noaa-nmfs-fhq-2016-2004617 ffo report.pdf

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 4

A. Program Objective 4 B. Program Priorities 4 C. Program Authority 10

II. Award Information 10 A. Funding Availability 10 B. Project/Award Period 11 C. Type of Funding Instrument 11

III. Eligibility Information 11 A. Eligible Applicants 11 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 12 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 13

IV. Application and Submission Information 13 A. Address to Request Application Package 13 B. Content and Form of Application 13 C. Submission Dates and Times 20 D. Intergovernmental Review 20 E. Funding Restrictions 20 F. Other Submission Requirements 21

V. Application Review Information 23 A. Evaluation Criteria 23 B. Review and Selection Process 26 C. Selection Factors 28 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 29

VI. Award Administration Information 29 A. Award Notices 29 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 30 C. Reporting 33

VII. Agency Contacts 35 VIII. Other Information 35

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 1 of 35

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

Funding Opportunity Title: 2016 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Research Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2016-2004617

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.427, Fisheries Dev and Utilization Research and Dev Grants and Coop Agreements Program

Dates: Applications must be received by http://www.Grants.gov , postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 pm, Eastern Standard Time on 11/02/2015. Use of Grants.gov is preferred. If Grants.gov cannot reasonably be used, use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. Postmarked applications received more than 5 business days following the closing date will not be accepted.

No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted.

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

Validation or rejection of your application by Grants.gov may take up to 2 business days after submission. Please consider this process in developing your submission timeline.

Applications not adhering to postmark or submission deadlines will be rejected and returned to the sender without further consideration.

Funding Opportunity Description: The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act established a fund (known as the S-K fund) used by the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development projects addressing aspects of U.S. fisheries, including, but not limited to, harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated business infrastructures.

Under this authority, grants and cooperative agreements are made on a competitive basis (subject to availability of funding) to assist in carrying out projects related to U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries. The term “fisheries” encompasses wild capture, marine aquaculture and

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 2 of 35 recreational fishing.

The objective of the S-K Grant Program is to address the needs of the fisheries and fishing communities in optimizing economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices, dealing with the impacts of conservation and management measures, and increasing other opportunities to use existing infrastructure to support keeping working waterfronts viable. U.S. fisheries include any fishery, commercial or recreational, that is, or may be, engaged in by citizens or nationals of the United States. Proposals submitted to this competition must address at least one of the following priorities: Aquaculture; Fisheries Data Collection; Techniques for Reducing Bycatch and other Adverse Impacts; Adapting to Climate Change and Other Long Term Ecosystem Change; Promotion, Development and Marketing;

Socio-Economic Research; and Territorial Science. This Federal Funding Opportunity includes information on application and criteria for research proposals requesting a maximum of $300,000 in total federal funding for up to a two-year period. Matching funds are not required.

Awards are anticipated to start no earlier than September 1, 2016.

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 3 of 35

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

The objectives of the SK Grant Program, and, therefore, the funding priorities, have changed over the years since the program began in 1980. The program has evolved as Federal fishery management laws and policies and research needs have evolved in response to changing circumstances.

The Magnuson Stevens Act requires us to undertake efforts to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished fisheries, insure conservation, minimize bycatch, protect essential fish habitats, and realize the full potential of U.S. fishery resources. It further requires that we take into account the importance of fishery resources to fishing communities; provide for the sustained participation of such communities; and, to the extent possible, minimize the adverse economic impacts of conservation and management measures on such communities.

The objective of the SK Grant Program is to address the needs of fishing communities in optimizing economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices, dealing with the impacts of conservation and management measures, and increasing other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable. NMFS seeks applications that demonstrate direct benefits to U.S. fishing industries and encourages proposals that involve fishing community participation. U .S. fisheries include any fishery, commercial or recreational, that is, or may be, engaged in by citizens or nationals of the United States.

Successful applications will be those aimed at helping fishing communities to resolve issues that affect their ability to fish; making full use of those species that are currently under Federal or state fishery management plans; and addressing the socioeconomic impacts of overfishing and overcapacity. The SK Program is open to applicants from a variety of sectors, including individuals, industry, academia, and state and local governments. We encourage applications that involve collaboration between industry and the other sectors listed.

B. Program Priorities

You must identify a singular research priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal. If one is not identified, a priority will be identified for you, by the National SK Program Manager.

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 4 of 35

Applications must address one of the seven priorities listed below. These priorities are aimed at rebuilding fish stocks, maintaining and restoring healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems, and promoting the economic vitality of fishery working waterfront communities, for the long term benefit of the public and future generations.

Fishing Community Resiliency

Recognizing the importance of community based bridge plans that work towards advancing the vitality of these communities, projects are encouraged to help coastal fishing industries adapt to constraints limiting sustainable fisheries development by retooling their fishing fleets, shore services, and port facilities into sustainable and innovative businesses. Many shoreside support services upon which the fishing industry relies are constrained or in decline due to less fish being landed. These include ice, fuel, haul¬out, auction, and processing companies. Projects that include creative opportunities that would enhance the short and long term vitality of commercial and recreational fishing related businesses are encouraged.

No less than 10% of funds will be awarded to applications that develop and support community-based bridge plans that enhance community resilience, from the perspectives of both fishery working waterfront and living marine resource communities.

Priority #1 – Aquaculture

Demonstrate aquaculture technologies in pilot commercial scale projects that will create jobs in fishing communities, produce healthful local seafood, revitalize working waterfronts and support traditional fishing communities. Provide training for fishermen and others in coastal fishing communities in aquaculture production methods. Document and assess socioeconomic impacts of marine aquaculture operations. Provide research on environmental impacts of aquaculture facilities.

Projects examples could include but are not limited to:

• Demonstrate the feasibility of culturing marine fish species identified as potential or suitable candidates for aquaculture;

• Explore alternate feed sources that reduce the demand for marine protein, such as use of fish processing trimmings in aquaculture feeds;

• Investigate alternative ways to minimize aquaculture activities’ interactions with marine mammals, sea turtles and other living marine resources;

• Evaluate the commercial feasibility of promising aquaculture technologies and business models;

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 5 of 35

• Improve or facilitate the adoption of aquaculture industry best management practices Projects should include, where feasible, participation of the traditional fishing communities or promote the development of community based aquaculture organizations, cooperatives or associations at the local, state and/or regional levels.

Priority #2 – Fishery Data Collection

Improve the cost effectiveness, accuracy, timeliness, and methods for the collection, reporting and dissemination of both fishery dependent data (commercial, non-commercial, recreational and for-hire fisheries) and fishery independent data (surveys).

Projects sought should:

• Deliver cost effective and adaptive electronic tools to support electronic monitoring and electronic reporting that will complement other fishery dependent data collections, including fishery observer and catch/effort monitoring programs;

• Track and integrate multiple fishery dependent data streams such as vessel and dealer reports for a single trip;

• Provide advanced fishery independent sampling techniques to improve data collection in otherwise inaccessible habitats, and improve current stock assessments by refining estimates of population dynamics;

• Improve current sampling methods and/or introduce new methods to obtain fishery independent and fisheries dependent data for fisheries or locations that are not included or not adequately covered in existing surveys

• Conduct studies to improve stock definitions and understanding of stock boundaries.

Priority #3 – Techniques for Reducing Bycatch and other Adverse Impacts

Projects sought should:

Develop and/or transfer selective commercial, non-commercial, and recreational fishing gears or procedures that reduce bycatch impacts and other collateral effects.

Reduce impacts to protected species, candidate/species of concern, and fish stocks that are overfished or where overfishing is occurring are encouraged.

Reduce or eliminate adverse interactions between fishing operations and nontargeted, protected, or prohibited species, essential fish habitat (EFH); or critical habitat, including the inadvertent take, capture, or destruction of such species or their habitats.

Improve the survivability of fish discarded or intentionally released and of protected species

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 6 of 35 released in fishing operations, including predation.

Investigate discard mortality in the commercial, non-commercial, and recreational fisheries as a means to improve post release survival.

Research examples could include but are not limited to:

fishing trips Reduce or eliminate impacts of fishing activity on essential fish habitat that adversely affect the sustainability of the fishery.

Research examples could include but are not limited to:

• Development of gear technologies and/or changes to fishing practices to reduce the destruction of habitat (such as coral and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) habitats by trawl, pot, anchor, or transiting), bycatch of sea turtles and sturgeon in bottom otter trawl or gillnet gear;

• Development of new or improvement of existing gear modifications designed to reduce incidental interactions between fishing gear and marine mammals, including studies to investigate new gear which could effectively reduce serious injury and mortality of sea turtles, small cetaceans, right whales and other large whales in the U.S. commercial fisheries and through the development of entanglement mitigation gear;

• Improvement in the understanding of how interactions between fishing operations and protected species occur, including interactions between trawl gear fisheries and marine mammals, between fixed gear fisheries and large whales, and longline fisheries and small cetaceans, sea turtles and seabirds.

Priority #4 – Adapting to Climate Change and Other Long Term Ecosystem Change

Projects sought should:

Assess the impact of climate change, ocean acidification, and other stressors on living marine resources and the communities sustained by these resources.

Conduct research that better informs fishery managers on the predator-prey dynamic and the role that density dependence plays on the short-term health of managed stocks.

Aid in the understanding and integration of all the interactions that marine and diadromous fish have with predators, competitors, and prey species; other ocean uses e.g. energy projects that can impact fishing, biological communities, and ecosystems; the complex interactions between fisheries and their habitat; the effects of fishing on fish stocks and their habitat, or

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 7 of 35 for the seafood industry to understand, adapt and become more resilient to a change in climate.

Research examples could include the following but are not limited to:

• Identify strategies for assisting fishing communities to adapt to potential effects of climate change on fisheries.

• Assess how fishing communities have been impacted and have adapted to direct effects of climate change, such as increased storms, and other natural events resulting in long term trends.

• Develop stock assessment models that consider potential changes in fishery performance and management effectiveness due to change in climate and ocean chemistry.

• Produce climate change and ocean chemistry forecasting models that incorporate fishery production scenarios.

Priority #5 – Promotion, Development and Marketing

Projects sought should:

Promote better business practices to increase product market value, such as increasing market prices for commercial fish species by promoting business practices such as safe handling (i.e., brining fish, using ozone boxes) and other value added practices on vessels and onshore to produce higher quality fish for sale. Projects may also include adoption of technologies such as smart phones and tablets that support the fishing industry and the public’s interest in the sustainability of marine fisheries by improving the traceability of seafood from fishing vessels to consumers.

Develop collaborative and improved regional, national, and global public relations and marketing opportunities that can position the U.S. domestic seafood industries to better compete in globally competitive commodity markets, stabilize and maintain domestic fishing cultures that have faltered due to suppressed prices, improve perception of and confidence in U.S. domestic wild caught seafood products that may be impacted by natural or man-made catastrophes, and improve fish prices. Fishermen will financially benefit from the development of new domestic and foreign markets for abundant low value and underutilized species.

Develop projects that support the creation of new marketing opportunities.

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 8 of 35

Develop usable, value – added, fishery products from economic discards, byproducts of processing, and introduced/nuisance species.

¿ Collect data on population dynamics, life histories, etc., of fish not currently under Federal or Interstate fishery management , for the Regional Fishery Management Councils/Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions to determine the feasibility of developing a new managed fishery that could provide additional fishing opportunity.

¿ Support development of new products from and markets for seafood processing waste and low value species.

¿ Proved consumer and public outreach on the ecological and/or environmental impact, including climate change related impacts such as production of greenhouse gasses, of imported seafood products versus locally landed seafood products.

Priority #6 – Socio-Economic Research

Projects sought should:

Improve the understanding of the socioeconomic aspects of fisheries to increase information on current and future consequences of management choices for use by decision makers and stakeholders. The range of scope includes commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing and fishing related businesses and fishing communities.

Research examples could include but are not limited to:

fisheries;

specific seafood products, including imports; factors limiting fishing community sustainability;

• Research into fishing community innovations in organization/governance, cooperatives, marketing, riskpooling, access to capital/permits/catch allocations, and other improvements to promote sustainability;

• Data and evaluative models to assist decision makers in analyzing optimal allocations of allowable biological catches

Priority #7 – Territorial Science

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 9 of 35

Projects sought should:

Improve the quality and quantity of fishery information from the U.S. territories covered by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, including the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and the Commonwealths of the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico, that can be used for establishing, enhancing and monitoring Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and ecosystem-based information for Federal fisheries management in these territories.

Project examples could include but are not limited to:

• Improve catch accountability by enhancing fishery statistics in each territory through a variety of techniques, including expanded creel surveys, fish dealer sampling, and other mechanisms;

• Expand fishery biosampling and analysis of biosampling data, including activities that would include sampling shoreside and at fish dealers the species of fish most relevant for management;

capacity by partnering with local academic institutions to engage students in the fishery statistics data collection and biosampling life history studies.

• Build technical capabilities to conduct data collection and analysis in terms of analyzing data for annual catch limits.

C. Program Authority

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

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Approximately $5-13 million may be available to fund new projects from this competition. The S-K Program anticipates that typical awards will range from $50,000 to $250,000. Project proposals requesting less than $25,000 or greater than $300,000 in federal funding will not be accepted or reviewed. The number of awards made as a result of this solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications received, the amount of funds requested for each project, the merit and ranking of the proposals, and the amount of funds

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 10 of 35 made available to the S-K Program. There is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted by the same applicant during this competitive solicitation; however, multiple applications submitted by the same applicant must clearly identify different projects and each application will be rated individually in the competitive review process. If you have several projects that you are seeking funding for, submit a separate application for each project; do not consolidate several projects into one application.

B. Project/Award Period

We will award grants or cooperative agreements for a maximum period of two years (24 months), but shorter term project proposals are welcomed. Applications beyond this 24 month duration will not be considered. The requested award start date must begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month. The earliest start date for projects will be September 1, 2016, dependent upon availability of Federal funding as provided by Congress, acceptable completion of all NOAA/applicant negotiations including National Environmental Policy Act analysis and permit requirements, and the provision of other supporting documentation as requested. Applicants selected to receive funding may be asked to modify the project start date.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

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

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

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

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

2. You represent an entity that is a corporation, partnership, association, or other non- Federal entity, non-profit or otherwise (including Indian tribes), if such entity is a citizen of

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 11 of 35 the United States within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended (46 U.S.C. app. 802).

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

We recognize the interest of the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior in defining appropriate fisheries policies and programs that meet the needs of the U.S. insular areas, so we encourage applications from individuals, government entities, and businesses in U.S.

insular areas. We support cultural and gender diversity in our programs and encourage women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications We are also committed to broadening the participation of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), which include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities, in our grant programs. To find out more about MSIs go to http:

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html.

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

Non Eligible Applicants You are not eligible to submit an application under this program if you are an employee of any Federal agency; a Regional Fishery Management Council (Council); or an employee of a Council. However, Council members who are not Federal employees can submit an application to the S-K Program

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

No cost sharing or matching is required. The S-K Act, as amended, does not require that you share in the total cost of the project. If you choose to cost-share and if your application is selected for funding, you will be obligated to account for the amount of cost share dollars reflected in the award documents, signed by the NOAA Grants Officer. If project costs are shared, NMFS must provide at least 50 percent of total project costs.

The funds you provide as cost sharing may include funds from private sources or from state or local governments, or the value of in-kind contributions. Federal funds or funds used to match other federal aid cannot be used as match. In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to, personal services volunteered to perform tasks in the project, and permission to use, at no cost, real or personal property owned by others. We will determine the appropriateness of all cost sharing proposals, including the valuation of in- kind contributions, on the basis of guidance provided in 2 CFR 200.

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 12 of 35

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

Federal agencies and their personnel are not permitted to receive funding under this competition; however federal scientists can serve as uncompensated partners on proposals.

Should you wish to partner with a NMFS employee, who will act as a partner in the proposed research project, a written agreement of this participation must be provided, detailing their involvement, signed by the employee’s supervisor. NMFS involvement could include planning, scheduling, conducting, and analyzing proposed project activities and frequent contact with the Applicant to help solve technical problems/situations as they arise during performance of the award.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

The standard application package, consisting of the standard forms, i.e., SF-424, SF- 424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, and the CD-511, is available at http://www.grants.gov. Users of Grants.gov will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it off line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. If an applicant has problems downloading the application forms from Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@Grants.gov. If you do not have internet access, an application package may be received by contacting Daniel Namur, S-K Program Manager, NOAA/NMFS (F/MB); 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13358, Silver Spring, MD 20910- 3282, Phone: (301) 427-8730, or e-mail: Dan.Namur@noaa.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application

A complete standard NOAA grant application package is required in accordance with the guidelines in this document. Applications that are not complete on the closing date of this announcement will not be reviewed. Your application must contain all required forms; if these forms are not signed via the www.Grants.gov application process, they MUST be signed in ink. Paper applications without inked signatures on their forms will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

Each application must include:

- An identified singular research priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal. If one is not identified, a priority will be identified for you.

- Federal application forms, including:

o SF-424A, Budget Information, Non-construction Programs must be completed.

Indicate any matching funds, if applicable.

o SF-424B, Assurances, Non-construction Programs must be completed for each

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 13 of 35 submitted non- construction application.

o CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying o SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable).

- a Project Summary (described below, limit 2 pages)

- a Narrative Project Description (described below, limit 20pages)

- a detailed narrative Budget Justification(described below). Provide justifications for all budget items in sufficient detail to enable the reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness of the funding requested. The budget justification should be broken out and detailed using the same budget categories as noted on the SF-424A budget form.

- other Supporting Documentation and relevant attachments the applicant deems important to the overall understanding and evaluation of the proposed project (combined into one PDF document).

All pages must be no less than single-spaced printed or typed in at least a 12–point font with one-inch margins on 8.5” x 11” paper. Any PDF or other attachments that are included in an electronic application must meet the above format requirement when printed out. Failure to follow these requirements will result in the rejection/return of the application.

If an applicant does not have Internet access or if Grants.gov is inaccessible, paper applications will be accepted. Paper applications must be submitted with completed, signed inked signature, original forms in hard copy and an electronic copy of the entire application on CD, including scanned signed forms.

If the applicant has completed the entire application in Grants.gov but is unable to submit it via Grants.gov, then this application package should be provided via CD along with printed and signed versions of forms SF-424, SF-424B, and CD-511. The authorized representative MUST sign and date these forms over the printed signature that will appear in the signature box. Paper applications should not be bound in any manner.

Content Requirements:

A. Project Summary Provide a summary of the proposed project (two page maximum), including applicant organization, project title, the singular research priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal. (Note -If one is not identified, a priority will be identified for you), project location, requested project period, funding requested, name and title of Principal Investigator, collaborating partners, species/resources to be addressed, a brief but clear description of proposed activities and anticipated benefits/outcomes. It is critical that the project summary accurately describe the project being proposed and convey all essential

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 14 of 35 elements of the project for public dissemination.

B. Project Description The project narrative comprises the research plan for the project. The narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the proposed activities and the proposed project costs. The major part of the narrative should be devoted to a description and justification for the proposed project, including details of the method to be used. It should include a timeline for major activities of the proposed project, and should indicate who will be responsible for which activities. There should be no ambiguity about who will perform particular parts of the project, and the time at which these activities take place. You must provide a narrative description of your project that includes the information listed below. The project description may not exceed 20 pages. The tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs and other pictorial presentations that you submit to document the project and the problem/opportunity you seek to address are included in the 20-page limit. The following do not count towards the 20-page limit:

standard application forms, project summary, budget and justification, letters of support, vitae; lists of permits, NEPA questionnaire; and data sharing plan.

The project narrative should closely follow the organization of the evaluation criteria (see Section V. A. Evaluation Criteria) for the application to receive a consistent review against competing applications. The narrative should demonstrate your knowledge of the need for the project, and show how your proposal builds upon any past and current work in the subject area, as well as relevant work in related fields. The narrative should highlight any relationship to fishery management plans, or other fishery-related strategic planning or management documents, and if the project will yield environmentally compatible socio-economic benefits, such as increased business opportunities, recreational opportunities, or decreased safety hazards. You should not assume that we already know the relative merits of the project you describe. You must describe your project as follows:

1. Project goals and objectives - Identify the specific S-K Program priority (described in Section I. B. Program Priorities) to which the proposed project responds. (Note: If not identified, a priority will be identified for you). Identify the problem/opportunity you intend to address and describe its significance to the fisheries resource and fishing community.

Objectives should be simple and understandable; as specific and quantitative as possible;

clear as to the “what and when,” but should avoid the “how and why”, and attainable within the time, money and human resources available. Projects should be accomplishment oriented and identify specific performance measurements. If you are applying to continue a project previously funded under the S-K Program, describe in detail your progress to date and explain why you need additional funding. If the proposal is for renewed support, include a description of the relation of the completed work to the proposed work. We will

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 15 of 35 consider this information in evaluating your current application.

2. Project impacts - Describe the anticipated impacts of the project on the fisheries resource and the fishing community in terms of reduced bycatch, increased product yield, or other measurable benefits. Identify the benefits that will be achieved as a result of this effort, both to the recipient and the general public as a whole. Describe how you/your organization (or others) will monitor progress and measure the project’s impacts.

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

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

5. Federal, state, and local government activities and permits - It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary Federal, State, and local government permits and approvals where necessary for the proposed work to be conducted. You must note whether or not permits are required. If no permits are required, this section must indicate “no permits are required”. If yes, provide a list of all applicable permits that will be required to perform the proposed work and an indication of the status of any permits needed (e.g., not yet applied, permit application submitted/pending, permit granted, etc.) or a statement indicating that no permits are necessary. List any existing Federal, state, or local government programs or activities that this project would affect, including activities requiring: certification under state Coastal Zone Management Plans; Section 404 or Section 10 permits issued by the Corps of Engineers; experimental fishing or other permits under Federal Fishery Management Plans (FMP); environmental impact statements to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act; scientific permits under the Endangered Species Act and/or the Marine Mammal Protection Act; or Magnuson-Stevens Act Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation if the project may adversely affect areas identified as EFH. Describe the relationship between the project and these FMPs or activities, and list names and addresses of persons providing this information. You may obtain information on these activities from the NMFS Regions (see Section VII- Agency Contacts). This section does not count towards the 20-page limitation.

6. Statement of Work

a) What is the project design? What specific work, activities, procedures, statistical

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 16 of 35 design, or analytical methods will you undertake? You should provide sufficiently detailed information on the proposed activities and potential environmental effects so that NOAA can analyze the impacts of the project as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (see Section VI. B.2.) NOAA has developed a NEPA questionnaire to assist in the evaluation of the possible environmental impact of your application. As part of this application process, questions from the questionnaire must be answered. The NEPA Questionnaire is located at http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/questionnaire.pdf. You must fill in Sections A, B, D, and E. If you are proposing activities relative to fisheries sampling and research, fill out Section H. The NEPA questionnaire does not count towards the 20 page limitation.

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

c) Data Sharing Plan: Environmental data and information collected and/or created under NOAA grants/cooperative agreements must be made visible, accessible, and independently understandable to general users, free of charge or at minimal costs, in a timely manner (typically no later than two (2) years after the data is created), except where limited by law, regulation, policy or security requirements. Your application must include a data sharing plan to make available to the public all environmental and other data created during the course of the project. If the proposed activities will not generate any environmental data, you are still required to have a data sharing plan. Such a data sharing plan could include the statement “this project will not generate any environmental data.” The data sharing plan does not count towards the 20 page limitation. The plan is required as part of NOAA’s data sharing policy described in Section VI.B.3, and will be reviewed as part of the Evaluation Criteria under V.A.1.

d) How will project results be disseminated? Describe any expected products of the project, such as a training manual, management plan, brochures, number of people trained, video, technique, or piece of equipment. Detail if/how products will be distributed to potential users (resource managers, researchers, other interested parties.)

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

7. Project management - Describe how the project will be organized and managed.

Proposals should demonstrate the applicant organization’s knowledge and experience in delivering the project requested in this application. The principal investigator may or may

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 17 of 35 not be the applicant; however, if the applicant is not the principal investigator, there must be an explanation of the relationship between the applicant and principal investigator (e.g., the applicant may be responsible for managing the grant funds and the principal investigator will be responsible for completing the work).

Include the resume or curriculum vitae of the principal investigator(s) and any consultants and/or subcontractors, and indicate their level of involvement in the project. Include copies of any agreements between you and the participants describing the specific tasks to be performed. Agreement documents and resumes/curriculum vitae (2 page maximum) should be included in the “Supporting Documentation.” This information does not count toward the project narrative’s 20 page limitation.

8. Participation by persons or groups other than the applicant - Describe how Federal, state and non-government entities, particularly members of fishing communities, will participate in the project, and the nature of their participation.

9. Outreach and Education - 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 state resource managers, have been involved in the planning of activity, will be involved in the execution of the activity and/or are providing funds, and whether there is a plan to disseminate the results to user groups (including Regional Fishery Management Councils/Interstate Fisheries Management Commissions, etc.,) and the public. Describe specific outreach goals and activities.

C. Budget Justification In order to allow reviewers to fully evaluate the appropriateness of proposed costs, the budget justification narrative must include a detailed breakdown of total project costs by category of cost (object class) separated into federal and non-federal shares as they relate to specific aspects of the project, with appropriate narrative justification for both the federal and non-federal (if applicable) shares. The object classes must match those found in the SF- 424A. The budget justification narrative should be sufficiently detailed to enable a clear understanding of the cost breakdown and calculations used to derive the line item subtotals in each object class of the SF-424A budget form. You are encouraged to include a budget table to further clarify the cost breakdown. If applicable, describe briefly the basis for estimating the value of the cost sharing derived from in-kind contributions. The source of any non-federal matching funds or in-kind contributions should be detailed.

a) The budget narrative must include: Personnel costs, including salary and wages, should be broken out by named principal investigator (PI) and number of months requested per year per PI as a percentage of their normal salary rate. Support for each PI should be

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 18 of 35 commensurate with their stated involvement, which may or may not correspond to their current position. Any unnamed personnel (graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, technicians) should be identified by their job title, and their personnel costs explained similar to PI personnel costs above. Fringe benefits should be identified separately from salary and wages; fringe benefit rates should be applied consistently, and should apply equally to both Federal and non-Federal (matching) funds, if applicable. Funds for salaries and fringe benefits may be requested only for those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are directly related to specific products or outcomes of the proposed project.

b) Travel costs should be broken out by number of people traveling, destination and purpose of travel, and projected costs per person. Projected travel costs should be inclusive of transport costs, lodging costs, and per diem expenses for all travelers, which are to be described in detail in the budget narrative. If travel details for a particular trip are unknown, explain the basis for estimating proposed costs. To qualify for support, attendance at meetings or conferences must enhance the investigator’s capability to perform the research or disseminate its results. Domestic travel is to be justified separately from foreign travel, since the latter may require additional clearances. You must adhere to the provisions of the 'Fly America Act' and use U.S.-flagged vessels for transport. Any foreign travel necessary to implement the project should be highlighted in the project and budget narratives since such travel would require additional clearances.

c) "Equipment" is non-expendable, tangible personal property with a unit cost of $5,000 or more and a useful life of more than one year. Items that do not meet the equipment definition must be included under supplies. List each piece of equipment separately and reference the type/model to be purchased and its contribution to the achievement of the project goals. General use equipment must be used 100% for the proposed project if charged directly to the award; if the equipment will be used for multiple projects, only a portion of the expense that is commensurate with the actual use of the equipment during the project may be requested.

d) Supplies should be itemized to the level of detail known or may be based on established historical costs. Whenever possible, you should include the quantity/number of units and cost per unit to justify expenses listed in the supplies category.

e) Contractual costs should be itemized separately, according to standard budget categories that appear in the SF-424A; all types of contractual costs should be included in the Contractual line on the SF-424A and explained in detail in the budget narrative. You must indicate the basis for each contract's cost estimate and specify the products or services to be obtained through all contracts.

f) Other costs should be listed by type of material or nature of expense and should be broken down by quantity/number of units and cost per unit if applicable.

g) The budget may include an amount for indirect costs if the applicant has an approved

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 19 of 35 indirect cost rate agreement with the federal government. Indirect costs are essentially overhead costs for basic operational functions (e.g., lights, rent, water, and insurance) that are incurred for common or joint objectives and therefore cannot be identified specifically within a particular project. A copy of the current, approved negotiated indirect costs agreement with the federal government must be included with the application.

If an applicant has not previously established an indirect cost rate with a Federal agency they may choose to negotiate a rate with the Department of Commerce or use the de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of MTDC (as allowable under 2 C.F.R. §200.414). The negotiation and approval of a rate is subject to the procedures required by NOAA and the Department of Commerce Standard Terms and Conditions Section B.06

D. Supporting Documentation - This section should include the supporting documentation such as: qualifications of the primary project personnel (resumes or curriculum vitae, limit two pages each), agreements with key partners, and letters of support received from the relevant jurisdictional representatives, partners, or communities involved in the project.

C. Submission Dates and Times

Applications must be received by www.grants.gov, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) 60 days after the posting date of the FFO. Note: It may take www.grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject an application. Please keep this in mind when developing your submission timeline. Use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt. Applications received later than 5 calendar days following the postmark closing date will not be accepted.

No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted.

D. Intergovernmental Review

Applications submitted by state and local governments are subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Any applicant submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 16 on SF-424 regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) established as a result of EO 12372.

To find out about and comply with a State's process under EO 12372, the names, addresses and phone numbers of participating SPOC's are listed in the Office of Management and Budget's home page at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc.

E. Funding Restrictions

Projects that primarily involve business start-up or infrastructure development are not eligible for funding under the S-K Program.

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 20 of 35

The S-K Program will not consider expenses associated with fees, fund-raising activities, travel for activities not directly related to project implementation, travel or salaries for Federal employees, or profit as allowable costs in the proposed budget. The total costs of a project consist of all allowable costs incurred in accomplishing project activities during the project period. Project costs can only include support for activities conducted between the effective start date and end date of the award, and cannot include activities undertaken either before or after the agreed upon dates.