NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2024-2008000 NOFO Report.pdf

FY24 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 4

A. Program Objective 4 B. Program Priorities 4 C. Program Authority 6

II. Award Information 6 A. Funding Availability 6 B. Project/Award Period 6 C. Type of Funding Instrument 7

III. Eligibility Information 7 A. Eligible Applicants 7 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 8 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 8

IV. Application and Submission Information 9 A. Address to Request Application Package 9 B. Content and Form of Application 9 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 21 D. Submission Dates and Times 22 E. Intergovernmental Review 22 F. Funding Restrictions 22 G. Other Submission Requirements 23

V. Application Review Information 25 A. Evaluation Criteria 25 B. Review and Selection Process 28 C. Selection Factors 31 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 32

VI. Award Administration Information 32 A. Award Notices 32 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 33 C. Reporting 38

VII. Agency Contacts 39 VIII. Other Information 40

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NOTICE OF 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: FY24 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2024-2008000

Federal Assistance Listings Number: 11.427, Fisheries Dev and Utilization Research and Dev Grants and Coop Agreements Program

Dates: Dates: Pre-proposals must be received at http://www.Grants.gov under the competition link named “PRE PROPOSALS FY24 Saltonstall-Kennedy”, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 pm, Eastern Time, July 24, 2023, 60 days after the posting date of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Use of Grants.gov is preferred. If Grants.gov cannot reasonably be used, use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. Postmarked applications received more than 10 business days following the closing date will not be accepted. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted. Within 60 days of the pre-proposal due date, NOAA will inform the authorized representatives if the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Program encourages or does not encourage submission of a full proposal. Regardless of whether you are encouraged or not encouraged, all those who submit accepted pre-proposals and meet all requirements are eligible to submit full proposals.

NOTE: Only the Authorized Representative listed on the application will receive status notifications on any pre-proposal and full proposal should one be submitted. It will be the responsibility of the Authorized Representative to forward any notification received to others within the project team, including the Project Leader.

Full Applications must be received by http://www.Grants.gov under the competition link named “FULL PROPOSALS FY24 Saltonstall-Kennedy”, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 pm, Eastern Time, November 21, 2023, 180 days after the posting date of the NOFO.

Use of Grants.gov is preferred. If Grants.gov cannot reasonably be used, use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. Postmarked applications received more than 10 business days following the closing date will not be accepted. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted.

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

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 destroyed.

NOTE: Under this one solicitation there are two (2) competition links. Please be sure to submit your pre-proposals to the “PRE PROPOSALS FY24 Saltonstall-Kennedy” link within the dates specified in this NOFO. FULL Proposals must be submitted to the “FULL PROPOSALS FY24 Saltonstall-Kennedy” link prior to the date specified in this NOFO.

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 (see section IV, F; Funding Restrictions). Under this authority, grants and cooperative agreements are made on a competitive basis (subject to availability of funding) to assist in carrying out projects to expand domestic and foreign markets related to U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries.

The term “U.S. fisheries” refers to any marine fishery (including the Great Lakes) that encompasses commercial, recreational, charter, subsistence, wild capture, and aquaculture that is, or may be, engaged in by citizens or nationals of the United States or other eligible applicants.

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

Proposals submitted to this competition must address at least one of the following priorities:

Promotion, and Marketing; Development, Infrastructure and Capacity Building; Science or Technology that Enhances Sustainable U.S. Fisheries. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) includes information on application and criteria for proposals requesting a maximum of $500,000 in Federal funding for up to a two-year period. Matching funds are not required, nor will they be considered during the evaluation process. Awards are anticipated to start no earlier than September 1, 2024.

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

NOTE: Submission requirements in this NOFO may change from previous year's announcements. The S-K Program recommends reading the full announcement carefully, paying close attention to Section IV Application and Submission Information, for changes to application submission requirements.

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

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

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

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

B. Program Priorities

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

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Solicitation Priorities:

Priority #1 – Promotion and Marketing

Projects sought should:

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

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

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

- Conduct domestic market research focused on stimulating demand for U.S. fisheries.

Priority #2 Development, Infrastructure, and Capacity Building

Projects sought should:

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

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

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

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

Priority #3- Science or Technology that Enhances Sustainable U.S. Fisheries

Projects sought should:

- Directly impact U.S. fisheries through science and technology based projects that strengthen existing fisheries, or create new market opportunities for U.S. fishing communities; and/or

- Demonstrate a direct need or benefit to the fishing community and connect with one or more segments of the U.S. fisheries supply chain; and/or

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- Include, within the scope of the project, participation of the fishing community.

C. Program Authority

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

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

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

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

Approximately 10% of available funding may be allocated for projects requesting between $25,000 and $100,000 in Federal funding. Multiple full proposal submissions from the same entity or applicant are limited to three. NMFS will only accept three full proposals from the same entity or applicant, if more than three full proposals are submitted from the same entity or applicant NMFS will accept the first three in the order they are received. If you have more than one project that you are seeking funding for, submit a separate application for each project; do not consolidate more than one project into a single 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.

Project start dates will be no earlier than September 1, 2024 and no later than March 1, 2025, dependent upon availability of Federal funding as provided by Congress, acceptable completion of all NOAA/applicant negotiations including National Environmental Policy

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Act (NEPA) analysis and permit requirements, and the provision of other supporting documentation as requested. Applicants selected to receive funding may be asked to modify the project start date.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

The funding instrument (grant or cooperative agreement) will be determined by the NOAA Grants Office. A cooperative agreement will be used if the proposed project involves substantial Federal involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, NOAA staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities in a partnership role; it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activities. The dominant role and prime responsibility resides with the award recipient for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities may be shared among the recipient and NOAA.

The exact amount of funds, the scope of work, and terms and conditions of a successful award will be determined in pre-award negotiations, between the applicant’s Authorized Representative and NOAA/NMFS representatives.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

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

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

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

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

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Colleges and Universities, in our grant programs. To find out more about MSIs go to https://www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/doi-minority-serving-institutions-program

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

Eligible Applicants must submit a pre-proposal that meets the submission requirements listed in this NOFO by the established due date. Full proposals will not be reviewed or evaluated if a pre-proposal was not received on time and ranked.

Non Eligible Applicants

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

Multiple full proposal submissions from the same entity or applicant are limited to three.

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

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

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

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

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

Should you wish to partner with a Federal agency, a written agreement detailing this participation must be provided. The agreement should describe any planning, scheduling, conducting, and analyzing of proposed project activities or work to be conducted by a

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Federal employee, and/or resources provided by the partnering agency, e.g. equipment or lab space.

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

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

For the full application, 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.

If an applicant has problems with Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support at 1- 800-518-4726 or support@Grants.gov. If you do not have Internet access, a pre-proposal or full proposal application package may be received by contacting Clifford Cosgrove, S-K Program Manager, NOAA/NMFS (F/MB); 1315 East-West Highway, Room 14321, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282, or email: clifford.cosgrove@noaa.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application

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

Pre-proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov. The SF-424 must be filled out and signed as part of the grants.gov pre-proposal process. Though the SF-424 form allows for additional attachments, do not use this function. Pre-proposals may only have an SF-424 form, and a separate 2-page pre-proposal narrative. Please do not include any additional pages other than the 2-page pre-proposal narrative and the SF-424 form. If these requirements are not followed the pre-proposal will be withdrawn without consideration.

Pre-proposal Format

The pre-proposal process is intended to provide an indication to potential applicants of the technical merit and the relevancy of the proposed project to the S-K Program before preparing a full proposal. The intent is to reduce the burden of preparing full proposals that

Notice of Federal Funding Page 9 of 40 do not have a high probability for being funded. When drafting a pre-proposal, applicants should clearly convey how your proposed project meets the four evaluation criteria and the identified single priority area. Late or incomplete pre-proposals, as well as those that deviate from content or format requirements, will be withdrawn without consideration.

Federal employees are not allowed to assist in the preparation of pre-proposals. However, they may provide applicants with information on program goals, funding priorities, and preproposal application procedures. Because this is a competitive program, federal employees will not provide assistance in conceptualizing, developing, or structuring pre-proposals.

The pre-proposal must contain a completed SF-424 and 2 page narrative. The SF-424 form will serve as the cover page for the 2-page pre-proposal and does not count towards pre-proposal page limits. Each pre- proposal may not exceed two pages, single-spaced, and may not include any other attachments within the two page narrative. Pre-proposals that deviate from content or format requirements will be withdrawn without further consideration.

The 2-page pre-proposal narrative must be submitted using the format described above and must provide:

a. Name of organization, Title of project, and Project Leader(s), with email contact(s).

b. Priority: Applicants should identify the single priority that is most addressed by the preproposal. If more than one priority is addressed by the pre-proposal, one priority must be identified as the primary. The primary priority will determine the subject matter expert used to evaluate your pre-proposal. If one is not identified, a priority will be identified for you.

c. Background section that sets the stage for the work and identifies which one of the priorities in Section I.B the pre-proposal addresses directly.

d. Rationale of why the work should be conducted and how it is relevant to the S-K Program.

e. Clear statement of objectives and general methodology to be used.

f. Identification of required permits (i.e. ESA, MMPA) and permit numbers, if applicable.

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g. Estimated budget amount (a detailed budget narrative is not required).

Information contained in the pre-proposal narrative needs to provide sufficient information for reviewers to evaluate the project based on the pre-proposal evaluation criteria (see Section V. A. Evaluation Criteria).

Full Application Format

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

Listed below are the minimum requirements for each application. Please pay close attention to the designated page limits as well as the other minimum requirements outlined.

If any of these requirements are not met or if the page limits are exceeded the proposal will not be considered and will be withdrawn from the competition.

Each application must include:

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

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. Applicants must enter the NOAA assigned pre-proposal number in box 5b.

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

Indicate any matching funds, if applicable.

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

CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying.

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

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

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

Data Sharing Plan (Clearly identified and included in the Project Narrative or Supporting Documents).

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

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

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

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

NOAA NEPA Questionnaire (https://www.nepa.noaa.gov/docs/NOAA-Grants Questionnaire-final.pdf). It is recommended that you pay attention to responding to Questions 1-19 and 20-37, the latter of which are specific to NMFS project submissions.

Note: It is strongly recommended that applicants complete this questionnaire when initially submitting a full proposal application. A completed NOAA NEPA Questionnaire should be uploaded as its own file and not included in any other attachment.

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

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

Content Requirements:

A. Project Summary (2 page limit) It is critical that the Project Summary accurately describe the project being proposed and convey all essential elements of the project for public dissemination. Awardee’s abstract and summary of potential benefits will be used for reporting purposes and may be used on the NOAA S-K Program website along with the Project Leaders contact email.

The summary must include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

B. Project Narrative (15 page limit)

The Project Narrative comprises the plan for the project. The narrative must be detailed

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 40 enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the proposed activities and the proposed benefit to the fishing community. The major part of the narrative should be devoted to a description and justification for the proposed project, including details of the method to be used. It should include a timeline for major activities of the proposed project, and should indicate who will be responsible for which activities. There should be no ambiguity about who will perform particular parts of the project or the time at which these activities will take place. The Project Narrative may not exceed 15 pages. Any tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs and other pictorial presentations that you submit to document the project and the problem/opportunity you seek to address are included in the 15-page limit.

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

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

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

1. Project goals and objectives - Identify the one specific S-K Program priority (described in Section I. B. Program Priorities) to which the proposed project responds. The primary priority will determine the subject matter experts used to evaluate your proposal.

Identify the problem/opportunity you intend to address and describe its significance to the fisheries resource and fishing community. Objectives should be simple and understandable;

as specific and quantitative as possible; clear as to the “what and when,” but should avoid the “how and why”; and attainable within the time, money and human resources available.

Projects should be accomplishment oriented and identify specific performance

Notice of Federal Funding Page 14 of 40 measurements. If you are applying to continue a project previously funded under the S-K Program, describe in detail your progress to date and explain why you need additional funding. If the proposal is for renewed support, include a description of the relation of the completed work to the proposed work. We will consider this information in evaluating your current application.

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

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

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

5. Federal, state, and local government activities and permits - It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary Federal, state, and local government permits and approvals where necessary for the proposed work to be conducted. You must note whether or not permits are required. If no permits are required, this section must indicate “no permits are required”. If permits are required, provide a list of all applicable permits that will be required to perform the proposed work and an indication of the status of any permits needed (e.g., not yet applied, permit application submitted/pending, permit granted, etc.). List any existing Federal, state, or local government programs or activities that this project would affect, including activities requiring: certification under state Coastal Zone Management Plans;

Section 404 or Section 10 permits issued by the Corps of Engineers; exempted fishing permits, letters of authorization or other permits under Federal Fishery Management Plans (FMPs); environmental impact statements to meet the requirements of NEPA; scientific permits under the Endangered Species Act and/or the Marine Mammal Protection Act; or Magnuson-Stevens Act Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation if the project may adversely affect areas identified as EFH. Projects cannot conflict with current regulatory restrictions. Describe the relationship between the project and these FMPs or activities, and list names and addresses of persons providing this information. You may obtain information on these activities from the NMFS Regions (see Section VII- Agency Contacts).

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6. Statement of Work

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

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

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

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

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

9. Outreach and Education - How will this project provide a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding the results of the funded proposal? This includes the degree to which the potential users of the results, (i.e. industry or state resource) have been involved in the planning of the activity, will be involved in the execution of the activity and/or are

Notice of Federal Funding Page 16 of 40 providing funds, and whether there is a plan to disseminate the results to user groups (including Regional Fishery Management Councils/Interstate Fisheries Management Commissions, etc.) and the public. Describe specific outreach goals and activities.

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

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

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

(b.) Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Sharing Plan describing how these requirements will be satisfied. The Data Sharing Plan should be aligned with the Data Management Guidance provided by NOAA in this NOFO. The contents of the Data Sharing Plan, and past performance regarding such plans, will be considered as part of proposal review. A typical plan should include descriptions of the types of data, environmental data and information expected to be created during the course of the project; the tentative date by which data will be shared; the standards to be used for data/metadata format and content; methods for providing data access; approximate total volume of data to be collected; and prior experience in making such data accessible. The costs of data preparation, accessibility, or archiving may be included in the proposal budget

Notice of Federal Funding Page 17 of 40 unless otherwise stated in the Guidance.

Note: The Data Sharing Plan must be included in either the Project Narrative or Supporting Documentation and will count against the page limits of the section where it is submitted.

Accepted submission of data to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) is one way to satisfy data sharing requirements; however, NCEI is not obligated to accept all submissions and may charge a fee, particularly for large or unusual datasets.

(c.) NOAA may, at its own discretion, make publicly visible the Data Sharing Plan from funded proposals, or use information from the Data Sharing Plan to produce a formal metadata record and include that metadata in a Catalog to indicate the pending availability of new data.

(d.) Proposal submitters are hereby advised that the final pre-publication manuscripts of scholarly articles produced entirely or primarily with NOAA funding will be required to be submitted to NOAA Institutional Repository after acceptance, and no later than upon publication. Such manuscripts shall be made publicly available by NOAA one year after publication by the journal.

C. Budget Narrative (10 page limit)

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

Each application must include clear and concise budget information, both on the required Federal forms and as described here. In order for NOAA to fully evaluate the appropriateness of proposed costs, each application must include a line-item budget table including all Federal and non-Federal costs by object class category (the budget table does not count towards the 10-page limit). Additionally, a Budget Narrative must explain and justify all Federal and non-Federal costs by object class category, as listed on the SF-424A under Section B, Budget Categories. Provide detailed narrative descriptions of all costs, and explain each calculation for all budget categories. If applicable, briefly describe the basis for estimating the value of the cost-sharing derived from in-kind contributions. All proposed costs must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary to the supported activity. Additional Budget Narrative Guidance may be found at https://www.noaa.gov/organization/acquisition-grants/frequently-asked-questions.

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The Budget Narrative must include the following:

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

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

c) "Equipment" is non-expendable, tangible personal property with a per unit cost of $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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 19 of 40 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 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 (e.g.

sub-award) 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 indirect cost rate agreement with the Federal government. Indirect costs are essentially overhead costs for basic operational functions (e.g., lights, rent, water, and insurance) that are incurred for common or joint objectives and therefore cannot be identified specifically within a particular project. A copy of the current, approved negotiated indirect costs agreement with the Federal government must be included with the application. Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) for the primary and/or sub do not count against the Budget Narrative 10-page limit.

If an applicant has not previously established an indirect cost rate with a Federal agency, they may choose to negotiate a rate with the Department of Commerce or use the de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of Modified Total Direct Costs (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. The NOAA contact for indirect or facilities and administrative costs is:

Raishan Adams, Grants Officer NOAA Grants Management Division 1325 East West Highway 9th Floor Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 raishan.adams@noaa.gov

D. Supporting Documentation (10 page limit)

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

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Project Narrative.

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

Letters of support or collaboration are allowable only from individuals or entities with direct involvement in the project and should outline the specifics of the collaborative effort.

Letters of support from individuals or entities that do not have direct involvement in the project will not be accepted during the review process.

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

To enable the use of a universal identifier and to enhance the quality of information available to the public as required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, 31 U.S.C. 6101 note, to the extent applicable, any proposal awarded in response to this announcement will be required to use the System for Award Management (SAM), which may be accessed online at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/.

Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual that is exempted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and

(iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award, application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant. Applicants should allow a minimum of seven days to complete the SAM registration prior to the application due date specified in this NOFO; registration is required only once, but must be renewed periodically.

Note: 2 CFR 25.110(b): Exceptions for individuals. None of the requirements in this part apply to an individual who applies for or receives Federal financial assistance as a natural person (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization he…