81 FR 90328 - Gulf of Mexico Coast Conservation Corps (GulfCorps) Program
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 240 (December 14, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 240 (December 14, 2016)
| Page Range | 90328-90330 | |
| FR Document | 2016-29926 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 14, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 90328-90330] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-29926] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF072 Gulf of Mexico Coast Conservation Corps (GulfCorps) Program AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of funding availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The principal objective of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [[Page 90329]] Administration's Gulf of Mexico Coast Conservation Corps (``GulfCorps'') Program solicitation is to develop a Gulf-wide conservation corps that will contribute to meaningful Gulf of Mexico ecosystem restoration benefiting coastal habitat and water quality in each of the Gulf states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida), while economically benefiting coastal communities through education, training, and employment opportunities. NOAA's GulfCorps Program grant recipients will recruit, train, and employ workers to work on habitat restoration projects and develop skills in support of long-term Gulf coast restoration. See the full GulfCorps Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO), located on Grants.gov as described in the ADDRESSES section, for a complete description of program goals and how applications will be evaluated. DATES: Applications must be postmarked, provided to a delivery service, or received by www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 2, 2017. Use of a delivery service must be documented with a receipt. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted. See also Section III.C of the GulfCorps FFO. ADDRESSES: Complete application packages, including required Federal forms and instructions, can be found on www.Grants.gov by searching for Funding Opportunity Number NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2017-2005141. If a prospective applicant is having difficulty downloading the application forms from www.Grants.gov, contact www.Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or Grants.gov">support@Grants.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Melanie Gange at (301) 427-8664, or by email at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Statutory Authority: Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970; Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 1891a; the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act), Public Law 112-141, Subtitle F. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): 11.463. Program Description As noted above, the principal objective of NOAA's GulfCorps Program solicitation is to develop a Gulf-wide conservation corps that will contribute to meaningful Gulf of Mexico ecosystem restoration benefiting coastal habitat and water quality in each of the Gulf states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida), while economically benefiting coastal communities through education, training, and employment opportunities. The GulfCorps Program grant recipients will recruit, train, and employ workers to work on habitat restoration projects and develop skills in support of long-term Gulf coast restoration. This program is funded under the RESTORE Act. Information on the RESTORE Act, including more information on the funding provided to establish this conservation corps, and the other initiatives included on the Funded Priorities List (FPL) can be found online at www.restorethegulf.gov/council-selected-restoration-component/funded-priorities-list. Applications selected for funding through this solicitation will primarily be funded through cooperative agreements. Section IV.B. of the FFO describes the suggested information to include in the application narrative. Supplemental Guidance regarding application writing, a checklist to submit a complete application, and FAQs about this solicitation can be found at www.restoration.noaa.gov/partnerresources and www.habitat.noaa.gov/funding/gulfcorps.html, respectively. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NOAA Restoration Center staff before submitting an application to discuss their GulfCorps proposals with respect to technical merit and NOAA's objectives. NOAA will make every effort to respond to prospective applicants on a first come, first served basis. These discussions will not include review of draft proposals or site visits during the application period. Funding Availability Total anticipated funding for all awards is up to $7 million, subject to the availability of funds under the RESTORE Act. NOAA anticipates typical awards will range from $1 million to $7 million. NOAA will not accept applications requesting less than $1 million or more than $7 million in Federal funds from NOAA under this solicitation and the exact amount of funds that may be awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA. Funding may be provided in annual increments without further competition, and the period of performance for most awards is expected to be 36 months, although 48 months will be considered. Any funds provided to successful applicants will be at the discretion of the NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation and the NOAA Grants Management Division (GMD). In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for application preparation costs if programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this notice does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds and there is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for all top-ranked applications. The number of awards to be made as a result of this solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications received, the amount of funds requested for GulfCorps proposals, and the merit and ranking of the applications. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, non- profits, commercial (for profit) organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local and Native American tribal governments. Applications from individuals, Federal agencies, or employees of Federal agencies will not be considered. Individuals and Federal agencies are strongly encouraged to work with states, non-governmental organizations, municipal and county governments, and others that are eligible to apply. Cost sharing is not required, however, match is included in the evaluation criteria as listed in the full FFO announcement in www.Grants.gov (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2017- 2005141). Applications selected for funding will be bound by the percentage of cost sharing reflected in the award document signed by the NOAA Grants Officer. Evaluation and Selection Procedures The general evaluation criteria and selection factors that apply to full applications to this funding opportunity are summarized below. Further information about the evaluation criteria and selection factors can be found in the full FFO announcement in www.Grants.gov (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2017-2005141). Evaluation Criteria Reviewers will assign scores to applications ranging from 0 to 100 points based on the following five standard NOAA evaluation criteria and respective weights specified below. Applications that best address these criteria will be most competitive. [[Page 90330]] 1. Importance and Applicability (18 points): This criterion ascertains whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to the priorities presented in the solicitation. 2. Technical/Scientific Merit (28 points): This criterion assesses whether the project activity or approach is technically sound, if the methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear goals and objectives. 3. Overall Qualifications of Applicant (24 points): This criterion ascertains whether the applicant possesses the necessary education, experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to support the proposed award. 4. Project Costs (20 points): This criterion evaluates the budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the project's needs and time-frame. 5. Outreach and Education (10 points): NOAA assesses whether the recipient can deliver a focused and effective training and community outreach strategy for the GulfCorps. Review and Selection Process Applications will undergo an initial administrative review to determine if they are eligible and complete, per Section III of the full FFO posted at www.Grants.gov. Eligible applications will be evaluated by three or more merit reviewers as part of a panel review process to determine how well they meet the program priorities and evaluation criteria of this solicitation. The Selecting Official anticipates recommending applications for funding in rank order unless an application is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon one or more of the following selection factors: (1) Availability of funding; (2) Balance/distribution of funds: (a) by geographic area, (b) by type of institutions, (c) by type of partners, (d) by research areas; or (e) by project types; (3) Whether the project duplicates other projects funded or considered for funding by NOAA or other federal agencies; (4) Program priorities and policy factors set out in section I.A. and I.B. of the FFO; (5) An applicant's prior award performance; (6) Partnerships and/or participation of targeted groups; and (7) Adequacy of information necessary for NOAA staff to make a NEPA determination and draft necessary documentation before recommendations for funding are made to the NOAA GMD. Hence, awards may not necessarily be made to the highest-scored applications. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified that their application was not among those recommended for funding. Unsuccessful applications submitted in hard copy will be kept on file in accordance with NOAA records requirements and then destroyed. Intergovernmental Review Applications submitted under the FFO are subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Programs.'' Any applicant submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 16 on Form SF-424 regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC). To find out about and comply with a State's process under Executive Order 12372, the names, addresses and phone numbers of participating SPOC's are listed on the Office of Management and Budget's home page at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc. Limitation of Liability In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. National Environmental Policy Act NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funds. Further details regarding NOAA's compliance with NEPA can be found in the full Federal Funding Opportunity. Administrative and National Policy Requirements The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register notice of December 30, 2014 (79 FR 78390) are applicable to this solicitation. Additional administrative and national policy requirements are described in the full Federal Funding Opportunity. Paperwork Reduction Act This document contains collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, and SF-LLL has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the respective control numbers 4040- 0004, 4040-0006, 4040-0007, and 4040-0013. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. Executive Order 12866 This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism) It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132. Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act Prior notices and an opportunity for public comment are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements for the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared. Dated: December 8, 2016. Carrie Selberg, Deputy Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-29926 Filed 12-13-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![90328 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 14, 2016 / Notices
sized manufacturers regarding their information or personally identifiable manufacturers and/or MEP Centers that
needs and, in turn, for NIST to use the information should be included in the support those small U.S. manufacturers?
information provided to develop one or written responses to this request for (3) What technologies and/or business
more themes for NOFOs to address the information. Reponses received by the models are important to small U.S.
needs of small U.S. manufacturers and deadline may be made publicly manufacturers as they choose and
MEP Centers that support them. NIST is available without change at: participate in any particular supply
providing the statutory language below www.nist.gov/mep. chain?
to better enable small and mid-sized (4) What complementary business
Request for Information
manufacturers and other members of the services, including information services,
public to provide relevant information The responses to the questions below are and/or will be needed by small U.S.
in response to the request for are intended to assist NIST in manufacturers and/or MEP Centers to
information. developing one or more NOFOs for the take full advantage of advanced
15 U.S.C. 278k(f)(3) states that the funding of competitive awards to manufacturing technologies at the
themes identified for the future award existing MEP Centers to add capabilities company or supply chain level?
competition: to the MEP program. In addition, the (5) Are there any other critical issues
(A) Shall be related to projects NIST Director is fulfilling the that NIST MEP should consider in its
designed to increase the viability both of consultation requirement contained in strategic planning for future investments
traditional manufacturing sectors and 15 U.S.C. 278k(f)(3) via publication of that are not covered by the first four
other sectors, such as construction, that this request for information. As required questions?
increasingly rely on manufacturing by the same statutory provision, the Response to this request for
through the use of manufactured NIST Director will also consult with the information (RFI) is voluntary.
components and manufacturing MEP Advisory Board concerning topics Respondents need not reply to all
techniques, including supply chain for the future NOFO. Further questions; however, they should clearly
integration and quality management; information on the MEP Advisory Board indicate the number of each question to
(B) shall be related to projects related is available at: https://www.nist.gov/ which they are responding. Brevity is
to the transfer of technology based on mep/who-we-are/advisory-board. appreciated. No confidential proprietary
the technological needs of NIST is seeking information that information, business identifiable
manufacturers and available responds to one or more of the questions information or personally identifiable
technologies from institutions of higher listed below. Responses should clearly information should be submitted in
education, laboratories, and other indicate which question is being response to this RFI, as all responses
technology producing entities; and addressed. received by the deadline may be made
(C) may extend beyond these (1) What are the key problems and publicly available without change at:
traditional areas to include projects issues facing small U.S. manufacturers www.nist.gov/mep/. Please note that the
related to construction industry and their competitiveness and U.S. Government will not pay for
modernization. opportunities for growth in the near- response preparation, or for the use of
15 U.S.C. 278k(f)(5)(A) also provides term (1 to 2 years), mid-term (3 to 5 any information contained in the
requirements for the selection of years) and/or long-term (more than 5 response. Responses should be typed
awardees under the future NOFO. years)? using 12-point font and be single-
Awards made under this program (2) What advanced manufacturing spaced. Responses containing
should: technologies are and/or will be needed references, studies, research, and other
(i) Create jobs or train newly hired by small U.S. manufacturers for the empirical data that are not widely
employees; companies to be competitive and grow published may include copies of the
(ii) promote technology transfer and referenced materials as attachments to
in the global marketplace in the near-
commercialization of environmentally the responses.
term (1 to 2 years), mid-term (3 to 5
focused materials, products, and
years) and/or long-term (more than 5 Phillip A. Singerman,
processes;
years)?
(iii) increase energy efficiency; and Associate Director of Innovation and Industry
(iv) improve the competitiveness of (a) What would be the appropriate Services.
industries in the region in which the Manufacturing Readiness Level 6 or
[FR Doc. 2016–30009 Filed 12–13–16; 8:45 am]
MEP Center or Centers are located. Technology Readiness Level 7 for those
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
Additionally, under 15 U.S.C. technologies in order for small U.S.
278k(f)(5)(B), awards may: manufacturers to consider adoption?
(i) Encourage greater cooperation and (b) What information will be required DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
foster partnerships in the region with for small U.S. manufacturers to
similar Federal, State, and locally understand a technology or related National Oceanic and Atmospheric
funded programs to encourage energy group of technologies and the risks and Administration
efficiency and building technology; and opportunities associated with making or
not making an investment in any given RIN 0648–XF072
(ii) collect data and analyze the
increasing connection between technology?
Gulf of Mexico Coast Conservation
manufactured products and (c) How is the information about
Corps (GulfCorps) Program
manufacturing techniques, the future of advanced manufacturing technologies
best delivered to small U.S.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
construction practices, and the emerging AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
application of products from the green Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
energy industries. 6 ‘‘Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Deskbook,’’ OSD Manufacturing Technology Commerce.
No Confidential Proprietary, Business Program, version 2.0, May 2011; http://
www.dodmrl.com/MRL_Deskbook_V2.pdf. ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
or Personally Identifiable Information
7 Mankins, John C., ‘‘Technology Readiness
No confidential proprietary Levels: A White Paper,’’ April 6, 1995, NASA; SUMMARY: The principal objective of the
information, business identifiable https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codeq/trl/trl.pdf. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:45 Dec 13, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM 14DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_90568/page/1.svg)
![90330 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 14, 2016 / Notices
1. Importance and Applicability (18 applications submitted in hard copy to a penalty for failure to comply with,
points): This criterion ascertains will be kept on file in accordance with a collection of information subject to the
whether there is intrinsic value in the NOAA records requirements and then requirements of the PRA unless that
proposed work and/or relevance to the destroyed. collection of information displays a
priorities presented in the solicitation. currently valid OMB control number.
2. Technical/Scientific Merit (28 Intergovernmental Review
points): This criterion assesses whether Applications submitted under the Executive Order 12866
the project activity or approach is FFO are subject to the provisions of This notice has been determined to be
technically sound, if the methods are Executive Order 12372, not significant for purposes of Executive
appropriate, and whether there are clear ‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Order 12866.
goals and objectives. Programs.’’ Any applicant submitting an
3. Overall Qualifications of Applicant Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)
application for funding is required to
(24 points): This criterion ascertains complete item 16 on Form SF–424 It has been determined that this notice
whether the applicant possesses the regarding clearance by the State Single does not contain policies with
necessary education, experience, Point of Contact (SPOC). To find out implications as that term is defined in
training, facilities, and administrative about and comply with a State’s process Executive Order 13132.
resources to support the proposed under Executive Order 12372, the Administrative Procedure Act/
award. names, addresses and phone numbers of Regulatory Flexibility Act
4. Project Costs (20 points): This participating SPOC’s are listed on the
criterion evaluates the budget to Office of Management and Budget’s Prior notices and an opportunity for
determine if it is realistic and home page at: http:// public comment are not required by the
commensurate with the project’s needs www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc. Administrative Procedure Act or any
and time-frame. other law for rules concerning public
5. Outreach and Education (10 Limitation of Liability property, loans, grants, benefits, and
points): NOAA assesses whether the In no event will NOAA or the contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because
recipient can deliver a focused and Department of Commerce be responsible notice and opportunity for comment are
effective training and community for proposal preparation costs if these not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or
outreach strategy for the GulfCorps. programs fail to receive funding or are any other law, the analytical
Review and Selection Process cancelled because of other agency requirements for the Regulatory
priorities. Publication of this Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are
Applications will undergo an initial announcement does not oblige NOAA to inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory
administrative review to determine if award any specific project or to obligate flexibility analysis has not been
they are eligible and complete, per any available funds. prepared.
Section III of the full FFO posted at
National Environmental Policy Act Dated: December 8, 2016.
www.Grants.gov. Eligible applications
will be evaluated by three or more merit Carrie Selberg,
NOAA must analyze the potential
reviewers as part of a panel review Deputy Director, Office of Habitat
environmental impacts, as required by Conservation, National Marine Fisheries
process to determine how well they the National Environmental Policy Act Service.
meet the program priorities and (NEPA), for applicant projects or
evaluation criteria of this solicitation. [FR Doc. 2016–29926 Filed 12–13–16; 8:45 am]
proposals which are seeking NOAA
The Selecting Official anticipates federal funds. Further details regarding
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
recommending applications for funding NOAA’s compliance with NEPA can be
in rank order unless an application is found in the full Federal Funding
justified to be selected out of rank order DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Opportunity.
based upon one or more of the following National Oceanic and Atmospheric
selection factors: (1) Availability of Administrative and National Policy
Requirements Administration
funding; (2) Balance/distribution of
funds: (a) by geographic area, (b) by type The Department of Commerce Pre- RIN 0648–XE940
of institutions, (c) by type of partners, Award Notification Requirements for
(d) by research areas; or (e) by project 2017 Annual Determination to
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
types; (3) Whether the project duplicates Implement the Sea Turtle Observer
contained in the Federal Register notice
other projects funded or considered for Requirement
of December 30, 2014 (79 FR 78390) are
funding by NOAA or other federal applicable to this solicitation. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
agencies; (4) Program priorities and Additional administrative and national Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
policy factors set out in section I.A. and policy requirements are described in the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
I.B. of the FFO; (5) An applicant’s prior full Federal Funding Opportunity. Commerce.
award performance; (6) Partnerships ACTION: Notice.
and/or participation of targeted groups; Paperwork Reduction Act
and (7) Adequacy of information This document contains collection-of- SUMMARY: The National Marine
necessary for NOAA staff to make a information requirements subject to the Fisheries Service (NMFS) is providing
NEPA determination and draft Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The notification that the agency will not
necessary documentation before use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, identify additional fisheries to observe
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
recommendations for funding are made and SF–LLL has been approved by the on the Annual Determination (AD) for
to the NOAA GMD. Hence, awards may Office of Management and Budget 2017, pursuant to its authority under the
not necessarily be made to the highest- (OMB) under the respective control Endangered Species Act (ESA). Through
scored applications. Unsuccessful numbers 4040–0004, 4040–0006, 4040– the AD, NMFS identifies U.S. fisheries
applicants will be notified that their 0007, and 4040–0013. Notwithstanding operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of
application was not among those any other provision of law, no person is Mexico, and Pacific Ocean that will be
recommended for funding. Unsuccessful required to, nor shall a person be subject required to take observers upon NMFS’
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Document Created: 2016-12-14 00:48:23
Document Modified: 2016-12-14 00:48:23
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of funding availability. | |
| Dates | Applications must be postmarked, provided to a delivery service, or received by www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 2, 2017. Use of a delivery service must be documented with a receipt. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted. See also Section III.C of the GulfCorps FFO. | |
| Contact | For further information, contact Melanie Gange at (301) 427-8664, or by email at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 90328 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF07 |
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