G16AS00129 FINAL.docx

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

National Climate Change & Wildlife Science Center Program (NCCWSC) https://nccwsc.usgs.gov Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers

Proposals for Cooperative Agreements – Fiscal Year 2017 Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity G16AS00129

Closing Date & Time January 12, 2017 at 3:00 PM EST

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires us to tell you why we are collecting this information, how we will use it, and whether or not you have to respond. The information that we are collecting will be used by the U.S. Geological Survey to evaluate proposals submitted to acquire funding for the establishment of a network of geographically dispersed Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers. Your response is required to receive funding. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. We estimate that it will take an average of 32 hours to complete the proposal narrative required in this announcement. The average estimated annual burden associated writing will be 40 hours (OMB 1028-0096). You may send comments concerning the burden estimates or any aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, VA 20192

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA

http://www.grants.gov

SEE INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: USGS employees are prohibited from serving in any capacity (paid or unpaid) on any application submitted under this Announcement, and may not participate in the development of proposals. Federal employees from agencies that are included as consortium partners may assist in the development of proposals, but funding for federal agencies playing such a role will be provided via separate Interagency Agreement, not under the cooperative agreements resulting from this Program Announcement. Proposals that have a real or apparent conflict of interest related to Federal employees will not be processed for evaluation. This does not prohibit cooperation or collaboration between USGS and non-USGS scientists once a grant or cooperative agreement is in place.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

B. Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers and the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center 6

C. Proposal Format Instructions - Budget Tables and Detailed Budget……………………...19

Announcement #: G16AS00129

The National Climate Change & Wildlife Science Center Program is re-issuing this Announcement, with changes, to identify organizations that propose to host or, as applicable, serve as consortium partners for a Department of the Interior (DOI) Climate Science Center (CSC) in the regions indicated below, and to determine if their proposed science, partnership, and program support activities and strategies are appropriate to serve in these roles.

· Northwest Climate Science Center (NW CSC)

· Southeast Climate Science Center (SE CSC)

This activity is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, Div. F, Title I, P.L. 110-161.

Part I. Proposal Delivery and Submission Instructions

A. Timetables

(Eastern Standard Time)

B. Contact Information for Questions If you have any questions or problems with the registration process or the completion of the application package, please contact the Grants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov, or contact Laura Mahoney, lmahoney@usgs.gov, 703-648-7344.

For proposal preparation questions, contact Grant Specialist Tammy Szydloski, tszydloski@usgs.gov, 703-648-7371 or Janet Ciciarelli, jciciarelli@usgs.gov, 703-648-7202.

For programmatic or science related questions, contact Janet Cushing, jcushing@usgs.gov, 703-648-4015.

C. Information Sessions To facilitate the financial assistance application process, a conference call / webinar will be conducted by the NCCWSC to accommodate inquiries from applicants about this program and the proposal review, evaluation, and selection process.

This 2-hour session will be scheduled as follows:

October 18 at 2:00 P.M. EDT

Interested applicants should email Kristen Donahue, kdonahue@usgs.gov, to obtain call-in/web address information.

In addition, USGS has posted several documents that provide forward-looking views of intended CSC operations, focus, and functions. These are available for review at https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/csc-recompetition.

D. Electronic Application Requirement For the FY 2017 funding cycle, all proposals shall be submitted electronically via Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Hard copy/paper submissions will NOT be accepted. Electronic copies submitted via email will NOT be accepted under any circumstances. All proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov on or before:

January 12, 2017 at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

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

To complete and submit your application:

1. Begin at the Grants.gov website: http://www.grants.gov.

2. On the top of the screen, under the APPLICANTS section, click on “Apply for Grants.”

3. Click on “Search Grants.”

4. In the Funding Opportunity Number field, enter G16AS00129. This is the Funding Opportunity Number for the Climate Change Program.

5. Click on the hyperlink for G16AS00129.

6. Click on the “Package” tab and click the hyperlink “Select Package” on the right side of the screen.

7. Proceed through the following screen and click “Download Package.”

8. In order to view the downloaded application package, you will need to install the Adobe Reader software available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

9. To view a narrated tutorial on completing the forms on Grants.gov, please see http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-tools-and-tips.html.

There are several steps of the submission process that require careful attention from applicants to ensure that the application has been fully accepted. It is suggested that applicants read the document “Apply for Grants” available at http://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#t=Applicants%2FApply_for_Grants.htm.

After submitting your grant application package to Grants.gov, you will receive a confirmation screen and three additional emails from Grants.gov, informing you of your application processing status:

1. Submission Confirmation Screen

2. Submission Receipt Email (with “Track My Application” link)

3. Submission Validation Receipt Email (or Rejection with Errors)

4. Grantor Agency Retrieval Email

CONFIRMATION: Submission Confirmation Screen.

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

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

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

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

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

If you need help submitting your proposal, you can reach the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov. They are available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, except Federal Holidays.

Throughout the application period, an applicant may submit a revised or corrected proposal through Grants.gov. Include a cover letter as the first page of the proposal stating that the proposal is revised and indicating that the previous submittal is to be withdrawn from consideration. Such submissions must be completed by January 12, 2017 at 3:00 PM EST.

See Part IV. Proposal Preparation Instructions, which describes requirements for the proposal and other application components.

Please allow sufficient time for the proposal to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and allow time for possible computer delays. Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the last minute for submission. A proposal received after the closing date and time will NOT be considered for award. If the USGS determines that a proposal will not be considered for award due to lateness, the applicant will be notified immediately.

PART II. Background and Overview

A. Purpose of this Announcement

1. This Program Announcement seeks to identify organizations that propose to host and, as applicable, serve as consortium partners for a Department of the Interior (DOI) Climate Science Center (CSC) in the following regions: Northwest Climate Science Center (NW CSC); Southeast Climate Science Center (SE CSC); and to determine if their proposed science, partnership, and program support activities and strategies are appropriate to serve in these roles.

2. Once selected, recipients will be established as Host Institutions. As a Host, an institution will be the solely eligible entity to receive funding to conduct follow-on research/science projects anticipated as a part of this Program Announcement. While selections for follow-on research/science projects will be done using a peer review process and will be considered competitive based on announced objectives and strategy in this Announcement (i.e., eligibility for follow-on project awards is considered a part of the award as a Host Institution), the actions will be available for award only to the Host Institution sponsoring any individual project selected. Host Institutions may engage with other institutions, including by subaward, as part of these projects.

B. Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers and the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center

1. The Department of the Interior (DOI) has established a network of geographically dispersed DOI Climate Science Centers (CSC) (see http://www.doi.gov/csc). The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC), manages the CSCs on behalf of the Department (see https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/). CSCs are based at organizations (hereafter termed Hosts or Host Institutions) that provide suitable facilities; partnerships; science, educational, communications, and programmatic capabilities, either alone or in combination with other partners (“consortium partners”). At the national level, USGS (through NCCWSC) provides executive staffing and administrative support, conducts a program to link and synthesize CSC research activities, provides information technology strategy coordination, and supports a Federal Advisory Committee to provide input to the program (see https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/acccnrs).

2. The goal of each CSC is to work with managers of land; water; fish and wildlife; and nearshore, coastal, and cultural heritage resources to identify high priority resource management and decision needs for which information on climate/global change, impacts, and adaptation is needed, and to develop (through co-development where possible) scientific information and tools that can help managers develop strategies, policies, programs, and activities for responding to climate/global change.

3. The primary functions of CSCs are to:

a. Identify priority management needs through ongoing interactions with management entities within the region and to identify scientific information and tools that may inform these management challenges. Wherever possible, this should involve an appropriate level of co-development, which entails processes and relationship-building to frame management questions, understand the objectives of managers and other key stakeholders, develop science/research plans to address management questions, and ensure the appropriate transfer and use of information to improve management of natural and cultural resources in a changing climate.[footnoteRef:1] [1: Based on the 2015 report of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science, available at https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/acccnrs.

b. Identify impacts of climate/global change on priority species, habitats/ ecosystems, ecosystem goods and services, and other natural and cultural resources within the region, as guided by the management priorities identified above.

c. Translate, integrate, aggregate, and synthesize existing or new scientific information to meet key information needs identified in conjunction with natural and cultural resource managers.

d. Work with partners to identify, evaluate, and provide science to design, implement, and evaluate adaptation strategies to address identified climate impacts (along with other forcings such as land use or land cover change) on priority resources.

e. Foster and educate the “next generation” of climate science professionals by supporting students or post-doctoral researchers at each Center and providing experiences that help them understand high-priority management challenges, the management objectives of key stakeholders, and how science can provide information about the impacts of potential policies on these management challenges and objectives.

f. Foster climate impacts and adaptation expertise by conducting other capacity-building activities.

g. Provide information management capacity and infrastructure for the Center’s research activities. This does not include the development of regionally specific data portals, repositories, or online data management systems. CSCs should leverage the infrastructure developed and supported by NCCWSC. See Part IV.B. Proposal Contents for details.

4. Climate Science Centers operate in a highly partnership-oriented governance environment, including the following critical partnerships:

a. Each CSC currently has a “Stakeholder Advisory Committee” that includes representatives of government entities (state, Federal, tribal, sovereign) from the region, who provide input on regional management and science priorities, as well as outreach and partnership activities. Input from and engagement of CSC Host Institutions (and, where applicable, consortium partners) and USGS regional science assets are crucial components of this science-management dialogue.[footnoteRef:2] A Federal Advisory Committee provides national/program-wide input. [2: USGS is committed to ensuring – and proposers need to be prepared to engage in – high level, extensive and direct engagement between CSC partners and stakeholder groups such as the Stakeholder Advisory Committee. This engagement is required to ensure overall program directions are most effectively designed to meet management information needs. ]

b. Research and other activities undertaken by CSC Hosts/partners and Federal staff are parts of, and should be managed as, a coherent response to information needs identified by stakeholders. Close partnership between CSC Hosts/partners and USGS principals is required in designing a scientific program and ensuring its effective implementation and communication.

c. CSC scientific needs require expertise and perspective from across the CSC, whether this occurs at one institution or amongst several consortium partners, and USGS Centers.

5. Each CSC serves as a node in a national network. While its primary goal is to provide a full complement of regionally focused capabilities at each CSC, DOI is interested in the development of unique, nationally recognized capabilities that can serve nationwide needs. To facilitate national recognition and consistency, NCCWSC-developed high-level communication guidance must be implemented on websites and other public products.

6. USGS Data Management Plan Requirements: Proposals for research to be funded by USGS must include a supplementary document labeled "Data Management Plan" (DMP). This supplementary document should describe how the proposal will conform to USGS policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results and associated data. The NCCWSC/CSC template for data management plans should be used and can be found here: https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/content/data-policies-and-guidance. A valid DMP may include only the statement that no detailed plan is needed (e.g. “No data are expected to be produced from this project”), as long as the statement is accompanied by a clear justification. This supplementary document may include:

· the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project;

· the standards to be used for data and metadata format and content (where existing standards are absent or deemed inadequate, this should be documented along with any proposed solutions or remedies);

· policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements;

· provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and

· plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products, and for preservation of free public access to them.

Additional guidance on data management plans is available from the USGS Data Management web site here: http://www.usgs.gov/datamanagement/plan/dmplans.php.

Simultaneously submitted collaborative proposals and proposals that include subawards are a single unified project and should include only one supplemental combined DMP by the lead PI that also addresses all subaward data management needs, regardless of the number of non-lead collaborative proposals or subawards included.

7. Information and data management are crucial elements in enabling seamless interactions across the CSC network. CSC research activities funded through this agreement or through related agreements must comply with USGS Public Access Plan and Data Management Policies (http://www.usgs.gov/quality_integrity/open_access/ ) and NCCWSC Data Policies (https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/content/data-policies-and-guidance ). Requirements include completion of project metadata and data management plans for CSC research projects. Research data management plans, research data products, associated metadata, and other products developed with CSC funds must be submitted to NCCWSC or the CSC Data Steward when projects are complete. Host Institutions should work with NCCWSC on this function.

8. CSCs include USGS employees and may include staff from other public or private organizations. Several CSCs (Alaska, Northwest, Southwest, North Central, and Northeast) are anticipated to have staff (tribal climate science liaisons) supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, beginning in 2016. Other DOI bureaus are anticipated to provide resources (including staff) for CSC operations over time. The specific staffing and expertise at each CSC will be defined by the scientific priorities and focus of that Center and by available partnerships that facilitate access to external scientific assets. USGS/DOI staffing at CSCs may include the CSC Director and Deputy Director, Science/Research Coordinator, researchers, tribal liaisons, administrative personnel, etc. Students and post-doctoral researchers may also be located at the CSC for a total of up to 10 employees.

PART III. Proposals to Host Climate Science Centers

A. General Expectations, Requirements, and Conditions

1. The Department will enter into Hosting Agreements only with institutions (or units within institutions) that meet the following criteria:

a. Provide appropriate expertise, experience to achieve the CSC mission of identifying climate/global change impacts to and effective adaptation strategies for land; water; fish and wildlife; nearshore, coastal and cultural heritage resources; and the ecosystem services upon which human communities depend.

b. Demonstrate institutional commitment to a multi-disciplinary and organizationally effective science and management support program, through the direct involvement of senior representatives of multiple departments, colleges, etc. or higher level institutional sponsorship and engagement (e.g., dean, vice president of research, etc.)

c. Demonstrate commitment to the actionable science/co-development model, and make available relevant science capabilities that complement and enhance USGS and DOI scientific computing and data visualization capacity and that of other science partners.

d. Demonstrate a willingness to engage as partners with the CSC Director and other USGS staff in shaping and guiding a research portfolio to meet high-priority regional needs, as well as willingness to make the CSC a vibrant, growing entity that is “greater than the sum of its parts.”

e. Contribute to the training of the “next generation” of climate adaptation experts and, more broadly, the expansion of capacity to address climate impacts on and adaptation for natural and cultural resources.

i. Graduate education and post-graduate training are expected components of any proposals, but other, less formal capacity-building efforts are also of interest. This training can include formal “climate/global change fellow” programs that involve fellows in formal seminars and other training activities. Training may also involve formal research activities and responsibilities with university faculty, either in research projects funded by the CSC or other global change related research activities.

ii. Graduate and post-doctoral training supported under a CSC Hosting Agreement must involve research or other activities directly linked to the CSC science agenda and program. USGS/CSC staff must have substantial involvement in the selection of students and post-doctoral researchers and input on their programmatic activities, so as to ensure strong linkage of these activities to CSC science needs. Proposals must clearly articulate this relationship.

iii. In general, proposed formal training programs should include no more than six to ten graduate students or post-doctoral researchers in a given academic year, without a strong justification that their activities will be effectively managed to contribute to the CSC mission. Undergraduate educational initiatives may be proposed.

f. Proposals must identify a single individual at the Host Institution to serve as the University Director/Principal Investigator.[footnoteRef:3] The proposal should provide an explanation of how this individual is or will: [3: USGS awards identify the primary individual responsible for a project as the “Principal Investigator”. However, in the CSC operations, this individual is usually referred to as the “University Director”. ]

i. Be familiar with the full suite of activities underway within the Host Institution, consortium partners, and other CSC-funded investigators (e.g., USGS).

ii. Play a leadership role in the strategic planning and implementation of this portfolio, in conjunction with the CSC Director and the Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

iii. Encourage and facilitate the engagement of faculty and staff from across the institution (and CSC consortium, where appropriate) to increase awareness of, and where possible, increase contribution to, the goals of the CSC.

iv. Facilitate the development of the CSC as a known and desired research and training partner across the involved institution(s).

v. Serve as an advocate for CSC needs with Host Institution management, including:[footnoteRef:4] [4: The CSC Director will be responsible for the following items, with appropriate consultation with the University Director/Principal Investigator: establishing/engaging a Stakeholder Advisory Committee or its analogue (e.g., Alaska Climate Change Executive Roundtable); managing overall interactions with key partners, including Federal, state, sovereign, and tribal/indigenous entities; managing USGS funds; developing a research agenda based on input from stakeholders, Host and consortium partners, and, as appropriate, on guidance from NCCWSC/USGS; managing USGS employees at the CSC and integrating other Federal or partner employees (e.g., BIA-funded liaisons); and ensuring compliance with USGS and other relevant scientific integrity requirements. ]

1. Timely and efficient award, subaward, and contract management

2. Timely and efficient implementation of agreement commitments (e.g., for space, personnel, reporting, etc.)

3. Management of university-paid staff (e.g., office assignments, computer availability and support, with the understanding that some research staff might be more directly involved in USGS-directed projects)

g. Communication of scientific results to intended users is an integral and expected element of CSC funded research. Proposals should address how they will address communication needs and suggest mechanisms for evaluation of the effectiveness of science-management information activities. At a minimum, proposals should indicate support for basic communications activities for the CSC that conform to NCCWSC communication guidelines. Basic communication activities required by USGS and DOI include providing weekly highlights of upcoming activities, coordination of press releases (as appropriate), coordination of CSC communication activities with NCCWSC and USGS Communication staff, and the development and maintenance a CSC website. Include strategy for website hosting, content updates, and maintenance.

h. Provide adequate administrative support to ensure rapid and responsive financial award management at both the pre- and post-award stages that adheres to DOI, OMB, and other relevant regulations and policies.

2. The Department identifies the following considerations that will influence selection of Host Institutions:

a. Effective governance and engagement: Realistic and effective plans describing governance and interaction strategies among institutional colleges and departments; across consortia members; with USGS science centers, units, and programs; and with other related institutions, with the goal of fostering collaborative activities and engaging expertise from across the Host and partner institutions. Demonstration of substantial institutional-level commitment is strongly encouraged.

b. Fostering student and early career engagement: Effective strategies for ensuring collaborative interactions and a sense of involvement with the CSC, especially where students and post-doctoral researchers are distributed among departments or institutions. Also of interest are activities that enhance student/early-career learning or otherwise enhance education and capacity-building activities, including interdepartmental student committee membership, interdepartmental seminars, graduate fellowships opportunities, and other regular and frequent activities among faculty and graduate students from a variety of disciplines.

c. Addressing tribal and indigenous communities: Engagement of tribal institutions, including tribes and tribal colleges/universities, and other institutions affiliated with American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders; training; extension faculty involvement, etc.

d. Building regional science capacity: Expand regional access to science and fostering regional science-management dialogue, through regional “summits,” etc.

3. Where consortium arrangements are proposed, the Department will consider the following factors:

a. Clear and substantive roles for all consortium members: Consortium members must either be funded to support specific substantive activities connected to the CSC science agenda or serve other clearly defined functions/roles.

b. Effective use of funds: An appropriate balance between the numbers of faculty provided with funding from the Hosting Agreement (for themselves or students/post-docs) and the imperative to maintain a low fixed cost burden. See also 1.e.iii above.

c. Effective cross-institutional governance. See also 2.a above.

4. Proposals may include the provision of space to house the CSC, including USGS staff, other Federal staff (e.g., BIA-funded positions), Host staff, and students and post-doctoral researchers. Ideally, such space would provide a visible and recognizable on-campus “location” for the CSC.

a. Space arrangements will be discussed directly with applicants as part of the agreement finalization process.

b. Where space is proposed as part of the agreement, especially where both Federal and university staff (e.g., faculty, students) are to be housed together, details regarding the extent and nature of support for that space should be provided, e.g., furniture, supplies and equipment ordering and maintenance (copier, paper, whiteboards, etc.), communications infrastructure.

B. Eligibility - Who May Submit a Proposal

1. Organizations eligible to submit proposals under this Announcement include state, not-for-profit, local government, and tribal entities, including academic institutions. USGS entities may not submit proposals and may not be listed as formal partners on proposals. Federal agencies may participate in the execution of projects; they will receive money through other methods as appropriate and not through Federal financial assistance (i.e., the CSC hosting cooperative agreement).

2. Any eligible organization or consortium interested in hosting a Center in the identified CSC region(s) may apply. Consortium partners are not required to be physically located within their corresponding CSC region. However, proposals involving institutions located outside the focal region should provide strong evidence of experience and capability to conduct research and maintain active partnerships with resource management stakeholders within the focal region, either directly or through other consortium members.

3. Proposals may be submitted by a single institution or by one institution serving as the CSC Host, along with additional consortium partners. Consortium partners should only be included if they will play a clear and substantive role in CSC strategy and operations. Examples include the provision of cooperative agreement funding for faculty and students or post-doctoral researchers for activities related to the CSC science agenda.

4. Organizations may submit more than one proposal. Candidate Hosts may also be included as consortium partners on proposals for which others have a Host role. Candidate consortium partners may be listed on multiple proposals.

C. Proposal Funding and Scope Considerations

1. It is anticipated that the CSC Hosting Agreements will be funded for one base year and up to four (4) renewal years. Beyond the base year, each subsequent year of funding will be contingent upon satisfactory performance (including both substantive and financial), satisfactory submission of required reporting, and hosting of an annual review meeting to discuss progress during the preceding year. All renewals are at the discretion of USGS. All awards and funding under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. “Required reporting” includes financial and annual reporting included as standard requirements under USGS cooperative agreements, and any reporting required under grants or agreements issued under the auspices of the CSC hosting cooperative agreement to support scientific and related activities.[footnoteRef:5] [5: In recent years, required annual reports from CSC university partners were, at USGS direction, merged with overall CSC “annual reports” for a broad audience. This practice will be modified significantly, returning to a model of annual reporting that supports increased communication about university activities and enables greater oversight of specific commitments. A listing of deliverables and commitments will be drafted based on accepted proposals and made part of the resulting cooperative agreement. This listing will be the basis of annual reviews by USGS in anticipation of release of upcoming-year funds

2. USGS will enter into a cooperative agreement with a single institution. This Host Institution will be responsible, where applicable, for transferring funds from the hosting agreement to consortium partners. It will also be the recipient of research project funding for all partner institutions and will be responsible for transferring these funds and providing appropriate subaward oversight. Proposals including consortium partners must be submitted as a single integrated proposal by the lead Host Institution.

3. Host Institutions will be eligible for projects and project funding as a component of this agreement. Research or other project activities must address the goals of the Center as described in the Centers’ Science Agenda or Strategic Plan. They must also comply with NCCWSC and USGS data management policies, including the preparation of Data Management Plans (see https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/content/data-policies-and-guidance). As noted, research project funds will be awarded only to the Host Institution, with any subawards to consortium partners or others administered by the Host. All funded research intended for publication must provide attribution of the USGS funding (see https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/project-tracking).

4. Each CSC region faces a unique suite of climate impacts and natural resource management challenges, a diverse array of partners, and demands for services that likely exceed available resources. The Federal resources available at each CSC generally consist of:

· Funds provided to the Host for hosting the CSC (i.e., the agreement to be awarded under this Announcement) and subsequently, as appropriate, to consortium partners

· Federal staff salaries (e.g., USGS and BIA-funded positions)

· Discretionary funds allocated by the NCCWSC to the CSC for scientific and other activities, which may be transferred to the Host Institution for activities at the host or partner institutions as well In the past, many CSC Host Institutions have provided in-kind and financial resources that augment these Federal funds.

Proposals should not request funds totaling greater than $4,500,000 for five years, or an average of $900,000 per year.

PART IV. Proposal Preparation Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Failure to comply with the required application components listed below may result in the proposal being rejected. The USGS cannot request or receive supplemental or replacement application components after the closing date/time under this Program Announcement.

1. Required Forms: All proposals musts include the following documents, which are submitted as part of the Grants.gov submission process. These mandatory forms are provided in Grants.gov:

a. Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance. The person who electronically submits the SF-424 must have the authority to bind the organization to the terms of the assistance award.

b. SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs

c. SF-424B Assurances – Non-Construction Programs

2. Proposal Components: Each proposal must include four separate components, preceded by a title page that provides basic information regarding the submitting organization, including name, physical address, and contact information for a single primary point of contact for the proposal:

a. Technical Proposal Narrative (See Section IV.B below)

b. Budget Tables (See Section IV.C and Instructions below)

c. Budget Justification text (See Section IV.C and Instructions below)

3. Proposal Format: The proposal technical narrative, budget tables, budget justification, and letters of support must be combined together into one PDF document, in the order noted above, and submitted through Grants.gov. Applications must be not more than 15 pages (including figures, tables, but not including references, appendices, curriculum vitae, etc.), using Times New Roman not smaller than 12-point font, single-spaced, with one-inch page margins. All pages of the application shall be numbered. All text, figures, and tables shall be sized to fit on 8½" by 11" paper. The standard (SF) forms noted above and letters of support do not count toward the 15-page limit. The application shall be in color as needed for review by peer review panel members.

In the Grants.gov forms, allowing your mouse to hover over a field will provide instructions for completing that field. You can also click on the “Check Package for Errors” button to check the entire application for validation errors (incomplete fields, etc.).

B. Proposal Contents – Technical Proposal Narrative Provide detailed information to describe your organization’s ability to host a CSC. Include section titles at the beginning of each section. If additional information about your natural resource and climate/global change research program and partnerships can be found online, refer to the appropriate links. Exceeding the page limit will not be beneficial, as the additional pages will not be evaluated.

The narrative should address the following elements:

1. Consortium Skills and Interactions NCCWSC seeks consortia in which all members will play an active and direct role in conducting and overseeing research projects and related CSC activities undertaken by the consortium. Proposals that include multi-institution consortia should address the role/skill set of each partner institution and how the proposal principals will interact.

a. Identify the individual at the Host Institution who will serve as University Director/Principal Investigator. Describe this person’s role and what funding (for the University Director/Principal Investigator or other staff) is requested to support this requirement. Describe why this department/center as a host “home” and individual as university leader are best suited to addressing the science challenges facing the CSC.

b. As appropriate, identify the proposal principals (leadership team), who should include, at a minimum, one senior investigator from each consortium partner. Identify each principal’s individual strengths and how their expertise complements, supplements, or amplifies that of the other leadership team members. Describe how the leadership team will coordinate and interact with one another. Provide brief descriptions of the current research activities (e.g., awards, projects) of each proposal principal.

c. Describe institutional-level commitment to the CSC, including how the institution will coordinate and work across Departments, Colleges and other administrative units within the institution.

d. Describe the governance strategy and activities for the consortium team, including proposed modes of interaction between Host and consortium partners and between all partners and the CSC Director and staff.

e. Describe the institutional context in which the CSC would be located; that is, list other departments and programs that would be closely associated, including other Federal or non-Federal partners (e.g., NOAA Cooperative Institutes or USDA Forest Service labs), etc. Describe any anticipated activities or strategies to maximize the benefits from and leveraging of these assets. The roles of all partners (Federal and non-Federal) must be clearly identified.

f. Describe how proposal principals would enable and encourage other faculty, staff, and students to participate in research activities. Describe how the consortium leadership would facilitate awareness of and potential engagement in responding to requests for proposals issued by a CSC.

g. Identify any involvement of proposal principals in activities or projects of:

i. The National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC)

ii. Climate Science Centers (CSC)

iii. Landscape Conservation Collaboratives (LCC)

iv. USDA Regional Climate Hubs (Hubs)

v. Regional Integrated Science and Assessment (RISA) center(s)

vi. Other entities whose mission reflects similar goals, providing information for adaptation planning and decision making for natural and/or cultural resources

2. Science

a. Explain the team’s vision of the nature of the science required for climate and other global change related adaptation or resource management decision making in the region and of the most effective approaches for meeting those needs. Identify how specific university or consortium skills match up with needs and complement USGS resources. Describe how the proposal, with details provided for individual members of the team, will effectively support research and related activities across the relevant CSC region. Identify new capabilities that need to be developed regionally, as appropriate. Provide at least one case example for each of the proposal principals that involves identification of climate impacts or adaptation strategies for natural or cultural resources.

b. Explain the proposal team’s understanding of “co-production” and “actionable science” or “usable science.” Describe how the consortium would facilitate and foster co-production and actionable science approaches in CSC-funded activities. Provide at least one case example for each of the proposal principals that illustrates co-production or actionable science principles.

c. Describe any proposed activities to generate and foster regional dialogue and information sharing with cultural or natural resource managers on climate impacts and adaptation science.

d. Describe the involvement of consortium partners, and especially the proposal principals, in activities related to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, or other indigenous peoples.

3. Education, Training, & Capacity Building

a. List and describe the broad research areas in which students and post-doctoral researchers are proposed (e.g., ecological modeling, vulnerability assessment). Identify the intended physical location(s) and institutional affiliation(s) for the proposed students and post-doctoral researchers.

b. Describe the strategy for linking graduate and faculty activities among multiple departments or institutions. Describe specific actions that will be taken to engage students and faculty across institutions, with the result being to enhance cross-disciplinary learning, to offer new collaboration opportunities, to invite joint funding opportunities, and to show the efficient and effective utilization of unique capacities that each university brings to the consortium. Describe any strategies or plans to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and center cohesion. (This is especially relevant if students and post-doctoral researchers are stationed at multiple locations.)

c. Describe the proposed role of the CSC Director in the selection of and engagement with students and post-doctoral researchers. Describe any proposed mechanisms or opportunities for the CSC Director and researchers to participate in student training, e.g., committee membership, co-teaching,[footnoteRef:6] retreats, etc. [6: USGS staff are not permitted to be lead instructors on university courses. All such activities must involve a university co-teacher.]

d. Describe the process by which students will be selected and outcomes tracked and evaluated, so as to ensure that their activities will be aligned with and advance CSC priorities, while also serving their educational goals. Describe any mechanisms for tracking student projects and products and informing the USGS CSC Director and NCCWSC of these accomplishments.

e. Describe any programs or activities in place or proposed that will foster the engagement in CSC programs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, or other students/researchers from communities under-represented in the climate science field.

f. Describe any other activities proposed, e.g., summer short courses, intensive field exposure, regional climate summits.

g. Describe the process and requirements for adjunct faculty status for the CSC Director, Deputy Director, and researchers.

4. Communications

a. Describe plans/processes for providing and supporting a website for the CSC. Include strategy for hosting, content updates, and maintenance. Note that the website must follow the information stated in the NCCWSC communication guidelines.

b. Describe plans/processes for complying with USGS and DOI communication requirements, such as reporting weekly highlights of upcoming activities, coordinating press releases (as appropriate), and incorporating a review of CSC communication products with NCCWSC and USGS Communication staff.

c. Describe any additional proposed communications and outreach activities and/or staff, and describe how this support would be coordinated/integrated with USGS-led CSC and NCCWSC activities.

5. Administrative

a. As appropriate, describe physical space to be made available to serve the needs of current CSC staff (as described above), plus proposed students and post-doctoral researchers, and reasonable anticipated growth. See Section II.B.7 for additional information. Describe how growth in the CSC will be accommodated. Describe the availability of the proposed space and any actions needed before occupancy (in April 2017).

i. If space is to be provided at the Host Institution, describe any clerical/administrative support that will be provided to the CSC, such as mailing, memo/letter preparation, scheduling for meetings, etc. Describe whether normal maintenance support (e.g., replacing light bulbs, hanging white boards, moving Ethernet connections, etc.) will be provided under the agreement. Be specific as to activities and charges not to be provided.

b. Describe the indirect charges to be applied to funds received under the Hosting Agreement, including any pass-through funds directed to other partners. Describe the indirect charges to be applied to project awards made under the Hosting Agreement.

c. Describe the administrative and awards management support to be provided to the CSC, including to USGS staff.

i. Describe the staffing strategy for CSC award and subaward processing. For example, will there be a single point of contact for this activity, or will it be allocated among multiple analysts in the relevant funds management office? Will there be a single, identified “CSC Awards Manager”? Describe the training and experience of any awards management staff, especially those with dedicated CSC responsibilities. Describe the average processing time between receipt of award by the Host and completion of subawards.

6. In-Kind and Related Support. Proposals should include a separate section identifying any in-kind support, cost concessions, or other contributions to the success of the CSC. Examples of cost share include researcher, student, or staff salary or assistantships; facilities or rent; equipment; return of funds from indirect charges; reduced indirect charges; and other non-Federal support.

7. Do Not Provide Generic Endorsement Letters. Any endorsement letters should describe an interaction between a proposal principal at the Host or consortium partner institution and the endorsing entity that illustrates actionable science principles. Proposals may include up to ten (10) such letters, each of which should not exceed two pages.

8. Format for Resume / Curriculum Vitae and Conflict of Interest Information. Provide a biographical sketch, resume, or curriculum vitae for the University Director/Principal Investigator and for each member of the proposal leadership team including, as appropriate, at least one senior investigator from each consortium partner.