Unallied Science Program (11.472)
Program
11.472 Unallied Science Program
Federal Agency
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AGENCY, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Authorization
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. 661; Fish and Wildlife Act, 16 U.S.C. 753a.
Program Number
11.472
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide grants and cooperative agreements of biological, socio-economic and physical science research on the stocks of fishery and protected resources of the United States and their environment that will contribute to their optimal management for the benefit of the Nation; also, to award grants and cooperative agreements to develop innovative approaches and methods for marine and estuarine science.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds can be used by recipients to support a wide variety of research on high-priority marine and estuarine resource issues, especially for resources and/or their habitat currently under, or proposed for future Federal or interjurisdictional management.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants for assistance include: State and local governments, including their universities and colleges; U.S. territorial agencies; federally and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments; private universities and colleges; private profit and nonprofit research and conservation organizations and/or individuals.
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 applications and conduct.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The standard application forms as furnished by the agency. 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
Submission of an application on Standard Form 424 as furnished by NOAA, including all required certifications, to the appropriate National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Director, Science and Research, or Office Director. This program is subject to the provisions of 15 CFR Part 24 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), and OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-87. NOAA reserves the right to withhold the awarding of a grant or cooperative agreement to any individual or organization delinquent on a debt to the Federal government until payment is made or satisfactory arrangements are made with the agency to whom the debt is owed.
Award Procedure
Proposals are initially 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.
Deadlines
Project applications must be received by the receiving NMFS office at least 120 days before the requested start date of the project.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Renewal of an award to increase funding and/or extend the period of an award is at the sole discretion of the Department.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Projects are funded at up to 100 percent of the Federal share. Grantee matching contributions are not required, but are encouraged.
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 in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures. 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
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 on a semi-annual schedule.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), 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 (3) 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
Alaska Region: Carry out marine research activities in the North Pacific, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean. Northeast Region: Development of a long-term water quality and fishery management initiative in Narragansett Bay, RI.; Contributions to enhance data collection for the American lobster resource along the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and to provide improved information for stock assessments and management. Northeast Center: Conduct cooperative research projects involving commercial fishermen, commercial fishing vessels, researchers, educators and coastal managers concentrating on fisheries and ocean management issues in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank. Southeast Region: Development of genetic tools to assess the population structures of major commercial and recreational species, such as swordfish, tunas and sharks. Conservation and management of threatened and endangered marine species in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina including development of an early warning system to reduce right whale/vessel collisions; U.S. Gulf of Mexico marine stock enhancement program; Contributions to the biology of the red drum in South Carolina; funded research to examine the biological and hydrographic characteristics of the Charleston Bump; provided support for research into pathogens affecting shrimp in the southeastern United States; developed an index of sea turtle abundance along the southern U.S. Atlantic coast.
Financial Information
Account Identification
13-1450-0-1-306.
Obligations
(Grants and Cooperative Agreements) FY 02 $33,175,129; FY 03 est $19,000,000; and FY 04 est $5,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$25,000 to $2,455,000. Average: $546,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Allowable cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes; OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit and for- profit organizations; OMB Circular A-21 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 CRF Part 24 for state and local governments.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Alaska: Shawn Carey, Alaska Regional Office, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telephone: (907) 586-7845, Fax: (907) 586-7255. Use the same numbers for FTS. Email: peter.d.jones@noaa.gov. Northeast: Harold C. Mears, Director, State, Federal, and Constituent Programs Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298. Telephone: (978) 281-9243. Fax: (978) 281- 9117. Email: Grants.Information@noaa.gov. Northwest: Kevin Ford, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115. Telephone: (206) 526-6115. Fax: (206) 526- 4461. Email: Kevin.Ford@noaa.gov. Southeast: Jeffrey Brown, State/Federal Liaison Staff, Southeast Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432. Telephone: (727) 570-5324. Fax: (727) 570-5364. Email: jeff.brown@noaa.gov. Southwest: Patricia J. Donley, Federal Program Officer, Southwest Regional Office, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802- 4213. Telephone: (562) 980-4033. Fax: (562) 980-4047 Email: pat.donley@noaa.gov.
Headquarters Office
JoAnna Grable, Management and Administration Division, National Marine Fisheries Services, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone (301) 713-1364. Use the same numbers for FTS. Fax: (301) 713-2258. Email: joanna.grable@noaa.gov.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Alaska: A Request for Proposals will solicit proposals for research projects that will focus on marine ecosystem form and function, endangered species, fish habitat, fishing capacity reduction, bycatch, salmon stock dynamics, stock assessment, and contaminants. Northeast Region: Activities include investigating the movements and ecology of migrating Atlantic salmon within Maine waters, and the growth, recruitment and survival of hard clams in Long Island's South Shore Estuary. Southeast Region: Funded a cooperative program that investigated the technical, economic and commercial feasibility of farm raising marine finfish in cages in the northern Gulf of Mexico utilizing oil and gas production platforms as operation centers. Provided funds to refine, field-test and demonstrate a successful marine fisheries stock management program for the Gulf of Mexico that blends aquaculture technology with traditional fishery management practices. Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina were funded for their endangered species programs on sea turtles. Funded research in red drum biology to better understand survival rates in the wild. South Carolina was funded to create a taxonomic center to identify and archive marine specimens.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Proposals are selected from several sources: Unsolicited proposals; special solicitations in the Federal Register or Commerce Business Daily; or Congressionally-mandated projects. Regardless of source, proposals must undergo rigorous technical review and comply with all OMB, DOC, and NOAA grants policies and procedures.
