Foa_Content_of_NOAA-NMFS-GARFO-2025-27203 (1).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 Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) Funding Opportunity Title 2025 Sea Scallop Research Set Aside Program Announcement Type Competitive Funding Opportunity Number

NOAA-NMFS-GARFO-2025-27203

Assistance Listing Number(s) 11.454 Dates Complete proposals/applications must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on September 30, 2024. Proposals received after the established deadline will be rejected and returned to the sender without consideration. For proposals submitted through Grants.gov, a date and time receipt indication will be the basis of determining timeliness. The proposal must be validated by Grants.gov in order to be considered timely. PLEASE NOTE: It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline.

For those without access to the Internet, one signed original and two hard copy applications must be postmarked or received by the established due date for the program at the following address: Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, ATTN: 2025 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. Use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt. Note that late-arriving hard copy proposals provided to a delivery service on or before 5:00 p.m. on the closing date for applications will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the proposal was provided to the guaranteed delivery service by the specified closing date and time and if the proposal is received by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) no later than 5 p.m., two business days following the closing date. No facsimile or electronic mail proposals will be accepted. April 1, 2025, should be used as the proposed start date on proposals, unless otherwise directed by the Program Officer.

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A question and answer webinar about this solicitation will be hosted by NMFS following publication. Prospective applicants with questions about the scallop RSA program, the RSA funding mechanism, or program priorities listed under Section I.B. are encouraged to join. Meeting details are outlined in the NOFO announcement, and can also be obtained by contacting the Program Officer.

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).

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.

Funding Opportunity Description NMFS, in coordination with the New England Fishery Management Council (Council), is soliciting proposals under the Sea Scallop Research Set Aside (RSA) Program. Projects funded under the Scallop RSA Program must enhance the knowledge of the scallop fishery resource or contribute to the body of information on which scallop management decisions are made. Priority will be given to proposals that investigate research priorities developed by the Council, which are detailed under the Program Priorities section of this announcement.

Successful applicants will be awarded scallop RSA quota. No federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Rather, proceeds generated from the sale of RSA quota will be used to fund approved activities and compensate scallop vessel owners.

Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Program Objective The Scallop RSA Program was established through the Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to address scallop research priorities developed by the Council.

B. Program Priorities Projects funded under the Scallop RSA Program must enhance the understanding of the scallop resource or contribute to scallop fishery management decisions. Priority is given to proposals addressing scallop research priorities as set forth below.

Applicants are encouraged to consider previously funded scallop research projects when developing proposals.

Applicants responding to scallop survey priorities are encouraged to review and consider the findings of the Scallop Survey Methodologies Peer Review, which was convened by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in March 2015, and recommendations from the Council’s Scallop Survey Working Group, which were adopted by the Council in September 2022. Applicants should also consider any outcomes of the August 19, 2024, Council's Science and Statistical Committee Sub-Panel review of the Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) methodology for determining survey design.

Reports and additional information can be obtained from the Program Officer upon request.

2025 Scallop RSA Research Priorities

SURVEYS (High Priority)

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1. SCALLOP RESOURCE SURVEYS: Industry-based scallop surveys using dredge and/or optical tools conducted at varying sampling intensities (e.g., intensive and regional), and analysis of collected survey data needed to support annual Atlantic Sea Scallop fishery management and scallop science needs. This includes industry-based surveys within Georges Bank and/or the Mid-Atlantic, and the Gulf of Maine, including the Northern Gulf of Maine Management Area. Surveys may extend sampling efforts beyond the current known extent of the sea scallop resource. Survey results must be available by early August of the year in which the survey is conducted (e.g., survey results that would inform 2026 fishing effort decisions must be available by mid-August 2025). The survey or surveys do not need to be carried out by a single grant recipient. In addition, the data needs of some resource areas benefit from redundant surveys that use different sampling technologies (e.g., optical and dredge). Survey data will be used to develop estimates of total and exploitable biomass. Successful projects may be asked to provide data in a standardized format.

The primary objective of these surveys would be to provide length frequencies, abundance, and biomass estimates. Applicants that propose to conduct a regional scallop survey may submit proposals with a project award period of up to 4 years (2025-2028).

Medium Priorities: (Priorities 2-8, Not Listed in Rank Order – Equal Importance)

1. SCALLOP BIOLOGY: Research on Atlantic sea scallop biology, including studies aimed at understanding recruitment processes (e.g., reproduction and gonad development, timing of spawning, larval transport, larval and early post-settlement stages, source/sink dynamics, age and growth, and yield), spatial population dynamics of the scallop resource, and examination of environmental stressors (anthropogenic and natural) and climate change on all of these processes. This priority also includes research on natural mortality processes, such as scallop predation (e.g., starfish, crab, snails), discard mortality, juvenile mortality events, and disease and parasites. The results of biology research should be informative to scallop stock assessments and projection models (current and future) and to support decision-making by fishery managers.

2. TURTLES: Research to support the investigation of sea turtle behavior in the Mid- Atlantic and Georges Bank (via satellite tagging or other means). This could include, but is not limited to, research to understand their seasonal movements, vertical habitat utilization, and the status and range of the population in response to climate change. This could also include research on gear design to reduce incidental takes of ESA-listed species. This research could assist in the collection of data that may be required by current or future biological opinions, to address reasonable and prudent measures of the biological opinion and could be used to evaluate current turtle regulations (e.g., timing and spatial extent of gear modifications).

Oceanographic data collected during turtle research should be analyzed and products provided to managers to support decision making (e.g., bottom temperature data and maps).

3. COMMERCIAL FISHING GEAR: Commercial dredge and gear research to improve scallop catch efficiency, improve scallop size selectivity, reduce scallop damage (discard and incidental mortality), reduce non-target species bycatch, and to reduce fuel consumption and improve energy efficiency.

Research under this priority area could explore fishermen perspectives and decision-making associated with gear modifications.

4. BYCATCH: Identification and evaluation of methods to reduce the impacts of the scallop fishery with respect to bycatch of small scallops and non-target species. This would include projects that characterize spatial and temporal distribution patterns of non-target species, collect and analyze catch and bycatch data on a near-real time basis, as well as the associated discard mortality rates of key bycatch species. Research efforts focusing on non-target bycatch should provide results that would help the scallop industry avoid or respond to the implementation of accountability measures. Projects should consider the enforceability and feasibility of regulations in the commercial fishery.

5. FISHING IN HIGH DENSITY AREAS: Research to examine the impacts of intensive fishing effort in areas of high scallop densities on non-harvest mortality or sublethal effects. This includes impacts of sediment disruption, impact of high volumes of viscera on the benthic environment and water quality, scallop shell damage, repeated harvest/discarding cycles on scallop mortality, and re- examination of non-harvest mortality assumptions. This may include research that occurs concurrently with harvest. This priority includes research (inclusive of tools in social science) into fisherman’s behavior and decision-making and ways to improve fishing practices to minimize waste and maximize yield.

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6. WIND: Research aimed to support scallop management through studies that assess biological and ecological impacts of offshore wind energy development, and scallop production. This priority also includes research that aims to characterize the impacts of offshore wind energy development on scallop surveys through simulation modeling recommended by the Scallop Survey Working Group, and research that assesses the utility and feasibility of alternative sampling tools.

7. SCALLOP RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT: Research focused on the development of Atlantic sea scallop enhancement tools (spat collection, seed rearing in hatcheries, grow out of juvenile scallops, disease resistance, and offshore seeding of hatchery reared spat) to supplement the scallop population and fishery harvest in the federally managed scallop fishery. Research could focus on the development of standards and best practices for using husbandry techniques to enhance the wild capture fishery while mitigating the impact of predators or could evaluate the economic feasibility of enhancement efforts. Research could also focus on projects that aim to develop and(or) refine techniques for growing seed from spat and transplanting those scallops to beds in federal waters. Projects conducted in state waters should describe plans to comply with local and state regulations. Projects are encouraged to share best practices and lessons learned to advance the state of knowledge in this field. Applicants that propose to conduct scallop resource enhancement research may submit proposals with a project award period of up to 3 years (2025-2027).

General Priorities:

1. HABITAT CHARACTERIZATION AND FISHERY IMPACT RESEARCH: Researchon fishery impacts includes (but is not limited to): Identification of which species and life history stages depend on particular habitats vulnerable to alteration by the scallop fishery for use as nursery, over-wintering, or spawning areas; evaluation of long-term or chronic effects of scallop fishing on the ecosystem; habitat recovery potential from fine scale fishing effort; before / after gradient designs. Habitat characterization includes (but is not limited to) research aimed at identifying and assessing the waters and substrate necessary to scallops for spawning, breeding, feeding, and growth to maturity. In particular, projects that would evaluate Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) closures and Habitat Management Areas to assess whether these areas are accomplishing their stated purposes and to assist with better definition of the complex ecosystem processes that occur in these areas would be of interest. Finally, investigation of variability in dredge efficiency across habitats, times, areas, and gear designs to allow for more accurate quantitative estimates of scallop dredge impacts on the seabed and other managed species, and the development of practicable methods to minimize or mitigate those impacts would also qualify under this research priority.

C. Program Authority Statutory authority for this program is provided under sections 303(b)(11), 402(e), and 404(c) of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act), 16 U.S.C. 1853(b)(11), 16 U.S.C. 1881a(e), and 16 U.S.C. 1881c(c), respectively. The Scallop RSA Program is established through the Scallop FMP (69 FR 35193, June 23, 2004) and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 648.56.

II. Award Information A. Funding Availability Successful applicants will be awarded scallop RSA quota. No federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Rather, proceeds generated from the sale of RSA quota will be used to fund approved activities and compensate scallop vessel owners. The Federal Government is not liable for any costs incurred by the researcher or vessel owner should the sale of set-aside quota not fully reimburse the researcher or vessel owner for their expenses.

Any additional funds generated through the sale of set aside landings, above the cost of the research activities, shall be retained by the vessel owner as compensation for the use of his/her vessel.

The Scallop RSA sub-Annual Catch Limit (ACL) is 1.275 million pounds per scallop fishing year (April through March). Under the prior solicitation a portion of the 2025, 2026, and 2027 set aside was awarded. Consequently, under this solicitation there are up to 999,819 pounds, 1,165,563 pounds, and 1,160,743 pounds available from the 2025, 2026, and 2027 RSA sub-ACL, respectively. As part of the 1.275 million pound set-aside, up to 25,000 pounds may be harvested from the Northern Gulf of Maine Management Area (NGOM). There are up to 4,660 NGOM pounds available from the 2025 set-aside, and 25,000 pounds available in 2026 and 2027. Multi-year awards may be supported wholly or in part through scallops that have been set aside from the year in which the research expense is incurred.

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All scallop RSA awards will be made in pounds of scallops. RSA quota may be harvested from any area that is open to the scallop fishery (i.e., open access areas and open areas), unless otherwise restricted by the Council and NMFS.

In the event that the entire scallop RSA sub-ACL is not fully expended, NMFS may award unused RSA quota to compensate projects due to low scallop prices or to expand a project to improve the ability of the grantee to meet the proposed objectives and program priorities. When awarding additional scallops to expand a project, NMFS will primarily consider the importance/relevance of the additional research, and available set-aside. In the event that there are multiple projects within a topic area that express interest in expanding their project (e.g., regional scallop surveys), NMFS will consider any unique capabilities of the project to meet program priorities, cost and available set aside, and competition rankings.

Applicants must submit a budget that is based on funds necessary to execute the research plan and funds necessary to compensate vessel owners harvesting set-aside quota. Upon project selection, NMFS will negotiate with successful applicants on the specific RSA quota award. NMFS will establish a common scallop price estimate, based on the best and most recent data available at the time of negotiations, to determine the amount of set-aside necessary to cover research and compensation fishing expenses. For reference, $14/lb was used for projects funded through the 2024 scallop RSA competition. Questions about the funding mechanism and RSA compensation fishing should be directed to the Program Officer.

B. Project/Award Period Unless otherwise directed by the Program Officer, April 1,2025, should be used as the project start date.

Applicants that propose to conduct a regional scallop survey may submit proposals with a project award period of up to 4 years (2025-2028). Applicants that propose to conduct regional scallop resource enhancement research may submit proposals with a project award period of up to 3 years (2025-2027). All other applications may submit proposals with a project award period of up to 2 years (2025-2026).

C. Type of Funding Instrument Selected proposals will be funded through a grant or cooperative agreement depending upon the amount of collaboration, participation, or involvement by NMFS in the management of the project. Funding for contractual arrangements for services or products for delivery to NOAA is not available under this notice.

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, individuals, state, local, and Native American tribal governments. Federal agencies and instrumentalities are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this notice. Additionally, employees of any Federal agency or Regional Fishery Management (RFM) Council, including Council members, are ineligible to submit an application under this program.

DOC/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and encourages women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications to the RSA Program. In addition, DOC/NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation of historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges, and universities, and institutions that work in underserved areas. DOC/NOAA encourages proposals involving any of the above institutions.

DOC/NOAA encourages applications from members of the fishing community and applications that involve fishing community cooperation and participation.

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).

Registration Requirements: 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 required registrations. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Agency Contacts listed in this NOFO for submission instructions.

B. Cost Share or Matching Requirement None required.

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C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility Proposals for different and distinct projects must be submitted separately in accordance with the format requirements in Section IV.B. Multiple stand-alone projects in the same proposal will not be accepted.

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request Application Package Application information is available at http://www.grants.gov. Electronic copies of the Standard Forms for submission of research proposals may be found on the Internet in a PDF (Portable Document Format) version at https://www.grants.gov/forms.html. Delays may be experienced when registering with grants.gov near the end of a solicitation period. Therefore, NOAA strongly recommends that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process through grants.gov.

Applicants without Internet access may contact Ryan Silva, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, by email ryan.silva@noaa.gov, or phone 978-281-9326. To apply to this Notice of Funding Opportunity, go to http://www.grants.gov, and use the following number: NOAA-NMFS-GARFO-2025-27203.

B. Content and Form of Application The full application includes required Federal forms, a Project Summary (one page limit), Project Narrative (15 page limit), Budget Narrative (no page limit), Appendices or Attachments (15 page limit, including a Data Management Plan of up to two pages), and NEPA Questionnaire (no page limit).

Each application must include Federal application forms, including:

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance.

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

• SF-424B, Assurances - 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).

These forms are available at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family. These forms should be submitted through the www.grants.gov website. Applicants submitting hard copy must include one signed original and two signed unbound copies of the application (including supporting information).

The Standard Form SF424 must include the estimated monetary value of the entire project, including costs of compensation fishing and research project costs. This value must be recorded under item 18. Estimated Funding (e) "Other" on the SF424.

The Standard Form SF424A must report the total value under “Non-Federal.”

Format requirements:

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 except the one-page summary must be double-spaced, printed or typed in at least 12-point font, and printable on 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, with 1-inch margins.

Proposal Content Requirements and Guidelines Project summary (1-page limit):

• Organization title;

• Principal Investigator(s) (PI);

• Address, telephone number, and email address of PI(s);

• Area of interest for which you are applying (see section I. B.);

• Project title;

• Project objectives for the project period;

• Summary of work to be performed within the project period; and

• Budget Information - Total funds needed to execute the research plan and compensate fishing industry partners that harvest set-aside quota.

Project Narrative (15 page limit):

http://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/forms.html mailto:ryan.silva@noaa.gov https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

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Each project must be completely and accurately described. The main body of the proposal should be a clear statement of the work to be undertaken and should include: Specific objectives and performance measures for the period of the proposed work and the expected significance; relation to longer-term goals of the PI’s work; and relation to other work planned, anticipated, or underway through Federal assistance.

Each project must be described as follows:

• Identification of problem(s): Describe the specific problem(s) or area(s) of interest to be addressed.

Specify the Program Priority(ies) in section I.B. that most closely relates to the proposal.

• Project objectives: 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" (which is fully addressed in the project description), and; attainable within the time, money and human resources available. Projects should be accomplishment oriented and identify specific performance measures.

• Project description: The project description is the scientific or technical action plan of activities that are to be accomplished during each budget period of the project. This description must include the specific methodologies, by project job activity, proposed for accomplishing the proposal's objective(s).

• Project impacts: Describe how these products or services will be made available to the fisheries and management communities. Describe how the project results will support the fisheries science and management interests, and/or the fishing community.

• Education and outreach: How will this project provide a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding NOAA’s mission to protect the Nation’s natural resources? This includes the degree to which the potential users of the results, i.e., industry or resource managers, 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 and the public).

• Permitting: The proposal must describe any Magnuson Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, or other permit requirements related to the proposed research. The proposal also must describe whether the investigators have the necessary permits in hand, or what steps the investigators have taken to obtain the necessary permits. All proposals must respond to this required element whether or not permits are required. If no permits are required, this section must indicate “no permits are required.”

• Project management: Describe how the project will be organized and managed. Include resumes of principal investigators, which may be appendices or attachments. List all persons directly employed by the applicant who will be involved with the project. If a consultant and/or subcontractor is selected prior to application submission, include the name and qualifications of the consultant and/or subcontractor and the process used for selection. Describe who will monitor project performance. Also include participation by persons or groups other than the applicant. Describe how Federal, state, and non-governmental entities, particularly members of fishing communities, will participate in the project, and the nature of their participation.

• RSA compensation fishing and fund generation: The proposal should describe how funds would be derived under an RSA award, and demonstrate an understanding of the concept of RSA compensation fishing and how the RSA funding mechanism works. This includes describing prior RSA experience successfully coordinating with the fishing industry to generate funds.

• Evaluation of project: The applicant is required to provide a description of project accomplishments and progress towards the project objectives and performance measures at the end of each funding period and in the final report. The application must describe the methodology or procedures to be followed to quantify the results of the project.

• Vessel participation: Each proposal must identify the activities for the vessel(s) participating in the project, including research and compensation fishing activities. The applicant should differentiate between fishing industry partners that would participate in the project, if funded, and those where no such agreement exists (e.g., previous partners);

• Need for Government financial assistance: Demonstrate the need for assistance. Explain why other funding sources cannot fund all the proposed work. List all other sources of funding that are or have been sought for the project.

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• Federal, state and local government activities: List any programs (Federal, state, or local government or activities, including Sea Grant, state Coastal Zone Management Programs, etc.) this project would affect and describe the relationship between the project and those plans or activities. Describe any coordination with other agency programs or on-going research efforts. Describe any other proposals or outside activities that are closely related to the objectives of this proposal.

• Results from prior NOAA/NMFS support (not included in the 15-page limitation if submitted as an appendix.): If any PI or co-PI identified on the project has received support from the NOAA/NMFS in the past 5 years, information on the prior award(s) is required. The following information should be provided and may be placed in the Project Narrative or in an Appendix:

o The NOAA award number, amount and period of support;

o The title of the project;

o Summary of the results of the completed work, including, for a research project, any contribution to the development of human resources in science/biology;

o Publications resulting from the award (Reprints may be submitted, and are requested, for documentation if applicable);

o Brief description of available data, samples, physical collections and other related research products not described elsewhere; and o If the proposal is for renewed support, a description of how the completed work relates to the proposed work.

Project Costs and Budget Narrative:

Total project costs are the amount of funds required to accomplish what is proposed in the Project Description and compensate industry partners that harvest set aside quota.

Provide a detailed table with Budget Narrative (as an attachment not included in the page limits for the Project Narrative or Appendices) to support the requested items or activities (personnel/salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs, such as vessel charters, and indirect costs). Supplies (<$5,000/item) and equipment (>= $5,000/item) should be broken out in as much detail as possible. The budget table and narrative submitted with the application should match the dollar amounts on the SF-424 and SF-424A forms. If indirect costs are proposed, include a copy of the current Federally approved rate, if applicable. Additional cost detail may be required prior to a final analysis of overall cost allowability, allocability, and reasonableness.

The proposal must state how the proceeds from the sale of compensation fishing activities, including those derived from incidental catch, will be divided between the vessel and applicant. Proposals must provide a description of the safeguards that will be used to ensure that the set-aside award will not be exceeded. There should be a description of potential risk factors that could result in a budget shortfall, and what steps the project would take to mitigate such risk. Proposals must provide a description of the safeguards that will be used to ensure that the set-aside award will not be exceeded.

Please note the following restrictions for salaries and fringe benefits: 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. Hourly rates and projected hours worked on the project and/or percentage of time and yearly salary should be included for all salary requests. Applicants are strongly encouraged to request reasonable amounts of funding for salaries and fringe benefits to ensure the proposal is competitive.

Appendices or Attachments:

Supporting documents, including resumes, letters of intent for vessels to participate in research activities, and any relevant contracts.

Data Sharing Plan:

Environmental data and information collected or created under NOAA grants or cooperative agreements must be made discoverable by and accessible to the general public, in a timely fashion (typically within two years), free of charge or at no more than the cost of reproduction, unless an exemption is granted by the NOAA Program. Data should be available in at least one machine-readable format, preferably a widely-used or open-standard format, and should also be accompanied by machine-readable documentation (metadata), preferably based on widely-used or international standards.

Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Management Plan of up to two pages describing how these requirements will be satisfied. The Data Management Plan should be aligned with the Data Management Guidance provided by NOAA in the Announcement.

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The contents of the Data Management Plan (or absence thereof), and past performance regarding such plans, will be considered as part of the proposal review. Complete guidance for the data sharing plan can be found under section

IV.B.

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.

As part of this application process, questions from The Environmental Compliance Questionnaire for NOAA Federal Financial Assistance Applicants, OMB Approval Number 0648-0538, must be answered and submitted with the application. This form is located at http://www.nepa.noaa.gov. Failure to complete all of the questions with current and relevant information will result in the application being considered incomplete.

C. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 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 (UEI) 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 Complete proposals/applications must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on September 29, 2024. Proposals received after the established deadline will be rejected and returned to the sender without consideration. For proposals submitted through Grants.gov, a date and time receipt indication will be the basis of determining timeliness. The proposal must be validated by Grants.gov in order to be considered timely. PLEASE NOTE: It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline.

For those without access to the Internet, one signed original and two hard copy applications must be postmarked or received by the established due date for the program at the following address: Ryan Silva, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA, 01930 ATTN: 2025 Scallop RSA Program. Use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt. (Note that late-arriving hard copy proposals provided to a delivery service on or before 5:00 p.m. on the closing date for applications will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the proposal was provided to the guaranteed delivery service by the specified closing date and time and if the proposal is received by NMFS no later than 5 p.m., two business days following the closing date.)

E. Intergovernmental Review Applicants will need to determine if their State participates in the intergovernmental review process. Information on Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) can be found at the following website:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/office-federal-financial-management. This information will assist applicants in providing either a Yes or No response to Item 16 of the Application Form, SF-424, entitled "Application for Federal Assistance."

F. Funding Restrictions Proposals to fund research started before final approval of the project for set-aside awards are eligible for consideration, but any project expense incurred prior to the final determination is done solely at the researcher’s risk.

Set-aside quota may only be harvested from open areas and open access areas, excluding areas identified by the Council and NMFS as closed to RSA compensation fishing.

The Federal Government shall not be liable for any costs incurred by any applicant to this announcement or any proposed or selected application or project. Any additional funds generated through the sale of the fish harvested under the research quota, above the cost of the research activities, shall be retained by the vessel owner as compensation for use of his/her vessel.

G. Other Submission Requirements http://www.nepa.noaa.gov https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/office-federal-financial-management

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Applicant organizations must complete and maintain three registrations to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. These registrations include SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. The complete registration process for all three systems can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants should begin this activity as soon as possible. If an eligible applicant does not have access to the internet, please contact the Agency Contacts listed in Section VII for submission instructions.

Prior to registering with eRA Commons, applicant organizations must first obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, if needed (refer to Section IV. Applications and Submission Information, Section C). Organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their full SAM and Grants.gov registrations; however, all registrations must be in place by time of application submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.

The first listed PD/PI listed on the application must include their eRA Commons ID in the "Credential, e.g. agency login" field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile Form. Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in that field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application.

After submission to Grants.gov, the PI listed on the application will receive an email notification from the eRA email address era-notify@mail.nih.gov. This email will either confirm a successful submission to eRA or list errors and warnings associated with the application. Errors must be addressed, the application resubmitted via Grants.gov, and an email received by the listed PI indicating a successful submission to eRA for an application to be successfully received by NOAA.

H. Address for Submitting Proposals For those without access to the Internet, one signed original and two hard copy applications must be postmarked or received by the established due date for the program at the following address: Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, ATTN: 2025 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. Use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt. Note that late-arriving hard copy proposals provided to a delivery service on or before 5:00 p.m. on the closing date for applications will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the proposal was provided to the guaranteed delivery service by the specified closing date and time and if the proposal is received by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) no later than 5 p.m., two business days following the closing date. No facsimile or electronic mail proposals will be accepted. April 1, 2025, should be used as the proposed start date on proposals, unless otherwise directed by the Program Officer.

V. Application Review Information Evaluation Criteria NMFS will solicit written technical evaluations from three or more federal and public/private sector experts to determine the technical merit of the proposal and to provide a rank score of the project based on the evaluation criteria.

NMFS may simultaneously convene a technical review panel from the same pool of experts to discuss the technical merit of applications for scallop resource surveys, bycatch research, scallop biology research, or other areas of focus. Following the panel discussion(s), reviewers would submit independent written evaluations and scores in accordance with the technical evaluation criteria listed below.

1. Importance/relevance and applicability of proposed projects to the program goals Maximum Points: 20 This criterion ascertains whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, federal, regional, state, or local activities.

This criterion ascertains whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, Federal, regional, state, or local activities. Applicants should provide a clear definition of the problem, need, issue, or hypothesis to be addressed. The proposal should describe its relevance to RSA Program priorities. If not directly related to priorities listed in this solicitation, applicants should provide justification why the proposed project should be considered.

2. Technical/scientific merit Maximum Points: 50 This criterion assesses whether the approach is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and objectives.

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This criterion assesses whether the approach is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and objectives. Special emphasis will be given to proposals that foster and improve cooperative interactions with the fishing industry and fishing communities, other research organizations conducting scallop research, Minority Serving Institutions, NMFS, and other stakeholders. A clear description of the project design, including a detailed description of field and laboratory work, and analysis methods, should be provided. The time frame for conducting the proposed research should be clearly specified. Activities that take place over a wider versus narrower geographical range, where appropriate, are preferred.

3. Overall qualifications of applicants Maximum Points: 10 his criterion ascertains whether the applicant possesses the necessary education, experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project.

This criterion assesses whether the applicant, and team members, possess the necessary education, experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project. This includes demonstration of support, cooperation and/or collaboration with the fishing industry, and qualifications/experience of project participants.

This criterion also assesses the applicant's understanding and experience with how funds are derived under an RSA award and the concept of RSA compensation fishing. This includes prior RSA experience successfully coordinating with the fishing industry to generate funds. If the applicant does not have such experience, does the applicant demonstrate a thorough understanding of this concept and how funds would be generated under an RSA award?

4. Project costs Maximum Points: 10 This criterion evaluates the budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time frame.

This criterion evaluates the budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time frame. Cost-effectiveness of the project is considered.

5. Outreach and Education Maximum Points: 10 This criterion assesses whether the project provides a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding NOAA's mission to protect the Nation's natural resources.

This criterion assesses whether the project involves a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding NOAA's mission to protect the Nation's natural resources. This includes identification of anticipated benefits, potential users, likelihood of success, a clearly defined data management plan, and methods of disseminating results.

Review and Selection Process In addition to the technical evaluation as described above, NMFS, in consultation with the Council, will convene a management review panel, including Council members and scallop fishery experts, to review and individually critique the proposals to enhance NOAA's understanding of the proposals as they relate to the program priorities enumerated in Section I.B. Following this meeting, management panelists will submit comments and recommendations to NOAA to help inform project selections. No consensus recommendations will be made by the management review panel.

NMFS may consult additional subject matter experts to inform final selection recommendations. Applicants may be required, in consultation with NMFS, to further refine/modify the study methodology as a condition of project approval.

C. Selection Factors The Program Officer will make recommendations to the Selecting Official based on technical ranking, management panelist recommendations, and responsiveness to program priorities. The Selecting Official may also consider one or more of the following factors:

1. Availability of funding.

2. Balance/distribution of funds:

a. geographically

b. by type of institution

c. by type of partners

d. by research priority

e. by project types

3. Duplication of other projects funded or considered for funding by NOAA/Federal agencies.

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4. Program priorities and policy factors.

5. Applicant’s prior award performance.

6. Partnerships with/Participation of targeted groups.

7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a NEPA determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations for funding are made to the Grants Officer.

Key program policy factors (see 4 above) to be considered by the Selecting Official are: (1) The time of year the research activities are to be conducted; (2) the ability of the proposal to meet the applicable experimental fishing requirements; (3) redundancy of research projects; and (4) logistical concerns. Therefore, the highest scoring projects may not necessarily be selected for an award. All approved research must be conducted in accordance with provisions approved by NOAA. Unsuccessful applications will be returned to the submitter. Successful applications will be incorporated into the award document.

Selection Factors The Selecting Official shall award in the rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based on one or more of the following factors:

1. Availability of funding.

2. Balance/distribution of funds:

a. geographically

b. by type of institution

c. by type of partners

d. by research priority

e. by project types

3. Duplication of other projects funded or considered for funding by NOAA/Federal agencies.

4. Program priorities and policy factors.

5. Applicant’s prior award performance.

6. Partnerships with/Participation of targeted groups.

7. Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a NEPA determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations for funding are made to the Grants Officer.

Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates Award announcements are expected 6 months following the deadline for this announcement.

VI. Award Administration Information A. Award Notices PRE-AWARD COSTS. Per 2 CFR 200.458, NOAA authorizes award recipients to expend pre-award costs up to 90 days before the period of performance start date at the applicant’s own risk without approval from NOAA and in accordance with the applicant’s internal policies and procedures. Such costs are allowable only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the Federal award. This does not include direct proposal costs (as defined at 2 CFR 200.460). In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for direct proposal preparation costs. Pre-award costs will be a portion of, not in addition to, the approved total budget of the award. Pre-award costs expended more than 90 days prior to the period of performance start date require approval from the Grants Officer. This does not change the period of performance start date.

GRANTS OFFICER SIGNATURE. Proposals submitted in response to…