Foa_Content_of_M23AS00374.pdf

Signature Date

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

BOEM - Acquisition Policy and Financial Assistance

M23AS00374

07/20/2023

Table of Contents A. Program Description

A1. Authority

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

A3. Technical Assistance and Information for Prospective Applicants

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

B2. Expected Award Amount

B3. Anticipated Dates

B4. Period of Performance

B5. Numbers of Awards

B6. Type of Award

B7. Other Federal Information

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

C3. Other

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

D4. Submission Dates and Times

D5. Intergovernmental Review

D6. Funding Restrictions

D7. Other Submission Requirements

D8. Application Checklist

E. Application Review Information

E1. Criteria

E2. Review and Selection Process

E3. CFR - Regulatory Information

E4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information

F1. Federal Award Notices

F2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

G2. Administrative/Budget Questions Program Office Contact

G3. Grants Staff Contact

G4. Technical Support

H. Other Information

A. Program Description

A1. Authority

Section 1346 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) mandates the conduct of environmental and socioeconomic studies needed for the assessment and management of environmental impacts to the human, marine, and coastal environments which may be affected by oil and gas or other mineral development. OCSLA Section 1345 authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information and joint utilization of available expertise to carry out applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is the federal agency established to conduct Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lease sales and to assess the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of OCS activities.

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

Funding Opportunity Description and Purpose BOEM is offering a cooperative agreement for the study Facilitating Resilience and Adaptation in Commercial Fisheries in Response to Offshore Renewable Energy Development and Climate Change (National Studies List [NSL] #PC-23-02) to understand and predict how potential impacts from offshore energy development and climate change may interact to affect commercial fisheries, and to develop mitigation strategies that increase either the adaptive capacity or the resilience of affected stakeholders to foreseeable changes.

Background Given the ubiquity of fishing activity on the OCS, any lease area selected for floating wind energy development will likely create space-use conflicts with one or more commercial fisheries.

Potential consequences of these offshore conflicts may include preclusion from fishing grounds, reduction in efficiency, and loss of gear. Marine populations targeted by fishers may also be negatively impacted from offshore energy activities and this could reduce harvest potential.

Detecting project-specific impacts must done in the context of a highly variable environment which presents additional challenges because natural and anthropogenic climate change is rapidly altering the world’s oceans through both long-term directional trends and increased frequency of extreme or anomalous events, with significant impacts on fisheries. To conduct accurate impact analyses and develop effective mitigation strategies to reduce potential impacts, it is crucial to understand and anticipate the effects of climatic trends and extreme events on fisheries social-ecological systems, which represent linked interactions and feedback mechanisms among the environment, targeted populations, fishers, and the broader ecological and human communities.

Existing West Coast renewable energy leases include a Commercial Fisheries Stipulation that directs lessees, to the extent practicable, to prioritize Federal and State climate change adaptation strategies for fisheries when proposing mitigation measures within their construction and operations plans. It is expected that products from this study may be able to assist BOEM in evaluating actions lessees may propose to meet the requirements of the stipulation.

Study Objective The objective of this study is to select a range of potential climate change scenarios and conduct a series of analyses that examines the offshore causal-change progression (climate-oceanography-biology-socioeconomics) focused initially in the Pacific Region fisheries and (1) describes potential changes, (2) describes how these changes may interact with changes expected from offshore energy development, and (3) offers potential mitigation strategies that will increase the resilience or adaptability of the commercial fishing industry.

Work planned as part of this award will build upon or collaborate with completed, ongoing, or proposed studies, including “Scenarios for Offshore Renewable Energy along the Central California Coast” (PC-16-01), “Using Outcomes from Marine Protected Area Implementation to Infer Potential Socioeconomic Consequences of Offshore Energy Development to Commercial Fisheries” (PC-21-02), “Socioeconomic Characterization of West Coast Fisheries in Relation to Offshore Wind Development” (M22PG00032), “Facilitating Resilience and Adaptation in Commercial Fisheries in Response to Offshore Renewable Energy Development and Climate Change” (PC-23-03a, inter-agency agreement with NOAA in development), and “Port Infrastructure Needs of Commercial and Recreational Fisheries along the U.S. West Coast” (in development).

Key Tasks

Task 1: Develop and Implement a Research Plan. The purpose of the research plan is to outline a conceptual approach, methodology, and proposed analyses that meet the following objectives:

a. Select and justify appropriate climate change scenarios foreseeable on the U.S. West Coast (offshore California, Oregon, and Washington) within the next 30 to 50 years to use as a framework for further analyses

b. Predict the ecological response of marine systems to climate change scenarios, focusing on areas prospective for offshore energy activities on the U.S. West Coast

c. Predict how commercial fishing may evolve along the US West Coast in response to potential climate change scenarios, focusing on fisheries most likely to be impacted from offshore energy activities

d. Determine if potential impacts to commercial fisheries expected from floating offshore wind development will interact with predicted changes from climate change

e. Develop potential mitigation measures or interventions to avoid, minimize, compensate, or enhance local fisheries in areas prospective for offshore energy development

The Research Plan shall incorporate the following conditions: (1) When selecting climate change scenarios, one shall be a reference point from which alternative scenarios shall be compared; (2) When developing methodology that will be used to predict ecological and fisheries changes, emphasis shall be on predicting shifts in the distribution and abundance of harvestable species and shifts in the distribution and intensity of fishing effort; (3) Specification of datasets and approach to typology that will be used to characterize West Coast fisheries into tractable categories for analysis (e.g. “métiers” or other suitable approach); (4) An interim report that describes existing patterns of fisheries and landings (which is needed as part of objective 1.3), a summary of important fisheries for each notable port/harbor on the U.S. West Coast, and the stressors affecting these fisheries. This summary will assist in conducting a cumulative impacts assessment and developing mitigation measures; (5) Prioritize Federal and State climate change adaptation strategies (especially those aiming for increased resilience) for fisheries when identifying options for mitigation or intervention. The Recipient shall specific the lead agency(s) or entity(s) responsible for implementing options, the temporal and spatial scales associated with each mitigation or intervention proposed, and a relative qualitative cost estimate associated with implementation; (6) Ensure proposed mitigation measures specific to either BOEM or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) shall be practicable and within the scope of regulations (30 CFR Part 585) and/or guidance issued by either BOEM or BSEE.

Task 2: Develop and Implement a Project Management Plan. The Recipient shall develop and follow a Project Management Plan (PMP) for this study that shall include a Project Manager (PM) with sufficient authority to serve as the point-of-contact with BOEM and to provide leadership to the project team. The PM shall coordinate deliverables, maintain quality assurance for all products, monitor budget, and follow the schedule of the study. The Recipient shall coordinate the execution of all tasks in the study and shall adhere to the PMP submitted as part of its Proposal, pursuant to modifications agreed to during the Post-Award Meeting. This project requires regular interactions with BOEM to ensure that these research efforts will best meet BOEM’s needs. The communication includes emails and phone conferences as issues and problems arise that require BOEM’s feedback and input. The PM shall ensure that deliverables shall be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The components of a PMP shall include (1) A Data Management Plan that includes a description of the data that will be collected, how it will be organized and stored within one or more databases, and data protection procedures that will describe quality assurance/quality control protocols, back-up procedures, metadata generation, and how confidential information (if any) will be received and handled; (2) A Logistics Plan that outlines how the specific steps of the research, especially fieldwork, shall be implemented; (3) A Safety Management Policy that ensures an over-arching commitment for the safety and health of all personnel involved with the proposed research; (4) A description of Local Involvement/Traditional Knowledge and how this information will be incorporated into the larger research plan; and (5) A Schedule and Milestone Table that corresponds to a 24-month period of performance. The milestone table shall outline the approximate predicted schedule for key tasks during the period of performance for this award.

Task 3: Develop and Implement a Communications Plan. The purpose of the Communication Plan is to coordinate ensure that all personnel involved with the work synergistically and cooperatively to achieve the goals and objectives of the study. The emphasis shall be on how the Project team shall coordinate with partners outside of BOEM, specifically other Federal partners, State agencies, Tribes, fishers, and others as needed.

Effective communication, collaboration, and coordination are significant factors to success in collaborative research. Communication is defined as imparting or interchanging thoughts, opinions, or information by speech or writing. Collaboration is defined as working together to accomplish a task and discussions on how to solve problems. Effective collaboration includes both individually focused tasks and interactive group-work. Coordination is defined as the well-balanced adjustment or interaction of different people or things to achieve a goal or effect.

The Communications Plan shall include: (1) Identification of potential partners/collaborators in this effort; (2) Process, frequency, and timing of communication (remote, in-person, etc.) among collaborators; (3) Data-sharing processes; (4) How work assignments will be coordinated so that research is synergistic and not duplicative.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.423 Authorization Legislation Section 19(e) of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) (Public Law 95-372) (43 U.S. Code 1345)

A3. Technical Assistance and Information for Prospective Applicants

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

Estimated Total Funding $1,100,000 The total amount of federal funds available is anticipated to be $1,100,000.

B2. Expected Award Amount

Maximum Award Amount $1,100,000 Minimum Award Amount $1,050,000

B3. Anticipated Dates

Award Start Date September 16, 2023

B4. Period of Performance

Length of Project Periods 24-month project period with two 12-month budget periods

Length of Project Period Explanation of Other Project Period l Expectation Duration in Months If the proposed work is such that more than one year is required to complete the research, then a multi-year proposal is appropriate, and the applicant shall write the proposal accordingly.

Proposals shall clearly define the work to be completed in each year, and the evaluation panel reserves the option to fund only the first year of a multi-year proposal. Funding for subsequent years of a multi-year cooperative agreement is contingent upon the availability of funds and satisfactory progress demonstrated by the Awardee. Progress will be determined through technical review of quarterly progress reports and other work identified by the BOEM Project Officer. Funds requested for the final year of performance shall include a 15% retainage of the project's total anticipated budget request. The BOEM Project Officer shall provide continuation notices at least 60 days prior to the end of each funding period.

B5. Numbers of Awards

Expected Number of Awards This program anticipates one award will be made through this funding opportunity.

B6. Type of Award

Funding Instrument Type CA - Cooperative Agreement The award will be a cooperative agreement. This involves substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in various aspects of study development and/or study conduct.

BOEM will perform the following:

1. Work closely with the Recipient to provide real time direction or re-direction on data analysis (that is within the purpose and scope of the study) based on early results.

2. Provide information on foreseeable scenarios of floating offshore wind in the Pacific Region, including the leasing process and expected timelines, and potential impact-producing factors from energy development to fisheries.

3. As needed, liaison with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal organizations to obtain fisheries data or other information to inform analyses.

4. Provide subject matter expertise regarding fisheries within the Pacific Region, ongoing analyses, and coordinate with other ongoing BOEM-funded studies.

5. Perform some data synthesis and writing for journal publication(s) of study results.

6. Provide funding and oversight.

B7. Other Federal Information

Type of Competition Open to All Eligible Applicants

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

06 – Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 25 – Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Additional Information on Eligibility This Program Announcement describes the specific project that may be awarded as a cooperative agreement between the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and BOEM. Any award is premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal. This is not an open solicitation for proposals. This announcement is specifically to announce intent to undertake the following project:

Facilitating Resilience and Adaptation in Commercial Fisheries in Response to Offshore Renewable Energy Development and Climate Change

Open to:

The award will be a cooperative agreement (see Eligibility Information below). This project is being proposed as a Cooperative Agreement between UCSB and BOEM under the umbrella of the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). Both BOEM and UCSB are member partners. This umbrella limits overhead costs for UCSB to 17.5%. A CESU project is a collaborative effort of agency and partner scientists initiated upon agency or partner identification of a need to address an area of concern that falls under the Californian CESU mission statement at http://ucanr.org/sites/CCESU/files/70742.pdf. This involves substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in various aspects of study development and/or study conduct.

Eligibility Information

Research projects are required to have a staff member of the applying organization as the Principal Investigator (PI). Cooperative research between interested organizations, i.e., state agencies, public universities, and non-profits in affected states, is always encouraged.

Cost Share/Match: Contributions of matching funds towards these efforts, either as cash or in kind contributions (such as salary, equipment, etc., or a combination of both) is very strongly encouraged. Match cannot include value associated with collection costs for samples previously collected. Match value for instrumentation and other equipment should be adjusted to the period of use within the project relative to the full life cycle for the item. Written documentation for the assessed match for ship time (if applicable) shall provide a fair assessment of costs relevant to the project. Matching dollars cannot be from other Federal funding sources. Further information can be located at 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 200.306.

All questions regarding this project, including eligibility, should be directed only to the "Program Announcement and Cooperative Agreement Questions" point-of-contact listed in Section G.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing/Matching Requirement No Percentage of Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

C3. Other

Excluded Parties:

BOEM conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The Bureau cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package

The application from the institution must be submitted through the www.Grants.gov portal at "Apply for Grants." The applicant can locate the application package by visiting the Grants.gov portal and searching on CFDA number 15.423 or Announcement M20AS00176 in the Grants.gov search engine. The announcement is also available in Grant Solutions.

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Individuals applying for and receiving funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may own or operate and any entity waived from the SAM.gov registration requirements by the funding bureau or office must submit the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form.

All required application forms are available on with this announcement on Grants.gov.

Project Summary Facilitating Resilience and Adaptation in Commercial Fisheries in Response to Offshore Renewable Energy Development and Climate Change (National Studies List [NSL] #PC-23- 02b)

Scientific Integrity: All members of the project team shall comply with the Department of the Interior’s Policy regarding the Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities (https://www.doi.gov/scientificintegrity).

The application process begins by downloading Adobe Reader at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html. Note: The Adobe software (Adobe Reader DC) is going through compatibility issues that may or may not affect you. The Adobe software will enable the applicant and all interested parties to view and complete the following required application forms:

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance SF-424A Budget Information SF-424B Assurances (Non-Construction Programs) Project Narrative Form (including Proposal Cover Sheet described below) Budget Narrative Form University Budget Form and Budget

Certification Regarding Lobbying (GG-Lobbying Form; Complete the Optional SF-LLL Lobbying Form only if lobbying has occurred)

Project Narrative Proposal Cover Sheet

The cover sheet of the proposal shall contain the following information:

1. Project Title:

2. PI(s):

i. Name:

ii. Address:

iii. Phone:

iv. Fax:

v. E-mail:

3. Name of University/Consortium/Department:

4. Contact Information for Technical and Administrative Negotiations

5. Project Status: New/Continuation

6. Project Duration: (years or months)

7. Proposed Start Date:

8. Proposed Draft Final Report Submission Date:

9. Proposed Completion Date:

10. Amount Requested From BOEM:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

11. Amount and Sources of Non-Federal Match:

12. Total Project Cost:

13. Signature, Name, and Contact Information of University PI and Co-Investigator:

14. Proposal Endorsement, including Signature, Name, Contact Information of Sponsoring

University Department Dean or Institute Director:

15. Signature, Name and Contact Information of Sponsoring University’s Office of

Sponsored Programs

Proposal Text

The proposal must be in 11–12 point Times New Roman, Arial, or similar font with 1"-page margins. Non-conforming proposals will not be considered. Text, figures, etc. in support of items 1-10 below should be no longer than 15 pages. Please include the following in the Proposal:

1. Abstract

2. Background/Relevance to BOEM Issues, Information Needs, and Research Topics: Give a brief introduction to the research problem. State how the proposal addresses BOEM goals. Explain why the work is important. Specify the contribution to science related to understanding and predicting how potential impacts from offshore energy development and climate change may interact to affect commercial fisheries

3. Objectives/Hypotheses: Clearly define goals of the project.

4. Methods/Analyses: Provide a clear description of planned research methodologies and analyses.

5. Project Deliverables and Planned Products: Applicants shall provide plans for executing the duties of the awardee listed in Section A2 and the deliverables in Section F3 and Section H and as outlined in the Table in Section H including a rough timeline for these deliverables.

6. Staffing Plan: All key personnel (including graduate student workers) shall be identified by name. List the PI first, followed by the names of other individuals. Indicate the role and anticipated level of effort for each key participant offering unique or specific contributions to the project (oceanographer, geochemist, field assistant, etc.). If names of any key participants are unknown, a proposal addendum with the names and curricula vitae must be submitted prior to award.

7. Performance Measures: Applicants shall suggest specific measures that will be used to monitor project progress, including progress of sub-awardees (e.g., quality and timely deliverables, timely completion of fieldwork or other project components, draft peer-reviewed articles). These performance measures will be incorporated in the cooperative agreement award and reviewed as part of any continuation request.

8. Critical Starting Dates (e.g., for season-limited field work): Identify any critical starting dates and the reason why project success is dependent upon that start date.

9. Publication and Presentation: BOEM strongly encourages the Awardees to publish project reports in scientific and technical journals, and present results to the scientific community, appropriate professional organizations, and local, State, and/or Federal agencies as part of the project (see also Section H). These publications and meetings should be included in the proposal and budget.

10. Bibliography: List all references cited in the text, as well as references that are relevant to the current proposal from your past work in the field.

11. Curricula Vitae (maximum two pages) for each identified key participant. Emphasize previous experience in the field of study that the proposal addresses.

12. Letters of Commitment: Provide signed letters of commitment by matching fund grantors, contractors, and sub-grantees.

13. University Budget Spreadsheet: In addition to SF-424a Budget Information from below, include information in a format which provides personnel, travel, services, supplies, equipment, tuition, and indirect costs on an annual basis for both the requested BOEM funds and for the anticipated match funds.

Budget Justification Narrative: See below.

SF 424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

Applicants must show funds requested from this Federal program separately from any other Federal sources of funding. In the “Budget Summary” section of the appropriate SF-424 budget form, use the first row for funding requested from this Federal program. Use subsequent row(s) for funding requested from this Federal program. Use subsequent row(s) for other Federal funding. Enter each Federal program’s CFDA number(s) in the corresponding fields on the form.

Federal award recipients and subrecipients are subject to Federal award cost principles per the “DOI Standard Award Terms and Conditions”. The CFDA number(s) for this program appears on the first page of this announcement.

Budget Narrative/Detailed Spreadsheet Describe and justify requested budget items and costs. Detail how the SF-424 Budget Information, Object Class Category totals were determined. For personnel salary costs, include the baseline salary figures and the estimates of time. Describe any item of cost that requires prior approval under the Federal cost principles. See 2 CFR 200.407 “Prior written approval (prior approval)” for more information. If equipment purchased previously with Federal funds is available for the project, provide a list of that equipment and identify the Federal funding source.

Budget Justification Narrative

This information will provide more details than the SF-424a form and will provide adequate information for the Contracting Officer to conduct a detailed analysis of the costs to determine they are reasonable, allowable, and allocable. Please include the following:

1. Salaries and Wages. List positions, rate of compensation and estimated number of hours.

If contract employees are hired, include their total time, rate of compensation, job titles, and roles.

2. Fringe Benefits/Labor Overhead. Indicate the rates/amounts in conformance with normal accounting procedures. Explain what costs are covered in this category and the basis of the rate computations. Provide a copy of the negotiated rate agreement, if available.

3. Lab Analyses. Briefly itemize cost of all analytical work.

4. Supplies. Enter the cost for all tangible property. Include the cost of office, laboratory, computing, and field supplies separately. Provide detail on any specific item that represents a significant portion of the proposed amount. Provide a statement that supplies will be purchased in accordance with 2 CFR 200.318–326.

https://www.doi.gov/grants/doi-standard-terms-and-conditions

5. Equipment. Show the cost of all special-purpose equipment necessary for achieving the objectives of the project. “Special-purpose equipment” means scientific equipment having a useful life of more than 1 year and having an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per item. Each item should be itemized and include a full justification and a dealer or manufacturer quote, if available. General-purpose equipment (used also for purposes other than this project) must be purchased from the applicant’s operating funds. Title to non-expendable personal property shall be vested solely with the Awardee. Under no circumstances shall property title be vested in a sub-tier Awardee. Provide a statement that equipment will be purchased in accordance with 2 CFR 200.318–326 and managed in accordance with 2 CFR 200.313.

6. Services or Consultants. Identify the tasks or problems for which such services would be used. List the contemplated sub-Awardees by name (including consultants), the estimated amount of time required, and the quoted rate per day or hour. Sub-applicant proposals should provide cost breakdowns at the same level of detail as the Applicant’s proposal. If contract employees are hired, include their total time, rate of compensation, job titles, and roles. Provide a statement that salaries will be charged at the actual rate and that the rate is comparable to others doing similar work within the organization.

7. Travel. State the purpose of the trip and itemize the estimated travel costs to show the number of trips required, the destinations, the number of people traveling, the per diem rates, the cost of transportation, and any miscellaneous expenses for each trip.

Calculations of other special transportation costs (such as charges for use of applicant-owned vehicles or vehicle rental costs) should also be shown. Applicants are encouraged to include in the proposal a plan to present findings at one to two major meetings.

8. Publication Costs. Indicate an estimate of labor and other unique costs associated with preparation of the draft final report. If publication of results of the research in the peer-reviewed literature (identify likely publications) is anticipated, include costs of drafting or graphics, reproduction, page, or illustration charges, open access fees, and a minimum number of reprints.

9. Other Direct Costs. Itemize the different types of costs not included elsewhere.

10. Total Direct Charges. Totals for items a–i.

11. Indirect Charges (Overhead). Indirect cost/general and administrative (G&A) cost. Show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for indirect costs based on the cost principles applicable to the Applicant’s organization. If the Applicant has separate rates for recovery of labor overhead and G&A costs, each charge should be shown. Provide a copy of the negotiated rate agreement with the Applicant’s Federal cognizant audit agency. [If applicable.]

12. Amount Proposed. Total items j and k.

13. Multi-year Projects. The Applicant shall provide summary information as well as a detailed budget for each year. Funds requested for the final year of performance shall comprise a minimum of 15% of the project’s total anticipated budget.

Conflict of Internet Disclosure Per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

Please reference the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act for additional details.

(a) Applicability.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2cb9f6d1c1c131ed576a5e65845ef3fa&mc=true&node=se2.1.1402_1112&rgn=div8 https://www.doi.gov/pam/programs/acquisition/fair-activities-inventory-reform-act

(1) This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

(2) In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by subrecipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR 200.318 apply.

(b) Notification. (1) Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR 200.112.

(2) Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by subrecipients.

(c) Restrictions on lobbying. Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR part 18 and 31 U.S.C. 1352.

(d) Review procedures. The Financial Assistance Officer will examine each conflict of interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.(e) Enforcement. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award.

Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.338, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR part 180).

Single Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribal government, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the EIN associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

Certification Regarding Lobbying Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funding must certify to the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If this application requests more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form also represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

Applicants and recipients must not use any federally appropriated funds (annually appropriated or continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a Federal award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is influencing or attempting to influence an https://harvester.census.gov/facides/Account/Login.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facides/Account/Login.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 officer or employee of any U.S. agency, a Member of the U.S. Congress, an officer or employee of the U.S. Congress, or an employee of a Member of the U.S. Congress connection with the award. Applicants and recipients must complete and submit the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities if the Federal share of the proposal or award is more than $100,000 and the applicant or recipient has made or has agreed to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with the application or award. The SF-LLL form is available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants must provide a statement indicating if there is any overlap between this Federal application and any other Federal application, or funded project, in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If no such overlap or duplication exists, state, “There are no overlaps or duplication between this application and any of our other Federal applications or funded projects, including in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel”.

If any such overlap exists, provide a complete description of overlaps or duplications between this proposal and any other federally funded project or application in regards to activities, costs, and time commitment of key personnel, as applicable. Provide a copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity and identify when that proposal was submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when you anticipate being notified of their funding decision.

D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration: This requirement does not apply to individuals applying for funds as an individual (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own, operate, or work within), or any entity with an exception to bypass SAM.gov registration with prior approval from the funding bureau or office in accordance with bureau or office policy. All other applicants are required to register in SAM.gov prior to submitting a Federal award application and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) which replaces the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet in April 2022. A Federal award may not be made to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the program is ready to make an award, the program may determine the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. Federal award recipients must also continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information through the life of their Federal award(s).

Register with the System for Award Management (SAM)

Applicants can register on the SAM.gov website. The “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov “Register with SAM” page also provides detailed instructions. Applicants can contact the supporting Federal Service Desk for help registering in SAM. Once registered in SAM, entities will be assigned a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least once every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly encouraged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure their information is up to date and https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update http://www.sam.gov https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/RegisterWithSAM.htm reflects changes that may have been made to the entity’s IRS information. There is no cost to register with SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who will charge a fee in exchange for registering entities with SAM.gov; please be aware you can register and request help for free. If applicable, foreign entities who want to receive payment directly to a U.S. bank account must enter and maintain valid, current banking information in SAM.

D4. Submission Dates and Times

Application Due Date 07/20/2023 Application Due Date Explanation Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.

D5. Intergovernmental Review

Prior to application submission, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the OMB Office of Federal Financial Management website and view the “State Point of Contact (SPOC) List” to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

States not on the list do not participate in the intergovernmental review process, and therefore do not have a SPOC. If you are located within a State that does not have a SPOC, you may send application materials directly to a Federal awarding agency. If your state is on the list, contact the designated entity for more information on the state’s prior review requirements for Federal assistance applications.

D6. Funding Restrictions

Indirect Costs: Individuals Indirect Costs: Organizations The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency for indirect costs, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior is your organization’s cognizant agency, the Interior Business Center will negotiate your indirect cost rate. Contact the Interior Business Center by phone 916-930-3803 or using the IBC Email Submission Form. See the IBC Website for more information.

Organizations must have an active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. Failure to establish an approved rate during the award period renders all costs otherwise allocable as indirect costs unallowable under the award.

Required Indirect Cost Statement to be submitted with Application

All organizations must include the applicable statement from the following list in their application, and attach to their application any documentation identified in the applicable statement:

We are:

A U.S. state or local government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct Federal funding each year with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency. Attached is a copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification.

A U.S. state or local government entity receiving less than $35 million in direct Federal funding with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We have prepared and will retain for audit an indirect cost rate proposal and related documentation.

A [insert your organization type; U.S. states and local governments, do not use this statement] that has previously negotiated or currently has an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. [Insert either: “Attached is a copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement. In the event an award is made, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award is made.” or “Attached is a copy of our current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.”]

A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. If we receive an award, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award date.

A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is lower than 10%. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate; must be lower than 10%]. However, if we receive an award we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat indirect cost rate of [insert rate; must be lower than 10%] against [insert a clear description of the direct cost base against which your rate is charged (e.g., salaries; salaries and fringe benefits; or modified total direct costs). However, please note that your organization cannot charge indirect costs in excess of the indirect costs that would be recovered if applied against modified total direct costs as defined in §2 CFR 200.68]. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing if we establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period.

A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is 10% or higher. Our indirect cost rate is [insert your organization’s indirect rate; must be 10% or higher]. However, if we receive an award we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% to be charged against modified total direct project costs as defined in 2 CFR §200.68. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing if we establish a negotiated rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period. We understand that additional

Federal funds may not be available to support an unexpected increase in indirect costs during the project period and that such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the [“Program Title”], which has a Department of the Interior-approve indirect cost rate cap of [insert program rate]. If we have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that we must apply this reduced rate against the same direct cost base as identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR) 2 CFR §1402.414. If we do not have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that must charge indirect costs against the modified total direct cost base defined in 2 CFR §200.68 “Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”. We understand that we must request prior approval from [insert Bureau Here] to use the 2 CFR 200 MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. We understand that [Insert Bureau Here] approval of such a request will be based on: 1) a determination that our approved base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages); and 2) that use of the MTDC base will still result in a reduction of the total indirect costs to be charged to the award. In accordance with 2 CFR §200.405, we understand that the indirect costs are not recovered due to a voluntary reduction to our federally negotiated rate are not allowable for recovery via any other means.

A [insert your organization type] that will charge all costs directly.

Prohibited Uses of Awards Funds Reimbursement of Pre-Award Costs

D7. Other Submission Requirements

Please be aware that the electronic submission process requires first time users to register using an e- Authentication process. This registration process can be somewhat complex and can take up to 3 weeks to complete. Be advised that it is virtually impossible to begin the process of electronic submission for the first time if you start just a few days before the due date. If you are from a university, contact your Office of Sponsored Programs. They may already have completed the registration process and should work with you to submit the application.

If you have any questions or problems with the registration process, or the completion of the application package, please contact the grants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

Briefly, when you submit a grant application package to Grants.gov, you will receive a confirmation screen as well as three additional emails over two business days from Grants.gov informing you of your application processing status: 1. Confirmation screen

2. Submission Receipt (with “Track My Application” link) 3. Submission Validation (or Rejection with Errors) 4. Agency Retrieval

CONFIRMATION: Submission Confirmation Screen.

mailto:support@grants.gov

After you submit your grant application package, a confirmation screen will appear on your computer screen. This screen confirms that you have submitted an application to Grants.gov.

NOTIFICATION 1: Submission Receipt Email Within two business days after your application package has been received by the Grants.gov system, you will receive a submission receipt email which indicates that your submission has entered the Grants.gov system and is ready for validation. This email also contains a tracking number for use while tracking the status of the submission as well as a “Track My Application” link, to use to see the progress of your submission.

NOTIFICATION 2: Submission Validation Receipt Email – This is the important one!

After you receive the submission receipt email, the next email you will receive will be a message validating or rejecting your submitted application package with errors. The Grants.gov system is designed to check for technical errors within the submitted application package. Grants.gov does not review application content for award determination. Grants.gov will not post the application if there are errors. Failure to correct errors and submit by the date and time for closing may not be a reason for accepting a late application.

NOTIFICATION 3: Grantor Agency Retrieval Email Once your application package has passed validation it is delivered to the grantor for award determination and further approval. After the grantor has confirmed receipt of your application, you will be sent a third and final email from Grants.gov. The grantor may also assign your application package an agency specific tracking number for use within their internal system. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS E- MAIL

WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF THE CLOSING DATE, PLEASE CONTACT THE

CONTRACTING OFFICER.

If you need help entering your proposal, you can reach the Grants.gov Contact Center at: 1- 800- 518- 4726. Their hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and they are closed on Federal Holidays.

During the application period an applicant may submit a revised or corrected proposal…