PKG00262577-instructions.pdf

John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program (Prescott Grant Program)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 3

A. Program Objective 3 B. Program Priorities 4 C. Program Authority 15

II. Award Information 15 A. Funding Availability 15 B. Project/Award Period 16 C. Type of Funding Instrument 16

III. Eligibility Information 17 A. Eligible Applicants 17 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 20 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 21

IV. Application and Submission Information 22 A. Address to Request Application Package 22 B. Content and Form of Application 22 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 27 D. Submission Dates and Times 28 E. Intergovernmental Review 29 F. Funding Restrictions 29 G. Other Submission Requirements 29

V. Application Review Information 30 A. Evaluation Criteria 30 B. Review and Selection Process 33 C. Selection Factors 36 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 36

VI. Award Administration Information 36 A. Award Notices 36 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 37 C. Reporting 39

VII. Agency Contacts 40 VIII. Other Information 40

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 42

NOTICE OF 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: John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program (Prescott Grant Program)

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-PRPO-2021-2006563

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.439, Marine Mammal Data Program

Dates: Applications must be postmarked, provided to a delivery service, or received by Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 13th, 2020. U.S. Postal mail and commercial delivery must be documented with a receipt. Submission through Grants.gov is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED due to current maxiumum teleworking conditions. PLEASE NOTE: When developing your submission timeline, keep in mind that (1) a free annual registration process in the electronic System for Award Management (SAM) may take two weeks and up to five weeks if requesting an EIN (see Section IV.C. of this FFO), and (2) if you submit an application via Grants.gov you will receive a series of e-mail notifications for up to two business days before learning whether a Federal agency’s electronic system has received your application via a validation or rejection message.

Funding Opportunity Description: NOAA NMFS' Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program is directed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to facilitate the collection and dissemination of reference data on stranded marine mammals and health trends of marine mammal populations in the wild. The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program is administered by NOAA to provide Federal assistance to eligible members of the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network to: (1) support basic needs of organizations for response, treatment, and data collection from living and dead stranded marine mammals, (2) fund scientific research objectives designed to answer questions about marine mammal strandings, health, or rehabilitation techniques utilizing data from living and dead stranded marine mammals, and (3) support facility operations directly related to the recovery, treatment, and data collection from living and dead stranded marine mammals. This document describes how to submit proposals for funding in fiscal year (FY) 2021 and how NMFS will determine which proposals may be funded. This announcement should be read in its entirety, as some information has changed from the previous year.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 2 of 42

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program (hereafter referred to as the Prescott Grant Program) was established under the Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 1421f-1), an amendment to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The Prescott Grant Program is administered by the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

The Prescott Grant Program provides Federal assistance to eligible Marine Mammal Stranding Network participants for: (1) basic needs of organizations for response, treatment, and data collection from living and dead stranded marine mammals; (2) scientific research objectives designed to answer questions about marine mammal strandings, health, or rehabilitation techniques utilizing data from living and dead stranded marine mammals; and

(3) facility operations directly related to the recovery, treatment, and data collection from living and dead stranded marine mammals. A stranded marine mammal is a marine mammal in the wild that is (1) dead and on a beach, shore, or in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States or (2) is live and on a beach or shore of the United States and unable to return to the water, is in apparent need of medical attention, or is in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States but is unable to return to its natural habitat under its own power or without assistance. The Prescott Grant Program also provides Federal assistance to eligible Marine Mammal Entanglement Response Network Participants for needs of organizations to respond to entangled marine mammals. An entangled marine mammal is a marine mammal in the wild that is entangled or ensnared in either active or derelict fishing gear, marine debris, other attached human-made materials (ropes, nets, line, debris, etc.), with or without associated materials (hooks, buoys, anchors, pots/traps, etc.)

The MMHSRP, through close coordination with Regional Stranding and Entanglement Response Networks, has the following goals and objectives:

(1) improve the rescue, care and treatment of stranded or entangled marine mammals;

(2) reduce the health risk to animals, humans, and the ocean environment during response to, and rehabilitation and release of, stranded or entangled marine mammals;

(3) collect life history, biological, and biomedical data from live and dead stranded or entangled marine mammals;

(4) develop baseline reference data on the health of wild marine mammal populations, normal stranding and entanglement rates, and causes of morbidity and mortality;

Notice of Federal Funding Page 3 of 42

(5)improve the rapid detection of morbidity and mortality events;

(6) collect archival samples for future retrospective studies on causes of mortality or illness, including material samples such as entangled or ingested gear, and biological samples and for placement in the National Marine Mammal Tissue (and Serum) Bank and other properly curated, professionally accredited archival facilities; and

(7) refine and/or utilize comprehensive and consistent guidance for the rescue and rehabilitation of stranded or entangled marine mammals, collection of specimens, quality assurance, and analysis of tissue samples.

(8) broaden participation of historically underrepresented groups in marine mammal science by actively encouraging, promoting, and supporting diversity and inclusion in the marine mammal health and stranding response community.

B. Program Priorities

For this solicitation, all applications must fall within one of the two categories described below. The applicant must select only one category to apply under. Since some projects may meet priorities in more than one category, you should determine which one category best fits the goals of your proposed project and apply under that one. For each of the categories the MMHSRP has identified multiple national and regional funding priorities. Organizations that incorrectly identify the Category of their proposal may be moved to the correct corresponding category prior to Technical and Program Reviews.

These program priorities pertain only to marine mammal species under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce (DOC) (cetaceans and pinnipeds, except walrus). International travel to conferences, workshops and meetings is not eligible to be funded under this NOFO.

The MMHSRP strives to build an inclusive environment in which we leverage diversity (including the representation of all ages, races, national, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, and physical abilities) to achieve our mission goals and objectives, and maximize the potential of the Stranding and Entanglement Response Networks as a whole. Therefore, in several parts of the application (as outlined below), applicants should specifically address their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion and reduce barriers to broaden participation of historically under-represented groups in marine mammal science.

Category A - Marine mammal health, stranding, entanglement response, and rehabilitation scientific objectives. Data or samples may be collected from stranded or entangled animals as well as bycaught, subsistence hunted, or “free swimming” wild animals, if those animals serve as controls or for comparisons in specific scientific study designs. If proposals under Category A are using wild animals such as from subsistence use, by-caught, or field

Notice of Federal Funding Page 4 of 42 research on free swimming animals, the proposal must link the use of these animals/samples from these wild animals to known or suspected health issues of stranded marine mammals, to the health status of the population, or to the development and validation of new tools and techniques to assess such health conditions.

Category A1. Further the development of scientific research objectives designed to test hypotheses about marine mammal strandings, entanglements, health, or rehabilitation techniques utilizing data from living and dead stranded and/or wild marine mammals. Multi-organization, multi-regional or cross-regional proposals are encouraged.

1) National Funding Priorities

a) Improve understanding of health and health trends in populations of cetaceans and pinnipeds and improve response to distressed animals. Improving our understanding of health or our responses may include development of new treatments, tools, sedation or drug regimens, investigation of health trends that evaluates environmental parameters (e.g., environmental changes, distribution of prey, fresh water exposure or harmful algal blooms), types and frequency of anthropogenic interactions, or infectious (i.e., zoonotic, epidemic, emerging) agents and diseases. For investigations of pathogen impacts on population health or strandings, you may want to refer to the infectious disease priority list developed by the Working Group for Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events (UME), available on the Prescott Grant Program website (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/58239416).

Some examples of ways to address health research priorities include but are not limited to:

• Developing, testing, and evaluating new tools and/or treatments (with the intent to determine if it is safe, effective and able to be operationalized) for stranded, entangled, or injured/distressed marine mammals;

• Validating new or modifying existing tools (e.g., point of care diagnostics, tag designs, refloating aids, and specialized knives) and/or treatments; or

• Investigating emerging diseases or emerging issues (such as extreme flood events) that may impact marine mammal health or strandings.

b) Conduct analyses and interpretation of baseline information, trends, and correlations between population demographics, diet, health, environmental parameters (e.g., environmental changes, distribution of prey, fresh water exposure or harmful algal blooms), or types and frequency of anthropogenic interactions or other stressors and potential stressor interactions, as they relate to strandings, entanglements, and overall marine mammal population health.

2) Regional Funding Priorities - There are no additional regional funding priorities.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 5 of 42

Category A2. Support collaborative, multi-organizational scientific and response services provided to the Stranding Network to enhance data collection, analyses, and improve understanding of marine mammal health, strandings, entanglements, and rehabilitation.

Multi-regional or cross-regional proposals are encouraged.

1) National Funding Priorities

a) Increase Stranding Network diagnostic capabilities (see definitions in Section VIII of this federal funding opportunity (FFO) announcement) by providing diagnostics, disease surveillance, or histopathology services.

b) Performance and interpretation of additional services to improve understanding of marine mammal health and strandings or entanglements. Examples of services include but are not limited to: hearing testing, imaging, gas analyses, tooth aging, genetics, stomach content analyses, parasites, stable isotopes, gear analyses, sample archiving/preservation, etc.

c) Provide tags, post-release monitoring, analysis and interpretation of telemetry data from stranded, out-of- habitat, entangled, or rehabilitated and released cetaceans and pinnipeds.

d) Increase Stranding Network incident management and coordination capabilities for major events such as UME’s, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and oil spills to enhance data collection and analyses.

e) Enhance regional and trans-regional logistical support, data collection, and analyses for response to live and dead large whale stranding or entanglement events by:

• Obtaining additional applicable training (e.g. Incident Command System (ICS,) large whale necropsy, entanglement response training, etc.);

•Acquiring and maintaining supplies and equipment, including necessary and appropriate emergency communication systems (e.g., satellite phones for offshore rescue operations);

• Developing and testing tools for more efficient responses to strandings or entanglements;

• Developing cooperative plans with local, state, or federal agencies to identify carcass landing/necropsy sites;

• Identifying and securing towing/transport and disposal services by promoting partnerships with local businesses/contractors; or

• Supporting costs of large whale stranding or entanglement responses (including telemetry, tools, etc.) as appropriate.

2) Regional Funding Priorities - There are no additional regional funding priorities.

Category B- Support basic and enhancement needs of organizations for response, treatment, Notice of Federal Funding Page 6 of 42 rehabilitation and data collection from living and dead stranded or entangled marine mammals. Support needed modifications and/or upgrades to rehabilitation facilities to meet or exceed the NMFS' Policies and Best Practices- Rehabilitation Facility Standards (https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/14916).

Organizations should apply under Category A1 if the budget request for scientific research is more than 50% of the total Federal budget. If research objectives are included in Category B proposals, the research objectives must be designed with testable hypotheses. Organizations that incorrectly identify either A or B categories will be moved to the correct corresponding category prior to Technical and Program Reviews.

NOTE: All organizations applying under Category B must be authorized as of October 13, 2021 to conduct:

• Stranding Network activities either through a Stranding Agreement, official designee status under a Stranding Agreement granted by the applicable NMFS Region, or as a federal, state or local government employee under Section 109(h) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.

§ 1379(h)); or

• Entanglement response activities either through a MMPA/ESA Permit no. 18786- 04 Co- Investigator Letter, Stranding Agreement, official designee status under a Stranding Agreement granted by the applicable NMFS Region, or as a federal, state or local government employee under Section 109(h) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. § 1379(h)).

Category B1. Further the development of organizations for response, treatment, rehabilitation, and data collection from living and dead stranded or entangled marine mammals. Organizations may only apply under Category B1 if they have never had a Prescott application accepted and reviewed during the technical review process of a previous annual Prescott competition.

1) National Funding Priorities

a) Build capacity and infrastructure for basic stranding response and marine mammal rehabilitation activities in areas of low, intermittent or no coverage. This may include: the collection of Level A data (with or without samples for analyses) from a majority of stranded animals and outreach/education to raise community awareness for stranded animals.

b) Train new responders to improve consistency and quality of clinical care and treatment, assessments, necropsies, documentation, and data management for live and/or dead stranded marine mammals. Enhance participation in Regional Stranding Network Meetings and additional appropriate domestic meetings or conferences.

c) Enhance, repair, or upgrade rehabilitation facilities to address non-compliance issues and deficiencies identified during NMFS rehabilitation facility inspections.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 7 of 42

d) Enhance, repair, or upgrade rehabilitation facilities to meet NMFS' Policies and Best Practices - Standards for Rehabilitation Facilities.

e) Enhance entanglement response, training, tagging, and post-release monitoring for:

• large whales by authorized Level 4 or Level 5 entanglement response Co- Investigators (especially in Alaska, Greater Atlantic, Pacific Islands and West Coast regions)

• pinnipeds (especially in Alaska, Greater Atlantic, Pacific Islands and West Coast regions, primarily in Washington and Oregon); and

• small cetaceans (especially in Southeast region) This may also include preparing for entanglement response by purchasing supplies, tools, equipment, receiving or providing training for entanglement responders, and enhanced participation in Regional Entanglement Response Network Meetings and additional appropriate domestic meetings or conferences. Collaborative proposals of one to three years are encouraged.

2) Regional Funding Priorities - In addition to the above national priorities, each region has identified the following priorities of particular interest:

a) Alaska Region

i) Develop or expand capacity for effective collection of Level A data in areas of Alaska where response capacity is currently lacking, intermittent, or low. Much of Alaska is considered rural or remote, and as such, much of the state has limited or low response capacity, or is completely lacking coverage. Given this, the highest priority areas (due to presence of UMEs, Species in the Spotlight species, or endangered species) include locations in the following regions of Alaska: western Alaska; northern Alaska; Cook Inlet; and Kodiak.

ii) Increase community involvement in the Alaska Regional Stranding Network;

examples of activities targeted at promoting involvement may include, but are not limited to, providing stranding response support, developing stranding-related outreach materials, and hosting stranding-specific trainings, meetings, or outreach events.

b) Greater Atlantic Region

i) Provide stranding response coverage for Level A data collection, timely data submission to NMFS, and increase capability to conduct live animal response and post-mortem examinations following established protocols in the following areas: Massachusetts' coverage areas Rockport to Plymouth and Martha's Vineyard.

ii) In collaboration with NMFS, improve consistency and quality of public outreach and messaging through Public Service Announcements, online tools or printed materials to address and manage public expectations surrounding stranding responses to abundant pinniped species.

iii) Develop Level 3, 4, or 5 large whale entanglement response capabilities in the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 8 of 42

New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Long Island, New York areas.

c) Pacific Islands Region

i) Support of outreach and training for Hawaiian monk seal stranding response and readiness in the Main Hawaiian Islands.

ii) Support directed outreach to raise awareness for stranding response, rapid real-time reporting and engage cultural communities to build stronger partnerships and educate the public about cetacean response in the Pacific Islands Region.

d) Southeast Region

i) Establish capabilities to collect Level A data and perform necropsies on dead stranded marine mammals and/or respond quickly and humanely to live stranded marine mammals.

ii) Establish permanent and/or mobile necropsy facilities.

iii) Establish capabilities to perform diagnostics on live or dead stranded marine mammals.

iv) Establish capabilities to humanely euthanize live stranded marine mammals.

v) Increase collaboration with state and local government organizations (e.g. law enforcement, fire departments, life guards, environmental management agencies) to more effectively respond to stranding events.

e) West Coast Region Provide coverage for Level A data collection in areas where coverage is sporadic or unknown by building volunteer or collaborative partnerships to establish response and investigation capability of marine mammal stranding events on all accessible beaches in the participants authorized response area. Examples include; building additional volunteer base or negotiating collaborative partnerships; opening or enhancing communication and working relationships with local governments. An emphasis on education and outreach, addressing and managing public expectations, and distributing informational materials (handouts, permanent signage, promotion of Share the Shore, etc.) for public outreach is extremely important.

Category B2. Support basic and enhancement needs of organizations that have previously applied for or received Prescott funding for response, treatment, rehabilitation and data collection from living and dead stranded or entangled marine mammals. Collaborative proposals are encouraged.

1) National Funding Priorities

a) Enhance the quality, consistency, quantity, reporting, and sharing of Level A, B, and C data collected from stranded marine mammals by completing diagnostic screening, collecting and analyzing samples and scientific data, and detecting and reporting emerging diseases, new lesions, or uncommon findings. This is a high priority for NOAA Fisheries' Species in the Spotlight (Cook Inlet beluga whales, Hawaiian monk seals, North Atlantic

Notice of Federal Funding Page 9 of 42 right whales, Southern Resident killer whales:

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/endangered-species- conservation/species-spotlight), on-going UME and post-UME monitoring and analyses, and for other endangered species.

Projects involving non-Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed or non-MMPA depleted species should provide data/information for conservation management needs such as establishing or maintaining baseline information; and identifying human interactions, fisheries interactions, habitat threats, or other threats to co-occurring species.

b) Enhance attendance and participation by professional staff and facility volunteers in training, particularly in: Regional Stranding Network Conferences or additional appropriate domestic meetings or conferences; Incident Command System relative to oil spill response and natural disasters involving marine mammal as well as HAZWOPER; public health in relation to marine mammals; marine mammal disease and treatment issues; and veterinary care.

c) Improve capacity for responses such as mass strandings, hazardous material spills, UMEs, natural disasters, out-of-habitat situations, and disease outbreaks. Responses may include necropsy and sample analyses, live animal triage, treatment, short- and long-term care (including temporary facilities), and tagging to assess, monitor, and analyze post-release success of rehabilitated animals.

d) Enhance, repair, or upgrade rehabilitation facilities to address non-compliance issues and deficiencies identified during NMFS rehabilitation facility inspections.

e) Enhance, repair, or upgrade rehabilitation facilities to meet (or exceed) NMFS' Policies and Best Practices - Standards for Rehabilitation Facilities (https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/14916).

f) Enhance entanglement response, training, tagging, and post-release monitoring for:

• large whales by authorized Level 4 or Level 5 entanglement response Co- Investigators (especially in Alaska, Greater Atlantic, Pacific Islands and West Coast regions)

• pinnipeds (especially in Alaska, Greater Atlantic, Pacific Islands and West Coast regions) and

• small cetaceans (especially in Southeast region) This may also include preparing for entanglement response by purchasing supplies, tools, equipment, receiving or providing training for entanglement responders, and enhanced participation in Regional Entanglement Response Network Meetings and additional appropriate domestic meetings or conferences. Collaborative proposals of one to three years are encouraged.

2) Regional Funding Priorities - In addition to the above national priorities, each region has identified the following priorities of particular interest:

a) Alaska Region

Notice of Federal Funding Page 10 of 42

i) Develop or expand capacity for effective collection of Level A data in areas of Alaska where response capacity is currently lacking, intermittent, or low. Much of Alaska is considered rural or remote, and as such, much of the state has limited or low response capacity, or is completely lacking coverage. Given this, the highest priority areas (due to presence of UMEs, Species in the Spotlight species, or endangered species) include locations in the following regions of Alaska: western Alaska; northern Alaska; Cook Inlet; and Kodiak.

ii) Increase capacity to collect, archive, and analyze data from stranded marine mammals to investigate overall health parameters, prey types, diseases, and immune and reproductive functions.

iii) Enhance the quality and consistency of data collected and reported from stranded marine mammals (e.g., standardized necropsy examinations and reports, standardized sample analyses, increase supply of gear caches).

iv) Address underlying causes of pinniped entanglement in Alaska to reduce injury and mortality due to interactions with fishery gear and marine debris.

v) Analyze and publish data related to Alaska marine mammal strandings and health.

vi) Enhance collaboration, data sharing and training throughout the Alaska Regional Network (e.g., by organizing and hosting regional and statewide meetings, training, etc.).

vii) Investigate the effects of warming ocean conditions on marine mammals in Alaska, including increased prevalence of harmful algal bloom toxins or novel disease agents.

viii) In collaboration with NMFS, provide conservation messaging outreach support to educate the public on marine mammal behavior, wildlife viewing, entanglements, or feeding issues. An emphasis on education and outreach, addressing and managing public expectations for stranding responses, and developing informational materials (e.g., handouts, permanent signage, online tools, public service announcements, etc.) for public outreach is extremely important.

ix) In collaboration with NMFS, enhance large whale entanglement response, tagging, and post-release monitoring in Alaska by authorized Level 4 or 5 entanglement response Co- Investigators. This may also include preparing for entanglement response by purchasing equipment, providing first responder training, enhancing communication, or otherwise building capacity for large whale entanglement response.

x) In collaboration with NMFS, provide support for disentanglement and post-release survival monitoring of free-swimming pinnipeds. This may include capture resources and tools and methods for land and boat-based disentanglement, or preparing for entanglement response by purchasing equipment, providing first responder training, enhancing communication, or otherwise building capacity for pinniped entanglement response.

b) Greater Atlantic Region

Notice of Federal Funding Page 11 of 42

i) Increase capacity to collect, provide timely reports to NMFS, archive, and analyze data from stranded marine mammals to investigate overall health parameters, prey types, diseases, and immune and reproductive functions.

ii) Enhance the quality and consistency of data collected and reported from stranded marine mammals (e.g., standardized necropsy examinations and reports, standardized sample analyses, increase supply of gear caches, findings of human interaction and timely data submission to NMFS).

iii) In collaboration with NMFS, increase and enhance public outreach and messaging through Public Service Announcements, online tools or printed materials to address and manage public expectations surrounding stranding responses to abundant pinniped species, and to promote responsible wildlife viewing (e.g. do not feed pinnipeds/dolphins campaigns).

iv) Increase quality of dead cetacean disease and cause of death surveillance (focusing on cetacean morbillivirus, brucellosis and other diseases of concern within the region). This includes enhancing: veterinary participation, data collection, and necropsies during stranding events.

v) In collaboration with NMFS, inventory regional equipment caches for large whale stranding response, and increase or enhance gear, equipment, and medical supplies for dead and live large whale response.

vi) Develop Level 3, 4, or 5 large whale entanglement response capabilities in the New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Long Island, New York areas.

vii) Enhance collaboration, data sharing and training throughout the Greater Atlantic Regional Network (e.g. by conducting regional and statewide meetings, trainings, etc.).

viii) Analyze and publish data related to historical regional marine mammal strandings and health.

c) Pacific Islands Region

i) Increase quality of dead cetacean disease and cause of death surveillance (focusing on cetacean morbillivirus, brucellosis and other diseases of concern within the region) in the main Hawaiian Islands and U.S. Pacific Islands (e.g., Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands). This includes enhancing: veterinary participation, data collection, and necropsies during stranding events.

ii) Organize outreach and training for stranding response and readiness for dead stranded cetaceans (in the Main Hawaiian Islands) and both live and dead stranded cetaceans in the U.S. Pacific Islands (e.g., Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands).

iii) Improve access to veterinary care for stranded marine mammals including: facility improvements and instruments for treatment monitoring for existing pinniped rehabilitation facilities, as well as on-site (laboratory or field) equipment and instruments for more rapid medical assessments for live stranded cetaceans and pinnipeds.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 12 of 42

iv) Enhance, repair, or upgrade existing necropsy or monk seal rehabilitation facilities in Hawaii.

v) Support directed outreach to raise awareness for stranding response, rapid real-time reporting and engage cultural communities to build stronger partnerships and educate the public about cetacean response in the Pacific Islands Region.

d) Southeast Region

i) Southeast Region high priority areas are: Louisiana, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, South Carolina, areas where there are ongoing UMEs, repeated UMEs, or areas that may need to conduct post-UME monitoring, and areas where stranding/human interaction data are utilized by Take Reduction Team.

ii) Enhance capabilities to rapidly perform thorough necropsies on dead stranded marine mammals in good condition prior to degradation- particularly during large whale stranding events, mass strandings, human interaction events (e.g. potential gunshot or entangled animals), and UMEs.

iii) Enhance local logistical support for response to stranding events, including single and mass strandings and large whales, by:

• Developing cooperative plans with local, state, or federal agencies to identify carcass landing/necropsy sites; or

• Identifying and securing towing/transport, heavy equipment, disposal services, and other resources by promoting partnerships with local, state, or federal agencies and/or local businesses/contractors.

iv) Enhance or upgrade permanent and/or mobile necropsy facilities.

v) Enhance capabilities to perform diagnostic tests on dead stranded marine mammals. This may include funding to analyze previously collected tissue samples that are currently archived.

vi) Enhance capabilities to triage live stranded marine mammals, including performing thorough diagnostics, such as hematology, histopathology and cytology, and euthanasia.

vii) Enhance capabilities to rapidly and effectively respond to mass strandings. This may include equipment caches, herding capabilities, triage, euthanasia, thorough necropsy, carcass disposal, and resources for potential release (immediate release or post-rehabilitation). Collaborative proposals to enhance response and partnerships among stranding networks for mass strandings are encouraged.

viii) Provide support for disentanglement of free-swimming small cetaceans and/or rescue of out-of-habitat dolphins. This may include monitoring and capture resources, capture technique training, and tools and methods for boat-based disentanglement.

ix) Increase collaboration with state and local government organizations (e.g. law enforcement, fire departments, life guards, environmental management agencies) through training and outreach to more effectively respond to stranding events.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 42

x) Enhance capabilities to monitor animals reported in freshwater and rapidly perform thorough necropsies on dead stranded animals with reported freshwater exposure.

e) West Coast Region

i) Provide coverage for Level A data collection in areas where coverage is sporadic or unknown by building volunteer or collaborative partnerships to establish response and investigation capability of marine mammal stranding events on all accessible beaches in the participants authorized response area. Examples include; building additional volunteer base or negotiating collaborative partnerships; opening or enhancing communication and working relationships with local governments. An emphasis on education and outreach, addressing and managing public expectations, and distributing informational materials (handouts, permanent signage, promotion of Share the Shore, etc.) for public outreach is extremely important.

ii) Determine if public reports to the Network are an accurate indication of actual marine mammal stranding events in an area of consistent response that may be considered to be in more remote areas and reporting from the public may be inconsistent. This proposal would include conducting systematic and/or periodic beach surveys to identify areas where marine mammal strandings are not being reported to the Network. This data would be compiled to provide information to NOAA Fisheries to enhance future planning and outreach efforts.

iii) Enhance reporting and documentation of live entangled pinnipeds throughout your geographic response area. Data collected must be provided to NOAA for inclusion in the West Coast Region Human Interaction Database.

iv) Establish capabilities to humanely euthanize live stranded marine mammals including large whales, small cetaceans, and moribund pinnipeds throughout the West Coast Region. This would also include tool development and techniques for assisting large whales off of the beach if in good overall condition and if they are not considered candidates for euthanasia. This may also include tool development for live whale sedation for free swimming animals that are entangled, severely injured, or in need of medical intervention.

v) Provide conservation messaging outreach support to educate the public on pinniped life history and to minimize public interference with wild pupping and rearing processes in nursery habitats in WCR coastal bays and estuaries, California, and the inland waters of Washington. An emphasis on education and outreach, addressing and managing public expectations, and developing informational materials (handouts, permanent signage, promotion of Share the Shore, etc.) for public outreach is extremely important.

vi) Increase capability to conduct post-mortem examinations using an appropriate protocol for the collection and submission of fluid samples and tissues for analysis by a qualified pathology laboratory and report the results for inclusion in the national MMHSRP database.

vii) Develop a cooperative West Coast Region plan to enhance large whale response

Notice of Federal Funding Page 14 of 42 and necropsies, provide funds for carcass disposal costs and network travel A collaborative West Coast Region wide multiple year proposal is encouraged.

viii) Enhance, improve, repair, or upgrade existing and new facilities to meet (or exceed) NMFS’ Policies and Best Practices - Standards for Rehabilitation Facilities.

ix) Enhance facilities, equipment, and staff to increase rehabilitation and holding capabilities (short-term and long-term) in Oregon and Washington for ESA listed species or human interaction cases.

x) Develop a standardized method of capturing tagging, marking, and re-sight data of rehabilitated pinnipeds throughout the West Coast Region.

C. Program Authority

Authority 16 U.S.C. 1421-f-1

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Awards are dependent upon availability of Federal funding as provided by Congress.

The fiscal year 2021 budget has not been finalized by Congress and could result in unknown funding scenarios. Applicants are not guaranteed any level of funding. The exact amount of funds that may be awarded will be determined during pre-award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA representatives. Funds have not yet been appropriated for this program, and there is no guarantee that funds will be appropriated or that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for all qualified projects or any projects. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. If an application for a financial assistance award is selected for funding, NOAA has no obligation to provide any additional funding in connection with that award in subsequent years beyond the award period.

Notwithstanding verbal or written assurance that may have been received, there is no obligation on the part of NOAA to cover pre-award costs. If an applicant incurs any costs prior to receiving an award agreement signed by an authorized NOAA official, the applicant would do solely at its own risk of these costs not being reimbursed by the government or not receiving an award. Pre-award costs are not allowed under the award unless approved by the NOAA Grants Officer in accordance with 2 C.F.R. Parts 200.308(d) and 200.458. Applicants are hereby again given notice that funds have not yet been appropriated for this program.

The maximum Federal award for each grant cannot exceed $100,000 (16 U.S.C. § 1421f-1).

Notice of Federal Funding Page 15 of 42

If funds become available, NOAA estimates that approximately ten to 40 awards may be made, depending on the level of funds that may be appropriated. Funds may be set aside from the annual appropriation to provide for emergency assistance awards to eligible stranding network participants. These emergency funds will be available until expended during the period of fiscal availability.

There is no limit on the number of proposals that can be submitted by the same Stranding Network participant during the FY 2021 competitive grant cycle. However, Stranding Network participants will receive no more than two awards per year as part of the competitive program. All awards must be for completely independent projects that are clearly separate in their objectives, goals, and budget requests and must be successful in the competitive review process. Eligible researchers applying as Principal Investigators, but not independently authorized under Sections 112(c) or 109(h) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. §§ 1382(c) and 1379(h), respectively can only receive one award per year as part of the competitive grant cycle.

B. Project/Award Period

The requested award start date must begin on the first day of the first month and end on the last day of the last month of the project period. Prescott awards may have a maximum project period of three years, but the total federal award cannot exceed $100,000 for each award regardless of the length of the project period. Proposals requesting incrementally funded projects exceeding $100,000 will not be accepted. If an applicant would like to complete unfinished work on a project funded through this program beyond the approved award period, the applicant may notify the assigned Grants Officer no less than 30 days prior to the end of the period to determine eligibility for a no-cost extension, or follow the award terms if Research Terms and Conditions have been applied to the award. If the money is expended and funds are needed to continue the project, the applicant should submit another proposal during the next competitive award cycle (FY 2022) or seek an alternate source of funding.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

Under this solicitation, NOAA will fund Prescott projects as grants or cooperative agreements, as appropriate for the nature of the project. Where a cooperative agreement is issued, the nature of NOAA's "substantial involvement" will generally be collaboration between NOAA and a Recipient on the scope of work. Additional forms of substantial involvement that may arise are described in Chapter 5.C of the Department of Commerce (DoC) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual, which is available at http://osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/documents/Grants%20Manual%20- %2024%20October%202016.pdf.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 16 of 42

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

1) All eligible applicants must currently be an active, authorized participant or researcher in the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network or Entanglement Response Network.

Eligible applicants must be:

a) Stranding Agreement (SA) holders or their designee organizations recognized by the applicable NMFS Region; or

b) Co-Investigators (CI) authorized as Level 3,4, or 5 entanglement responders under the MMHSRP’s MMPA/ESA scientific research and enhancement permit (permit no. 18786- 04); or

c) Holders of researcher authorization letters issued by a NMFS Regional Administrator and/or an MMPA and/or ESA scientific research or enhancement permit (when applicable) including Co-Investigator authorization; or

d) An eligible Federal, state, or local government personnel or tribal personnel (pursuant to Section 109(h) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1379(h)); or

e) Diagnostic or service organizations performing services for the stranding network.

Federal agencies in the DOC or Department of the Interior (DOI) are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this notice.

2) "In Good Standing Criteria". All eligible applicants must meet the following "in good standing" criteria:

a) If the applicant is a designated Principal Investigator on a MMPA and/or ESA scientific research or enhancement permit or a Co-Investigator on the MMHSRP's MMPA/ESA scientific research and enhancement permit (permit no. 18786-04), the applicant must have fulfilled all permit requirements. The applicant must not have any pending or outstanding enforcement actions under the MMPA or ESA.

b) The applicant must have complied with the terms and responsibilities of the appropriate SA, MMPA Section 109(h) authorization, CI letter, or researcher authorization letter. This includes, but is not limited to: 1) completion of all reporting requirements; 2) cooperation with state, local, and federal officials; 3) cooperation with state and local officials in the disposition of stranded marine mammals; and 4) cooperation with stranding network participants.

c) The applicant must have cooperated in a timely manner with NMFS in collecting and submitting Level B and Level C data and samples, when requested.

d) The applicant must not have any current enforcement investigations for the take of marine mammals contrary to MMPA or ESA regulations.

e) The applicant must not have any pending NMFS notice of violation(s) regarding the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 17 of 42 policies governing the goals and operations of the Stranding Network and SA, if applicable (e.g., probation, suspension, or termination).

3) Category Specific Criteria. Organizations and individuals must meet all of the following eligibility criteria specific to their category of participation in order for a proposal to be considered for funding:

a) SA Holder Participant or SA Designee Participant - SA participants must hold a current, active SA for stranding response and/or rehabilitation from a NMFS Regional Administrator or the Assistant Administrator. SA Designee participants must be holding a current, active letter of designation from a NMFS SA holder authorized by NMFS.

Designees cannot request authorization for activities beyond the scope of what is authorized by the SA to the agreement holder.

b) Researcher Participant - Researcher participants must hold a current, active authorizing letter for the proposed award period from the appropriate NMFS Regional Administrator or the Assistant Administrator to salvage stranded marine mammal specimens, parts and samples for the purpose of utilization in scientific research (50 CFR 216.22).

Researchers who are authorized under a MMPA/ESA scientific research or enhancement permit must still obtain an authorizing letter from the Regional Stranding Coordinator in order to use parts or specimens from stranded animals. Researcher participants that would not require an authorizing letter from the NMFS Regional Administrator (i.e., they will be working with data only and not possessing samples or specimens) must still provide a letter of eligibility from the Regional Stranding Coordinator (see section III.A.3. of this FFO).

Researcher participants must also have designated Co-Investigator(s) that are active NMFS authorized Stranding Network participants in good standing, and provide documentation to this effect.

c) State, Local, Federal Government Employees or Tribal Participants - State and local government officials or employees participating pursuant to Section 109(h) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1379(h)) for marine mammal species not listed under the ESA must fulfill reporting obligations outlined in 50 CFR § 216.22.

d) Diagnostic Laboratories – While diagnostic laboratories performing analyses for Stranding Network members do not need authorization from NMFS to receive and possess samples or specimens from stranded marine mammals (50 CFR § 216.22(c)(8)), diagnostic laboratory applicants must still provide a letter of eligibility from the MMHSRP at NMFS Headquarters (see section IV.B.7.a. of this FFO). When requesting a letter of eligibility, laboratories should submit examples of their diagnostic capabilities, diagnostic services proposed and their testing turn-around time to the MMHSRP (see section VII of this FFO for contact information).

e) Service Organizations – Organizations without an existing SA that are receiving parts from the stranding network to perform analyses that are not diagnostic analyses (see Section

Notice of Federal Funding Page 18 of 42

VIII for definitions) must have a valid transfer authorization letter issued by the applicable NMFS Region. Organizations working with carcasses or live stranded animals in coordination with a stranding network member may or may not require additional authorization depending upon the service. All service organizations must provide a letter of eligibility from the MMHSRP at NMFS Headquarters (see section IV.B.7.a of this FFO).

When requesting a letter of eligibility, service organizations should submit examples of their capabilities, services proposed, and their turn-around time (if applicable) to the MMHSRP (see section VII of this FFO for contact information).

4) Letter of Eligibility. All applicants must submit a letter of eligibility issued by the appropriate NMFS Regional Stranding Coordinator (A1, B1 or B2 categories) or the MMHSRP at NMFS Headquarters (for service organizations, diagnostic organizations, and entanglement responders authorized as CIs under the MMHSRP’s permit). This letter is required in order to be considered for an award in this funding cycle. The letter of eligibility states that you are: 1) an eligible Stranding or Entanglement Response Network participant, diagnostic laboratory, service organization, or permitted researcher at the time of the application submission and during the award period; 2) in good standing; 3) have a history of participation in/with the Stranding or Entanglement Response Network or that your organization is from a local area with no pre-existing stranding response and/or rehabilitation capabilities or your organization provides diagnostic or other services. A copy of your SA, CI letter, or research authorization will not be considered as proof of eligibility. Any proposal that does not provide a letter of eligibility from the NMFS Regional Stranding Coordinator (or NMFS Headquarters) will not be considered eligible and will not be considered for further review. Contact the NMFS Regional Stranding Coordinators or the Prescott Grant Program at the address in the Agency Contacts, Section VII of this FFO to request this letter at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/contact-directory/marine-mammal-stranding-network-coordinators

Federal agencies in the DOC or DOI are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this notice. In addition, federal employees shall not provide assistance in writing any application, writing letters of support for any…