Foa_Content_of_NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2025-26868_UPLOAD (2).pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

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Table of Contents

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Executive Summary Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information VI. Award Administration Information VII. Agency Contacts VIII. Other Information

Executive Summary Federal Agency Name Fisheries Headquarters Program Office (FHQ) Funding Opportunity Title FY25 Saltonstall-Kennedy Full Proposal Competition Announcement Type Competitive Funding Opportunity Number

NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2025-26868

Assistance Listing Number(s) 11.427 Dates Full-proposals must be received at https://www.Grants.gov under the competition link named “FY25 Saltonstall-Kennedy Full Proposal Competition”, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 pm, Eastern Time, November 25, 2024, 60 days after the posting date of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Use of Grants.gov is preferred. If Grants.gov cannot reasonably be used, use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. Postmarked applications received more than 10 business days following the closing date will not be accepted. You must have submitted a pre-proposal application by July 23, 2024, in response to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2025-26840 in order to submit a full proposal under the current NOFO.

NOTE: If you have not already completed your three required registrations, we strongly encourage all prospective applicants to begin registrations as early as possible. Completing the required registrations can take six weeks or longer. Submission due dates will not be extended because of registration delays. Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted.

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Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov).

Applicant organizations and individuals must first register with SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). After you obtain your UEI, you can complete your Grants.gov and eRA Commons registrations concurrently. See Section IV(G) for detailed instructions on registration requirements. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Agency Contacts listed in this NOFO for submission instructions.

When developing your full application submission timeline, please keep in mind that you are encouraged to apply through the www.grants.gov website. This electronic submission system is relatively complex for first time users and involves several preliminary registrations to be completed before your application can be submitted. Please allow sufficient time for the application to be submitted electronically and for possible computer delays.

The Grants.gov and eRA Commons validation processes for a submitted application can take up to two business days after submission. Only validated applications are sent to NOAA to review. To ensure successful submission of an application, we strongly recommend that you submit a final and complete application at least two business days prior to the submission deadline. Applications not adhering to postmark or submission deadlines will be rejected and destroyed.

Funding Opportunity Description The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act established a fund (known as the S-K fund) used by the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development projects addressing aspects of U.S. fisheries, including, but not limited to, harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated business infrastructures (seesection IV, F; Funding Restrictions). Under this authority, grants and cooperative agreements are made on a competitive basis (subject to availability of funding) to assist in carrying out projects to expand domestic and foreign markets related to U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries.

The term “U.S. fisheries” refers to any marine fishery (including the Great Lakes) that encompasses commercial, recreational, charter, subsistence, wild capture, and aquaculture that is, or may be, engaged in by citizens or nationals of the United States or other eligible applicants. The objective of the S-K Research and Development Program, referred to throughout this document as the S-K Competitive Grant Program, is to promote U.S. fisheries by assisting the fishing community to address marketing and research needs.

The term “fishing community” means harvesters, marketers, growers, processors, recreational fishermen, charter fishermen, fishermen, and persons providing them with goods and services.

Proposals submitted to this competition must address at least one of the following priorities: Promotion, and Marketing; Development, Infrastructure and Capacity Building; Science or Technology that Enhances Sustainable U.S. Fisheries. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) includes information on application requirements and criteria for proposals requesting a maximum of $500,000 in Federal funding for up to a two-year period. Matching funds are not required, nor will they be considered during the evaluation process. Awards are anticipated to start no earlier than September 1, 2025.

Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Program Objective NOTE: Submission requirements in this NOFO may change from previous year's announcements.

The S-K Program recommends reading the full announcement carefully, paying close attention to Section IV Application and Submission Information, for changes to application submission requirements.The objectives of the S-K Program and, therefore, the funding priorities for the S-K Grant Competition, have changed over the years since the program began in 1980. The program has evolved as Federal fishery management laws and policies and research needs have evolved in response to changing circumstances.

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The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires fishery managers to undertake efforts to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished fisheries, ensure conservation, minimize by-catch, protect essential fish habitats, and realize the full potential of U.S. fishery resources. It further requires that the Federal government take into account the importance of fishery resources to fishing communities; provide for the sustained participation of such communities; and, to the extent possible, minimize the adverse economic impacts of conservation and management measures on such communities.

The objective of the S-K Research and Development Program, referred to throughout this document as the S-K Competitive Grant Program, is to promote U.S. fisheries by assisting the fishing community to address marketing and research needs.

NMFS seeks applications that demonstrate direct benefits to U.S. fisheries and meaningful participation of fishing communities. The S-K Grant Competition is open to applicants from a variety of sectors, including individuals, industry, academia, and state, local, and Indian Tribal governments.

B. Program Priorities Applications shall address one or more of the three priorities listed below. However, a singular research priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal should be identified and will be used by NMFS for review purposes. These priorities are aimed at promoting and developing United States fisheries by growing awareness of and demand for products made from U.S. fishery resources, improving infrastructure, ensuring sustainable harvest and seafood supply, and supporting vibrant recreational fishing opportunities.

Within the scope of the project, applications should include support, cooperation, and/or collaboration with the fishing community.

Solicitation Priorities:

Priority #1 - Promotion and Marketing Projects sought should:

• Increase market demand and value of U.S. fisheries and/or;

• Demonstrate a direct economic benefit to the fishing community and/or;

• Develop or improve regional, national or global public relations and marketing opportunities to increase domestic production and/or demand for domestic products, and/or;

• Include marketing strategies which involve participation of the seafood industry locally, regionally, or nationally, and/or;

• Conduct domestic market research and/or develop value-added products focused on stimulating demand for U.S. fisheries.

Priority #2 - Development, Infrastructure, and Capacity Building Projects sought should:

• Develop new or underutilized U.S. fisheries; and/or

• Improve the capacity of fishery sectors, including but not limited to indigenous, artisanal, recreational and other sectors to participate in scientific initiatives, cooperative management, fishery management regulatory processes, or developing and/or marketing of new sustainable fishing opportunities; and/or

• Encourage greater or more effective participation by fishing communities in a targeted area of the U.S. fishery supply chain; and/or

• Demonstrate that any proposed new infrastructure or infrastructure improvement is needed and provides a broad benefit for the fishing community (see Section IV, F. Funding Restrictions).

Priority #3 - Science or Technology that Enhances Sustainable U.S. Fisheries Projects sought should:

• Directly impact a need identified by the fishing community through science and technology based projects to increase harvest or prevent reduction of harvest of seafood, increase recreational fishing opportunities, or create new market opportunities for fishing communities; and/or

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• Demonstrate a direct need or benefit as identified by the fishing community, and connect with one or more segments of the U.S. fisheries supply chain.

C. Program Authority Authority for the Saltonstall-Kennedy Program is provided under the Saltonstall Kennedy Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 713c-3).

II. Award Information A. Funding Availability Grant awards are dependent on the availability of Federal funding as provided in enacted Appropriations Acts. This NOFO is being released prior to final appropriations due to award process time frames. Final Congressional direction has not been determined. Applicants are not guaranteed any level of funding.

Project proposals requesting less than $25,000 or greater than $500,000 in federal funding, will not be accepted or reviewed. The number of awards made as a result of this solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications received, the amount of funds requested for each project, the merit and ranking of the proposals, and the amount of funds made available to the S-K Program.

Approximately 50% of available funds may be awarded to project proposals addressing Priority #1.

Approximately 25% of available funds may be awarded to project proposals addressing Priority #2.

Approximately 25% of available funds may be awarded to project proposals addressing Priority #3.

Approximately 10% of available funding may be allocated for projects requesting up to $100,000 in Federal funding.

NMFS will only accept three full proposals from the same entity or individual. If more than three full proposals are submitted from the same entity or applicant NMFS will accept the first three in the order they are received.

B. Project/Award Period We will award grants or cooperative agreements for a maximum period of two years (24 months), but shorter term project proposals are welcomed.

Applications beyond this 24 month duration will not be considered. The requested award start date must begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month. Project start dates will be no earlier than September 1, 2025 and no later than March 1, 2026. Award obligation will be dependent upon availability of Federal funding as provided by Congress, and acceptable completion of all NOAA/applicant negotiations including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and permit requirements, and the provision of other supporting documentation as requested. Applicants selected to receive funding may be asked to modify the project start date.

C. Type of Funding Instrument The funding instrument (grant or cooperative agreement) will be determined by NOAA. A cooperative agreement will be used if the proposed project involves substantial Federal involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, NOAA staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities in a partnership role; it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activities. The dominant role and prime responsibility resides with the award recipient for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities may be shared among the recipient and NOAA. The exact amount of funds, the scope of work, and terms and conditions of a successful award will be determined in pre-award negotiations, between the applicant’s Authorized Representative and NOAA/NMFS representatives.

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants

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You are eligible to apply for a grant or a cooperative agreement under the Saltonstall Kennedy Grant Competition if:

1. You are a citizen or national of the United States;

2. You represent an entity that is a corporation, partnership, association, or other non Federal entity, non-profit or otherwise (including Indian tribes), if such entity is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended (46 U.S.C. app. 802); or

3. You are a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, or the Federated States of Micronesia.

We recognize the interest of the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior in defining appropriate fisheries policies and programs that meet the needs of the U.S. insular areas, so we encourage applications from individuals, government entities, and businesses in U.S. insular areas. We support cultural and gender diversity in our programs and encourage women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications. We are also committed to broadening the participation of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), which include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities, in our grant programs. To find out more about MSIs go to https://www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/doi-minority-serving-institutions-program.

We encourage applications from members of fishing communities (including the Great Lakes) and applications that involve fishing community cooperation and participation. We will consider the extent of fishing community involvement when evaluating the potential benefit of funding a proposal.

Eligible Applicants must submit a full proposal that meets the submission requirements listed in this NOFO by the established due date. Eligible Applicants must also have submitted an agency accepted pre-proposal in response to Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2025-26840 in order to submit a full proposal to this NOFO. Full proposals will not be reviewed or evaluated if a pre-proposal was not received on time and ranked. Multiple full proposal submissions from the same entity or applicant are limited to three.

Non-Eligible Applicants:

You are not eligible to submit an application under this program if you are an employee of any Federal agency; a member of the American Fisheries Advisory Committee (AFAC); a Regional Fishery Management Council (Council); or an employee of a Council. However, Council members who are not Federal employees can submit an application to the S-K Grant Competition.

B. Cost Share or Matching Requirement No cost sharing or matching is required. Cost sharing is voluntary and will not increase the chances of your project being selected. If you choose to cost-share and if your application is selected for funding, you will be obligated to account for the amount of cost share dollars reflected in the award documents, signed by the NOAA Grants Officer. This commitment of matching dollars becomes a binding offer. If project costs are shared, NMFS must provide at least 50 percent of tota project costs.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility Federal agencies and their personnel are not permitted to receive funding under this competition;

however, Federal scientists can serve as uncompensated partners on proposals.Should you wish to partner with a Federal agency, a written agreement detailing this participation must be provided by an agency official authorized to make the commitment. The agreement should describe any planning, scheduling, conducting, and analyzing of proposed project activities or work to be conducted by a Federal employee, and/or resources provided by the partnering agency, e.g. equipment or lab space.

Infrastructure (see section IV, F; Funding Restrictions).

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request Application Package

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For the full application, the standard application package, consisting of the standard forms, i.e., Project Abstract, SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and the CD-511, is available at https://www.grants.gov.

NOTE: Project Abstract is a *new form* that MUST be included for your application to be considered complete.

If an applicant has problems with Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support at 1- 800-518- 4726 or support@Grants.gov. If you do not have Internet access, a full proposal application package may be received by contacting Jennifer Foss, S-K Program Manager, NOAA/UNH Joint Hydrographic Center, Chase Ocean Engineering Bldg, 24 Colovos Road, Durham, NH 03824, or email:

Jennifer.foss@noaa.gov. Any suggestions or questions regarding the solicitation and application process should be submitted to the S-K Program Manager at Jennifer.foss@noaa.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application

All application materials should be submitted in Adobe PDF or a common word processing format, and when printed out should meet all format requirements. All pages must be no less than single-spaced printed or typed, in at least 12-point font, and printable on 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, with 1- inch margins. If these requirements are not followed, the proposal will be withdrawn without consideration.

Neither Federal employees nor AFAC members are allowed to assist in the preparation of full proposals.

Additionally, AFAC members, Fishery Management Councils or employees of a Fishery Management Council are restricted from participating on an S-K project as a PI, Co-PI, Project Lead, Collaborator or Partner. Applications that do not follow these eligibility guidelines will not be accepted into the competition.

However, they may provide applicants with information on program goals, funding priorities, and full proposal application procedures. Because this is a competitive program, federal employees and AFAC members will not provide assistance in conceptualizing, developing, or structuring full proposals.

A complete standard NOAA grant application package is required in accordance with the provisions of this document. Applications that are not complete on the closing date of this announcement will not be reviewed. Your application must contain all required documents and forms; if these forms are not signed via the www.Grants.gov application process, they MUST be signed in ink. Paper applications without inked signatures on their forms will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. The Authorized Representative MUST sign and date these forms in the space reserved for electronic signature. Signatures (electronic or ink) must match the name printed in the “Authorized Representative” section of the SF-424 Block 21. Another Authorized Representative may not sign on behalf of the individual noted in Block 21. An incomplete application or one that does not follow the format requirements will not be considered and will be withdrawn from the competition.

Listed below are the minimum requirements for each application. Please pay close attention to the designated page limits as well as the other minimum requirements outlined. If any of these requirements are not met or if the page limits are exceeded the proposal will not be considered and will be withdrawn from the competition.

Each application must include Federal application forms, including:

(Note: required federal forms do not count against application page limits as long as they are not submitted in the body of the Project Narrative or Supporting Documents; each federal form should be uploaded as a separate, stand-alone file)

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Project Abstract Standard Form. The Project Abstract is a NEW form. Use the same project abstract from the 2 pg summary (limited to 200 words; see Content Requirements below). This should include the project’s broad, long-term objectives and specific aims, and a description of the research designs and methods. Do not include: proprietary or confidential information, or descriptions of past accomplishments.

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. Applicants must enter the NOAA assigned pre-proposal number in box 5b in order to show a pre-proposal was submitted.

SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-construction Programs must be completed. Indicate any matching funds, if applicable.

SF-424B, Assurances for Non-construction Programs must be completed for each submitted non-construction application.

CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying.

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable).

A Project Summary (described below, limit 2 pages).

A Project Narrative (described below, limit 15 pages).

Data Sharing Plan (Clearly identified and included in the Project Narrative or Supporting Documents). [see Section B, 11, Data Sharing Plan].

A Budget Narrative ([Section IV; (B), C] 10 page limit).

Note: Required federal forms and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) for the primary and/or sub do not count against the Budget Narrative 10-page limit.

Each application should (should to mean recommended but not required) also include:

An identified singular priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal. If more than one priority is addressed by the proposal, one priority must be identified as the primary. The primary priority will determine the subject matter expert used to evaluate your proposal. If one is not identified, a priority will be identified for you.

NOAA NEPA Questionnaire (https://www.nepa.noaa.gov/docs/NOAA-Grants Questionnaire-final.pdf). If your project is expected to generate NEPA/environmental data, applicants are strongly recommended to submit answers to questions 1-30 in your application. A completed NOAA NEPA Questionnaire should be uploaded as its own file and not included in any other attachment.

Supporting Documentation (limit 10 pages). May include references, letters of collaboration, resumes and/or curriculum vitae, agreements or contracts and permits not included within the Project Narrative (budget contracts and agreements are included in the budget narrative). All supporting documentation should be combined and uploaded as a single document not exceeding ten pages. Supporting documents will not be accepted as separate stand-alone attachments.

NOTE: Letters of support or collaboration are allowable only from individuals or entities with direct involvement in the project and should outline the specifics of the collaborative effort. Letters of support from individuals or entities that do not have direct involvement in the project will not be accepted during the review process.

Content Requirements:

https://www.nepa.noaa.gov/docs/NOAA-Grants

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The summary must include:

Applicant Information: Applicant organization and name, title, and contact information of the Project Leader.

Project Information: Project title, location, requested project period (start and end dates), Federal funding requested, and identification of the singular S-K priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal.

Partners: Identification of collaborating partners, organizations, Co-Project Leaders, titles and contact information.

Abstract: A project abstract in plain language (limited to 200 words).

Summary of potential benefits to the fishing community of the project results (limited to 100 words).

Proposed Activities: Should include a clear description of proposed activities. It is critical this section accurately describes the project being proposed and conveys all essential elements of the project for public dissemination.

B. Project Narrative (15 page limit)

The Project Narrative comprises the plan for the project. The narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the proposed activities and the proposed benefit to the fishing community. The major part of the narrative should be devoted to a description and justification for the proposed project, including details of the method to be used. It should include a timeline for major activities of the proposed project, and should indicate who will be responsible for which activities. There should be no ambiguity about who will perform particular parts of the project or the time at which these activities will take place. The Project Narrative may not exceed 15 pages. Any tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs and other pictorial presentations that you submit to document the project and the problem/opportunity you seek to address are included in the 15-page limit.

If a data sharing plan, references, letters of collaboration, resumes or other documents, including federal forms (each federal form should be uploaded as a separate, stand-alone file), are submitted within the Project Narrative they will count against the 15 page limit. If the aforementioned options are included in the Supporting Documentation they will count against the 10 page Supporting Documentation limit; the Project Summary and Budget Narrative have their own page limits.

The Project Narrative should closely follow the evaluation criteria outlined in this solicitation (see Section V.

A. Evaluation Criteria) to ensure applications receive a consistent review. The narrative should demonstrate your knowledge of, and convey the need for the project, and show how your proposal builds upon any past and current work in the subject area, as well as relevant work in related fields. The narrative should highlight any relationship to fishery management plans, or other fishery-related strategic planning or management documents, and if the project will yield socioeconomic benefits to the fishing community. You should not assume that reviewers already know the relative merits of the project you describe.

In the Project Narrative you must describe your project as follows:

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1. Project goals and objectives - Identify the one specific S-K Program priority (described in Section I. B.

Program Priorities) to which the proposed project responds. The primary priority will determine the subject matter experts used to evaluate your proposal. Identify the problem/opportunity you intend to address and describe its significance to the fisheries resource and fishing community. Objectives should be simple and understandable; as specific and quantitative as possible; clear as to the “what and when,” but should avoid the “how and why”; and attainable within the time, money and human resources available. Projects should be accomplishment oriented and identify specific performance measurements. If you are applying to continue a project previously funded under the S-K Program, describe in detail your progress to date and explain why you need additional funding. If the proposal is for renewed support, include a description of the relation of the completed work to the proposed work. We will consider this information in evaluating your current application.

2. Project impacts - Describe the anticipated short- and long-term impacts of the project on U.S. fisheries and fishing communities in terms of increased economic, or other measurable benefits. Identify the benefits that will be achieved as a result of this effort, both to the recipient, the industry and the general public as a whole. Describe how you/your organization (or others) will monitor progress and measure the project’s impacts.

3. Evaluation of project - Specify the criteria and procedures that you will use to monitor and evaluate the relative success or failure of a project in achieving its objectives.

4. Need for government financial assistance - Explain why you need NOAA financial assistance for the proposed work, and why other funding sources, if applicable, cannot fund all the proposed work. List all other sources of funding you have or are seeking for the project.

5. Federal, state, and local government activities and permits - It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary Federal, state, and local government permits and approvals where necessary for the proposed work to be conducted. You must note whether or not permits are required. If no permits are required, this section must indicate “no permits are required”. If permits are required, provide a list of all applicable permits that will be required to perform the proposed work and an indication of the status of any permits needed (e.g., not yet applied, permit application submitted/pending, permit granted, etc.). List any existing Federal, state, or local government programs or activities that this project would affect, including activities requiring: certification under state Coastal Zone Management Plans; Section 404 or Section 10 permits issued by the Corps of Engineers; exempted fishing permits, letters of authorization or other permits under Federal Fishery Management Plans (FMPs); environmental impact statements to meet the requirements of NEPA; scientific permits under the Endangered Species Act and/or the Marine Mammal Protection Act; or Magnuson-Stevens Act Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation if the project may adversely affect areas identified as EFH. Projects cannot conflict with current regulatory restrictions. Describe the relationship between the project and these FMPs or activities, and list names and addresses of persons providing this information. You may obtain information on these activities from the NMFS Regions (see Section VII- Agency Contacts).

6. Statement of Work

a) What is the project design? What specific work, activities, procedures, statistical design, or analytical methods will you undertake? Describe methodologies or technical plans for activities to be conducted under the project. You should provide sufficiently detailed information on the proposed activities and potential environmental effects so that NOAA can analyze the impacts of the project as required under NEPA (see Section VI. B.2). The NEPA questionnaire is a federal form and does not count towards application page limitations and should be uploaded as a separate, stand-alone file.

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b) Who will be responsible for carrying out the various activities? Provide information about the specific responsibilities of other personnel funded through the proposal, including the technical and administrative points of contact, as appropriate.

c) What are the project milestones? Display timelines for major tasks, target milestones for important immediate and final products, and key project outcomes. This includes identifying all consultation and permitting requirements and their status (e.g., not applied for, pending, secured). Describe the timelines in increments (e.g., month 1, month 2), rather than by specific dates. Identify the individual(s) responsible for the various specific activities.

7. Project management - Describe how the project will be organized and managed. Describe how the necessary experience, facilities, and administrative resources are in place to successfully meet the responsibilities associated with managing a federal financial assistance award. Proposals should demonstrate the applicant organization’s knowledge and experience in delivering the project requested in this application. The Project Leader may or may not be the applicant; however, if the applicant is not the Project Leader, there must be an explanation of the relationship between the applicant and Project Leader (e.g., the applicant may be responsible for managing the grant funds and the Project Leader will be responsible for completing the work).

8. Participation by persons or groups other than the applicant - Describe how entities other than the applicant will participate in the project, and the nature (sub-award, sub- contract, volunteer, etc.) of their participation.

9. Outreach and Education - How will this project provide a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding the results of the funded proposal? This includes the degree to which the potential users of the results, (i.e. industry or state resource) have been involved in the planning of the activity, will be involved in the execution of the activity and/or are providing funds, and whether there is a plan to disseminate the results to user groups (including Regional Fishery Management Councils/Interstate Fisheries Management Commissions, etc.) and the public. Describe specific outreach goals and activities.

10. How will project results be disseminated? Describe any expected products of the project, such as marketing and promotional materials, a training manual, management plan, brochures, number of people trained, video, technique, or piece of equipment. Detail if/how products will be distributed to potential users (resource managers, researchers, and other interested parties). Funded applicants are required to submit a brief PowerPoint, or similar presentation software, (or PDF of the presentation) presenting the project framework at the start of the project and then a brief PowerPoint presentation, or similar presentation software, (or PDF of the presentation) of the project results both of which may be displayed on the NMFS S- K Program webpage. Applicants may be required to present their project at a NMFS webinar or other meeting or conference venue (Fishery Management Council Meeting, industry show/conference, etc.,) during the project period. Expenses (if incurred) will be reimbursed by the S-K Program.

11. Data Sharing Plan Data Sharing Plan (two-page limit): Provide a data sharing plan that includes descriptions of the types of environmental data and information expected to be created during the course of the project, and how it will be shared [note: expectation is that data are made publicly available]; 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 plan will be reviewed as part of the Evaluation Criteria described in Section V. See Section IV, B) Data Sharing Plan for more information.

Note: The Data Sharing Plan is a federal requirement. All proposals must contain a section clearly labeled Data Sharing Plan.

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C. Budget Narrative (10 page limit)

Note: Required federal forms and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) for the primary and/or sub do not count against the Budget Narrative 10-page limit. Each application must include clear and concise budget information, both on the required Federal forms and as described here. In order for NOAA to fully evaluate the appropriateness of proposed costs, each application must include a line-item budget table including all Federal and non-Federal costs by object class category (the budget table does not count towards the 10-page limit). Additionally, a Budget Narrative must explain and justify all Federal and non- Federal costs by object class category, as listed on the SF-424A under Section B, Budget Categories.

Provide detailed narrative descriptions of all costs, and explain each calculation for all budget categories. If applicable, briefly describe the basis for estimating the value of the cost-sharing derived from in-kind contributions. All proposed costs must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary to the supported activity. Additional Budget Narrative Guidance may be found at https://www.noaa.gov/organization/acquisition-grants/frequently-asked-questions.

The Budget Narrative must include the following:

a) Personnel costs, including salary and wages, should be clearly delineated. Costs should be shown for all named key personnel, and the narrative should detail the amount of time each person will spend on the project, along with their hourly rate or percent of annual salary to demonstrate the cost basis. Personnel costs for each Project Leader should be commensurate with their stated involvement, which may or may not correspond to their current position. Any unnamed personnel may be identified by their job title, and the associated costs detailed in the same manner as for named key personnel. Funds for graduate students must comply with 2 CFR §200.466 Scholarships and student aid costs, and must be reasonable compensation for the work performed. Fringe benefits should be identified separately from salary and wages; fringe benefit rates should be applied consistently, and should apply equally to both Federal and non-Federal (matching) funds, if applicable. Funds for salaries and fringe benefits may be requested only for those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are directly related to specific products or outcomes of the proposed project. All funds must be estimated to the nearest dollar; do not submit budgets containing cents.

b) Travel costs should be broken out by number of people traveling, destination and purpose of travel, and projected costs per person. Projected travel costs should be inclusive of transport costs, lodging costs, and per diem expenses for all travelers, which are to be described in detail in the Budget Narrative. If travel details for a particular trip are unknown, explain the basis for estimating proposed costs. To qualify for support, attendance at meetings or conferences must enhance the Project Leader’s capability to perform the statement of work or disseminate its results. Domestic travel is to be justified separately from foreign travel, since the latter may require additional clearances. You must adhere to the provisions of the "Fly America Act".

c) "Equipment" is non-expendable, tangible personal property with a per unit cost of $10,000 or more and a useful life of more than one year. Items that do not meet the equipment definition must be included under supplies. List each piece of equipment separately and reference the type/model to be purchased and its contribution to the achievement of the project goals. General use equipment must be used 100% for the proposed project if charged directly to the award; if the equipment will be used for multiple projects, only a portion of the expense that is commensurate with the actual use of the equipment during the project may be requested.

d) Supplies should be itemized to the level of detail known or may be based on established historical costs.

Whenever possible, you should include the quantity/number of units and cost per unit to justify expenses listed in the supplies category.

https://www.noaa.gov/organization/acquisition-grants/frequently-asked-questions.

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e) Contractual costs should be itemized separately, according to standard budget categories that appear in the SF-424A. Applicants are encouraged to provide separate budgets for each contract and they must provide budgets for each contract in excess of $250,000, to determine whether proposed costs are reasonable, necessary, allowable, and allocable. For contracts that are not yet in place at the time of submitting the proposal, the budget narrative must include an explanation of how contractual costs were estimated and what procurement methods they will use to select contractors. Include the total contractual amount on the Contractual line in the SF424A.

f) Other costs include costs not listed in other SF424A cost categories. Examples, where applicable and allowed under the program, may include: individual consultant costs, local travel, medical and dental (non-personnel), printing and publications, and training costs (tuition and stipends), etc.

g) The budget may include an amount for indirect costs if the applicant has an approved indirect cost rate agreement with the Federal government. Indirect costs are essentially overhead costs for basic operational functions (e.g., lights, rent, water, and insurance) that are incurred for common or joint objectives and therefore cannot be identified specifically within a particular project. A copy of the current, approved negotiated indirect costs agreement with the Federal government must be included with the application.

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) for the primary and/or sub do not count against the Budget Narrative 10-page limit.

If an applicant has not previously established an indirect cost rate with a Federal agency, they may choose to negotiate a rate with the Department of Commerce or use the de minimis indirect cost rate of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs (as allowable under 2 C.F.R. §200.414). The negotiation and approval of a rate is subject to the procedures required by NOAA and the Department of Commerce Standard Terms and Conditions Section B.06. The NOAA contact for indirect or facilities and administrative costs is:

Jennifer Jackson, NOAA Grants Management Division, jennifer.jackson@noaa.gov.

D. Supporting Documentation (10 page limit)

This section should include: letters of collaboration received from the relevant partners or communities involved in the project; references, resumes and/or curriculum vitae of the Project Leader(s) and any key partners, consultants and/or subcontractors; agreements, contracts and permits (budget contracts and agreements are included in the budget narrative), and/or other information relevant to the proposal not included within the Project Narrative.

All supporting documentation must be combined and uploaded as a single document not exceeding ten pages. Supporting documents (described above) will not be accepted as separate stand-alone attachments.

Letters of support or collaboration are allowable only from individuals or entities with direct involvement in the project and should outline the specifics of the collaborative effort. Letters of support from individuals or entities that do not have direct involvement in the project will not be accepted during the review process.

Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Management Plan (up to 2 pages). See Section VI.B., Administrative and National Policy Requirements, below for additional information on what the plan should contain.

C. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

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Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) Provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) 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. NOAA may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time NOAA is ready to make a Federal award, NOAA 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.

D. Submission Dates and Times

Full Applications must be received by http://www.Grants.gov under the competition link named “ FY25 Saltonstall-Kennedy Full Proposal Competition”, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 pm, November 25, 2024, Eastern Daylight Time. Use of Grants.gov is preferred. If Grants.gov cannot reasonably be used, use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. Postmarked applications received more than 10 business days following the closing date will not be accepted.

Eligible Applicants must have submitted an agency accepted pre-proposal by July 23, 2024, in response to Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2025-26840 in order to submit a full proposal to this

NOFO.

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.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.

F. Funding Restrictions

Projects that mainly involve infrastructure (to include personnel, buildings or equipment) development that are for the primary benefit of the applicant are not eligible for funding under the S-K Program. Such projects will be rejected from the competition with no further review.

The S-K Program will not pay fees, fund-raising activities, travel for activities not directly related to project implementation, travel or salaries for Federal employees, or profit on any award. NOAA funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements. However, grant funds may be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baseline compliance efforts.

Applicants will not be reimbursed for time expended or costs incurred in developing a project or in preparing an application, or in any discussions or negotiations with the agency prior to the award. Such expenditures may not be considered as part of the applicant's cost share or matching contribution.

G. Other Submission Requirements Registration requirements

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NOTE: We strongly encourage all prospective applicants to begin required registrations as early as possible. Completing the required registrations can take six weeks or longer. Submission due dates will not be extended because of registration delays. Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted.

Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov). See below for more detailed information on each required registration process.

1. System for Award Management (SAM.gov) SAM.gov registration is required to do business with the U.S. government. After registering with SAM.gov, you will receive a 12-character Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) that you will use throughout the application process.

We recommend allowing at least three weeks for initial SAM.gov registrations and at least two weeks for SAM.gov registration renewals. Additional information on SAM.gov registration is available here:

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration

You must update your SAM.gov registration any time your entity’s information changes. You must also renew and revalidate your entity’s SAM.gov registration at least every 12 months from the date you last certified to and submitted the registration. The renewal process may take up to two weeks. Your SAM.gov account’s primary point of contact will receive an email message alerting them to the renewal requirement at 60 days, 30 days, and 15 days prior to expiration. If you do not renew your registration by the deadline, it will expire.

2. eRA Commons After completing your SAM.gov registration and receiving your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), you must register with eRA Commons and create several required user accounts. NOAA uses eRA Commons to process grant applications and manage grant awards.

NOTE: eRA Commons requires applicants to create one ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE and two USER ACCOUNTS before submitting an application. These requirements are described in detail below.

We recommend allowing at least three weeks for eRA Commons registration. This process can be completed concurrently with your Grants.gov registration. Additional information on the eRA Commons registration process is available here:

https://www.commerce.gov/ocio/programs/gems/applicant-and-grantee-training

After creating an overall account for your “institution”, which may be for your organization or yourself as an individual, eRA Commons requires you to set up at least two user accounts: one Signing Official (SO) account and one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account.

● The Signing Official (SO) user account must be assigned to an individual with signature authority to legally bind the organization in grants administration matters. The SO will receive 4-5 emails throughout the registration process.

● The Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account must be assigned to an individual with primary responsibility for the project(s) described in the grant…