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National
Oyster Disease Research Program
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Docket No. 990125030-1039-02]
RIN 0648-ZA56
National Oyster Disease Research Program and
Gulf Oyster Industry Initiative: Request
for Proposals
AGENCY: National Sea Grant College Program,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise
the public that the National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) is
entertaining grant proposals to
participate in innovative research, outreach and demonstration
in two separate competitions: one to continue the National
Oyster Disease Research Program (ODRP) and one to continue the Gulf
Oyster Industry Program (GOIP). Approximately $1.85 million is available
for the Oyster Disease Research Program and $.9 million for the
Gulf Oyster Program in FY-2001 and a similar amount is expected for FY-2002.
Therefore, two year proposals are being accepted. The National Oyster
Disease Research Program focuses on diseases that are impacting the
oyster populations of the US and the Gulf Oyster Industry Program focuses
on the oyster industry problems of the Gulf Coast with special emphasis
on the human health considerations within that industry.
DATES: Preliminary proposals must be received at
the individual state Sea Grant Programs
by 5:00 p.m. (local time) on April 4, 2001 and at the
National Sea Grant Office by 5:00 pm (EST) April 9, 2001. After evaluation
at the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO), some proposers will
be encouraged to prepare full proposals, and
those comments will be made available by
April 23, 2001. Full proposals must be received at individual
Sea Grant Programs by 5:00 p.m. (local time), May 28, 2001 and copies to the
National Sea Grant Office by 5:00 pm (EDT) May 31,
2001. Written peer reviews from state Sea Grant
programs must be at the National Sea
Grant Office by 5:00 pm (EDT) on July 11, 2001. It is anticipated
that full proposal funding decisions will be made by July 20,
2001. State Program Directors should allow enough time in their
process to pass the proposals and other
materials to the National Sea Grant
Office by the dates indicated above. Please see list of state program
addresses and phone numbers below.
ADDRESSES: For those applicants living in Sea
Grant States, the preliminary proposals
and full proposals must go to state Sea Grant programs
at the addresses obtainable at the web address below. If the applicant
is not from a Sea Grant state they should submit directly to: National
Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, Attn: Oyster Disease and Gulf Oyster
Industry Competition, Room 11838, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910, by the dates listed for submission to the National
Sea Grant Office.
Electronic Addresses:
Sea Grant Directors--
Sea Grant Forms--
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James P. McVey,
Program Director for Aquaculture, or Mary
Robinson, Secretary, National Sea Grant Office, 301-713-2451,
facsimile 301-713-0799, e-mail-Jim.McVey@NOAA.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Program Authority
33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.
Catalog of Federal Assistance Numbers: 11.417.
Sea Grant Support.
II. Program Description
Background
National Oyster Disease Research Program: For
more than two decades, oyster populations
in the Chesapeake Bay and mid-Atlantic area have
been increasingly battered by Dermo and MSX, two parasitic diseases for
which there is no known remedy. In the Northeast, a new
and as yet unidentified pathogen, called
Juvenile Oyster Disease (JOD), has been taking a toll in hatcheries.
On the West Coast, the Pacific Oyster has
been subjected to puzzling summer mortalities.
The continuing decline of oyster stocks has been a catalyst for federal
support of the Oyster Disease Research Program, a far-reaching effort by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support
innovative research that will lead to improved techniques for combating
oyster disease. The Program began in 1990 with oversight by the
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service and its Chesapeake Bay Office,
and is now administered by the National Sea Grant College Program.
The Oyster Disease Research Program is supporting efforts to reduce the impacts of oyster disease on oyster populations through a competitive research program coupled with outreach and management efforts. The ODRP is committed to the restoration of healthy populations of oysters in the nation's coastal waters. Gulf Oyster Industry Program: The Gulf Oyster Industry Program is a long term, research-based program aimed at assisting the oyster industry in states adjoining the Gulf of Mexico to achieve full economic recovery and sustainable oyster production. This program will foster the participation of highly qualified academic researchers with industry and management agency personnel in an organized, comprehensive search for practical solutions to the most pressing problems of the Gulf oyster industry, including those relating to Vibrio vulnificus, a human pathogen, and other human health risks associated with raw molluscan shellfish.
Funding Availability and Priorities
Approximately $1.85 million
in FY-2001 funding is available for the Oyster
Disease competition and approximately $900,000 is available for the
Gulf Oyster Industry competition. A similar amount is expected but not
assured for both competitions in FY-2002, therefore, two-year
projects will be considered. Funding will be on
an annual basis, with grant renewal
depending upon satisfactory demonstration of progress and availability
of funds. Any two-year grant awards that are funded annually
must have scopes of work that can be easily separated into annual
increments of meaningful work that represents solid accomplishments
if prospective funding is not made available to the applicant
(i.e., the scopes of work for each funding
period must produce identifiable and
meaningful results in and of themselves). The
National Sea Grant College Program encourages proposals that address one of
the following two program areas:
(1) National Oyster Disease Research Program (ODRP):
The official vision statement for the program is
``to provide, through a coordinated
research and outreach program, the technological
basis for overcoming diseases which currently
limit oyster production in the United
States.'' Even though ODRP emphasis is on diseases associated
with the American oyster, proposals addressing disease problems
of other oyster species will be considered as long as they relate
to the priorities identified below.
In response to the progress
reports and discussions that took place at
the International Shellfish Restoration Conference, 16-18 November, 2000,
this announcement will encourage partnerships for the transfer of basic
research findings and new technology to the industry and to State shellfish
managers where opportunity exists. Even though this announcement
is encouraging projects of this type, Sea Grant recognizes that
some of the best work being done on oyster disease involves basic research,
which may not be ready for application, but which still
contributes to a greater understanding of the
fundamental nature of oyster diseases.
Sea Grant will continue to support this basic research,
while providing opportunity for those researchers that have already
developed useful applications to receive consideration in the proposal
process.
Primary consideration for funding will be given to proposals which address the specific priorities listed below. These priorities, originally determined at a national workshop in January, 1995 and
further refined at the Oyster Disease Research
Program session during the International
Shellfish Restoration Conferences in 1996 and 2000, are
not listed in any implied order of importance.
(1) Design, apply and
evaluate disease management strategies for enhanced
natural and aquaculture production and prediction (i.e. advanced
forecasting)--there are many issues related to establishment of
oyster sanctuaries, commercial oyster beds, oyster aquaculture, remote
setting, use of natural seed, bottom cleaning before setting, cultch
type, etc. which should be addressed as related to the impacts of
disease. Activities that involve private sector, state restoration programs
and extension/outreach in the implementation of research results
and field trials using diagnostic methods, and other disease related
technology and information for improved oyster disease management
or oyster culture are appropriate under this priority.
(2) Parasite life cycles and
the dynamics and mechanisms of transmission--investigations
of selected aspects of the life cycles of oyster
pathogens, especially MSX and Perkinsus, and the dynamics/ mechanisms
of disease transmission among host organisms.
(3) Host-parasite
interactions--investigations which: determine how pathogens
avoid host defense mechanisms, biochemically characterize Perkinsus
strains, determine factors which confer virulence to Perkinsus
strains, determine mechanisms of infection/entry into the host,
or compare disease processes in oyster species are being sought.
(4) Mechanisms of disease
resistance--continued emphasis is placed on
studies concerning cellular/molecular mechanisms of disease infection
and resistance in Crassostrea spp. and studies which determine
the mechanisms of immune response in oysters. In addition,
analysis of host defense factors, the
development of molecular markers of
disease and stress resistance, the development of immuno-stimulants, the
application of chemo-therapeutics, and the identification of pathogen
virulence and resistance mechanisms are needed; as are studies
comparing resistance among diploid and polyploid
oysters.
(5) Development and
application of diagnostic methods for all oyster
diseases--investigations which lead to the development and application
of molecular techniques for disease diagnosis, and those which
develop rapid field diagnostic methods are high priority. This program
has already developed many diagnostic techniques for several disease
organisms and new proposals will be expected to show a significant
improvement over the techniques already developed.
(6) Environmental influences
on disease processes--proposals which address
the influence of biotic and abiotic factors upon host-parasite interactions
are high priority. Also included are studies of the effects
of eutrophication and other stresses upon disease dynamics, basic
physiological and adaptation processes in both hosts and parasites,
the mechanisms of the summer kill phenomenon, relationships between
disease progression and climate, and the eco-physiology of Perkinsus.
Taxonomy, phylogeny and
population studies of both hosts and parasites--emphasis
continues on studies of variations in population susceptibility,
host resistance and pathogen virulence. Also needed are investigations
of the genetic structure of both hosts and parasites.
(8) Development and
application of selective breeding strategies--We are seeking studies which
develop molecular/biochemical markers for breeding
resistance into oysters, as well as genome analysis and gene transfer
techniques related to disease resistance. Evaluation of non-
native oyster species genomes with regard to
disease resistance under aquaculture
conditions will also be considered.
(9) Development and testing
of geographic and mathematical models to
improve understanding of disease dynamics--A basic model now exists and
new work in this area must clearly state how additional investment will
take us to an even better level of prediction or disease management.
(2) Gulf Oyster Industry Program
The Gulf Oyster Industry
Program was created as a result of information
provided by Gulf oyster industry leaders, state resource managers,
and academic researchers spanning the five-state Gulf region. Specific
needs identified by these individuals were subsumed into 12
concise issue statements as a result of a
workshop held in New Orleans, Louisiana
in 1997 and reaffirmed in 2000. This list of research and extension
needs and proposed responses was presented to a select Industry
Advisory Panel at the Gulf Oyster Industry Program Workshop
conducted in New Orleans, La., on February 28,
1998, and again in 2000 and the group was
asked to establish research priorities based on that framework.
Through an ensuing discussion, the high-priorities were delineated
as shown below:
(1) At-Risk Consumer
Education and Evaluation--This RFP seeks proposals
that will develop, implement and/or evaluate a Vibrio vulnificus
Education Program, including, but not limited to: at-risk consumer
foundations and associations, pharmacies, alcohol treatment centers,
wound infection issues, media relations, and public perceptions.
(2) Human Pathogenic
Organisms--Raw oysters have the potential to cause
human illness due to the presence of naturally occurring opportunistic
pathogens (e.g., Vibrio vulnificus), naturally occurring pathogens
that become a concern only when present
at elevated levels (e.g., Vibrio cholrea
or Vibrio parahaemolyticus), and which pathogens are related to contaminated
growing areas (e.g., Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses, Salmonella
sp. and Shigella). This potential has created a perception that
consumption of raw oysters places a large number of people at risk of
contracting illnesses from opportunistic bacteria, toxins, and viruses.
This RFP also seeks proposals that will develop new means of treating
shell stock to eliminate human pathogens, and, develop or investigate
new technology, such as ionized water, for depurating
oysters of human pathogens.
(3) Post-Harvest Treatment (PHT)
Process Evaluation and Education--This RFP seeks proposals that will develop
and evaluate PHT demonstration projects,
including, but not limited to, providing PHT product
in demonstration projects to wholesalers & retailers, and, conducting
economic analyses regarding the changes to current handling and
processing practices.
(4) Consumer Attitudes and
Preferences--The oyster industry and regulators
lack knowledge concerning the attitudes, preferences, and other
characteristics of potential oyster consumers. Learning about consumers'
attitudes and preferences will help increase demand for new
PHT and traditional oyster products. This RFP
seeks proposals that will determine
oyster consumer demographics, consumption patterns, attitudes and
preferences, develop media-relations protocol for the oyster industry,
conduct media-relations workshops for the Gulf oyster industry to improve
communication skills, develop media-relations protocol
or decision tree for researchers and state regulatory personnel,
and, determine the characteristics of the market for Gulf oysters,
including sales (region, size of establishment, average sales,
etc.), distribution, and product forms.
(5) Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB)/Red
Tide--HAB causes lengthy public health
closures of shellfish growing waters, halting production for weeks
and causing severe economic hardship in the impacted area. This RFP
seeks proposals to develop rapid detection methods for toxic marine algae,
especially G. breve, conduct HAB research advisory and outreach activities
in the Gulf states, and, conduct a workshop for state and federal
shellfish sanitation personnel and researchers to include new monitoring,
diagnostic, and management protocols for use in the
reopening of shellfish growing waters closed by
HAB.
(6) Economic and Legal
Impacts of Regulatory Action--The regulation of
molluscan shellfish is unique from all other foods. Regulatory action
either by state or federal public health agencies, and subsequent
news media responses can have severe economic and legal impacts
on the harvesting, processing and marketing of shellfish, such as
Gulf oysters. This RFP seeks proposals that analyze the effects of inaccurate
media reports on sales, the delisting of a processor or state
from the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List, the ramifications
from product disparagement, and/or, the impact of the oyster
and support industries on demand for labor and the coastal economies
of the Gulf region.
(7) Coastal
Restoration/Freshwater Diversion--Coastal land loss, deterioration
of estuarine habitat, and coastal restoration programs, e.g.,
freshwater diversions and sedimentation projects, are causing widespread
dislocations and conflicts with established oyster-producing
operations. This RFP seeks proposals that
educate oyster men, public officials, and
citizens regarding the economic role of the oyster industry
and the economic costs of displacing and relocating oyster bedding
operations, and/or, conduct demonstration projects for oyster farmers
to show them the best strategy to relocate their oyster farms that
are damaged by coastal restoration projects.
(8) Labor and
Mechanization--The traditional labor base that supports
oyster growing, harvesting, and processing is shrinking rapidly,
with consequently declining production and increased costs. This
RFP seeks proposals that investigate and develop cost-effective mechanized
approaches to oyster harvesting, and processing, including, but
not limited to, developing new means to package and handle oyster shell
stock and shucked oysters, including large re-usable, low-cost containerization
of shell stock for vessels to trucks, handling
equipment to move large containers of shell
stock; and, cheaper containers for
shucked oysters.
(9) Oyster Diseases--Oyster
diseases are having a major impact on Gulf
Coast oyster stocks and for the most part this topic will be covered
under the Oyster Disease topic in this solicitation. However, oyster
disease research specific to the Gulf Coast will be considered in
this solicitation.
(10) Genetics and Oyster
Hatchery technology--These technologies are
needed to develop cost-effective hatchery/nursery operations to augment
wild oyster production with specialized strains. This RFP seeks proposals
that develop polyploid broodstock for the Gulf Coast, disease
resistant transgenic oysters, and/or, address
practical problems which may be common to
oyster production in general, but especially acute in a
farming situation, e.g., biofouling, predation, disease, etc.
Primary consideration for
funding will be given to proposals that address
the topics listed above. Although the Industry Advisory Panel has
indicated a clear preference for projects with a technological focus,
more fundamental scientific studies may be supported when clear linkages
between scientific findings and their incorporation into technological
advances and management practices can be, demonstrated.
III. Eligibility
Eligible applicants include
institutions of higher education, other non-profits,
commercial organizations, state, local and Indian tribal governments.
For the Oyster Disease Research topic National Marine Fishery
Services personnel may participate in joint efforts with non-federal persons
or groups in these projects as long as non-Federal matching
fund requirements are met and these non-federal persons or groups
are the principal investigators and have applied and
successfully competed for oyster disease
research funds through the process
outlined in this announcement.
Note: NMFS personnel must
demonstrate that they have been authorized
to participate in this activity. Should funds be requested
as part of the NMFS personnel effort, NMFS must demonstrate
that they have legal authority to receive these funds in excess
of their appropriation.
Investigators submitting
proposals in response to this announcement are
strongly encouraged to develop inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary
research teams in the form of single, integrated proposals or
as individual proposals that are clearly linked together. Such collaborative
efforts will be factored into the final funding decision.
IV. Evaluation Criteria
A. The evaluation criteria
for both preproposals and full proposals submitted
for support under the Oyster Disease Research Program are as follows:
(1) Impact of proposed
project (35 points)--Significance of the ODRP
problem that is being addressed and the level of expected improvement
of oyster industry production or technology as a result of funding
or the need for this activity as a necessary step toward having
a positive impact on future improvement of technology or production.
(2) Scientific or
Professional Merit (30 points)--Degree to which the
activity will advance the state of the science or state-or-the-art methods.
(3) Field-Scale trials (5
points)--Degree to which industry and state
oyster managers are using or will use technology or products developed
through applied research under actual field conditions.
(4) User Relationships,
partnerships, collaborative efforts and leveraging
(15 points)--Degree to which the potential users of the results
have been involved in the planning of the activity, will be
involved in the execution of the activity and/or
are providing matching funds.
Establishment of effective partnerships and collaborations that leverage
funds.
(5) Innovativeness (10
points)--Degree to which new approaches to solving
problems and exploiting opportunities in oyster disease research,
or in public outreach on such issues will be employed, or the degree
to which the activity will focus on new types of important or potentially
important resources and issues.
(6) Qualifications and Past
Record of investigators (5 points)--Degree to which investigators are
qualified by education, training, and/or
experience to execute the proposed activity; record of
achievement with previous funding.
B. The evaluation criteria
for both preproposals and full proposals submitted
for support under the Gulf Coast Oyster Industry Initiative are
as follows:
(1) Impact of proposed
project (40 points)--Significance of the GCOIP
that will be addressed; the effect this activity will have on the improvement
of oyster industry production or technology as a result of funding
or the need for this activity as a necessary step toward having a
positive impact on future improvement of technology or production.
(2) Field-Scale Trials (10
points)--Degree to which industry and state
oyster managers are using or will use technology or products developed
through applied research under actual field or industry conditions.
(3) Scientific or
Professional Merit (20 points)--Degree to which the
activity will advance the state of the science or discipline through
use and extension of state-of-the-art methods.
(4) User Relationships,
partnerships, collaborations and leveraging (15
points)--Degree to which potential users of the results of the proposed
activity have been involved in planning the activity, will be involved
in the execution of the activity, and/or are providing matching
funds. Establishment of effective partnerships and collaborations
that leverage funds.
(5) Innovativeness (10
points)--Degree to which new approaches to solving
problems and exploiting opportunities in Gulf Coast Oyster Industry
issues, or in public outreach on such issues will be employed, or
the degree to which the activity will focus on new types of
important or potentially important resources and
issues.
(6) Qualifications and Past
Record of Investigators (5 points)--Degree to which investigators are
qualified by education, training, and/or
experience to execute the proposed activity; record of
achievement with previous funding.
V. Selection Procedures
All preliminary proposals
will be evaluated by selection panels constituted
by the National Sea Grant Office for each of the oyster programs.
A determination will be made as to the preproposal's appropriateness
according to the list of priorities listed above for each
of the two competitions. Points will be assigned to each of the evaluation
criteria relative to the priority areas listed by the review panels
with a total of 100 points possible for all criteria in the respective
competitions. Full proposals will be requested of those preliminary
proposals that are rated above a certain score to be determined
by the panel. Invitation to submit a full proposal does not constitute
an indication that the proposal will be funded. Interested parties
who are not invited to submit full proposals will not be precluded
from submitting full proposals if they have submitted a preliminary
proposal in accordance with the procedures described below.
A list of those projects already funded in
previous years is available from the
National Sea Grant Office.
Full proposals will be
received at the individual state Sea Grant programs
or at the National Sea Grant Office if from a non-Sea Grant State
applicant, and sent to peer reviewers for written reviews. The National
Sea Grant Office will obtain the written reviews for proposals from
Non-Sea Grant states. Complete full proposals and their written reviews
will be sent from the state Sea Grant programs to the National Sea
Grant Office to be ranked in accordance with the assigned weights of
the above evaluation criteria by one of two independent peer review panels
consisting of government, academic, and industry experts; one panel
will review the Oyster Disease Research Program and a second panel
will review the Gulf Oyster Industry Program. The panel members of
each panel will provide individual evaluations on each proposal, but there
will be no consensus advice. Proposals not receiving an average score
of 81 points or above, will not be given further consideration.
For the Proposals rated 81 points and higher the
Sea Grant Program
Managers will: (a) Ascertain which proposals
best meet the priorities, and do not
substantially duplicate other projects that are currently funded
by NOAA or other federal agencies; (b) select the proposals to be
funded; (c) determine which components of the selected projects will
be funded; (d) determine the total duration of
funding for each proposal; and (e)
determine the amount of funds available for each proposal,
hence, awards may not necessarily be made to the highest-scored proposals.
Investigators may be asked to modify objectives, work plans,
or budgets prior to approval of the award. Subsequent grant administration
procedures will be in accordance with current NOAA grants
procedures. A summary statement of the scientific review by the peer
panel will be provided to each applicant.
Applications must reflect the
total budget necessary to accomplish the
project, and be matched by one dollar of non-federal funds for each two
dollars of federal funds. The appropriateness of all cost-sharing will
be determined on the basis of guidance provided in applicable Federal
cost principles. The applicants will be bound by the percentage of
cost sharing reflected in the grant award.
VI. Instructions for Application
What To Submit
Preliminary Proposal Guidelines
To prevent the expenditure of
effort that may not be successful, proposers
must first submit preliminary proposals. Preliminary proposals
must be single- or double-spaced, typewritten in at least a 10
point font, and printed on metric A4 (210mm x 297mm) or
8\1/2\"x 11" paper. The following information should be
included:
(1) Signed title page: The
title page should be signed by the Principal
Investigator and should clearly identify the program area being
addressed by starting the project title with either ``Oyster
Disease Research Program'' or ``Gulf Oyster
Industry Initiative.'' Principal Investigators and collaborators
should be identified by affiliation and
contact information. The total amount of Federal funds and
matching funds being requested or provided should be listed for each
budget period, as well as the source of
the matching funds. Preliminary proposals must include
matching fund equivalent to at least 50% of the
Federal funds requested.
(2) A concise (2-page limit)
description of the project, its experimental
design, its expected output or products, the anticipated users
of the information, and its anticipated impact. Proposers should use
the Evaluation Criteria for additional guidance in preparing the
preliminary proposals.
(3) Resumes (1-page limit) of
the Principal Investigators.
(4) Proposers are encouraged
(but not required) to include a separate
page suggesting reviewers that the proposers believe are especially
well qualified to review the proposal. Proposers may also designate
persons they would prefer not review the proposal, indicating
why. These suggestions will be considered during
the review process.
The original and two copies
of the preliminary proposals must be submitted
to the state Sea Grant Program Director or, for investigators in
non-Sea Grant states, directly to the National Sea Grant Office (NSGO)
by the times and dates listed under the ``Dates'' section of this
announcement. Preliminary proposals submitted to state Sea Grant Programs
will be forwarded, along with a cover letter, to the NSGO by the
dates indicated in this announcement.
Full Proposal Guidelines
Each full proposal should
include the items listed below. All pages should
be single- or double-spaced, typewritten in at least a 10-point font,
and printed on metric A4 (210 mm x 297 mm) or 8\1/2\"
x 11" paper. Brevity will
assist reviewers and program staff in dealing effectively
with proposals. Therefore, the Project Description may not exceed
15 pages. Tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps,
photographs and other pictorial presentations are included in the 15-page
limitation. Conformance to the 15-page limitation will be strictly
enforced. All information needed for review of the proposal should
be included in the main text; no appendices are permitted.
(1) Signed title page: The
title page should be signed by the Principal
Investigator and the institutional representative and should clearly
identify the program area being addressed by starting the project
title with either Oyster Disease Research Program or Gulf Oyster
Industry Initiative, as appropriate. The Principal Investigator and
institutional representative should be identified by full name, title,
organization, telephone number, e-mail address, and mailing
address. The total amount of Federal funds and
matching funds being requested should be
listed for each budget period.
(2) Project Summary: This
information is very important. It is critical
that the project summary accurately describe the research being
proposed and convey all essential elements of the research. The project
summary should include: 1. Title: Use the exact title as it appears
in the rest of the application. 2. Investigators: List the names
and affiliates of each investigator who will significantly contribute
to the project. Start with the Principal Investigator. 3. Funding
request for each year of the project, including matching funds if
appropriate. 4. Project Period: Start and completion dates. Proposals
should request a start date of October 1, 2001. 5. Project Summary:
This should include the rationale for the project, the scientific
or technical objectives and/or hypotheses to be tested, and a
brief summary of work to be completed.
(3) Projected Description
(15-page limit):
Introduction/Background/Justification: Subjects that the investigator(s)
may wish to include in this section are: (a) Current state
of knowledge; (b) contributions that the study will make to the
particular discipline or subject area; and (c)
contributions the study will make toward
addressing the problems of oyster disease or Gulf oyster
industry issues.
Research or Technical Plan:
(a) Objectives to be achieved, hypotheses
to be tested; (b) Experimental design and statistical analysis
to be used; (c) Plan of work discuss how stated project objectives
will be achieved; and (d) Role of project personnel.
Output: Describe the project
outputs that will enhance the Nation's ability
to improve the status of oysters and the oyster industry.
Coordination with other
Program Elements: Describe any coordination with
other agency programs or ongoing research efforts. Describe any other
proposals that are essential to the success of this proposal.
Reference and Literature
Citations: Should be included but will not be
counted in the 15 page project description limit.
(4) Budget and Budget
Justification: There should be a separate budget
for each year of the project as well as a cumulative annual budget
for the entire project. Applicants are encouraged to use the Sea Grant
Budget Form 90-4, but may use their own form as long as it provides
the same information as the Sea Grant form. Subcontracts should
have a separate budget page. Matching funds must be indicated; failure
to provide required matching funds will result in the proposal being
rejected without review. Each annual budget should include a separate
budget justification page that itemizes all budget items in sufficient
detail to enable reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness of
the funding requested. Please pay special attention to any travel,
supply or equipment budgets and provide details.
For proposals to either of the
competition categories the total dollar amount of indirect
costs must not exceed the indirect cost rate negotiated and approved
by the cognizant Federal 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.
(5) Current and Pending
Support: Applicants must provide information
on all current and pending Federal support for ongoing projects
and proposals, including subsequent funding in the case of continuing
grants. The number of person-months per year to be devoted to
the projects must be stated, regardless of source of support. Similar
information must be provided for all proposals already submitted
or submitted concurrently to other possible Federal sponsors,
including those within NOAA.
(6) Vitae (2 pages maximum
per investigator)
(7) Standard Application
Forms: See Address section for web address for
forms. Forms can also be obtained from state Sea Grant programs or the
National Sea Grant Office. The following forms must be included:
(a) Standard Forms 424,
Application for Federal Assistance, and 424B,Assurances--Non-Construction
Programs, (Rev 4-88). Applications should
clearly identify the program area being addressed by starting the
project title with either Oyster Disease Research Program or Gulf Oyster
Industry Program, as appropriate. Please note that both the
Principal Investigator and an administrative
contact should be identified in Section 5
of the SF424. For Section 10, applicants for the
National Oyster Disease Research Program and Gulf Oyster Industry Initiative
program areas should enter ``11.417'' for he CFDA Number and
``Sea Grant Support'' for the title. The form
must contain the original signature of an
authorized representative of the applying institution.
(b) Primary Applicant
Certifications. All primary applicants must submit
a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension
and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby
provided:
(i) Nonprocurement 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;
(ii) 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;
(iii) Anti-Lobbying. Persons
(as defined at 15 CFR part 28, section 105)
are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation
on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting
and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the
certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for
grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000,
and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, and
(iv) Anti-Lobbying
Disclosures. Any applicant that has paid or will pay
for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.
(c) Lower Tier
Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants,
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 the Department of Commerce
(DOC). SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should
be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions contained
in the award document.
How To Submit
Although investigators are
not required to submit more than the original
and two copies of the proposal, the normal review process requires
ten copies. Investigators are encourage to submit sufficient proposal
copies for the full review process if they wish all reviewers to
receive color, unusually sized (not 8.5 x 11"), or
otherwise unusual materials submitted as
part of the proposal. Only the original and
two copies of the Federally required forms are needed.
Federal Policies and Procedures
Grant recipients and
subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal
financial assistance awards. Unsatisfactory performance under prior
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for
funding.
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, these is no
obligation on the part of the Department of Commerce
to cover pre-award costs.
Applicants are hereby
notified that they are encouraged, to the extent
feasible, to purchase American-made products with funding provided
under this program.
If an application is selected
for funding, the Department of Commerce
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 the Department
of Commerce.
No award of Federal funds
shall be made to a applicant who has an outstanding
delinquent Federal debt or fine until either:
a. The delinquent account is
paid in full,
b. A negotiated repayment
schedule is established and at least one payment
is receive, or
c. Other arrangements
satisfactory to Department of Commerce are made.
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 applicant have been convicted of or are presently
facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or other
matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's management honestly
or financial integrity.
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 (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions
(HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) 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,
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. Institutions
eligible to be considered MSIs are listed at the following Internet
website:
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.
Applications under this
program are subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
Prior notice and an
opportunity for public comments are not required
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this notice
concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a regulatory
flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act.
This action has been
determined to be not significant for purposes of
Executive Order 12866.
This notice contains
collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction
Act. The Sea Grant Project Summary Form
and the Sea Grant Budget Form have
been approved under the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) Control Number 0648-0362,
with estimated times per response of 20 and 15 minutes,
respectively. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424B, and the SF-LLL
have been approved by OMB under the respective control numbers 0348-0043,
0348-0040 and 0348-0046. The response time estimates above include
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completed and reviewing
the collection of information. Send comments on these estimates
or any other estimates of these collections to the National Sea
Grant Office/NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
and to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget, Washington, DC
20503 (Attention: NOAA Desk Officer). Notwithstanding any
other provision of the 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 of information displays a
currently valid OMB Control Number.
Dated: February 23, 2001.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-5264 Filed 3-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KA-M
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