[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13718-13723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6230]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 000218045-0045-01]
RIN 0648-ZA80
Sea Grant Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program;
Request for Proposals for FY 2000
AGENCY: National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) is
soliciting proposals for innovative partnerships to strengthen the
capacity of Minority Serving Institutions to foster student careers,
research, and workforce competitiveness in marine and related sciences.
Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) include educational institutions
identified by the Department of Education as (i) Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, (ii) Hispanic-Serving Institutions, (iii)
Tribal Colleges and Universities, and (iv) MSIs located in U.S. insular
areas (see Section III. Eligibility.) Marine sciences are defined as
those fields relevant to the protection, management, and development of
the Nation's ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2000, Sea Grant expects to make available
about $300,000 per year, depending on available funding, to support the
Sea grant Minority Serving Institution (SG-MSI) Partnership Program. Up
to $150,000 will be reserved for proposals related to acquaculture in a
cooperative effort with Department of Commerce's Minority Business
Development Agency. Sea Grant expects to fund four to six projects per
year. Proposals may request up to $75,000 per year in federal funds and
projects may run up to three years maximum. Matching funds from non-
federal sources must provide at least one-third of the total project
costs, or in other words, for every $2 in federal support, a minimum of
$1 in non-federal matching funds is required to be committed to the
project.
The SG-MSI Partnership Project projects are intended to provide
additional access for MSI students and faculty to research
opportunities, career-related experience, and work-study or internships
that enhance career opportunities and career growth in the marine
sciences and related marine fields. Projects should establish
partnerships between the MSI and Sea Grant programs or other
universities, research institutions, industry, or organizations
(public, nonprofit, or private) engaged in the marine sciences or
related marine fields. Proposals must be submitted by the MSI and must
identify partner institutions by name in their applications.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: Applicants are encouraged to submit their
proposals to their state's Sea Grant program (contact the appropriate
state Sea Grant Program from the list below to obtain the mailing
address or the address may be obtained on the web site http://
www.nsgo.seagrant.org/SGDirectors.html); or, if your state does not
have a Sea Grant program, to an adjacent state Sea Grant Program.
[[Page 13719]]
Proposals must be received before 5:00 p.m. (local time) on May 15,
2000.
Direct submission to the National Sea Grant College Program Office
in Silver Spring, MD, while not encouraged, is acceptable. The address
is: National Sea Grant College Program, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor,
SG-MSI Competition, Room 11732, NOAA (R/SG), 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Proposals submitted to the National Sea Grant
Office must be received by 5:00 p.m. (EST) on May 15, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Francis Schuler, Executive
Director, National Sea Grant College Program, R/SG, NOAA, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel. (301) 713-2445 ext. 158; e-
mail: [email protected].
Sea Grant Programs
Alaska, University of Alaska (907) 474-7086
California, University of California, San Diego (858) 534-4440
California, University of Southern California (213) 812-1335
Connecticut, University of Connecticut (860) 405-9128
Delaware, University of Delaware (302) 831-2841
Florida, University of Florida (352) 392-5870
Georgia, University of Georgia (706) 542-5954
Hawaii, University of Hawaii (808) 956-7031
Illinois-Indiana, Purdue University (765) 494-3593
Louisiana, Louisiana Sea Grant (225) 388-6710
Maine, University of Maine (207) 581-1435
Maryland, University of Maryland (301) 405-6371
Massachusetts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (617) 253-7131
Massachusetts, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (508) 289-2557
Michigan, University of Michigan (734) 763-1437
Minnesota, University of Minnesota (218) 726-8710
Mississippi-Alabama, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (228)
875-9368
New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire (603) 862-0122
New Jersey, New Jersey Marine Science Consortium (732) 872-1300, Ext.
21
New York, New York Sea Grant Institute, SUNY (631) 632-6905
North Carolina, North Carolina State University (919) 515-2454
Ohio, Ohio State University (614) 292-8949
Oregon, Oregon State University (541) 737-2714
Puerto Rico, University of Puerto Rico (787) 832-3585
Rhode Island, University of Rhode Island (401) 874-6800
South Carolina, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (843) 727-2078
Texas, Texas A&M University (409) 845-3854
Virginia, Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium (804) 924-5965
Washington, University of Washington (206) 543-6600
Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison (608) 262-0905
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Program Authority
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1121-1131. Catalog of Federal Assistance
Number: 11.417, Sea Grant Support.
II. Program Description
Background
In an effort to address the under-representation of minorities in
the marine sciences, Sea Grant established a pilot program in the mid-
1990s to enhance the capabilities of Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCU) nationwide in the coastal and marine sciences. The
Federal investment in this program has been $750,000 over three years.
Awards of $50,000 per year were made to HBCU institutions via Sea Grant
College Programs in their states. The HBCU institutions were Clark-
Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Hampton University,
Savannah State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern
Shore.
In accord with the Sea Grant mission and with the policy of the
U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to reach minority institutions, the goals of the SG-MSI
Partnership Program are:
1. To significantly increase the exposure of undergraduate MSI
students to the marine and coastal sciences and to increase the
participation of under-represented minorities in the marine sciences.
2. To enhance the quality of undergraduate majors and graduate
studies to facilitate entrance into existing marine science graduate
programs or marine careers.
3. To accelerate the development of strong partnerships and to
encourage graduate research, student experiential internships, and
faculty development opportunities between MSIs and Sea Grant programs
or other universities, research institutions, industry, or
organizations (public, nonprofit, or private) engaged in the marine
sciences or related marine fields.
4. To design and encourage the structuring and implementation of
curricula and training opportunities for students interested in
pursuing business careers as entrepreneurs in the field of
acquaculture.
Rationale
The recruitment of minorities into the fields of science and
engineering, and especially under-represented minorities, lags behind
expectations. According to the National Science Foundation (Women,
Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering:
1996) the percentage of minority scientists and engineers in the
workforce ranges from 0.2% for American Indians to 3.5% for African-
Americans and Hispanics. Although data are not available for marine
sciences in particular, they are included in the general heading of
science and natural sciences, and there is every reason to expect the
percentages to be similar if not lower.
The quality and nature of academic experience at each step of the
educational pipeline are crucial to bringing more minorities into
marine science and engineering fields. Bachelors, Master's and Doctoral
degrees are the underpinnings of science career achievement and
employment. In both undergraduate and graduate levels, Hispanics,
African Americans, and Native Americans complete fewer degrees than
majority ethnic groups. At the Bachelor's level, National Science
Foundation (NSF) data show that African Americans and Hispanics each
receive about 4.5% of the bachelor degrees in natural science and
engineering; native Americans receive 0.4%. At the Master's level
African-Americans and Hispanics receive about 3% of the degrees (NSF
Science and Engineering Indicators, 1996), There is additional evidence
to suggest that MSI's are underserved in the proportion of grants that
they receive from the U.S. Department of Commerce. In FY 1998, MSIs
received only 5.8% of Department grants to institutions of higher
education. In FY 1999, NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research provided 0.5% of its extramural grants to MSIs.
NOAA and Sea Grant share the commitment of the Department of
Commerce to bring more under-represented minorities into marine science
and engineering through working with MSIs. Sea Grant's authorizing
legislation includes a strong educational mandate at institutions of
higher learning.
[[Page 13720]]
SG-MSI Partnership Program
The intent of the SG-MSI Partnership Program is to increase the
exposure of undergraduate and graduate students from MSIs to the marine
and coastal sciences and, ultimately, to increase the capacity of MSIs
to promote and launch more students into marine science careers. A SG-
MSI Partnership project should develop strong partnerships between MSIs
and Sea Grant programs or other universities, research institutions,
industry, or organizations (public, nonprofit, or private) engaged in
the marine sciences or related marine fields that will augment the
capabilities of MSIs. Possible partnership mechanisms include: student
research and/or experiential internship opportunities, faculty
development opportunities, access to facilities and laboratories or
field research, mentoring programs, or other enabling programs to
increase interest and participation in marine sciences or related
marine fields, including aquaculture. Projects using aquaculture as a
tool to teach science, business and as a way to stimulate relationships
between MSI's and industry or business are encouraged. These projects
should aim at stimulating students' interest in and ability to enter
the field of aquaculture as a business endeavor.
Proposals must be submitted from an eligible MSI and are expected
to have a rigorous work plan, a strong rationale, and clearly
identified and achievable goals. Roles, responsibilities and
contributions of all partners must be clearly identified.
Proposals should emphasize innovative approaches to solving the
problem of encouraging, preparing, and graduating MSI students into
marine science career fields. Proposals should build creatively on
existing expertise and research programs of academia, state and
national efforts. Innovative, imaginative approaches to the issue are
sought that take maximum advantage of the synergies of partnership.
Proposals may request up to $75,000 per year in federal funds and
projects may run up to three years duration. Matching funds from non-
federal sources must provide at least one-third of total project costs,
or in other words, for every $2 in federal support, a minimum of $1 in
non-federal matching funds in required to be committed to the project.
The required non-federal matching funds may be contributed by the MSI,
by the partners, or any other non-federal source. Awards are contingent
on Federal funding availability.
III. Eligibility
Minority Serving Institutions eligible to submit proposals include
institutions of higher education identified by the Department of
Education as (i) Historically Black Colleges and Universities, (ii)
Hispanic-Serving Institutions, (iii) Tribal Colleges and Universities,
on the ``1999 United States Department of Education Accredited Post-
Secondary Minority Institutions'' list: (http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/
99minin.html). Also, because of their unique dependence on marine
resources, (iv) institutions of higher education located in U.S.
insular areas that are on the ``1999 United States Department of
Education Accredited Post-Secondary Minority Institutions'' are
eligible to submit proposals. (United States' insular areas include the
territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the freely associated
states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.)
IV. Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation criteria for proposals submitted for support under
the SG-MSI Partnership Program are weighted as follows:
(1) Impact of Proposed Project (40%): The contributions the project
makes to enhancing the capability of the MSI to bring its student
population, either undergraduate or graduate, into the marine sciences
and related marine fields. The benefit accruing to a faculty from his/
her participation in the SG-MSI Partnership Program, including exposure
to research and opportunities for professional growth in the marine
sciences and related marine fields.
(2) Quality of Partnership Relationships (30%): The strength,
stability and quality of the proposed partnership. The demonstrated
capabilities and interest in marine science or related marine field of
the MSI and/or the partner. The degree to which the partners contribute
time or in-kind match. Evidence that the partnership has been thought
through carefully, with roles and responsibilities clearly identified.
Evidence that the partnership can have long term sustainability and
usefulness once established. The ability of the partnerships to provide
enhanced career opportunities for faculty and students.
(3) Innovativeness (15%): The degree to which new approaches are
developed to solve problems and exploit opportunities for student and
faculty engagement in marine science and marine resource management.
(4) Project Personnel (15%): The caliber of the principal
investigators including special skills, past experiences of
institutions and investigators, or training that renders the project
especially qualified for the SG-MSI Partnership Program.
V. Selection Procedures
Reviews of the proposals will be conducted by an independent peer
review panel consisting of university educators, scientists,
administrators, and senior level individuals with expertise in academic
partnerships and/or familiarity with MSIs and their students. Proposals
will be ranked in accordance with the above evaluation criteria
(Section IV) by the panel members. The panel members will provide
individual evaluations on proposals, but there will be no consensus
advice. Their recommendations and evaluations will be considered by the
National Sea Grant Office in the final selection of proposals to be
funded. The National Sea Grant Office may also consider programmatic or
geographic balance and budge availability in the final selection of
proposals to be funded. Hence, awards may not necessarily be made to
the peer review panel's highest-scored proposals. Investigators may be
asked to modify objectives, work plans, budget levels, or project
duration prior to final approval of an award.
VI. Instructions for Application
Proposal Preparation
The National See Grant Office, NOAA, encourages applicants to
discuss their proposal concepts with a local Sea Grant program. The
state Sea Grant programs are a valuable source of information about
marine issues in their state and region, and can advise applicants new
to Sea Grant on the preparation of NOAA and Sea Grant applications.
Timetable
May 15, 2000--Proposals are due 5 p.m., May 15, 2000. (See Section
VII. How To Submit for further details.)
July, 2000--Successful applicants can expect to be notified at the
beginning of July 2000. Successful applicants may be asked to provide
revised narratives and/or budgets which would be due in mid-July.
October 1, 2000--Funds will be awarded through a grant with an
expected start date of October 1, 2000. Multiple-year proposals will be
funded in annual increments.
[[Page 13721]]
Proposal Guidelines
Each proposal should include the items listed below. All pages
should be single- or double-spaced, typewritten in at least a 10-point
font, and printed on metric A4 (210 mm x 297 mm) 8\1/2\" x 11"
paper. Brevity will assist reviewers and program staff in dealing
effectively with proposals. Therefore, the proposals may not exceed 15
pages. Tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps,
photographs and other pictorial presentations are included in the 15-
page limitation; literature citations are not included in the 15-page
limitation. Conformance to the 15-page limitation will be strictly
enforced. All information needed for review of the proposal should be
included in the main text; no appendices are permitted. The following
information should be included:
(1) Signed title page: The title page should be signed by the
Principal Investigator and the institutional representative and should
clearly identify the program area being addressed by starting the
project title with ``SG-MSI Partnership Program.'' The Principal
Investigator and institutional representative should be identified by
full name, title, organization, telephone number, e-mail and mailing
address. The total amount of Federal funds and matching funds being
requested should be listed for each budget period.
(2) See Grant Project Summary Form (90-2): This information is very
important. It is critical that the project summary accurately describe
the essential elements of the project being proposed. The project
summary should include: 1. Title: Use the exact title as it appears in
the rest of the application. 2. Investigators: List the names and
affiliations of each investigator who will significantly contribute to
the project. Start with the Principal Investigator. 3. Funding request
for each year of the project, including matching funds if appropriate.
4. Project Period: Start and completion dates. Proposals should request
a start date of October 1, 2000. 5. Objectives, Methodology, and
Rationale: This should include concise statement of the objectives of
the project, the scientific or educational methodology to be used, and
the rationale for the work proposed. (See below #10 Standard
Application Forms.)
(3) Project Description (15-page limit).
(a) Introduction/Background/Justification: What is the problem or
opportunity being addressed and what is its scientific, educational, or
economic importance to the region or nation?
(b) Technical Plan: What are the goals, objectives, and anticipated
approach of the proposed project? While a detailed work plan is not
expected, the proposal should present evidence that there has been
thoughtful consideration of the approach to the problem under study.
What capabilities does the partner possess that will benefit the
project, faculty member and students?
(c) Output/Anticipated Benefits: Upon successful completion of the
project, what are the anticipated benefits to the institutions,
students, and the partner?
(d) Literature Cited: Should be included here, but does not count
against the 15-page limit.
(4) Budget and Budget Justification: There should be a separate
annual budget for each year of the project as well as a cumulative
budget for the entire project. Applicants are encouraged to use the Sea
Grant Budget Form 90-4 (see below #10 Standard Application Forms), but
may use their own form as long as it provides the same information as
the Sea Grant form. Subcontracts should have a separate budget page.
Matching funds must be indicated; failure to provide adequate matching
funds will result in the proposal being rejected without review. Each
annual budget should include a separate budget justification page that
itemizes all budget items in sufficient detail to enable reviewers to
evaluate the appropriateness of the funding requested. Please pay
special attention to any travel, supply or equipment budgets and
provide details.
(5) Current and Pending Support: Applicants must provide
information on all current and pending support for ongoing projects and
proposals, including subsequent funding in the case of continuing
grants. All current project support from whatever source (e.g.,
Federal, State or local government agencies, private foundations,
industrial or other commercial organizations) must be listed. The
proposed project and all other projects or activities requiring a
portion of time of the principal investigator and other senior
personnel should be included, even if they receive no Federal salary
support from the project(s). The number of person-months per year to be
devoted to the projects must be stated, regardless of source of
support. Similar information must be provided for all proposals already
submitted or submitted concurrently to other possible sponsors,
including those within NOAA.
(6) Results from Prior Sea Grant Support.
If the Principal Investigator (or any co-PI identified on the
proposal) has received Sea Grant funding in the past five years, the
following information on the prior award(s) is required:
(a) The NOAA award number, amount and period of support;
(b) The title of the project;
(c) Brief summary of the results of the completed work;
(d) Brief description of the contribution the project has made.
(e) Publications resulting from the Sea Grant award.
Reviewers will be asked to comment on the quality of the prior work
described in this section of the proposal. Please note that a PI with
prior Sea Grant support may use up to two additional pages to describe
the results.
(7) Vitae (2 pages maximum per investigator).
(8) Letter of commitment from the partnering organizations.
(9) A brief (less than one-page) description of the partnering
organization.
(10) Standard Application Forms: Applicants may obtain all required
application forms at website: http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/research/
rfp/index.html#3 or from a state Sea Grant program: http://
www.nsgo.seagrant.org/SGDirectors. html, or from Dr. Francis Schuler at
the National Sea Grant Office (phone: 301-713-2445 x158 or e-mail:
[email protected]). For proposals selected for funding, the
following forms must also be submitted:
(a) Standard Forms 424, Application for Federal Assistance, 424B,
Assurances--Non-Construction Programs, (Rev 4-88). Please note that
both the Principal Investigator and an administrative contact should be
identified in Section 5 of the SF424 or Section 10, applicants should
enter ``11.417'' for the CFDA Number and ``Sea Grant Support'' for the
title. The form must contain the original signature of an authorized
representative of the applying institution.
(b) Primary Applicant Certifications. All primary applicants must
submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby
provided:
(i) Non-Procurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective
participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 105) are subject to
15 CFR part 26, ``Nnon-Procurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
[[Page 13722]]
(ii) Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26,
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart F, ``Government-
wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
(iii) Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28 section
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever
is greater; and
(iv) Anti-Lobbying Disclosures. Any applicant that has paid or will
pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.
(c) Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/
bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier
covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if
applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier
Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form, SF-LLL,
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' ORM CD-512 is intended for the
use of recipients and should not be transmitted to the Department of
Commerce (DOC). F-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient
should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions
contained in the award document.
VII. How To Submit
Proposals must be submitted according to the Timetable outlined in
Section VI, Instructions for Application. Although investigators are
not required to submit more than three copies of the proposal, the
normal review process requires 10 copies. Applicants are encouraged to
submit sufficient proposal copies for the full review process if they
wish all reviewers to receive color, unusually sized (not 8.5" x
11"), or otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of the proposal.
Only three copies of the Federally required forms are needed.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals to their state
Sea Grant program, (see: http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/
SGDirectors.html); or, if your state does not have a Sea Grant program,
to a Sea Grant program in an adjacent state. Proposals must be received
before 5 p.m. (local time) on May 15, 2000.
Direct submission to the National Sea Grant College Program Office
in Silver Spring, MD, while not encouraged, is acceptable. The address
is: National Sea Grant College Program, Attn: Mrs. Geraldine Taylor,
SG-MSI Competition, Room 11732, NOAA (R/SG), 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Proposals submitted to the National Sea Grant
Office must be received by 5 p.m. (EST) on May 15, 2000.
Applications received after the deadline and applications that
deviate substantially from the format described above will be returned
to the sender without review. Facsimile transmissions and electronic
mail submission of applications will not be accepted.
VIII. Other Requirements
(A) Federal Policies and Procedures--Recipients and subrecipients
are subject to all Federal laws and Federal and Department of Commerce
(DOC) policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal
financial assistance awards.
(B) Past Performance--Unsatisfactory performance under prior
Federal awards may result in an application not being considered for
funding.
(C) Pre-Award Activities--If applicants incur any costs prior to an
award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being
reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal or written
assurance that may have been received, there is no obligation on the
part of DOC to cover pre-award costs.
(D) No Obligation for Future Funding--If an application is selected
for funding, DOC has no obligation to provide any additional future
funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase
funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion
of DOC.
(E) Delinquent Federal Debts--No award of Federal funds shall be
made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt
until either:
(1) The delinquent account is paid in full,
(2) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received, or
(3) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.
(F) Name Check Review--All non-profit and for-profit applicants are
subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to
reveal if any key individuals associated with the applicant have been
convicted of or are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud,
theft, perjury, or other matters which significantly reflect on the
applicant's management honesty or financial integrity.
(G) False Statements--A false statement on an application is
grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible
punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
(H) Intergovernmental Review--Applications for support from the
National Sea Grant College Program are not subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
(I) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products--Applicants
are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the greatest
extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and products
with funding provided under this program.
(J) For awards receiving funding for the collection or production
of geospatial data (e.g., GIS data layers), the recipient will comply
to the maximum extent practicable with E.O. 12906, Coordinating
Geographic Data Acquisition and Access, The National Spatial Data
Infrastructure, 59 Fed. Reg. 17671 (April 11, 1994). The award
recipient shall document all new geospatial data collected or produced
shall document all new geospatial data collected or produced using the
standard developed by the Federal Geographic Data Center, and make that
standardized documentation electronically accessible. The standard can
be found at the following Internet website: (http://www.fgdc.gov/
standards/standards/html).
Classification
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of E.O. 12866.
This notice contains collection of information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Sea Grant budget Form, 90-4, Sea
Grant Summary Form, 90-2, and Standard Forms 424, and 424b have been
approved under control numbers 0648-0362, 0648-0362, 0348-0043, and
0348-0040 with average responses estimated to take 15, 20, 45, and 15
minutes,
[[Page 13723]]
respectively. These estimates include the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. Send comments on these estimates or any
other aspect of these collections to National Sea Grant College
Program, R/SG, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(Attention: Francis S. Schuler). Notwithstanding any other provision of
the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be
subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB
Control Number.
Louisa Koch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-6230 Filed 3-13-00; 8:45 am]
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