Notice of Matching Fund Opportunity for Ocean and Coastal Mapping and Request for Partnership Proposals, 40197-40200 [2021-15970]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40197-40200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15970]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Notice of Matching Fund Opportunity for Ocean and Coastal Mapping 
and Request for Partnership Proposals

AGENCY: Office of Coast Survey (OCS), National Ocean Service (NOS), 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of 
Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Announcement of matching fund program opportunity, request for 
proposals, and request for interest by October 29, 2021.

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SUMMARY: This notice establishes selection criteria and requirements 
for the NOAA Rear Admiral Richard T. Brennan Ocean Mapping Matching 
Fund program, to be known as the Brennan Matching Fund. The purpose of 
this notice is to encourage non-Federal entities to partner with the 
NOAA National Ocean Service ocean and coastal mapping programs on 
jointly funded ocean and coastal surveys and related activities of 
mutual interest. NOAA would receive and match partner funds and rely on 
its existing contract arrangements to conduct the surveying and mapping 
activities in FY 2023.

DATES: Proposals must be received via email by 5 p.m. ET on October 29, 
2021. Applicants must submit via email any accompanying geographic 
information system (GIS) files, which are due no later than November 5, 
2021. If an entity is unable to apply for this particular opportunity 
but has an interest in participating in similar, future opportunities, 
NOAA requests a one-page statement of interest, instead of a proposal, 
also by October 29, 2021, to help gauge whether to offer the Brennan 
Matching Fund program in future years.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted in PDF format via email to 
[email protected] by the October 29, 2021, deadline. NOAA strongly 
encourages interested entities to submit their proposals in advance of 
the deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Ashley Chappell, NOAA Integrated Ocean and 
Coastal Mapping Coordinator, 240-429-0293, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NOAA's Office of Coast Survey (OCS) and National Geodetic Survey 
(NGS) are responsible for conducting hydrographic surveys and coastal 
mapping for safe navigation, the conservation and management of coastal 
and ocean resources, and emergency response. NOAA is committed to 
meeting these missions as collaboratively as possible, adhering to the 
Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IOCM) principle of ``Map Once, 
Use Many Times.''
    One of IOCM's strongest advocates, Rear Admiral Richard T. Brennan, 
developed an Ocean Mapping Plan for OCS in which IOCM plays a large 
role. Responsive to the June 2020 publications of the National Strategy 
for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the U.S. Exclusive Economic 
Zone

[[Page 40198]]

(NOMEC) and the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy (ACMS), OCS's Ocean 
Mapping Plan includes a goal to map the full extent of waters subject 
to U.S. jurisdiction to modern standards (all three plans are available 
at https://iocm.noaa.gov/about/strategic-plans.html.) Although we lost 
RDML Brennan tragically and unexpectedly in May 2021, we continue to 
implement his vision and passion for collaborative ocean mapping 
through this and other avenues.
    The Coast Survey Ocean Mapping Plan describes a number of 
motivating forces for surveying and mapping waters subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction, including, but not limited to:
     Safe marine transportation;
     Coastal community resilience;
     A need to better understand the influence of the ocean's 
composition on related physical and ecosystem processes that affect 
climate, weather, and coastal and marine resources and infrastructure;
     Interest in capitalizing on the Blue Economy in growth 
areas like seafood production, tourism and recreation, marine 
transportation, and ocean exploration;
     The national prerogative to exercise U.S. sovereign rights 
to explore, manage, and conserve natural resources in waters subject to 
U.S. jurisdiction; and
     International commitments to map the global oceans by 
2030.
    Ocean mapping data is needed for safe navigation and also informs 
decisions regarding emergency planning, climate adaptation and 
resilience, economic investment, infrastructure development, and 
habitat protection. Additional sectors that require high-resolution 
seafloor surveys include deep sea mineral exploration, national 
security, and maritime domain awareness in the Arctic Ocean. Numerous 
other fields that rely on high-resolution ocean mapping data include 
fisheries management and sustainable use of natural resources, offshore 
renewable energy construction, and tsunami and hurricane modelling. 
Bathymetry provides critical information for assessing and responding 
to threats from climate change, sea level rise, flooding, and storm 
surge, in order to protect our coastal communities and maintain a 
sustainable economy. However, the resources needed to fully achieve the 
goal of comprehensively mapping U.S. oceans and coasts currently exceed 
NOAA's capacity. Mapping the full extent of waters subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction means relying on partners to contribute to the effort.
    Coast Survey has considerable hydrographic expertise, including 
cutting edge understanding of the science and related acoustic systems. 
More detail on Coast Survey's surveying expertise and capabilities is 
available in the NOAA Coast Survey Ocean Mapping Capabilities report 
(https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/about/docs/about/ocean-mapping-capabilies.pdf). Information on the Hydrographic Services Contract 
Vehicle and the types of data and services available can be found at 
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/data/hydrographic-surveys-contract-vehicle.html.
    The NOAA Coastal Mapping Program under NGS, responsible for 
updating the shoreline and nearshore bathymetry for application to NOAA 
Nautical Charts and other coastal applications, relies in part on its 
NGS Shoreline Mapping Services contract. This contract also supports 
additional NGS geodetic and surveying missions in support of the 
National Spatial Reference System and the Aeronautical Survey Program 
(more information at https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ContractingOpportunities/
).

Description

    This notice announces the Brennan Matching Fund, a program to match 
funds with NOAA for ocean and coastal survey and mapping partnerships. 
NOAA will select proposals using the review process and criteria 
evaluation described under Review Process and Evaluation Criteria 
section of this notice.
    The goal of this program is to leverage NOAA and partner funds to 
acquire more ocean and coastal survey data for mutual benefit, 
including for safe navigation, integrated ocean and coastal mapping, 
coastal zone management, coastal and ocean science, climate 
preparedness, infrastructure investments, and other activities and also 
to a consistent standard for projects during FY2023. The program relies 
on NOAA's mapping, charting, and geodesy expertise, appropriated funds, 
and its authority to receive and expend matching funds contributed by 
partners to conduct surveying and mapping activities. This program is 
subject to funding availability. If appropriated funds are available, 
NOAA will match funds contributed by selected entities for ocean and 
coastal surveys. NOAA will receive partner funds through memoranda of 
agreement using the authority granted to NOAA under the Coast and 
Geodetic Survey Act of 1947 to receive and expend funds for 
collaborative hydrographic surveys (33 U.S.C. 883e).
    In addition to matching partner funds, NOAA will manage survey 
planning, quality-assure all data and products, provide the data and 
products to the partners on an agreed-upon timeframe, and handle data 
submission to the National Centers for Environmental Information for 
archiving and public accessibility. All ocean and coastal data and 
related products resulting from this program will be available to the 
public to the greatest extent allowed by applicable laws.
    Specific value-added services NOAA will provide include:
     Project management and GIS-based task order planning, 
negotiation and award of necessary procurement contracts:

[cir] Tailored to meet the interests of matching fund partners
[cir] Managed on aerial, shipboard, and uncrewed/autonomous vehicles

     Data acquisition collection methods include, but are not 
limited to:

[cir] Multibeam Echosounder
[cir] Side Scan Sonar
[cir] Lidar (topographic, bathymetric, mobile)
[cir] Subsurface and airborne feature investigations
[cir] Sediment sampling

     Managing survey compliance with applicable laws, such as 
the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic 
Preservation Act.
    Products acquired may include, but not be limited to:

 Bathymetric data (multibeam, single beam, lidar)
 Backscatter
 Water column (depth dependent)
 Side scan sonar imagery
 Feature detection reports
 Sensor/data corrections and calibrations (e.g., conductivity, 
temperature and depth casts, horizontal/vertical position uncertainty)
 Survey and control services, including the installation, 
operation, and removal of water level and Global Positioning System 
stations
 Data processing, quality assessment and review of all acquired 
hydrographic data
 Data management and stewardship through data archive at the 
National Centers for Environmental Information
 High-resolution topographic/bathymetric product generation
More information on Coast Survey's Hydrographic Surveys Specifications 
and Deliverables publication can be found at https://
nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/standards-and-requirements/

[[Page 40199]]

specs/HSSD_2021.pdf. More information on NGS Specifications and 
Deliverables can be found at https://geodesy.noaa.gov/ContractingOpportunities/cmp-sow-v15.pdf. These specifications are 
based in part on the International Hydrographic Organization's 
Standards for Hydrographic Surveys, Special Publication 44 (https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/Drafts/S-44_Edition_6.0.0-Final.pdf). 
Background information, questions and answers, and slides that 
potential applicants might find useful from the expired FY2022 matching 
fund program webinar are available at https://iocm.noaa.gov/planning/contracts-grants-agreements.html.
    NOAA would also like to continue to assess interest in the Brennan 
Matching Fund by eligible, non-Federal entities that do not plan to 
apply this year but that would consider applying in future years. NOAA 
welcomes eligible entities to submit a one-page statement of interest 
by October 29, 2021, to use in evaluating whether to offer the Brennan 
Matching Fund program in future years.

Areas of Focus

    For this opportunity, proposals will be considered that are aligned 
with national priorities for climate and infrastructure, and the goals 
of the NOMEC, ACMS, the Coast Survey Ocean Mapping Plan (all available 
at https://iocm.noaa.gov/about/strategic-plans.html). Those goals 
include:
    1. Map the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): The goal is 
to coordinate mapping efforts to compile a complete map of deep water 
by 2030 and nearshore waters by 2040. Completing this goal will give 
the United States unprecedented and detailed information about the 
depth, shape, and composition of the seafloor of the United States EEZ 
(NOMEC Goal 2).
    2. Expand Alaska Coastal Data Collection to Deliver the Priority 
Geospatial Products Stakeholders Require: Mapping the Alaska coast is 
challenging. However, using targeted and coordinated data collections 
will potentially reduce overall costs and improve the cost-to-benefit 
ratio of expanded mapping activities (ACMS Goal 2).
    3. Map the full extent of waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction to 
modern standards: Based on the January 2021 analysis of data holdings 
at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, 53 percent of 
waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction are unmapped, covering an area of 
about 3.6 million square nautical miles (https://iocm.noaa.gov/seabed-2030-status.html). Mapping these gap areas would increase U.S. 
contributions to the global Seabed 2030 Project.

Proposal Eligibility

    This matching fund opportunity is available to non-Federal 
entities. Examples of non-Federal entities include state and local 
governments, tribal entities, universities, researchers and academia, 
the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and 
philanthropic partners. Qualifying proposals must demonstrate the 
ability to provide at least 50 percent matching funds, which must be 
transferred to NOAA by September 2022 using a memorandum of agreement. 
A coalition of non-Federal entities may assemble matching funds and 
submit a proposal jointly. Use of other Federal agency funds as part of 
the non-Federal entities' match funds will be considered on a case-by-
case basis and only as authorized by applicable laws. In-kind 
contributions are welcome to strengthen the proposal, but do not count 
toward the match and are not required.

Deadlines and Process Dates

    All submissions must be emailed to [email protected]. Partner 
proposals are due by 5 p.m. ET on October 29, 2021 (see Submission 
Requirements). Please include all required components of the proposal 
in one email. Incomplete and late submissions will not be considered.

 Informational Webinar, September 9th, 2021, 2 p.m. ET; 
register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7914808480326041357
 October 29, 2021: Due date for proposals
 October 29, 2021: Due date for statements of interest 
regarding potential future proposals
 November 5, 2021: Due date for additional GIS files supporting 
a proposal
 January 7, 2022: NOAA issues its decisions on proposals 
(subject to the availability of appropriations)
 February 2022: NOAA works with selected partners to develop 
memoranda of agreement to facilitate the transfer of funds from the 
non-Federal partner to NOAA
 May 2022: NOAA finalizes the memoranda of agreement with 
partners
 June-September 2022: Non-Federal partners transfer matching 
funds to NOAA; funds must be available to NOAA for contracting in 
October 2022
 January-September 2023: NOAA issues task orders to its survey 
contractors for NOAA/partner projects

Funding Availability

    In the second year of this program, NOAA anticipates funding 
between two to five survey projects at a 50 percent match of up to $1 
million per project. All projects are expected to have a FY2023 project 
start date and all non-Federal partner matching funds must be received 
by NOAA no later than September 2022. NOAA reserves the right to 
increase or decrease the available amount of matching funds based on 
the quality and feasibility of proposals received. This notice is 
subject to the availability of appropriations.

Project Period

    NOAA intends to complete each selected project within two years. 
However, the period to complete a project may be extended, with no 
additional funding, if additional time is needed. NOAA will submit a 
final report to the non-Federal partner within 60 days of the 
conclusion of each project.

Submission Requirements

    Project Proposal--To qualify, a proposal shall not exceed six total 
pages (plus GIS files of project areas) and must include the following 
three components:
    1. A project title; executive summary (three to five sentences); 
and the names, affiliations, and roles of the project partners and any 
co-investigators, as well as the project lead that will serve as 
primary contact (one page maximum).
    2. A justification and statement of need; description and graphics 
of the proposed survey area polygon(s) including relevance to the 
strategic areas of focus noted under Areas of Focus section and degree 
of flexibility on timing of survey effort (four pages maximum).
    3. A project budget that lists the source(s) and amount(s) of 
funding that the partner would provide as its 50 percent contribution 
to NOAA. Budget must confirm that partner funds can be transferred to 
NOAA by September 2022 (one page maximum).

Proposals must use 12-point, Times New Roman font, single spacing, and 
one inch margins. Failure to adhere to these requirements will result 
in the proposal being returned without review and eliminated from 
further consideration. NOAA welcomes the submission of GIS files of 
project areas noted under Submission Requirements as ancillary 
attachments to the proposal to facilitate review. These files will not 
count toward the six page proposal

[[Page 40200]]

limit. The GIS files must arrive no later than November 5, 2021.

Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

    Proposals will be evaluated by the Brennan Matching Fund Program 
Management Team. Submissions will be ranked based on the following 
criteria:
    1. Project justification (30 points)--This criterion ascertains 
whether there is intrinsic IOCM value in the proposed work and/or 
relevance to NOAA missions and priorities, including downstream partner 
proposals and uses. Use of, and reference to, national priorities on 
climate and infrastructure, NOMEC, ACMS and the Coast Survey Ocean 
Mapping Plan (all available at https://iocm.noaa.gov/about/strategic-plans.html); gap assessment tools such as the U.S. Bathymetry Gap 
Analysis (https://iocm.noaa.gov/seabed-2030-bathymetry.html); and the 
U.S. Interagency Elevation Inventory (https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/united-states-interagency-elevation-inventory-usiei), among others, are 
recommended. Coast Survey's Hydrographic Health Model showing priority 
survey areas for navigation safety is available upon request. The U.S. 
Federal Mapping Coordination site shows current Coast Survey and NGS 
mapping plans (fedmap.seasketch.org); email [email protected] for 
assistance with the layers on this site if needed.
    2. Statement of need (10 points)--This criterion assesses clarity 
of project need, partner project funding alternatives if not selected, 
anticipated outcomes and public benefit.
    3. Specified partner match (20 points)--The proposal identifies a 
point of contact for the entity submitting the proposal, as well as any 
partnering entities, a clear statement on partner matching funds 
provenance (e.g., state appropriations, NGO funds, or other sources), 
and timing of funds availability. In-kind contributions are welcome to 
strengthen the proposal, but do not count toward the funding match and 
are not required.
    4. Project costs (15 points)--This criterion evaluates whether the 
proposed budget is realistic and commensurate with the proposed project 
needs and timeframe. If needed, please contact [email protected] 
for a rough estimate of cost per square nautical mile for surveys in a 
particular region; this figure will not be exact, as actual cost will 
be negotiated by region and scale of project.
    5. Project feasibility and flexibility (25 points)--This criterion 
assesses the likelihood that the proposal would succeed based on survey 
conditions at the proposed time of year, such as project size, 
location, weather, NOAA analysis of environmental compliance 
implications, project flexibility and adaptability to existing NOAA 
plans and schedules, and other factors.

During the proposal review period, NOAA reserves the right to engage 
with proposal points of contact to ask questions and provide feedback 
on project costs and feasibility.

Management and Oversight

    Once selections are made, NOAA will coordinate the development of 
the memoranda of agreement, funding transfers, project planning, 
environmental compliance, acquisition awards and quality assurance 
process. NOAA may bring in additional partners and/or funding (Federal 
and/or non-Federal) to expand a project further if feasible. Projects 
will be reviewed by NOAA on an annual basis to ensure they are 
responsive to partner interests and NOAA mission requirements, and to 
identify opportunities for outreach and education on the societal 
benefits of the work.
    Authority: The Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947, 33 U.S.C. 
883e.

Kathryn Ries,
Performing the Duties of Director, Office of Coast Survey, National 
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-15970 Filed 7-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P