Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Coastal Services Center— Landscape Characterization and Restoration, Integration and Development, Coastal Change and Analysis Program, etc.,

[Federal Register: November 4, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 213)]

[Notices]

[Page 60163-60172]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr04no99-38]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 991014275-9275-01 I.D. 102799B]

RIN 0648-ZA73

Coastal Services Center Broad Area Announcement

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of Federal assistance.

SUMMARY: The NOAA Coastal Services Center announces the availability of Federal assistance for fiscal year (FY) 2000 in the following areas: Landscape Characterization and Restoration, Integration and Development, Coastal Change and Analysis Program, Coastal Technology Services, and Special Projects. This announcement provides guidelines for these program areas and includes details for the technical program, evaluation criteria, and selection procedures of each. Selected recipients will either enter into a cooperative agreement with the Center or receive a grant depending upon the amount of the Center's involvement in the project-substantial involvement means a cooperative agreement, while independent work requires a grant.

DATES: For the specific dates of each program, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Send all proposals to NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234 South Hobson Ave., Charleston, SC 29405-2413. Particularly, send proposals for

Landscape Characterization and Restoration to Pace Wilber;

Integration and Development to Cindy Fowler;

Coastal Change and Analysis Program to Dorsey Worthy;

Coastal Technology Services to Jeff Payne;and Special Project to Jan Kucklick.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Violet Legette, (843)-740-1222, Administrative questions.

Pace Wilber, (843)-740-1235, Landscape Characterization and Restoration.

Cindy Fowler, (843)-740-1249, Integration and Development.

Dorsey Worthy, (843)-740-1234, Coastal Change and Analysis Program.

Jeff Payne, (843)-740-1207, Coastal Technology Services.

Jan Kucklick, (843)-740-1279, Special Projects.

For detail information about electronic e-mail address, see Electronic Access under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

Statutory authority for these programs is provided under 16 U.S.C. 1456c (Technical Assistance); 15 U.S.C. 1540 (Cooperative Agreements); 33 U.S.C. 1442 (research program respecting possible long-range effects of pollution, overfishing, and man-induced changes of ocean ecosystems); 33 U.S.C. 883a (surveys and other activities); 33 U.S.C. 883b (dissemination of data); 33 U.S.C. 883C (geomagnetic data collection, correlation, and dissemination); 33 U.S.C. 883d (improvement of methods, instruments, and equipments; investigations and research); and 33 U.S.C. 883E (cooperative agreement for surveys and investigations).

Electronic Access

Submit comments or questions for specified programs by sending electronic mail to:

Violet.Legette @noaa.gov;

Pace.Wilber @noaa.gov;

Cindy.Fowler @noaa.gov

Dorsey.Worthy @noaa.gov

Jeff.Payne @noaa.gov

Janet.Kucklick @noaa.gov

All applicants are required to submit a NOAA grants application package and project proposal. The standard NOAA grants application package (which includes forms SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-424C, SF- 424D, CD-511, CD-512, and SF-LLL) can be obtained from the NOAA grants website at http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/grants/pdf/. Funding will be subject to the availability of Federal appropriations.

The recipients must comply with Executive Order 12906 regarding any and all geospatial data collected or produced under grants or cooperative agreements. This includes documenting all geospatial data in accordance with the Federal Geographic Data Committee Content Standard for digital geospatial data.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

The NOAA Coastal Services Center Program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under Number 11.473.

General Background

Guiding the conservation and management of coastal resources is a primary function of NOAA. NOAA accomplishes this goal through a variety of mechanisms, including collaborations with the coastal resource management programs of the nation's states and

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territories. The mission of the NOAA Coastal Services Center is to foster and sustain the environmental and economic well being of the coast by linking people, information, and technology. The goal of the Center is to build capabilities throughout the nation to address pressing issues of coastal health and change by promoting coastal resource conservation and efficient and sustainable commercial and residential development.

Landscape Characterization and Restoration - Information Resource for the Management Needs of a Northeastern United States Estuarine Watershed or Coastal Management Area.

Project Description

NOAA's Coastal Services Center seeks proposals from regional, state, or local government agencies; academic institutions; or nonprofit organizations for a 2-year cooperative agreement under which a cooperator and the Center will jointly develop a digital information resource for an estuarine watershed or management area within the northeastern United States. For this announcement, ``northeastern United States'' is defined as an area extending from North Carolina through Maine. Cooperators can choose any estuarine watershed or coastal management area within these boundaries. The information resource must focus on one or more resource management needs of the chosen watershed or area. The cooperator will choose the management needs that will be focused on, such as a regional habitat restoration plan, non-point source pollution management plan, long-term dredged material management plan, watershed management plan, or detailed environmental characterization. The information resource must integrate the ecological and socioeconomic information needed to address the management issues chosen and clearly help coastal managers make resource management, regulatory, or land-use planning decisions. Total anticipated funding is $270,000 over 2-year and is subject to the availability of Federal FY 2000 and FY 2001 appropriations. Only one award is anticipated from this announcement.

Background

This announcement is a call for proposals for work under the Center's Landscape Characterization and Restoration (LCR) Program. The goal of the program is to help Federal, state, and local coastal managers include ecosystem processes in their resource management, regulatory, and land-use planning decisions. The program and program partners will work toward this goal by examining interrelationships among ecological, land use, human demographic, and socioeconomic trends in coastal watersheds and by developing tools needed to integrate those relationships into management practices.

LCR projects directly address management issues that are both locally significant and of regional importance (e.g., habitat restoration, non-point source pollution reduction, growth management). Projects generally include development of habitat, wetland function, demographic, and land use maps; information syntheses; natural resource databases; environmental models; and customized geographic information system (GIS) or similar software to forecast results of management alternatives.

The program's principal products are environmental characterizations of watersheds that integrate the ecological and socioeconomic information needed to address management issues identified by cooperators. Final products are in a digital format and distributed via CD-ROM and the Internet and include a spatial database, a customized GIS interface, and a narrative that provides a detailed overview of the focal management issues, how the accompanying information was used to examine potential solutions, and how the overall product can be used in future examinations of coastal management issues. The program and its cooperators are currently working on, or have completed, characterizations of Otter Island (South Carolina), the ACE Basin (South Carolina), Kachemak Bay (Alaska), and Rookery Bay/Belle Meade (Florida). Overviews of the program and these projects are available through the Internet (http://www.csc.noaa.gov/ lcr/).

Roles and Responsibilities

By working in a cooperative partnership, the unique skills, capabilities, and experiences of the Center and the cooperator will be combined and offer an opportunity for each organization to further its goals. In their proposals, potential cooperators shall propose the respective roles and responsibilities of the Center and the cooperator. In past projects, the Center provided general guidance on how to develop the information resource and the application of spatial analysis to address the identified management issues; led design of GIS and HTML architectures, user interfaces, and any needed software customization; contributed to the development of GIS-based models of the management issues and proposed solutions; and compiled the final products onto a CD-ROM.

At a minimum, the roles and responsibilities of the cooperators shall include: identifying the management issues that guide development of the information resource; identifying the information needed to address the issues; developing partnerships with other members of the coastal management community; developing and collecting the information (text, tables, graphics, charts, and maps) and tools (organizational structure and models) needed to address the management issues; developing all metadata and other information needed to assess the quality of the data and tools; and determining how the products should be organized to maximize utility to the cooperator and other members of the coastal management community.

Project Proposals

The Center must receive proposals by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on December 21, 1999. Proposals postmarked December 21, 1999, but not received until after December 21, 1999, will NOT be accepted. In addition to providing the following requested information, the cooperator must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No e-mail or fax copies will be accepted. All project proposals must include the sections listed here and total no more than 10 pages (double spaced, 12-point font, and exclusive of appendices):

Goal, Objective(s), and Geographic Area-Identify the specific geographic area that will be examined. Identify the specific management objective(s) of the project, including description of current management goals that are not being achieved, how products from this cooperative agreement will significantly address that deficiency, and the benefits that will result to the cooperators, partners, public, and coastal management community.

Background/Introduction - Provide sufficient background information for reviewers to independently assess the local significance and regional importance of the management objectives that will be addressed by the project. Summarize the status of any existing efforts by the cooperator and partners to address these objectives.

Audience-Identify potential users of the product, how those users will incorporate the product in their management of coastal resources, and identify any training that will be needed for users to make full use of the information resource.

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Project Description/Methodology-Provide a general work plan that divides the project into discrete steps, identifies critical decision points, and discusses any obstacles to completing the project that may require special planning. One of the initial tasks of the cooperative agreement will be for the Center and the cooperator to prepare a detailed task plan that explains how the resources of both groups will be leveraged to produce the information resource. The work plan requested for this part of the proposal should demonstrate that the cooperator and partners have sufficient local knowledge of the management problems to lead a joint effort directed toward developing appropriate solutions.

Project Partners and Support-Identify project partners and describe their respective roles. Include a letter from partners acknowledging their participation in the project. Describe the resources the cooperators and partners have for conducting the project, including personnel qualifications (education, experience, and time available to work on the project), facilities, equipment, and, to the extent practicable, the information and tools already available. Describe how widely the project is supported within the coastal management community and offer evidence of that support.

Milestone Schedule-List target milestones, timelines, and describe how each milestone addresses project objectives.

Project Budget-Provide a detailed budget breakdown that follows the categories and formats

in the NOAA grants package and a brief narrative justification of the budget.

Evaluation Criteria (with weights) and Selection Process

Review panels will be set up using two NOAA and at least two non- NOAA reviewers to assist in the evaluation of the proposals. All proposals received will be ranked according to score, and the selecting official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the final decision. The selecting official may also consider program policy factors in the final decision to ensure that Center projects are balanced geographically and institutionally. Evaluation criteria are:

Significance (20 points) - How well the proposal demonstrates the local significance and regional importance of the issues(s) or management objective(s) that will guide development of the information resource. At a minimum, the proposal must identify management goals that currently are not being achieved, describe how products from this cooperative agreement will significantly address that deficiency, and state the benefits that will result to the public and coastal management community.

Technical Approach (30 points)-How well the proposal divides the project into discrete tasks that make effective use of the technical capabilities of the cooperator, partner(s), and Center. This factor also includes the technical merit of the process that the cooperator has outlined for developing the information resource.

Outcomes (20 points)-How well the proposing agency demonstrates that the project outcomes will significantly address the management issue(s) targeted by the project and that the collective resources of the proposing agency and partners will ensure projected outcomes are met.

Partnerships (20 points) - How well the proposal demonstrates that the project is broadly supported by the coastal management community, that a broad groups of coastal managers and constituents will contribute to the design and assembly of product(s); that a broad group of coastal managers will use the product(s); and that the knowledge and expertise of the cooperator, partner(s), and Center will be effectively leveraged.

Cost Efficiency (10 points)-How well the proposing agency demonstrates that the budget is commensurate with project needs and that the partnerships employed will improve the overall cost effectiveness of the project and value of the products. There is no requirement for cost sharing; however, up to 5 additional points (beyond the 10 allotted to this category) will be awarded for cost sharing.

Selection Schedule

Proposals will be reviewed once during the year. The following schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process for grants and/or cooperative agreements:

Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 21, 1999

Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date May 1, 2000

NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m. Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. E-mail or fax copies will not be accepted. One original and one copy of the proposal and grant paperwork is required.

Funding Availability

Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA funds for FY 2000 are authorized. Total funding available for this cooperative agreement with the LCR program is anticipated to be $270,000 over two years. One award is anticipated from this announcement. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds.

Cost Sharing

There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to these guidelines, however, proposals that include cost sharing will likely score highly under evaluation criteria #5 above.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications for cooperative agreements under this announcement may be submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these specific guidelines, by any regional, state or local government agency; college or university; nonprofit organization; or cooperative research unit. Other Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible to receive assistance under this notice but may be project partners.

Integration and Development - Bathymetric Data Collection

Project Description

The NOAA Coastal Services Center seeks proposals from state, local or regional resource management agencies, port authorities, and academic institutions for projects that conduct new acquisition and supporting documentation of bathymetric data in the Southeastern Atlantic region. Private companies and agencies in partnership with the above mentioned collaborators are also invited to submit proposals. The intent of this program is to support high quality hydrographic digital data collection efforts for public resource management needs that can be used to supplement current NOAA NOS nautical chart data collection programs. It is expected that this funding will supplement agencies who are already considering hydrographic surveys for beach renourishment projects, sand and sediment transport studies, fisheries management, benthic habitat evaluations, dredging, dredge disposal siting projects, and other related projects. A major objective of this program is to rescue, document, and make available bathymetric data for marine applications. The geographic extent of desired data is from the area (on-shore) of tidal influence out to the

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Exclusive Economic Zone in the four-state region of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Maximum anticipated funding for FY 2000 is $200,000 and it is intended that this funding will be distributed amongst multiple projects. The award level is contingent on methodology, the level of detail, and the geographic scope of the project. It is also expected that proposal recipients will cost-share in the project.

Background

Under the NOAA, NOS strategic efforts to support safe navigation, hydrographic surveys are conducted to produce nautical charts. For safety reasons, these surveys are conducted using strict hydrographic survey procedures (see http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/ocs/text/ prodserv.htm). In addition to its intended charting purpose, hydrographic survey data is very useful to the coastal and ocean resource management community in the production of bathymetry. Moreover, hydrographic survey requirements for resource management need not be as rigorous as navigation surveys that protect life and limb. Supporting this community is an additional mandate of NOS under its coastal stewardship strategic goal. Due to financial constraints, NOS has only been able to commit to new surveys in major commercial shipping areas. Near shore and estuarine areas not generally deemed a navigational hazard are currently not routinely surveyed. Many of these areas are of interest to the coastal resource managers for projects related to dredging, dredge disposal, habitat studies, sediment transport, and beach renourishment projects.

NOAA is interested in supplementing its current hydrographic survey data collection with data from non-NOAA sources to meet strategic goals. In addition, NOAA is interested in helping non-NOAA sources acquire data using standards and documentation that will increase the usability and longevity of the data. NOAA is committed to helping third-party data creators document and make these data available to the marine community using standards and protocols outlined in the Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). Specifically, the Center is interested in helping foster the development of high quality accurate digital bathymetric data for use in desktop GIS for coastal and ocean resource management.

Project Proposals

The Center must receive proposals by 5 PM (Eastern time) on December 21, 1999. Proposals postmarked December 21, 1999, but not received until after December 21, 1999, will NOT be accepted. In addition to providing the information requested below, the cooperator must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No E-mail or FAX copies will be accepted. All project proposals must include the following sections and total no more than 20 pages (double spaced, 12-point font, and exclusive of appendices):

Project Description/Methodology-This section should address the general work plan and deliverables. Methodology should address specific methods of data collection and documentation that as a minimum include the methods of sounding, methods of correcting for motion of the survey platform, methods of horizontal positioning, and methods of corrections for tide. In addition, proposal should include limits of survey area and density of line spacing and sounding interval. Proposal should include a section of chart that outlines the survey area and orientation to the depth contour. Database format must be adequately described and include a supplemental descriptor file or metadata that contains the information necessary for completing a FGDC-compliant metadata record for the survey.

Project Partners and Subcontractors-Proposal should identify project partners and describe their respective roles. Include a letter from partners and subcontractors acknowledging their participation and area of responsibility. All projects must have a state, local or regional coastal resource management agency as a primary participant.

Milestone Schedule-Proposal should list target milestones and their respective time lines.

Project Budget-Proposal should provide a detailed budget breakdown that follows the categories and formats in the NOAA grants package and a brief narrative that justifies each item.

Evaluation Criteria (With Weights) and Selection Process

Review panels will be set up using four NOAA and two non-NOAA experts in the field of hydrographic survey methodology and spatial data acquisition. All proposals received will be ranked according to score and the selecting official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the final decision. The selecting official may also consider program policy factors in the final decision to ensure Center projects are balanced geographically and institutionally. Evaluation criteria are:

Technical Merit (65 points)-The proposal will be judged on the methodology used to collect the data. This includes the corrections for vessel motion (heave, roll and pitch), equipment used, and method of sounding and corrections for tide. It is expected that differential Global Positioning System (GPS) will be used as the method of horizontal positioning, but this should be specifically addressed. Though not required, any corrections for sound velocity (in shallow water) or settlement and squat could positively influence this weighting.

Data Density, Geographic Scope, and Orientation (10 points)-This weighting will be based on the level of detail of the survey. Project description should include a map or graphic that outlines the intended spatial extent of the survey, the density of the line spacing, or number of soundings and the orientation of the survey platform to the depth contour.

Data Delivery Mechanism and Documentation (10 points)-Project will be judged on the database schema and documentation of the delivered data. Points will be awarded or deleted for the inclusion or absence of a coherent metadata strategy.

Cost Sharing and Theme (15 points) - There is no requirement for cost sharing; however, additional points will be awarded to proposals based on the level of funding provided by the proposing agency(s). The purpose or theme of the survey will be part of the weighting criteria. As stated above, one of the objectives of the Center is to foster improved bathymetric data access for the coastal and ocean resource community. Projects deemed to fall within this scope will be given additional weight. Additional weight will be given for the project's demonstrated applicability to coastal or ocean resource management.

Selection Schedule

Proposals will be reviewed once during the year. The following schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process for grants and/or cooperative agreements:

Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 21, 1999

Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date May 1, 2000

NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m. Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. or fax copies will not be accepted. One original and one copy of

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the proposal and grant paperwork is required.

Funding Availability

Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA funds for FY 2000 are authorized. Total funding available for this grant or cooperative agreement with the Integration and Development program is anticipated to be no more than $200,000 and funding will be distributed over multiple projects. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds.

Cost Sharing

There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to these guidelines, however, proposals that include cost sharing will likely score highly under evaluation criteria #4 above.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications for grants under this program announcement may be submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth in these specific guidelines by any state, local or regional resource management agency, ports authority, non-profit agency, or academic institution. Private industry is encouraged to apply and must have an active state or local coastal resource management partner to qualify.

Coastal Change and Analysis Program

Project Description

The NOAA Coastal Services Center is seeking to expand its national effort to monitor change in coastal habitats. The Center will be soliciting proposals from regional, state, and local government agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations for two to three year cooperative agreements. Under these agreements, a cooperator and the Center's Coastal Change and Analysis Program (C-CAP) will jointly develop terrestrial land cover change data and benthic habitat. Combined funding for all proposals is anticipated at $100,000, with a maximum limit of $75,000 per proposal. A 20 percent cost share will be required.

Background

The NOAA Coastal Services Center's C-CAP is a nationwide effort to produce standardized and consistent terrestrial and benthic habitat maps and change data for coastal areas of the United States. C-CAP data are used for identifying and protecting essential fish habitat, to help determine the impacts of nearshore habitat change on living marine resources, and to provide a context for more informed coastal decision making. Consideration for funding will be limited to project proposals for Hawaii or Florida based on gaps in previous C-CAP habitat characterization efforts. These projects must be accomplished in close cooperation with state and local resource management agencies. This work must be based on the established NOAA C-CAP land cover and benthic characterization protocol: NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program Guidance for Regional Implementation (Dobson, et al., 1995, NOAA Technical Report - NMFS 123, United States Department of Commerce). The C-CAP protocol is available via the web at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/ ccap/protocol/protocoltxt.html.

Roles and Responsibilities

These projects are intended to be cooperative in nature. The project proposals should demonstrate cooperative efforts among various participants such as , state, and local governments. Successful proposals will establish a consortium of key participants, and identify appropriate responsibilities for these project partners. The following items identify the minimum project participation expected by the Center and the project applicant. Additional roles and responsibilities should be identified by the applicant.

NOAA Coastal Services Center: C-CAP and the Center shall have primary responsibility for the following activities associated with the project:

‹bullet› Provide all Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery or aerial photography needed for the project. The original, government-provided data are property of the Center and must be returned to the Center upon completion of the project.

‹bullet› Provide technical guidance for image processing, field verification, and accuracy assessment to ensure all procedures and products meet the guidelines presented in Dobson et al., 1995 (which is available on the C-CAP homepage of the Center web site or upon request from the Center library). This includes:

‹bullet› The provision of guidance and manpower in all field exercises deemed necessary by both parties; and

‹bullet› Site visits by Center personnel to the facilities of the cooperator(s) to provide technical assistance as necessary during data processing.

‹bullet› Provide all necessary forms, information and assistance to document Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) compliant metadata for the change detection product.

Monitor progress and evaluate biannual progress reports.

Cooperator: The cooperator shall have primary responsibility for the following activities associated with the project:

‹bullet› Organize and manage project planning and partnership development.

‹bullet› Administer the cooperative agreement in accordance with the terms of the cooperative agreement award.

‹bullet› Identify a technical coordinator that will take the lead for all technical aspects of the change detection and a management coordinator that will be responsible for relating the data to key management issues and ensuring that the data are integrated into pertinent coastal management programs.

‹bullet› Perform a change detection analysis for the study area as per this announcement presented in Dobson et al., 1995.

‹bullet› Furnish for the change detection analysis all digital (i.e. NWI) or hard copy (i.e. aerial photos) data at their disposal that may be valuable as ancillary data.

‹bullet› Provide complete FGDC-compliant metadata for the change detection products.

‹bullet› Provide all georeferenced field data collected during image verification and accuracy assessment.

‹bullet› Submit biannual progress reports.

Both Parties: Both C-CAP and the cooperator will provide final field accuracy assessment of the product, which may require either party to supply such equipment as laptop computers for field use, GPS units, four-wheel drive vehicles, etc.

Project Proposals

The Center must receive proposals by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on

December 21, 1999. Proposals postmarked December 21, 1999, but not received until after December 21, 1999, will NOT be accepted. In addition to providing the information requested below, the cooperator must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No or fax copies will be accepted. All project proposals must include the following sections and total no more than 8 pages (double spaced, 12- point font, and exclusive of appendices):

‹bullet› Goals and Objectives-Identify broad project goals and quantifiable objectives.

‹bullet› Background/Introduction- State the problem and summary of existing /state/local efforts.

‹bullet› Audience-Describe specifics of how the project will contribute to improving or resolving coastal management issues with the primary target audience, and explicitly identify the

audience.

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‹bullet› Project Description/Methodology-Describe the specifics of the project (in 3 pages maximum), with a complete and explicit description of the project area (i.e. Thematic

Mapper scene path, row; number and location of aerial photos, flightlines, etc.) and a demonstration of understanding and adherence to the C-CAP protocol.

‹bullet› Project Partners-Identify project partners and their respective roles.

Milestones and Outcomes-List target milestones, timelines, and desired outcomes in terms of products or services.

‹bullet› Project Budget-Provide a detailed budget breakdown by category and provide a brief narrative budget justification, including identification of 20% cost share.

Evaluation Criteria (with weights) and Selection Process

Review panels will be set up using two NOAA and at least two non- NOAA reviewers to assist in the evaluation of the proposals. All proposals received will be ranked according to score and the selecting official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the final decision. The selecting official also may consider program policy factors in the final decision to ensure Center projects are balanced geographically and institutionally. It is not anticipated that funding will be sufficient to award grants in all state project areas. Applications that do not meet the required 20% cost share will not be considered. Evaluation criteria are:

Coastal management relevance (40 points).

- Does the project tie into ongoing , state or local management activities and/or programs? (25 points).

- Does the project address critical , state or local coastal management policies relating to benthic and coastal land cover and land cover change (i.e. non-point source runoff)? (15 points).

Strength of partnerships (25 points).

- Does the project have a clearly defined audience, and products have clearly defined

users? (10 points).

- Will the project foster ongoing , state or local partnerships for use of land cover change to answer coastal management needs? (15 points).

Technical merit (35 points).

- Does the proposed project maximize the use of existing information and technical resources? (10 points).

- Is the approach scientifically sound and relevant at the local level? (10 points).

- Is the approach consistent with the C-CAP protocol? (15 points).

Selection Schedule

Proposals will be reviewed once during the year. The following schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process for grants and/or cooperative agreements:

Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 21, 1999

Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date May 1, 2000

NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m. Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. or fax copies will not be accepted. One original and one copy of the proposal and grant paperwork is required.

Funding Availability

Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA funds for FY 2000 are authorized. Total funding available for this cooperative agreement with C-CAP will be $100,000, with a maximum of $75,000 per proposal. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds.

Cost Sharing

Cost sharing at 20% of the total project funding cost is required in response to these guidelines and should be provided by the applicant or third party contributions.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications for grants under this program announcement may be submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these specific guidelines, by any state or local resource management agency, college or university, private industry, nonprofit organization, or cooperative research unit. Other agencies or institutions are not eligible to receive assistance under this notice.

Coastal Technical Services - Coastal Technology Demonstration and Verification

Project Description

NOAA's Coastal Services Center seeks proposals from state or local resource management agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private sector companies for projects in two areas:

Pilot projects under which a cooperator(s) and the Center will scope out or design and apply prototype decision making tools and information products for coastal resource management. Emphasis will be placed on projects that address coastal habitat management and coastal hazards mitigation. Projects must be based on ``market research'' of , state, and local coastal managers' needs and assessment of their capabilities to address these needs. Scoping (initial pilot) projects will seek to develop a conceptual framework to clearly define the applications of new decision support tools. Full-scale pilot projects will include the design of customized training products for advanced, distributed, learning platforms to accelerate introduction of project products to the target audience and to guide users through performing procedures and making decisions using new tools. Total available funding for all proposals is anticipated at $200,000 to $300,000 per year, subject to the availability of appropriations. The maximum available annual funding for individual pilot scoping projects is $25,000 while maximum funding for full-scale pilot projects is $150,000.

Technology verification and transfer projects under which a cooperator(s) and the Center will work together to demonstrate and validate innovative technologies that target the coastal resource management and regulatory communities' most urgent technological needs. The Center currently is focused on three areas of technology need: in- situ coastal and ocean monitoring, coastal habitat restoration and enhancement, and estuarine contaminant mitigation. Lab-proven technologies are moved to the field for rigorous trials that document their cost, performance, and market potential. Total available funding for all proposals may be in the range of $75,000 to $200,000 per year. The maximum available annual funding for individual projects is $200,000, although projects of special merit may be considered at annual levels above $200,000, subject to the availability of appropriations.

Background

The goal of the Coastal Technology Demonstration and Verification program is to make it possible for coastal managers and regulators at all levels to use the latest, best, and most efficient technology and information to make science-based decisions for managing coastal resources. The program works toward this goal by establishing coalitions of the Center and government agencies at all levels, academia, and the private and non-profit organizations to:

(1) develop and test prototype decision making tools and information products for coastal management; and (2) demonstrate and verify existing and

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lab-proven coastal and marine technologies.

Pilot projects to develop and test new decision making tools and information products must directly address management issues that are both locally significant and of regional importance. Products must be market driven and compatible with end users' capabilities. Full-scale pilot projects would involve design and development of a prototype, field application and evaluation with end users, final product development, and training. Past experience has revealed that this iterative process is best accomplished by coalitions of technology developers, technology deliverers, and end users.

Technology verification and transfer programs are conducted in two phases. The initial phase will include an assessment of technologies and user needs. Once this phase is completed, an evaluation by the Center will be conducted to determine whether a verification program should be implemented. If the evaluation is favorable, project cooperators and end users will begin establishing priorities and defining procedures and protocols for implementing the demonstration and verification activities. Following each verification project, a comprehensive technology delivery system will be designed to employ report dissemination, training, and public outreach to meet technology users' and developers' information needs. The Center currently is working to establish programs on in situ environmental monitoring sensors and habitat restoration technologies.

Roles and Responsibilities

Projects are intended to be cooperative partnerships among the Center, project cooperators, and end-users of the project's products. By working in a cooperative partnership, the unique skills, capabilities, and experiences of the Center and the cooperator will be combined and offer an opportunity for each organization to further their goals. In their proposals, potential cooperators should propose the respective roles and responsibilities of the Center, the cooperator, and project partners. In general, the Center will provide basic guidance on the desired nature of the project product to address the identified management issues. At a minimum, the roles and responsibilities of the cooperators shall include:

- Identifying the management issues that guide development of the product.

- Identifying the information needed to address the issues.

- Developing partnerships with other end users, including members of the coastal management community.

- Developing and collecting the information and tools needed to address the management issues.

- Developing all other information needed to assess the quality and utility of the data and tools.

- Determining how the products should be organized to maximize utility to the cooperator and end users.

Project Proposals

The Center will accept proposals twice during the year (see ``Selection Schedule'' below). All

proposals are due by 5 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date specified below. Proposals postmarked on the due date but not received until after the due date will NOT be accepted. In addition to

providing the information requested below, the cooperator must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No e- mail or fax copies will be accepted. All

project proposals must include the following sections and total no more than 15 pages (double spaced, 12-point font, and exclusive of appendices):

Goal and Objective(s) - Identify the specific management objective(s) of the project, including description of current management goals that are not being achieved, how products from the project will significantly address that deficiency, and the benefits that will result to the coastal management community and other end users.

Background/Introduction - Provide sufficient background information for reviewers to independently assess the local significance and regional importance of the management objectives that will be addressed by the project. Summarize the status of any existing efforts to address these objectives.

Audience-Identify potential users of the product, how those users will incorporate the product into their management of coastal resources, and identify any training that will be needed for users to make full use of the products.

Project Description/Methodology-Provide a general work plan that divides the project into discrete steps, identifies critical decision points, and discusses any obstacles to completing the project that may require special planning. One of the initial tasks of the project will be for the Center and the cooperator to prepare a detailed task plan that explains how the resources of both groups will be leveraged to produce the information resource. The work plan requested for this part of the proposal should demonstrate that the cooperator and partners have sufficient local knowledge of the management problems to lead a joint effort directed towards developing appropriate solutions.

Project Partners and Support - Identify project partners and describe their respective roles. Include a letter from partners acknowledging their participation in the project. Describe the resources the cooperators and partners have for conducting the project, including personnel qualifications (education, experience, and time available to work on the project), facilities, equipment, and, to the extent practicable, the information and tools already available. Describe how widely the project is supported within the coastal management community and provide evidence of that support.

Milestone Schedule-List target milestones, timelines, and describe how each milestone addresses project objectives.

Project Budget-Provide a detailed budget breakdown that follows the categories and format in the NOAA grants package and a brief narrative justification of the budget.

Evaluation Criteria (with weights) and Selection Process

Review panels will be set up using two NOAA and at least two non- NOAA reviewers to assist in the evaluation of the proposals. All proposals received will be ranked according to score and the selecting official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the final decision. The selecting official may also consider program policy factors in the final decision to ensure Center projects are balanced geographically and institutionally. Evaluation criteria are:

Significance (20 points) - How well the proposal demonstrates the local significance and regional importance of the issues(s) or management objective(s) that will guide development of the project products. At a minimum, the proposal must identify management goals that currently are not being achieved, describe how products from the project will significantly address that deficiency, and the benefits that will result to the public and coastal management community.

Technical Approach (30 points)-How well the proposal divides the project into discrete tasks that make effective use of the technical capabilities of the cooperator, partner(s), and Center. This factor also includes the technical merit of the process that the cooperator has outlined for developing the project's products.

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Outcomes (20 points)-How well the cooperator demonstrates that the project outcomes significantly will address the management issue(s) targeted by the project and that the collective resources of the cooperator and partners will ensure projected outcomes are met.

Partnerships (20 points)-How well the proposal demonstrates that the project is broadly supported by the coastal management community, that a broad group of end users, including coastal managers and constituent groups, will contribute to design and assembly of product(s); that a broad group of coastal managers and other end users will use the product(s); and that the knowledge and expertise of the cooperator, partner(s) and Center will be effectively leveraged.

Cost Efficiency (10 points)-How well the proposing agency demonstrates that the budget is commensurate with project needs and that the partnerships employed will improve the overall cost effectiveness of the project and value of the products. There is no requirement for cost sharing; however, up to 5 additional points (beyond the 10 allotted to this category) will be awarded for cost sharing.

Selection Schedule

Proposals will be reviewed twice during the year. The following schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process for cooperative agreements. An unsuccessful application for cycle 1 (December 1 due date) will have to be resubmitted for cycle 2 (June 1 due date):

Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 1, 1999

Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date April 1, 2000

Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) June 1, 2000

Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date September 1, 2000

NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m. Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. E-mail or FAX copies will not be accepted. One original and one copy of the proposal and grant paperwork is required.

Funding Availability

Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA funds for FY 2000 are appropriated. Funding available under this announcement for pilot projects to scope, develop and test prototype decision-making tools and information products will be between $25,000 and $150,000 per year. Funding for projects to establish technology demonstration and evaluation programs may range from $75,000 to $200,000 per year, although projects of special merit may be considered at annual levels above $200,000. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds.

Cost Sharing

There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to these guidelines. However, proposals that include cost sharing or other in- kind resources will likely score highly under evaluation criteria #5 above.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications for projects under this announcement may be submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these specific guidelines, by any regional, state or local government agency; college or university; nonprofit organization; cooperative research unit; or private sector firm. Other agencies or institutions are not eligible to receive assistance under this notice but may be project partners.

Special Projects

Project Description

The NOAA Coastal Services Center is seeking proposals for special technical, management, or planning projects that relate to growth management in coastal areas or human use of coastal resources. Project proposals are due December 21, 1999, (with earliest start date of May 1, 2000). See ``Selection Schedule'' below. Anticipated funding in FY 2000 will be between $100,000 and $150,000. Four to six projects will be funded in the $20,000 to $25,000 range for one year with the potential for option years (depending on the availability of funds through the appropriation process). Projects above $25,000 will not be considered.

Background

The Center conducts a variety of projects that directly apply to the state and local coastal management community. The goal of Special Projects is to provide assistance to the local coastal management community for technical or management issues on specific topics relating directly to growth management in coastal areas or human use of coastal resources.

In FY 2000, the Center expects to award grants and cooperative agreements (for those projects with substantial Center involvement) to organizations across the United States with proven abilities to implement practical solutions at a state and local level. Proposed study topics must relate to growth management in coastal areas or to human use of coastal resources. All project proposals received that meet the above topic criteria will be reviewed for technical merit and management relevance.

Project Proposals

The Center must receive proposals by 5 PM (Eastern time) on December 21, 1999. Proposals postmarked December 21, 1999, but not received until after December 21, 1999, will NOT be accepted. In addition to providing the information requested below, the cooperator must submit a complete NOAA grants package (with signed originals). No or fax copies will be accepted. All project proposals must include the following sections and total no more than 10 pages (double spaced, 12- point font, and exclusive of appendices):

Goals and Objectives-Identify broad project goals and quantifiable objectives.

Background/Introduction - state the problem and summarize existing efforts at all levels.

Audience-Describe specifics of how the project will contribute to improving or resolving an issue with the primary target audience. The target audience must be explicitly stated.

Project Description/Methodology-Describe the specifics of the projects (3 pages maximum).

Project Partners - Identify project partners and their respective roles.

Milestones and Outcomes-List target milestones, timelines, and desired outcomes in terms of products and services.

Project Budget - Proposal should provide a detailed budget breakdown that follows the categories and formats in the NOAA grant package and a brief narrative that justifies each item.

Evaluation Criteria (with weights) and Selection Process

Review panels will be set up using two NOAA and at least two non- NOAA reviewers to assist in the evaluation of the proposals. All proposals received will be ranked according to score and the selecting official (Center Director) will use those scores to aid in making the final decision. The selecting official also may consider program policy factors in the final decision to ensure Center projects are balanced geographically and institutionally. Evaluation criteria are:

Management Relevance (30 points)

- Does the proposed project (directly or indirectly) address a critical national, regional, state, or local management need relating directly to growth

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management of coastal areas or human use of coastal resources?

- Are the project goals and objectives clear and concise?

- Are there direct ties to the state coastal management agency, National Estuarine Research Reserve, and/or National Marine Sanctuary?

- Does the proposed project have a clearly defined management audience and do the products have clearly defined users?

- Will the outreach/transfer mechanisms be effective (in transferring science tools and information to management)?

Technical Merit (25 points)

- Is the approach technically sound?

- Does the proposed project build on existing knowledge?

- Is the approach innovative?

Applicability and Effectiveness of Products and their Delivery (25 points)

- Will the proposed project produce useful (and easily used) products, services, or an understanding for the target audience and users?

- Is project implementation likely to be flexible and responsive to public and user input?

- Will the products be delivered in a timely and appropriate manner to appropriate recipients?

- Will the products have long-term (lasting) value and widespread applicability?

- Will the outreach/transfer mechanisms be effective (in transferring science tools and information to management)?

- Is an effective evaluation mechanism built into the project process?

Efficiency (15 points)

- Is the budget commensurate with the project needs?

- Are appropriate partnerships going to be employed to achieve the highest quality content and maximal efficiency?

Overall Qualifications (5 points)

- Are the proposers capable of conducting a project of the scope and scale proposed? (i.e., Are there adequate professional, facility, and administrative capabilities?)

Selection Schedule

Special projects will be reviewed once during the year. The following schedule lists the dates for the project selection and award process for grants and/or cooperative agreements:

Proposal Deadline (with completed grant package) December 21, 1999

Earliest Approximate Grant Start Date May 1, 2000

NOTE: All deadlines are for receipt by close of business [5 p.m. Eastern time] on the dates identified. Receipt of proposal and grant package (with original signatures) will be time stamped. E-mail or FAX copies will not be accepted. One original and one copy of the proposal and grant paperwork is required.

Funding Availability

Specific funding available for awards will be finalized after NOAA funds for FY 2000 are authorized. Total funding available for this announcement will be between $100,000 and $150,000. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA toward any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any parts of the available funds.

Cost Sharing

There is no requirement for cost sharing in response to this program announcement and no additional weight will be given to proposals with cost sharing.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications for grants under this program announcement may be submitted, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these specific guidelines, by any state or local resource management agency, college or university, private industry, nonprofit organization, or cooperative research unit. Other agencies or institutions are not eligible to receive assistance under this notice.

General Information For All Programs

Indirect Costs

The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an application under any of these programs must not exceed the current indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by the applicant's cognizant agency, prior to the proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is less. If a rate has not been established, one will be negotiated by the Department of Commerce (DOC) Office of Inspector General.

Policies and Procedures

Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all laws and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to assistance awards.

Name Check Review

All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key individuals associated with the recipient have been convicted of, or are presently facing, criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or other matters that significantly reflect on the recipient's management, honesty, or financial integrity.

Past Performance

Unsatisfactory performance under prior awards may result in an application not being considered for funding.

Pre-Award Activities

If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the government. Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover pre-award costs should an award not be made or funded at a level less than requested.

No Obligation for Future Funding

If the application is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of DOC.

Delinquent Debts

No award of funds shall be made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent debt until either:

(1) The delinquent account is paid in full,

(2) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one payment is received, or

(3) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.

Primary Applicant Certifications

All organizations or individuals preparing grant applications must submit a completed Form CD-511 ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying,'' and explanations are hereby provided:

- Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension

Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, Section 105) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies.

- Drug-Free Workplace

Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart f, ``Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies.

- Anti-Lobbying

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Persons (as defined at 15 CFR 28, 105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification form prescribed above applies to application/bids for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000.

- Anti-Lobbying Disclosures

Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL form, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.

Lower Tier Certifications

Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for sub-grants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower-tier-covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD- 512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or sub- recipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in the aware document.

False Statements

A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Programs.''

Buy American-Made Equipment or Products

Applicants are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the greatest extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and products with funding provided under this program in accordance with Congressional intent.

Classification

This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) or any other law for this notice concerning grants, cooperative agreements, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to, a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. This notice contains a collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection-of-information has been approved by OMB, OMB Control Numbers 0348-0041, 0348-0042, 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001.

Dated: October 29, 1999. Captain Ted I. Lillestolen, Deputy Assistant Administratorfor Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.

[FR Doc. 99-28787Filed10-29-99; 4:53 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F

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