Ocean Exploration (11.011)

Program

11.011 Ocean Exploration

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Commerce
Office: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Authorization

Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, Title XII, Public Law 111-11.

Program Number

11.011

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To explore the Earth�s largely unknown oceans in all their dimensions for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge, using state of the art technologies in evolutionary and revolutionary ways within Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).

Types of Assistance

Project Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

Cooperative agreements and grants may be used for research and development, education and training, and advisory services. They may also be used for operational systems as they relate to specific programs. Specific restrictions, other than those mandated for grants and cooperative agreements are evaluated on an individual program basis. TBD.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

As stated in NOAA special announcements or applicable reports in support of NOAA's mission.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Organizations and individuals with interests in support of managing effectively the Nation's ocean exploration resources.

Credentials/Documentation

: Proposals with statements of work and estimated budgets. Costs will be determined in accordance with applicable OMB Circulars. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.

Award Procedure

Proposals are subject to office evaluations, technical reviews, administrative reviews, and external reviews, if applicable, taking into consideration primarily scientific merit and application to the goals of NOAA and the Office of Oceans and Atmospheric Research.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The range varies from 90 to 180 days from the time of proposal submission to NOAA.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Renewals are conducted by negotiation with the OAR/OER and subject to availability of funds.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Assistance is available one to three years based on availability of funding. Restrictions are contained in the DOC Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: For those organizations not having ASAP capability, direct deposit to banking institution is allowed.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Progress reports require program information. Required every six months. Progress interim reports every six months and a final report at the end of the award period. Required as part of the interim and final progress reports. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. ?: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 27, 2003); Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations; nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for the year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Recipients are expected to maintain complete records for each grant and/or cooperative agreement to ensure funds are used for the purpose for which the award was made.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: Grants and cooperative agreements are awarded as applicable. For example, the Ocean Exploration Science Program sponsors competitive, peer-reviewed exploration projects to collaborate with and augment NOAA intramural research programs.

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-6145-0-1-306.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $0; FY 10 est $18,607,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Grants and cooperative agreements are awarded as applicable. For example, the Ocean Exploration Science Program sponsors competitive, peer-reviewed exploration projects to collaborate with and augment NOAA intramural research programs.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

NOAA Grants and Cooperative Agreements Policy Manual. Allowable cost will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 225for State and local governments and Indian Tribes; 2 CFR 230 for nonprofit and for-profit organizations; 2 CFR 220 for institutions of higher education; and 48 CFR Part 31 for commercial organizations. Financial assistance management will be in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit and commercial organizations, and with 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.

Related Programs

11.417 Sea Grant Support; 11.419 Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards; 11.420 Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves; 11.426 Financial Assistance for National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; 11.430 Undersea Research; 11.431 Climate and Atmospheric Research; 11.432 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Joint and Cooperative Institutes; 11.449 Independent Education and Science Projects and Programs

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Satellite Offices in Narragansette, Rhode Island; Charleston, South Carolina; Seattle, Washington.

Headquarters Office

Director 1315 East-West Highway, Room 10210, , Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: (301) 734-1010

Web Site Address

http://www.explorer.noaa.gov

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals