[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15125-15129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6980]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Docket No. [000202023-0023-01; I.D. No. 011000B]
RIN 0648-ZA78
Announcement of Opportunity to submit proposals for the Coastal
Ecosystem Research Project in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
AGENCY: Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean
Program (CSCOR/COP), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Announcement of Funding Opportunity for financial assistance
for project grants and cooperative agreements.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this document is to advise the public that
NOAA/NOS/
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CSCOR/COP is soliciting proposals from 1 to 3 years in duration for
monitoring studies, particularly of the hypoxic zone, and for
retrospective and modeling studies in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (N-
GOMEX). It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement
will have a July 1, 2000, start date.
This notice solicits applications for research projects from
eligible non-Federal and Federal applicants. In an effort to maximize
the use of limited resources, applications from non-Federal, non-NOAA
Federal and NOAA applicants will be competed against each other.
Research proposals selected for funding from non-Federal researchers
will be funded through a project grant. Research proposals selected for
funding from non-NOAA Federal applicants will be funded through an
interagency transfer provided legal authority exists for the federal
applicant to receive funds from another agency. Research proposals
selected for funding from NOAA will be funded through NOAA.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of proposals at the COP office is 3:00
pm, EST, April 21, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Submit the original and 10 copies of your proposal to
Coastal Ocean Program Office (N-GOMEX 2000), SSMC#3, 9th Floor, Station
9700, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. NOAA Standard
Form Applications with instructions are accessible on the following COP
Internet Site: http://www.cop.noaa.gov under the COP Grants Support
Section, Part D, Application Forms for Initial Proposal Submission. If
you are unable to access this information, you may call COP at 301-713-
3338 to leave a mailing request.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical Information: Kenric Osgood,
N-GOMEX 2000 Program Manager, COP Office, 301-713-3338/ext 130,
Internet: Kenric.Osgood@noaa.gov; Business Management Information:
Leslie McDonald, COP Grants Administrator, 301-713-3338/ext 137,
Internet: Leslie.McDonald@noaa.gov. The following web sites furnish
results of studies concerning the periodic hypoxia associated with the
northern Gulf of Mexico referred to later in this Document under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/ocd/necop/ and
http://www.nos.noaa.gov/Products/pubs__hypox.html.
A report of the workshop, U.S. GLOBEC report No. 19, is available
from the following address or homepage: U.S. GLOBEC Coordinating
Office, UMCES, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, P.O. Box 38, Solomons,
MD 20688; Phone: 410-326-7370; Fax: 410-326-7341; Internet:
fogarty@usglobec.org and http://www.usglobec.org. This report is
referenced later in this Document under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Program Description
For complete Program Description and Other Requirements criteria
for the Coastal Ocean Program, see COP's General Grant Administration
Terms and Conditions annual document in the Federal Register (64 FR
49162, September 10, 1999) and at the COP home page.
Coastal regions dominated by large rivers are disproportionately
important to the biological production of the world's oceans, primarily
because these rivers carry large amounts of ``new'' nitrogen. An
important river-dominated coastal ecosystem in the U.S. is the
Mississippi River, which supports high primary and secondary production
in the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 20 percent of the U.S. commercial
fishery landings by dollar value are from the northern Gulf. Major
recreational fisheries also exist in this region.
There is a strong relationship between riverine inputs (especially
nutrients) and primary production, followed in turn by zooplankton
production and fish production in a classic Nutrient-Phytoplankton-
Zooplankton-Fish food web. Anthropogenic nitrogen loadings from the
Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico have increased dramatically
during the past several decades, which has led to changes in the
ecosystem of the northern Gulf, including (1) the annual development of
an extensive zone of bottom water hypoxia during the summer stratified
period; (2) a probable increase in overall biological production; and
(3) an apparent shift from a balanced pelagic/demersal fish community
to one significantly more dominated by pelagic fisheries.
Several past and present programs have studied the periodic hypoxia
associated with the northern Gulf of Mexico. Notably, from 1990 to
1997, the Coastal Ocean Program supported a study on Nutrient Enhanced
Coastal Ocean Productivity; and the Committee on Environment and
Natural Resources recently completed an integrated assessment of Gulf
of Mexico hypoxia. Results of those studies can be found on the web
sites listed earlier in this Document under FURTHER INFORMATION:
A workshop was held in January 1999 to discuss relationships
between the Mississippi River, the production of marine populations,
and ecosystem parameters in the Gulf of Mexico; and to discuss how
these relationships might be affected by changes in weather and
climate. A report of the workshop, U.S. GLOBEC report No. 19, is
available from the address or homepage shown earlier in this Document
under FURTHER INFORMATION.
This solicitation for proposals will begin a program to examine the
inter-relationships driving the Mississippi River-dominated Gulf of
Mexico ecosystem. The planned suite of studies will enable improved
predictions about future effects of nutrient loading, eutrophication,
hypoxia, and climate change on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. The
currently requested proposals should focus on monitoring the spatial
and temporal changes in the distribution of the hypoxic zone in the
northern Gulf of Mexico. A secondary priority for this announcement is
the effects of hypoxia on the distribution and abundance of fishery
species, and the species upon which they depend.
Structure of the Research Program
The NOAA Coastal Ocean Program intends to support an initial
research program comprising monitoring and possibly, retrospective
analyses and modeling. Subsequent announcements may solicit further
proposals in these areas and for process field studies in the region,
depending on the outcome of the proposed research solicited here, and
the levels of future appropriated funding.
Monitoring studies could include shipboard surveys, multi-
disciplinary mooring observations, drifters, and analysis of regional
satellite data. Highest priority monitoring activities for this
announcement are monitoring the magnitude and extent of the hypoxic
zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico in space and time. Monitoring
activities with lower priorities for this announcement include
monitoring the distribution and abundance of nutrient-stimulated
phytoplankton, zooplankton and fishery populations and their relation
to eutrophication, hypoxia, and Mississippi River plume dynamics.
Retrospective analyses are a secondary priority for this initial
announcement. Retrospective analyses should be used to provide
quantitative and detailed information on issues relevant to the
objectives listed above, but not already completed, in the recent CENR
report. Examples include retrospective analyses of biological data
concerning key animal populations; retrospective analyses of
meteorological and physical oceanographic controls on
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plume distribution; retrospective analyses of the coupling between
transport and population dynamics of key species; and retrospective
analyses of coupling between climate, drainage basin, and shelf
oceanography.
Modeling studies are a tertiary priority for this initial
announcement. Modeling activities will be used to guide further program
development and identify important processes for the extensive
fieldwork anticipated to follow this preliminary phase. For example,
models of NPZF and trophic responses to varying nutrient inputs,
including organic flux to the bottom; models of water column stability,
oxygen demand in bottom waters, and hypoxia; and physical-biological
coupled models of transport and population dynamics of key zooplankton
and fishery populations.
In order to fully develop predictive capability, a more intensive
5-7 year program is being planned for when additional funding becomes
available. This complete program will include monitoring, retrospective
studies, modeling and process field studies to identify relationships
among ecosystem constituents. The process studies will be nested within
monitoring efforts which identify and measure important ecosystem
components, and retrospective and modeling efforts which will place the
field measurements into broader temporal and theoretical context. The
overall goal of the entire program is to understand and ultimately
predict how changes in climate, nutrient loading and hypoxia will
affect populations of marine animal species in the northern Gulf of
Mexico. The projects conducted as a result of this solicitation for
proposals will help guide the development of the more complete program.
Part I: Schedule and Proposal Submission
The provisions for proposal preparation provided here are
mandatory. Proposals received after the published deadline or proposals
that deviate from the prescribed format will be returned to the sender
without further consideration. This announcement, additional background
information, and proposal preparation instructions will be made
available on the COP home page (http://www.cop.noaa.gov).
Full Proposals
Applications submitted in response to this announcement require an
original proposal and 10 proposal copies at time of submission. This
includes color or high-resolution graphics, unusually-sized materials
(not 8.5" x 11" or 21.6 cm x 28 cm), or otherwise unusual materials
submitted as part of the proposal. For color graphics, submit either
color originals or color copies. The stated requirements for the number
of proposal copies provide for a timely review process because of the
large number of technical reviewers. Facsimile transmissions and
electronic mail submission of full proposals will not be accepted.
Required Elements
All recipients are to closely follow the instructions and
requirements in the preparation of the standard NOAA Application Forms
and Kit requirements listed in Part II: Further Supplementary
Information, paragraph (10) of this Document. Each proposal must also
include the following seven elements:
(1) Signed summary title page: The title page should be signed by
the Principal Investigator (PI) and the institutional representative.
The Summary Title page identifies the project's title starting with the
acronym N-GOMEX 2000, a short title (50 characters), and the lead PI's
name and affiliation, complete address, phone, FAX, and E-mail
information. The requested budget for each fiscal year should be
included on the Summary Title page. Multi-institution proposals must
include signed Summary Title pages from each institution.
(2) One-page abstract/project summary: The Project Summary
(Abstract) Form, which is to be submitted at time of application, shall
include an introduction of the problem, rationale, scientific
objectives and/or hypotheses to be tested, and a brief summary of work
to be completed. The prescribed COP format for the Project Summary Form
can be found on the COP Internet site under the COP Grants Support
Section.
The summary should appear on a separate page, headed with the
proposal title, institution(s), investigator(s), total proposed cost,
and budget period. It should be written in the third person. The
summary is used to help compare proposals quickly and allows the
respondents to summarize these key points in their own words.
(3) Statement of work/project description: The proposed project
must be completely described, including identification of the problem,
scientific objectives, proposed methodology, relevance to the program
goals, and its scientific priorities. The project description section
(including Relevant Results from Prior Support) should not exceed 15
pages. Page limits are inclusive of figures and other visual materials,
but exclusive of references and milestone chart.
Project management should be clearly identified with a description
of the functions of each PI within a team. NOAA has specific
requirements that environmental data be submitted to the National
Oceanographic Data Center. It is important to provide a full scientific
justification for the research; do not simply
reiterate justifications presented in this document. This section
should also include:
(a) The objective for the period of proposed work and its expected
significance;
(b) The relation to the present state of knowledge in the field and
relation to previous work and work in progress by the proposing
principal investigator(s);
(c) A discussion of how the proposed project lends value to the
program goals, and
(d) Potential coordination with other investigators.
(e) References cited: Reference information is required. Each
reference must include the name(s) of all authors in the same sequence
in which they appear in the publications, the article title, volume
number, page numbers, and year of publications. While there is no
established page limitation, this section should include bibliographic
citations only and should not be used to provide parenthetical
information outside of the 15-page project description.
(4) Milestone chart: Time lines of major tasks covering the
duration of the proposed project, up to 36 months, if proposing a 3-
year project.
(5) Budget: At time of proposal submission, all applicants shall
submit the Standard Form, SF-424 (Rev 7-97), ``Application for Federal
Assistance'', to indicate the total amount of funding proposed for the
whole project period. In lieu of the Standard Form 424A, Budget
Information (Non-Construction), at time of original application, all
proposers are required to submit a COP Summary Proposal Budget Form for
each fiscal year increment. Multi-institution proposals must include
budget forms from each institution.
Use of this budget form will provide for a detailed annual budget
and the level of detail required by the COP program staff to evaluate
the effort to be invested by investigators and staff on a specific
project. The COP budget form is compatible with forms in use by other
agencies that participate in joint projects with COP; and can be found
on the COP home page under COP Grants Support, Part D.
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All applicants shall include a budget narrative/justification that
supports all proposed budget object class categories. The program
office will review the proposed budgets to determine the necessity and
adequacy of proposed costs for accomplishing the objectives of the
proposed grant. Ship time needs should be identified in the proposed
budget. The SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction) Form, shall
be requested from only those recipients subsequently recommended for
award.
(6) Biographical sketch: Abbreviated curriculum vitae, two pages
per investigator, are sought with each proposal. Include a list of up
to five publications most closely related to the proposed project and
up to five other significant publications. A list of all persons
(including their organizational affiliation), in alphabetical order,
who have collaborated on a project, book, article, or paper within the
last 48 months should be included. If there are no collaborators, this
should be so indicated. Students, post-doctoral associates, and
graduate and postgraduate advisors of the PI should also be disclosed.
This information is used to help identify potential conflicts of
interest or bias in the selection of reviewers.
(7) Proposal format and assembly: Clamp the proposal in the upper
left-hand corner, but leave it unbound. Use one inch (2.5 cm) margins
at the top, bottom, left and right of each page. Use a clear and easily
legible type face in standard 12 points size.
Part II: Further Supplementary Information
(1) Program authorities: For a list of all program authorities for
the Coastal Ocean Program, see COP's General Grant Administration Terms
and Conditions annual Document in the Federal Register (64 FR 49162,
September 10, 1999) and at the COP home page. Specific Authority cited
for this Announcement is 33 U.S.C. 1442.
(2) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 11.478 Coastal
Ocean Program.
(3) Program description: For complete COP program descriptions, see
the annual COP General Document (64 FR 49162, September 10, 1999).
(4) Funding availability: Funding is contingent upon the
availability of Federal appropriations. It is anticipated that up to
$600,000 per fiscal year will be available for supporting studies
proposed by submissions to this announcement. The priorities for these
funds are stated earlier in this Document.
If an application is selected for funding, NOAA has no obligation
to provide any additional prospective funding in connection with that
award in subsequent years. Renewal of an award to increase funding or
extend the period of performance is based on satisfactory performance
and is at the total discretion of the funding agency.
Publication of this document does not obligate the Coastal Ocean
Program to any specific award or to any part of the entire amount of
funds available. Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all
Federal laws and agency policies, regulations, and procedures
applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.
(5) Matching requirements: None.
(6) Type of funding instrument: Project Grants for non-Federal
applicants; interagency transfer agreements or other appropriate
mechanisms other than project grants or cooperative agreements for
Federal applicants.
(7) Eligibility criteria: For complete eligibility criteria for the
Coastal Ocean Program, see COP's General Grant Administration Terms and
Conditions annual document in the Federal Register (64 FR 49162,
September 10, 1999) and at the COP home page. Proposals deemed
acceptable from Federal researchers will be funded through a mechanism
other than a grant or cooperative agreement where legal authority
allows for such funding. Non-NOAA Federal applicants are required to
submit certification or documentation which clearly shows that they can
receive funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC) for research (i.e.,
legal authority exists allowing the transfer of funds from DOC to the
non-NOAA Federal applicant's agency).
(8) Award period: Full Proposals should cover a project period of
up to 3 years, with a start date of July 1, 2000. Multi-year project
period funding may be funded incrementally on an annual basis; but once
awarded, multi-year projects will not compete for funding in subsequent
years. Each award shall require a Statement of Work that can be easily
separated into annual increments of meaningful work which represent
solid accomplishments if prospective funding is not made available, or
is discontinued.
(9) Indirect costs: If indirect costs are proposed, the following
statement applies: The total dollar amount of the indirect costs
proposed in an application must not exceed the indirect cost rate
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the
proposed effective date of the award.
(l0) Application forms: For complete information on application
forms for the Coastal Ocean Program, see COP's General Grant
Administration Terms and Conditions annual Document in the Federal
Register (64 FR 49162, September 10, 1999); the COP home page; and the
information given earlier in this Document under Required Elements,
paragraph (5) Budget.
(11) Project funding priorities: For description of project funding
priorities, see COP's General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions
annual notification in the Federal Register (64 FR 49162, September 10,
1999) and at the COP home page.
(12) Evaluation criteria: For complete information on evaluation
criteria, see COP's General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions
annual Document in the Federal Register (64 FR 49162, September 10,
1999) and at the COP home page.
(13) Selection procedures: For complete information on selection
procedures, see COP's General Grant Administration Terms and Conditions
annual Document in the Federal Register (64 FR 49162, September 10,
1999) and at the COP home page. All proposals received under this
specific Document will be evaluated and ranked individually in
accordance with the assigned weights of the above evaluation criteria
by independent peer mail review.
(14) Other requirements: For a complete description of other
requirements, see COP's General Grant Administration Terms and
Conditions annual Document in the Federal Register (64 FR 49162,
September 10, 1999) and at the COP home page.
(15) Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876, 12900 and 13021, the
Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to broadening the participation of
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving
Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities in its educational
and research programs. The DOC/NOAA vision, mission and goals are to
achieve full participation by Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in
order to advance the development of human potential, to strengthen the
nation's capacity to provide high-quality education, and to increase
opportunities for MSIs to participate in, and benefit from, Federal
Financial Assistance programs. DOC/NOAA encourages all applicants to
include meaningful participation of MSIs.
(16) Applicants are hereby notified that they are encouraged, to
the greatest practicable extent, to purchase
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American-made equipment and products with funding provided under
this program.
(17) This notification involves collection-of-information
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of
Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, and SF-LLL have been approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control numbers 0348-0043,
0348-0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-0046.
The COP Grants Application Package has been approved by OMB under
control number 0648-0384 and includes the following information
collections: a Summary Proposal Budget Form, a Project Summary Form,
standardized formats for the Annual Performance Report and the Final
Report, and the submission of up to 20 copies of proposals. Copies of
these forms and formats can be found on the COP Home Page under Grants
Support section, Part F.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure
to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements
of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
Dated: March 13, 2000.
Ted I. Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-6980 Filed 3-20-00; 8:45 am]
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