noaa-nmfs-nwro-2013-2003605-km.pdf

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: Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-NWRO-2013-2003605

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.438, Pacific Coast Salmon

Recovery - Pacific Salmon Treaty Program

Dates: Pre-applications are not mandatory, but highly encouraged. They must be received no later than February 14, 2013, if the applicant expects to receive any feedback from NMFS regarding completeness of its package and initial determination of compliance with minimum requirements. Final applications should be submitted via Grants.gov and must be received no later than 11:59pm EST on March 14, 2013. For applications submitted through Grants.gov, a date and time receipt indication will be the basis of determining timeliness. The proposal must be validated by Grants.gov in order to be considered timely. PLEASE NOTE: It may take

Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline.

For those not having access to the internet, one signed original and two hard copy applications must be postmarked or received by the established due date for the program at the following address: Stephanie Coleman, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF Federal Program Officer, NMFS

Northwest Region,1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232-1274. Use of U.S.

Mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt. (Note that late-arriving hard copy proposals provided to a delivery service on or before 11:59pm EST on the closing date for applications will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the proposal was provided to the guaranteed delivery service by the specified closing date and time and if the proposal is received by the Northwest Region Program Officer no later than 5:00 pm EST, two business days following the closing date.)

No facsimile or electronic mail proposals will be accepted. The proposed start date should be no earlier than July 1, 2012 unless otherwise directed by the NOAA Program Officer.

Funding Opportunity Description: NOAA announces the availability of Federal funding, authorized pursuant to Public Law 112-55 (Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations

Act, 2012 ), for necessary expenses associated with the restoration of Pacific salmon populations.

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) program makes such funding available to the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, California, and Alaska, and federally recognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast (including Alaska) for projects necessary for conservation of salmon and steelhead populations that are listed as threatened or endangered, or identified by a State as at-risk to be so-listed, for maintaining populations necessary for exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing, or for conservation of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead habitat. This announcement outlines the priorities and guidelines that will be used to distribute funding to eligible entities.

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund was established in Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 to address a coast-wide need to protect, restore and conserve Pacific Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye and pink salmon and steelhead, and their habitat. The Fund was designed to suppliement existing state and tribal programs to foster development of federal-state-tribal-local partnerships in salmon recovery and conservation by providing grants for restoration of anadromous salmonids to eligible states and tribes.

Under this solicitation, NMFS seeks applications for projects from eligible States, Indian tribes, representative Tribal Commissions, and Alaska Native Tribal Consortia so that it can allocate FY 2013 Federal funding for restoration and conservation grants based on scientific and merit principles. An applicant may only submit one application to the Federal government for FY 2013 Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) program funding.

Applications from both the representative Tribal Commission or Consortium and a Tribe represented by that Commission or Consortium will not be accepted. In the event that applications are submitted by both a representative Tribal Commission or Consortium and a

Tribe, NMFS will contact both parties for resolution of which entity will submit a single application on behalf of the Tribe.

B. Program Priorities

The PCSRF is to supplement State and tribal programs for salmon restoration by allocating federal funding to projects and activities that provide demonstrable and measurable benefits to Pacific anadromous salmonids (Chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, and pink salmon and steelhead) and their habitat. In accordance with the Congressional authorization, these projects and activities are those "necessary for conservation of salmon and steelhead populations that are listed as threatened or endangered, or identified by a State as at-risk to be so-listed, for maintaining populations necessary for exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing, or for conservation of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead habitat." [Public Law 112-55]

Priorities for FY PCSRF applications, in ranked order, are:

(1) Projects that address factors limiting the productivity of ESA-listed Pacific anadromous salmonids as specified in approved, interim or proposed Recovery Plans.

(2) Projects that address factors limiting the productivity of anadromous salmonid populations that are necessary for the exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing, as well as projects that support ongoing efforts to restore or maintain such populations while limiting factors are being addressed.

(3) Effectiveness monitoring of habitat restoration actions at the watershed or larger scales for ESA-listed anadromous salmonids, status monitoring projects that directly contribute to population viability assessments for ESA-listed anadromous salmonids, or monitoring necessary for the exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing on anadromous salmonids.

(4) Other projects consistent with the Congressional authorization with demonstrated need for PCSRF funding. This includes projects that are necessary precursors to implementing activities under the above priorities including outreach, planning and coordination, assessment, design, research, and monitoring projects.

Grant applications may be submitted for one or more of the priorities. However, a separate proposal narrative and budget must be included in the application for each priority.

Grant applications will be evaluated separately for each priority. NOAA anticipates a greater proportion of the available PCSRF funding will be distributed to the higher-ranked priorities.

States and Tribal Commissions or Consortia must have at least 10% of their application apply to monitoring.

C. Program Authority

Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012, Public Law 112-55

(November 18, 2011); 16 U.S.C. 3645 (d)(2).

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Up to $65,000,000 may be available for projects. Depending on the number of applications and amount of funding requested for each priority, NOAA may limit or proportion the distribution of funds to each PCSRF priority. There are no restrictions on minimum funding requests, but there is a limit of $25,000,000 as the maximum amount requested by any applicant. Award periods may be extended to a maximum of five years.

Start dates on proposals should be no earlier than July 1, 2013.

B. Project/Award Period

The PCSRF program announcement is for programs and projects to be conducted for a

1-year or up to 5-year period, with an anticipated start date no earlier than July 1, 2013.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

The funding instrument will be a grant.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, California, and

Alaska, and federally-recognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast (including

Alaska).

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

State applicants are required to match or document in-kind contributions of at least 33% of received Federal funds. Indian tribes, representative tribal commissions and Consortia are exempt from any cost share requirement. Matching funds consist of PCSRF projects funded totally or partially by state appropriated funds; PCSRF projects that are funded totally or partially by sub-recipient or contractor funds; or PCSRF projects funded partially by other pre-approved sources of federal funding. In-kind contributions must be applied directly to a

PCSRF project in order to be considered match. State funding for a PCSRF program administration project may be used as matching funds.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

1. Eligible States must submit applications through one designated State entity identified by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NMFS. Applications from multiple State agencies within one state will not be accepted.

2. Indian Tribes must demonstrate eligibility in their application for consideration. They may act on their own behalf when applying for PCSRF funding or may allow their representative Tribal Commission or Consortium to act for them through an MOU agreement with NMFS. Applications requesting funding for a Tribe from both the representative Tribal

Commission or Consortium as well as a Tribe represented by that Commission or

Consortium will not be accepted. In the event that applications are submitted by both a representative Tribal Commission or Consortium and a Tribe, NMFS will contact both parties for resolution of which entity will submit a single application on behalf of the Tribe.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

All application materials can be found at www.grants.gov. If an applicant does not have internet access, application materials and additional information on PCSRF may be requested from Stephanie Coleman, NMFS Program Officer, NMFS Northwest Region, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232-1274. NMFS' Internet website at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov also contains additional information on PCSRF.

For further information on PCSRF, please contact Scott Rumsey, NMFS Northwest

Region PCSRF Program Coordinator at (503) 872-2791. Questions regarding this announcement should be directed to Ms. Coleman at (503) 231-2337 or

Stephanie.Coleman@noaa.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application

1. Application Format: All pages should be numbered, single-spaced and must be composed in at least a 12-point font with one-inch margins on 8 ½" x 11" paper.

2. Title Page(s) (3 Page Limit): Includes the following:

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/ http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/ mailto:Stephanie.Coleman@noaa.gov

a. Applicant name and Demonstration of Eligibility (Indian Tribes only for latter requirement)

b. Funding Opportunity Title:

c. Funding Opportunity Number:

d. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

e. Program/Project Title:

f. Program/Project Duration:

g. Program/Project Contacts:

h. Program/Project Objectives: (Short paragraphs describing the planned use of funds under each priority proposed)

i. Program/Project Proposal Total Amount and Sub-Totals for each Priority: (include

PCSRF funds requested and state matching funds for each Priority)

j. Program/Project Justification and Need for Funding:

k. Program/Proposed Project Outcomes: (Brief description of anticipated benefits to anadromous salmonids)

3. Forms: Each application package must include:

a. Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

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

c. Form SF-424B, Assurances - Non-Construction Programs

d. CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying

e. SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. Additionally, the CD-512 "Certifications

Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier

Covered Transactions and Lobbying" is required to be submitted with the application package, if applicable. To do this, download the form from:

http://www.cop.noaa.gov/opportunities/grants/pdf/cd512fll.pdf. Fill out, sign, scan, and attach the form to the application package.

f. A current copy of the negotiated indirect cost rate with a Federal agency (if applicable).

g. A current copy of a signed MOU with NMFS (if applicable).

4. Program or Project Narrative (30 Page Limit): Descriptive document on how the applicant intends to carry out the proposed program or project(s).

a. Program application narratives for States and Tribal Commissions or Consortia.

Narratives must describe program administration and separately describe proposed funding for each of the four PCSRF priorities for which funding is proposed as follows.

1. Program Administration. The program narrative must include the following details:

http://www.cop.noaa.gov/opportunities/grants/pdf/cd512fll.pdf http://www.cop.noaa.gov/opportunities/grants/pdf/cd512fll.pdf

A. A detailed description of the organization's administrative resources, financial stability, business management systems, and capability to comply with federal grant requirements. The narrative should include a description of past performance in the management of federal funds, and knowledge of and demonstrated performance in implementing federal cost principles compliance and sub-recipient fiscal monitoring (if applicable).

B. Description of existing anadromous salmonid restoration programs and how the proposed PCSRF funds will supplement those programs. This includes documentation that the applicant's organization has existing salmonid programs and the appropriate management authority to implement actions identified in the proposal. Also include a description of previous experience implementing salmonid restoration programs.

C. A description of the anticipated benefits and outcomes of the program or project(s) for anadromous salmonids and how the applicant will administer and manage the program or project(s) to ensure that demonstrable and measurable benefits and outcomes are achieved.

D. Description of the applicant's competitive and non-competitive project solicitation processes, timelines, project selection criteria, technical reviews of proposed project merit and feasibility, funding decisions, and how these elements will be managed and administered to ensure that funds are effectively and efficiently applied to the PCSRF priorities.

E. Description of the amount of funds proposed for projects to be funded under each process (competitive verses non-competitive), a description of types of projects to be funded through each process, and how determinations are made on which process is used. This should include how the processes will be used to ensure at least ten percent (10%) of the proposed funding is for monitoring.

F. Description of program implementation monitoring and how the applicant will ensure projects and activities deliver the measurable benefits to anadromous salmonids as proposed.

This should include a description of the proposed methods for monitoring program implementation and evaluating program effectiveness.

G. Description of applicant's project tracking and reporting system and how it will be used to ensure PCSRF reporting requirements are fully met. For prior PCSRF grant recipients, this should include a description of how the applicant has adhered to PCSRF reporting requirements including timeliness, complete entry of project information into the

PCSRF database, prompt resolution of database or project reporting issues (if applicable), and updates to past projects to ensure all available Phase II project data is complete.

H. Description of major accomplishments in fulfilling PCSRF authorized activities and program priorities, using past PCSRF funds (if applicable), including history of project funding, types of projects, and outcomes. This may include reference to reports that the applicant has completed on their past accomplishments.

2. Program Proposal by PCSRF Priority. A separate narrative and budget should be provided for each priority area that the proposed program intends to address. The applicant must describe the following under each priority:

A. Proposed amount of funding (including state matching funds) for projects to address a given priority.

B. Description of the proposed program's activities and how they address a given

Priority (include the rationale and justification for how the program/projects will address the

Priority).

" Priority 1 proposals should explain what specific population limiting factors will be addressed and include the name of the Recovery Plan that identifies them.

" Priority 2 proposals should identify the specific tribal or native subsistence fisheries and the target salmonid population(s), including how the proposed program will benefit or sustain them.

" Priority 3 proposals should specify the geographic extent of the monitoring effort and how the monitoring will contribute to: viability assessments for ESA-listed salmonids;

monitoring necessary for tribal or native subsistence fishing; or analyses of the effectiveness of habitat restoration efforts.

" Priority 4 proposals should provide details on exactly how the proposed activities will support priorities 1, 2 or 3 including references to documents that demonstrate the need for the proposed work. If the proposal includes projects under priority 4 that are a necessary precursor to implementing actions under priorities 1, 2 or 3 (e.g., project planning/design), a separate description of such projects must be provided that includes the amount of proposed funding and details on how such projects will be conducted to ensure tangible actions are implemented. The description should include the rationale and justification of need for such precursor projects, and when/how the subsequent projects are anticipated to be implemented.

C. Description of the expected measurable outcomes and benefits to the anadromous salmonids for each proposed Priority. The description should be supported quantitatively when possible (e.g., number/types of limiting factors identified in recovery plan(s) being addressed, estimated miles/acres of habitat proposed for restoration, number/types of treaty/subsistence fisheries, number/names of watersheds/populations to be monitored, etc.).

D. Description of project solicitation and selection criteria and processes that will be used to ensure that projects selected for funding under the proposed program will effectively address the intended PCSRF priority.

b. Project application narratives for individual tribes. Narratives must describe program administration and separately describe proposed projects under the applicable PCSRF priority.

1. Tribal Project Administration. The narrative must include the following:

A. A detailed description of the Tribe's administrative resources, financial stability, business management systems, and capability to comply with federal grant requirements.

The narrative should include a description of past performance in the management of federal funds, and demonstrated performance in implementing federal cost principles compliance and sub-recipient fiscal monitoring (if applicable).

B. A description of the Tribe's existing anadromous salmonid restoration program(s) and how the proposed PCSRF funds will supplement those programs. This includes documentation that the tribe has existing salmonid programs and the appropriate management authority to implement actions identified in the proposal. Also include a description of previous experience implementing salmonid restoration programs.

C. A description of the anticipated benefits and outcomes of the Tribe's proposed project(s) for anadromous salmonids and how the Tribe will administer and manage the project(s) to ensure that demonstrable and measurable benefits and outcomes are achieved.

D. A description of project implementation monitoring and how the Tribe will ensure projects deliver the measurable benefits to anadromous salmonids as proposed. This should include a description of the proposed methods for monitoring project implementation and evaluating project effectiveness.

E. A description of Tribe's project tracking and reporting system and how it will be used to ensure PCSRF reporting requirements are fully met. For prior PCSRF grant recipients, this should include a description of how the applicant has adhered to PCSRF reporting requirements including timely and complete entry of project information into the PCSRF database, and how they resolved database reporting issues, inconsistencies or missing metrics (if applicable).

F. A description of major accomplishments in fulfilling PCSRF authorized activities and program priorities, using past PCSRF funds (if applicable), including a history of project funding, types of projects funded, and outcomes. This may include reference to reports that the Tribe has completed on their past accomplishments.

2. Tribal Project Proposal(s). A separate narrative for each proposed project must include the following:

A. Project description including the (1) title of the project; (2) the proposed funding requested; (3) proposed start/end dates; (4) location; (5) the name and status of anadromous salmonids that will benefit from the project; and, (6) a description of the proposed work including objectives and approaches.

B. Description of the proposed activities and how they address a given Priority (include the rationale and justification for how the projects(s) will address the Priority).

" Priority 1 proposals should explain what specific population limiting factors will be addressed and include the name of the Recovery Plan that identifies them.

" Priority 2 proposals should identify the specific tribal or native subsistence fisheries and the target salmonid population(s), including how the proposed project will benefit or sustain them.

" Priority 3 proposals should specify the geographic extent of the monitoring effort and how the monitoring will contribute to: viability assessments for ESA-listed salmonids;

monitoring necessary for tribal or native subsistence fishing; or analyses of the effectiveness of habitat restoration efforts.

" Priority 4 proposals should provide details on exactly how the proposed activities will support priorities 1, 2 or 3 including references to documents that demonstrate the need for the proposed work. If the proposal includes projects under priority 4 that are a necessary precursor to implementing actions under priorities 1, 2 or 3 (e.g., project planning/design), a separate description of such projects must be provided that includes the amount of proposed funding and details on how such projects will be conducted to ensure tangible actions are implemented. The description should include the rationale and justification of need for such precursor projects, and when/how the subsequent projects are anticipated to be implemented.

C. Description of the expected measurable outcomes and benefits to the anadromous salmonids for each proposed Priority. The description should be supported quantitatively when possible (e.g., number/types of limiting factors identified in recovery plan(s) being addressed, estimated miles/acres of habitat proposed for restoration, number/types of treaty/subsistence fisheries, number/names of watersheds/populations to be monitored, etc.).

5. Budget Narrative: Proposed budget for program administration costs and budget breakdown (i.e., by the Object Class Categories in form 424A, Section B) for each priority with an accompanying explanation for the estimated costs. Include an approved current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable) and a detailed explanation of the matching share to be contributed by the applicant (States only). Each application should include a summary table that lists each of the components of the proposal and corresponding costs (include all projects/tasks under each of the four priorities), including matching costs, and demonstration (States and Tribal Commissions/Consortia) that the 10% monitoring requirement will be met.

6. Resumes/Qualifications of Key Staff: Should not exceed two (2) pages per individual, with an additional two (2) pages allowed for single summary description of all organizations or consultants named in the application.

7. References and Appendices (2 Page Limit)

C. Submission Dates and Times

Pre-applications are not mandatory, but are highly encouraged. They must be received no later than February 14, 2013, if the applicant expects to receive any feedback from NMFS regarding completeness of its package and initial determination of compliance with minimum requirements. Final applications should be submitted via Grants.gov and must be received no later than 11:59pm EST on March 14, 2013. For applications submitted through

Grants.gov, a date and time receipt indication will be the basis of determining timeliness.

The proposal must be validated by Grants.gov in order to be considered timely. PLEASE

NOTE: It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline.

For those not having access to the internet, one signed original and two hard copy applications must be postmarked or received by the established due date for the program at the following address: Stephanie Coleman, NMFS Program Officer, NMFS Northwest

Region 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232-1274. Use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt. (Note that late-arriving hard copy proposals provided to a delivery service on or before 11:59pm EST on the closing date for applications will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the proposal was provided to the guaranteed delivery service by the specified closing date and time and if the proposal is received by the Northwest Region Program Officer no later than 5:00 pm

EST, two business days following the closing date.)

No facsimile or electronic mail proposals will be accepted.

D. Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this program from state or 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 the

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

Management and Budget's home page at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html..

E. Funding Restrictions

As program entities, the States and Tribal Commissions or Consortia will expend not more than 3% of the PCSRF federal funds for administrative expenses. Administrative expenses are defined as all costs, including direct and associated indirect costs, incurred by the State, Commission, or Consortium in administering the PCSRF grant and managing the distribution of the PCSRF grant funds to sub-recipients, contractors, programs, or projects that undertake PCSRF activities. Administrative expenses include activities such as sub-agreement and contracts management and monitoring, accounting, program oversight, site visits, program support and overhead costs, and competitive funding allocation processes including the processing and administrative review of project applications and proposals.

The 3% limitation on administrative expenses is not applicable to individual Tribes applying directly on their own behalf for projects. The State, Tribal Commission, or Tribal

Consortium PCSRF data management programs, including the PCSRF web-based project tracking data management database system (found at https://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/apex/f?p=227:1), do not fall within the administrative expenses 3% limitation . This includes the costs for implementing new project reporting requirements under Phase II of the PCSRF database.

F. Other Submission Requirements

Pre-applications should be submitted electronically by e-mail to:

Stephanie.Coleman@noaa.gov. NMFS' Internet website at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov contains additional information on PCSRF. The full funding opportunity announcement for this program can be accessed via the Grants.gov web site at http://www.grants.gov.

Applicants will be able to access, download and submit an electronic grant application for the PCSRF program in this announcement at http://www.grants.gov using the following FFO number: NOAA-NMFS-NWRO-2013-2003605.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html http://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/apex/f?p=227%3A1) http://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/apex/f?p=227%3A1) mailto:Stephanie.Coleman@noaa.gov mailto:Stephanie.Coleman@noaa.gov http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

NOAA standardized the evaluation and selection process for its competitive assistance programs. All proposals submitted in response to this notice shall be evaluated and selected in accordance with the process set out below. In considering the funding allocation for projects and program applications, all proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria.

The technical evaluation totals 100 points and consists of two components:

1) A program-level evaluation that will be scored with a maximum of 40 points; and,

2) An evaluation of proposals under the four priorities with a maximum score of 60 points. The components of a proposal addressing each priority will be evaluated separately and the respective points under each priority will then be weighted based on the relative ranking of the PCSRF priorities and the distribution of the requested funds among the

PCSRF priorities. NOAA anticipates a greater proportion of the available FY 2013 PCSRF funding will be distributed to higher scoring proposals addressing the higher priorities.

Program-level evaluation [40 Points]

1. Overall qualifications of the applicant [20 Points]: This ascertains whether the applicant possesses sufficient expertise and resources to accomplish the proposed program or projects. The organization and its management will be evaluated. The principal investigator and other personnel, including subcontractors and consultants participating in the project or program will be evaluated in terms of related experience and resources.

a. The applicant possesses the necessary education, experience, and training to implement and successfully complete the proposed program/projects.

b. The applicant demonstrates that the necessary administrative programs, best practices, and associated resources are in place to successfully administer and manage the proposed program/projects.

c. The applicant possesses the required facilities and infrastructure necessary to implement and successfully complete the proposed program/projects.

d. The applicant demonstrates that the necessary methods and infrastructure are in place for successfully monitoring and reporting project results and evaluating program effectiveness.

2. Project costs [20 Points]: Applications will be evaluated on the details of their proposed budget to determine if the costs are realistic and commensurate with the program or project needs and time-frame. Successful applications will include the following:

a. A justification and rationale for the amount of funding proposed by geographical area to meet the PCSRF program priorities. The justification and need for funding should be supported by evidence and described quantitatively when possible (e.g., miles/acres of habitat needing restoration; number or extent of ESA listed Pacific salmon or Pacific salmon at risk; stocks important for tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing, etc.).

The description should also address the recipients other sources of funding for salmonid programs and projects.

b. Detailed budgets by program or project(s) that itemize the proposal costs including administrative and overhead costs within prescribed limits.

c. A description (for States and Tribal Commissions or Consortia) of their monitoring effort that will account for at least ten percent (10%) of the funding proposed.

d. A description (for State applications) of the sources and amounts of matching funds

(including details on sources and determinations on estimated value of any in-kind contributions) that will be applied to achieve the minimum matching requirements of 33% of the federal funds requested.

3. Outreach and education [0 Points]: Outreach and education, as defined by NOAA under the standardized evaluation and selection process, is not being evaluated under this competition.

Evaluation of Proposals under each PCSRF Priority [60 points]

1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposed project to the program goals. [30 Points]: This ascertains whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and its relevance to the applicable PCSRF priority. Proposals will be evaluated based on how relevant and effective the proposals are in providing demonstrable and measurable benefits to the highest priority needs of anadromous salmonids in respective geographic areas.

Successful applications will include the following information in their project narratives:

a. Narrative descriptions (for Priority One proposals) that clearly articulate how projects will address identified limiting factors for ESA-listed anadromous salmonids and how the proposal advances the recovery of ESA-listed salmonids.

b. Narrative descriptions (for Priority Two proposals) that clearly identify the fishery(ies) with the greatest need for projects to restore or maintain the target salmonid population(s) necessary for the exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing. This includes descriptions of how projects will be designed and selected to achieve maximum benefits to anadromous salmonids.

c. Narrative descriptions (for Priority Three proposals) that clearly justify the type and location of monitoring proposals and how the results of proposed monitoring will inform population-level status and trends assessments and/or watershed-scale restoration effectiveness evaluations.

d. Narrative descriptions (for Priority Four proposals) that demonstrate and justify an urgent need for funding to achieve a measurable benefit for the conservation and restoration of anadromous salmonids.

2. Technical/scientific merit [30 Points]: This assesses whether the approach is technically sound and/or innovative, if the methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and objectives. Proposals will be evaluated on whether there is a technically sound approach to manage and implement proposed projects; whether there is sufficient information to evaluate the project or program technically; and, if so, the strengths and/or weaknesses of the project or program approach to securing productive results.

Successful applications will include the following information in their project narratives:

a. Narrative descriptions (for Priority One proposals) that clearly articulate the selection and design of viable projects that will effectively address limiting factors for ESA-listed anadromous salmonids.

b. Narrative descriptions (for Priority Two proposals) that clearly articulate the selection and design of viable projects to restore or maintain salmonid populations necessary for the exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing.

c. Narrative descriptions (for Priority Three proposals) that clearly articulate the proposed monitoring methodology and design for producing scientifically valid results at the watershed or population scales.

d. Narrative descriptions (for Priority Four proposals) that clearly articulate proposed methodologies designed to achieve measurable benefits to anadromous salmonids, and substantiate the urgency and need of the proposed activities.

B. Review and Selection Process

Upon receipt of an application, an initial administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with requirements and completeness of the application. The application must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for funding.

1. Applicant is eligible to apply

2. Application received by deadline

3. Application is complete and includes all mandatory forms

4. Matching requirements are met (State Only)

5. Administrative programmatic costs are not exceeded (States and Tribal Commissions or Consortia only)

Technical Review: Individual evaluations comprised of at least three (3) or more private and public experts will independently evaluate the applications and score them using the evaluation criteria set forth above. No consensus advice will be given. The reviewer' ratings will be averaged to produce a rank order of the proposals. Technical reviewers will be required to certify that they do not have a conflict of interest and that they will maintain confidentiality of the applications.

Panel Review: After the projects have been evaluated and ranked, NMFS will solicit comments and input on funding recommendation from a panel of at least three (3) federal full-time employees comprised of the NMFS Alaska Region, Northwest Region and

Southwest Region. NMFS will provide the panelists with a summary of the technical review evaluations and the rank order of the proposals.

C. Selection Factors

The Assistant Administrator for NMFS will be the Selecting Official. The Selecting

Official will review the rank order, funding recommendations and comments from the Panel

Review and determine the recipients to be funded and how much funding shall be awarded to each selected recipient. In making the final selections, the Selecting Official will award in rank order unless the proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon one of the selection factors below.

1. Availability of funding

2. PCSRF Priority: All four priorities will be funded at some level, but more funds will be assigned to proposals in the higher priorities.

3. Balance/distribution of funds

a. Geographically

b. By type of institutions

c. By type of partners

d. By research areas

e. By project types

4. Whether this project duplicates other projects funded or considered for funding by

NOAA or other federal agencies.

5. Program priorities and policy factors as set forth in the Full Funding Opportunity

Sections I.A. and B.

6. Applicants prior award performance (Accomplishments related to PCSRF goals).

7. Partnerships and/or participation of targeted groups.

D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified through Grants Online. The NOAA Grants

Officer will issue the grant award, Form CD-450, which is the authorizing financial assistance award document. Funding is expected to begin during July 2013 for most approved awards, subject to the availability of funds. July 1, 2013 will be used as the start date on awards, unless a later date is requested by recipient (and approved by the NOAA

Grants Officer) or otherwise directed by the NOAA Grants Officer.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

The notice of award is signed by the NOAA Grants Officer and is sent to the appropriate business office of the recipient organization.

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 of 2006, to the extent applicable, any proposal awarded in response to this announcement will be required to use the Central Contractor Registration and Dun and

Bradstreet Universal Numbering System and be subject to reporting requirements, as identified in OMB guidance published at 2 CFR Parts 25, 170 (2010), http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr25_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr170_main_02.tpl

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

The recipient and any sub-recipients must, in addition to the assurances made as part of the application, comply and require each of its contractors and subcontractors employed in the completion of the project to comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, executive orders (EOs) Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars, terms and conditions and approved applications. Department of Commerce (DOC) Financial Assistance Standard

Terms and Conditions and PCSRF Program Special Terms and Conditions will apply to all

PCSRF award recipients.

http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/documents/DOC_Standard_Terms

_and_Conditions_03-01-2008.pdf. Special award conditions for the PCSRF Program will be added or amended over the DOC standard terms.

http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/documents/DOC_Standard_Terms http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/documents/DOC_Standard_Terms

Requirements per 15 CFR parts 14 and 24

The recipients must comply with Executive Order 12906 regarding any and all geospatial data collected or produced under grants or cooperative agreements. This includes documenting all geospatial data in accordance with the Federal Geographic Data Committee

Content Standard for digital geospatial data.

Pre-award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements

The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and

Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register notice of December 17, 2012 (77

FR 74634), are applicable to this solicitation. A copy of the notice may be obtained at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-12-17/pdf/2012-30228.pdf.

Limitation of Liability

Funding for programs listed in this notice is limited to Fiscal Year 2013 appropriation.

In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if this program fails to receive funding or is cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all Federal laws and agency policies, regulations and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.

Universal Identifier

Applicants should be aware that, they are required to provide a Dun and Bradstreet Data

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number during the application process. See the

October 30, 2002 Federal Register (67 FR 66177) for additional information. Organizations http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or via the Internet http://www.dnb.com/us/duns_update/.

National Environmental Policy Act

NEPA and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) implementing regulations (40

CFR parts 1500 through 1508) require that an environmental analysis be completed for all major Federal actions significantly affecting the environment. NEPA applies to the actions of Federal agencies and may include a Federal agency's decision to fund non-Federal projects under grants and cooperative agreements. NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for each project which seeks NOAA funding. Detailed information on NEPA can be found at the following NOAA NEPA website: www.nepa.noaa.gov, including our NOAA Administrative

Order 216-6 for NEPA, www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6.pdf, and the Council on

Environmental Quality implementation regulations, http://ceq.hhs.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm. Consequently, as part of all project application packages, applicants are required to provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist (e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef systems). Program applications should, to the best extent, provide what they know about their projects at the time of submitting their grant applications. In addition to providing specific information that will serve as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for not selecting an application. In some cases if additional information is required after an application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit additional environmental compliance information sufficient to enable NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts that a project may have on the environment.

http://www.dnb.com/us/duns_update/ http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/ http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6.pdf http://ceq.hhs.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm http://ceq.hhs.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm

Paperwork Reduction Act

This collection of information contains requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction

Act (PRA). The use of Standard Forms CD-346, 424, 424A,424B and SF-LLL has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control numbers 0605-

0001, 0348- 0043 (4040-0004), 0348-0044 (4040-0006), 0348-0040, 0348-0046 and 0605-

0001. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number.

C. Reporting

Award recipients will be required to submit financial and performance (technical) reports. Performance reports will be created from the PCSRF tracking database found at https://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/PCSRFPhaseII. Financial and performance reports are to be submitted electronically through the NOAA Grants Online system on a semi-annual basis unless the applicant does not have internet access, in which case hard copy submissions will be accepted. All financial reports are routed directly to the NOAA Grants Officer.

Performance reports are to be downloaded from the PCSRF database and routed to the assigned NOAA Federal Program Officer through NOAA Grants Online. Final progress reporting through the PCSRF database and NOAA Grants Online is due 90 days after the award expiration. The final report shall serve as an overall evaluation of the recipient's success in achieving the goals and objectives of the approved project(s) and programs, specifically describing the work that was performed and its resulting benefit to Pacific coastal salmon as described in its proposal and grant application. The level of detail should allow for NOAA's assessment of the overall success of the project.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 includes a requirement for awardees of applicable Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY 2011 or later. All awardees of applicable grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over $25,000.

http://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/PCSRFPhaseII http://www.webapps.nwfsc.noaa.gov/PCSRFPhaseII http://www.fsrs.gov/

VII. Agency Contacts

For further information on PCSRF, please contact Scott Rumsey, NMFS Northwest

Region PCSRF Program Coordinator, at (503) 872-2791. Questions regarding this announcement should be directed to Stephanie Coleman, NMFS Northwest Region PCSRF

Federal Program Officer, at (503) 231-2337 or Stephanie.Coleman@noaa.gov.

VIII. Other Information

Permits and Approvals

A grant award under this funding announcement does not imply any authorization of incidental take of listed species under the ESA. Section 7 consultations will be undertaken by NMFS on projects and activities that may adversely affect ESA listed species. The recipient will obtain necessary permits on any projects and will provide all necessary information to NMFS for ESA consultation, including stipulations in each sub-agreement that the activity should not commence unless and until an ESA consultation has been completed and all necessary permits have been granted.

Freedom of Information Act

U.S. Department of Commerce regulations implementing the Freedom of Information

Act (FOIA) are found at 15 C.F.R. Part 4, "Public Information." These regulations set forth rules for the Department regarding making requested materials, information, and records publicly available under the FOIA. Applications submitted in response to this Federal

Funding Opportunity may be subject to requests for release under the Act. In the event that an application contains information or data that the applicant deems to be confidential commercial information which is exempt from disclosure under FOIA, that information should be identified, bracketed, and marked as "Privileged, Confidential, Commercial or

Financial Information." Based on these markings, the confidentiality of the contents of those pages will be protected to the extent permitted by law.