PKG00255703-instructions.pdf

FY20 Dr Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 5

A. Program Objective 5 B. Program Priorities 5 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 8 A. Eligible Applicants 8 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 9 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 9

IV. Application and Submission Information 9 A. Address to Request Application Package 9 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 20 F. Funding Restrictions 20 G. Other Submission Requirements 20

V. Application Review Information 21 A. Evaluation Criteria 21 B. Review and Selection Process 22 C. Selection Factors 23 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 23

VI. Award Administration Information 23 A. Award Notices 23 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 24 C. Reporting 25

VII. Agency Contacts 27 VIII. Other Information 27

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 28

ANNOUNCEMENT OF 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: FY20 Dr Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2020-2006239

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

Dates: Completed applications must be received by Grants.gov by December 6, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time or postmarked no later than December 6, 2019 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Applications received after the due date will not be reviewed or considered and will be disqualified.

PLEASE NOTE: We encourage all Grants.gov applicants to begin the application process several days before the December 6, 2019 deadline. All applicants should be aware that adequate time must be factored into applicant schedules for delivery of the application. It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline. Electronic applicants are advised that volume on Grants.gov can be extremely heavy resulting in further delays. If Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely fashion, applicants are encouraged to exercise their option to submit their application in paper format by the due date outlined in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 2 of 28 every term and for the duration of their award. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships may provide, subject to appropriations, yearly support of up to $42,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to an education allowance of up to $12,000) and up to $10,000 of support for a 4-6 week program collaboration at a NOAA facility. Applicants can only obtain funding for the number of years they have remaining in their graduate studies when they applied for the Dr.

Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. For example, if you have already completed two 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 years of your graduate studies. Note that scholars are allowed one (1) one-year no-cost extension that must be requested at least 60 days before the end of the award and will need to provide a justification and a current budget.

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

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients will be required to participate in a mandatory NOAA Orientation Training to meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries staff at a date and location to be determined in the summer of 2020. 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 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, or other appropriate venue(s). All Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients must also put together an outreach product (e.g., video, infographic) that communicates their scientific research in a way that the average viewer can understand it, its importance, and its relevance to the NOAA mission. Appropriate training in the creation of outreach products will be provided to all scholarship recipients.

Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars also participate in a program collaboration. This opportunity is designed to allow scholars to participate in research or other activities for four to six weeks at a field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System, or other NOAA program offices. Federal

Notice of Federal Funding Page 3 of 28 support for the program collaboration may be used toward allowable costs such as: travel to and from the NOAA facility, housing, per diem, laboratory costs, research vessel support, and consumables while conducting research at the NOAA facility. Scholars are required to provide their own health insurance coverage during the program collaboration. More details on allowable costs can be found in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles. If scholars choose to participate in a program collaboration during a specific year, they must notify the Program Officer by December of the academic year in which they intend to participate in the collaboration. Approval from the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is required prior to embarking on the program collaboration.

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.

1. Your research proposal aligns closely with NOAA's mission, with particular emphasis on meeting the science needs of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This is 20% 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% of your application score.

3. You (likely) have exceptional letters of recommendation. This is 10% of your application score.

4. Historically, proposals that do not support the science needs of NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary System do not rank as high.

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

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 4 of 28

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, or maritime archaeology—this can include but is not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, resource management disciplines—and particularly to encourage women and members of minority groups to apply. The scholarship supports independent graduate level research through financial support of graduate degrees in such fields. Gender and minority status are not considered when selecting award recipients. However, special outreach efforts are employed to solicit applications from women and members of minority groups. Scholarships are distributed by disciplines, institutions, and geography, and by degree sought, with selections within distributions based on financial need, the potential for success in a graduate level studies program (academic achievement), and the potential for achieving research and career goals. The program is administered through the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and is funded annually with 1% of the amount appropriated each fiscal year to carry out the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

B. Program Priorities

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

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

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 5 of 28 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 http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov.

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

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

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment. Contact information for Conservation Science Program staff is also available at:

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/research_coordinators.html.

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

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

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

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

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 6 of 28

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

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

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

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

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

C. Program Authority

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

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Subject to appropriations, approximately $500,000 may be available for FY 2020. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program anticipates that each year approximately 2-4 scholarships will be awarded. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides yearly support of up to $42,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to a tuition allowance of up to $12,000) and up to $10,000 support for a 4-6 week program collaboration at a field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System or other NOAA facility.

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

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 7 of 28 also meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries leadership and staff. A maximum of $98,000 may be provided to master's degree level students (up to two (2) years of support, one (1) program collaboration opportunity and travel support for the orientation meeting) and up to $196,000 may be provided to doctoral level students (up to four (4) years of support, two (2) program collaboration opportunities and travel support for the orientation meeting). The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship funds cannot be used toward research costs.

B. Project/Award Period

The award periods are up to two (2) years for a student in a master's level program and up to four (4) years for a doctoral level candidate. The anticipated start date is June 1, 2020.

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

C. Type of Funding Instrument

The funding instrument will be a cooperative agreement to the individual applicant. The substantial involvement anticipated under this award includes a program collaboration, a component where the scholar is required to spend approximately 4 - 6 weeks at a NOAA facility to contribute to their education and training. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ (ONMS) staff intends to work with each scholar to facilitate placement at a NOAA facility and to help the scholar refine the scope of their program collaboration, if necessary. Scholars will also be required to provide an outreach presentation specific to the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program to a diverse audience of undergraduate students; and develop a multimedia outreach product by the end of their scholarship. ONMS staff will be substantially involved in providing feedback and guidance on the outreach presentation and product.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

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

territories, and are applying to or have been accepted to a U.S. accredited graduate institution to pursue a master's or doctoral level degree in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology—this can include but is not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, resource management disciplines—are eligible for an award under this scholarship program. In addition, to be eligible to apply, applicants must have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average. Scholars must maintain a minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.30 for every term and for the duration of their award. If applicant does not maintain this grade point average, he/she will

Notice of Federal Funding Page 8 of 28 be placed on probation after the first term. If the grade point average is not brought up for that year, the recipient’s scholarship will be terminated. In addition, satisfactory progress must be made toward the completion of a thesis or dissertation. If it is determined that the scholar will not complete his/her thesis or dissertation prior to the end of the award, funding may be withdrawn.

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 he/she is eligible to receive the award.

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

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

There are no matching requirements for this award.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

There are no other criteria that affect eligibility.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

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

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

This registration process can take several weeks and involves multiple steps. In order to allow sufficient time for this process, applicants should register as soon as they decide they intend to apply, even if they are not yet ready to submit their applications. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will not accept applications that are submitted late due to an applicant’s error during the time of submission to Grants.gov. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries may allow more time for application submission due to a “systems issue” with Grants.gov that takes place at the time of application submission and is beyond the control of the applicant. In these limited circumstances where there is a systems issue, the applicant must contact the help desk for the relevant system (e.g. Grants.gov) and obtain

Notice of Federal Funding Page 9 of 28 a help desk ticket number. The applicant must contact the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries immediately upon discovering the issues and must still submit the required application documents in order for his/her application to be considered for review. Required information for the application, such as financial documentation, may require extra time to obtain, so please plan accordingly. Completed applications must be received by Grants.gov by December 6, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or postmarked by December 6, 2019 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

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:

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

Information in hard copy may be requested from:

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

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.

B. Content and Form of Application

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

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

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

Each application package must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information.

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 10 of 28 consideration. Please provide a title of the item (for example, General Information Sheet, Statement of Intent, etc.) on each page in a Header Section.

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

Detailed guidance on how to complete the SF-424 form can be found at https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf. Item number 21 on the SF-424 cannot be used as a replacement for the declaration statement required in Item 10 below. The SF-424 must be uploaded to Grants.gov separately than the items outlined below.

If submitting 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 a single Adobe PDF file, in the order outlined below. Failure to provide a single Adobe PDF file with all of the components in the order listed below will result in the application being disqualified. If submitting a paper application, the full application must be in the order outlined below. 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.

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

a. Personal Data: Provide your full name (including all aliases and maiden/married names);

country of citizenship; current address and/or permanent address; current phone number; and email address. Failure to include any of this information will make your application non-compliant.

b. Optional Personal Data: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is committed to broadening the participation of groups currently underrepresented in science. In order to accurately gauge whether the scholarship program is achieving this important goal, we ask that applicants indicate his/her gender and race or ethnicity. Please note that this information

Notice of Federal Funding Page 11 of 28 is voluntary. Your application will not be disqualified if you do not provide this optional personal data.

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

d. Education: List the academic degrees received, or expect to receive, by the start of your proposed graduate degree for this program, including the institution, date of receipt, and your cumulative GPA. If enrolled in an institution, include your current GPA. If enrolled in graduate school, provide your graduate advisor's name, address, telephone number, and email address.

e. Academic Honors: List any academic honors received.

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

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

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

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

This statement should not be a research proposal or scientific abstract. This statement will be used to evaluate you as an individual, not necessarily as a scientist, 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 should 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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 12 of 28 achieve these goals. This is your opportunity to present yourself, your aspirations and your career goals. Include any background information that is pertinent and provide insight into why you choose to pursue these goals.

b. Communicating the Importance of your Research: As a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar, you are asked to become a “National Marine Sanctuary Ambassador” which emphasizes the opportunity to conduct education and outreach to the public (i.e. your college or university, community groups/organizations, or schools) about current research issues in the National Marine Sanctuary System. In this section, please provide a description of how you envision sharing your research and your results to the broader community and how the benefits of your research will impact society. Outline your ideas for a focused and effective education and outreach strategy regarding your research as it relates specifically to the National Marine Sanctuary System, as well as the global ocean. This should include anticipated locations and audiences for education and outreach events, potential partners in the community, and any potential outputs or outcomes from your activities. If you 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.

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 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 should outline your strategy for the outreach and education work you plan to undertake with this partner, their role in the collaboration, and the potential for success. Inclusion of this letter will be taken into consideration during the review process. Your application will not be disqualified if you do not include this letter. However, an outreach letter is factored in when applicants are scored and is worth five (5) points in the evaluation rubric.

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

5. Transcripts: Applicants must submit transcripts for all complete years of academic training (both undergraduate and graduate), including courses in which you are currently enrolled. Transcripts from an institution or university that are only for one (1) semester are not required (excluding work in progress), but may be included in a single Adobe PDF document if needed to support evidence of research experience. Applicants must currently have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average to be eligible to apply. If applicants have completed at least a year towards their current graduate degree, the cumulative GPA considered will be from that program. If students have not completed at least a year, the cumulative GPA considered will be from their most recent degree received. Students whose

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 28 schools do not follow a typical GPA scale must submit official documentation that states they meet the 3.30 GPA requirement. Unofficial transcripts, which clearly state the name of the student and institution, submitted by the applicant are acceptable and must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information. All unofficial transcripts must list the student’s name and the name of the institution.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is designed to support students interested in

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NOAA mission related sciences of oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology;

this can include but is not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, resource management disciplines.

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

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

Please make sure that your research goals and path are clearly defined and can be completed within the period of the scholarship. Make sure the proposal is constructed well, and you clearly demonstrate your technical knowledge of the research area. Your proposal will be evaluated on the alignment with NOAA and ONMS priorities, feasibility of project, and technical understanding and clarity of proposal. Also, you will be evaluated your communication skills. Failure to submit a Research Proposal as indicated above will result in the application being disqualified.

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

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

• Familiarity with the applicant’s work;

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

• Clear support for the applicant.

If an applicant plans to have a NOAA employee submit a letter of reference as one of the letters of recommendation required in this section, please note that the letter is limited to

Notice of Federal Funding Page 15 of 28 factual information and the NOAA employee’s knowledge of the applicant’s ability or character based on the employee’s government interactions with the applicant. The letter may not endorse one applicant over other applicants. Subject to restrictions and management approval, a NOAA employee may submit a letter of reference to NOAA for the agency’s use in evaluating the application. The supervisor must make a decision regarding whether it is in the agency’s interest to write such a letter. If the supervisor approves the letter, it should be written on agency letterhead and the employee should use his or her NOAA title. The employee may not send the letter in his or her personal capacity.

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

Each letter must be a scanned PDF with a handwritten signature on official letterhead of the person recommending the candidate. If the person providing the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter, the applicant should submit a paper copy of their full application and include their letters of recommendation in sealed envelopes. Note that if you are submitting a paper copy of your application, the SF-424 form must be signed and dated with pen and ink. Failure to provide two (2) signed letters of recommendation on official letterhead, as outlined above, will result in the application being disqualified. If more than two (2) letters of recommendation are provided, this will result in the application being disqualified.

9. Statement of Financial Need: All required components of this section must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information. Your EFC documentation (9a) should be one (1) page. Answers to all questions in 9c should be answered within one (1) page, font size 12 times New Roman with 1” margins. All information must be provided and all questions answered, or the application will be disqualified. The Statement of Financial Need requires the following documentation:

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

b. Yearly Tuition Documentation: Applicants must also provide documentation of estimated yearly tuition for each school they are applying to. The tuition estimate must

Notice of Federal Funding Page 16 of 28 clearly state the name of the school and applicants must also provide documentation of where this estimate comes from, either as a screenshot of a tuition estimate from the university’s website, or a letter or other documentation from the school, on official letterhead, showing tuition costs. Tuition is not inclusive of room, board, and other miscellaneous fees. Only the forms of documentation outlined above will be accepted.

c. Financial Need Information Questions (answers to these questions should be provided on one (1) page):

1. How likely are you to get a paid teaching or research assistantship in your program for the upcoming year? Choose from the following choices: a) highly likely, b) somewhat likely,

c) unlikely, or d) there is no opportunity for assistantship. Write 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

2. How likely are you to get a 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, and if needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.

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

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

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 as part of your estimated tuition expenses. If your EFN is not calculated correctly, your application will be disqualified.

For example:

Notice of Federal Funding Page 17 of 28

Estimated Tuition (not to include room and board) = $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 Need Essay: In, a one (1) page, single spaced essay, provide a personal narrative of your financial need and, if necessary, include further clarification for the answers to the Financial Need Information Questions section. This is your 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.

Funds for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship cannot be used to fund research. Statements longer than one (1) page, font size 12 Times New Roman with 1” margins, will not be accepted and will result in the application being disqualified.

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

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

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 NOFO 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 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:

Notice of Federal Funding Page 18 of 28

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

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

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

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

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

If the applicant has difficulty obtaining any of the above components of the application in electronic copy form, the applicant may submit a single hard copy application. If submitting 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. The hard copy submission must be postmarked by the due date as outlined in the NOFO.

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

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

(iii) continue to maintain an active SAM…