Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2010, 34642-34685 [E9-16810]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 135 (Thursday, July 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34642-34685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16810]



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Part II





Department of Commerce





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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration



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Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2010; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 135 / Thursday, July 16, 2009 / 
Notices

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 0907081109-91109-01]
RIN 0648-ZC10


Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2010

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes 
this notice to provide the general public with a consolidated source of 
program and application information related to its competitive grant 
and cooperative agreement (CA) award offerings for fiscal year (FY) 
2010. This Omnibus notice is designed to replace the multiple Federal 
Register notices that traditionally advertised the availability of 
NOAA's discretionary funds for its various programs. It should be noted 
that additional program initiatives unanticipated at the time of the 
publication of this notice may be announced through subsequent Federal 
Register notices. All announcements will also be available through the 
Grants.gov Web site.

DATES: Proposals must be received by the date and time indicated under 
each program listing in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to the addresses listed in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for each program. The 
Federal Register and Full Funding Opportunity (FFO) notices may be 
found on the Grants.gov Web site. The URL for Grants.gov is https://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the person listed 
within this notice as the information contact under each program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicants must comply with all requirements 
contained in the Federal Funding Opportunity announcement for each of 
the programs listed in this omnibus notice. These Federal Funding 
Opportunities are available at https://www.grants.gov. The list of 
entries below describe the basic information and requirements for 
competitive grant/cooperative agreement programs offered by NOAA. These 
programs are open to any applicant who meets the eligibility criteria 
provided in each entry. To be considered for an award in a competitive 
grant/cooperative agreement program, an eligible applicant must submit 
a complete and responsive application to the appropriate program 
office. An award is made upon conclusion of the evaluation and 
selection process for the respective program.

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Electronic Access
III. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Procedures
IV. NOAA Project Competitions Listed by NOAA Mission Goals
V. NOAA Project Competitions
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
    1. 2010 Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program
    2. 2010 Open Rivers Initiative
    3. 2010 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program
    4. 2010 Atlantic Scallop Research Set-Aside Program
    5. Cooperative Research Program
    6. FY 2010 NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training 
(B-WET) Program
    7. FY 2010 Community-Based Marine Debris Removal Project Grants
    8. NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-
WET) Program
    9. Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)
    10. NOAA Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration National and 
Regional Partnership Grants
    11. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program/General Coral 
Reef Conservation Grants
    12. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program/Projects to 
Improve or Amend Coral
Reef Fishery Management Plans
    13. NOAA New England Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-
WET) Program
    14. 2010 Prescott Marine Mammal Stranding Grant Program
    15. Protected Species Cooperative Conservation
National Ocean Service (NOS)
    1. 2010 NOAA Coral Reef Management Grant Program
    2. 2010 NOAA Coral Reef Monitoring Grant Program
    3. Coastal Hypoxia Research Program (CHRP)
    4. FY 2010 Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Hawaii 
Program
    5. FY 2010 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training 
(B-WET) Program
    6. Harmful Algal Bloom Program
    7. 2010 NOAA International Coral Reef Grant Program
    8. NOAA Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed Education and Training 
(B-WET) Program
    9. National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research 
Fellowship Program FY 2010
    10. National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land 
Acquisition and Construction Program FY 2010
    11. Sea Level Rise--(SLR)
    12. 2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Implementation
    13. NOAA's National Height Modernization Program
National Weather Service (NWS)
    1. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research 
(CSTAR) Program
    2. Remote Community Alert Systems Program 2010
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
    1. 2010 NMFS--Sea Grant Fellowships in Marine Resource Economics
    2. 2010 NMFS--Sea Grant Fellowships in Population Dynamics
    3. 2010 Sea Grant/Regional Team Climate Engagement
    4. 2011 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss 
Marine Policy Fellowship
    5. Climate Program Office for FY 2010
    6. FY 2010 Ocean Exploration and Research Appropriation--Marine 
Archaeology
National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service 
(NESDIS)
    1. Research in Satellite Data Assimilation for Numerical 
Weather, Climate and Environmental Forecast Systems
    2. Student Opportunity for Learning
VI. Non-Competitive Financial Assistance Project

I. Background

    This notice provide the general public with a consolidated source 
of program and application information related to its competitive grant 
and cooperative agreement (CA) award offerings for fiscal year (FY) 
2010. This notice provides information regarding the application 
submission process, and the evaluation criteria and selection 
procedures respectively for the grant opportunities. Each of the 
following grant opportunities provide: a description of the program, 
funding availability, statutory authority, catalog of federal domestic 
assistance (CFDA) number, application deadline, address for submitting 
proposals, information contacts, eligibility requirements, cost sharing 
requirements, and intergovernmental review under Executive Order 12372.
    In addition, this notice announces information related to a non-
competitive financial assistance project to be administered by NOAA. 
This project is titled ``NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program--
Coral Reef Ecosystem Research Grants''. The NOAA Coral Reef 
Conservation Grant Program announces that it is providing funding to 
the NOAA Undersea Research Program (NURP) Centers for: the Southeastern 
U.S., Florida, and Gulf of Mexico Region, the Southeast U.S. and Gulf 
of Mexico Center; and the Hawaii and Western Pacific Region, the Hawaii 
Undersea Research Laboratory, to administer two external, competitive

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coral reef ecosystem research grants programs. To receive an award for 
this project, an eligible applicant must submit a complete and 
responsive application to the appropriate program office. An award is 
made upon conclusion of the evaluation process for the prospective 
project.

II. Electronic Access

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

Grants.gov

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

Applications From Individuals

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

Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

    This section provides the application submission and receipt 
instructions for NOAA program applications. Please read the following 
instructions carefully and completely.
    1. Electronic Delivery. NOAA is participating in the Grants.gov 
Initiative that provides the Grant Community a single site to find and 
apply for grant funding opportunities. NOAA encourages applicants to 
submit their applications electronically through: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp.
    2. The following describes what to expect when applying online 
using Grants.gov/Apply:
    a. Instructions. On the site, you will find step-by-step 
instructions which enable you to apply for NOAA funds. The Grants.gov/Apply feature includes a simple, unified application process that makes 
it possible for applicants to apply for grants online. There are six 
``Get Started'' steps to complete at Grants.gov. The information 
applicants need to understand and execute the steps can be found at: 
https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. Applicants should 
read the Get Started steps carefully. The site also contains 
registration checklists to help you walk through the process. NOAA 
recommends that you download the checklists and prepare the information 
requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and 
assembling required information before beginning the registration 
process will make the process fast and smooth and save time.
    b. DUNS Requirement. All applicants, except those filing as 
individuals, who are applying for funding, including renewal funding, 
must have a Dun and Bradstreet Universal Data Numbering System (DUNS) 
number. The DUNS number must be included in the data entry field 
labeled ``Organizational Duns'' on the form SF-424. Instructions for 
obtaining a DUNS number can be found at the following Web site: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    c. Central Contractor Registry. In addition to having a DUNS 
number, all applicants applying electronically through Grants.gov must 
register with the Federal Central Contractor Registry and obtain a User 
Name and password. The Grants.gov Web site at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp provides step-by-step instructions for 
registering in the Central Contractor Registry. Failure to register 
with the Central Contractor Registry will result in your application 
being rejected by the Grants.gov portal.
    The registration process is a separate process from submitting an 
application. Applicants are, therefore, encouraged to register early. 
The registration process can take approximately two weeks to be 
completed. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to 
ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission 
deadlines. You will be able to submit your application online anytime 
after you receive your e-authentication credentials.
    d. Electronic Signature. Applications submitted through Grants.gov 
constitute submission as electronically signed applications. The 
registration and e-authentication process establishes the Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR). The AOR is an individual who is able 
to make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization. 
When you submit the application through Grants.gov, the name of your 
AOR on file will be inserted into the signature line of the 
application.
    3. Instructions on how to submit an electronic application to NOAA 
via Grants.gov/Apply: Grants.gov has a full set of instructions on how 
to apply for funds on its Web site at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp. The following provides simple guidance on what 
you will find on the Grants.gov/Apply site. Applicants are encouraged 
to read through the page entitled, ``Complete Application Package'' 
before getting started.
    Grants.gov allows applicants to download the application package, 
instructions and forms that are incorporated in the instructions, and 
work off line. In addition to forms that are part of the application 
instructions, there will be a series of electronic forms that are 
provided utilizing an Adobe Reader.

    Note for the Adobe Reader:  Grants.gov is only compatible with 
versions 8.1.1 and above. Please do not use lower versions of the 
Adobe Reader.

Mandatory Fields on Adobe Reader Forms

    In the Adobe forms you will note fields that appear with a yellow 
background and red outline color. These fields are mandatory and must 
be completed to successfully submit your application.

Completion of SF-424 Fields

    NOAA strongly recommends that applicants first complete the SF-424

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fields in Grants.gov. The Adobe forms are designed to automatically 
fill in common required fields such as the applicant name and address, 
DUNS number, etc., on all Adobe electronic forms. To trigger this 
feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first. Once 
it is completed the information will transfer to the other forms.

Customer Support

    The Grants.gov Web site provides customer support via (800) 518-
4726 (this is a toll-free number) or through e-mail at 
support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays, to 
address Grants.gov technology issues. For assistance with program 
related questions, contact the number listed in the Program Section of 
the program you are applying for.
    4. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission.
    a. Electronic Submission. All applications must be received by  
https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp by the Time on 
the due date established for each program. Proof of timely submission 
is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic time stamp is 
generated within the system when the application is successfully 
received by Grants.gov. The applicant will receive an acknowledgment of 
receipt and a tracking number from Grants.gov with the successful 
transmission of their application. Applicants should print this receipt 
and save it, along with facsimile receipts for information provided by 
facsimile, as proof of timely submission. When NOAA successfully 
retrieves the application from Grants.gov, Grants.gov will provide an 
electronic acknowledgment of receipt to the e-mail address of the AOR. 
Proof of timely submission shall be the date and time that Grants.gov 
receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after 
the established due date for the program will be considered late and 
will not be considered for funding by NOAA. Please Note: Validation or 
rejection of your application by Grants.gov may take up to 2 business 
days after your submission. Please consider the Grants.gov validation/
rejection process in developing your application submission time line.
    NOAA suggests that applicants submit their applications during the 
operating hours of the Grants.gov, so that if there are questions 
concerning transmission, operators will be available to walk you 
through the process. Submitting your application during the Contact 
Center hours will also ensure that you have sufficient time for the 
application to complete its transmission prior to the application 
deadline. Applicants using dial-up connections should be aware that 
transmission of applications will take a longer time than when using 
high speed broadband before Grants.gov receives it. Grants.gov will 
provide either an error or a successfully received transmission 
message. Grants.gov reports that some applicants abort the transmission 
because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission 
process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the 
application. Uploading and transmitting many files, particularly 
electronic forms with associated XML schemas, will require more time to 
be processed. Important: All applicants, both electronic and paper, 
should be aware that adequate time must be factored into applicant 
schedules for delivery of the application. Electronic applicants are 
advised that volume on Grants.gov is currently extremely heavy, and if 
Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely 
fashion, applicants are encouraged to exercise their option to submit 
applications in paper format. Paper applicants should allow adequate 
time to ensure a paper application will be received on time, taking 
into account that guaranteed overnight carriers are not always able to 
fulfill their guarantees.

III. Evaluation Criteria and Selection Procedures

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

Project Proposals Review and Selection Process

    Some project proposals may include a pre-application process that 
provides for feedback to applicants that responded to a call for 
letters of intent or pre-proposals; however, not all programs will 
include this pre-application. If a program has a pre-application 
process, it will be described in the Summary Description section of the 
announcement and the deadline will be specified in the Application 
Deadline section.
    Upon receipt of a full application by NOAA, an initial 
administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with 
requirements and completeness of the application. A merit review will 
also be conducted to produce a rank order of the proposals. The NOAA 
Program Officer may review the ranking of the proposals and make 
recommendations to the Selecting Official based on the administrative 
and/or merit review(s) and selection factors listed below. The 
Selecting Official selects proposals after considering the 
administrative and/or merit review(s) and recommendations of the 
Program Officer. In making the final selections, the Selecting Official 
will award in rank order unless the proposal is justified to be 
selected out of rank order based upon one or more of the selection 
factors below. The Program Officer and/or Selecting Official may 
negotiate the funding level of the proposal. The Selecting Official 
makes final award recommendations to the Grants Officer authorized to 
obligate the funds.

Evaluation Criteria

    Each reviewer (one mail and at least three peer review panel 
reviewers) will individually evaluate and rank proposals using the 
following evaluation criteria:
    1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of a proposed 
project to the program goals: This ascertains whether there is 
intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, Federal 
(other than NOAA), regional, state, or local activities.
    2. Technical/scientific merit: This assesses whether the approach 
is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are appropriate, 
and whether there are clear project goals and objectives.
    3. Overall qualifications of applicants: This ascertains whether 
the applicant possesses the necessary education, experience, training, 
facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project.
    4. Project costs: The project's budget is evaluated to determine if 
it is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and timeframe.
    5. Outreach and education: NOAA assesses whether this project 
provides a focused and effective education and outreach strategy 
regarding its mission to protect the Nation's natural resources.

Selection Factors

    The merit review ratings will be used to provide a rank order to 
the Selecting Official for final funding recommendations. A Program 
Officer may first make recommendations to the Selecting Official 
applying the selection factors listed below. The Selecting Official 
shall award in the rank order

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unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based 
upon one or more of the following factors:
    1. Availability of funding.
    2. Balance/distribution of funds:
    a. Geographically,
    b. By type of institutions,
    c. By type of partners,
    d. By research areas, and
    e. By project types.
    3. Whether the project duplicates other projects funded or 
considered for funding by NOAA or other federal agencies.
    4. Program priorities and policy factors.
    5. Applicant's prior award performance.
    6. Partnerships and/or participation of targeted groups.
    7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA to make a National 
Environmental Policy Act determination and draft necessary 
documentation before funding recommendations are made to the Grants 
Officer.

Fellowship, Scholarship and Internship Programs Review and Selection 
Process

    Some fellowship, scholarship and internship programs may include a 
pre-application process that provides for feedback to the applicants 
that have responded to a call for letters of intent or pre-proposals; 
however, not all programs will include this pre-application. If a 
program has a pre-application process, the process will be described in 
the Summary Description section of the announcement and the deadline 
will be specified in the Application Deadline section.
    Upon receipt of a full application by NOAA, an initial 
administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with 
requirements and completeness of the application.
    A merit review will also be conducted to produce a rank order of 
the proposals. The NOAA Program Officer may review the ranking of the 
proposals and make recommendations to the Selecting Official based on 
the administrative and/or merit review(s) and selection factors listed 
below. The Selecting Official selects proposals after considering the 
administrative and/or merit review(s) and recommendations of the 
Program Officer. In making the final selections, the Selecting Official 
will award in rank order unless the proposal is justified to be 
selected out of rank order based upon one or more of the selection 
factors below. The Program Officer and/or Selecting Official may 
negotiate the funding level of the proposal. The Selecting Official 
makes final award recommendations to the Grants Officer authorized to 
obligate the funds.

Evaluation Criteria

    Each reviewer (one mail and at least three peer review panel 
reviewers) will individually evaluate and rank proposals using the 
following evaluation criteria.
    1. Academic record and statement of career goals and objectives of 
the student.
    2. Quality of project and applicability to program priorities.
    3. Recommendations and/or endorsements of the student.
    4. Additional relevant experience related to diversity of 
education; extra-curricular activities; honors and awards; and 
interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills.
    5. Financial need of the student.

Selection Factors

    The merit review ratings will be used to provide a rank order by 
the Selecting Official for final funding recommendations. A Program 
Officer may first make recommendations to the Selecting Official by 
applying the selection factors listed below. The Selecting Official 
shall award in the rank order unless the proposal is justified to be 
selected out of rank order based upon one or more of the following 
factors:
    1. Availability of funds.
    2. Balance/distribution of funds:
    a. Across academic disciplines,
    b. By types of institutions, and
    c. Geographically.
    3. Program-specific objectives.
    4. Degree in scientific area and type of degree sought.

IV. NOAA Project Competitions Listed by NOAA Mission Goals

    1. Understand Climate Variability and Change To Enhance Society's 
Ability To Plan and Respond
    Summary Description: Climate shapes the environment, natural 
resources, economies, and social systems that people depend upon 
worldwide. While humanity has learned to contend with some aspects of 
climate's natural variability, major climatic events, combined with the 
stresses of population growth, economic growth, public health concerns, 
and land-use practices, can impose serious consequences on society. The 
1997-98 El Nino, for example, had a $25 billion impact on the U.S. 
economy-property losses were $2.6 billion and crop losses approached $2 
billion. Long-term drought leads to increased and competing demands for 
fresh water with related effects on terrestrial and marine ecosystems, 
agricultural productivity, and even the spread of infectious diseases. 
Decisions about mitigating climate change also can alter economic and 
social structures on a global scale. We can deliver reliable climate 
information in useful ways to help minimize risks and maximize 
opportunities for decisions in agriculture, public policy, natural 
resources, water and energy use, and public health. We continue to move 
toward developing a seamless suite of weather and climate products. The 
Goal addresses predictions on time scales of up to decades or longer.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    1. A predictive understanding of the global climate system on time 
scales of weeks to decades with quantified uncertainties sufficient for 
making informed and reasoned decisions
    2. Climate-sensitive sectors and the climate-literate public 
effectively incorporating NOAA's climate products into their plans and 
decisions
    Program Names:
    1. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    2. Climate Program Office for FY 2010
    3. FY 2010 Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Hawaii 
Program
    4. 2011 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss 
Marine Policy Fellowship
    5. Research in Satellite Data Assimilation for Numerical Weather, 
Climate and Environmental Forecast Systems
    6. 2010 Sea Grant/Regional Team Climate Engagement
    7. 2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Implementation
    2. Serve Society's Needs for Weather and Water Information
    Summary Description: Floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, 
tsunamis, wildfires, and other severe weather events cause $11 billion 
in damages each year in the United States. Weather is directly linked 
to public health and safety, and nearly one-third of the U.S. economy 
(about $3 trillion) is sensitive to weather and climate. With so much 
at stake, NOAA's role in understanding, observing, forecasting, and 
warning of environmental events is expanding. With our partners, we 
seek to provide decision makers with key observations, analyses, 
predictions, and warnings for a range of weather and water conditions, 
including those related to water supply, air quality, space weather, 
and wildfires. Businesses, governments, and nongovernmental 
organizations are getting more sophisticated about how to use this 
weather and water information to improve operational efficiencies, to 
manage environmental resources, and to

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create a better quality of life. On average, hurricanes, tornadoes, 
tsunamis, and other severe weather events cause $11 billion in damages 
per year. Weather, including space weather, is directly linked to 
public safety and about one-third of the U.S. economy (about $3 
trillion) is weather sensitive. With so much at stake, NOAA's role in 
observing, forecasting, and warning of environmental events is 
expanding, while economic sectors and its public are becoming 
increasingly sophisticated at using NOAA's weather, air quality, and 
water information to improve their operational efficiencies and their 
management of environmental resources, and quality of life.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    1. Reduced loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy
    2. Better, quicker, and more valuable weather and water information 
to support improved decisions
    3. Increased customer satisfaction with weather and water 
information and services
    Program Names:
    1. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    2. 2011 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss 
Marine Policy Fellowship
    3. Research in Satellite Data Assimilation for Numerical Weather, 
Climate and Environmental Forecast Systems
    4. 2010 Sea Grant/Regional Team Climate Engagement
    5. Remote Community Alert Systems Program 2010
    6. 2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Implementation
    3. Support the Nation's Commerce With Information for Safe, 
Efficient, and Environmentally Sound Transportation
    Summary Description: Safe and efficient transportation systems are 
crucial to the U.S. economy. The U.S. marine transportation system 
ships over 95 percent of the tonnage and more than 20 percent by value 
of foreign trade through U.S. ports, including 48 percent of the oil 
needed to meet America's energy demands. At least $4 billion is lost 
annually due to economic inefficiencies resulting from weather related 
air-traffic delays. Improved surface weather forecasts and specific 
user warnings would reduce the 7,000 weather related fatalities and 
800,000 injuries that occur annually from crashes on roads and 
highways. The injuries, loss of life, and property damage from weather-
related crashes cost an average of $42 billion annually. We provide 
information, services, and products for transportation safety and for 
increased commerce on roads, rails, and waterways. We will improve the 
accuracy of our information for marine, aviation, and surface weather 
forecasts, the availability of accurate and advanced electronic 
navigational charts, and the delivery of real-time oceanographic 
information. We seek to provide consistent, accurate, and timely 
positioning information that is critical for air, sea, and surface 
transportation. We will respond to hazardous material spills and 
provide search and rescue routinely to save lives and money and to 
protect the coastal environment. We will work with port and coastal 
communities and with Federal and state partners to ensure that port 
operations and development proceed efficiently and in an 
environmentally sound manner. We will work with the Federal Aviation 
Administration and the private sector to reduce the negative impacts of 
weather on aviation without compromising safety. Because of increased 
interest by the public and private sectors, we also will expand weather 
information for marine and surface transportation to enhance safety and 
efficiency.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    1. Safe, secure, efficient, and seamless movement of goods and 
people in the U.S. transportation system
    2. Environmentally sound development and use of the U.S. 
transportation system.
    Program Names:
    1. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    2. 2011 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss 
Marine Policy Fellowship
    3. 2010 Sea Grant/Regional Team Climate Engagement
    4. 2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Implementation
    4. Protect, Restore and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean 
Resources through Ecosystem-Based Management
    Summary Description: Coastal areas are among the most developed in 
the Nation. More than half the population lives on less than one-fifth 
of the land in the contiguous United States. Furthermore, employment in 
near shore areas is growing three times faster than population. Coastal 
and marine waters support over 28 million jobs and provide a tourism 
destination for nearly 90 million Americans a year. The value of the 
ocean economy to the United States is over $115 billion. The value 
added annually to the national economy by the commercial and 
recreational fishing industry alone is over $48 billion. U.S. 
aquaculture sales total almost $1 billion annually. With its Exclusive 
Economic Zone of 3.4 million square miles, the United States manages 
the largest marine territory of any nation in the world.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    1. Healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystems that 
benefit society
    2. A well-informed public that acts as a steward of coastal and 
marine ecosystems
    Program Names:
    1. Cooperative Research Program
    2. FY 2010 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) 
Program
    3. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program 
2010
    4. Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)
    5. FY 2010 Hawaii Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) 
Program
    6. Coastal Hypoxia Research Program (CHRP)
    7. Sea Level Rise--(SLR)
    8. 2011 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss 
Marine Policy Fellowship
    9. NOAA International Coral Reef Grant Program
    10. NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-
WET) Program
    11. NOAA Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-
WET) Program
    12. 2010 NMFS--Sea Grant Fellowships in Population Dynamics
    13. 2010 NMFS--Sea Grant Fellowships in Marine Resource Economics
    14. NOAA New England Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) 
Program
    15. FY 2010 California Bay Watershed Education and Training Program
    16. Research in Satellite Data Assimilation for Numerical Weather, 
Climate and Environmental Forecast Systems
    17. 2010 NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Grant Program
    18. 2010 NOAA Coral Reef Management Grant Program
    19. Protected Species Cooperative Conservation
    20. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program/General Coral Reef 
Conservation Grants
    21. NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program/Projects to Improve 
or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management Plans
    22. 2010 Atlantic Scallop Research Set-Aside Program
    23. 2010 Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program
    24. 2010 Sea Grant/Regional Team Climate Engagement

[[Page 34647]]

    25. 2010 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program
    26. Harmful Algal Blooms Program
    27. FY 2010 Community-based Marine Debris Removal Project Grants
    29. FY 2010 Ocean Exploration and Research Appropriation--Marine 
Archaeology
    30. 2010 Open Rivers Initiative
    31. NOAA Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration National and 
Regional Partnership Grants
    32. 2010 Integrated Ocean Observing System Implementation
    5. Provide Critical Support for NOAA's Mission
    Summary Description: Strong, effective, and efficient support 
activities are necessary for us to achieve our Mission Goals. Our 
facilities, ships, aircraft, environmental satellites, data processing 
systems, computing and communication systems, and our approach to 
management provide the foundation of support for all of our programs. 
This critical foundation must adapt to evolving mission needs and, 
therefore, is an integral part of our strategic planning. It also must 
support U.S. homeland security by maintaining continuity of operations 
and by providing NOAA services, such as civil alert relays through NOAA 
Weather Radio and air dispersion forecasts, in response to National 
emergencies. NOAA ships, aircraft, and environmental satellites are the 
backbone of the global Earth observing system and provide many critical 
mission support services. To keep this capability strong and current 
with our Mission Goals, we will ensure that NOAA has adequate access to 
safe and efficient ships and aircraft through the use of both NOAA 
platforms and those of other agency, academic, and commercial partners. 
We will work with academia and partners in the public and private 
sectors to ensure that future satellite systems are designed, 
developed, and operated with the latest technology. Leadership 
development and program support are essential for achieving our Mission 
Goals. We must also commit to organizational excellence through 
management and leadership across a ``corporate'' NOAA. We must continue 
our Commitment to valuing NOAA's diverse workforce, including effective 
workforce planning strategies designed to attract, retain and develop 
competencies at all levels of our workforce. Through the use of 
business process re-engineering, we will strive for state-of-the-art, 
value-added financial and administrative processes. NOAA will ensure 
state-of-the-art and secure information technology and systems. By 
developing long-range, comprehensive facility planning processes, NOAA 
will be able to ensure right-sized, most-effective, and safe 
facilities.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes:
    1. A dynamic workforce with competencies that support NOAA's 
mission today and in the future.
    Program Names:
    1. National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research Fellowship 
Program FY 2010
    2. 2011 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss 
Marine Policy Fellowship
    3. National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land 
Acquisition and Construction Program FY 2010
    4. Student Opportunity for Learning

V. NOAA Project Competitions

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

1. 2010 Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program
    Summary Description: NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) is soliciting monkfish research proposals to utilize 500 
Monkfish Days-at-Sea (DAS) that have been set-aside by the New England 
Fishery Management and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils 
(Councils) to fund monkfish research endeavors through the 2010 
Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program (May 1, 2010-April 30, 2011). 
No Federal funds are provided for research under this notification. 
Rather, proceeds generated from the sale of monkfish harvested during a 
set-aside DAS is used to fund research activities and compensate 
vessels that participate in research activities and/or harvest set-
aside quota.
    Projects funded under the Monkfish RSA Program must enhance the 
knowledge of the monkfish fishery resource or contribute to the body of 
information on which monkfish management decisions are made. Priority 
will be given to monkfish research proposals that investigate research 
priorities identified by the Councils and which are detailed under the 
Program Priorities section of this announcement.
    Funding Availability: DAS will be awarded to successful applicants. 
No Federal funds are provided for research under this notification. 
Funds generated from landings harvested and sold under the Monkfish RSA 
Program shall be used to cover the cost of research activities, 
including vessel costs. For example, the funds may be used to pay for 
gear modifications, monitoring equipment, the salaries of research 
personnel, or vessel operation costs. The Federal Government is not 
liable for any costs incurred by the researcher or vessel owner should 
the sale of catch not fully reimburse the researcher or vessel owner 
for their expenses. Any additional funds generated through the sale of 
set-aside landings, above the cost of the research activities, shall be 
retained by the vessel owner as compensation for the use of his/her 
vessel. The Federal Government (i.e., NMFS) may issue an Exempted 
Fishing Permit (EFP), if needed, that may provide special fishing 
privileges in response to research proposals selected under this 
program. For example, in previous years, some successful applicants 
have requested, and were granted, exemption from monkfish DAS 
possession limits to make compensation fishing more efficient and cost 
effective. In such cases, applicants were authorized to harvest a 
maximum amount of monkfish by weight, or fish up to the number of 
awarded monkfish DAS, whichever came first. To obtain such an 
exemption, an EFP application must be submitted to the Northeast 
Regional Office, NMFS. Please be aware that EFP applications are 
reviewed on a case by case basis, and may be disapproved. For 
additional information, contact Ryan Silva, Cooperative Research 
Liaison, at 978-281-9326, or ryan.silva@noaa.gov.
    Statutory Authority: Statutory authority for this program is found 
under sections 303(b)(11), 402(e), and 404(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1853(b)(11), 16 
U.S.C. 1881a(e), and 16 U.S.C. 1881(c), respectively. The ability to 
set aside monkfish DAS for research purposes was established in the 
final rule implementing Amendment 2 to the Monkfish Fishery Management 
Plan (70 FR 21927, April 28, 2005), codified at 50 CFR 648.92(c).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.454, 
Unallied Management Projects

    Application Deadline: Applications must be received and validated 
by Grants.gov, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service on or 
before 5 p.m. EDT, August 31, 2009. Please note: Validation or 
rejection of your application by Grants.gov may take up to 2 business 
days after submission. Please consider this process in developing your 
submission timeline. Applications received after the deadline will be 
rejected/returned to the sender without further consideration. Use of 
U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a 
receipt. No

[[Page 34648]]

facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: To apply for this NOAA Federal 
funding opportunity, please go to https://www.grants.gov, and use the 
following funding opportunity NMFS-NEFSC-2010-2001980. 
Applicants without Internet access may contact Cheryl Corbett, NMFS, 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 
02543, by phone 508-495-2070, fax 508-495-2004, or e-mail 
cheryl.corbett@noaa.gov.
    Information Contacts: Information may be obtained from Paul Howard, 
Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), by 
phone 978-465-0492, or by fax 978-465-3116; Philip Haring, Senior 
Fishery Analyst, NEFMC, by phone 978-465-0492, or by e-mail at 
pharing@nefmc.org; or Cheryl Corbett, NMFS, Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, phone 508-495-2070, fax 508-495-2004, or e-mail 
cheryl.corbett@noaa.gov, or from Ryan Silva, NMFS, Northeast Regional 
Office, Cooperative Research Liaison, phone (978) 281-9326, fax (978) 
281-9326, e-mail ryan.silva@noaa.gov.
    Eligibility: 1. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, 
individuals, state, local, and Native American tribal governments. 
Federal agencies and institutions are not eligible to receive Federal 
assistance under this notice. Additionally, employees of any Federal 
agency or Regional Fishery Management Council (Council) are ineligible 
to submit an application under this program. However, Council members 
who are not Federal employees may submit an application.
    2. DOC/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and encourages 
women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications to the 
RSA program. In addition, DOC/NOAA is strongly committed to broadening 
the participation of historically black colleges and universities, 
Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and 
institutions that work in underserved areas. DOC/NOAA encourages 
proposals involving any of the above institutions.
    3. DOC/NOAA encourages applications from members of the fishing 
community and applications that involve fishing community cooperation 
and participation.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: None required.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applicants will need to determine if 
their State participates in the intergovernmental review process. This 
information can be found at the following Web site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. This information will assist 
applicants in providing either a Yes or No response to Item 16 of the 
Application Form, SF-424, entitled ``Application for Federal 
Assistance.''
2. 2010 Open Rivers Initiative
    Summary Description: The NOAA Open Rivers Initiative (ORI) provides 
funding and technical assistance to catalyze the implementation of 
locally-driven projects to remove dams and other river barriers, in 
order to benefit living marine and coastal resources, particularly 
diadromous fish. Projects funded through the Open Rivers Initiative 
must feature strong on-the-ground habitat restoration components that 
foster economic, educational, and social benefits for citizens and 
their communities in addition to long-term ecological habitat 
improvements for NOAA trust resources. Proposals selected for funding 
through this solicitation will be implemented through a cooperative 
agreement. Funding of up to $6,000,000 is expected to be available for 
ORI Project Grants in FY 2010. The NOAA Restoration Center within the 
Office of Habitat Conservation will administer this grant initiative, 
and anticipates that typical awards will range from $200,000 to 
$750,000. Although a select few may fall outside of this range, project 
proposals requesting less than $100,000 or greater than $3,000,000 will 
not be accepted or reviewed.
    Funding Availability: This solicitation announces that funding of 
up to $6,000,000 is expected to be available for Open Rivers Initiative 
Project Grants in FY 2010. Actual funding availability for this program 
is contingent upon Fiscal Year 2010 Congressional appropriations. NOAA 
anticipates that typical project awards will range from $200,000 to 
$750,000; proposals requesting less than $100,000 or more than 
$3,000,000 will not be accepted under this solicitation. NOAA does not 
guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for 
all proposals. The number of awards to be made as a result of this 
solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications 
received, the amount of funds requested by the applicants, the merit 
and ranking of the proposals, and the amount of funds made available to 
the ORI by Congress.
    NOAA anticipates that between 10 and 15 awards will be made as a 
result of this solicitation. The exact amount of funds that may be 
awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the 
applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this document does 
not obligate NOAA to award any specific project or obligate all or any 
parts of any available funds.
    Statutory Authority: The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under 
the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by 
the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970, to provide grants or cooperative 
agreements for fisheries habitat restoration. The Secretary of Commerce 
is also authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (H.R. 5946) to provide funding 
and technical expertise for fisheries and coastal habitat restoration 
and to promote significant community support and volunteer 
participation in such activities.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.463, 
Habitat Conservation.

    Application Deadline: Applications must be received and validated 
by Grants.gov, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 
EST on November 16, 2009. Please note: Validation or rejection of your 
application by Grants.gov may take up to 2 business days after 
submission. Please consider this process in developing your submission 
timeline. Use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be 
documented with a receipt. No facsimile or electronic mail applications 
will be accepted.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Applicants may submit their 
applications through Grants.gov. If Grants.gov cannot reasonably be 
used, a hard copy application with the SF424 signed in ink (blue ink is 
preferred) must be postmarked or provided to a delivery service and 
documented with a receipt by November 16, 2009 and sent to: NOAA 
Restoration Center (F/HC3) Office of Habitat Conservation, NOAA 
Fisheries, 1315 East West Highway, Rm. 15749, Silver Spring, MD 20910 
Attn: Open Rivers Initiative Project Applications.
    Applications postmarked or provided to a delivery service after 
November 16, 2009 will not be considered for funding. Applications 
submitted via the U.S. Postal Service must have an official postmark; 
private metered postmarks are not acceptable. In any event, 
applications received later than 15 business days following the 
postmark closing date will not be accepted. No facsimile or electronic 
mail applications will be accepted. Paper applications should be 
printed on one side only, on

[[Page 34649]]

8.5 x 11 paper, and should not be bound in any 
manner.
    Information Contacts: For further information contact Tisa Shostik 
(Tisa.Shostik@noaa.gov) at (301) 713-0174 x184 or Cathy Bozek 
(Cathy.Bozek@noaa.gov) at (301) 713-0174 x150. Potential applicants are 
invited to contact NOAA Restoration Center staff before submitting an 
application to discuss the applicability of project ideas to the goals 
and objectives of ORI. Additional information on the ORI can be found 
on https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, non-profits, industry and commercial (for profit) 
organizations, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign 
governments, international organizations, and state, local and Indian 
tribal governments whose projects have the potential to benefit NOAA 
trust resources.
    Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies 
will not be considered. Federal agencies are strongly encouraged to 
work with states, non-governmental organizations, national service 
clubs or youth corps organizations and others that are eligible to 
apply.
    The Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to broadening the 
participation of historically black colleges and universities, 
Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and 
institutions that work in under-served areas. The ORI encourages 
proposals from or involving any of the above institutions.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: A major goal of the ORI is to provide 
seed money for projects that leverage funds and other contributions 
from a broad public and private sector to implement locally important 
barrier removals to benefit living marine and coastal resources. To 
this end, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate a 1:1 non-federal 
match for ORI funds requested to conduct the proposed project. 
Applicants with less than 1:1 match will not be disqualified, however, 
applicants should note that cost sharing is an element considered in 
Evaluation Criterion 4 ``Project Costs'' (Section V.A.4. of 
the Full Funding Opportunity). Match to NOAA funds can come from a 
variety of public and private sources and can include in-kind goods and 
services and volunteer labor. Applicants are permitted to combine 
contributions from non-federal partners, as long as such contributions 
are not being used to match any other federal funds and are available 
within the project period stated in the application. Federal sources 
cannot be considered for matching funds, but can be described in the 
budget narrative to demonstrate additional leverage. Applicants are 
also permitted to apply federally negotiated indirect costs in excess 
of federal share limits as described in Section IV.E.2 of the Full 
Funding Opportunity, ``Indirect Costs.''
    Applicants whose proposals are selected for funding will be bound 
by the percentage of cost sharing reflected in the award document 
signed by the NOAA Grants Officer. Successful applicants should be 
prepared to carefully document matching contributions, including the 
overall number of volunteers and in-kind participation hours devoted to 
individual barrier removal projects. Letters of commitment for any 
secured resources that will be used as match for an award under this 
solicitation should be submitted as an attachment to the application, 
see Section IV.B of the Full Funding Opportunity.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this initiative are 
subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs.'' Any applicant submitting an application 
for funding is required to complete item 16 on SF-424 regarding 
clearance by the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) established as a 
result of EO 12372. To find out about and comply with a State's process 
under EO 12372, the names, addresses and phone numbers of participating 
SPOC's are listed on the Office of Management and Budget's home page 
at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
3. 2010 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program
    Summary Description: The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act established a fund 
(known as the S-K fund) that the Secretary of Commerce uses to provide 
grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development 
projects addressed to any aspect of U.S. fisheries, including, but not 
limited to, harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated 
infrastructures. U.S. fisheries include any fishery, commercial or 
recreational, that is, or may be, engaged in by citizens or nationals 
of the United States, or citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands 
(NMI), the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and the 
Federated States of Micronesia.
    Funding Availability: Funding is contingent upon availability of 
Federal appropriations. The S-K program has sought funding for $5 
million in grant awards. We anticipate awarding 20-25 grants of 
approximately $100,000 to $250,000 each. Applicants are hereby given 
notice that funds have not yet been allocated for this program. In no 
event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for 
proposal preparation costs if this program fails to receive funding or 
is cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this 
notice does not obligate NOAA to award any specific project or to 
obligate any available funds. You should not initiate your project in 
expectation of Federal funding until you receive a grant award document 
signed by an authorized NOAA official. If one incurs any costs prior to 
receiving an award agreement signed by an authorized NOAA official, one 
would do so solely at one's own risk of these costs not being included 
under the award.
    Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
agency policies, regulations and procedures applicable to Federal 
financial assistance awards.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant 
Program is provided under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act (S-K Act), as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 713c-3).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.427, 
Fisheries Dev and Utilization Research and Dev Grants and Coop 
Agreements Program.

    Application Deadline: Applications must be received and validated 
by Grants.gov on or before 5 p.m. EDT on September 1, 2009. Please 
note: Validation or rejection of your application by Grants.gov may 
take up to 2 business days after submission. Please consider this 
process in developing your submission timeline. Applications received 
after the deadline will be rejected/returned to the sender without 
further consideration. No facsimile or electronic mail applications 
will be accepted. If an applicant does not have Internet access, hard 
copy proposals will be accepted and the date recorded when they are 
received in the program office. Hard copy applications must be received 
by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program Office by 5 p.m. EDT on 
September 1, 2009.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Applications submitted in 
response to this announcement must be submitted electronically through 
the Federal grants portal--https://www.grants.gov. Electronic access to 
the full funding announcement for this program is also available 
through this Web site. If an applicant does not have Internet access, 
hard copy proposals (with original

[[Page 34650]]

signatures) will be accepted and should be sent to the attention of: 
Mr. Daniel A. Namur, S-K Program Manager, NOAA/NMFS (F/MB); 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13358; Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282.
    Information Contacts: The point of contact is: Daniel A. Namur, S-K 
Program Manager, NOAA/NMFS (F/MB); 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13358; 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; or by Phone at (301) 713-1365 ext. 118, 
or fax at (301) 713-1464, or via e-mail at Dan.Namur@noaa.gov.
    Eligibility: You are eligible to apply for a grant or a cooperative 
agreement under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program if:
    1. You are a citizen or national of the United States;
    2. You are a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), being 
an individual who qualifies as such under section 8 of the Schedule on 
Transitional Matters attached to the constitution of the NMI;
    3. You are a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 
Republic of Palau, or the Federated States of Micronesia; or
    4. You represent an entity that is a corporation, partnership, 
association, or other non-Federal entity, non-profit or otherwise 
(including Indian tribes), if such entity is a citizen of the United 
States or NMI, within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 
1916, as amended (46 U.S.C. app. 802).
    We support cultural and gender diversity in our programs and 
encourage women and minority individuals and groups to submit 
applications. Furthermore, we recognize the interest of the Secretaries 
of Commerce and Interior in defining appropriate fisheries policies and 
programs that meet the needs of the U.S. insular areas, so we also 
encourage applications from individuals, government entities, and 
businesses in U.S. insular areas. We are strongly committed to 
broadening the participation of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), 
which include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic 
Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities, in our 
programs, including S-K. Therefore, we encourage all applicants to 
include meaningful participation of MSIs. We encourage applications 
from members of the fishing community, and applications that involve 
fishing community cooperation and participation. We will consider the 
extent of fishing community involvement when evaluating the potential 
benefit of funding a proposal. You are not eligible to submit an 
application under this program if you are an employee of any Federal 
agency; a Council; or an employee of a Council. However, Council 
members who are not Federal employees can submit an application to the 
S-K Program.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: We are requiring cost sharing in order 
to leverage the limited funds available for this program and to 
encourage partnerships among government, industry, and academia to 
address the needs of fishing communities. You must provide a minimum 
cost share of 10 percent of total project costs, but your cost share 
must not exceed 50 percent of total costs. You may find this formula 
useful:
    1. Total Project Cost (Federal and non-Federal cost share combined) 
x .9 = Maximum Federal Share.
    2. Total Cost - Federal share = Applicant Share. For example, if 
the proposed total budget for your project is $100,000, the maximum 
Federal funding you can apply for is $90,000 ($100,000 x .9).
    Your cost share in this case would be $10,000 ($100,000 - $90,000). 
For a total project cost of $100,000, you must contribute at least 
$10,000, but no more than $50,000 (10-50 percent of total project 
cost). Accordingly, the Federal share you apply for would range from 
$50,000 to $90,000.
    If your application does not comply with these cost share 
requirements, we will return it to you and will not consider it for 
funding. The funds you provide as cost sharing may include funds from 
private sources or from state or local governments, or the value of in-
kind contributions. You may not use Federal funds to meet the cost 
sharing requirement except as provided by Federal statute. In-kind 
contributions are non-cash contributions provided to you by non-Federal 
third parties. In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited 
to, personal services volunteered to perform tasks in the project, and 
permission to use, at no cost, real or personal property owned by 
others. We will determine the appropriateness of all cost sharing 
proposals, including the valuation of in-kind contributions, on the 
basis of guidance provided in 15 CFR parts 14 and 24. In general, the 
value of in-kind services or property you use to fulfill your cost 
share will be the fair market value of the services or property. Thus, 
the value is equivalent to the cost for you to obtain such services or 
property if they had not been donated. You must document the in-kind 
services or property you will use to fulfill your cost share. If we 
decide to fund your application, we will require you to account for the 
total amount of cost share included