Selected Recipients for this Program

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds can be used by recipients to support a wide variety of research on high-priority marine and estuarine resource issues, especially for resources and/or their habitat currently under, or proposed for future Federal or interjurisdictional management.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants for assistance include: State and local governments, including their universities and colleges; U.S.

territorial agencies; federally and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments; private universities and colleges; private profit and nonprofit research and conservation organizations and/or individuals.

Beneficiary Eligibility

This program benefits Federal, State and interstate marine resource conservation and management agencies; U.S. and foreign commercial and recreational fishing industries; conservation organizations, academic institutions; international and Indian Tribal treaties; private and public research groups; consumers; and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants are required to satisfy all DOC/NOAA standards and regulations, including routine and special terms and conditions, for financial assistance programs applications and conduct. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, 'Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.' An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Proposals are submitted through Grants.Gov. Applicants will need to enter the Funding Opportunity Number and/or CFDA number to access the application package and instructions. Application package will then be submitted directly to the (Name of your Office - Example Coastal Services Center). Proposals are subject to the requirements of 15 CFR Parts 14 and 24, as applicable.

Award Procedures

Proposals are initially evaluated by the pertinent NMFS Office/Region/Science Center, and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, competency of the applicant to perform the proposed work, potential contribution of the project to national or regional goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects approved for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division and the Department of Commerce's Office of Federal Assistance for review and approval.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Fish and Wildlife Act, 16 U.S.C 753a; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956,, 16 U.S.C 661.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approval time is expected to range from 90 to 150 days, which includes processing of the award through the NMFS, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance procedures.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Renewal of an award to increase funding and/or extend the period of an award is at the sole discretion of the Department.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards are normally for a 12-month period but in some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months, or may be completed in less than 12 months. Award funds must be spent in the indicated budget period and in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures. Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Reporting requirements are outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Financial Assistance Award.

Progress reports summarize work accomplished and explain situations where expected work has not been completed.

Financial reports indicate use of funds on a semi-annual schedule.

Reporting requirements are outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Financial Assistance Award.

Progress reports summarize work accomplished and explain situations where expected work has not been completed.

Financial reports indicate use of funds on a semi-annual schedule.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

Records

Generally, a recipient is required to retain records relating to a particular grant for three years from the date of submission of the final financial report. In cases where litigation, claim or an audit is initiated prior to expiration of the three-year period, records must be retained until the action and resolution of any issues associated with it are complete or until the end of the three-year retention period; whichever is latest.

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306; 11-5362-0-2-302.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 16 $23,624,864; FY 17 est $23,624,864; and FY 18 Estimate Not Available

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Allowable cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes; OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit and for-profit organizations; OMB Circular A-21 for institutions of higher education; and 48 CFR Part 31 for commercial organizations. Financial assistance management will be in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit and commercial organizations, and with 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Regional or Local Office: Alaska: Shawn Carey, Alaska Regional Office, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,AK 99802-1668. Telephone: (907) 586-7845, Fax: (907) 586-7255. Use the same numbers for FTS. Email: peter.d.jones@noaa.gov Northeast: Harold C. Mears, State, Federal and Constituent Programs Office; Northeast Region, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930-2276. Telephone: (978) 281-9243. Fax: (978) 281- 9117. Telephone: (978) 281-9243. Fax: (978) 281- 9117. Email: Grants.Information@noaa.gov. Northwest: Kevin Ford, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115. Telephone: (206) 526-6115. Fax: (206) 526- 4461. Email: Kevin.Ford@noaa.gov. Northwest Center: Dr. Robert Iwamoto, OMI Director, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112-2097. Telephone: (206) 860-3200. Fax: (206) 860-3442. Email: Bob.Iwamoto@noaa.gov. Southeast: Jeffrey Brown, State/Federal Liaison Staff, Southeast Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702-2432. Telephone: (727) 570-5324. Fax: (727) 570-5364. Email: jeff.brown@noaa.gov. Southwest Region: Patricia Culver, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA. 90802. Telephone: (562) 980-4239. Email: trisha.culver@noaa.gov.

Headquarters Office

Dan Namur National Marine Fisheries Services, Office of Management and Budget, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Email: dan.namur@noaa.gov Phone: 301) 713-1364 Fax: (301) 713- 2258

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Proposals are selected from several sources: Unsolicited proposals; special solicitations in the Federal Register or Commerce Business Daily; or Congressionally-mandated projects. Regardless of source, proposals must undergo rigorous technical review and comply with all OMB, DOC, and NOAA grants policies and procedures.