Program for Technology-based Experiential Learning in Science for Grades 4-9 Students and Teachers, 26078-26080 [E7-8714]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 88 / Tuesday, May 8, 2007 / Notices
Dated: May 2, 2007.
Daniel Clever,
Deputy Director, NOAA Acquisitions and
Grants, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E7–8715 Filed 5–7–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–12–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[Docket No. 070419090–7090–01; I.D.
050107B ]
Program for Technology-based
Experiential Learning in Science for
Grades 4–9 Students and Teachers
Office of Education (OED),
Office of the Undersecretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
(USEC), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NOAA’s Office of Education
(OED) is requesting applications for a
technology-based science experiential
learning program to impact 4th through
9th grade students and teachers. One
award will be made for a project five
years in duration. The successful project
will draw heavily on NOAA marine
scientific resources as well as an
existing set of vetted educational
products. The project should feature
print materials for students and
teachers, multimedia products, out-ofthe classroom activities and incorporate
on-line elements such as live chat,
podcasts or computer simulations to
provide students with access to
scientists and promote inquiry-based
learning. A successful applicant will
have extensive partnerships with
NOAA, as well as other Federal, local,
and private organizations. It is
anticipated that final recommendations
for funding under this announcement
will be made by June 30, 2007, and that
projects funded under this
announcement will have a start date no
earlier than September 15, 2007.
DATES: The deadline for applications is
5 p.m., EDT June 7, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Full applications must be
submitted either through Grants.gov or
as a paper application to: ATTN: Grants
Competition Manager, NOAA Office of
Education, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave, NW.,
HCHB Room 6863, Washington, DC
20230. Please note: Hard copies
submitted via the U.S. Postal Service
can take up to 4 weeks to reach this
office; applicants are recommended to
send hard copies via expedited shipping
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:36 May 07, 2007
Jkt 211001
methods (e.g., Airborne Express, DHL,
Fed Ex, UPS).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Schoedinger at
sarah.schoedinger@noaa.gov, telephone
704–370–3528 or Alyssa Gundersen at
alyssa.gundersen@noaa.gov, telephone
202–482–3739.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA’s
Office of Education (OED) is requesting
applications for a technology-based
science experiential learning program,
with interdisciplinary connections to
math and other disciplines, for 4th
through 9th grade students and teachers.
The successful project will draw heavily
on NOAA scientific research, personnel,
facilities and educational resources to
reach classroom students and their
teachers in the United States. The
project should feature print materials for
students and teachers, multimedia
products, out-of-the classroom activities
and incorporate on-line elements such
as live chat, podcasts or computer
simulations to provide students with
access to scientists and promote
inquiry-based learning. The project
should provide an online platform that
allows teachers to create customized
lesson plans based on the proposed
curriculum, to develop assessments
aligned to their local standards, to create
reports on the use and impact of each
program element. Additionally, the
project will allow teachers both onsite
and online to earn graduate-level credithours from an accredited university in
the United States. All projects shall
employ the strategies articulated in the
NOAA Education Plan (https://
www.oesd.noaa.gov/
NOAA_Ed_Plan.pdf).
A successful applicant will have
extensive partnerships with NOAA, as
well as other Federal, local, and private
organizations. The applicant or project
partners should be highly experienced
in developing and employing
telepresence technology and delivering
programming to the scientific and
educational communities as well as the
general public.
It is anticipated that final
recommendations for funding under this
announcement will be made by June 30,
2007, and that projects funded under
this announcement will have a start date
no earlier than September 15, 2007.
Electronic Access
The full text of the full funding
opportunity announcement for this OED
program can be accessed via the
Grants.gov web site. That
announcement will also be available at
the NOAA Web site: https://
www.oesd.noaa.gov/funding_opps.html
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
or by contacting the program officials
identified under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. Applicants must
comply with all requirements contained
in the full funding opportunity
announcement. This Federal Register
notice is available through the NOAA
home page at: https://www.noaa.gov/.
Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1540.
CFDA: 11.469, Congressionally
Identified Awards and Projects.
Funding Availability
NOAA anticipates the availability,
contingent upon appropriations, of
approximately $2,000,000 of Federal
financial assistance in FY 2007 for a
technology-based experiential learning
program for 4th through 9th grade
students and teachers. One award in the
form of a grant will be made. NOAA
will only consider projects that have a
duration of 5 years. The total Federal
amount for all years that may be
requested from NOAA for the direct and
indirect costs of the proposed project
shall not exceed $12,500,000 for 5 years.
Applications requesting Federal support
from NOAA of less than $1,000,000 total
or more than $12,500,000 total will not
be considered for funding through this
announcement.
The amount of funding available
through this announcement will be
dependent upon the final
appropriations for FY 2007 through FY
2011. Publication of this notice does not
oblige the Department of Commerce/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (DOC/NOAA) to award
any specific project or to obligate any
available funds. If an applicant incurs
any costs prior to receiving an award
agreement signed by an authorized
NOAA Grants Officer, the applicant
would do so solely at their own risk of
such costs not being included under the
award. The exact amount of funds that
may be awarded will be determined in
pre-award negotiations between the
applicant and NOAA representatives.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are institutions of
higher education, other nonprofits, and
state, local and Indian tribal
governments in the United States. Forprofit organizations, individuals not
affiliated with an eligible organization,
foreign institutions, foreign
organizations and foreign government
agencies are not eligible to apply.
Federal agencies are not eligible to
receive Federal assistance under this
announcement, but may be project
partners.
The Department of Commerce/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (DOC/NOAA) is
E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM
08MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 88 / Tuesday, May 8, 2007 / Notices
strongly committed to increasing the
participation of Minority Serving
Institutions (MSIs), i.e., Historically
Black Colleges and Universities,
Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal
colleges and universities, Alaskan
Native and Native Hawaiian
institutions, and institutions that work
in underserved communities.
Institutions may submit only one
application to this funding opportunity.
Cost Sharing Requirements
There are no cost-sharing
requirements.
Evaluation and Selection Procedures
The general evaluation criteria and
selection factors that apply to full
applications to this funding opportunity
are summarized below. The evaluation
criteria for full applications will have
different weights and details. Further
information about the evaluation criteria
and selection factors can be found in the
full funding opportunity announcement.
Evaluation Criteria for Projects
1. Importance and/or relevance and
applicability of proposed project to the
program goals: This ascertains whether
there is intrinsic value in the proposed
work and/or relevance to NOAA,
Federal, regional, State, or local
activities.
2. Technical/scientific merit: This
assesses whether the approach is
technically sound and/or innovative, if
the methods are appropriate, and
whether there are clear project goals and
objectives.
3. Overall qualifications of applicants:
This ascertains whether the applicant
possesses the necessary education,
experience, training, facilities, and
administrative resources to accomplish
the project.
4. Project costs: The Budget is
evaluated to determine if it is realistic
and commensurate with the project
needs and time-frame.
5. Outreach and education: NOAA
assesses whether this project provides a
focused and effective education and
outreach strategy regarding NOAA’s
mission to protect the Nation’s natural
resources.
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Review and Selection Process
Upon receipt of an application by
NOAA, an initial administrative review
will be conducted to determine
compliance with requirements and
completeness of the application. All
applications that meet the minimum
eligibility requirements and that are
ascertained to be complete will be
evaluated and scored by independent
reviewers. The reviews will be
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:36 May 07, 2007
Jkt 211001
conducted by a panel of individuals,
who may be government or nongovernment representatives, each
having relevant expertise. The reviewers
will score each proposal using the
evaluation criteria and relative weights
provided above. The individual
reviewers’ ratings will be averaged for
each application to establish rank order.
No consensus advice will be given by
the review panel. The Program Officer
will neither vote nor score applications
as part of the review panel nor
participate in discussion of the merits of
any proposal.
The Program Officer will make his/
her recommendations for funding based
on rank order and the selection factors
listed below to the Selecting Official for
the final funding decision.
Selection Factors for Projects
The panel review ratings shall
establish the rank order that the
Selecting Official will use for final
recommendation to the NOAA Grants
Officer. The Selecting Official shall
award in the rank order unless the
proposal is justified to be selected out
of rank order based upon one or more
of the following factors:
1. Availability of funding.
2. Balance/distribution of funds:
a. Geographically
b. By type of institutions
c. By type of partners
d. By research areas
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.
5. Applicant’s prior award
performance.
6. Partnerships and/or participation of
targeted groups.
7. Adequacy of information necessary
for NOAA staff to make a NEPA
determination and draft necessary
documentation before recommendations
for funding are made to the Grants
Officer.
Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are
not subject to 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 obligate NOAA
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26079
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
(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 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 Preaward 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.
E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM
08MYN1
26080
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 88 / Tuesday, May 8, 2007 / Notices
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document contains collection-ofinformation 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: May 2, 2007.
Daniel L. Clever,
Deputy Director, NOAA Acquisitions and
Grants, U.S. Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E7–8714 Filed 5–7–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–12–P
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Information Collection; Submission for
OMB Review; Comment Request
entitled the Peer Reviewer Application
Instructions to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Pub. L. 104–13, (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
Copies of this ICR, with applicable
supporting documentation, may be
obtained by calling the Corporation for
National and Community Service, Ms.
Vielka Garibaldi, at (202) 606–6886,
(vgaribaldi@cns.gov). Individuals who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TTY/TDD) may call at (202) 565–
2799 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time, Monday
through Friday.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted, identified by the title of the
information collection activity, to the
Office of information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attn: Ms. Katherine Astrich,
OMB Desk Office for the Corporation for
National and Community Service, by
any of the following two methods
within 30 days from the date of
publication in this Federal Register.
(1) By fax to: (202) 395–6974,
Attention: Ms. Katherine Astrich, OMB
Desk Officer for the Corporation for
National and Community Service; and
(2) Electronically by e-mail to:
Katherine_T._Astrich@omb.eop.gov.
The OMB
is particularly interested in comments
which:
• Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Corporation, including
whether the information will have
practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the
Corporation’s estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
• Propose ways to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
• Propose ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submissions
of responses.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
Comments
SUMMARY: The Corporation for National
and Community Service (hereinafter the
‘‘Corporation’’), has submitted a public
information collection request (ICR)
A 60-day public comment Notice was
published in the Federal Register on
February 1, 2007. This comment period
ended on April 2, 2007; no comments
were received from this notice.
Description: The Corporation is
seeking approval of the Peer Reviewer
Corporation for National and
Community Service.
ACTION: Notice.
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15:36 May 07, 2007
Jkt 211001
PO 00000
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Application Instructions form which
will be used by Grant Review
Specialists in the Office of Grant Policy
and Operations to select peer reviewers
and facilitators for each grant
competition. All individuals interested
in applying as peer reviewers or
facilitators of the peer review panels
will be required to complete an
electronic application. The current
application is due to expire on October
31, 2007. Modifications include
instructions related to log-in into
eGrants and enhancements to the
personal profile, contact information
section, and areas of expertise.
Type of Review: Renewal.
Agency: Corporation for National and
Community Service.
Title: Peer Reviewer Application.
OMB Number: 3045–0090.
Agency Number: None.
Affected Public: Individuals who are
interested in serving as peer reviewers
or peer review panel facilitators.
Total Respondents: 2,500.
Frequency: One (1) time and updates
as needed.
Average Time per Response: 40
minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,666
hours.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup):
None.
Total Burden Cost (operating/
maintenance): None.
Dated: April 17, 2007.
Marlene Zakai,
Director, Office of Grants Policy and
Operation.
[FR Doc. E7–8713 Filed 5–7–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Surplus Properties; Notice
Department of the Army; DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: This notice provides
information regarding the properties
that have been determined surplus to
the United States needs in accordance
with the Defense Base Closure and
Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law
101–510, as amended, and the 2005
Base Closure and Realignment
Commission Report, as approved, and
following screening with Federal
agencies and Department of Defense
components. This Notice amends the
Notice published in the Federal
Register (71 FR 26930) on May 9, 2006.
DATES: Effective May 8, 2007.
E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM
08MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26078-26080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8714]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 070419090-7090-01; I.D. 050107B ]
Program for Technology-based Experiential Learning in Science for
Grades 4-9 Students and Teachers
AGENCY: Office of Education (OED), Office of the Undersecretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (USEC), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NOAA's Office of Education (OED) is requesting applications
for a technology-based science experiential learning program to impact
4th through 9th grade students and teachers. One award will be made for
a project five years in duration. The successful project will draw
heavily on NOAA marine scientific resources as well as an existing set
of vetted educational products. The project should feature print
materials for students and teachers, multimedia products, out-of-the
classroom activities and incorporate on-line elements such as live
chat, podcasts or computer simulations to provide students with access
to scientists and promote inquiry-based learning. A successful
applicant will have extensive partnerships with NOAA, as well as other
Federal, local, and private organizations. It is anticipated that final
recommendations for funding under this announcement will be made by
June 30, 2007, and that projects funded under this announcement will
have a start date no earlier than September 15, 2007.
DATES: The deadline for applications is 5 p.m., EDT June 7, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Full applications must be submitted either through
Grants.gov or as a paper application to: ATTN: Grants Competition
Manager, NOAA Office of Education, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Ave, NW., HCHB Room 6863, Washington, DC 20230. Please
note: Hard copies submitted via the U.S. Postal Service can take up to
4 weeks to reach this office; applicants are recommended to send hard
copies via expedited shipping methods (e.g., Airborne Express, DHL, Fed
Ex, UPS).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Schoedinger at
sarah.schoedinger@noaa.gov, telephone 704-370-3528 or Alyssa Gundersen
at alyssa.gundersen@noaa.gov, telephone 202-482-3739.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA's Office of Education (OED) is
requesting applications for a technology-based science experiential
learning program, with interdisciplinary connections to math and other
disciplines, for 4th through 9th grade students and teachers. The
successful project will draw heavily on NOAA scientific research,
personnel, facilities and educational resources to reach classroom
students and their teachers in the United States. The project should
feature print materials for students and teachers, multimedia products,
out-of-the classroom activities and incorporate on-line elements such
as live chat, podcasts or computer simulations to provide students with
access to scientists and promote inquiry-based learning. The project
should provide an online platform that allows teachers to create
customized lesson plans based on the proposed curriculum, to develop
assessments aligned to their local standards, to create reports on the
use and impact of each program element. Additionally, the project will
allow teachers both onsite and online to earn graduate-level credit-
hours from an accredited university in the United States. All projects
shall employ the strategies articulated in the NOAA Education Plan
(https://www.oesd.noaa.gov/NOAA_Ed_Plan.pdf).
A successful applicant will have extensive partnerships with NOAA,
as well as other Federal, local, and private organizations. The
applicant or project partners should be highly experienced in
developing and employing telepresence technology and delivering
programming to the scientific and educational communities as well as
the general public.
It is anticipated that final recommendations for funding under this
announcement will be made by June 30, 2007, and that projects funded
under this announcement will have a start date no earlier than
September 15, 2007.
Electronic Access
The full text of the full funding opportunity announcement for this
OED program can be accessed via the Grants.gov web site. That
announcement will also be available at the NOAA Web site: https://
www.oesd.noaa.gov/funding_opps.html or by contacting the program
officials identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Applicants
must comply with all requirements contained in the full funding
opportunity announcement. This Federal Register notice is available
through the NOAA home page at: https://www.noaa.gov/.
Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1540.
CFDA: 11.469, Congressionally Identified Awards and Projects.
Funding Availability
NOAA anticipates the availability, contingent upon appropriations,
of approximately $2,000,000 of Federal financial assistance in FY 2007
for a technology-based experiential learning program for 4th through
9th grade students and teachers. One award in the form of a grant will
be made. NOAA will only consider projects that have a duration of 5
years. The total Federal amount for all years that may be requested
from NOAA for the direct and indirect costs of the proposed project
shall not exceed $12,500,000 for 5 years. Applications requesting
Federal support from NOAA of less than $1,000,000 total or more than
$12,500,000 total will not be considered for funding through this
announcement.
The amount of funding available through this announcement will be
dependent upon the final appropriations for FY 2007 through FY 2011.
Publication of this notice does not oblige the Department of Commerce/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) to award any
specific project or to obligate any available funds. If an applicant
incurs any costs prior to receiving an award agreement signed by an
authorized NOAA Grants Officer, the applicant would do so solely at
their own risk of such costs not being included under the award. The
exact amount of funds that may be awarded will be determined in pre-
award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA representatives.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, other
nonprofits, and state, local and Indian tribal governments in the
United States. For-profit organizations, individuals not affiliated
with an eligible organization, foreign institutions, foreign
organizations and foreign government agencies are not eligible to
apply. Federal agencies are not eligible to receive Federal assistance
under this announcement, but may be project partners.
The Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (DOC/NOAA) is
[[Page 26079]]
strongly committed to increasing the participation of Minority Serving
Institutions (MSIs), i.e., Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and
universities, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian institutions, and
institutions that work in underserved communities.
Institutions may submit only one application to this funding
opportunity.
Cost Sharing Requirements
There are no cost-sharing requirements.
Evaluation and Selection Procedures
The general evaluation criteria and selection factors that apply to
full applications to this funding opportunity are summarized below. The
evaluation criteria for full applications will have different weights
and details. Further information about the evaluation criteria and
selection factors can be found in the full funding opportunity
announcement.
Evaluation Criteria for Projects
1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposed
project to the program goals: This ascertains whether there is
intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, Federal,
regional, State, or local activities.
2. Technical/scientific merit: This assesses whether the approach
is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are appropriate,
and whether there are clear project goals and objectives.
3. Overall qualifications of applicants: This ascertains whether
the applicant possesses the necessary education, experience, training,
facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project.
4. Project costs: The Budget is evaluated to determine if it is
realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time-frame.
5. Outreach and education: NOAA assesses whether this project
provides a focused and effective education and outreach strategy
regarding NOAA's mission to protect the Nation's natural resources.
Review and Selection Process
Upon receipt of an application by NOAA, an initial administrative
review will be conducted to determine compliance with requirements and
completeness of the application. All applications that meet the minimum
eligibility requirements and that are ascertained to be complete will
be evaluated and scored by independent reviewers. The reviews will be
conducted by a panel of individuals, who may be government or non-
government representatives, each having relevant expertise. The
reviewers will score each proposal using the evaluation criteria and
relative weights provided above. The individual reviewers' ratings will
be averaged for each application to establish rank order. No consensus
advice will be given by the review panel. The Program Officer will
neither vote nor score applications as part of the review panel nor
participate in discussion of the merits of any proposal.
The Program Officer will make his/her recommendations for funding
based on rank order and the selection factors listed below to the
Selecting Official for the final funding decision.
Selection Factors for Projects
The panel review ratings shall establish the rank order that the
Selecting Official will use for final recommendation to the NOAA Grants
Officer. The Selecting Official shall award in the rank order unless
the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon
one or more of the following factors:
1. Availability of funding.
2. Balance/distribution of funds:
a. Geographically
b. By type of institutions
c. By type of partners
d. By research areas
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.
5. Applicant's prior award performance.
6. Partnerships and/or participation of targeted groups.
7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a NEPA
determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations
for funding are made to the Grants Officer.
Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are not subject to 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 obligate 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 (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 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 December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389), are applicable to this
solicitation.
[[Page 26080]]
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: May 2, 2007.
Daniel L. Clever,
Deputy Director, NOAA Acquisitions and Grants, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
[FR Doc. E7-8714 Filed 5-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-P
