheries, to
recover protected species, to help
improve weather forecasts and
warnings, to provide improved
environmental forecasts or analyses, and
to prepare for future NOAA operational
environmental satellite missions. The
Center will be expected to:
1. Provide an organizational setting to
promote and establish programs and
related research relating to remote
sensing technology by drawing upon
multiple disciplines and involving
collaboration with multiple performing
and research-sponsoring partners;
2. Serve as a model for outreach,
input, and collaboration that help
ensure that research can be applied to
solving priority NOAA remote sensing
technology, current satellite system
optimization, and future satellite system
development and planning;
3. Expand research in remote sensing
technology, satellite data management,
and user access technologies; and,
4. Support multi-disciplinary research
projects aimed at NOAA’s remote
sensing technology mission
responsibilities, to include: (a) Passive
radiometric remote sensing technology;
(b) Passive multi-spectral remote
sensing technology; (c) High spectral
resolution (hyperspectral) remote
sensing technology; (d) Active and
passive microwave remote sensing
technology; (e) Satellite sensor
development and demonstration in the
categories above; (f) technologies
relating to satellite data acquisition, data
distribution, mission operations, and
mission planning; and, g) Technologies
relating to improved user data access
and data management. Through such
multi-disciplinary research, explore
new approaches to enhance the use of
present and future environmental
satellites to meet the rapidly changing
environmental needs of the Nation.
The Cooperative Science Centers’s
principal academic institution must be
an accredited MSI with a Ph.D. program
in one of the NOAA core science areas
in atmospheric, oceanic and
environmental sciences, living marine
resources science and management, and
remote sensing technology. A
Cooperative Science Center
Distinguished Scientist position must be
created—within one year— to develop
significant research projects for their
respective Center and other EPP
Centers, MSIs, NOAA science and
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research facilities and relevant agencies.
Faculty and staff exchanges are an
integral part of this program and
opportunities for faculty and staff
exchanges are available for collaborative
research or other agreed upon activities.
A postdoctoral program supported by
NOAA EPP funds must be established at
each of the Science Centers. During the
two-year fellowship the postdoctoral
research should be collaborative
between the postdoctoral fellow and
NOAA scientist and address a NOAA
core science area. The candidates do not
become NOAA employees. NOAA
expects the Center to develop
mechanisms and approaches that
increase Center student course and
seminar offerings not only at the Center
MSI but at other MSIs and partner
institutions. A K–12 science education
program must be established at each of
the Science Centers. The K–12 science
education program purpose is
increasing the basic science and math
skilled student pipeline. A thirty
percent (30%) award minimum is
required for student support, that
includes—but is not limited to—
scholarships, fellowships, travel
expenses to professional meetings and
for conducting site research. While the
Centers are established at MSIs, nonminority serving institutions consortia
are not restricted. Also, private and
public sector partnerships are
encouraged.
Electronic Access
Applicants can access download and
submit electronic grant applications,
including the Full Funding Opportunity
Announcement, for NOAA programs at
the Grants.gov Web site: https://
www.grants.gov. The announcement
will also be available at the NOAA EPP
Web site https://epp.noaa.gov or by
contacting the program officials
identified above. The closing date will
be the same as for the paper
submissions noted in this
announcement. NOAA strongly
recommends that you do not wait until
the application deadline date to begin
the application process through
Grants.gov. If Internet access is
unavailable, hard copies of proposals
will also be accepted-a signed original
and two copies at time of submission.
This includes color or high-resolution
graphics, unusually sized materials, or
otherwise unusual materials submitted
as part of the proposal. For color
graphics, submit either color originals or
color copies. Facsimile transmissions
and electronic mail submission of full
proposals will not be accepted.
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Funding Availability
Subject to Congressional
appropriations, this solicitation
announces that funding at a maximum
of $50 million will be available for the
Cooperative Science Centers over a fiveyear period. Proposals are limited to a
total of $12.5 million for a maximum of
five years and four proposals will be
funded. The funding instrument will be
a cooperative agreement since NOAA
will be substantially involved in
developing research priorities,
conducting cooperative activities with
recipients, exchanging staff and
providing internship opportunities for
students at MSIs.
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 and Executive Orders 13230,
13256, 13270, 13336, and 13339.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance:
11.481—Educational Partnership Program
with Minority Serving Institutions.
Eligibility: For the purposes of this
program, Historically Black Colleges
and Universities, Hispanic Serving
Institutions, Tribal Colleges and
Universities, and Alaska Native and
Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, as
identified on the 2004 United States
Department of Education, Accredited
Postsecondary Minority Institution list
at https://epp.noaa.gov, are eligible to
apply. Proposals will not be accepted
from non-profit organizations,
foundations, auxiliary services or any
other entity submitted on behalf of
MSIs.
Cost Sharing Requirements: None.
Intergovernmental Review:
Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.’’
Evaluation and Selection Criteria and
Procedures: NOAA published its
agency-wide solicitation entitled
‘‘Omnibus Notice Announcing the
Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal
Year 2006’’ for projects for Fiscal Year
2006 in the Federal Register on June 30,
2005 (70 FR 37766). The evaluation and
selection criteria and procedures for
projects contained in that omnibus
notice are applicable to this notice.
Copies of this notice are available on the
Internet at https://www.ofa.noaa.gov/
%7Eamd/SOLINDEX.HTML. Further
details on evaluation and selection
criteria and procedures applicable to
this notice can be found in the full
funding opportunity announcement.
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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: https://
www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our
NOAA Administrative Order 216–6 for
NEPA, https://www.nepa.noaa.gov/
NAO216_6_TOC.pdf, and the Council
on Environmental Quality
implementation regulations, https://
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 nonindigenous 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 the denial of
an application. In some cases if
additional information is required after
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.
Pre-Award Notification Requirements
for Grants and Cooperative Agreements
The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
contained in the Federal Register notice
of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389) are
applicable to this solicitation.
Limitation of Liability
Funding for the Cooperative Science
Centers listed in this notice is
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contingent upon availability of Fiscal
Year 2006 appropriations. Applicants
are hereby given notice that funds have
not yet been appropriated for the
Cooperative Science Centers. 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. Recipients and sub-recipients are
subject to all Federal laws and agency
policies, regulations and procedures
applicable to Federal financial
assistance awards.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This notification involves collectionof-information requirements subject to
the Paperwork Reduction Act. 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 control numbers
0348–0043, 0348–0044, 0348–0040 and
0348–0046 and 0605–0001.
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
It has been determined that this notice
is 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 comments
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
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flexibility analysis has not been
prepared, and none has been prepared.
Mark Brown,
Chief Financial Officer, NOAA Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research.
[FR Doc. E5–7395 Filed 12–14–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[Docket No. 030602141–5301–30]
Request for Proposals for Fiscal Year
2006–NOAA Educational Partnership
Program With Minority Serving
Institutions: Environmental
Entrepreneurship Program
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NOAA’s Environmental
Entrepreneurship Program is soliciting
proposals that support environmental
revitalization projects. Projects should
engage students at MSIs in hands-on
training and experiential learning
opportunities in the application of
NOAA science and business acumen.
The program’s objective is to increase
the number of students proficient in
environmental business enterprises. For
the purposes of this program,
Environmental Business Enterprises is
defined as applying skills and
techniques in the development and
operations of businesses that resolve
environmental degradation in local
communities.
The process involves engaging
students in the application of business
skills and best management science
techniques that will enable students to
gain practical experience in resolving
environmental degradation in their local
communities. Students are expected to
learn how to transform business
concepts into innovative products or
services that support environmental
business enterprises. This is achieved
through community-based collaborative
processes.
It is expected that three cooperative
agreement awards will be funded in
fiscal year 2006. Eligible MSIs may
apply for a maximum of $200,000, on a
competitive basis, to support
environmental revitalization projects,
for a two or three-year period. The total
funding available is $600,000, subject to
Congressional appropriations.
The program’s vision is an increased
number of students at MSIs proficient in
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74297
environmental business enterprises that
advance DOC/NOAA’s mission.
Successful programs will build the
institution’s capacity to train students in
developing and operating businesses in
local communities where there is a need
to sustain or revitalize naturally
depleted environments.
DATES: Full Proposals must be received
by 2 p.m. (eastern standard time)
February 13, 2006. Facsimile
transmissions and electronic mail
submission of proposals will not be
accepted.
ADDRESSES: Applicants are strongly
encouraged to submit applications
through the Grants.gov Web site.
Electronic access to the full funding
opportunity announcement for this
program is available via the Grants.gov
Web site: https://www.grants.gov. The
announcement will also be available at
the NOAA Web site https://
www.ofa.noaa.gov/%7Eamd/
solindex.html or by contacting the
program official identified below.
Applicants must comply with all
requirements contained in the full
funding opportunity announcement.
If Internet access is unavailable, paper
applications (a signed original and two
copies) should be submitted by postal
mail, commercial delivery service, or
hand-delivery to the Educational
Partnership Program at the following
address: NOAA/EPP, 1315 East-West
Highway, SSMC III, Room 10600, Silver
Spring, Maryland 20910. Facsimile and
electronic mail submission of
applications will not be accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jacqueline Rousseau, Program Director
at (301) 713–9437 extension 124 or
Jacqueline.J.Rousseau@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Summary Description
NOAA’s Environmental
Entrepreneurship Program supports
projects aimed at increasing
opportunities for students at MSIs to
become proficient in environmental
business enterprises.
According to the U.S. DOC Census
Bureau, 2002 Economic Statistics
Report, under represented groups
comprise only fourteen percent of the
total U.S. businesses. These include:
• 5% of the U.S. businesses are
owned by Blacks;
• 6.85% of the U.S. businesses are
owned by Hispanic or Latinos;
• 0.89% (less than one percent) of
U.S. businesses are owned by American
Indian and Alaska Natives and;
• (0.14%) (less than one percent) of
U.S. businesses are owned by Native
Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74294-74297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7395]
[[Page 74294]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 030602141-5303-32]
Financial Assistance To Establish New Cooperative Science Centers
Under NOAA's Educational Partnership Program (EPP) With Minority
Serving Institutions in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Environmental
Sciences, Living Marine Resources Science and Management, and Remote
Sensing Technology at Minority Serving Institutions
AGENCY: Office of Education, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and solicitation for proposals
for these funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The purpose of this document is to advise the public that
NOAA's Educational Partnership Program is soliciting new accredited
post secondary minority serving institutions (MSI)--Cooperative Science
Center proposals. These Centers are to establish partnerships between
the accredited post secondary MSIs and NOAA. The partnership goal is to
expand the institution's training and research capabilities and
supporting program development. The developed programs will support
NOAA's mission. The Cooperative Centers must establish in the NOAA core
science areas: Atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences; living
marine resources science and management; and remote sensing technology.
The EPP/MSI is a competitive program designed to strengthen and
enhance the research and training capabilities and to support the
development of programs directly related to NOAA's mission at MSIs. The
EPP is designed to enhance NOAA's capability to increase environmental
literacy by establishing partnerships with academia, the private
sector, and other Federal, State, Tribal and local agencies. Thus, the
funding opportunity is intended to engage the MSI academic community in
training and collaborative research across the spectrum of atmospheric,
oceanic and environmental sciences, living marine resources science and
management, and remote sensing technology in support of NOAA's mission.
DATES: Applications must be received by NOAA Educational Partnership
Program (EPP) no later than 2 p.m. (eastern standard time), February
13, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Applications submitted in response to this announcement are
strongly encouraged to submit through the Grants.gov Web site.
Electronic access to the Full Funding Opportunity Announcement for this
program is available via the Grants.gov Web site: https://
www.grants.gov. The announcement will also be available at the NOAA EPP
Web site https://epp.noaa.gov or by contacting the program officials
identified below. Applicants must comply with all requirements
contained in the full funding opportunity announcement. If Internet
access is unavailable, paper applications (a signed original and two
copies) may be submitted to the Educational Partnership Program at the
following address: NOAA/OAR/EPP, 1315 East West Highway, Room 10600,
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. No facsimile applications will be
accepted. Institutions are encouraged to submit Letters of Intent to
NOAA/EPP within 30 days of this announcement to aid in planning the
review processes.
Letters of Intent may be submitted via e-mail to
Jacqueline.J.Rousseau@noaa.gov or Meka.Laster@noaa.gov. Information
should include a general description of the Center proposal and
participating institutions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline J. Rousseau, Program
Director at 301-713-9437 ext. 124 or Jacqueline.J.Rousseau@noaa.gov.
The alternative contact is Meka E. Laster at 301-713-9437 ext. 147 or
Meka.laster@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Summary Description
NOAA is committed to recruiting and retaining underrepresented
community employees. NOAA is committed to training students in NOAA
related sciences and conduct the ongoing mission of the agency.
Therefore, the agency established a program aimed at MSI partnering
that train and graduate students in the areas of atmospheric, oceanic
and environmental sciences, fisheries sciences, and management, and
remote sensing technology. Since approximately 40% of minority students
receive their undergraduate degrees at MSIs, direct collaboration with
MSIs is an effective way to increase the number of minority students
trained and graduated. The MSI students receive NOAA-related science
degrees and may engage in research and pursue careers compatible with
the Agency's mission.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Engineering
Indicators 2004 Report furnishes the doctoral and master's degree
statistics for selected years, 1994-2003. The sciences include earth,
atmospheric, and ocean sciences. The minority student statistics are
below the national average. For example, the 2004 NSF report lists
26,413 U.S. citizen, science and engineering doctoral degrees. However,
the number of minority student graduates awarded doctoral degrees
includes:
1708 African Americans;
1270 Hispanics;
133 American Indian/Alaskan Natives;
1417 Asian/Pacific Islanders.
The 474 earth, atmospheric and ocean sciences doctoral degrees were
awarded to:
15 African Americans;
13 Hispanics;
2 American Indians and Alaskan Natives;
10 to Asian/Pacific Islanders.
Additionally, minority group master's degrees statistics are
disproportionately low. With such a limited pool of potential employees
from underrepresented communities trained in NOAA-related sciences, it
is important that NOAA seek new ways to make students aware of the
mission of the agency and to support activities that increase
opportunities for students trained in NOAA-related sciences.
Proposals for the Cooperative Science Centers shall support NOAA's
mission as defined in NOAA's Strategic Plan--located at https://
www.noaa.gov--.
The Educational Partnership Program supports the
NOAA Strategic Plan.
U.S. Ocean Action Plan.
NOAA Education Plan.
DOC/NOAA Succession Planning and Management Program Plan.
Institutions may compete for an award to establish a Cooperative
Science Center based on the following criteria:
Atmospheric Cooperative Science Center: Atmospheric Cooperative
Science Center proposals should address the ability to conduct
collaborative research in numerical weather prediction, data
assimilation, climate modeling, climate analysis and prediction, water
resources, and/or studies that lead to improvements in warning and
forecast operations. Atmospheric Center graduates should meet the
National Weather Service's course requirements for meteorologists which
include:
1. Twenty four (24) semester hours in meteorology including six
semester
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hours in weather analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/
mesoscale); six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and
thermodynamics; three semester hours of physical meteorology; and two
semester hours of remote sensing technology of the atmosphere and/or
instrumentation;
2. Six semester hours of physics with at least one course that
includes laboratory sessions;
3. Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations; and,
4. Nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical
science major in any combination of three or more of the following:
Physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography,
physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced
thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics,
computer science. There is a prerequisite or co-requisite of calculus
for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics,
and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a
physical science major. The Center's proposal should address how its
graduates will meet these course requirements.
Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center: Living Marine
Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) proposals should address
the ability to support education and research in marine science
including an emphasis on the following: Biological assessments; stock
assessment; marine chemical assessments; habitat quality, coastal
ecology--including ecosystem monitoring; remote sensing technology and
GIS mapping; biodiversity; essential fish habitat; fishery economics;
fishery-related social sciences and fishery biology, to include
reproduction and food habitats; systematics and taxonomy;
biotechnology; aquaculture; and enhancement.
LMRCSC graduates should meet the course requirements with a major
studies in biology, zoology, or biological oceanography that include at
least 30 semester hours in biological, marine, and aquatic science and
15 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences. The course
work must include:
1. At least 15 semester hours in zoology beyond introductory
biology or zoology in such course as invertebrate zoology, comparative
anatomy, histology, physiology, embryology, advanced vertebrate
zoology, genetics, entomology, and parasitology.
2. At least 6 semester hours of training applicable to fishery
biology in such subjects as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology,
oceanography, algology, planktonology, marine or fresh water ecology,
invertebrate ecology, principles of fishery population dynamics, or
related course work in the field of fishery biology.
3. At least 15 semester hours of training in any combination of two
or more of the following chemistry, physics, mathematics, or
statistics.
Graduates must be able to carry out a variety of tasks including:
predicting population trends of living marine resources (LMR);
developing harvest strategies that maintain sustainable yields of
renewable resources; analyzing the social and economic impacts of
various management decisions on communities by decisions related to
LMR. In addition, graduates must be able to design and carry out
projects for LMR.
Environmental Cooperative Science Center: Environmental Cooperative
Science Center (ECSC) proposals should address the ability to respond
to coastal and ocean threats, restore damaged areas, manage coastal and
ocean resources and support maritime commerce. Key areas of focus could
include:
1. Understanding, predicting, assessing, managing, and
communicating the impacts of human and natural stresses on coastal
ocean ecosystems, including impacts from climate change, pollution,
land and resource use, invasive species, and extreme natural events;
2. Developing science-based support and guidance for integrated
coastal and ocean management, including full integration of biophysical
sciences, ecology, and human dimensions; and,
3. Increased understanding of the physical, chemical, and
biological processes that both impact and support coastal navigation
and ports, as well as an integration of this biophysical understanding
with human dimensions to increase navigation safety and decrease
potential negative impacts to ecosystems and coastal resources.
ECSC graduates should have at least 24 semester hours that include
coursework in each of the areas of physical, chemical, biological, and
ecological sciences. Supporting coursework in engineering (civil,
marine, electrical, chemical, environmental, mechanical, ocean, as
applicable to Center focus areas) would be an asset. Knowledge of
pertinent research and analytical methodology, as well as the ability
to apply the aforementioned sciences and disciplines to policy and
management issues, is required.
Remote Sensing Technology Cooperative Science Center: Remote
Sensing Technology Cooperative Science Center must have particular
emphasis in environmental satellite-related research activities
directed toward helping to sustain healthy coasts, to build sustainable
fisheries, to recover protected species, to help improve weather
forecasts and warnings, to provide improved environmental forecasts or
analyses, and to prepare for future NOAA operational environmental
satellite missions. The Center will be expected to:
1. Provide an organizational setting to promote and establish
programs and related research relating to remote sensing technology by
drawing upon multiple disciplines and involving collaboration with
multiple performing and research-sponsoring partners;
2. Serve as a model for outreach, input, and collaboration that
help ensure that research can be applied to solving priority NOAA
remote sensing technology, current satellite system optimization, and
future satellite system development and planning;
3. Expand research in remote sensing technology, satellite data
management, and user access technologies; and,
4. Support multi-disciplinary research projects aimed at NOAA's
remote sensing technology mission responsibilities, to include: (a)
Passive radiometric remote sensing technology; (b) Passive multi-
spectral remote sensing technology; (c) High spectral resolution
(hyperspectral) remote sensing technology; (d) Active and passive
microwave remote sensing technology; (e) Satellite sensor development
and demonstration in the categories above; (f) technologies relating to
satellite data acquisition, data distribution, mission operations, and
mission planning; and, g) Technologies relating to improved user data
access and data management. Through such multi-disciplinary research,
explore new approaches to enhance the use of present and future
environmental satellites to meet the rapidly changing environmental
needs of the Nation.
The Cooperative Science Centers's principal academic institution
must be an accredited MSI with a Ph.D. program in one of the NOAA core
science areas in atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences,
living marine resources science and management, and remote sensing
technology. A Cooperative Science Center Distinguished Scientist
position must be created--within one year-- to develop significant
research projects for their respective Center and other EPP Centers,
MSIs, NOAA science and
[[Page 74296]]
research facilities and relevant agencies. Faculty and staff exchanges
are an integral part of this program and opportunities for faculty and
staff exchanges are available for collaborative research or other
agreed upon activities. A postdoctoral program supported by NOAA EPP
funds must be established at each of the Science Centers. During the
two-year fellowship the postdoctoral research should be collaborative
between the postdoctoral fellow and NOAA scientist and address a NOAA
core science area. The candidates do not become NOAA employees. NOAA
expects the Center to develop mechanisms and approaches that increase
Center student course and seminar offerings not only at the Center MSI
but at other MSIs and partner institutions. A K-12 science education
program must be established at each of the Science Centers. The K-12
science education program purpose is increasing the basic science and
math skilled student pipeline. A thirty percent (30%) award minimum is
required for student support, that includes--but is not limited to--
scholarships, fellowships, travel expenses to professional meetings and
for conducting site research. While the Centers are established at
MSIs, non-minority serving institutions consortia are not restricted.
Also, private and public sector partnerships are encouraged.
Electronic Access
Applicants can access download and submit electronic grant
applications, including the Full Funding Opportunity Announcement, for
NOAA programs at the Grants.gov Web site: https://www.grants.gov. The
announcement will also be available at the NOAA EPP Web site https://
epp.noaa.gov or by contacting the program officials identified above.
The closing date will be the same as for the paper submissions noted in
this announcement. NOAA strongly recommends that you do not wait until
the application deadline date to begin the application process through
Grants.gov. If Internet access is unavailable, hard copies of proposals
will also be accepted-a signed original and two copies at time of
submission. This includes color or high-resolution graphics, unusually
sized materials, or otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of
the proposal. For color graphics, submit either color originals or
color copies. Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail submission of
full proposals will not be accepted.
Funding Availability
Subject to Congressional appropriations, this solicitation
announces that funding at a maximum of $50 million will be available
for the Cooperative Science Centers over a five-year period. Proposals
are limited to a total of $12.5 million for a maximum of five years and
four proposals will be funded. The funding instrument will be a
cooperative agreement since NOAA will be substantially involved in
developing research priorities, conducting cooperative activities with
recipients, exchanging staff and providing internship opportunities for
students at MSIs.
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 and Executive
Orders 13230, 13256, 13270, 13336, and 13339.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 11.481--Educational
Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions.
Eligibility: For the purposes of this program, Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal
Colleges and Universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian
Serving Institutions, as identified on the 2004 United States
Department of Education, Accredited Postsecondary Minority Institution
list at https://epp.noaa.gov, are eligible to apply. Proposals will not
be accepted from non-profit organizations, foundations, auxiliary
services or any other entity submitted on behalf of MSIs.
Cost Sharing Requirements: None.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Evaluation and Selection Criteria and Procedures: NOAA published
its agency-wide solicitation entitled ``Omnibus Notice Announcing the
Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2006'' for projects for
Fiscal Year 2006 in the Federal Register on June 30, 2005 (70 FR
37766). The evaluation and selection criteria and procedures for
projects contained in that omnibus notice are applicable to this
notice. Copies of this notice are available on the Internet at https://
www.ofa.noaa.gov/%7Eamd/SOLINDEX.HTML. Further details on evaluation
and selection criteria and procedures applicable to this notice can be
found in the full funding opportunity announcement.
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: https://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for NEPA, https://www.nepa.noaa.gov/
NAO216_6_TOC.pdf, and the Council on Environmental Quality
implementation regulations, https://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 the denial of an
application. In some cases if additional information is required after
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.
Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative
Agreements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389) are applicable to this
solicitation.
Limitation of Liability
Funding for the Cooperative Science Centers listed in this notice
is
[[Page 74297]]
contingent upon availability of Fiscal Year 2006 appropriations.
Applicants are hereby given notice that funds have not yet been
appropriated for the Cooperative Science Centers. 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. Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all
Federal laws and agency policies, regulations and procedures applicable
to Federal financial assistance awards.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This notification involves collection-of-information requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. 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 control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044,
0348-0040 and 0348-0046 and 0605-0001. 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
It has been determined that this notice is 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 comments 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, and none has been prepared.
Mark Brown,
Chief Financial Officer, NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
[FR Doc. E5-7395 Filed 12-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P
