DOC NOAA - NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2021-2006774 - 2.8.2021.pdf

FY 2021 Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 4

A. Program Objective 4 B. Program Priorities 4 C. Program Authority 5

II. Award Information 5 A. Funding Availability 5 B. Project/Award Period 6 C. Type of Funding Instrument 6

III. Eligibility Information 6 A. Eligible Applicants 6 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 7 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 8

IV. Application and Submission Information 8 A. Address to Request Application Package 8 B. Content and Form of Application 9 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 15 D. Submission Dates and Times 16 E. Intergovernmental Review 16 F. Funding Restrictions 16 G. Other Submission Requirements 17

V. Application Review Information 17 A. Evaluation Criteria 17 B. Review and Selection Process 23 C. Selection Factors 24 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 26

VI. Award Administration Information 26 A. Award Notices 26 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 26 C. Reporting 29

VII. Agency Contacts 30 VIII. Other Information 30

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 31

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Agency Name(s): National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2021 Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2021-2006774

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.463, Habitat Conservation

Dates: The application deadline is April 12, 2021, at 11:59 PM Eastern time. Applications must be received by www.Grants.gov.

Funding Opportunity Description: The principal objective of the Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants solicitation is to support the recovery of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic salmon. Proposals submitted under this solicitation will be evaluated based on alignment with program priorities, including: 1) consistency with priority habitat restoration actions identified in the 2019 “Recovery Plan for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)” and the “Species in the Spotlight Priority Actions: 2016-2020” 5-year action plan for Atlantic salmon; 2) improvement of fish passage and connectivity between spawning and rearing habitats within designated Critical Habitat, in locations with river-specific stocks; 3) incorporation of proven restoration techniques, focusing on removal of barriers as the highest priority; and 4) strong capacity for the applicant to manage concurrent habitat restoration projects over multiple years, with a willingness to coordinate with NOAA to achieve project goals. Proposals may include the following types of activities:

feasibility studies; planning and assessments directly linked to restoration implementation;

engineering design and permitting; on-the-ground implementation; monitoring; or a combination thereof.

Proposals selected through this solicitation will be funded through multi-year cooperative agreements. The funding for the second and/or third year (Fiscal Year [FY] 2022 and/or FY 2023) will be estimated in FY 2021, with final amounts determined in future years, pending federal appropriations and progress towards project milestones. Proposals should outline the costs expected for year two and/or year three in detail in this proposal (see Section IV.B for more details about the budget narrative for multi-year awards). NOAA anticipates typical federal funding for awards will range from $300,000 to $750,000 over three years. NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of less than $300,000 or more than $1.5 million

Notice of Federal Funding Page 2 of 31 total over three years. NOAA anticipates up to $1 million will be available under this solicitation in FY21 to support the first year of selected projects. Funds will be administered by the NOAA Restoration Center. Awards are dependent upon the amount of funds Congress makes available to NOAA in the FY21 - FY23 budgets.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 3 of 31

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

The principal objective of the Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants solicitation is to support the recovery of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic salmon through multi-year partnerships. Proposals submitted under this solicitation will primarily be evaluated based on their ability to demonstrate how the proposed habitat restoration actions will contribute to the recovery of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic salmon, identified by NMFS as a “Species in the Spotlight” (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/endangered-species-conservation#species-in-the-spotlight).

B. Program Priorities

The principal objective of the Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants solicitation is to support the recovery of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic salmon, designated by NMFS as a Species in the Spotlight. Highest priority will be given to habitat restoration proposals that:

1. Propose activities that are consistent with priority habitat restoration actions identified in the 2019 “Recovery Plan for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)” [hereafter, 2019 Recovery Plan] and the “Species in the Spotlight Priority Actions: 2016-2020” 5-year action plan for Atlantic salmon. Applicants should describe how proposed actions contribute toward the goal of attaining 30,000 accessible and suitable habitat units within the three Salmon Habitat Recovery Units (SHRUs) in Maine.

Proposed actions should address the biological criteria for downlisting and delisting outlined in the 2019 Recovery Plan, with a focus on criteria for accessible and suitable habitat and productivity.

2. Improve fish passage and restore connectivity between spawning and rearing habitat within federally designated Critical Habitat for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment. Project sites that contain river-specific stocks will be prioritized. Applicants proposing work within the following rivers should outline whether river-specific stocks of Atlantic salmon are present within the project site(s): Sheepscot; Penobscot, including lower river tributaries such as the Ducktrap; Narraguagus; Pleasant; Machias; East Machias; and Dennys Rivers.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 4 of 31

3. Provide sustainable and lasting benefits for Atlantic salmon. Proposals that incorporate proven restoration techniques and focus on removal of barriers will receive highest priority.

For example, dam removals will receive higher priority than installation of structures that require operations and maintenance, such as fish ladders. Barrier removals are identified as a priority in the 2019 Recovery Plan for Atlantic salmon.

4. Exhibit a capacity to manage concurrent habitat restoration projects over multiple years, and an ability to manage federal funds, maintain financial and administrative records, and fulfill reporting requirements. The applicant should demonstrate a willingness to coordinate with NOAA to conduct technically and scientifically sound restoration projects to address program priorities, including proposing a plan for working collaboratively with NOAA on implementing mutual habitat restoration priorities through the proposed partnership.

C. Program Authority

The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under the following statutes to provide grants and cooperative agreements for habitat restoration and conservation: Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970;

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 1891a; and Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1535.

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Multi-year awards up to three funding years will be considered, and future releases of funds may be used to fund additional selected proposals through Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 without further competition. NOAA anticipates typical federal funding awards will range from $300,000 to $750,000 over three years. NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of less than $300,000 or more than $1.5 million over three years.

NOAA anticipates up to $1 million will be available under this solicitation in FY 2021.

Dependent on the level of funding made available by Congress, NOAA anticipates an additional $2 million may be available over the next two years (FY 2022 - FY 2023) to support selected awards, for a maximum of $3 million awarded under this solicitation.

Funds will be administered by the NOAA Restoration Center. The exact amount of funds that may be awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA. Any funds provided to successful applicants for subsequent-year funding requests will be determined by progress towards stated milestones and availability of funding at the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 5 of 31 discretion of the NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation and the NOAA Grants Management Division (GMD).

NOAA or the Department of Commerce are not responsible for direct costs of application preparation if programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for all top-ranked applications. The number of awards to be made as a result of this solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications received, the amount of funds requested, the merit and ranking of the applications, and the amount of funds made available by Congress in FY21 and subsequent fiscal years.

B. Project/Award Period

NOAA anticipates that the period of performance for most awards will be for 36 months, but may select a project where the period of performance extends up to 48 months. The earliest anticipated start date for awards will be October 1, 2021. Both federal and match pre-award costs, incurred up to 90 days prior to the award start date, may be requested and will be considered during pre-award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA.

Incurring pre-award costs before NOAA GMD offers a grant is at the applicant's own risk.

Once funds are awarded in FY21, recipients will not need to compete for funding in subsequent years. NOAA expects, but is not obligated, to provide additional funding to multi-year awards in subsequent years. Adding funds to multi-year awards is contingent on the availability of funds and satisfactory performance, and is at the sole discretion of NOAA.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

Selected applications will be funded through cooperative agreements, as described in 2 C.F.R. Sec. 200.24, meaning that NOAA expects to be substantially involved in many aspects of the awards. Substantial involvement may include, but is not limited to, collaboration on the scope of work, providing assistance with technical aspects of the habitat restoration project, review and comment on design plans, and review of procurement materials to the extent authorized by 2 C.F.R. Sec. 200.325.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, non-profits, commercial (for profit) organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local and Native American tribal

Notice of Federal Funding Page 6 of 31 governments. Applicants must propose work within one or more SHRUs in the state of Maine. Physical and/or mailing addresses for applicant organizations are not required to be located within the SHRU boundaries. The SHRUs encompass the full range of the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic salmon, including: 1) Merrymeeting Bay, which covers the Androscoggin and Kennebec, and extends east to include the Sheepscot, Pemaquid, Medomak, and St. George watersheds; 2) Penobscot Bay, which covers the entire Penobscot basin and extends west to and includes the Ducktrap watershed; and 3) Downeast Coastal, including all coastal watersheds from the Union River east to the Dennys River.

Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered.

Federal agencies are strongly encouraged to work with states, non-governmental organizations, municipal and county governments, and others that are eligible to apply.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

There is no statutory matching requirement for this funding. NOAA typically leverages its federal funding with matching contributions from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors to implement restoration. To this end, applicants should note that cost sharing is an element considered in the Evaluation Criteria under "Project Costs" (Section V.A.4). Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to demonstrate a commitment of 1:1 federal funding to non-federal match.

Federal sources cannot be considered for matching funds, but can be described in the budget narrative to demonstrate additional leverage and collaboration. Match to NOAA funds can come from a variety of public and private sources and can include third party in-kind goods and services and volunteer labor. Refer to 2 C.F.R. 200.306 for cost sharing or matching policies. Applicants are permitted to combine contributions from non-federal partners, as long as such contributions are not used to match any other federal funds and are available within the project period stated in the application. Applicants with approved indirect cost rates planning to provide cost sharing may find it convenient to propose a portion or all of their indirect costs as match, since the valuation of such costs has already been federally approved and documentation is readily available. Refer to Section IV.F "Funding Restrictions" for information on indirect costs. Refer to Section II.B “Project/Award Period” for information on pre-award costs.

Applicants whose proposals are selected for funding will be bound by the percentage of cost sharing reflected in the award document signed by NOAA's Grants Management Division, unless amended based on extenuating circumstances. NOAA is under no obligation to amend the matching contributions once agreed to by the recipient. Successful applicants should be prepared to carefully document matching contributions, including the overall number of

Notice of Federal Funding Page 7 of 31 volunteers and third party in-kind participation hours devoted to habitat restoration projects.

Letters of commitment for any secured resources that will be used as non-federal match for an award under this solicitation should be submitted as an attachment to the application (see Section IV.B).

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

Applications submitted through Grants.gov must be submitted by the due date and time provided in Section IV.D. Late applications may not be considered for funding. Information regarding electronic submission through Grants.gov is contained in Section IV.G. All applications MUST contain ALL required forms. Failure to submit forms may result in disqualification from this competition. See Section IV.G for more details. NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of less than $300,000 or more than $1.5 million over three years. Section III.A presents information distinguishing eligible versus ineligible organization types.

The following information describes ineligible project proposal types and activities:

1. Proposals that focus on marine debris prevention and removal are not eligible.

2. Proposals that focus on acquisition of real property are not eligible.

3. Activities that alleviate the liability associated with legally required mitigation for the adverse environmental impacts of an activity regulated or otherwise governed by local, state, or federal law are not eligible.

4. Activities that alleviate the liability associated with legally required compensatory restoration for natural resource damages under federal, state, or local law are not eligible.

5. Activities that are required by a separate consent decree, court order, statute, or regulation are not eligible. Applicants planning to combine grant or matching funds with mitigation should review the Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources; Final Rule at 73 Fed. Reg. 19594 (April 10, 2008). NOAA plans to follow the approach adopted by some other Federal agencies on Page 19636 that describes scenarios where mitigation credits may or may not be obtained in association with federal financial incentives.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

Complete application packages, including required federal forms and instructions, can be found on www.Grants.gov. If a prospective applicant is having difficulty downloading the application forms from www.Grants.gov, contact www.Grants.gov Customer Support at 1- 800-518-4726 or support@Grants.gov. Instructions for these forms are available at

Notice of Federal Funding Page 8 of 31 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/form-instructions.html. Information about the recommended format for applications is contained in Section IV.B.

B. Content and Form of Application

A complete, standard NOAA financial assistance application package should be submitted, as described below. Each proposal must include the following Federal application forms:

1) Standard Form (SF)-424: Application for Federal Assistance. The SF-424 form family may be downloaded from https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html.

2) SF-424A: Budget Information for Non-construction Programs. Selected applications will require an SF-424A for each funding year.

3) SF-424B: Assurances for Non-construction Programs

4) CD-511: Certification Regarding Lobbying

5) SF-LLL (if applicable): Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

In addition to the Federal application forms, NOAA recommends the following components as part of a complete application package. Page limits assume an 11- or 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Components should be organized into a maximum of four (4) PDF files outlined below:

1. Project Summary, Project Narrative, and Data Management Plan (19 page limit)

2. Budget Justification (6 page limit)

3. Project Designs (no page limit)

4. Supplemental Information (15 page limit)

1. Project Summary, Project Narrative, and Data Management Plan (19 page limit).

NOAA recommends the following components for the Project Summary (2 page limit).

1) Applicant Organization

2) Project Title

3) Brief Project Description, as follows:

a) Consistency with the 2019 Recovery Plan. Describe how the proposed actions will contribute to the recovery of Atlantic salmon, including the expected outcomes and measurable impacts of the project. Applicants should describe how proposed actions will contribute toward the goal of attaining 30,000 accessible and suitable habitat units within the SHRU(s).

b) Location of Project Sites. Include the geographic coordinates, SHRU(s), watershed, and

Notice of Federal Funding Page 9 of 31 the nearest town. If multiple sites are proposed, please include information for all sites.

Outline whether the proposed site(s) is / are located within designated Critical Habitat for Atlantic salmon, and whether river-specific stocks are present.

c) Sustainability of Restoration Approach. Describe the proposed techniques and how the approach will result in sustainable and lasting benefits for Atlantic salmon.

4) Timeline. Provide a timeline of all project activities to be supported with federal and/or non-federal matching funds, including an indication of when activities will begin.

5) Permits and Approvals. Identify and list all consultations, permits, and regulatory approvals necessary for the proposed project(s) and their status (e.g., not applied for;

pending; secured).

6) Landowner(s). Include name and address (if privately owned) or public agency contact for each proposed project.

7) Funding Request. Outline the total request for federal funds and the amount anticipated for non-federal matching funds, and state whether the match is confirmed or secured. Outline any leveraged funds beyond proposed non-federal match that are part of the overall project costs. Include the federal funds and proposed non-federal match per each year of requested funding.

NOAA recommends the following components for the Project Narrative (15 page limit).

The application should follow the organization of the Evaluation Criteria (see Section V.A) to receive a consistent review against competing applications. Provide sufficient background and contextual information for reviewers to independently assess the significance of the proposed project. See suggestions below for components to include within the five Evaluation Criteria.

a) Importance and Applicability. Describe the extent to which the proposed actions align with the stated Program Objective (Section I.A) and Program Priorities (Section I.B).

Highlight how the proposed actions are consistent with the 2019 Recovery Plan and the “Species in the Spotlight Priority Actions: 2016-2020” 5-year action plan. The proposal should describe the expected outcomes and measurable impacts, in relation to the goal of 30,000 accessible and suitable habitat units in each SHRU. The narrative should outline whether projects are located within designated Critical Habitat for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment. Applicants proposing work within the following rivers should outline whether river-specific stocks of Atlantic salmon are present within the project site(s):

Sheepscot; Penobscot, including lower river tributaries such as the Ducktrap; Narraguagus;

Pleasant; Machias; East Machias; and Dennys Rivers. The proposal should succinctly describe the historic condition of the restoration site(s) and identify any other restoration efforts planned or completed within the watershed for the benefit of Atlantic salmon.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 10 of 31

Describe the proposed techniques and how the approach will result in sustainable and lasting benefits for Atlantic salmon.

b) Technical/Scientific Merit. Proposals should describe in detail the actions to be undertaken. If page limits are restrictive, focus the application on the technical aspects of the proposed actions and on those actions with highest priority funding needs. For each restoration site, applicants should clearly identify the project phase(s) proposed (e.g., feasibility study, engineering, implementation) and proposed restoration techniques.

Proposals that include multiple restoration sites should fully describe the proposed restoration activity at each site within the project narrative section. For applicants proposing feasibility and design activities, a detailed scope of services or tasks should be included in the proposal. Applicants should describe the overall habitat restoration goals of the feasibility and design activities, a description of the quantity, quality and resiliency of the habitat, and how support for the proposed activity would catalyze subsequent on-the-ground restoration. Applicants should describe the quality of the habitat and the likelihood of resilience to climate change effects, such as warming water temperatures and extremes of droughts and floods.

For proposals including fish passage techniques, please indicate whether there are other dams or obstructions upstream or downstream of the target barrier and whether the target barrier is a partial or complete barrier. Applicants should highlight any synergies with other fish passage efforts in the watershed, including improvements at hydropower dams.

Applicants proposing to install devices or movable control structures should submit a summary management plan that specifies the entity responsible for the operation and maintenance of the structure(s), and how they will be operated and maintained throughout the life of the structure(s) to ensure lasting habitat benefits.

The project narrative should include a timeline with key milestones identified and detail how the project(s) will be completed within the specified time period. This includes identifying all consultation and permitting requirements and their status (e.g. not applied for, pending, secured), as well as a commitment to quickly provide information needed by NOAA to analyze project impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, see Section VI.B.2). For projects with NEPA documents completed or under development, please indicate the status and level of NEPA review (CE, EA, or EIS), lead Federal agency, contact information for the lead agency person, and where public copies of the document are available. Applications should identify annual/interim milestones that correspond to funding increments.

Applicants should include a Monitoring Plan for proposed activities. Proposals that include

Notice of Federal Funding Page 11 of 31 barrier removal techniques that meet the definition of “fish passage” must incorporate the monitoring parameters found in the NOAA Restoration Center Implementation Monitoring (Tier 1) Guidance, available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/resources-noaa-restoration-center-applicants#restoration-monitoring-and-data-management. All applications, regardless of proposed restoration approach, should include sufficient, cost-effective monitoring metrics that assess whether activities were carried out as designed. Plans should: 1) include parameters that evaluate short-term structural changes at the project site(s) (e.g. as-built surveys), and may also include a basic measure of effectiveness (e.g. presence/absence of target species); 2) propose pre-implementation data collection, when applicable; 3) include parameters with quantitative or clearly defined targets; and 4) include parameters with targets that can be evaluated within approximately one year post-implementation. Proposals requesting funding for pre-implementation activities, such as feasibility studies, planning, or design, should describe how pre-restoration monitoring meets the requirements listed above. On a limited basis, NOAA will also consider funding more in-depth, longer-term monitoring that addresses ecological effectiveness. NOAA may choose to provide additional funds to an award or increase the award period for successful applicants whose awards are identified as suitable for effectiveness monitoring. Projects proposing such effectiveness monitoring should describe the specific question or hypothesis that will be addressed, identify the principal investigator(s), and detail the monitoring methods and analyses proposed. Additional effectiveness monitoring is not a requirement of the proposal and is not included in the Evaluation Criteria (Section V.A).

For non-barrier restoration projects that aim to improve freshwater productivity, proposals requesting funding for implementation activities should include an Adaptive Management Plan. Plans should include: 1) management objectives that are regularly revisited and accordingly revised; 2) a conceptual model of the system being managed; 3) a range of management options; 4) monitoring and evaluating outcomes of management actions; 5) mechanisms for incorporating learning into future decisions; and 6) a collaborative structure for stakeholder participation and learning. Management objectives should ideally be specific and measurable criteria for success over the short-term (1 - 2 years) that contribute to long-term solutions that address factors limiting smolt production. Applicants should be willing to work with NOAA to adjust the plan, if necessary, to ensure that the proposed parameters are adequate and meaningful.

To protect the federal investment, the narrative should describe future management, beyond the award period, including mechanisms to protect, maintain, or sustain the restoration site(s) so the effects of the funded project(s) can benefit Atlantic salmon into the future. Applicants should also describe how the proposed restoration design, methodology, and techniques

Notice of Federal Funding Page 12 of 31 account for, or provide for, resilience to extreme weather events or adaptation to potential climate change impacts at the project site(s).

c) Project Costs. Applicants should follow the guidance under section 2. Budget Justification, as fully described below after the Data Management Plan guidance.

d) Applicant Qualifications. This section should fully describe the partner’s ability to develop and/or manage multiple habitat restoration projects simultaneously, for the benefit of Atlantic salmon. Applicants should include descriptions of: past relevant experience of the applicant organization, project staff and/or partners, including experience with habitat restoration design, construction, monitoring, and environmental compliance; the ability of the applicant to work with diverse partners; and the ability to effectively manage federal awards. Include brief resumes or curriculum vitae (CV) for up to three (3) key personnel, as described under the Supplemental Information section below.

e) Outreach and Education. The project narrative should demonstrate that the partnership and proposed actions have the support of a diverse set of stakeholders, and should include a brief, effective outreach strategy to encourage long-term stewardship for restored resources and to generate a community conservation ethic. Letters of support should be included in the Supplemental Information section.

NOAA recommends the following components for the Data Management Plan (2 page limit).

Proposals submitted in response to this announcement should include a Data Management Plan of up to two pages. NOAA provides the following Data Management Guidance for this program. The Data Management Plan should follow the Guidance for Data Management Plans at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/resources-noaa-restoration-center-applicants#restoration-monitoring-and-data-management. A typical plan should include descriptions of the types of environmental data and information expected to be created during the course of the project; the tentative date by which data will be shared;

the standards to be used for data/metadata format and content; methods for providing data access; approximate total volume of data to be collected; and prior experience in making such data accessible. The costs of data preparation, accessibility, or archiving may be included in the proposal budget unless otherwise stated in the Guidance. Accepted submission of data to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) is one way to satisfy data sharing requirements; however, NCEI is not obligated to accept all submissions and may charge a fee, particularly for large or unusual datasets. Final Data Management Plans may be developed in coordination with NOAA as part of NOAA’s

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 31 substantial involvement, as described in Section II.C. See also Section VI.B.of this Announcement. NOAA’s Data and Publication Sharing Directive for NOAA Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts is available at https://nosc.noaa.gov/EDMC/PD.DSP.php.

2. Budget Justification (6 page limit)

Reviewers will evaluate project costs by reviewing your budget justification. The budget justification narrative must include a detailed breakdown by category of cost (i.e., object class) separated into federal and non-federal shares as they relate to specific aspects of the award, with a detailed narrative justification for both the federal and non-federal (if applicable) shares. The object classes should match those found in the SF-424A. Award costs should be broken into annual funding requests up to three years in duration, based on logical milestones in the implementation plan. For instance, a proposal might include a request for a project's design costs in year one, estimated construction costs needed in year two, and estimated post-project monitoring costs in year three. Another example would be a project that requests construction costs for discrete sites in each year of a multi-year award.

If funding will be used to complete part of a larger project, a budget overview for the entire project to demonstrate how the NOAA request relates to the overall project budget and outcomes should be provided. If the project has been submitted for funding consideration elsewhere, the amount(s) requested or secured from other sources, and whether the funds requested/secured are federal or non-federal should be included. If the proposed project includes a monitoring component, the applicant should provide an estimate of all monitoring-related costs within the proposed budget.

The NOAA Restoration Center and GMD staff will review budget information in recommended applications to determine if costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, and realistic. The narrative budget justification should be sufficiently detailed to enable a clear understanding of the cost breakdown and calculations used to derive the line item subtotals in each object class of the SF-424A budget form. An SF-424A for each year of requested funding will be required prior to an award offer, but not as part of the initial application.

Additional budget development guidance, including a budget narrative template, is available in the “Supplemental Instructions” at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/resources-noaa-restoration-center-applicants#restoration-budget-guidance.

3. Project Designs (no page limit)

For applicants proposing implementation, the proposal should include the design plans (including the basis for the proposed design), specifications, scope of work for services, and

Notice of Federal Funding Page 14 of 31 engineering, opinions of cost or cost estimates (if available). Project design plans should be included in the application in order for reviewers to comprehensively assess the technical merit of the proposed restoration action(s). Please do not attach feasibility studies or watershed plans.

4. Supplemental Information (15 page limit)

All supplemental attachments should be combined into one file, which includes a list of the documents and associated page numbers. Proposals should include:

a) Site location map, such as a US Geological Survey topographic quadrangle map or aerial photo with site location(s) highlighted;

b) Brief resumes or curriculum vitae (CV) for up to three (3) key personnel (maximum of 1 page per person) and any examples of projects similar in scope and nature that have been successfully completed by the project team;

c) Letter documenting private landowner or public land manager support of the project(s) proposed for the owned site(s); and

d) Other relevant supporting materials, such as: letters of support to document stakeholder support; federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements; Monitoring Plan; Adaptive Management Plan (if applicable); site photos, etc.

Environmental Compliance Questionnaire for NOAA Federal Financial Assistance Applicants: This program does not use this questionnaire, except as described in Section

VI.B.4.

C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

Applicants should: (1) Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application; (2) provide a valid Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number on an application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. The federal awarding agency may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the federal awarding agency is ready to make a federal award, the federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

Applicants should allow a minimum of two weeks to complete the SAM registration;

Notice of Federal Funding Page 15 of 31 registration is required only once but must be periodically renewed. Applicants can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1- 866-705-5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Your organization's Employer Identification Number (EIN) will be needed on the application form.

D. Submission Dates and Times

The application deadline is April 12, 2021 at 11:59 PM Eastern time. See Section III.C for more information.

E. Intergovernmental Review

Applications submitted by state and local governments are subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Any applicant submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 19 on SF-424 regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) established as a result of EO 12372.

To find out about and comply with a State's process under EO 12372, contact the official listed in Section VII of this announcement for referral information.

F. Funding Restrictions

Both federal and match pre-award costs incurred up to 90 days prior to the award start date may be requested and will be considered during pre-award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA. Incurring pre-award costs before the NOAA GMD provides an award document (generally via NOAA Grants Online on Form CD-450) is at the applicant's own risk. The earliest date for receipt of awards for this funding opportunity is anticipated to be October 1, 2021.

The budget may include indirect (facilities & administrative [F&A]) costs if the applicant has an established indirect cost rate with the federal government. As defined at 2 C.F.R. § 200.1, indirect (F&A) costs are incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefited, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved (e.g., lights, rent, water, and insurance). A copy of the current, approved negotiated indirect (F&A) cost agreement with the federal government should be included with the application. In addition, an eligible applicant under 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f), may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). An applicant may also describe all costs as direct costs in the budget narrative, or establish a new rate through the Department of Commerce by contacting Lamar Revis, Grants Officer at NOAA Grants Management Division, 1325 East- West Highway, 9th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or lamar.revis@noaa.gov. Applicants may elect to propose the reduction of part, or all, of allowable indirect costs as a component

Notice of Federal Funding Page 16 of 31 of cost sharing.

G. Other Submission Requirements

Applicants should submit applications electronically through www.Grants.gov. Users of Grants.gov will be able to create an online application workspace to submit the application.

If an applicant has problems accessing the online workspace at Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@Grants.gov.

Applications must be submitted by the due date and time provided in Section IV.D. Late applications will not be considered for funding. We highly recommend that applicants do not wait until the application deadline to begin the application process through Grants.gov, as registration with SAM and DUNS are required, as described in Section IV.C.

After electronic submission of the application, applicants will receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be accompanied by THREE automated responses (the first confirms receipt; the second validates that the submission is acceptable and timely; and the third confirms that the application has been forwarded to NOAA for further processing).

If all notifications are not received, applicants should follow up with both the Grants.gov help desk and the NOAA Restoration Center to confirm NOAA receipt of the complete submission. After submitting the application package, applicants should download a copy of the submitted application for offline record-keeping and to verify the contents of the submission zip file. Grants.gov recommends downloading the submitted application via the Details tab of the workspace and verifying the contents of each file in the zip.

Submission time will be documented by electronic submission to Grants.gov. All applications MUST contain ALL required forms. Failure to submit forms may result in disqualification from this competition. Applicants are responsible for tracking their own applications. Please notify the contact official in Section VII of this announcement by email if you are experiencing difficulties with Grants.gov or your organization is not able to use this system.

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers will assign scores to applications ranging from 0 to 100 points based on the following five standard NOAA evaluation criteria and respective weights specified below.

Applications that best address these criteria will be most competitive.

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1) Importance/Relevance and Applicability of Proposal to the Program Goals (40 points):

This criterion ascertains whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, federal, regional, state or local activities. For this competition, applications will be evaluated based on the following:

(a) Consistency with Recovery Plan. How great is the potential of the proposed actions to restore or enhance habitat for the benefit of Atlantic salmon? Proposed actions should be consistent with priority habitat restoration actions identified in the 2019 Recovery Plan and the “Species in the Spotlight Priority Actions: 2016-2020” 5-year action plan for Atlantic salmon. Applicants should describe how proposed actions address the biological criteria for downlisting and delisting outlined in the 2019 Recovery Plan, with a focus on criteria for accessible and suitable habitat and productivity. For pre-implementation activities (e.g., feasibility, planning, engineering and design), what is the likelihood that the project will yield meaningful benefits for Atlantic salmon, once implemented? (20 points) 0 – no benefits to Atlantic salmon will result from the proposed work; 10 – meaningful benefits to Atlantic salmon are likely to result, with moderate progress toward meeting habitat and/or productivity delisting criteria described in the 2019 Recovery Plan; 20 – extraordinary benefits to Atlantic salmon are likely to result, with substantial progress toward meeting habitat and/or productivity delisting criteria described in the 2019 Recovery Plan.

(b) Location of Project Sites. Are the proposed actions located within designated Critical Habitat for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment? Do project sites contain river-specific stocks of Atlantic salmon? Applicants proposing work within the following rivers should outline whether river-specific stocks of Atlantic salmon are present within the project site(s): Sheepscot; Penobscot, including lower river tributaries such as the Ducktrap;

Narraguagus; Pleasant; Machias; East Machias; and Dennys Rivers. (10 points) 0 – project site location(s) is / are located outside of designated Critical Habitat, and no river-specific stocks are present; 5 – for multi-site proposals, some project site locations are within designated Critical Habitat, with some sites containing river-specific stocks; 10 – project site location(s) is / are entirely within designated Critical Habitat, in areas where river-specific stocks are present.

(c) Sustainability of Restoration Approach. How great is the potential of the restoration effort to be sustainable and provide lasting benefits for Atlantic salmon? Is there evidence that the applicant has chosen the most self-sustaining approach that accomplishes the proposed goals? (10 points) 0 – proposed actions will provide no benefits for Atlantic salmon; 5 – proposed actions

Notice of Federal Funding Page 18 of 31 primarily focus on fishway installations or other project types that require operations and maintenance plans and/or Adaptive Management Plans to ensure effectiveness and sustainability; 10 – proposed actions primarily focus on barrier removals that restore natural stream morphology.

2) Technical/Scientific Merit (20 points): This criterion assesses whether the restoration activity or approach is technically sound, if the methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear goals and objectives. For this competition, applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant has described a realistic and thorough implementation plan that includes:

(a) Project Feasibility and Methodology. To what extent are the proposed actions feasible from a biological and engineering perspective, including whether the proposed methodology is technically sound, safe for the public, and provides for resilience to extreme weather events and adaptation to potential climate change impacts? (4 points) 0 – proposed methodology is not feasible; 2 – proposed methodology is potentially feasible, but lacks documentation to fully support the approach as being technically sound, safe for the public, and/or resilient to extreme weather events; 4 – proposed methodology is feasible, and demonstrates a high likelihood to be technically sound, safe for the public, and resilient to extreme weather events and climate change impacts.

(b) Project Detail. To what extent does the proposal completely describe the proposed restoration actions, the current status of the activities (e.g. 60% design plans complete), permitting and environmental compliance status, and key milestones throughout the course of the project(s). A complete project description should include all relevant phases of the restoration from initial feasibility study through design, permitting, construction, performance monitoring, operation and/or maintenance. If the proposal is a feasibility and design proposal only, to what extent does the proposal explain the planned approach, or provide examples of other projects where the approach was successful? For projects with multiple sites, does the proposal include sufficient detail about the proposed work at each site to assess the merit of the planned activities? (4 points) 0 – proposal provides negligible detail regarding restoration actions, project status, and key milestones; 2 – proposal provides moderate detail regarding restoration actions, project status, and key milestones; 4 – proposal provides extraordinary detail regarding restoration actions, project status, and key milestones.

(c) Realistic Timeline. Based on the details provided, has the applicant proposed a realistic time-frame and interim milestones, and is it likely that the scope of the proposed project will be completed within the requested award period? (4 points)

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0 – proposal provides negligible detail regarding timeliness, and is unlikely to be completed within the requested award period; 2 – proposal provides moderate detail regarding timelines, and the project is likely to be completed within the requested award period; 4 – proposal provides substantial detail regarding timelines, and the project is highly likely to be completed within the requested award period.

(d) Project Assessment. Does the proposal include a Monitoring Plan to measure near-term implementation success, following requirements outlined in Section IV.B? Proposals that include barrier removals for fish passage must outline parameters described in the NOAA Restoration Center Implementation Monitoring (Tier I) Guidance. If applicable, does the proposal include a sufficient Adaptive Management Plan, as described in Section IV.B? (4 points) 0 – proposal does not include a Monitoring Plan to measure near-term implementation success; 2 – proposal includes a sufficient Monitoring Plan and, if applicable, a sufficient Adaptive Management Plan; 4 – proposal includes a well-described Monitoring Plan and, if applicable, a well-described Adaptive Management Plan.

(e) Landowner Support. Is there substantiated landowner / land manager support and commitment to the project documented within the application, as evidenced by a support letter? (3 points) 0 – proposal does not provide documentation of landowner / land manager support; 2 – proposal provides documentation of landowner / land manager permission to implement the project; 3 – proposal provides documentation of landowner / land manager permission to implement the project, in addition to financial or in-kind support from the landowner / land manager for implementation.

(f) Data Management Plan. Has the proposal included a Data Management Plan, including descriptions of the types of environmental data and information created during the course of the project; the tentative date by which data will be shared; the standards to be used for data/metadata format and content; methods for providing data access; approximate total volume of data to be collected; and prior experience in making such data accessible? If no data will be collected through the project, the applicant must clearly explain the rationale for the lack of data collection in order to receive full points. See pages 3 - 5 in the NOAA Restoration Center Implementation Monitoring (Tier 1) Guidance for a template and more information.