Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2011, 41640-41683 [2010-17294]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41640-41683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17294]



[[Page 41639]]

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Part IV





Department of Commerce





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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration



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Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2011; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 75 , No. 136 / Friday, July 16, 2010 / 
Notices

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 100630282-0282-01; I.D. GF001]
RIN 0648-ZC18


Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2011

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 award offerings for fiscal year (FY) 2011. 
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 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. This 
Federal Register notice and the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) 
announcement for each program 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. The FFO announcements are 
available at https://www.grants.gov.
    This notice describes 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. NOAA Project Competitions Listed by NOAA Mission Goals
III. Electronic Access
IV. NOAA Project Competitions
    National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
    1. Coral Reef Conservation Program Fishery Management Council 
Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements
    2. Fiscal Year 2011 Community-based Marine Debris Removal 
Project Grants
    3. Fiscal Year 2011 Open Rivers Initiative
    4. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and 
Training (BWET)
    5. NOAA New England Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) 
Program
    6. Fiscal Year 2011 Monkfish Research Set-Aside
    7. Fiscal Year 2011 Scallop Research Set-Aside
    8. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant 
Program (Prescott Grant Program) for Fiscal Year 2011
    9. Protected Species Cooperative Conservation
    10. Bluefin Tuna Research Program
    11. Cooperative Research Program
    12. Fiscal Year 2011 Gulf of Mexico NOAA Bay Watershed Education 
and Training (B-WET) Program
    13. Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)
    National Ocean Service (NOS)
    1. Fiscal Year 2011 Coastal Resilience Networks Program
    2. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Hawaii Program Bay Watershed Education 
and Training (B-WET)
    3. Fiscal Year 2011 Implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean 
Observing System (IOOS)
    4. Coral Reef Conservation Program International Coral Reef 
Conservation Cooperative Agreements
    5. Fiscal Year 2011 Regional Ecosystem Prediction Program (REPP) 
Concept of Operations for Models To Support Regional Coastal 
Ecosystem Management
    6. Fiscal Year 2011 Regional Ecosystem Prediction Program (REPP) 
Pulley Ridge
    7. Harmful Algal Bloom Programs
    8. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and 
Training Program
    9. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed 
Education and Training (B-WET) Program
    10. Coral Reef Conservation Program Domestic Coral Reef 
Conservation Grants
    11. Coral Reef Conservation Program State and Territorial Coral 
Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements
    12. National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research 
Fellowship Program for Fiscal Year 2011
    13. National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land 
Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2011
    National Weather Service (NWS)
    1. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research 
(CSTAR) Program
    2. Meteotsunami Warning Project
    Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
    1. Fiscal Year 2011 Climate Program Office
    2. Fiscal Year 2011 NMFS--Sea Grant Fellowships in Population 
Dynamics
    3. Fiscal Year 2012 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John 
A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
    4. Fiscal Year 2011 NMFS--Sea Grant Fellowships in Marine 
Resource Economics
    5. Fiscal Year 2011 Small Grants for Marine Archaeological 
Exploration
    6. Fiscal Year 2011 Joint Hurricane Testbed
    Office of the Under Secretary (USEC)
    1. Environmental Literacy Grants for Formal K-12 Education
    2. Financial Assistance to Establish Five NOAA Cooperative 
Science Centers at Minority Serving Institutions
    National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service 
(NESDIS)
    1. Climate Data Record Program Office for Fiscal Year 2011

I. Background

    Each of the grant opportunities listed in this notice provides: 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.

II. NOAA Project Competitions Listed by NOAA Mission Goals

    This section lists NOAA's mission goals, which are based on the 
NOAA Strategic Plan. All awards issued by NOAA must meet at least one 
of NOAA's mission goals. Below each mission goal statement, you will 
find a list of the fiscal year 2011 project competitions that address 
that mission goal.

A. Protect, Restore, and Manage the Use of Coastal and Ocean Resources 
Through an Ecosystem Approach to Management

    Summary Description: NOAA's goal to protect, restore, and manage 
the use of living marine and coastal and ocean resources is critical to 
public health and the vitality of the U.S. economy. With its Exclusive 
Economic Zone of 3.4 million square miles, the United States manages 
the largest marine territory of

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any nation in the world. The value of the ocean economy to the United 
States is more than $138 billion. The value added annually to the 
national economy by the commercial and recreational fishing industry 
alone is over $47 billion. U.S. aquaculture sales total almost $1 
billion annually. To achieve balance among ecological, environmental, 
and social influences, NOAA has adopted an ecosystem approach to 
management, a concept that is central to the recommendations of the 
2004 report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the 
Administration's response to it, the U.S. Ocean Action Plan. NOAA's 
Ecosystems Goal responds to a specific mandate from Congress for NOAA 
to be a lead Federal agency in this conservation, management, and 
restoration effort. Recent statutory revisions (e.g., the Magnuson-
Stevens Reauthorization Act and the Marine Debris Research, Prevention 
and Reduction Act) and emerging legislative changes are broadening this 
mission for NOAA, opening a new chapter in NOAA's stewardship of the 
nation's living marine resources and management of the coasts.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes: A 
healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystem that benefits 
society; and a well-informed public that acts as a steward of coastal 
and marine ecosystems.
    Program Names:
    1. Coral Reef Conservation Program Fishery Management Council Coral 
Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements
    2. Fiscal Year 2011 Community-based Marine Debris Removal Project 
Grants
    3. Fiscal Year 2011 Open Rivers Initiative
    4. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and 
Training (B-WET)
    5. NOAA New England Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) 
Program
    6. Fiscal Year 2011 Monkfish Research Set-Aside
    7. Fiscal Year 2011 Scallop Research Set-Aside
    8. John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program 
(Prescott Grant Program) for Fiscal Year 2011
    9. Protected Species Cooperative Conservation
    10. Fiscal Year 2011 Gulf of Mexico NOAA Bay Watershed Education 
and Training (B-WET) Program
    11. Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)
    12. Bluefin Tuna Research Program
    13. Cooperative Research Program
    14. Fiscal Year 2011 Coastal Resilience Networks Program
    15. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Hawaii Program Bay Watershed Education 
and Training (B-WET)
    16. Fiscal Year 2011 Implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean 
Observing System (IOOS)
    17. Coral Reef Conservation Program International Coral Reef 
Conservation Cooperative Agreements
    18. Fiscal Year 2011 Regional Ecosystem Prediction Program (REPP) 
Concept of Operations for Models to Support Regional Coastal Ecosystem 
Management
    19. Harmful Algal Bloom Programs
    20. Fiscal Year 2011 Regional Ecosystem Prediction Program (REPP) 
Pulley Ridge
    21. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and 
Training Program
    22. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed Education 
and Training (B-WET) Program
    23. Coral Reef Conservation Program Domestic Coral Reef 
Conservation Grants
    24. National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research 
Fellowship Program for Fiscal Year 2011
    25. National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land 
Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2011
    26. Coral Reef Conservation Program State and Territorial Coral 
Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements
    27. Fiscal Year 2011 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowships in Population 
Dynamics
    28. Fiscal Year 2011 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowships in Marine Resource 
Economics
    29. Fiscal Year 2012 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John 
A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
    30. Fiscal Year 2011 Small Grants for Marine Archaeological 
Exploration
    31. Financial Assistance to Establish Five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions

B. Understand Climate Variability and Change To Enhance Society's 
Ability To Plan and Respond

    Summary Description: Climate variability and change influence the 
well-being of society, the environment, and the economy. Numerous long-
term changes in climate already have been observed. The changes include 
those in arctic surface temperatures and sea ice, ocean salinity and 
carbonate chemistry, and frequency and intensity of extreme weather 
such as heat and cold waves, droughts, and floods. Decision makers are 
challenged with addressing major climatic events compounded by issues 
such as population growth, economic growth, public health concerns, 
changes in geographic distribution of marine species, loss of habitat, 
and changes in land-use practices. They require a new generation of 
climate services. Through legislation, executive orders, and 
international agreements, NOAA has a long-standing commitment to 
provide reliable and timely climate research and information. To meet 
the demand for expanded services, the Climate Goal will focus research 
to improve understanding of complex climate processes and to enhance 
the predictive capacity of the global climate system. The Climate 
Goal's priority is to focus on the development and delivery of climate 
information and services that assist decision makers with national and 
international policy decision making, and assessing risks to ecosystems 
and the U.S. economy in sectors and areas that are sensitive to impacts 
from climate variability and change.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes: A 
predictive understanding of the global climate system on time scales of 
weeks to decades to a century with quantified uncertainties sufficient 
for making informed and reasoned decisions; and use of NOAA's climate 
products by climate-sensitive sectors and the climate-literate public 
to support their plans and decisions.
    Program Names:
    1. Fiscal Year 2011 Coastal Resilience Networks Program
    2. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Hawaii Program Bay Watershed Education and 
Training (B-WET)
    3. Fiscal Year 2011 Implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean 
Observing System (IOOS)
    4. National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research Fellowship 
Program for Fiscal Year 2011
    5. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    6. Fiscal Year 2011 Climate Program Office
    7. Fiscal Year 2012 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. 
Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
    8. Financial Assistance to Establish Five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions
    9. Climate Data Record Program Office for Fiscal Year 2011

C. Serve Society's Needs for Weather and Water Information

    Summary Description: Floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, 
tsunamis, wildfires, and other severe weather events cause $11.4 
billion in damage each year in the United States. Weather is directly 
linked to public

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health and safety, and nearly one-third of the U.S. economy 
(approximately $4 trillion, in 2005 dollars) 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. NOAA will continue to collect and analyze environmental data 
and to issue forecasts and warnings that help protect health, life, and 
property and enhance the U.S. economy. Future needs can be better met 
by exploring new concepts and applications through robust weather and 
water research. A commitment to public benefits shapes NOAA's role 
within the U.S. weather enterprise, including its partners in the 
private sector, academia, and government. These partners add value to 
NOAA services and help disseminate critical environmental information. 
We will work more closely with our partners and will develop new 
partnerships so that the public understands and is satisfied with our 
information. Together, NOAA and its partners will continuously improve 
existing service and expand to support evolving national needs, 
including space weather, freshwater and coastal ecosystems, and air 
quality prediction services.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes: 
Reduced loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy; better, 
quicker, and more valuable weather and water information to support 
improved decisions; and increased customer satisfaction with weather 
and water information and services.
    Program Names:
    1. Fiscal Year 2011 Coastal Resilience Networks Program
    2. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Hawaii Program Bay Watershed Education and 
Training (B-WET)
    3. Fiscal Year 2011 Implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean 
Observing System (IOOS)
    4. National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research Fellowship 
Program for Fiscal Year 2011
    5. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    6. Meteotsunami Warning Project
    7. Fiscal Year 2012 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. 
Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
    8. Fiscal Year 2011 Joint Hurricane Testbed
    9. Financial Assistance to Establish Five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions

D. Support the Nation's Commerce With Information for Safe, Efficient, 
and Environmentally Sound Transportation

    Summary Description: NOAA responds to the specific demands of air, 
sea, and surface transportation with consistent, timely, and accurate 
information to aid sound and routine operational decision making. All 
modes of transportation are affected by significant challenges as they 
operate in the elements of nature. The natural environment is, in turn, 
affected by our transportation systems. Safe, efficient, and 
environmentally sound transportation systems are crucial to the 
nation's commerce, and thus to the nation's economy. For example, more 
than 78 percent of U.S. overseas trade by weight and 38 percent by 
value comes and goes by ship. Nine million barrels of oil come through 
U.S. ports daily, and 8,000 foreign vessels make 50,000 port calls 
annually. Vessel traffic in the U.S. Marine Transportation System, 
which ships over 95 percent of foreign trade by tonnage, will double by 
2020 and contribute roughly $2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. 
NOAA provides information products for transportation systems, 
including marine and surface weather forecasts, navigational charts, 
realtime oceanographic information, and Global Positioning System 
augmentation. NOAA works with the Federal Aviation Administration and 
industry to improve the weather resilience of aviation systems. NOAA 
also provides emergency response services to save lives and money and 
to protect the coastal environment, including hazardous material spill 
response and search and rescue functions. NOAA works with federal, 
state, and local partners to ensure the efficient and environmentally 
sound operation and development of ports.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes: Safe, 
secure, efficient, and seamless movement of goods and people in the 
U.S. transportation system; and environmentally sound development and 
use of the U.S. transportation system.
    Program Names:
    1. Fiscal Year 2011 Implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean 
Observing System (IOOS)
    2. Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) 
Program
    3. Fiscal Year 2012 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. 
Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
    4. Financial Assistance to Establish Five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions

E. Provide Critical Support for NOAA's Mission

    Summary Description: SATELLITE SUBGOAL: Environmental satellites 
are a major component of NOAA's global efforts to better observe, 
understand, and predict various environmental phenomena. The backbone 
of the NOAA satellites includes the Geostationary Operational 
Environmental Satellite (GOES) and Polar-orbiting Operational 
Environmental Satellite (POES) programs. GOES and POES are operated to 
provide critical atmospheric, oceanic, climatic, solar, and space data 
to protect life and property across the United States. The satellites 
carry scientific instruments and communications equipment to support 
the delivery of weather information and aid search and rescue 
operations. NOAA is acquiring the next generation of each satellite 
system, including ground processing systems. In concert with the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), acquisition of 
the next-generation geostationary satellite (GOES-R) series is 
underway. The Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and NOAA are joined 
with industry partners to build the follow-on series of polar orbiting 
satellites, the National Polarorbiting Operational Environmental 
Satellite System. NOAA's satellite systems support other NOAA offices 
in the delivery of improved severe storm warnings, weather forecasts, 
climate predictions, oceanic and ecosystems research and analyses, and 
satellite-aided search and rescue services.
    Fleet Services Subgoal: NOAA operates a fleet of 20 ships and 10 
aircraft to ensure continuous observation of critical environmental 
conditions. The Fleet Services Subgoal manages these platforms to 
increase the number of ship operating days and aircraft flight hours to 
meet NOAA's data collection requirements. It provides ship and aircraft 
support for NOAA's four Mission Goals, upgrades NOAA's fleet of ships 
and aircraft, and partners with the programs to facilitate the 
development, demonstration, and deployment of new observation 
platforms, such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Unmanned Aerial 
Systems.
    Modeling and Observing Infrastructure (MObI) Subgoal: The MObI 
Subgoal's analyses and operational capabilities provide critical 
infrastructure and support for the integrated monitoring and improved 
understanding of the Earth's environment. The subgoal enables NOAA's 
operational forecast products

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and services and provides NOAA a strategic investment portfolio 
recommendation encompassing observing, modeling, and high-performance 
computing capabilities. NOAA's internal forecasting, assessment, and 
stewardship capabilities--as well as the capabilities of partners and 
customers--require integrated oceanic and atmospheric data. 
Furthermore, NOAA's operations require modeling support, high-
performance computing, observing system design and analysis, research 
and development of improved modeling and data assimilation, and 
guidance on the architecture of observation and data management 
systems. MObI also manages the integration of NOAA's observing systems 
and associated data with those of other federal agencies and nations 
under the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which is 
being built by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) on the basis of a 
10-Year Implementation Plan running from 2005 to 2015. GEOSS seeks to 
connect the producers of environmental data and decision-support tools 
with the end users of these products, with the aim of enhancing the 
relevance of Earth observations to global issues. The end result is to 
be a global public infrastructure that generates comprehensive, near-
real-time environmental data, information and analyses for a wide range 
of users.
    Leadership and Corporate Services Subgoal: The Leadership and 
Corporate Services Subgoal strives to produce cost-effective, value-
added solutions in the cross-cutting areas of Line Office and 
Headquarters management, workforce management, acquisition and grants, 
facilities, financial services, Homeland Security, IT, and 
administrative services. This is accomplished by effective and 
strategic leadership at corporate and Line Office levels that optimize 
agency performance and mission accomplishment through streamlined, 
results oriented processes. The development of long-range facility and 
IT modernization plans provides the investment framework to ensure that 
NOAA's facility and IT portfolio will continue to support a safe, 
secure, and state-of-the-art work environment. The development of 
streamlined acquisition and workforce management processes will enable 
NOAA to effectively fulfill its research and scope.
    Funded proposals should help achieve the following outcomes: A 
continuous stream of satellite data and information with the quality 
and accuracy to meet users requirements for spatial and temporal 
sampling and timeliness of delivery; adequate number of ship operating 
days and aircraft flight hours needed to meet NOAA's data collection 
requirements with high customer satisfaction; integrated observing 
system architectures, data management architectures, and computing and 
modeling capabilities to better enable NOAA's mission; a united NOAA 
working together--guided by a clear strategic vision for planning, 
programming, and execution--to achieve NOAA's goals; secure, reliable, 
and robust information flows within NOAA and out to the public; modern 
and sustainable facilities providing safe and effective work 
environment; efficient and effective financial, administrative, and 
acquisition management services; workforce management processes that 
support a diverse and competent workforce; and integrated Homeland 
Security and emergency response capabilities.
    Program Names:
    1. Fiscal Year 2011 NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and 
Training (B-WET)
    2. National Estuarine Research Reserve Graduate Research Fellowship 
Program for Fiscal Year 2011
    3. Fiscal Year 2012 National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. 
Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
    4. Environmental Literacy Grants for Formal K-12 Education
    5. Financial Assistance to Establish Five NOAA Cooperative Science 
Centers at Minority Serving Institutions

III. 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 grant opportunities immediately, 
it is recommended that you complete the steps to Get Started (below) 
ahead of time. This will help ensure you are registered with Grants.gov 
and can submit your application 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 Grants.gov ``Get Started'') and with 
Grants.gov (see Grants.gov ``Get Started''). Individuals do not need a 
DUNS number to register (see Grants.gov ``Get Started'') and submit 
their applications. The system will generate a default value in that 
field.

Grants.gov Registration and Application Submission Procedures

    This section provides the registration and application submission 
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. Registration Process Using Grants.gov.
    The following provides some helpful tips for applicants when 
applying on-line 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

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assembling required information before beginning the registration 
process will make the process fast and smooth and save time.
    b. DUNS Requirement. All applicants (except individuals) 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 
(as applicable), all applicants applying electronically through 
Grants.gov must register with the Central Contractor Registry. The 
https://www.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. All applicants filing 
electronically must register with the Central Contractor Registry and 
receive User Name and password from Grants.gov in order to apply on 
line. 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 User Name and password from Grants.gov.
    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). When you submit the application 
through Grants.gov, the name of your authorized organization 
representative on file will be inserted into the signature line of the 
application. Applicants must register the individual who is able to 
make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the 
Authorized Organization Representative.
    3. Electronic Application Submission Instructions for 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.


    a. Mandatory Fields on Adobe Reader Forms. In the Adobe Reader 
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.
    b. Completion of SF-424 Fields First. The Adobe Reader forms are 
designed to fill in common required fields such as the applicant name 
and address, DUNS number, etc., on all Adobe Reader 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.
    c. 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 technical assistance to 
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 Submission.
    a. Electronic Submission. All applications must be received by 
https://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp by the time and 
due date established for each program. Proof of 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 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 
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. The most 
common rejection of an application at Grants.gov is because the 
submitter was not authorized by their organization to submit the 
application.
    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 could take some time 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 take 
some time to be processed.

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 or submission of

[[Page 41645]]

Letters of Intent that provides for feedback to interested applicants 
on their intended proposal; however, not all programs will include this 
requirement for a pre-application or Letter of Intent. If a program 
requires a pre-application or Letter of Intent, 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 by one mail reviewer and at least three peer review 
panel reviewers to produce a rank order of the proposals. Each reviewer 
will individually evaluate and rank proposals using the Evaluation 
Criteria set forth in this notice.
    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. The following criteria will be used to 
evaluate the proposals:
    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, (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 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 requires 
interested applicants to submit Letters of Intent or pre-proposals; 
however, not all programs will include this pre-application 
requirement. 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 by one mail reviewer and at least three peer review 
panel reviewers to produce a rank order of the proposals. Each reviewer 
will individually evaluate and rank proposals using the Evaluation 
Criteria set forth in this notice.
    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. The following criteria will be used to 
evaluate the proposals:
    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 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 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

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

1. Coral Reef Conservation Program Fishery Management Council Coral 
Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements
    Summary Description: The CRCP Fishery Management Council Coral Reef 
Conservation Cooperative Agreements (FMCCRCCA) provides funding to the

[[Page 41646]]

Regional Fishery Management Councils for projects to conserve and 
manage coral reef fisheries, as authorized under the Coral Reef 
Conservation Act of 2000. Projects funded through the FMCCRCCA 
competition are for activities that (1) Provide better scientific 
information on the status of coral reef fisheries resources, critical 
habitats of importance to coral reef fishes, and the impacts of fishing 
on these species and habitats; (2) identify new management approaches 
that protect coral reef biodiversity and ecosystem function through 
regulation of fishing and other extractive uses; and (3) incorporate 
conservation and sustainable management measures into existing or new 
fishery management plans for coral reef species. Proposals selected for 
funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a multi-
year cooperative agreement. The role of NOAA in these cooperative 
agreements is to help identify potential projects that reduce impacts 
of fishing on coral reef ecosystems, strengthen the development and 
implementation of the projects, and assist in coordination of these 
efforts with state, territory or commonwealth management authorities 
and various coral reef user groups. Approximately $1,500,000 is 
expected to be available for FMCCRCCA in fiscal year 2011. The NOAA 
Coral Reef Conservation Program anticipates that awards for this 
competition will range from $125,000-$700,000 per a year.
    Funding Availability: This solicitation announces that 
approximately $1,500,000 is expected to be available for cooperative 
agreements in support coral reef conservation activities for the 
FMCCRCCA competition in fiscal year 2011. Actual funding availability 
for this program is contingent upon fiscal year 2011 Congressional 
appropriations. Annual funding is anticipated to maintain the 
cooperative agreements for up to 3 years duration, but this is 
dependent upon the level of funding made available by Congress. The 
CRCP anticipates that typical awards will range from about $125,000 to 
$700,000 for each year; NOAA will not accept proposals for over 
$700,000/year under this solicitation. Each Council may fund one full 
time staff member working exclusively on coral reef conservation for up 
to $125,000/year. Funds for applications approved by NOAA will be 
awarded as new cooperative agreements through the NMFS Office of 
Habitat Conservation (HC). The amount of funding for each award will 
depend on the number of eligible applications received, the amount of 
funds requested for each project, the merit and ranking of the 
proposals, and the amount of funds made available to the CRCP by 
Congress. The funds have not yet been appropriated for this program, 
and there is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to 
make awards for all qualified projects. Publication of this notice does 
not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any 
available funds.
    Statutory Authority: Authority for the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation 
Grant Program is provided by Section 6403 (Coral Reef Conservation 
Program) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et 
seq).
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.441, 
Regional Fishery Management Councils
    Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted to https://www.grants.gov by 5 p.m. EDT on November 1, 2010 to be considered for 
funding. For applications submitted through Grants.gov, a date and time 
receipt indication is included and will be the basis of determining 
timeliness. If Grants.gov cannot be reasonably used due to the 
unavailability of internet access, applications must be postmarked, or 
provided to a delivery service and documented with a receipt by 
November 1, 2010. Applications postmarked or provided to a delivery 
service after that time will not be accepted for funding. Applications 
submitted via 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 
postmarked closing date will not be accepted. Please address 
applications sent by mail to: Jennifer Koss, NOAA Coral Reef 
Conservation Program, NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation 
(F/HC), 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. ATTN: Coral 
Reef Conservation Applications. Applicants submitted by mail are 
required to include original signed copies of the financial assistance 
forms. Electronic copies of the project narrative and budget narrative 
are requested with the submission of a paper application. Please submit 
these to Jennifer.Koss@noaa.gov. There will be no extensions beyond 
these dates. If an application is not submitted through the process 
described above, it will not be reviewed or considered for FY 2011 
funding. All applicants, both electronic and paper, should be aware 
that adequate time must be factored into applicant schedules for 
delivery of the application. 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. 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.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: Applications should be submitted 
via https://www.grants.gov. If Grants.gov cannot be reasonably used, 
applications must postmarked by November 1, 2010. Send to: Jennifer 
Koss, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, NOAA Fisheries, Office of 
Habitat Conservation (F/HC), 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. ATTN: Coral Reef Conservation Applications.
    Information Contacts: Technical point of contact for CRCP Fishery 
Management Council Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements is 
Jennifer Koss, 301-713-4300 or e-mail at Jennifer.Koss@noaa.gov.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are limited to the Caribbean 
Fishery Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the Western 
Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant 
Program (under the authority of the Coral Reef Conservation Act (Act) 
of 2000) is subject to the matching fund requirements described below. 
As per section 6403(b)(1) of the Act, funds for any coral conservation 
project funded under this Grant Program may not exceed 50 percent of 
the total cost of the award. Therefore, any coral conservation project 
under this Grant Program requires a 1:1 contribution of matching funds. 
As per section 6403(b)(2) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 
the NOAA Administrator may waive all or part of the matching 
requirement if the Administrator determines that the project meets the 
following two requirements: 1. No reasonable means are available 
through which an applicant can meet the matching requirement, and 2. 
The probable benefit of such project outweighs the public interest in 
such matching requirement. The CRCP recognizes that the Councils have 
no viable means of meeting the matching requirement 6403(b)(1) as the 
Fishery Management Councils' budgets are composed of entirely federal 
funds. Therefore, the CRCP will waive the matching requirement as per 
section 6403(b)(2).
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this Grant Program are 
subject to Executive Order 12372,

[[Page 41647]]

Intergovernmental Review of 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 established as 
a result of EO 12372. For more information, please visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
2. Fiscal Year 2011 Community-Based Marine Debris Removal Project 
Grants
    Summary Description: The NOAA Marine Debris Program, authorized in 
the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (MDRPR Act, 
33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.), provides funding to catalyze the 
implementation of locally driven, community-based marine debris 
prevention, assessment and removal projects that will benefit coastal 
habitat, waterways, and NOAA trust resources. Funding for this purpose 
comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as appropriations to the 
Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service. The funding 
is, in part, administered through a grant competition with the NOAA 
Restoration Center's Community-based Restoration Program. Projects 
awarded through this grant competition have strong on-the-ground 
habitat components involving the removal of marine debris and derelict 
fishing gear, as well as activities that provide social benefits for 
people and their communities in addition to long-term ecological 
habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources. Through this 
solicitation NOAA identifies marine debris removal projects, 
strengthens the development and implementation of habitat restoration 
through community-based marine debris removal, and fosters awareness of 
the effects of marine debris to further the conservation of living 
marine resource habitats. Successful proposals through this 
solicitation will be funded through a cooperative agreement. Funding of 
up to $2,000,000 is expected to be available for Community-based Marine 
Debris Removal Project Grants in FY2011. Typical awards will range from 
$15,000 to $150,000.
    Funding Availability: This solicitation announces that funding of 
up to $2,000,000 is expected to be available for Community-based Marine 
Removal Project Grants in FY2011. Actual funding availability for this 
program is contingent upon Fiscal Year 2011 Congressional 
appropriations. Typical project awards will range from $15,000 to 
$150,000; NOAA will not accept proposals for less than $15,000 or 
proposals for more than $250,000 under this solicitation. There is no 
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 for initiating marine debris 
removal projects by the applicants, the merit and ranking of the 
proposals, and the amount of funds made available to NOAA by Congress. 
NOAA anticipates that between 10 and 15 awards will be made as a result 
of this solicitation. In FY 2009, the latest year for which information 
is available, 13 applications were funded, ranging from $35,500 to 
$170,000. The total grant funding level was nearly $1 million, which 
was matched by over $1.5 million. 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 
part of any available funds.
    Statutory Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.463, 
Habitat Conservation.
    Application Deadline: Full proposals must be received and validated 
by Grants.gov, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service on or 
before 11:59 p.m. EDT, November 1, 2010. 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 postmarked or provided to a delivery 
service after that time 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. Applications that are aligned with 
Community-based Marine Debris Removal Project Grants that have been 
submitted directly to other NOAA grants programs or as part of another 
NOAA grant may be considered under this solicitation.
    Address for Submitting Proposals: To apply for this NOAA funding 
opportunity, please submit an electronic application to https://www.grants.gov. If the applicant does not have Internet access, a hard 
copy application with the SF-424 bearing an original, ink signature 
(blue ink preferred) must be postmarked, or provided to a delivery 
service and documented with a receipt, by 11:59 p.m. EDT, November 1, 
2010, and sent to: Tom Barry, NOAA Restoration Center (F/HC3), ATTN: 
MDP Project Applications, 1315 East West Highway, Rm. 15864, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    Information Contacts: For further information contact Tom Barry 
(Tom.Barry@noaa.gov, 301-713-0174) or David Landsman or 
(David.Landsman@noaa.gov, 301-713-0174).
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, non-profit organizations, 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. Interested 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. NOAA 
encourages proposals involving any of the above institutions.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: A major goal of the NOAA Marine Debris 
Program is to provide seed money to projects that leverage funds and 
other contributions from a broad public and private sector to implement 
locally important marine debris removal activities to benefit living 
marine resources. To this end, the MDRPR Act requires applicants to 
provide a minimum 1:1 ratio of matching contributions to NOAA funds 
requested to conduct the proposed project. In addition to formal match, 
NOAA strongly encourages applicants to leverage as much additional 
investment as possible. Match can come from a variety of public and 
private sources and can include in-kind goods and services such as 
private boat use and volunteer labor. To meet the 1:1 match 
requirement, applicants are permitted to combine contributions from 
non-Federal partners, as long as such contributions are not being used 
to match any other funds and are available within the project period 
stated in the application. Federal sources cannot be considered for 
matching funds, but can be

[[Page 41648]]

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. 
``Indirect Costs'' for the FFO announcement. However, if the match 
requirement cannot be met, the MDRPR Act allows the Administrator to 
waive all or part of the matching requirement if the applicant can 
demonstrate that: (1) No reasonable means are available through which 
applicants can meet the matching requirement, and, (2) the probable 
benefit of such project outweighs the public interest in such matching 
requirement. To request this match waiver, the applicant must provide a 
match waiver request and detailed justification at the time the 
proposal is submitted explaining the need for the waiver. This 
explanation must include descriptions of attempts to obtain sources of 
matching funds, how the benefit of the project outweighs the public 
interest in providing match, and any other extenuating circumstances 
preventing the incorporation or local availability of match. The MDRPR 
Act also allows the Administrator to authorize, as appropriate, the 
non-federal share of the cost of a project to include money paid 
pursuant to, or the value of any in-kind service performed under, an 
administrative order on consent or judicial consent decree that will 
remove or prevent marine debris. In addition, under 48 U.S.C. 
10.1469a(d), any department or agency may waive any requirement for 
matching funds otherwise required by law to be provided by an Insular 
Area (defined here as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Notwithstanding 
any other provisions herein, and in accordance with 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d), 
the Marine Debris Program may waive any requirement for local matching 
funds to Insular Areas. Eligible applicants choosing to apply the 
waiver in 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d) must include a letter requesting a waiver 
that demonstrates that their project meets the requirements of 48 
U.S.C. 1469a(d). However, if available, the inclusion of matching 
contributions is encouraged. All applicants should note that cost 
sharing is an element considered in Evaluation Criterion 4, 
``Project 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 names of participating volunteers and the overall number 
of volunteer or community participation hours devoted to individual 
marine debris removal projects. Letters of commitment for any secured 
resources expected to be used as match for an award should be submitted 
as an attachment to the application.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications submitted by state and local 
governments are subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Programs.'' Any state or local government 
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 in the Office of 
Management and Budget's home page at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
3. Fiscal Year 2011 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 2011. 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