NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2024-2008244 NOFO Report (2).pdf

FY24 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 6

A. Program Objective 6 B. Program Priorities 6 C. Program Authority 7

II. Award Information 7 A. Funding Availability 7 B. Project/Award Period 8 C. Type of Funding Instrument 8

III. Eligibility Information 9 A. Eligible Applicants 9 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 9 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 10

IV. Application and Submission Information 10 A. Address to Request Application Package 10 B. Content and Form of Application 10 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 19 D. Submission Dates and Times 20 E. Intergovernmental Review 21 F. Funding Restrictions 21 G. Other Submission Requirements 21

V. Application Review Information 22 A. Evaluation Criteria 22 B. Review and Selection Process 23 C. Selection Factors 23 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 24

VI. Award Administration Information 24 A. Award Notices 24 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 25 C. Reporting 27

VII. Agency Contacts 28 VIII. Other Information 28

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NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

Funding Opportunity Title: FY24 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2024-2008244

Federal Assistance Listings Number: 11.429, Marine Sanctuary Program

Dates: Completed applications must be received by the Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) by December 20, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time or paper applications postmarked no later than December 20, 2023 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Applications received after the due date will not be reviewed and will likely result in disqualification.

An informational webinar about the FY2024 NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program funding announcement will be held on November 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM Pacific Time. To register for this webinar please visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/257954657774913117 or visit the Foster Scholarship website (https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov).

Please Note: We encourage all Grants.gov applicants to begin the application process several days before the December 20, 2023 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 the volume on Grants.gov can be extremely heavy, resulting in further delays. Paper applications must be postmarked no later than December 20, 2023 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Applications received after the due date will be disqualified. Otherwise, all applications must be submitted via Grants.gov.

Funding Opportunity Description: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support for master’s and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology—these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines—and particularly encourages women and members of minority groups to apply.

The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is dedicated to ensuring that diversity, equity, and

Notice of Federal Funding Page 2 of 29 inclusion are at the core of every action and every decision. We know that having varied perspectives helps generate better ideas to solve the complex problems of a changing world. To be effective stewards we must ensure our programs reflect the communities in which we live, work, and play. The longevity and success of our system depends on creating a culture that is welcoming and inclusive of all.

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 proposals, relevant experience, and financial need. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average (GPA) to be eligible to apply and maintain a minimum cumulative and term GPA of 3.30 for every term and for the duration of their award.

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships may provide, subject to appropriations, yearly support of approximately $47,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $35,000 in addition to an education allowance of $12,000) and up to $10,000 of support for a 4-6 week program collaboration at a NOAA facility. Applicants can only obtain funding for the number of years they have remaining in their graduate studies when they apply for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. For example, if you have already completed two (2) years of your PhD studies, and you become a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship recipient and indicate it will take you two additional years to complete your degree, you will only be able to obtain funds for the remaining two (2) years of your graduate studies.

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients will be required to participate in a mandatory Science Communication Training and Retreat to meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries staff at a date and location to be determined in the summer of 2024. 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 degree, as well as the staff expertise to assist you with your research along the way. Therefore, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars must conduct some specific outreach efforts. To help increase diversity of future applicants, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients must give at least one (1) presentation about the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program to a diverse audience, such as undergraduate students at a minority serving institution, historically black colleges and universities, student organizations promoting diversity at their

Notice of Federal Funding Page 3 of 29 campus, or other appropriate venue(s). All Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients are required to develop an outreach product (e.g., video, infographic, lesson plan, or other educational product) within the scholarship time period. The outreach product may be about their research or some other relevant topic. Discussions with the Foster Scholar team can be helpful when determining the product and the topic.

Completion of one (1) program collaboration is required for every doctoral scholarship award.

Scholars may opt out of a program collaboration if there are unforeseen circumstances that prevent them from completing this requirement, but this discussion must happen with the Program Collaboration Coordinator and the Federal Program Officer before a decision is made.

For master's degree level scholars, completion of a program collaboration is strongly recommended, but is not required. The program collaboration is designed to allow scholars to participate in research or other activities for 4-6 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. Funds cannot be used toward research costs. 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.

In order to have a competitive application for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, it is recommended that you review the following bullets to assess whether or not you should apply for this scholarship. For a complete list of review criteria, please see Section V.A.

1) Your research proposal aligns closely with NOAA's mission, with particular emphasis on addressing the science needs/priorities of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This is 30 points of your application score.

2) Your financial need statement documents a strong financial need due to challenges, hardships, or other information through a compelling personal narrative. This is 25 points of your application score.

3) You have exceptional letters of recommendation. This is 10 points of your application score.

4) Historically, proposals that do not support the science or education priorities of NOAA’s

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National Marine Sanctuary System do not rank as high.

5) Note that if you are in the last year of your Masters or Ph.D. program, it is not advised to apply for this scholarship.

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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—these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines—and particularly encourages 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; these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines—and particularly encourages women and members of minority groups to apply. 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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 6 of 29 within national marine sanctuary management plans and are necessary to protect and conserve sanctuary resources, manage risks, reduce threats and respond to unexpected events. Strong partnerships, expert scientific content and judgment, and peer review enhances 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 https://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 maritime heritage resource studies in national marine sanctuaries.

General science priorities/needs for the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries can be found online: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to national marine sanctuary site research coordinator for more information on site-specific science needs as they relate to the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program focus on oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology (contact information is available at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/research_coordinators.html).

For guidance on project proposals that address the entirety of the National Marine Sanctuary System, please contact Steve Gittings (steve.gittings@noaa.gov).

C. Program Authority

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

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Subject to appropriations, approximately $500,000 may be available for awards under this program during FY2024. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program anticipates that each year approximately 2-5 scholarships will be awarded. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides yearly support of approximately $47,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of about $35,000 in addition to a tuition allowance of about $12,000) and

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$10,000 support for a one-time, 4-6 week program collaboration at a field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System or other NOAA facility.

More specifically, the Program anticipates providing approximately $104,000 to master’s degree level students (covering up to two (2) years of support, one (1) program collaboration opportunity, and travel support for the ONMS Science Communication Training and Retreat). For doctoral level students, the Program anticipates providing approximately $208,000 (covering up to four (4) years of support, one (1) program collaboration opportunity, and travel support for the ONMS Science Communication Training and Retreat). The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship funds cannot be used toward research costs.

Based on the availability of funding, the completion of one (1) program collaboration is required for every doctoral scholarship award. For master's degree level scholars, completion of a program collaboration is recommended, but is not required. Scholars may opt out of a program collaboration if there are unforeseen circumstances that prevent them from completing this requirement. But this discussion must happen with the Program Collaboration Coordinator and the Federal Program Officer before a decision is made.

A mandatory ONMS Science Communication Training and Retreat will be held annually for incoming and current scholars. Scholars must participate in this orientation and training to ensure a basic knowledge 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 $3,000 per year) will be provided to Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients, also known as Foster Scholars, who will also meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries leadership and staff.

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, to be funded one year at a time. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2024. If an applicant is selected for initial funding, NOAA still reserves the right to revoke funding at any point. Receipt of any prospective funding beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of funds from Congress, satisfactory performance, and continued relevance to program objectives and will be at the sole discretion of the Department of Commerce. Note that scholars may request a one-time no cost extension for up to one (1) year that must be requested at least 60 days before the end of the award and must provide a justification and a current budget (NOAA maintains discretion to accept requests deviating from this deadline in extreme circumstances.)

C. Type of Funding Instrument

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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 approximately 4-6 weeks at 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.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

To apply, each applicant:

1) Must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, or citizen of the U.S. territories. A territory of the U.S. means, “(A) American Samoa; (B) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (D) Guam; (E) the United States Virgin Islands; and (F) any other territory or possession of the United States” (16 U.S.C.

§6602(9)).

2) Must be 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—these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines.

3) Must have a cumulative 3.30 GPA.

Further, individuals who already receive NOAA or Federal funding from grants or scholarships 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 they are 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

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There are no matching requirements for this award.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

None.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

Application packages are available through Grants.gov (https://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. Adobe Acrobat is continuously making updates to their software. We recommend that 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:

https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov. Further information about the scholarship and the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries research priorities can be found at the following websites https://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 Attn: Seaberry Nachbar 99 Pacific Street Monterey, CA 93940

Information contact: Send requests for information to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at the address shown above or via email to fosterscholars@noaa.gov. Please allow adequate time for inquiry responses, do not expect an immediate response to email or written correspondence to the address above.

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 is likely to result in disqualification.

Application packages are available through Grants.gov.

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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. Please provide a title of the item (for example, General Information Sheet, Statement of Intent, etc.)

on each page in a Header Section except when a previously formatted PDF is added, such as transcripts or a PDF copy of a letter of recommendation. Please do not include a cover page for your application.

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.

Specific guidance on how to complete the SF-424 form for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program can be found at https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/media/docs/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 from the items outlined below. The start date that must be used on the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) is July 1, 2024. If submitting a paper application, the application packet must also include a completed SF 424 and the SF-424 must be signed and dated with pen and ink.

Numbers 2-10: The following items of the application listed below shall be uploaded into Grants.gov in the single Adobe PDF file, in the order outlined below. Failure to provide the single Adobe PDF file with all of the components in the order listed below is likely to result in disqualification. If submitting a paper application, the full application must be in the order outlined below or the application is likely to result in disqualification. If sealed letters of recommendation are included in a paper application these envelopes can be added to the mailing envelope and not included in the rest of the correctly organized application package and should be referenced in the table of contents as attachments at the end. Submitting a paper application is only acceptable for the following reasons: 1) Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion; 2) if the applicant does not have access to the internet; or 3) if the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter.

2. Table of Contents: On a single page, please list the items and page numbers of the following required information. Page numbers are not required for pre-existing PDF documents, such as transcripts or PDF letters of recommendation, but should still contribute to the page count. If the sealed letters are in envelopes, the table of contents should reference them as attachments.

3. General Information Sheet: Provide the information outlined below, but do not exceed two

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(2) typewritten single-spaced pages, font size 12 in Times New Roman, with a 1” margin.

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.

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 gender, race, and 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—these may include but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal:

engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines—and the degree being sought (e.g. M.S., M.A., Ph.D.), including 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 you expect to receive by the start of your proposed graduate degree for this program, including the institution, date of receipt, and your cumulative GPA. If enrolled in an institution, include your current GPA.

e. Academic Honors: List any academic honors received.

f. Relevant Experience: List 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.).

4. Statement of Intent: Provide the following components outlined below in two (2) separate sections. The Statement of Intent must be typewritten, single-spaced, font size 12 Times New Roman, with a 1” margin and must 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.

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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, it evaluates your motivation for applying for this scholarship, and evaluates your communication skills and ability to educate the public about your research. This statement must tell us something about why you are interested in this scholarship opportunity and 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, such as work and academic experience, and extra-curricular activities that are relevant to your educational goals, 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 science communication through 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 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 must 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 are a recipient of this scholarship, you will be required to show proof of completion of the project outlined in this section before the conclusion of your scholarship period. If changes to the outreach project occur after the award has been made, a discussion of proposed changes must occur with the Nancy Foster Scholar team.

All Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients are required to put together an outreach product (e.g., video, infographic, lesson plan, or other educational product) within the scholarship time period. The outreach product may be about their research or some other relevant topic. Discussions with the Foster Scholar team can be helpful when determining the product and the topic.

To strengthen this section of your application, please provide one outreach letter from a community organization or group with which you would partner or collaborate to

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 29 communicate your research. No more than one outreach letter will be considered. Please make sure it is on official letterhead, signed, and inserted after the statement of intent. The letter must 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, an outreach letter is specifically considered by merit reviewers when an applicant is scored (see Evaluation Criteria, Section V.A.).

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. Headers are not required for transcripts. 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 GPA to be eligible to apply. If applicants have completed at least a year towards 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 you received. Students whose school does not follow a typical 4.0 GPA scale must submit a letter from a school representative, advisor, or independent reviewer that states you meet the 3.30 GPA requirement and provides an accurate conversion. Unofficial transcripts, which clearly state the name of the student and institution and show the cumulative GPA, 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. Note that official transcripts will be required of selected applicants.

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 the 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.

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 14 of 29 figures and other visuals, but excluding references. Do not include a cover page for your research proposal. In the proposal, explain how your research supports NOAA's mission, particularly that of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the science or education needs of one or more national marine sanctuaries.

Historically, proposals that do not support the science or education needs of the National Marine Sanctuary System do not rank as highly as those that do.

Please make sure your research and education goals, hypotheses, and project plans are clearly defined and communicated, and can be completed within the period of the scholarship. Make sure you clearly demonstrate your technical knowledge of the research area and the potential application of your findings. Your proposal will be evaluated on the alignment with NOAA and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries priorities, feasibility of the project, innovation and design, and technical understanding and clarity of the proposal. Funds for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship cannot be used to fund research.

8. Two Letters of Recommendation: Each application must include only two (2) letters of recommendation with handwritten or electronically created signatures on the actual letter from individuals who have knowledge of your academic record, research effort, and work and/or life experience. The letter of recommendation may not be from more than one individual, meaning the letter cannot be signed by more than one person.

It is recommended that each letter is no more than two (2) pages long. Letters of recommendation do not need to include headers. It is recommended that one of these letters be from someone in your current academic career. If you are currently not enrolled, consider submitting one (1) letter 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 must include: 1) Statements of the applicant's ability to succeed in the program proposal; 2) Familiarity with the applicant’s work; 3) 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 4) 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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 15 of 29 the agency’s interest to write such a letter. If the supervisor approves the letter, it must be written on agency letterhead and the employee must use his or her NOAA title. The employee may not send the letter in his or her personal capacity. NOAA employees can sign the letter digitally, but it is advised to not have these letters signed with their CAC card to prevent PDF issues. If a letter of reference is based on a current NOAA employee’s engagement with an applicant prior to his/her NOAA employment or if the letter of reference is based on a current NOAA employee’s present engagement with an applicant in his/her outside teaching or other personal (non-official) activities, then the letter of reference must be written in the recommender’s personal capacity. For example: If a NOAA employee is teaching as part of his/her official duties and engages with an applicant in that capacity.

The two (2) letters of recommendation must be included in the single Adobe PDF document.

Each letter must have a handwritten or electronically created signature on the official letterhead of the person recommending the candidate. Page numbers are not required for pre-existing PDF documents but should still contribute to the page count.

If the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter, the applicant must submit a paper copy of their full application, include their letters of recommendation in sealed envelopes, and reference the letters of recommendation as attachments in the table of contents. Note that if you are submitting a paper application, the SF-424 form must be signed and dated with pen and ink.

9. Statement of Financial Need: Your EFC documentation (9a) must not exceed one (1) page. Yearly tuition documentation may be more than one (1) page, especially if you are applying to multiple colleges and/or universities. Answers to all questions in 9c (questions 1-

8) must be answered within one (1) page. 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 EFC determination.

To receive an EFC determination, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Department of Education (https://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

(2) 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 applicant’s 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 and not exceed one (1) page.

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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. This can be more than one (1) page in length if needed.

c. Financial Need Information Questions (answers to these questions must be provided on one (1) page): Questions do not need to be repeated on the single page to allow you more space to write your answer. Simply mark down the number for each answer:

1) How likely are you to get a paid teaching or research assistantship in your program for the upcoming school 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 paid teaching or research assistantship in your program for the entirety of your degree? 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.

3) Do you have other money supporting your degree (e.g., grants or scholarships)? Please answer yes or no. If yes, include the amount of funding and if it is a one time or recurring award. Current funds that expire in the current school year do not need to be included.

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 miscellaneous fees.

5) Are you a first-generation college graduate? A first-generation college graduate is defined as a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree. This means that you are the first in your family to attend a four-year college/university to attain a bachelor’s degree. Please answer yes or no, and if needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

6) Are there circumstances that will waive your tuition such as a teaching assistantship, Notice of Federal Funding Page 17 of 29 research assistantship, or other instances? Please answer yes or no, and if needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

7) Is your financial need based on personal hardships (a hardship unique to you and your situation compared to peers in a similar situation)? Please answer yes or no, and if needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer. Note that you will have an opportunity to share more about your financial need and personal hardships in your Statement of Need essay.

8) Provide 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 [this is a monetary value]) = Estimated Financial Need (EFN). If your tuition is waived by your school, use zero (0) for the Estimated Tuition per Academic Year.

Do not use room and board or any miscellaneous fees as part of your estimated tuition expenses. Please write out the calculation for your EFN. If your EFN is not calculated correctly or your calculation is not included, your application is likely to result in disqualification. For example:

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

d. Statement of Financial Need: In a one (1) page, single-spaced essay, provide a personal narrative of your financial need, personal hardship(s), and, if necessary, include further clarification for the answers to the Financial Need Information Questions section. This is your personal story and 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 use these scholarship funds for your graduate level education and what the impact will be if you do not receive this scholarship.

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 https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/media/docs/declaration_statement.pdf, then providing a handwritten or electronically created signature on the same paper, and including it in the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 18 of 29 single Adobe PDF document:

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 Notice of Funding Opportunity 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, or I may be required to repay the amount of funding already received. 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: [insert handwritten or electronically created signature] Failure to include the exact statement above, signed in pen by the applicant, will likely result in disqualification.

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

https://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. Funds provided under this program cannot be used toward research costs.

NOAA, in its sole discretion, may continue the review process for applications with non-substantive issues that can be easily rectified or cured.

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://sam.gov/content/home. Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is expected from those requirements under 2 CFR §25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal

Notice of Federal Funding Page 19 of 29 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 (DUNS) 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

Applications are due at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 20, 2023. Applications must be received by Grants.gov on the due date listed above. Paper applications are only allowable for the following reasons: 1) Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion; 2) if the applicant does not have access to the internet; or

3) if the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter. Paper applications must be postmarked no later than December 20, 2023 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Applications received after the due date will be disqualified.

The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries mailing address is located in Section IV.G. “Other Submission Requirements,” below. Applications received after the due date will not be reviewed or considered and will likely result in disqualification. Date and time of receipt of each application sent via Grants.gov is electronically recorded. For paper applications, each envelope is time and date stamped when received and needs to be postmarked by the due date mentioned above. In order for pre and full applications to be considered "Complete" all items are required in subsection IV.B. If you choose to mail in a pre or full paper application, we suggest using a service that can guarantee confirmation of delivery.

Please Note: For detailed information about registering as an…