Request for Applications for Funding for the 12/09/2015 Funded Priorities List, 81819-81824 [2015-32924]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 251 / Thursday, December 31, 2015 / Notices
that are considered in acting on the
notices are set forth in paragraph 7 of
the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).
The notices are available for
immediate inspection at the Federal
Reserve Bank indicated. The notices
also will be available for inspection at
the offices of the Board of Governors.
Interested persons may express their
views in writing to the Reserve Bank
indicated for that notice or to the offices
of the Board of Governors. Comments
must be received not later than January
15, 2016.
A. Federal Reserve Bank of New York
(Ivan Hurwitz, Vice President) 33
Liberty Street, New York, New York
10045–0001:
1. Pathfinder Bank Employee Stock
Ownership Plan Trust, Oswego, New
York; to acquire additional voting shares
of Pathfinder Bancorp Inc., Oswego,
New York.
B. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
(Nadine Wallman, Vice President) 1455
East Sixth Street, Cleveland, Ohio
44101–2566:
1. The McComb Family, as a group,
consisting of Gregory Scott McComb,
Blacklick, Ohio, Camilla Lorraine
McComb, Ypsilanti, Michigan, and
Debra L. McComb, New Albany, Ohio;
to retain voting shares of Heartland
BancCorp, and thereby indirectly retain
voting shares of Heartland Bank, both in
Gahanna, Ohio.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, December 28, 2015.
Michael J. Lewandowski,
Associate Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2015–32956 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210–01–P
GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM
RESTORATION COUNCIL
[Document ID: 112312015–1111–11]
Request for Applications for Funding
for the 12/09/2015 Funded Priorities
List
Federal Agency Name: Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.
SUMMARY: This announcement provides
guidance to members of the Gulf Coast
Ecosystem Restoration Council
(Council) to apply for funding under the
Council-Selected Restoration
Component of the Resources and
Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist
Opportunities, and Revived Economies
of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012
(RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2)) to
implement projects and programs
approved on the 12/09/2015 Funded
Priorities List (FPL) Addendum to the
Initial Comprehensive Plan.
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AGENCY:
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RFA Name: Council-Selected
Restoration Component 12/09/2015
Funded Priorities List Grant and
Interagency Agreement Application
Requirements.
Announcement Type: Supplemental
announcement to Council Member
Summary Notice of Application Process
for Council-Selected Restoration
Component Projects and Programs,
published on May 4, 2015 (80 FR
25294).
Funding Opportunity Number: GCC–
FPL–16–001.
Fiscal Year: FY 2016 and 2017.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 87.051 Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
Comprehensive Plan Component
Program.
Funding Instrument: Grant or
Interagency Agreement.
Funding Amount: $156,553,618.
Closing Date for Submissions:
Applications are due by December 31,
2016. Eligible applicants may submit
their applications for Council-Selected
Restoration Component projects and
programs beginning upon publication of
the 12/09/2015 Funded Priorities List
(FPL) Addendum to the Initial
Comprehensive Plan and continuing
through and including December 31,
2016.
Funding Opportunity Description:
Through this announcement, members
of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
Council (Council) may submit
applications to fund projects and
programs under the Council-Selected
Restoration Component of the Resources
and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist
Opportunities, and Revived Economies
of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012
(RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2)).
Council members include the
Secretaries of the Departments of
Agriculture, the Army, Commerce, the
Interior, and Homeland Security, the
Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, and
the governors of the Gulf Coast States of
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas. The submission
process is composed of two phases: (1)
The submission of proposals to the
Council for inclusion in a Funded
Priorities List (FPL) (proposal phase),
and (2) once a project or program has
been approved by the Council for
inclusion in an FPL, the submission of
a grant or interagency agreement (IAA)
application in order to receive funding
(application phase).
The first phase of the process
(proposal phase) is complete for the 12/
09/2015 FPL. This announcement
provides guidance to eligible entities on
the necessary steps to complete the
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second phase of submitting their grant
application if a proposal was selected
for funding in the 12/09/2015 FPL
(available at: https://
www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/
files/FPL_FINAL_Dec9Vote_EC_Library_
Links.pdf).
Council members are the only entities
eligible to submit applications under
this funding announcement and are the
only entities eligible to receive CouncilSelected Restoration Component funds
under grant awards or IAAs.
Full Announcement Text
Funding Opportunity Description
A. Program Description
Through this announcement, member
agencies and States of the Gulf Coast
Ecosystem Restoration Council
(Council) may submit applications to
fund projects and programs under the
Council-Selected Restoration
Component of the Resources and
Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist
Opportunities, and Revived Economies
of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012
(RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2)).
Council members include the
Secretaries of the Departments of
Agriculture, the Army, Commerce, the
Interior, and Homeland Security, the
Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, and
the governors of the Gulf Coast States of
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas. The submission
process is composed of two phases: (1)
The submission of proposals to the
Council for inclusion in a Funded
Priorities List (FPL), (proposal phase)
and (2) once a project or program has
been approved by the Council for
inclusion in an FPL, the submission of
a grant application in order to receive
grant funding (application phase). The
first phase (proposal phase) was
completed with the approval of an FPL
by the Council on December 9, 2015 and
publication of the FPL in the Federal
Register on December 15, 2015. 80 FR
77585. This announcement provides
guidance to eligible entities on the
necessary steps to complete the second
phase of submitting their grant
application if a proposal was selected
for funding in the 12/09/2015 FPL
(available at: https://
www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/
files/FPL_FINAL_Dec9Vote_EC_Library_
Links.pdf).
1. Background
Passed in July 2012, the RESTORE
Act dedicates 80 percent of certain
Clean Water Act administrative and
civil penalties paid by responsible
parties in connection with the
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DEEPWATER HORIZON oil spill to the
Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund
(Trust Fund). The RESTORE Act also
outlines a structure by which the funds
can be utilized to restore and protect the
natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries,
marine and wildlife habitats, beaches,
coastal wetlands, and economy of the
Gulf Coast region.
In order to carry out certain functions
of the RESTORE Act, Congress
established the Council, which is
comprised of governors from the five
affected Gulf Coast States (Alabama,
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Texas); the Secretaries from the U.S.
Departments of Agriculture, the Army,
Commerce, the Interior, and Homeland
Security; and the Administrator of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Gulf States recommended, and
President Obama appointed, the
Secretary of Commerce as the Council’s
initial Chairperson. The Council was
tasked with publishing a
Comprehensive Plan under which the
Council will fund and implement
projects and programs to restore and
protect the natural resources,
ecosystems, fisheries, marine and
wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal
wetlands of the Gulf Coast region
(known as the Council-Selected
Restoration Component of the RESTORE
Act). 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2).
The Council approved the Initial
Comprehensive Plan in August of 2013
(available at: https://restorethegulf.gov/
sites/default/files/Final%20Initial%20
Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf). The
Initial Comprehensive Plan guides
decision-making related to the
evaluation, approval, funding, and
implementation of projects and
programs under the Council-Selected
Restoration Component of the RESTORE
Act in the form of an FPL. On August
21, 2014, the Council published on its
Web site, the Council Member Proposal
Submission Guidelines for
Comprehensive Plan Funded Priorities
List of Projects and Programs
(‘‘Submission Guidelines’’, available at
https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/
default/files/Submission_Guidelines_
Final%20Aug%202014_0.pdf). These
Guidelines outlined the process for the
first phase of the submission process for
the grants and interagency agreements
(IAAs) that are the subject of this
announcement. On May 4, 2015, the
Council published the Council Member
Summary Notice of Application Process
for Council-Selected Restoration
Component Projects and Programs
which outlined the entire two-phase
process for the Council-Selected
Restoration Component. 80 FR 25294.
Council members submitted proposals
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detailing projects and programs for
possible inclusion in the first FPL.
Submitted proposals were
independently reviewed against a set of
specific criteria; the results of this
review are available online (https://
www.restorethegulf.gov/councilselected-restoration-component/draftinitial-funded-priorities-list). Based on
this independent review, the Council
developed and approved a draft FPL
and solicited public comment. After
taking into account public comments,
the initial FPL was approved by Council
vote on December 9, 2015. The number
and type of projects and programs
contained in the initial 12/09/2015 FPL
was based, in part, on the amount and
timing of funds currently available in
the Trust Fund.
As additional funds become available
in the future, the Council will
periodically request proposals from its
eleven State and federal members in
order to develop additional FPLs. The
Council may also carry forward
proposals submitted under prior
requests for proposals when formulating
future FPLs. Council members are the
only entities eligible to submit
proposals or receive Council-Selected
Restoration Component funds under
grant awards or IAAs.
Now that the Council has published
the initial 12/09/2015 FPL, the Council
will accept applications for grant
awards from its five Gulf Coast State
members or IAAs from its six federal
agency members in order to fund each
project and program included in the
FPL.
The remainder of this Notice of
Funding Opportunity details the
requirements for grant and IAA
applications to carry out the projects
and programs in the FPL. Funding to
State Council members will be provided
through grants. Funding to federal
Council members will be provided
through IAAs.
2. Program Authority
33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2).
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1. Funding Availability
Up to $156,553,618 is available to
fund grants and IAAs under this
announcement. These funds are
expected to fund 45 projects and
programs. The exact number of grants
and IAAs required to fund these 45
projects and programs depends on the
State or federal member applicant. The
Council may request an applicant split
an application into more than one
application for administrative
efficiency. The amount of each grant or
IAA will depend on the exact project(s)
or program(s) contained therein. The
amount is not to exceed the amount
approved in the 12/09/2015 FPL.
2. Project/Award Period
The duration of projects and programs
under this announcement is anticipated
to be three to ten years; however, subject
to Council approval projects may have
a longer duration. Award start dates will
depend on when the applicant submits
a complete application.
3. Type of Funding Instrument
The funding instrument for awards to
Council member States will be a grant.
The funding mechanism for Council
member federal agencies will be an IAA.
Funding for contractual arrangements
for services and products for delivery to
the Council is not available under this
announcement.
C. Eligibility Information
B. Federal Award Information
The application phase is not
competitive. Rather, once a proposal for
a project or program has been selected
under phase 1 (see section A(1) of this
announcement for discussion of the
proposal phase) the grants to be
awarded (to State Council members) or
IAAs are entered into (with federal
agency Council members) through the
administrative process detailed in this
announcement.
All State Council member proposals
selected for funding under phase 1 of
this announcement must apply for a
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grant through the Restoration Assistance
and Awards Management System
(RAAMS) to implement the project or
program described in the approved
project proposal. All federal agency
Council member proposals selected for
funding under phase 1 of this
announcement must submit an
application through RAAMS prior to
entering into an IAA to implement a
project or program described in the
approved project proposal.
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are limited to
members of the Council, or their
administrative agents, that have had a
proposal selected for funding pursuant
to phase 1, found in section (A)(1) of
this announcement. Council members
include: The States of Alabama, Florida,
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas; the
Departments of Agriculture, the Army,
Commerce, Homeland Security and the
Interior; and the Environmental
Protection Agency. No other entity is
eligible to apply under this
announcement.
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2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Requirement
None.
3. Other Criteria That Affect Eligibility
Applications are limited to the
category 1 restoration activities
included in the 12/09/2015 FPL.
D. Application and Submission
Information
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1. Address To Request Application
Package
Eligible entities can access the link to
RAAMS and download application
forms and other materials necessary to
apply for funding through the RESTORE
Council Web site at https://
restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office.
2. Content and Form of Application for
Awards and Agreements
Please refer to the Gulf Coast
Ecosystem Restoration Council
Recipient Proposal and Award Guide
(RPAG) (available at: https://
restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office)
for comprehensive guidance on all
phases of the submission, application,
and award implementation process.
The following application
requirements are for grants to Gulf Coast
States and IAAs with federal Servicing
Agencies. A complete application will
include all of the below information,
which is entered directly into RAAMS
or uploaded as an attachment(s).
Application material will include all
data from required federal standard
forms and may include Council-specific
supporting information and schedules.
a. Data from OMB Standard Form (SF)
SF–424A ‘‘Application for Federal
Assistance’’ and associated forms.
b. Certifications:
i. RESTORE Council Applicant
Certifications; and
ii. Appropriate SF–424 Assurances:
(1) For applications involving
construction or real property/land
acquisition, complete the SF–424D
‘‘Assurances—Construction Programs’’.
(2) For non-construction applications,
complete the SF–424B ‘‘Assurances—
Non-Construction Programs’’.
c. A copy of the applicant’s Indirect
Cost Rate Agreement (IDCRA), if
applicable.
d. Executive Summary.
e. Project/Program Narrative:
i. Description of how the project/
program meets statutory requirements
and commitments the Council made in
the Initial Comprehensive Plan
including identification of objectives
and goals as well as focus and emphasis
areas.
ii. Metrics for gauging the success of
the project or program.
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iii. Milestones, including activitybased costs and any deliverables for
each milestone.
iv. Description of leveraged resources.
f. Observational Data Plan.
g. Preliminary Data Management Plan.
h. Location information and map(s).
i. Budget documentation:
i. This documentation is more
detailed than the budget required to be
submitted in phase 1.
ii. SF–424 budget information:
(1) For all projects/programs, data
equivalent to that provided on the SF–
424A ‘‘Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs’’ is required.
(2) For construction projects or real
property/land acquisition, data
equivalent to that provided on the SF–
424C ‘‘Budget Information—
Construction Programs’’ is required in
addition to the SF–424A data.
(3) Budget data must also be provided
by SF–424A and/or SF–424C object
classes for leveraged funding that is
required to complete the objectives of
the project/program (i.e., ‘‘co-funding’’).
(4) Where the applicant will ‘‘pass
through’’ or otherwise provide funds to
one or more subrecipients, a separate
detailed budget using object categories
from the SF–424A and/or SF–424C, as
appropriate, must be provided for each
proposed subaward that is known at the
time the application is submitted.
(5) Any program income anticipated
during the award period should be
included in the budget.
iii. Budget Narrative/Justification:
(1) A detailed description of the
expenses listed on the budget forms and
how they address the proposed work is
required.
(2) Item descriptions and
justifications must be provided for each
applicable object class from the SF–
424A and/or C, including salaries, fringe
benefits, equipment, supplies, travel,
construction, etc.
(3) Applicants who will not be
requesting funds for salaries for
contributing personnel, must still list
those personnel, indicating their
estimated time of commitment.
(4) Purchases of equipment greater
than $5,000 must include a purchase
versus lease justification.
(5) Where the applicant plans to
procure goods and services through a
contractual or subrecipient relationship,
information is required on the proposed
method of selection, period of
performance scope of work, and
method(s) of accountability.
(6) A description of any leveraged
funding that is required to complete the
objectives of the project/program must
be provided, including the source(s),
amount of funding and work to be
accomplished.
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(7) Detailed information must be
provided regarding any pre-award costs
requested including a justification for
each item. Such costs are allowable only
to the extent that they would have been
allowable if incurred after the grant
award date and only with the written
approval of the Grants Officer. All costs
incurred before the Council awards the
grant are at the recipient’s risk. Requests
for pre-award costs should be kept to a
minimum. Generally, the period for
such costs should not exceed 90 days
prior to the start of the award period.
j. Cash Forecasting. The applicant
must forecast cash requirements/draws
throughout the life of the award in semiannual increments.
k. Current and pending support.
Applicants must submit a list of all
current and pending federal support
that includes project title, supporting
agency with grant number, dollar value,
and duration. Requested values should
be listed for pending support.
l. DUNS Number. All applications
must have a DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet
Data Universal Numbering System)
number when applying for federal
grants. No application is deemed
complete without the DUNS number,
and only the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) may grant exceptions.
m. Environmental Compliance
Documentation. The Council must
comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act, Endangered
Species Act, National Historic
Preservation Act, Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act and the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act, as applicable, before
approving funding under the CouncilSelected Restoration Component. In
addition, the Council must address, as
applicable, Executive Order 11988
(‘‘Floodplain Management’’), Executive
Order 11990 (‘‘Protection of Wetlands’’),
Executive Order 12898 (‘‘Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low
Income Populations’’) and Executive
Order 13653 (‘‘Preparing the United
States for the Impacts of Climate
Change’’). These laws and Executive
Orders requirements have been
addressed, where applicable, for all
activities listed in Category 1 of the FPL.
Documentation regarding compliance
with the foregoing requirements for each
FPL Category 1 activity can be found on
the Council Web site (available at
https://www.restorethegulf.gov/fundedpriorities-list). Prior to awarding a grant
or entering into an IAA under the
Council-Selected Restoration
Component, the Council must also
comply with the Coastal Zone
Management Act, Coastal Barrier
Resources Act and Farmland Protection
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Policy Act, as applicable. Applicants
should submit information indicating
whether the above requirements have
been met, and if not, the status of any
efforts to meet the requirements.
Applicants are also responsible for
complying with all other applicable
federal environmental laws prior to full
disbursement of grant or IAA funding.
Specifically, applicants are responsible
for identifying other applicable federal
environmental laws and providing the
Council with information regarding
compliance with such laws.
i. Applicants may be required to
provide detailed information on the
activities to be conducted, locations,
sites, species, and habitat to be affected,
possible construction activities, and any
environmental concerns that may exist
(e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous
or toxic chemicals, introduction of nonindigenous species, impacts to
endangered and threatened species,
aquaculture projects, and impacts to
coral reef systems).
ii. Applicants may also be required to
cooperate with the Council in
identifying feasible measures to reduce
or avoid any identified adverse
environmental impacts of their
application. Any failure to do so shall
be grounds for deeming an application
incomplete. In some cases if additional
information is required after an
application is submitted, funds may be
withheld by the Grants Officer pursuant
to a special award condition requiring
the recipient to submit additional
environmental compliance information
sufficient to enable the Council to make
an assessment of any impacts that a
project may have on the environment.
iii. Applicants also must submit
documentation to the Council
demonstrating that all applicable
permits or authorizations from other
state, federal or local agencies have been
secured. Funds may be withheld by the
Grants Officer pursuant to a special
award condition requiring the recipient
to submit all required permits and
authorizations prior to implementation.
Additional requirement for State
applications for grant funding:
Organizational Self-Assessment
(OSA). Each non-federal applicant must
certify and submit the Council’s
Organizational Self-Assessment form.
The form must be received by the
Council no later than the application
submission date of the entity’s first
grant application to the Council. The
OSA will be updated annually.
Additional requirements for IAAs
with Federal Servicing Agencies:
A completed and approved
application will be followed by an IAA.
The IAA will contain information
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indicating whether the above
requirements have been met, and if not,
the status of any efforts to meet the
requirements. Servicing Agencies are
also responsible for all applicable
federal environmental laws and
requirements prior to full disbursement
of grant or interagency agreement
funding.
All applicants are required to: (i) Be
registered in the System for Award
Management (SAM) before submitting
its application; (ii) provide a valid
unique entity identifier in its
application; and (iii) continue to
maintain an active SAM registration
with current information at all times
during which it has an active federal
award or an application or plan under
consideration by a federal awarding
agency. The Council will not make an
award to an applicant until the
applicant has complied with all
applicable unique entity-identifier and
SAM requirements and, if an applicant
has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Council is
ready to make a Federal award, the
Council may determine that the
applicant is not qualified to receive an
award.
4. Submission Dates and Times
Subject to Section D.7 below,
applications may be submitted at any
time after publication of the initial FPL
but no later than December 31, 2016.
Applications will be accepted on a
rolling basis and are to be submitted
through RAAMS.
5. Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are
not subject to Executive Order 12372,
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.
6. Funding Restrictions
Of the amounts received by an eligible
entity in a grant or IAA under this
announcement, not more than three
percent (3%) may be used for
administrative costs. The three percent
limit is applied to the total amount of
funds received by a recipient under
each grant or IAA. The three percent
limit does not apply to the
administrative costs of subrecipients.
All subrecipient costs are subject to the
cost principles in federal law and
policies on grants. Administrative costs
means those indirect costs for
administration incurred by the eligible
entity that are allocable to activities
authorized under the Act.
Administrative costs do not include
indirect costs that are identified
specifically with, or readily assignable
to, facilities as defined in 2 CFR
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200.414. See the https://
restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office/
gcerc-grants-resources Web page for an
example of administrative cost
calculations.
Fees and profit are disallowed.
7. Other Submission Requirements
Applications will be completed and
submitted electronically by way of the
Council’s Restoration Assistance and
Award Management System (RAAMS)
(https://raams.restorethegulf.gov).
Applicants will not be eligible to submit
an application until they have
completed RAAMS training. There will
be multiple training opportunities
available starting in January 2016.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
At the organizational level, the
Council will conduct risk assessments
of first-time non-federal recipients in
order to effectively implement the
statutory, regulatory, administrative,
and program requirements of a potential
federal award. Once an initial
assessment has been made, it will be
reviewed on an annual basis. As the
Council-Selected Restoration
Component of the RESTORE Act is a
new federal program, all non-federal
recipients will be treated as first-time
recipients for the initial Council awards.
Upon receipt of an application
through RAAMS, the Council will
review the application for completeness.
Once it has been determined that the
application is complete, the staff will
review this funding opportunity
announcement, the application and
supporting documentation, the System
for Award Management, and any other
information available to determine the
following:
• Whether the recipient and any
subrecipients are eligible for funding;
• Whether the project or program as
described in the application is
compliant with the proposal contained
in the FPL or the Full SEP, whichever
is applicable;
• Whether award activities are
eligible and attainable;
• Whether staff time is appropriate to
perform proposed tasks;
• Whether best available science is
applied;
• Whether the recipient has
established a suitable monitoring plan;
• Whether milestones and metrics are
feasible, measurable and achievable;
• Whether observational data and
management plans are adequate (if
applicable);
• Whether environmental compliance
requirements have been met;
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• Whether budget line items are
allowable, allocable, and reasonable;
• Whether any proposed procurement
complies with applicable laws and
policies;
• Whether budget line items are
accurately calculated;
• Whether pre-award costs are
requested, and if so, is the
documentation sufficient;
• Whether the period of performance
requires an adjustment; and
• Whether any special award
conditions are needed.
2. Review and Selection Process
The review and selection process was
completed with the approval of an FPL
on 12/09/2015 and publication of the
FPL in the Federal Register on
December 15, 2015. 80 FR 77585.
However, the detailed project or
program narrative description of
activities will be closely reviewed and
compared to the project narrative
description submitted in the initial
proposal to verify the scope of the
activities in the application.
3. Agency Review of Information
Concerning Recipient Integrity and
Performance
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The Council is required to review and
consider any information about the
applicant that is in the designated
integrity and performance system
accessible through SAM (currently
FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313). The
applicant may, at its option, review
information in the designated integrity
and performance systems accessible
through SAM and comment on any
information about itself that a federal
awarding agency previously entered and
is currently in the designated integrity
and performance system accessible
through SAM. Furthermore, the Council
consider any comments by the
applicant, in addition to the other
information in the designated integrity
and performance system, in making a
judgment about the applicant’s integrity,
business ethics, and record of
performance under federal awards when
completing the review of risk posed by
applicants as described in 2 CFR
200.205, ‘‘Federal awarding agency
review of risk posed by applicants.’’
4. Anticipated Announcement and
Award Dates
Applications will be received on a
rolling basis. It is anticipated that
awards will be made within 90 days of
submission of a complete grant
application.
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16:49 Dec 30, 2015
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F. Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
a. For State Council members, official
notification of grant funding, signed by
the Council Executive Director, is the
authorizing document that allows the
project or program to begin.
Notifications will be issued to the
Authorizing Official designated by the
Council member for the project or
program.
b. For federal Council members, an
IAA is the mechanism for transferring
funds from the Council to the member
agency. IAAs will be executed and
finalized in accordance with applicable
federal requirements. All federal
Council members having proposals
selected for funding under phase 1 of
this announcement must work with the
Council to establish an IAA. Pursuant to
31 CFR 34.803(d), any federal Council
member (‘‘Servicing Agency’’) must use
funds only for the purposes identified in
the IAA. All activities under the IAA
must meet the eligibility requirements
for the Council-Selected Restoration
Component as defined in 31 CFR
34.202.
c. The Servicing Agency, and all nonfederal entity recipients and
subrecipients, must comply and require
each of its contractors and
subcontractors employed in the
completion of the project to comply
with all applicable statutes, regulations,
Executive Orders (E.O.s), Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
circulars, terms and conditions,
agreements and approved applications.
Any inconsistency or conflict in terms
and conditions specified in the IAA will
be resolved according to the following
order of precedence: Public laws,
regulations, applicable notices
published in the Federal Register, E.O.s,
OMB circulars, and the IAA’s terms and
conditions. The Servicing Agency shall
also administer the project in
compliance with the Servicing Agency’s
existing statutes, regulations, and grant
policies.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
The Council Pre-Award Notification
Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements contained in
the Federal Register notice of November
24, 2014 (https://federalregister.gov/a/
2014-27719) is applicable to this
announcement.
The Council’s Financial Assistance
Standard Terms and Conditions (STCs)
contained in the Federal Register notice
of August 31, 2015 (https://
federalregister.gov/a/2015-21417) are
applicable to grants awarded under this
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
81823
announcement. The Council’s IAA
Standard Terms and Conditions (IAA
STCs) are applicable to IAAs executed
under this announcement. Both the
STCs and the IAA STCs may be found
at https://restorethegulf.gov/resources/
council-documents-foia-library.
3. Reporting
Award recipients are required to
submit financial, technical progress,
performance and outcome reports.
These reports are to be submitted
electronically via RAAMS.
Reporting Periods: Semi-annual
reporting periods will be specified in
the award for either the periods ending:
• March 31 and September 30, or any
portion thereof; or
• June 30 and December 31, or any
portion thereof.
Due Dates: Semi-annual performance
reports are due no later than 30 days
following the end of each reporting
period. A final performance report is
due within 90 days after the expiration
of the project period.
As part of the required Data
Management Plan (DMP), the recipient
will develop a data/information
management plan and submit
appropriate data and information with
progress reports on a yearly basis. Due
dates will be included in the award
agreement.
Applicants must also comply with the
Federal Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act of 2006. This Act
includes a requirement for awardees of
applicable federal grants to report
information about first-tier sub-awards
and executive compensation under
federal assistance awards issued in FY
2011 or later. All awardees of applicable
grants and cooperative agreements are
required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS)
available at www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over $25,000.
If the award will include more than
$500,000 over the period of
performance, applicants must also
comply with the post award reporting
requirements reflected in 2 CFR part 200
Appendix XII—Award Term and
Condition for Recipient Integrity and
Performance Matters.
G. Agency Contacts
Kristin Smith, Senior Grants
Management Officer, kristin.smith@
restorethegulf.gov, 504–444–3558.
H. Other Information
Please refer to the Gulf Coast
Ecosystem Restoration Council
Recipient Proposal and Award Guide
(RPAG), available at https://
restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office,
E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM
31DEN1
81824
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 251 / Thursday, December 31, 2015 / Notices
for comprehensive guidance on all
phases of the submission, application,
and award implementation process.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eileen Hogan, Center for Quality
Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ,
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 06N94B,
Rockville, MD 20857; Telephone (toll
free): (866) 403–3697; Telephone (local):
(301) 427–1111; TTY (toll free): (866)
438–7231; TTY (local): (301) 427–1130;
Email: pso@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Will D. Spoon,
Program Analyst, Gulf Coast Ecosystem,
Restoration Council.
[FR Doc. 2015–32924 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
Background
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality
Patient Safety Organizations:
Voluntary Relinquishment from the
Texas Patient Safety Organization, Inc.
Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of Delisting.
AGENCY:
The Patient Safety and
Quality Improvement Act of 2005, 42
U.S.C. 299b–21 to b–26, (Patient Safety
Act) and the related Patient Safety and
Quality Improvement Final Rule, 42
CFR part 3 (Patient Safety Rule),
published in the Federal Register on
November 21, 2008, 73 FR 70732–
70814, provide for the formation of
Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs),
which collect, aggregate, and analyze
confidential information regarding the
quality and safety of health care
delivery. The Patient Safety Rule
authorizes AHRQ, on behalf of the
Secretary of HHS, to list as a PSO an
entity that attests that it meets the
statutory and regulatory requirements
for listing. A PSO can be ‘‘delisted’’ by
the Secretary if it is found to no longer
meet the requirements of the Patient
Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule,
when a PSO chooses to voluntarily
relinquish its status as a PSO for any
reason, or when a PSO’s listing expires.
AHRQ has accepted a notification of
voluntary relinquishment from the
Texas Patient Safety Organization, Inc.
of its status as a PSO, and has delisted
the PSO accordingly. The Texas Patient
Safety Organization, Inc. submitted this
request for voluntary relinquishment
during expedited revocation
proceedings for cause.
DATES: The directories for both listed
and delisted PSOs are ongoing and
reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The
delisting was effective at 12:00 Midnight
ET (2400) on December 15, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Both directories can be
accessed electronically at the following
HHS Web site: https://
www.pso.ahrq.gov/listed.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:49 Dec 30, 2015
Jkt 238001
The Patient Safety Act authorizes the
listing of PSOs, which are entities or
component organizations whose
mission and primary activity are to
conduct activities to improve patient
safety and the quality of health care
delivery.
HHS issued the Patient Safety Rule to
implement the Patient Safety Act.
AHRQ administers the provisions of the
Patient Safety Act and Patient Safety
Rule relating to the listing and operation
of PSOs. The Patient Safety Rule
authorizes AHRQ to list as a PSO an
entity that attests that it meets the
statutory and regulatory requirements
for listing. A PSO can be ‘‘delisted’’ if
it is found to no longer meet the
requirements of the Patient Safety Act
and Patient Safety Rule, when a PSO
chooses to voluntarily relinquish its
status as a PSO for any reason, or when
a PSO’s listing expires. Section 3.108(d)
of the Patient Safety Rule requires
AHRQ to provide public notice when it
removes an organization from the list of
federally approved PSOs.
AHRQ has accepted a notification
from the Texas Patient Safety
Organization, Inc., PSO number P0012,
to voluntarily relinquish its status as a
PSO. Accordingly, the Texas Patient
Safety Organization, Inc. was delisted
effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on
December 15, 2015. The Texas Patient
Safety Organization, Inc. submitted this
request for voluntary relinquishment
during expedited revocation
proceedings for cause.
The Texas Patient Safety
Organization, Inc. has patient safety
work product (PSWP) in its possession.
The PSO has met the requirements of
section 3.108(c)(2)(i) of the Patient
Safety Rule regarding notification to
providers that have reported to the PSO.
In addition, according to sections
3.108(c)(2)(ii) and 3.108(b)(3) of the
Patient Safety Rule regarding
disposition of PSWP, the PSO has 90
days from the effective date of delisting
and revocation to complete the
disposition of PSWP that is currently in
the PSO’s possession.
More information on PSOs can be
obtained through AHRQ’s PSO Web site
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
at https://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/
index.html.
Sharon B. Arnold,
AHRQ Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2015–32914 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–90–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–3323–NC]
Request for Information: Certification
Frequency and Requirements for the
Reporting of Quality Measures Under
CMS Programs
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Request for information.
AGENCY:
This request for information
seeks public comment regarding several
items related to the certification of
health information technology (IT),
including electronic health records
(EHR) products used for reporting to
certain CMS quality reporting programs
such as, but not limited to, the Hospital
Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR)
Program and the Physician Quality
Reporting System (PQRS). In addition,
we are requesting feedback on how
often to require recertification, the
number of clinical quality measures
(CQMs) a certified Health IT Module
should be required to certify to, and
testing of certified Health IT Module(s).
DATES: To be assured consideration,
comments must be received at one of
the addresses provided below, no later
than 5 p.m. on February 1, 2016.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, refer to file
code CMS–3323–NC. Because of staff
and resource limitations, we cannot
accept comments by facsimile (FAX)
transmission.
You may submit comments in one of
four ways (please choose only one of the
ways listed):
1. Electronically. You may submit
electronic comments on this regulation
to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the ‘‘Submit a comment’’ instructions.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments to the following
address ONLY: Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Department of
Health and Human Services, Attention:
CMS–3323–NC, P.O. Box 8013,
Baltimore, MD 21244–8013.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed
comments to be received before the
close of the comment period.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM
31DEN1
]]>Agencies
- GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81819-81824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32924]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL
[Document ID: 112312015-1111-11]
Request for Applications for Funding for the 12/09/2015 Funded
Priorities List
AGENCY: Federal Agency Name: Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.
SUMMARY: This announcement provides guidance to members of the Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) to apply for funding
under the Council-Selected Restoration Component of the Resources and
Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies
of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C.
1321(t)(2)) to implement projects and programs approved on the 12/09/
2015 Funded Priorities List (FPL) Addendum to the Initial Comprehensive
Plan.
RFA Name: Council-Selected Restoration Component 12/09/2015 Funded
Priorities List Grant and Interagency Agreement Application
Requirements.
Announcement Type: Supplemental announcement to Council Member
Summary Notice of Application Process for Council-Selected Restoration
Component Projects and Programs, published on May 4, 2015 (80 FR
25294).
Funding Opportunity Number: GCC-FPL-16-001.
Fiscal Year: FY 2016 and 2017.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 87.051 Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan Component
Program.
Funding Instrument: Grant or Interagency Agreement.
Funding Amount: $156,553,618.
Closing Date for Submissions: Applications are due by December 31,
2016. Eligible applicants may submit their applications for Council-
Selected Restoration Component projects and programs beginning upon
publication of the 12/09/2015 Funded Priorities List (FPL) Addendum to
the Initial Comprehensive Plan and continuing through and including
December 31, 2016.
Funding Opportunity Description: Through this announcement, members
of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) may submit
applications to fund projects and programs under the Council-Selected
Restoration Component of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability,
Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States
Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2)). Council members
include the Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, the Army,
Commerce, the Interior, and Homeland Security, the Administrator of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the governors of the Gulf
Coast States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
The submission process is composed of two phases: (1) The submission of
proposals to the Council for inclusion in a Funded Priorities List
(FPL) (proposal phase), and (2) once a project or program has been
approved by the Council for inclusion in an FPL, the submission of a
grant or interagency agreement (IAA) application in order to receive
funding (application phase).
The first phase of the process (proposal phase) is complete for the
12/09/2015 FPL. This announcement provides guidance to eligible
entities on the necessary steps to complete the second phase of
submitting their grant application if a proposal was selected for
funding in the 12/09/2015 FPL (available at: https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/FPL_FINAL_Dec9Vote_EC_Library_Links.pdf).
Council members are the only entities eligible to submit
applications under this funding announcement and are the only entities
eligible to receive Council-Selected Restoration Component funds under
grant awards or IAAs.
Full Announcement Text
Funding Opportunity Description
A. Program Description
Through this announcement, member agencies and States of the Gulf
Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) may submit applications
to fund projects and programs under the Council-Selected Restoration
Component of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist
Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of
2012 (RESTORE Act) (33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2)). Council members include the
Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, the Army, Commerce, the
Interior, and Homeland Security, the Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, and the governors of the Gulf Coast
States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The
submission process is composed of two phases: (1) The submission of
proposals to the Council for inclusion in a Funded Priorities List
(FPL), (proposal phase) and (2) once a project or program has been
approved by the Council for inclusion in an FPL, the submission of a
grant application in order to receive grant funding (application
phase). The first phase (proposal phase) was completed with the
approval of an FPL by the Council on December 9, 2015 and publication
of the FPL in the Federal Register on December 15, 2015. 80 FR 77585.
This announcement provides guidance to eligible entities on the
necessary steps to complete the second phase of submitting their grant
application if a proposal was selected for funding in the 12/09/2015
FPL (available at: https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/FPL_FINAL_Dec9Vote_EC_Library_Links.pdf).
1. Background
Passed in July 2012, the RESTORE Act dedicates 80 percent of
certain Clean Water Act administrative and civil penalties paid by
responsible parties in connection with the
[[Page 81820]]
DEEPWATER HORIZON oil spill to the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund
(Trust Fund). The RESTORE Act also outlines a structure by which the
funds can be utilized to restore and protect the natural resources,
ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal
wetlands, and economy of the Gulf Coast region.
In order to carry out certain functions of the RESTORE Act,
Congress established the Council, which is comprised of governors from
the five affected Gulf Coast States (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas); the Secretaries from the U.S. Departments of
Agriculture, the Army, Commerce, the Interior, and Homeland Security;
and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The
Gulf States recommended, and President Obama appointed, the Secretary
of Commerce as the Council's initial Chairperson. The Council was
tasked with publishing a Comprehensive Plan under which the Council
will fund and implement projects and programs to restore and protect
the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife
habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region (known
as the Council-Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act). 33
U.S.C. 1321(t)(2).
The Council approved the Initial Comprehensive Plan in August of
2013 (available at: https://restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/Final%20Initial%20Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf). The Initial Comprehensive
Plan guides decision-making related to the evaluation, approval,
funding, and implementation of projects and programs under the Council-
Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act in the form of an
FPL. On August 21, 2014, the Council published on its Web site, the
Council Member Proposal Submission Guidelines for Comprehensive Plan
Funded Priorities List of Projects and Programs (``Submission
Guidelines'', available at https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/Submission_Guidelines_Final%20Aug%202014_0.pdf). These
Guidelines outlined the process for the first phase of the submission
process for the grants and interagency agreements (IAAs) that are the
subject of this announcement. On May 4, 2015, the Council published the
Council Member Summary Notice of Application Process for Council-
Selected Restoration Component Projects and Programs which outlined the
entire two-phase process for the Council-Selected Restoration
Component. 80 FR 25294. Council members submitted proposals detailing
projects and programs for possible inclusion in the first FPL.
Submitted proposals were independently reviewed against a set of
specific criteria; the results of this review are available online
(https://www.restorethegulf.gov/council-selected-restoration-component/draft-initial-funded-priorities-list). Based on this independent
review, the Council developed and approved a draft FPL and solicited
public comment. After taking into account public comments, the initial
FPL was approved by Council vote on December 9, 2015. The number and
type of projects and programs contained in the initial 12/09/2015 FPL
was based, in part, on the amount and timing of funds currently
available in the Trust Fund.
As additional funds become available in the future, the Council
will periodically request proposals from its eleven State and federal
members in order to develop additional FPLs. The Council may also carry
forward proposals submitted under prior requests for proposals when
formulating future FPLs. Council members are the only entities eligible
to submit proposals or receive Council-Selected Restoration Component
funds under grant awards or IAAs.
Now that the Council has published the initial 12/09/2015 FPL, the
Council will accept applications for grant awards from its five Gulf
Coast State members or IAAs from its six federal agency members in
order to fund each project and program included in the FPL.
The remainder of this Notice of Funding Opportunity details the
requirements for grant and IAA applications to carry out the projects
and programs in the FPL. Funding to State Council members will be
provided through grants. Funding to federal Council members will be
provided through IAAs.
2. Program Authority
33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(2).
B. Federal Award Information
The application phase is not competitive. Rather, once a proposal
for a project or program has been selected under phase 1 (see section
A(1) of this announcement for discussion of the proposal phase) the
grants to be awarded (to State Council members) or IAAs are entered
into (with federal agency Council members) through the administrative
process detailed in this announcement.
All State Council member proposals selected for funding under phase
1 of this announcement must apply for a grant through the Restoration
Assistance and Awards Management System (RAAMS) to implement the
project or program described in the approved project proposal. All
federal agency Council member proposals selected for funding under
phase 1 of this announcement must submit an application through RAAMS
prior to entering into an IAA to implement a project or program
described in the approved project proposal.
1. Funding Availability
Up to $156,553,618 is available to fund grants and IAAs under this
announcement. These funds are expected to fund 45 projects and
programs. The exact number of grants and IAAs required to fund these 45
projects and programs depends on the State or federal member applicant.
The Council may request an applicant split an application into more
than one application for administrative efficiency. The amount of each
grant or IAA will depend on the exact project(s) or program(s)
contained therein. The amount is not to exceed the amount approved in
the 12/09/2015 FPL.
2. Project/Award Period
The duration of projects and programs under this announcement is
anticipated to be three to ten years; however, subject to Council
approval projects may have a longer duration. Award start dates will
depend on when the applicant submits a complete application.
3. Type of Funding Instrument
The funding instrument for awards to Council member States will be
a grant. The funding mechanism for Council member federal agencies will
be an IAA. Funding for contractual arrangements for services and
products for delivery to the Council is not available under this
announcement.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are limited to members of the Council, or their
administrative agents, that have had a proposal selected for funding
pursuant to phase 1, found in section (A)(1) of this announcement.
Council members include: The States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas; the Departments of Agriculture, the Army,
Commerce, Homeland Security and the Interior; and the Environmental
Protection Agency. No other entity is eligible to apply under this
announcement.
[[Page 81821]]
2. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement
None.
3. Other Criteria That Affect Eligibility
Applications are limited to the category 1 restoration activities
included in the 12/09/2015 FPL.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
Eligible entities can access the link to RAAMS and download
application forms and other materials necessary to apply for funding
through the RESTORE Council Web site at https://restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office.
2. Content and Form of Application for Awards and Agreements
Please refer to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
Recipient Proposal and Award Guide (RPAG) (available at: https://restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office) for comprehensive guidance on
all phases of the submission, application, and award implementation
process.
The following application requirements are for grants to Gulf Coast
States and IAAs with federal Servicing Agencies. A complete application
will include all of the below information, which is entered directly
into RAAMS or uploaded as an attachment(s). Application material will
include all data from required federal standard forms and may include
Council-specific supporting information and schedules.
a. Data from OMB Standard Form (SF) SF-424A ``Application for
Federal Assistance'' and associated forms.
b. Certifications:
i. RESTORE Council Applicant Certifications; and
ii. Appropriate SF-424 Assurances:
(1) For applications involving construction or real property/land
acquisition, complete the SF-424D ``Assurances--Construction
Programs''.
(2) For non-construction applications, complete the SF-424B
``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs''.
c. A copy of the applicant's Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (IDCRA),
if applicable.
d. Executive Summary.
e. Project/Program Narrative:
i. Description of how the project/program meets statutory
requirements and commitments the Council made in the Initial
Comprehensive Plan including identification of objectives and goals as
well as focus and emphasis areas.
ii. Metrics for gauging the success of the project or program.
iii. Milestones, including activity-based costs and any
deliverables for each milestone.
iv. Description of leveraged resources.
f. Observational Data Plan.
g. Preliminary Data Management Plan.
h. Location information and map(s).
i. Budget documentation:
i. This documentation is more detailed than the budget required to
be submitted in phase 1.
ii. SF-424 budget information:
(1) For all projects/programs, data equivalent to that provided on
the SF-424A ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs'' is
required.
(2) For construction projects or real property/land acquisition,
data equivalent to that provided on the SF-424C ``Budget Information--
Construction Programs'' is required in addition to the SF-424A data.
(3) Budget data must also be provided by SF-424A and/or SF-424C
object classes for leveraged funding that is required to complete the
objectives of the project/program (i.e., ``co-funding'').
(4) Where the applicant will ``pass through'' or otherwise provide
funds to one or more subrecipients, a separate detailed budget using
object categories from the SF-424A and/or SF-424C, as appropriate, must
be provided for each proposed subaward that is known at the time the
application is submitted.
(5) Any program income anticipated during the award period should
be included in the budget.
iii. Budget Narrative/Justification:
(1) A detailed description of the expenses listed on the budget
forms and how they address the proposed work is required.
(2) Item descriptions and justifications must be provided for each
applicable object class from the SF-424A and/or C, including salaries,
fringe benefits, equipment, supplies, travel, construction, etc.
(3) Applicants who will not be requesting funds for salaries for
contributing personnel, must still list those personnel, indicating
their estimated time of commitment.
(4) Purchases of equipment greater than $5,000 must include a
purchase versus lease justification.
(5) Where the applicant plans to procure goods and services through
a contractual or subrecipient relationship, information is required on
the proposed method of selection, period of performance scope of work,
and method(s) of accountability.
(6) A description of any leveraged funding that is required to
complete the objectives of the project/program must be provided,
including the source(s), amount of funding and work to be accomplished.
(7) Detailed information must be provided regarding any pre-award
costs requested including a justification for each item. Such costs are
allowable only to the extent that they would have been allowable if
incurred after the grant award date and only with the written approval
of the Grants Officer. All costs incurred before the Council awards the
grant are at the recipient's risk. Requests for pre-award costs should
be kept to a minimum. Generally, the period for such costs should not
exceed 90 days prior to the start of the award period.
j. Cash Forecasting. The applicant must forecast cash requirements/
draws throughout the life of the award in semi-annual increments.
k. Current and pending support. Applicants must submit a list of
all current and pending federal support that includes project title,
supporting agency with grant number, dollar value, and duration.
Requested values should be listed for pending support.
l. DUNS Number. All applications must have a DUNS (Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System) number when applying for
federal grants. No application is deemed complete without the DUNS
number, and only the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may grant
exceptions.
m. Environmental Compliance Documentation. The Council must comply
with the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act,
National Historic Preservation Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act, as applicable, before approving funding under the Council-Selected
Restoration Component. In addition, the Council must address, as
applicable, Executive Order 11988 (``Floodplain Management''),
Executive Order 11990 (``Protection of Wetlands''), Executive Order
12898 (``Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income
Populations'') and Executive Order 13653 (``Preparing the United States
for the Impacts of Climate Change''). These laws and Executive Orders
requirements have been addressed, where applicable, for all activities
listed in Category 1 of the FPL. Documentation regarding compliance
with the foregoing requirements for each FPL Category 1 activity can be
found on the Council Web site (available at https://www.restorethegulf.gov/funded-priorities-list). Prior to awarding a
grant or entering into an IAA under the Council-Selected Restoration
Component, the Council must also comply with the Coastal Zone
Management Act, Coastal Barrier Resources Act and Farmland Protection
[[Page 81822]]
Policy Act, as applicable. Applicants should submit information
indicating whether the above requirements have been met, and if not,
the status of any efforts to meet the requirements. Applicants are also
responsible for complying with all other applicable federal
environmental laws prior to full disbursement of grant or IAA funding.
Specifically, applicants are responsible for identifying other
applicable federal environmental laws and providing the Council with
information regarding compliance with such laws.
i. Applicants may be required to provide detailed information on
the activities to be conducted, locations, sites, species, and habitat
to be affected, possible construction activities, and any environmental
concerns that may exist (e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or
toxic chemicals, introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to
endangered and threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to
coral reef systems).
ii. Applicants may also be required to cooperate with the Council
in identifying feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified
adverse environmental impacts of their application. Any failure to do
so shall be grounds for deeming an application incomplete. In some
cases if additional information is required after an application is
submitted, funds may be withheld by the Grants Officer pursuant to a
special award condition requiring the recipient to submit additional
environmental compliance information sufficient to enable the Council
to make an assessment of any impacts that a project may have on the
environment.
iii. Applicants also must submit documentation to the Council
demonstrating that all applicable permits or authorizations from other
state, federal or local agencies have been secured. Funds may be
withheld by the Grants Officer pursuant to a special award condition
requiring the recipient to submit all required permits and
authorizations prior to implementation.
Additional requirement for State applications for grant funding:
Organizational Self-Assessment (OSA). Each non-federal applicant
must certify and submit the Council's Organizational Self-Assessment
form. The form must be received by the Council no later than the
application submission date of the entity's first grant application to
the Council. The OSA will be updated annually.
Additional requirements for IAAs with Federal Servicing Agencies:
A completed and approved application will be followed by an IAA.
The IAA will contain information indicating whether the above
requirements have been met, and if not, the status of any efforts to
meet the requirements. Servicing Agencies are also responsible for all
applicable federal environmental laws and requirements prior to full
disbursement of grant or interagency agreement funding.
All applicants are required to: (i) Be registered in the System for
Award Management (SAM) before submitting its application; (ii) provide
a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue
to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all
times during which it has an active federal award or an application or
plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. The Council will
not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with
all applicable unique entity-identifier and SAM requirements and, if an
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the
Council is ready to make a Federal award, the Council may determine
that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award.
4. Submission Dates and Times
Subject to Section D.7 below, applications may be submitted at any
time after publication of the initial FPL but no later than December
31, 2016. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and are to
be submitted through RAAMS.
5. Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.
6. Funding Restrictions
Of the amounts received by an eligible entity in a grant or IAA
under this announcement, not more than three percent (3%) may be used
for administrative costs. The three percent limit is applied to the
total amount of funds received by a recipient under each grant or IAA.
The three percent limit does not apply to the administrative costs of
subrecipients. All subrecipient costs are subject to the cost
principles in federal law and policies on grants. Administrative costs
means those indirect costs for administration incurred by the eligible
entity that are allocable to activities authorized under the Act.
Administrative costs do not include indirect costs that are identified
specifically with, or readily assignable to, facilities as defined in 2
CFR 200.414. See the https://restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office/gcerc-grants-resources Web page for an example of administrative cost
calculations.
Fees and profit are disallowed.
7. Other Submission Requirements
Applications will be completed and submitted electronically by way
of the Council's Restoration Assistance and Award Management System
(RAAMS) (https://raams.restorethegulf.gov). Applicants will not be
eligible to submit an application until they have completed RAAMS
training. There will be multiple training opportunities available
starting in January 2016.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
At the organizational level, the Council will conduct risk
assessments of first-time non-federal recipients in order to
effectively implement the statutory, regulatory, administrative, and
program requirements of a potential federal award. Once an initial
assessment has been made, it will be reviewed on an annual basis. As
the Council-Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act is a new
federal program, all non-federal recipients will be treated as first-
time recipients for the initial Council awards.
Upon receipt of an application through RAAMS, the Council will
review the application for completeness. Once it has been determined
that the application is complete, the staff will review this funding
opportunity announcement, the application and supporting documentation,
the System for Award Management, and any other information available to
determine the following:
Whether the recipient and any subrecipients are eligible
for funding;
Whether the project or program as described in the
application is compliant with the proposal contained in the FPL or the
Full SEP, whichever is applicable;
Whether award activities are eligible and attainable;
Whether staff time is appropriate to perform proposed
tasks;
Whether best available science is applied;
Whether the recipient has established a suitable
monitoring plan;
Whether milestones and metrics are feasible, measurable
and achievable;
Whether observational data and management plans are
adequate (if applicable);
Whether environmental compliance requirements have been
met;
[[Page 81823]]
Whether budget line items are allowable, allocable, and
reasonable;
Whether any proposed procurement complies with applicable
laws and policies;
Whether budget line items are accurately calculated;
Whether pre-award costs are requested, and if so, is the
documentation sufficient;
Whether the period of performance requires an adjustment;
and
Whether any special award conditions are needed.
2. Review and Selection Process
The review and selection process was completed with the approval of
an FPL on 12/09/2015 and publication of the FPL in the Federal Register
on December 15, 2015. 80 FR 77585. However, the detailed project or
program narrative description of activities will be closely reviewed
and compared to the project narrative description submitted in the
initial proposal to verify the scope of the activities in the
application.
3. Agency Review of Information Concerning Recipient Integrity and
Performance
The Council is required to review and consider any information
about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance
system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).
The applicant may, at its option, review information in the designated
integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on
any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously
entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance
system accessible through SAM. Furthermore, the Council consider any
comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the
designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about
the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance
under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by
applicants as described in 2 CFR 200.205, ``Federal awarding agency
review of risk posed by applicants.''
4. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Applications will be received on a rolling basis. It is anticipated
that awards will be made within 90 days of submission of a complete
grant application.
F. Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
a. For State Council members, official notification of grant
funding, signed by the Council Executive Director, is the authorizing
document that allows the project or program to begin. Notifications
will be issued to the Authorizing Official designated by the Council
member for the project or program.
b. For federal Council members, an IAA is the mechanism for
transferring funds from the Council to the member agency. IAAs will be
executed and finalized in accordance with applicable federal
requirements. All federal Council members having proposals selected for
funding under phase 1 of this announcement must work with the Council
to establish an IAA. Pursuant to 31 CFR 34.803(d), any federal Council
member (``Servicing Agency'') must use funds only for the purposes
identified in the IAA. All activities under the IAA must meet the
eligibility requirements for the Council-Selected Restoration Component
as defined in 31 CFR 34.202.
c. The Servicing Agency, and all non-federal entity recipients and
subrecipients, must comply and require each of its contractors and
subcontractors employed in the completion of the project to comply with
all applicable statutes, regulations, Executive Orders (E.O.s), Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars, terms and conditions,
agreements and approved applications. Any inconsistency or conflict in
terms and conditions specified in the IAA will be resolved according to
the following order of precedence: Public laws, regulations, applicable
notices published in the Federal Register, E.O.s, OMB circulars, and
the IAA's terms and conditions. The Servicing Agency shall also
administer the project in compliance with the Servicing Agency's
existing statutes, regulations, and grant policies.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
The Council Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register notice of
November 24, 2014 (https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-27719) is
applicable to this announcement.
The Council's Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions
(STCs) contained in the Federal Register notice of August 31, 2015
(https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-21417) are applicable to grants
awarded under this announcement. The Council's IAA Standard Terms and
Conditions (IAA STCs) are applicable to IAAs executed under this
announcement. Both the STCs and the IAA STCs may be found at https://restorethegulf.gov/resources/council-documents-foia-library.
3. Reporting
Award recipients are required to submit financial, technical
progress, performance and outcome reports. These reports are to be
submitted electronically via RAAMS.
Reporting Periods: Semi-annual reporting periods will be specified
in the award for either the periods ending:
March 31 and September 30, or any portion thereof; or
June 30 and December 31, or any portion thereof.
Due Dates: Semi-annual performance reports are due no later than 30
days following the end of each reporting period. A final performance
report is due within 90 days after the expiration of the project
period.
As part of the required Data Management Plan (DMP), the recipient
will develop a data/information management plan and submit appropriate
data and information with progress reports on a yearly basis. Due dates
will be included in the award agreement.
Applicants must also comply with the Federal Funding Accountability
and Transparency Act of 2006. This Act includes a requirement for
awardees of applicable federal grants to report information about
first-tier sub-awards and executive compensation under federal
assistance awards issued in FY 2011 or later. All awardees of
applicable grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to
the Federal Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.FSRS.gov
on all sub-awards over $25,000.
If the award will include more than $500,000 over the period of
performance, applicants must also comply with the post award reporting
requirements reflected in 2 CFR part 200 Appendix XII_Award Term and
Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.
G. Agency Contacts
Kristin Smith, Senior Grants Management Officer,
kristin.smith@restorethegulf.gov, 504-444-3558.
H. Other Information
Please refer to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
Recipient Proposal and Award Guide (RPAG), available at https://restorethegulf.gov/gcerc-grants-office,
[[Page 81824]]
for comprehensive guidance on all phases of the submission,
application, and award implementation process.
Will D. Spoon,
Program Analyst, Gulf Coast Ecosystem, Restoration Council.
[FR Doc. 2015-32924 Filed 12-30-15; 8:45 am]
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