NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2018-2005346 Full Announcement.pdf

FY18 Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

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 7 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 8 A. Address to Request Application Package 8 B. Content and Form of Application 9 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 18 D. Submission Dates and Times 18 E. Intergovernmental Review 19 F. Funding Restrictions 19 G. Other Submission Requirements 19

V. Application Review Information 19 A. Evaluation Criteria 19 B. Review and Selection Process 20 C. Selection Factors 21 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 21

VI. Award Administration Information 21 A. Award Notices 21 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 22 C. Reporting 24

VII. Agency Contacts 25 VIII. Other Information 25

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Agency Name(s): National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce

Funding Opportunity Title: FY18 Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2018-2005346

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.429, Marine Sanctuary Program

Dates: Completed applications must be received by Grants.gov by December 8, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time or postmarked no later than December 8, 2017 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Applications received after the due date will not be reviewed or considered and will be disqualified.

PLEASE NOTE: We encourage all Grants.gov applicants to begin the application process at least several days before the December 8, 2017 deadline. All applicants should be aware that adequate time must be factored into applicant schedules for delivery of the application. 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. Electronic applicants are advised that volume on Grants.gov can be extremely heavy resulting in further delays. If Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion, applicants are encouraged to exercise their option to submit their application in paper format by the due date outlined in this Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO).

Funding Opportunity Description: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support for master’s and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology, and all other science, engineering, social science, and resource management disciplines involving ocean and coastal areas, and particularly encourages women and members of minority groups to apply. Individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or citizens of U.S. territories, and are applying to or have been accepted to a graduate program at a U.S. accredited institution, may apply. Prospective scholars do not need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application, but must be admitted to a graduate level program in order to be awarded this scholarship. Scholarship selections are based on academic excellence, letters of recommendations, research and career goals, and financial need. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average to be eligible to apply and maintain a minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.30 for every term and for the duration of their award. Dr.

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Nancy Foster Scholarships may provide, subject to appropriations, yearly support of up to $42,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to an education allowance of up to $12,000) and up to $10,000 of support for a 4-6 week program collaboration at a NOAA facility.

Based on available funding, completion of one (1) program collaboration may be required for every doctoral scholarship award, with a second recommended, but not required. For master's degree level scholars, completion of a program collaboration is strongly recommended but is not required. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship funds cannot be used toward research costs.

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients will be required to participate in a mandatory NOAA Orientation Training to meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries staff at a date and location to be determined in the summer of 2018. If scholarships have not been awarded before this training, recipients may be required to incur pre-award costs that will be reimbursed after award funds have been issued.

As a recipient of the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, you become a recognized member of the NOAA community. NOAA provides significant financial resources to help you pursue your independent graduate degrees, as well as the staff expertise to assist you with your research along the way. All Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients must put together an outreach product (e.g., video, infographic) that communicates their scientific research in a way that the average viewer can understand it and its importance. Appropriate training in the creation of outreach products will be provided to all scholarship recipients.

The program collaboration opportunity is designed to allow scholars to participate in research or other activities for four to six weeks at a field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System, or other NOAA program offices. Federal support for the program collaboration may be used toward allowable costs such as: travel to and from the NOAA facility, housing, per diem, laboratory costs, research vessel support, and consumables while conducting research at the NOAA facility.

Scholars are required to provide their own health insurance coverage during the program collaboration. More details on allowable costs can be found in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles. If scholars choose to participate in a program collaboration during a specific year, they must notify the Program Officer by December of the academic year in which they intend to participate in the collaboration. Approval from the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is required prior to embarking on the program collaboration.

Additional information about the scholarship can be obtained in the full announcement text of the Federal Funding Opportunity.

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is authorized at 16 U.S.C. 1445c-1 and 16 U.S.C. 1445c to recognize outstanding achievement in master’s and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology, and all other science, engineering, social science, and resource management disciplines involving ocean and coastal areas, and particularly to encourage women and members of minority groups to apply. The scholarship supports independent graduate level research through financial support of graduate degrees in such fields. Gender and minority status are not considered when selecting award recipients. However, special outreach efforts are employed to solicit applications from women and members of minority groups. Scholarships are distributed by disciplines, institutions, and geography, and by degree sought, with selections within distributions based on financial need, the potential for success in a graduate level studies program (academic achievement), and the potential for achieving research and career goals. The program is administered through the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and is funded annually with 1% of the amount appropriated each fiscal year to carry out the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

B. Program Priorities

The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking applications for the Dr.

Nancy Foster Scholarship Program from individuals, particularly women and minorities, who, due to financial constraints, may otherwise not be able to pursue an advanced degree in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology, and all other science, engineering, social science, and resource management disciplines involving ocean and coastal areas. The program seeks to increase the number of women and minorities in these scientific disciplines, particularly as they relate to the mission of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries conducts, sponsors, and facilitates research to better understand ecosystems and cultural resources in national marine sanctuaries, their changing condition, and the significance of threats. The National Marine Sanctuary System uses conservation science to support policy decisions, develop effective response capabilities, evaluate management practices, and support broader, NOAA-wide responsibilities for marine conservation and management. Science priorities are identified within national marine sanctuary management plans and are necessary to protect and

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 4 of 26 conserve sanctuary resources, manage risks, reduce threats and respond to unexpected events. Strong partnerships, expert scientific content and judgment, and peer review enhance the accuracy and credibility of monitoring and research. In addition, science, education, outreach and policy development work together to raise awareness and prompt effective action that will address ocean problems. More information on the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries can be found at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov.

NOAA recognizes the student's need to ensure that scholarly research, which is often hypothesis based, addresses critical gaps in knowledge about ecological processes, physiological mechanisms, evolutionary underpinnings, human behaviors, preferences and values, and related areas. The nature of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ research, as well as interactions with sanctuary staff and partners with similar goals, can help students fulfill their degree requirements through work benefiting not only national marine sanctuaries, but marine conservation more broadly and ecosystem science as a whole. In addition to natural resource studies, scholars may investigate socioeconomic, maritime archaeological and cultural resource studies in national marine sanctuaries.

General science priorities for the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries are stated below. Site-specific needs are identified in the Science Needs Assessment available at:

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/. Contact information for Conservation Science Program staff is available at the Science Needs Assessment website.

• Integrated approaches to assess and monitor the condition and trends of natural and cultural resources using ecological, archaeological, and socioeconomic indicators. Results support development of sanctuary conditions reports, in which site-specific, regional, and national needs can also be found: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/ and help sanctuary management evaluate the condition of sanctuary resources.

• Climate change research and monitoring as it relates to sanctuary resources (e.g., ocean acidification, temperature change, sea level change, species range shifts and phenology, and changes in physical processes).

• Assessments of how human activities such as fishing, land use runoff, and marine debris affect sanctuary qualities such as biodiversity, biomass, water quality, and health of sanctuary ecosystems.

• Historical ecology studies to evaluate changes over the past centuries, including social dynamics that drove changes.

• Documentation and assessment of sanctuary submerged archaeological resources to assess their national significance according to criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

• Comprehensive surveys for historic shipwreck sites, particularly those in deeper waters, where sites may have better chances for good preservation in sanctuaries.

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• Socioeconomic valuation and impact research regarding ONMS resource protection and management efforts, including regulatory impact and effectiveness, education programs, or user (types and levels of use) assessments and characterizations.

• Economic value of ecosystem services of natural and/or cultural resources and assessment of related indicators for those services. This could include use and non-use values.

• Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of sanctuary management strategies and regulations for different stakeholders/user groups.

• Native and indigenous peoples’ perceptions of cultural landscapes of sanctuaries and other protected areas located within their traditional coastal lands and waters, and how these differing cultural perceptions can be effectively integrated into place-based management of protected areas.

C. Program Authority

16 USC 1445c-1 and 16 USC 1445c.

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Subject to appropriations, approximately $500,000 will be available for FY 2018. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program anticipates that each year approximately 2-4 scholarships will be awarded. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides yearly support of up to $42,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to a tuition allowance of up to $12,000) and up to $10,000 support for a 4-6 week program collaboration at a field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System or other NOAA facility.

Based on the availability of funding, the completion of one (1) program collaboration may be required for every doctoral scholarship award, with a second recommended, but not required. For master's degree level scholars, completion of a program collaboration is strongly recommended, but is not required. Program collaborations are based on the availability of funds and are not guaranteed.

A mandatory orientation will be held for incoming and current scholars. Scholars must participate in this orientation to ensure knowledge base of the scholarship program. If scholars cannot participate, the program manager has the discretion to revoke the scholarship. Travel support (logistics and funding, not to exceed $2,000 per year) will be provided to Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients where Foster Scholars will also meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries leadership and staff. A

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 6 of 26 maximum of $98,000 may be provided to master's degree level students (up to two (2) years of support, one (1) program collaboration opportunity and travel support for the orientation meeting) and up to $196,000 may be provided to doctoral level students (up to four (4) years of support, two (2) program collaboration opportunities and travel support for the orientation meeting). The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship funds cannot be used toward research costs.

B. Project/Award Period

The award periods are up to two (2) years for a student in a master's level program and up to four (4) years for a doctoral level candidate. The anticipated start date is June 1, 2018.

If an applicant is selected for initial funding, NOAA has no obligation to provide additional funding in connection with that award in subsequent years.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

The funding instrument will be a cooperative agreement to the individual applicant. The substantial involvement anticipated under this award includes a program collaboration, a component where the scholar is required to spend time utilizing a NOAA facility to contribute to their education and training. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ staff intends to work with each scholar to facilitate placement at a NOAA facility and to help the scholar refine the scope of their program collaboration, if necessary.

Scholars will also be required to participate in a weeklong orientation each year and develop a multimedia outreach product by the end of their scholarship.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Only individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or citizens of U.S.

territories, and are applying to or have been accepted to a U.S. accredited graduate institution to pursue a master's or doctoral level degree in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology (including all science, engineering, social science and resource management of ocean and coastal areas) are eligible for an award under this scholarship program. In addition, to be eligible to apply, applicants must have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average.

Scholars must maintain a minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.30 for every term and for the duration of their award. If applicant does not maintain this grade point average, he/she will be placed on probation after the first term. If the grade point average is not brought up for that year, the recipient’s scholarship will be terminated. In addition, satisfactory progress must be made toward the completion of a thesis or dissertation. If it is determined that the scholar will not complete his/her thesis or dissertation prior to the end of the award, funding may be withdrawn.

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Individuals who already receive NOAA or federal funding from grants or scholarship for graduate school are not eligible to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship. If a student is willing to give up the other federal funding, then he/she is eligible to receive the award.

Universities or other organizations may not apply on behalf of an individual. Prospective scholars do not need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application but must be admitted to a graduate level program in order to be awarded this scholarship. Eligibility must be maintained for each succeeding year of support, and annual reporting requirements, to be specified at a later date, will apply. Individuals who are in their last year of graduate school are unlikely to receive this award.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

There are no matching requirements for this award.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

There are no other criteria that affect eligibility.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

Application packages are available through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

Grants.gov requires applicants to register with the system prior to submitting an application.

This registration process can take several weeks and involves multiple steps. In order to allow sufficient time for this process, applicants should register as soon as they decide they intend to apply, even if they are not yet ready to submit their applications. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will not accept applications that are submitted late due to an applicant’s error during the time of submission to Grants.gov. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries may allow more time for application submission due to a “systems issue” with Grants.gov that takes place at the time of application submission and is beyond the control of the applicant. In these limited circumstances where there is a systems issue, the applicant must contact the help desk for the relevant system (e.g. Grants.gov) and obtain a help desk ticket number. The applicant must contact the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries immediately upon discovering the issues and must still submit the required application documents in order for his/her application to be considered for review. Required information for the application, such as financial documentation, may require extra time to obtain, so please plan accordingly. Applications will not be considered if any materials are received later than the deadline.

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Adobe Acrobat is continuously making updates to their software. We recommend applicants check the compatibility of Adobe products with the application’s required forms well in advance.

Additional guidance on the application package, instructions, submission procedures, and an application checklist can be located on the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program website:

http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov. Further information about the scholarship and the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries research priorities can be found at the following web sites: http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov and http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment, respectively.

Information in hard copy may be requested from:

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 1305 East-West Highway 11th Floor Rm 11622 Silver Spring, MD 20910

Information contact: Send requests for information to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at the address shown above, by telephone (831) 647-4204, or via email to fosterscholars@noaa.gov. Please allow adequate time for inquiry responses, do not expect an immediate response to email and voice mail messages.

B. Content and Form of Application

Each application package must include the items listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Failure to submit any items as described in this section will disqualify the application from consideration.

Application packages are available through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Each application package must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information. Failure to submit any items as described in this section will disqualify the application from consideration. Please provide a title of the item (for example, General Information Sheet, Statement of Intent, etc.) on each page in a Header Section.

1. Standard Form 424 (SF-424), Application for Federal Assistance is located on the Grants.gov portal and must be completed with information pertinent to the applicant.

Detailed guidance on how to complete the SF-424 form can be found at

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 9 of 26 http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/pdfs/sf-424_guidance.pdf. Item number 21 on the SF-424 cannot be used as a replacement for the declaration statement required in Item 10 below. The SF-424 must be uploaded to Grants.gov separately than the items outlined below. If submitting paper applications, the application packet must also include a completed SF-424.

Numbers 2-10: The following items of the application listed below shall be uploaded into Grants.gov in a single Adobe PDF file, in the order outlined below. Failure to provide a single Adobe PDF file with all of the components in the order listed below will result in the application being disqualified. If submitting paper applications, the full application must be in the order outlined below. Submitting a paper is acceptable but only if the applicant does not have access to the internet.

2. Table of Contents: On a single page, please list the items and page numbers of the following required information.

3. General Information Sheet: Provide the information outlined below, but do not exceed two (2) typewritten single-spaced pages, font size 12 in Times New Roman, with a 1” margin. General Information Sheets that are longer than two (2) pages in length and/or do not follow the formatting requirements listed above will not be accepted and will result in the application being disqualified. The General Information Sheet must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information.

a. Personal Data: Provide your full name (including all aliases and maiden/married names); country of citizenship; current address and/or permanent address; current phone number; and email address. Failure to include any of this information will make your application non-compliant.

b. Optional Personal Data: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is committed to broadening the participation of groups currently underrepresented in science. In order to accurately gauge whether the scholarship program is achieving this important goal, we ask that applicants indicate his/her gender and race or ethnicity. Please note that this information is voluntary. Your application will not be disqualified if you do not provide this optional personal data.

c. Degree Sought: State your proposed field of study oceanography, marine biology or maritime archaeology (including all science, engineering, and resource management of ocean and coastal areas) and the degree being sought (e.g. M.S., M.A., Ph.D.). Include the month and year the degree is expected. If already enrolled in a graduate program, state the name and location of your institution and your academic department for your graduate study.

d. Education: List the academic degrees received, or expect to receive by the start of your proposed graduate degree for this program, including the institution, date of receipt, and your

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 10 of 26 cumulative GPA. If enrolled in an institution, include your current GPA. If enrolled in graduate school, provide your graduate advisor's name, address, telephone number, and email address.

e. Academic Honors: List any academic honors received.

f. Relevant Work Experience: List work experience related to your field of study. You may include research and teaching assistantships and any other paid or unpaid work.

g. Knowledge of Scholarship: In a few words, please describe how you initially heard about the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program (e.g. word of mouth, current scholar, school/institution, specific professor/mentor, online database, etc.).

Failure to include the General Information Sheet, as outlined above, will result in the application being disqualified.

4. Statement of Intent: Provide the following components outlined below in two separate sections. The Statement of Intent should be typewritten, single-spaced, font size 12 Times New Roman, with a 1” margin and should not exceed one (1) page in length including sections (a) and (b). Both sections (a) and (b) will be weighted equally; therefore, your descriptions must provide enough detail to review accordingly. Statements longer than one page and/or that do not follow the formatting requirements listed above will not be accepted and will result in the application being disqualified. The Statement of Intent must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information.

This statement should not be a research proposal or scientific abstract. This statement will be used to evaluate you as an individual, not necessarily as a scientist, your motivation for applying for this scholarship, and your reflection on how to communicate and educate the public about your research. This statement should demonstrate your organizational and written communication skills.

a. Academic, Research, Career Goals and Aspirations: A self-description of your academic, research, career goals, and how your proposed course of study or research will help you achieve these goals. This is your opportunity to present yourself, your aspirations and your career goals. Include any background information that is pertinent and provide insight into why you choose to pursue these goals.

b. Communicating the Importance of your Research: As a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar, you are asked to become a “National Marine Sanctuary Ambassador” which emphasizes the opportunity to conduct education and outreach to the public (i.e. your college or university, community groups/organizations, or schools) about current research issues in the National Marine Sanctuary System. In this section, please provide a description of how you envision sharing your research and your results to the broader community and how the benefits of

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 11 of 26 your research will impact society. Outline your ideas for a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding your research as it relates specifically to the National Marine Sanctuary System, as well as the global ocean. This should include anticipated locations and audiences for education and outreach events, potential partners in the community, and any potential outputs or outcomes from your activities. If you receive the scholarship, you will be required to show proof of completion of the project outlined in this section before the conclusion of your scholarship period.

To strengthen this section of your application, please provide one letter of support from a community organization or group with which you would partner or collaborate to communicate your research. No more than one letter of support will be considered. Please make sure it is on official letterhead, signed and inserted after the statement of intent. The letter should outline your strategy for the outreach and education work you plan to undertake with this partner, their role in the collaboration, and the potential for success. Inclusion of this letter will be taken into consideration during the review process. Your application will not be disqualified if you do not include this letter. However, a letter of support is factored in when applicants are scored.

Failure to submit a Statement of Intent as indicated above will result in the application being disqualified.

5. Transcripts: Applicants must submit transcripts for all complete years of academic training (both undergraduate and graduate), including courses in which you are currently enrolled. Transcripts from an institution or university that are only for one (1) semester are not required (excluding work in progress) but may be included in the single Adobe PDF document if needed to support evidence of research experience. Applicants must currently have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average to be eligible to apply. If applicants have completed at least a year towards completing their current graduate degree, the cumulative GPA considered will be from that program. If students have not completed at least a year, the cumulative GPA considered will be from their most recent degree received. Students whose schools do not follow a typical GPA scale must submit official documentation that states they meet the 3.30 GPA requirement. Unofficial transcripts, which clearly state the name of the student and institution, submitted by the applicant are acceptable and must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information. All unofficial transcripts must list the student’s name and the name of the institution in the upper right hand corner.

Failure to submit the transcripts, as outlined above, will result in the application being disqualified. Official transcripts will be required prior to making an award.

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6. Enrollment Verification or List of Graduate Schools Applied: For current graduate students, transcripts showing courses in which you are currently enrolled can be used as enrollment verification. Enrollment verification must include name of school and applicant.

If an applicant is not currently enrolled but is applying to graduate schools, they must submit a "List of Graduate Schools Applied to" including the month and year graduate studies will begin, and any acceptance letters received at the time of application, with their application.

Individuals selected to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship award must provide proof of acceptance into a graduate program at a U.S. accredited institution at the time of notification or the individual will be ineligible to receive the award.

The Enrollment Verification or "List of Graduate Schools Applied to" must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information.

Failure to include the Enrollment Verification or "List of Graduate Schools Applied to" as applicable, as indicated above, will result in the application being disqualified. Applicants selected to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship will be required to submit a certification of enrollment at the start of each academic term.

7. Research Proposal: The Research Proposal should be typewritten, single-spaced, font size 12 Times New Roman with a 1” margin and should not exceed three (3) pages in length.

Page limits are inclusive of figures, and other visual materials, but are exclusive of references. Proposals longer than three (3) pages and/or that do not follow the formatting requirements listed above will not be accepted and will result in the application being disqualified. The Research Proposal must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information.

The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is designed to support students interested in NOAA mission related sciences of oceanography, marine biology or maritime archaeology (including all science, engineering, and resource management of ocean and coastal areas).

In your Research Proposal, please include the following information: Discuss the research area you plan to pursue in graduate school and its relationship to sciences in the aforementioned research priorities and how your research activities support NOAA's mission, particularly the mission of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the science needs of one or more national marine sanctuaries. Historically, proposals that do not support the science needs of the National Marine Sanctuary System do not rank as high.

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Information about NOAA is available at http://www.noaa.gov and in particular, the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov, and it’s Science Needs Assessment at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment.

Please make sure that your research goals and path are clearly defined and can be completed within the period of the scholarship. Make sure the proposal is constructed well, and you clearly demonstrate your technical knowledge of the research area.

Failure to submit a Research Proposal as indicated above will result in the application being disqualified.

8. Two Letters of Recommendation: Each application must include only two (2) letters of recommendation with written signatures on the actual letter from individuals who have knowledge of your academic record, research effort, and work and/or life experience. It is recommended that each letter is no more than two pages long. One of these letters must be from someone in your current academic career. If you are currently not enrolled, one letter should be from a professor who can provide knowledge of your academic career. Relevant paid work, such as internships and volunteer efforts, are applicable. Letters of recommendation should include:

• Statements of the applicant's ability to succeed in the program proposal;

• Familiarity with the applicant’s work;

• Statement that the individual writing the letter has a clear understanding of the goals and aspirations of the applicant on a personal and professional level; and

• Clear support for the applicant.

If an applicant plans to have a NOAA employee submit a letter of reference as one of the letters of recommendation required in this section, please note that the letter is limited to factual information and the NOAA employee’s knowledge of the applicant’s ability or character based on the employee’s government interactions with the applicant. The letter may not endorse one applicant over other applicants. Subject to restrictions and management approval, a NOAA employee may submit a letter of reference to NOAA for the agency’s use in evaluating the application. The supervisor must make a decision regarding whether it is in the agency’s interest to write such a letter. If the supervisor approves the letter, it should be written on agency letterhead and the employee should use his or her NOAA title. The employee may not send the letter in his or her personal capacity.

The two letters of recommendation must be included in the single Adobe PDF document.

Each letter must be a scanned PDF with a handwritten signature on official letterhead of the person recommending the candidate. If the person providing the letter of recommendation

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 14 of 26 does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter, the applicant should submit a paper copy of their full application and include their letters of recommendation in sealed envelopes.

Failure to provide two (2) signed letters of recommendation on official letterhead, as outlined above, will result in the application being disqualified. If more than two (2) letters of recommendation are provided, this will result in the application being disqualified.

9. Statement of Financial Need: All required components of this section must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information. The Statement of Financial Need requires the following documentation:

a. Department of Education's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determination: To evaluate financial need, NOAA will use the Department of Education's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determination. To receive an EFC determination, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Department of Education. See http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. In response to the FAFSA, the Department of Education will provide the applicant with a Student Aid Report (SAR), which will contain the EFC determination. It may take up to two weeks to receive these results, so please make sure to budget enough time. The previous year's SAR is acceptable for this requirement if no major financial changes have occurred. A copy of the first page of the SAR, which includes the EFC and the applicants name or last four digits of the applicant’s social security number must be submitted. The documentation of EFC must be from the Department of Education.

b. Yearly Tuition Documentation: Applicants must also provide documentation of estimated yearly tuition for each school they are applying to. The tuition estimate must clearly state the name of the school and applicants must also provide documentation of where this estimate comes from, either as a screenshot of a tuition estimate from the university’s website, or a letter or other documentation from the school, on official letterhead, showing tuition costs. Tuition is not inclusive of room, board, and other miscellaneous fees. Only the forms of documentation outlined above will be accepted.

c. Financial Need Information Questions: Answer all of the following questions within one (1) page, font size 12 times New Roman with 1” margins following the guidance below.

All questions must be answered or will result in the application being disqualified.

1. How likely are you to get a teaching or research assistantship in your program for the upcoming year? Choose from the following choices: a) highly likely, b) somewhat likely, c) unlikely, or d) there is no opportunity for assistantship. Write 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

2. How likely are you to get a teaching or research assistantship in your program for the entirety of your degree? Choose from the following choices: a) highly likely, b) somewhat

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 15 of 26 likely, c) unlikely, or d) there is no opportunity for assistantship. Write 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

3. Do you have other money supporting your degree (e.g., grants or scholarships)?

Please answer yes or no and if needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

4. What is the amount of tuition needed for each school you are applying to or currently attend? List school(s) and the amount needed for tuition. Remember tuition does not include room and board or other associated fees.

5. Are there circumstances that will waive your tuition such as a teaching assistantship, research assistantship, or other instances? Please explain your answer.

6. Provide an estimate of your Estimated Financial Need for each school to which you are applying, which can be determined by performing the following calculation: (Estimated Tuition per academic year) - (Expected Family Contribution) = Estimated Financial Need (EFN). If your tuition is waived by your school, use zero (0) for the Estimated Tuition per Academic Year.

For example:

Estimated Tuition (not to include room and board) = $12,000/year (documentation of this estimate is required) Expected Family Contribution = $8,000 (determined by Student Aid Report) $12,000-$8,000 = $4,000 ($4,000 is your Estimated Financial Need)

d. Statement of Need Essay: In, a one (1) page, single spaced essay, provide a personal narrative of your financial need and, if necessary, include further clarification for the answers to the Financial Need Information Questions section. This is your opportunity to give insight into your financial status, including any challenges, hardships, or information that may not be evident in the statements above. In your essay describing your financial need, discuss how you plan to fund your graduate level education and what the impact will be if you do not receive this scholarship. Funds for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship cannot be used to fund research. Statements longer than one (1) page, font size 12 Times New Roman with 1” margins, will not be accepted and will result in the application being disqualified.

Failure to submit all of the components of the Statement of Financial Need (a-d) will result in the application being disqualified.

10. Declaration: Applicants must certify that all statements and information in their application are true and correct by either 1) copying the following statement on a separate sheet of paper or 2) downloading the declaration statement from http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/pdfs/declaration_statement.pdf, then providing a handwritten signature on the same paper, and including it in the single Adobe PDF document:

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 16 of 26

I, the undersigned, declare, under penalty of perjury, that:

I understand and agree to the limitations of the allowable costs for the scholarship funds as defined in this FFO and that I am aware of the data sharing stipulation policy applicable to all NOAA Federal Funding Opportunities. This statement serves as my "Data/Information Sharing Plan" insofar as it expressly states that no funds associated with this award will be used for the collection or creation of any environmental information or data. If I engage in fraudulent conduct or fail to comply with any term or condition of the scholarship my funding may be withdrawn. I understand that if determined by the selecting official that satisfactory progress towards a thesis or dissertation is not completed within the timeframe of the award, I may be required to pay the full amount of the scholarship provided.

All statements and information in my application are true and correct at the time of this application.

Executed on [insert date]:

Print or type name:

Signature:

Failure to include the exact statement above, signed by the applicant, will result in the application being disqualified.

Answers to frequently asked questions on the application process are available at:

http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/faqs.html.

Questions from the NOAA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) questionnaire are not required to be answered because the scholarship has been determined to be exempt from NEPA review.

Each application package must include the items listed in the Application and Submission Information section. Failure to submit all items, excluding the SF 424, which can be uploaded individually, in a single Adobe PDF document as described in the Application and Submission Information section and in the above outlined order or if any item is omitted will disqualify the application from consideration. Individual documents uploaded to Grants.gov will not be accepted and the applicant will be disqualified.

If the applicant has difficulty obtaining any of the above components of the application in electronic copy form, the applicant may submit a single hard copy application. If submitting paper applications, the full application must be in the order outlined above and must also include a completed SF-424. The hard copy submission must be postmarked by the due date

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 17 of 26 as outlined in the FFO.

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

To enable the use of a universal identifier and to build the quality of information available to the public as required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, 16 U.S.C. 6101 note, to the extent applicable, any applicant 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/portal/public/SAM/. Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR §25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR §25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and

(iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. 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 are also required to use the Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System and will be subject to reporting requirements, as identified in OMB guidance published at 2 CFR Part 25 and 2 CFR Part 170. See Section IV.F.3. of this Announcement below for more information.

D. Submission Dates and Times

Completed applications must be received by Grants.gov by December 8, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time or postmarked by December 8, 2017 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries mailing address is located in section IV.G. “Other Submission Requirements,” below. Applications received or postmarked after the due date will not be reviewed or considered and will be disqualified. Applicants may submit applications via Grants.gov or in paper hard copies.

Date and time of receipt of each application sent via Grants.gov is electronically recorded. In order for an application to be considered "Complete" all items required in subsection IV.B.

"Content and Form of Application" must be received by Grants.gov or postmarked by the submission date. If you choose to mail your full application, we suggest using a service that can guarantee confirmation of delivery.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about registering as an individual and applying in the Grants.gov system, please review the following document:

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 18 of 26 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/individual-registration.html. All applicants, both those using electronic and paper, should be aware that adequate time must be factored into applicant submission timelines for delivery of the application. It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. You will receive an official notice from Grants.gov if you have uploaded your application correctly. It is not the responsibility of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to verify receipt of any application.

E. Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

F. Funding Restrictions

No special restrictions apply.

G. Other Submission Requirements

Please refer to important information in submission dates and times above to help ensure your application is received on time. Applications should be submitted via Grants.gov. If an applicant does not have internet access to complete the application through Grants.gov or prefers to apply using a hard copy, hard copy applications may be submitted in one envelope to:

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 1305 East West Highway 11th Floor, Room 11622 Silver Spring, MD 20910

PLEASE NOTE: For paper submissions, failure to submit all application items in one envelope and in the correct order, including a completed SF-424, will result in disqualification of the application.

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation criteria and weighting of the criteria are as follows:

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1. Academic Record and Statement of Career Goals of the Students (20%). For this program, this includes:

a. Statement of Intent – 15%

b. Letter of Support – 5%

2. Quality of Project and Applicability to Program Priorities (30%). For this program, this includes:

a. Alignment with NOAA and National Marine Sanctuaries Priorities – 20%

b. Feasibility – 5%

c. Technical Understanding and Clarity of Proposal – 5%

3. Recommendations and or Endorsements of Students (10%). For this program, this includes:

a. Familiarity of Applicant – 5%

b. Strength of Support – 5%

4. Additional Relevant Experience (15%). For this program, this includes:

a. Experience – 7%

b. Communication Skills – 8%

5.…