oppNOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2019-2005591-cfda11.427-cid2732431-instructions.pdf

FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 5

A. Program Objective 5 B. Program Priorities 5 C. Program Authority 13

II. Award Information 13 A. Funding Availability 13 B. Project/Award Period 14 C. Type of Funding Instrument 14

III. Eligibility Information 14 A. Eligible Applicants 14 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 15 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 16

IV. Application and Submission Information 16 A. Address to Request Application Package 16 B. Content and Form of Application 16 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 27 D. Submission Dates and Times 28 E. Intergovernmental Review 28 F. Funding Restrictions 29 G. Other Submission Requirements 29

V. Application Review Information 31 A. Evaluation Criteria 31 B. Review and Selection Process 34 C. Selection Factors 38 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 39

VI. Award Administration Information 39 A. Award Notices 39 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 40 C. Reporting 43

VII. Agency Contacts 45 VIII. Other Information 45

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 1 of 45

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

Funding Opportunity Title: FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2019-2005591

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

Dates: Dates: Pre-proposals must be received at http://www.Grants.gov under the competition link named “PRE PROPOSALS FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy”, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 pm, Eastern Time, July 23, 2018, 60 days after the posting date of the NOFO. Use of Grants.gov is preferred. If Grants.gov cannot reasonably be used, use of U.S.

mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. Postmarked applications received more than 5 business days following the closing date will not be accepted. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted.

Within 45 days of the pre-proposal due date, NOAA will inform the authorized representatives based upon their pre-proposal, if the S-K Program encourages or does not encourage submission of a full proposal. Regardless of if you are encouraged or not encouraged, all those who submit complete and timely pre-proposals and meet all requirements are eligible to submit full proposals.

Note: If the notification of individuals other than the authorized representative listed on the application is needed for the “encouraged or not encouraged” letters, it will be the responsibility of the authorized representative to forward notification to these individuals.

Full Applications must be received by http://www.Grants.gov under the competition link named “FULL Proposals FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy”, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 pm, Eastern Time, November 5, 2018, 165 days after the posting date of the NOFO. Use of Grants.gov is preferred. If Grants.gov cannot reasonably be used, use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. Postmarked applications received more than 5 business days following the closing date will not be accepted. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted.

When developing your full application submission timeline, please keep in mind that you are

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 2 of 45 encouraged to apply through the www.grants.gov website. This electronic submission system is relatively complex for first time users and involves several preliminary registrations to be completed before your application can be submitted. If you have already used the grants.gov website, the required registrations may have already been completed. Please allow sufficient time for the application to be submitted electronically and for possible computer delays.

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

Applications not adhering to postmark or submission deadlines will be rejected and destroyed.

NOTE: Under this one solicitation there are two (2) competition links. Please be sure to submit your pre-proposals to the “PRE PROPOSALS FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy” link within the dates specified in this NOFO. Please be sure to submit your FULL Proposals to the “FULL Proposals FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy” link prior to the date specified in this NOFO.

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

Under this authority, grants and cooperative agreements are made on a competitive basis (subject to availability of funding) to assist in carrying out projects related to U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries. The term “fisheries” encompasses wild capture, marine aquaculture and recreational fishing. The objective of the S-K Grant Program is to address the needs of the fisheries and fishing communities in optimizing economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices, dealing with the impacts of conservation and management measures, and increasing other opportunities to use existing infrastructure to support keeping working waterfronts viable. U.S. fisheries include any fishery, commercial or recreational, that is, or may be, engaged in by citizens or nationals of the United States. Proposals submitted to this competition must address at least one of the following priorities: Promotion, Development and Marketing; Marine Aquaculture; Support of Science that Ensures the Long-Term Sustainability of Marine Resources While Maximizing Fishing Opportunities, Revenue and Jobs in U.S. Fisheries. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) includes information on application and criteria for research proposals requesting a maximum of $300,000 in Federal funding for up to a two-year period. Matching funds are not required, nor will they be considered during the evaluation process. Awards are anticipated to start no earlier than September 1, 2019.

Grant awards are dependent on the availability of Federal funding as provided in enacted Appropriations Acts. This NOFO is being released prior to final appropriations due to award

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 3 of 45 process time frames. While the FY 2019 President's budget proposed $0 for this program, final Congressional direction has not been determined. Applicants are not guaranteed any level of funding. Should funds not be available in FY 2019, submitted applications may be carried over to the subsequent fiscal year for review and obligation should funds be available and the Agency deems this the most appropriate administrative process.

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

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

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

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

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

B. Program Priorities

Applications may address one or more of the three priorities listed below. However, a singular research priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal must be identified, and will be used by NMFS for review purposes. If one is not identified, a priority will be identified for you. These priorities are aimed at promoting and developing United

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States fisheries through advancing the economic vitality of the fishing industry and fishery working waterfront communities, rebuilding fish stocks, and maintaining and restoring healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems for the long-term benefit of the public. In addition to the three specific priorities, an overarching evaluation criterion for all applications will be fishing community vitality, as described below. While fishing community vitality is not a stand-alone priority, no less than 10% of funds will be awarded to applications that support fishing community vitality.

Solicitation Priorities:

Priority #1 – Promotion, Development and Marketing

Projects sought should:

Include, where feasible, participation of the fishing industry, fish dealers and processors, retail and foodservice sectors, and other related industries. Projects that promote access to underutilized stocks while maintaining conservation goals for depleted stocks and/or other sensitive ecosystem components are encouraged.

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

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

Develop projects that support access to export markets through industry outreach and the creation of new marketing opportunities that increase revenue to fishers and drive greater

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 6 of 45 efficiency in the seafood supply chain.

Develop projects that evaluate consumer preferences and willingness to pay higher prices for seafood. The scope of projects may include consumer demand for improved seafood quality;

traceability; locally produced seafood; and new products.

Develop usable, value-added, fishery products from underutilized, under harvested and/or undervalued economic discards, byproducts of processing, and introduced, nuisance or invasive species.

Provide business development and direct marketing training to fishing industry participations to facilitate greater diversity of species throughout the market production chain from vessel to table. Provide consumer and public outreach on the ecological and/or environmental impact, including ecosystem change related impacts such as production of greenhouse gasses, of imported seafood products versus locally landed seafood products.

Develop projects that advocate the elimination of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing activities, support research and development of methods to rapidly detect IUU products in the marketplace, develop traceability projects/programs to protect against IUU products.

Develop projects that support monitoring efforts of imports to prevent IUU fish from entering the U.S. market, allowing consumers to have confidence that the seafood they purchase was harvested legally and responsibly.

Develop projects that promote economic viability in local communities and communities impacted from fishery management decisions including those that are located in the U.S.

Territories, enhance locally owned business, promote and market value-added innovation for sustaining marine ecosystems and other living marine resources.

Improve the understanding of the socioeconomic impacts and aspects of fisheries with regards to promotion, development and marketing to increase information on current and future consequences of management choices for use by decision makers and stakeholders.

The range of scope includes commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing and fishing-related businesses and fishing communities.

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

• Qualitative and quantitative baseline research on specific fishing or aquaculture

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 7 of 45 communities.

• Socioeconomic cost-benefit analysis.

• Identifying approaches to reducing the trade imbalance and increase overseas market access for U.S. domestic product.

• Collecting social and economic information on fishermen, their families, and their communities to facilitate development of economic impact models that can be used to accurately assess impacts on recreational and commercial fisheries.

• Examining tariffs on seafood overseas to help identify approaches to improve market access, or resolve technical barriers for export, and advocate for the adoption of regulations that support fair market access for U.S. products.

• Studies that enhance community support and buy-in, and look at the economic impacts of rejection versus support of fishing activities and aquaculture sites.

• Market analyses to determine factors that influence and trace the demand and supply of specific seafood products, including imports.

• Projects that bolster fishing community resiliency by increasing consumer knowledge and demand for locally sourced, sustainable seafood products.

• Factors limiting fishing community sustainability and potential adaptation or best practice strategies to overcome limitations or negative impacts.

Priority #2 – Marine Aquaculture

Develop environmentally responsible marine aquaculture (including the U.S. Great Lakes) to create jobs in coastal communities, produce healthful local seafood, promote, market and develop marine aquaculture products and businesses, revitalize working waterfronts, and support traditional fishing communities. Projects should include, where feasible, participation of the fishing communities, aquaculture communities, and the seafood industry, as well as alternative ways to minimize aquaculture activities’ interactions with marine mammals and other living marine resources. Projects that provide training for fishermen and others in coastal communities in aquaculture production methods are encouraged.

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Projects sought should address at least one of the four topics below:

Training and transfer of best practices to accelerate aquaculture project development and increase number of successful projects across the U.S.

Technology development and transfer to promote and market the economic viability of aquaculture products: Develop, refine, or apply aquaculture technologies that improve economic performance of aquaculture, while simultaneously improving regulatory, social, or environmental performance. Projects that demonstrate aquaculture technologies in operational settings, such as through a pilot or commercial-scale project, are strongly encouraged.

Tools for management to improve aquaculture product development and business development and investment opportunities: Create tools to improve analysis and the understanding needed to make complex regulatory or management (industry or farm level) decisions. Tools should result in actionable advice addressing regulatory or business decision-making to facilitate informed permitting and industry or business management decisions.

Tools that lead to regulatory and marketing efficiency: Develop tools, which facilitate developing permit proposal packages and supplementary documents, for marine aquaculture that are complete and structured to have a high likelihood of successfully addressing legally required issues and improve economic efficiency from streamlined processes.

Project examples could include, but are not limited to:

• Demonstration of the feasibility of culturing marine species identified as potential or suitable candidates for aquaculture including fish, molluscs, and macroalgae.

• Development of hatchery capacity and technologies.

• Examination of the performance of selected and triploid lines of oysters in different environments, especially the importance of geographic origins of female oysters crossed with selected, tetraploid males.

• Development or validation of genetics/escapes, disease transfer, habitat equivalency, nutritional security, socioeconomic, enterprise budgets, or other models or tools for management of marine aquaculture.

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• Developing tools to site marine aquaculture locations that integrate environmental regulations, protected areas and habitat concerns to ensure adequate aquaculture sites are identified in the EEZ, including the Great Lakes, that are not competing with wild fishing and other factors.

• Demonstrating benefits on the positive interaction between habitat restoration, water quality and shellfish aquaculture.

• Examination of fouling communities on aquaculture gear and options for control.

• Development of web-based automated permit applications and support documents such as maps and charts, best management practices, and other checklist items.

Priority #3 – Support of Science that Maximizes Fishing Opportunities, Revenue and Jobs in U.S. Fisheries While Ensuring the Long-Term Sustainability of Marine Resources

Projects sought should:

Conduct Research on the economic contribution of ecosystem management, including macroeconomic analysis to improve the economic efficiency of fishing, permit banking and fishing access issues.

Facilitate and expand scientific and environmental assessments that underpin sustainable harvesting practices, and include resources to develop and implement real-time data management systems to maximize sustainable harvests.

Assess short- and long-term biological and socioeconomic impacts of ecosystem changes such as ocean acidification, long-term fluctuations in water temperature and weather patterns, and other stressors on living marine resources and the communities sustained by these resources.

Conduct research that better informs the fishing community, industry and fishery managers on the predator-prey dynamic and the role that density dependence plays on the short-term health of managed stocks and/or protected species.

Aid in the understanding and integration of the interactions that marine and diadromous fish have with: predators, competitors, and prey species; other ocean uses (e.g. energy projects that can impact fishing, biological communities, and ecosystems); the complex interactions

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 10 of 45 between fisheries and their habitat; and the effects of fishing on fish stocks and their habitat and the impacts these interactions have on the fishers, community and industry.

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

• Examining effects of changing ocean conditions on fishery dependent and independent data and assessments, conducting studies that quantify these effects, and evaluating the consequence of these effects on scientific advice and/or the fishing industry.

• Assessing how fishing communities have been impacted, including socioeconomic impacts, and have adapted to direct effects of environmental change, such as increased storms and other natural events resulting in long-term trends, and the applicability of adaptation strategies for other communities.

• Developing models assessing economic trade-offs in living marine resource management alternatives under long term changes in marine environments.

• Projects which enhance fishing opportunities by better understanding socioeconomic benefits and trade-offs of harvest allocations between recreational and commercial fisheries.

• Conducting research and identifying strategies for the seafood industry and fishing communities to better understand, adapt and become more resilient to a change in marine ecosystems, including vulnerability assessments at the community level.

• Improving outreach and education opportunities and analysis that broadens industry investment and growth.

• Evaluating the potential economic and social effects of alternative catch share programs.

• Research into fishing or aquaculture community innovations in organization/governance, cooperatives, marketing, risk pooling, access to capital/permits/catch allocations, and other improvements to promote sustainability.

• Developing upgrades to and use of antiquated data management systems that have limited full utilization of our domestic fishery resources.

• Testing the use of electronic reporting applications such as smart phones, tablets or other data-capture technologies to enhance the performance of catch reporting in recreational

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 11 of 45 or commercial fisheries.

• Developing stock assessment models that consider potential changes in fishery performance and management effectiveness due to ecosystem change including ocean chemistry, changes in water temperature, and other parameters.

• Investigating ecosystem impacts from fishing and aquaculture efforts (e.g., changes in distribution, changes in prey availability, etc.) on protected and federally managed species, including marine mammals, sea turtles, reef ecosystems and listed fish species that are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act and their habitats.

• Producing long-term environmental change, ocean chemistry, and other forecasting models that incorporate fishery production scenarios important to fishery managers and/or fishing operations.

• Researching cumulative impacts in marine ecosystems that include long-term changes in water temperature and weather patterns.

• Developing tools, models, or methods that quantify fishery productivity based on habitat type or quality.

• Expanding fishery biosampling and analysis of biosampling data, including activities that would encompass sampling shoreside, and at fish dealers, the species of fish most relevant to the fisheries industry and fishery management.

• Conducting research that aids in the understanding of emerging fish diseases and fish parasites, and their current and/or future impact of fish stocks, fishing behaviors, and markets.

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

Overarching Solicitation Evaluation Criteria

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Fishing Community Vitality

While fishing community vitality is not a stand-alone priority, no less than 10% of funds will be awarded to applications that develop and support community-based bridge plans.

Community-based bridge plans are scopes of work in a proposal with specific components that enhance fishing community vitality, from the perspectives of both fishery working waterfront and living marine resource communities. These can be projects that utilize available marine resources in new or innovative ways, engage community stakeholders in best practice strategies and strategic planning for response to current and/or future impacts, provide new opportunities or technologies for fishing fleets, onshore fishery businesses, both commercial and recreational, as well projects that advance value added marine recreational activities for these communities.

Community-based bridge plans work towards advancing the stability and long term success of these communities. Projects are encouraged to help coastal fishing industries adapt to constraints limiting sustainable fisheries development by retooling their fishing fleets, shore services, and port facilities into sustainable and innovative businesses. Many shoreside support services upon which the fishing industry relies are constrained or in decline due to less fish being landed. These include ice, fuel, haulout, auction, and processing companies.

Projects that include creative opportunities that would enhance the short- and long-term vitality of commercial and recreational fishing or aquaculture related businesses are encouraged.

C. Program Authority

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

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Grant awards are dependent on the availability of Federal funding as provided in enacted Appropriations Acts. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is being released prior to final appropriations due to award process timeframes. While the FY 2019 President's budget proposed $0 for this program, final Congressional direction has not been determined.

Applicants are not guaranteed any level of funding.

Project proposals requesting less than $25,000 or greater than $300,000 in federal funding, Federal Funding Opportunity Page 13 of 45 will not be accepted or reviewed. The number of awards made as a result of this solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications received, the amount of funds requested for each project, the merit and ranking of the proposals, and the amount of funds made available to the S-K Program. There is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted by the same applicant during this competitive solicitation; however, multiple applications submitted by the same applicant must clearly identify different projects, and each application will be rated individually in the competitive review process. If you have several projects that you are seeking funding for, submit a separate application for each project; do not consolidate several projects into one application.

B. Project/Award Period

We will award grants or cooperative agreements for a maximum period of two years (24 months), but shorter term project proposals are welcomed.

Applications beyond this 24 month duration will not be considered. The requested award start date must begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month. The earliest start date for projects will be September 1, 2019, dependent upon availability of Federal funding as provided by Congress, acceptable completion of all NOAA/applicant negotiations including National Environmental Policy Act analysis and permit requirements, and the provision of other supporting documentation as requested. Applicants selected to receive funding may be asked to modify the project start date.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

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

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

You are eligible to apply for a grant or a cooperative agreement under the Saltonstall-

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Kennedy Grant Program if:

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

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

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

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

insular areas. We support cultural and gender diversity in our programs and encourage women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications. We are also committed to broadening the participation of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), which include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities, in our grant programs. To find out more about MSIs go to http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html.

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

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

Non Eligible Applicants

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

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

No cost sharing or matching is required. The S-K Act, as amended, does not require that you share in the total cost of the project. Cost sharing is voluntary and will not increase your chances of your project being selected. If you choose to cost-share and if your application is

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 15 of 45 selected for funding, you will be obligated to account for the amount of cost-share dollars reflected in the award documents, signed by the NOAA Grants Officer. This commitment of matching dollars becomes a binding offer. If project costs are shared, NMFS must provide at least 50 percent of total project costs.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

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

Should you wish to partner with a Federal agency, a written agreement detailing this participation must be provided. The agreement should describe any planning, scheduling, conducting, and analyzing proposed project activities, work to be conducted by a Federal employee, and/or resources provided by the partnering agency, e.g. equipment or lab space.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

For the full application, the standard application package, consisting of the standard forms, i.e., SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, and the CD-511, is available at http://www.grants.gov.

If an applicant has problems with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1- 800-518-4726 or support@Grants.gov. If you do not have Internet access, a pre-proposal or full proposal application package may be received by contacting Clifford Cosgrove, S-K Program Manager, NOAA/NMFS (F/MB); 1315 East-West Highway, Room 14321, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282, Phone: (301) 427-8736, or email: clifford.cosgrove@noaa.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application

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

Pre-proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov. The SF-424 must be filled out and signed as part of the grants.gov pre-proposal submittal. Do not submit or attach any additional attachments or documentation along with the SF-424 for the pre-proposal

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 16 of 45 submission.

Pre-proposal Format

The pre-proposal process is intended to provide an indication to potential applicants of the technical merit and the relevancy of the proposed project to the S-K program before preparing a full proposal. The intent is to reduce the burden of preparing full proposals that do not have a high probability for being funded. When drafting a pre-proposal, applicants should clearly convey how your proposed project meets the four evaluation criteria and the identified single priority area. Late or incomplete pre-proposals, as well as those that deviate from content or format requirements, will not be reviewed by NOAA.

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

The SF-424 form will serve as the cover page for the 2-page pre-proposal. Each pre-proposal may not exceed two pages, single-spaced, and should not include any other attachments.

Though the SF-424 form allows for additional attachments, do not use this function. Pre-proposals may only have an SF-424 form as a cover page, and a separate 2-page pre-proposal narrative. The pre-proposal narrative must be submitted using the format described above and must provide:

a. Name of organization, Title of project; and Principal Investigator(s), with email contact(s).

b. Priority (Applicants must identify the single priority that is most addressed by the pre-proposal. If more than one priority is addressed by the proposal, one priority must be identified as the primary. The primary priority will dictate the type of subject matter expert used to evaluate your pre-proposal and full proposal, should one be submitted.).

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

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

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

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

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

The pre-proposal needs to provide sufficient information for reviewers to evaluate the project based on the following evaluation criteria:

1) How well the proposal addresses the needs of the fishing community(s).

2) Technical merit (realistic and timely objectives and appropriate design).

3) Relevance to program goals.

4) Involvement/collaboration with the fishing community, industry, or other stakeholders.

Full Application Format

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

Each application must include:

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

- Federal application forms, including:

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

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

Indicate any matching funds, if applicable.

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

o CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying.

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

- NOAA NEPA Questionnaire (http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/questionnaire.pdf.). It is

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 18 of 45 recommended that you pay attention to responding to Questions 1-19 and 20-37, the latter of which are specific to NMFS project submissions.

- Data Sharing Plan (A data sharing plan is a minimum requirement and evaluation criteria. If a data sharing plan is not submitted with the full application, the proposal will undergo no further review and will be withdrawn with no further consideration).

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

- A Project Narrative (described below, limit 20 pages).

- A Budget Narrative (described below).

- Other Supporting Documentation and relevant attachments the applicant deems important to the overall understanding and evaluation of the proposed project [such as references, curricula vitae (not to exceed two pages each), letters of collaboration received from the relevant partners, or communities involved in the project, etc. (combined into one PDF document)], which does not count against the 20-page limit for the Project Narrative.

Letters of support are not allowed to be submitted, and will not be accepted during the review process.

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

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

If the applicant has completed the entire application in Grants.gov but is unable to submit via Grants.gov, the application package should be provided via thumb drive along with printed and signed versions of forms SF-424, SF-424B, and CD-511. The Authorized Representative MUST sign and date these forms in the space reserved for electronic signature. Signatures (electronic or ink) must match the name printed in the “Authorized Representative” section of the SF-424 Block 21. Another Authorized Representative may

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 19 of 45 not sign on behalf of the individual noted in Block 21. Paper applications should not be bound in any manner.

Content Requirements:

A. Project Summary

It is critical that the project summary accurately describe the project being proposed and convey all essential elements of the project for public dissemination.

Provide a summary of the proposed project (two page maximum). The summary must include:

Applicant Information: Applicant organization and name, title, and contact information of the Principal Investigator.

Project Information: Project title, location, requested project period (start and end dates), Federal funding requested, and identification of the singular S-K research priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal. If more than one priority is addressed by the proposal, one priority must be identified as the primary. The primary priority will dictate the type of subject matter expert used to evaluate your proposal. If one is not identified, a priority will be identified for you.

Partners: Identification of collaborating partners, organizations, Cc-principal Investigators, titles and contact information.

Summary: A clear description of proposed activities, anticipated benefits/outcomes. This should include the species/resources to be addressed. It is critical the project summary accurately describes the project being proposed and conveys all essential elements of the project for public dissemination.

B. Project Narrative

The project narrative comprises the research plan for the project. The narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the proposed activities and the proposed project costs. The major part of the narrative should be devoted to a description and justification for the proposed project, including details of the method to be used. It should include a timeline for major activities of the proposed project, and should indicate who will be responsible for which activities. There should be no ambiguity about

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 20 of 45 who will perform particular parts of the project, and the time at which these activities take place. The project narrative may not exceed 20 pages. The tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs and other pictorial presentations that you submit to document the project and the problem/opportunity you seek to address are included in the 20-page limit. The following do not count towards the 20-page limit: standard application forms, 2-page project summary (format requirements above), budget and justification, curricula vitae (CV) or resumes (resumes or curricula vitae, limited to two pages each), letters of collaboration, lists of permits, NEPA questionnaire, and data sharing plan.

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

1. Project goals and objectives - Identify the one specific S-K Program priority (described in Section I. B. Program Priorities) to which the proposed project responds. If more than one priority is addressed by the proposal, one priority must be identified as the primary. The primary priority will dictate the type of subject matter expert used to evaluate your proposal.

If one is not identified, a priority will be identified for you. Identify the problem/opportunity you intend to address and describe its significance to the fisheries resource and fishing community. Objectives should be simple and understandable; as specific and quantitative as possible; clear as to the “what and when,” but should avoid the “how and why”; and attainable within the time, money and human resources available. Projects should be accomplishment oriented and identify specific performance measurements. If you are applying to continue a project previously funded under the S-K Program, describe in detail your progress to date and explain why you need additional funding. If the proposal is for renewed support, include a description of the relation of the completed work to the proposed work. We will consider this information in evaluating your current application.

2. Project impacts - Describe the anticipated impacts of the project on the fisheries resource and the fishing community in terms of reduced by-catch, increased product yield, or other measurable benefits. Identify the benefits that will be achieved as a result of this effort, both to the recipient, the industry and the general public as a whole. Describe how

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 21 of 45 you/your organization (or others) will monitor progress and measure the project’s impacts.

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

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

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

6. Statement of Work

a) What is the project design? What specific work, activities, procedures, statistical design, or analytical methods will you undertake? Describe methodologies or technical plans for activities to be conducted under the project. You should provide sufficiently detailed information on the proposed activities and potential environmental effects so that NOAA can analyze the impacts of the project as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (see Section VI. B.2). The NEPA questionnaire does not count towards the 20 page limitation.

Federal Funding Opportunity Page 22 of 45

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

c) What are the project milestones? Display timelines for major tasks, target milestones for important immediate…