Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (11.435)

Program

11.435 Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C 753 a.

Program Number

11.435

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To maintain a cooperative program which engages State and Federal agencies in the coordinated collection, management, and dissemination of fishery - independent information on marine fisheries in support of State Territorial Sea and U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone fisheries management programs.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funding through cooperative agreements involve regional member organizations in fishery - independent sampling projects. Projects are restricted to fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic and U.S. Caribbean. Cooperators are State and territorial governments, Interstate Marine Fishery Commissions.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are the Marine Fishery Conservation agencies of the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fishery Commissions.

Beneficiary Eligibility

This program benefits Federal, State and interstate marine resource conservation and management agencies; U.S. and foreign commercial and recreational fishing industries; conservation organizations; academic institutions; international and Indian Tribal treaties; private and public research groups; consumers; and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants are required to satisfy all DOC/NOAA standards and regulations, including routine and special terms and conditions for financial assistance programs application and conduct. Applicants may be required to show proof that they are mandated by their own State to monitor fishery resources and to manage or participate in the management of these resources. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The standard application forms as furnished by the agency. This program is covered under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Proposals are submitted through Grants.Gov. Applicants will need to enter the Funding Opportunity Number and/or CFDA number to access the application package and instructions. Application package will then be submitted directly to the (Name of your Office - Example Coastal Services Center). Proposals are subject to the requirements of 15 CFR Parts 14 and 24, as applicable.

Award Procedure

In FY 2003, the SEAMAP program changed to multi-year grants. Funding continues to be awarded annually, however, grant recipients submit three year proposals, that are reviewed and evaluated by the pertinent NMFS Office/Region/Science Center, and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, competency of the applicant to perform the proposed work, potential contribution of the project to national or regional goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects approved for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division and the Department of Commerce's Office of Federal Assistance for review and approval. Subsequent years of the grant do not require proposals. All requirements for funding are worked by the Program Officer. Recipients receive notification when funding has been approved for the current fiscal year.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approval time is expected to range from 30 to 90 days, which includes processing of the award through the NMFS, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance procedures. Subsequent funding for the multi-year grant is typically awarded 30 days after the Program Officer completes all funding requirements.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Multiple year awards of up to five years may be approved. Funding for multi-year projects beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of program funds in subsequent fiscal years, and the extent to which the recipient meets project objectives and reporting requirements.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards are normally for a 12-month period but in some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months, or may be completed in less than 12 months. Award funds must be spent in the indicated budget period and are to be expended in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Reporting requirements are outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Financial Assistance Award. Progress reports summarize work accomplished and explain situations where expected work has not been completed. Financial reports indicate use of funds during the financial reporting period designated. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

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.

Records

Generally, a recipient is required to retain records relating to a particular grant for three years from the date of submission of the final financial report. In cases where litigation, claim or an audit is initiated prior to expiration of the three-year period, records must be retained until the action and resolution of any issues associated with it are complete or until the end of the three-year retention period; whichever is latest.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: This Program provides an integrated, cooperative State/NMFS program that collects fishery-independent information on stocks of finfish and shellfish that are interjurisdictional in management and conservation need. This information is used by all Southeast fishery management authorities to develop, implement and monitor the effectiveness of fishery management plans and programs. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $3,716,304; FY 09 est $4,000,000; FY 10 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$71,500 - $1,372,023. Average: $337,845.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Allowable costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 225 for state, local, and Indian tribal governments; 2 CFR 230 for nonprofit organizations; 2 CFR 220 for educational institutions; and 48 CFR 31 for profit-making organizations.

Related Programs

11.407 Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986; 11.434 Cooperative Fishery Statistics

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Kelly Donnelly, Federal Program Officer, State/Federal Liaison Branch, National Marine Fisheries Service, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Telephone: (727) 824-5324. Fax: (727) 824-5364. E-mail: kelly.donnelly@noaa.gov.

Headquarters Office

N/A N/A, N/A, Non-U.S. N/A Phone: N/A

Web Site Address

http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/programs/seamap.htm.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Funds have been used for a variety of fishery-independent studies, including: surveys of shrimp and ground fish, and reef fish resources in the Gulf of Mexico; ichthyoplankton; physical oceanographic parameters; trawl surveys of fish and invertebrate resources along the South Atlantic Bight; and lobster and conch resources in the Caribbean. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Proposals are selected based on the results of SEAMAP committee activities and on negotiations between NMFS and cooperators. The nature and scope of cooperative activities are based on the needs of the cooperating agencies. Funding is allocated by NMFS based on SEAMAP committee recommendations and on the level of activities that are planned for accomplishment. Regardless of source, proposals must undergo rigorous technical review and comply with all OMB, DOC, and NOAA grants policies and procedures.