THE

D

EPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

1789

RESTORE Act

Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program

Guidelines and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance
Contents

Introduction........................................................................................................................................1

1.0 Getting Started.............................................................................................................................1

1.1 Eligible Applicants...................................................................................................................1

1.2 Grant Requirements................................................................................................................2

1.3 Technical Assistance...............................................................................................................4

1.4 Access To Grantsolutions........................................................................................................4

1.5 Operational Self-Assessment6

2.0 General Instructions....................................................................................................................4

2.1 Announcements ......................................................................................................................4

2.2 How To Obtain An Application.................................................................................................4

2.3 Application Requirements .......................................................................................................5

2.4 Receipt Of Applications...........................................................................................................5

2.5 Data Universal Numbering System (Duns) And System For Award Management (Sam)

 Requirements..........................................................................................................................5

3.0 Application Instructions .............................................................................................................6

3.1 Application Process.................................................................................................................6

3.2 Required Forms ......................................................................................................................7

3.3 Post-Award Changes To Centers Of Excellence ....................................................................8

4.0 Grant Application ........................................................................................................................8

4.1 Center Of Excellence Application Form ..................................................................................9

5.0 Status Of Performance Report.................................................................................................20

6.0 Applicant Certifications ............................................................................................................21

7.0 Restore Act Centers Of Excellence Periodic Reporting Documentation26

7.1 SF-425 – Federal Financial Report.......................................................................................23

7.2 SF-PPR – Performance Progress Report.............................................................................23

7.3 Attachment To SF-PPR: Status Of Performance Report......................................................23

7.4 Annual Report To Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council ...........................................263

7.5 SF-424A Update ...................................................................................................................23

7.6 Subaward Data Under Federal Funding Accountability And Transparency Act ....................23

7.7 SF-LLL – Disclosure Of Lobbying Activities ..........................................................................23

7.8 SF-428 – Tangible Personal Property Report .......................................................................23

Appendix A – Summary Reference For Centers Of Excellence Applications............................24
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 1

INTRODUCTION

The	
  Resources	
  and	
  Ecosystems	
  Sustainability,	
  Tourist	
  Opportunities,	
  and	
  Revived	
  Economies	
  of	
  the	
  

Gulf	
  Coast	
  States	
  Act	
  of	
  2012	
  (RESTORE	
  Act), established	
  a	
  new	
  Trust	
  Fund	
  in	
  the	
  Treasury	
  of	
  the	
  

United	
  States,	
  known	
  as	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Restoration	
  Trust	
  Fund. Eighty	
  percent	
  of	
  the	
  civil	
  penalties	
  

paid	
  after	
  July	
  6,	
  2012,	
  under	
  the	
  Federal	
  Water	
  Pollution	
  Control	
  Act (33 U.S.C. 1321) in	
  connection	
  

with	
  the	
  Deepwater	
  Horizon oil	
  spill	
  will	
  be	
  deposited	
  into	
  the	
  Trust	
  Fund	
  and	
  invested. Trust	
  Fund	
  

amounts	
  will	
  be	
  available	
  for	
  programs,	
  projects,	
  and	
  activities	
  described	
  in	
  the	
  RESTORE	
  Act.

This guidance	
  applies solely to	
  the	
  Treasury-­‐administered	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence Research	
  Grants	
  

Program, whose	
  purpose	
  is	
  to	
  establish	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  to	
  conduct	
  research	
  only	
  on	
  the	
  Gulf	
  

Coast	
  Region.	
  	
  The	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Research	
  Grants	
  Program	
  is	
  governed	
  by	
  the	
  regulations	
  at	
  31	
  

C.F.R.	
  Part	
  341

,	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  the	
  “Uniform	
  Administrative	
  Requirements,	
  Cost	
  Principles,	
  and	
  Audit	
  

Requirements	
  for	
  Federal	
  Awards”	
  at	
  78	
  Fed.	
  Reg.	
  78,590	
  (December	
  26,	
  2013).	
  	
  	
  	
  In	
  addition	
  to	
  the

guidance,	
  Treasury	
  includes	
  the	
  OMB	
  Standard	
  Forms	
  and	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Application	
  and	
  

Reporting	
  Attachments	
  to	
  the	
  SF-­‐424 Form	
  to	
  assist	
  applicants in	
  developing	
  their	
  grant	
  applications	
  

and	
  reporting	
  during	
  the	
  duration	
  of	
  the	
  grant.	
  	
  This	
  guidance	
  focuses	
  on	
  the	
  establishment	
  and	
  initial	
  

implementation	
  of	
  the	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Grants	
  Program.	
  	
  Treasury	
  may	
  revise	
  the	
  guidance	
  and	
  

application	
  in	
  the	
  future	
  as	
  necessary	
  to	
  reflect	
  the	
  evolution	
  of	
  the	
  program,	
  and	
  will	
  notify	
  all	
  eligible	
  

applicants	
  of	
  any	
  changes.

1.0 GETTING	
  STARTED

Before	
  starting	
  the	
  application	
  process,	
  an	
  applicant	
  should	
  check	
  to	
  make	
  sure	
  it	
  is one	
  of	
  the	
  eligible	
  

entities and	
  is proposing	
  an	
  eligible	
  discipline.	
  	
  An	
  applicant	
  should	
  make	
  sure	
  it	
  is enrolled	
  in	
  the	
  

GrantSolutions.gov	
  online	
  grant	
  system.	
  	
  Finally,	
  before	
  receiving	
  an	
  award, each	
  applicant	
  must	
  

complete	
  an	
  operational	
  self-­‐assessment	
  as	
  described	
  in	
  section	
  1.5	
  below.

1.1 ELIGIBLE	
   APPLICANTS: Eligible	
   applicants	
   include	
   the	
   States	
   of	
   Texas,	
   Louisiana, Mississippi,	
  

Florida,	
   and	
   Alabama.	
   The	
   regulations	
   implementing	
   the	
   RESTORE	
   Act	
   specify	
   that	
   the	
   following	
  

entities	
   are	
   responsible	
   for	
   carrying	
   out	
   the	
   duties	
   of	
   each	
   State:	
   in	
   Alabama,	
   the	
   Alabama	
   Gulf	
  

Coast Recovery	
   Council or its	
   administrative	
   agent;	
   in	
   Florida,	
   the	
   Florida	
   Institute	
   of	
  

Oceanography;	
   in	
   Louisiana,	
   the	
   Coastal	
   Protection	
   and	
   Restoration	
   Authority	
   of	
   Louisiana;	
   in	
  

Mississippi,	
   the	
  Mississippi	
  Department	
   of	
  Environmental	
  Quality;	
  and	
  in	
  Texas,	
   the	
  Office	
   of	
   the	
  

Governor	
  or	
  an	
  appointee	
  of	
  the	
  Governor.

 1 In	
  the	
  event	
  of	
  a	
  conflict	
  between	
  these	
  guidelines	
  and	
  the	
  Treasury	
  regulation,	
  the	
  regulations	
  control.

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 1
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 2

1.2 CENTERS	
  OF	
  EXCELLENCE RESEARCH	
  GRANT REQUIREMENTS:	
  

Purpose	
   of	
   Program.	
   	
  Each	
  Gulf	
   Coast	
   State	
   (herein	
   “applicant” or	
   “recipient”) is	
  eligible	
   to	
   receive	
  

funds	
  to	
  award	
  competitive grants	
  (i.e.,	
  subawards) to	
  nongovernmental	
  entities	
  and	
  consortia in	
  the	
  

Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region,	
  including	
  public	
  and	
  private	
  institutions	
  of	
  higher	
  education,	
  for	
  the	
  establishment	
  

of	
  one	
  or	
  more	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence.	
  These	
  subawards	
  will	
  be	
  made	
  following	
  the	
  competitive	
  process	
  

established	
  by	
  each	
  eligible	
  state.

Eligible	
  Disciplines.	
   Each	
  Center of	
  Excellence must	
  focus	
  on	
  science,	
  technology,	
  and	
  monitoring	
  in	
  at	
  

least	
  one	
  of	
  the	
  following	
  disciplines.	
  	
  

1. Coastal	
   and	
   deltaic	
   sustainability,	
   restoration	
   and	
   protection,	
   including	
   solutions	
   and	
  

technology	
  that	
  allow	
  citizens	
  to	
  live	
  in	
  a	
  safe	
  and	
  sustainable	
  manner	
  in	
  a	
  coastal delta	
  in	
  the	
  

Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region;

2. Coastal	
  fisheries	
  and	
  wildlife	
  ecosystem	
  research	
  and	
  monitoring	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region;

3. Offshore	
   energy	
   development,	
   including	
   research	
   and	
   technology	
   to	
   improve	
   the	
   sustainable	
  

and	
  safe	
  development	
  of	
  energy	
  resources	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  of	
  Mexico;

4. Sustainable	
  and	
  resilient	
  growth,	
  economic	
  and	
  commercial	
  development	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  of	
  Mexico;	
  

and/or;

5. Comprehensive observation,	
  monitoring,	
  and	
  mapping	
  of	
  the	
  Gulf	
  of	
  Mexico.

Subrecipient Selection Process. Each applicant,	
   when	
   selecting	
   nongovernmental	
   entities	
   and	
  

consortia for	
   the	
  establishment	
   of	
  one	
   or	
  more Centers of	
  Excellence,	
  must	
  adhere	
   to	
   the	
   following

requirements:

1. The	
  process	
  to	
  select	
  one	
  or	
  more	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  must	
  allow	
  nongovernmental	
  entities	
  

and	
   consortia	
   in	
   the	
   Gulf	
   Coast	
   Region,	
   including	
   public	
   and	
   private	
   institutions	
   of	
   higher	
  

education,	
  to	
  compete.

2. The	
  selection	
  process	
  must	
  guard against	
  any	
  conflicts	
  of	
  interest.

3. The	
  process must	
  give	
  priority	
  to	
  entities	
  and	
  consortia	
  that	
  demonstrate	
  the	
  ability	
  to	
  establish	
  

the	
   broadest	
   cross-­‐section	
   of	
   participants	
   with	
   interest	
   and	
   expertise	
   in	
  science,	
   technology,	
  

and	
  monitoring	
  in	
  any	
  of	
  the	
  eligible	
  disciplines	
  described	
  above,	
  on	
  which	
  the	
  proposed	
  Center

of	
  Excellence will	
  be	
  focused.	
  	
  

4. Subawards may	
   be	
   made	
   only	
   to	
   nongovernmental	
   entities	
   and	
   consortia	
   in	
   the	
   Gulf	
   Coast	
  

Region,	
   including	
   public	
   and	
   private	
   institutions	
   of	
   higher	
   education.	
   However,	
   entities	
   and	
  

consortia	
  would	
  not	
  have	
   to	
  be	
  located	
  in	
   the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  State	
   that	
  makes	
  a subaward. Gulf	
  

Coast	
  Region is	
  defined at	
  31	
  C.F.R.	
  §	
  34.2.Any	
  other	
  selection	
  criteria	
  adopted	
  by	
  the	
  applicant

must	
  be	
  identified	
  in	
  the	
  application	
  for	
  funding.

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 2
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 3

If	
  an applicant	
  has	
  selected	
  one	
  or	
  more	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  prior	
  to	
  submitting	
  an	
  application,	
  it	
  will	
  

describe	
   the	
   selection	
   process	
   used	
   and	
   how	
   that	
   process	
   addressed	
   the	
   requirements	
   above (see	
  

application	
  form	
  in	
  section	
  4.0).

Public	
  Comment. The	
  rules	
  and	
  policies	
  governing	
  the	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence Research	
  Grants,	
  including	
  

the	
  competitive	
  selection	
  process,	
  must	
  be	
  published	
  and	
  available	
  for	
  public	
  review	
  and	
  comment	
  for	
  

a	
  minimum	
  of	
  45	
  days.	
  	
  An	
  applicant	
  must	
  demonstrate	
  that	
  the rules and policies	
  were adopted	
  after	
  

consideration	
   of	
   meaningful	
   public	
   input,	
   including	
   broad-­‐based	
   participation	
   from	
   individuals,	
  

businesses,	
   Indian	
   tribes,	
   and	
   non-­‐profit	
   organizations.	
   This	
   requirement	
   does	
   not	
   apply	
   to	
   state	
  

statutes	
  and	
  regulations.

Administration	
  of	
  Subawards.	
  In	
  the	
  application	
  for	
  funding,	
  an	
  applicant	
  must	
  describe	
  the	
  policies	
  it

will	
   apply	
   to	
   subawards,	
   such	
   as	
   reporting	
   requirements,	
   performance	
   measures,	
   and	
   compliance	
  

monitoring.	
  An	
  applicant	
  also	
  must	
  provide	
  information on	
  its experience	
  administering	
  subawards.	
  If	
  

the	
  Center of	
  Excellence anticipates	
  it	
  will	
  make	
   further	
  awards	
  of	
   financial	
  assistance	
  to	
  entities	
  for	
  

research	
  or	
  other	
  activities,	
  the	
  application	
  must	
  describe	
  the	
  policies	
  that	
  will	
  apply	
  to	
  such	
  awards.

As	
   pass-­‐through	
   entities,	
   applicants	
   must	
   follow	
   all	
   applicable	
   regulations,	
   and	
   ensure	
   that	
   all	
  

applicable	
   requirements	
   and	
   cost	
   principles	
   are	
   adhered	
   to	
   by,	
   and	
   included	
   in	
   any	
   subaward	
  

documents	
   for, subrecipients.	
   	
   All	
   requirements	
   must	
   flow	
   down	
   to	
   the	
   entities	
   making	
   final	
  

expenditure	
  of	
  funds	
  under	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Research	
  Grants,	
  and	
  must	
  be	
  included	
  in	
  any	
  legal	
  

agreements	
  with	
  subrecipients.	
   An	
  applicant	
  should	
  ensure	
  it	
  has sufficient	
  processes	
  and	
  systems	
  in	
  

place	
   to	
   comply	
   with	
   the	
   subaward	
   and	
   executive	
   compensation	
   reporting	
   requirements	
   found	
   at	
   2	
  

C.F.R.	
  Part	
  170.

Reporting	
   requirements.	
   In	
  addition	
   to	
   financial	
  and	
   performance	
   reports	
   required	
   by	
  the	
  Office	
   of	
  

Management	
   and	
   Budget	
   “Uniform	
   Administrative	
   Requirements,	
   Cost	
   Principles,	
   and	
   Audit	
  

Requirements	
   for	
  Federal	
  Awards” at	
  78	
  Fed.	
  Reg.	
  78,590	
   (December	
  26,	
  2013),	
  each	
   recipient must	
  

provide	
  an	
  annual	
  report	
  to	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Ecosystem	
  Restoration	
  Council	
  (“Council”) in	
  a	
  form	
  set	
  by	
  

the	
   Council	
   no	
   later	
   than	
   60	
   days	
   after	
   the	
   end	
   of	
   the	
   federal	
   fiscal year,	
   and	
   provide	
   a	
   copy	
   to	
  

Treasury.	
  	
  The	
  annual	
  report, at	
  a	
  minimum,	
  must include the	
  following:

• executive	
  summary

• information	
  on	
  subrecipients,	
  

• subaward amounts,	
  

• discipline	
  or	
  disciplines	
  addressed,	
  

• research	
  projects	
  undertaken,	
  

• status	
  of	
  performance,	
  and	
  

• any	
  other	
  reporting	
  information	
  the	
  Council may	
  require.	
  

When	
  the	
  subrecipient is	
  a	
  consortium,	
  the	
  annual	
  report	
  also	
  must	
  identify	
  the	
  consortium	
  members

and	
   the	
   respective	
   discipline(s)	
  addressed.	
   This	
   information	
  will	
   be	
   included	
   in	
   the	
   Council’s	
  annual	
  

report	
  to	
  Congress.

1.3	
  TECHNICAL	
  ASSISTANCE:	
  	
  Treasury	
  will offer	
   training	
  and	
  technical	
  support	
   to	
  assist	
  applicants	
  in	
  

preparing	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence Research	
  Grant	
  Applications.	
  	
  Also,	
  applicants	
  may	
   submit	
  questions	
  

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 3
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 4

regarding	
   the	
  application	
  process	
  or	
   forms	
  in	
  writing	
   to restoreact@treasury.gov.	
   Early	
  consultation	
  

with	
   Treasury	
   may	
   avoid	
   issues	
   associated	
   with incomplete	
   applications	
   and	
   streamline	
   the	
   formal	
  

review	
   process.	
   	
   Treasury	
   encourages applicants to	
   obtain	
   grants	
  management	
   training	
   for	
  the staff	
  

who	
   will	
   be	
   working	
   with	
   Treasury	
   during	
   grants	
   submission,	
   review,	
   and	
   post-­‐award	
   processes,	
  

including	
  reporting.

1.4	
   ACCESS	
   TO	
   GRANTSOLUTIONS.GOV: Treasury	
   will	
   use the	
   Department	
   of	
   Health	
   and Human	
  

Services	
  (HHS)	
  GrantSolutions.gov shared-­‐service	
  provider	
  system	
  to	
  receive	
  applications	
  from	
  eligible	
  

applicants	
  and	
  to	
  manage	
  its	
  application	
   review	
  and	
  award	
   process.	
  	
  Eligible	
  applicants	
  must	
   submit	
  

completed	
  applications	
  electronically	
  via	
  GrantSolutions.gov for	
  proposed Center(s)	
  of	
  Excellence	
  that

focus	
  on	
  one	
  or	
  more	
  of	
  the	
  eligible	
  disciplines.	
  	
  In	
  order	
  to	
  do	
  so,	
  an	
  applicant first must	
  have a	
  user	
  

account.	
  	
  Treasury	
  will	
  work	
  with	
  HHS	
  and	
  contact each	
  applicant	
  to	
  request	
  information	
  to	
  establish	
  

each	
  user	
  account.	
  

1.5	
  OPERATIONAL	
  SELF-­‐ASSESSMENT:	
   Prior	
  to	
  receiving	
  Center(s)	
  of	
  Excellence	
  funding	
  for	
  eligible	
  

disciplines,	
  each	
  applicant	
  must	
  complete	
  an Operational Self-­‐Assessment	
  concerning	
  its internal and	
  

financial	
  controls,	
  which	
  Treasury	
  will	
  utilize	
  in	
  its	
  compliance	
  process. The	
  applicant	
  must	
  submit	
  the	
  

Operational	
  Self-­‐Assessment to	
  the	
  Department	
  of	
  Treasury’s	
  RESTORE	
  Act	
  mailbox,	
  

restoreact@treasury.gov. The	
  Operational	
  Self-­‐Assessment	
  can	
  be obtained	
  at	
  

http://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-­‐act/Pages/default.aspx.

2.0 GENERAL	
  INSTRUCTIONS

2.1	
   FUNDING	
   OPPORTUNITY	
   ANNOUNCEMENTS: GRANTS.GOV AND	
   DEPARTMENT	
   OF	
   TREASURY	
  

WEBSITE:	
   	
   Treasury	
   will	
   post	
   funding	
   opportunity	
   announcements for	
   the	
   Centers	
   of	
   Excellence

Research	
  Grants on	
  Grants.gov	
  (http://www.grants.gov).	
  	
  The	
  funding	
  opportunity	
  announcement	
  will	
  

provide	
   a	
   description	
   of	
   the	
   funding	
   opportunity,	
   eligible	
   applicants,	
   and	
   contacts	
   for	
   more	
  

information.	
   Treasury	
   also	
   will	
   post	
   the	
   same	
   information,	
   including	
   this	
   guidance	
   and	
   application	
  

forms, on	
  its	
  website at http://www.treasury.gov/services/restore-­‐act/Pages/default.aspx.

2.2	
  HOW	
  TO	
  OBTAIN	
  AN	
  APPLICATION:	
  	
  	
  Grants.gov	
  will	
  not	
  be	
  used for	
   the	
  application	
   submission	
  

process.	
  	
  Treasury	
  will	
  be	
  using	
  GrantSolutions.gov	
  to	
  manage	
  the	
  application	
  submission	
  process,	
  and	
  

eligible	
  applicants	
  applying	
  for	
  the	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  funding	
  opportunity	
  announcement	
  will	
  need	
  

to	
  prepare	
  and	
  submit	
  their	
  applications	
  using	
  GrantSolutions.gov.	
  Only	
  eligible	
  applicants	
  may	
  apply

to the	
   funding	
   opportunity announcement after	
   obtaining	
   a GrantSolutions.gov username and	
  

password.	
   	
   Applications	
   will be	
   accepted	
   only from	
   eligible	
   applicants	
   who	
   submit	
   applications	
   via	
  

GrantSolutions.gov. Applicants should	
   access the application	
   within	
   Grantsolution.gov	
   and	
   complete	
  

the	
  application	
  package,	
  required	
  forms, and attachments.

2.3	
  APPLICATION	
  REQUIREMENTS:

When	
  the	
  subrecipient is	
  a	
  consortium,	
  the	
  annual	
  report	
  also	
  must	
  identify	
  the	
  consortium	
  members

and	
   the	
   respective	
   discipline(s)	
  addressed.	
   This	
   information	
  will	
   be	
   included	
   in	
   the	
   Council’s	
  annual	
  

report	
  to	
  Congress.

1.3	
  TECHNICAL	
  ASSISTANCE:	
  	
  Treasury	
  will offer	
   training	
  and	
  technical	
  support	
   to	
  assist	
  applicants	
  in	
  

preparing	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence Research	
  Grant	
  Applications.	
  	
  Also,	
  applicants	
  may	
   submit	
  questions	
  

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 4
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 5

• Applications	
  can	
  be	
  accepted only through	
  GrantSolutions.gov.	
  Applications	
  cannot	
  be	
  received	
  via	
  

e-­‐mail,	
  paper mail,	
  courier,	
  or	
  delivery	
  service,	
  unless the	
  applicant	
  obtains prior	
  written	
  approval	
  

from	
  Treasury.

• Any	
  files	
  uploaded	
  or	
  attached	
  to	
  the	
  GrantSolutions.gov	
  application	
  must	
  be	
  PDF	
  file	
  format	
  and	
  

must	
  contain	
  a	
  valid	
  file	
  format	
  extension	
  in	
  the	
  filename, unless otherwise	
  specified	
  in	
  this	
  

guidance.	
  

o Please	
  note	
  that	
  any	
  form	
  templates	
  provided	
  by	
  Treasury	
  must	
  be	
  completed	
  and	
  

uploaded	
  in	
  the	
  native	
  format	
  provided	
  by	
  the Treasury.	
  

• Even	
  though	
  GrantSolutions.gov	
  allows	
  applicants	
  to	
  attach	
  other	
  file	
  formats as	
  part	
  of	
  their	
  

application,	
  Treasury	
  restricts	
  this	
  practice	
  and	
  only	
  accepts	
  PDF	
  file	
  format or	
  JPEG	
  for	
  scanned	
  

copies	
  of	
  signed	
  certifications as	
  noted	
  below, unless	
  otherwise	
  specified	
  in	
  this	
  guidance.	
  

• Any	
  file	
  submitted	
  as	
  part	
  of	
  the	
  GrantSolutions.gov	
  application	
  that	
  is	
  not	
  in	
  a	
  PDF	
  file	
  format	
  or	
  in	
  

another	
  format	
  otherwise	
  specified in	
  this	
  guidance,	
  or	
  contains	
  password	
  protection,	
  will	
  not	
  be	
  

accepted	
  for	
  processing	
  and	
  will	
  be	
  excluded	
  from	
  the	
  application	
  during	
  the	
  review	
  process.	
  In

addition,	
  the use	
  of	
  compressed	
  file	
  formats	
  such	
  as	
  ZIP,	
  RAR	
  or	
  Adobe	
  Portfolio	
  will	
  not	
  be	
  

accepted.	
  

• The	
  application	
  must	
  be	
  submitted	
  in	
  a	
  file	
  format	
  that	
  can	
  easily	
  be	
  copied	
  and read	
  by	
  reviewers.	
  	
  

Scanned	
  copies of	
  signed	
  certifications	
  must	
  be	
  readable	
  and	
  submitted	
  through	
  

GrantSolutions.gov	
  in	
  a	
  PDF	
  or	
  JPEG	
  file	
  format. Pages	
  cannot	
  be reduced	
  resulting	
  in	
  multiple	
  

pages	
  on	
  a	
  single	
  sheet.	
  

• All	
  documents	
  that	
  do	
  not	
  conform	
  to	
  the	
  above	
  will	
  be	
  excluded	
  from	
  the application	
  during	
  the	
  

review	
  process.

2.4 RECEIPT	
   OF	
   APPLICATIONS: After the	
   funding	
   opportunity	
   announcement is	
   published	
   on	
  

http://www.grants.gov, only	
   the	
   five	
   eligible	
   applicants	
   will	
   have	
   access	
   to	
   prepare	
   and	
   submit	
  

applications	
  via	
  GrantSolutions.gov.	
  Treasury	
  will	
  review	
  applications	
  on	
  a	
  continuing	
  basis as	
  received.	
  	
  

If	
  Treasury	
  later	
  decides to	
  accept	
  applications	
  on	
  a	
  schedule,	
  Treasury	
  will notify	
  all	
  eligible	
  applicants	
  

directly	
  about	
  any	
  application	
   due dates	
  that	
  may	
   be	
   implemented, and	
   post	
   the	
  announcement	
   on	
  

Treasury’s	
   website. As	
  the	
   applicant begins to	
   prepare	
   its grant	
   application,	
   Treasury	
   will	
   assist	
   in	
  

responding	
  to	
  questions	
  about	
  the	
  process,	
  application	
  completeness, and	
  satisfaction	
  of	
  criteria	
  under	
  

the Act	
  and	
  the	
  regulation.	
  	
  Upon	
  receipt	
  of	
  an	
  application,	
  Treasury	
  will	
  review	
  and	
  consider	
  Centers	
  

of	
  Excellence	
  applications	
  and	
  may	
  contact the	
  applicant	
  to	
  request	
  more	
  information.

2.5 DATA	
  UNIVERSAL	
  NUMBERING	
  SYSTEM	
  (DUNS)	
  AND SYSTEM	
  FOR	
  AWARD	
  MANAGEMENT	
  (SAM)	
  

REQUIREMENTS	
  

All	
   applicants	
   must	
   have	
   a	
   Dun	
   and	
   Bradstreet	
   (D&B)	
   Data	
   Universal	
   Numbering	
   System	
   (DUNS)	
  

number (see	
  2	
  C.F.R.	
  §25.200).	
  The	
  DUNS	
  number	
  is	
  a	
  nine-­‐digit	
  identification	
  number	
   that	
  uniquely	
  

identifies	
   business	
   entities.	
   To	
   obtain	
   a	
   DUNS	
   number,	
   access	
   the	
   following	
   website:	
  

http://www.dunandbradstreet.com/, or	
   call	
   1-­‐866-­‐705-­‐5711.	
   This	
   number	
   should	
   be	
   entered	
   in	
   the	
  

block	
  with	
  the	
  applicant's	
  name	
  and	
  address	
  on	
  the	
  cover	
  page	
  of	
  the	
  application	
  (Item	
  8c	
  on	
  the	
  Form	
  

SF-­‐424,	
  “Application	
  for	
  Federal	
  Assistance”).	
  Applicants	
  should	
  obtain	
  this	
  DUNS	
  number	
  immediately,	
  

prior	
  to	
  registering	
  with	
  Sam.gov,	
  to	
  ensure	
  all	
  registration	
  steps	
  are	
  completed	
  in	
  time.

the	
  application	
  package,	
  required	
  forms, and attachments.

2.3	
  APPLICATION	
  REQUIREMENTS:

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 5
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 6

Organizations	
  and	
  entities	
  that	
  wish	
  to	
  apply for	
  federal	
  grants	
  are	
  required	
  to	
  be	
  registered	
  with	
  the	
  

System	
  for Award	
  Management	
  (SAM) (see	
  2	
  C.F.R.	
  §25.200).	
  Applicants	
  can	
  register	
  with	
  the	
  SAM	
  

online	
  at:	
  https://www.sam.gov.	
  	
  Organizations	
  are	
  required	
  to	
  maintain	
  an	
  active	
  registration	
  and	
  

must	
  renew	
  their	
  registration	
  annually.	
   Failure	
  to	
  renew	
  a	
  SAM	
  registration	
  prior	
  to submission	
  of	
  an	
  

application	
  or	
  issuance	
  of	
  a	
  grant	
  will	
  prevent	
  an	
  applicant	
  from	
  successfully	
  receiving	
  an	
  award.

All	
  applicants	
  must	
  provide	
  their	
  DUNS	
  and	
  EIN/TIN	
  numbers	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  register	
  in	
  Sam.gov.	
  	
  

Registering	
  an	
  account	
  with	
  the	
  SAM	
  is	
  a	
  separate	
  process	
  from	
  submitting	
  an	
  application.	
  	
  Applicants	
  

are	
  encouraged	
  to	
  register	
  early.	
  Registration	
  should	
  be	
  completed	
  in	
  sufficient	
  time	
  to	
  ensure	
  that	
  it	
  

does	
  not	
  impair	
  an	
  applicant’s	
  ability	
  to	
  apply	
  for	
  and	
  receive	
  an	
  award.	
  	
  Applicants	
  must	
  successfully	
  

register	
  with	
  the	
  SAM	
  prior	
  to	
  submitting	
  an	
  application	
  or	
  registering	
  in	
  the	
  Federal	
  Funding	
  

Accountability	
  and	
  Transparency	
  Act	
  Subaward	
  Reporting	
  System	
  (FSRS)	
  as	
  a	
  prime	
  recipient	
  user.	
  

Prime	
  recipients	
  must	
  maintain	
  a	
  current	
  registration	
  with	
  the	
  SAM,	
  and	
  if	
  making	
  subawards,	
  then	
  

subawards	
  may	
  only	
  be	
  made	
  to	
  entities	
  that	
  have	
  DUNS	
  numbers.	
  

Organizations that must	
  report	
  executive	
  compensation	
  as	
  part	
  of	
  the	
  registration	
  profile	
  at	
  

Sam.gov	
  must	
  do	
  so	
  by	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  the	
  month	
  following	
  the	
  month	
  in	
  which	
  the	
  award	
  is	
  made,	
  and	
  

annually	
  thereafter	
  (based	
  on	
  the	
  reporting	
  requirements	
  of	
  the	
  Federal	
  Funding	
  Accountability	
  and	
  

Transparency	
  Act	
  (FFATA)	
  of	
  2006	
  (Pub.	
  L.	
  109-­‐282),	
  as	
  amended	
  by	
  section	
  6202	
  of	
  Public	
  Law	
  110-­‐

252	
  and	
  implemented	
  by	
  2	
  C.F.R. Part	
  170).	
  

3.0 SPECIFIC	
  APPLICATION	
  INSTRUCTIONS	
  

3.1	
  	
  APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants	
   may	
   choose	
   to	
   submit	
   a	
   single	
   application or	
   multiple	
   applications seeking	
   a	
   specified	
  

amount	
  of	
  funding,	
  which	
  may extend	
  for	
  a	
  period	
  of up	
  to five	
  years.	
  	
  An	
  application to	
  engage	
  one	
  or	
  

more	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence must focus	
  on	
  science,	
   technology,	
  and/or	
  monitoring	
   for	
  at	
  least one	
  of	
  

the	
  following	
  eligible	
  disciplines:

1. Coastal	
   and	
   deltaic	
   sustainability,	
   restoration	
   and	
   protection,	
   including	
   solutions	
   and	
  

technology	
  that	
  allow	
  citizens	
  to	
  live	
  in	
  a	
  safe	
  and	
  sustainable	
  manner	
  in	
  a	
  coastal	
  delta	
  in	
  the	
  

Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region;

2. Coastal	
  fisheries	
  and	
  wildlife	
  ecosystem	
  research	
  and monitoring	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region;

3. Offshore	
   energy	
   development,	
   including	
   research and technology	
   to	
   improve	
   the	
   sustainable	
  

and	
  safe	
  development	
  of	
  energy	
  resources	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  of	
  Mexico;

4. Sustainable	
   and	
   resilient	
   growth,	
   economic	
   and	
   commercial	
   development	
   of	
   the	
   Gulf	
   Coast	
  

Region;	
  and/or,

5. Comprehensive	
  observation,	
  monitoring,	
  and	
  mapping	
  of	
  the	
  Gulf	
  of	
  Mexico.

Once	
   the	
  applicant	
  chooses	
  its	
  Center(s)	
  of	
  Excellence and	
  prior	
   to	
  drawing	
  down	
  any	
   funds,	
  it	
  must	
  

notify	
  Treasury	
  of	
  the following:

1. Name	
   of	
   each	
   Center of	
   Excellence, the	
   entity	
   chosen	
   for each	
   Center that	
   will	
   conduct	
  

research,	
  and	
  the	
  name	
  of	
  each	
  member	
  organization	
  if	
  the	
  entity	
  is	
  a	
  consortium;

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 6
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 7

2. Location	
  of	
  each	
  Center	
  of	
  Excellence and	
  additional	
  member	
  organizations	
  if	
  it	
  is	
  a	
  consortium;

3. Discipline or	
  disciplines on	
  which each	
  Center of	
  Excellence science,	
  technology,	
  or	
  monitoring	
  

funding	
  will	
  focus;

4. Description	
   of	
   the	
   actual	
   public	
  review	
   and	
   comment process	
   undertaken, including	
  how	
  the

rules and	
   policies	
   governing	
   the	
   Centers	
   of	
   Excellence	
   Research	
   Grants were	
   published	
   and	
  

made	
  available	
   for	
  public	
   review	
   for	
  a	
  minimum	
   of	
   45	
   days	
  and	
  how	
  meaningful	
   public	
  input

was	
  considered;

5. Estimated	
  budget	
   for	
  each	
  Center,	
  including	
   the	
   total	
  allocation	
  of	
  funds for	
  each	
  Center	
  and	
  

for	
  each	
  discipline;	
  and,

6. Any	
   additions	
   or	
   changes	
   to	
   the	
   performance	
   measures	
   in	
   the	
   RESTORE	
   Act	
   Centers	
   of	
  

Excellence	
  Research	
  Grants	
  Status	
  of	
  Performance	
  Report	
  in	
  Section	
  5.0	
  of	
  this	
  guidance.

If	
   the	
   applicant	
   has	
   selected	
   the	
   Center(s)	
   of	
   Excellence	
   prior	
   to	
   submitting	
   an	
   application,	
   the	
  

applicant	
   must	
   submit	
   the	
   information	
   described	
   above	
   with	
   the	
   application.	
   	
   The	
   applicant	
   must

describe	
  in	
   semi-­‐annual	
  performance	
   reports	
  any	
  changes	
  or	
  additions	
   to	
  milestones	
  included	
  in	
   the	
  

application.

3.2 REQUIRED	
  FORMS

Applicants	
  are	
  required	
  to	
  submit	
  an	
  application	
  containing	
  the	
  items listed	
  below.	
  	
  Treasury	
  will	
  not	
  

consider	
   application	
   packages	
   for	
   funding until	
   all	
   required	
   forms,	
   narratives,	
   certifications, and	
  

attachments	
  listed	
  below	
  are	
  submitted.	
  	
  

For	
  a	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Research	
  Grant	
  application,	
   the	
  applicant	
  must	
  complete	
  and	
  submit	
   the	
  

following	
   standard	
   forms	
   and	
   documentation.	
   	
   If	
   an	
   item	
   specifies	
   the	
   use	
   of	
   a	
   template,	
   then	
   the	
  

applicant	
   is	
   required	
   to	
   download	
   the	
   template	
   from	
   within	
   the	
   GrantSolutions.gov	
   application	
   kit,	
  

complete	
   the	
   template,	
   and	
   upload	
   the	
   completed	
   template,	
   in	
   its	
   native	
   file	
   format,	
   as	
   part	
   of	
   the	
  

application	
  submission.	
  

1. Form	
  SF-­‐424,	
  Application	
  for	
  Federal	
  Assistance

2. A	
  RESTORE	
  Act	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Research	
  Grant	
  Financial	
  Assistance	
  Application that	
  addresses	
  

specific	
   requirements	
   under	
   the	
   Act and	
   regulation,	
   including	
   the	
   Treasury	
   RESTORE	
   Act	
  

Environmental	
  Checklist (completion	
  of	
  template	
  required).

3. Form	
  SF-­‐424A,	
  Budget	
  Information	
  for	
  Non-­‐Construction	
  Programs

4. Form	
  SF-­‐424B	
  Assurance	
  for	
  Non-­‐Construction	
  Projects

5. Negotiated	
  Indirect	
  Cost	
  Rate	
  Agreement

6. A	
   letter	
   of	
   designation	
   must be	
   included	
   in	
   the	
   first	
   application	
   from	
   applicant’s	
   highest	
   official2

designating	
  the	
  Senior	
  Authorized	
  Official	
  who	
  can	
  legally	
  bind	
  the	
  entity	
  to	
  execute	
  the	
  RESTORE	
  Act	
  

 2 The	
  highest	
  official	
  for	
  the	
  State	
  of	
  Alabama	
  will be	
  the	
  Chairperson of	
  the	
  Alabama	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Recovery	
  Council; for	
  

Florida, the	
  Director of	
  the	
  Florida	
  Institute	
  of	
  Oceanography; for	
  Louisiana,	
  the	
  Executive Director of	
  the	
  Coastal	
  Protection	
  

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 7
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 8

Centers	
  of	
  Excellence Research	
  Grant Funding	
  Certification (completion	
  of	
  template	
  required).	
  	
  Whenever	
  

the	
  Certification	
  is	
  signed	
  by	
  a	
  different	
  official,	
  the	
  applicant’s	
  highest	
  official	
  will	
  need	
  to	
  submit	
  a	
  new	
  

letter	
   of	
   designation citing	
   that the	
   Senior	
   Authorized	
  Official	
   can	
   legally	
   bind	
   the	
  entity	
   to	
  execute	
   the	
  

Certification.	
  	
  

7. RESTORE	
  Act	
  Center	
   of	
  Excellence	
  Applicant	
  Certifications	
  in	
  Section	
  6.0	
   of	
   this	
  guidance (completion	
   of	
  

template	
  required),	
  signed by	
  the	
  person	
  designated	
  above.	
  	
  

8. A	
   RESTORE	
   Act Centers	
   of	
   Excellence	
   Research	
   Grants	
   Status	
   of	
   Performance	
   Report (completion	
   of	
  

template	
   required).	
   Performance	
   measures	
   should	
   be	
   outcome-­‐oriented	
   to	
   the	
   extent	
   possible	
   and	
  

demonstrate	
   progress	
   toward	
   meeting	
   the	
   stated	
   objective(s)	
   for	
   the	
   Center(s)	
   of	
   Excellence.	
   Each	
  

measure	
  should	
  include	
  a	
  specific	
  target	
  and	
  date	
  for	
  completion	
  (month/year). The	
  applicant will	
  report	
  

its	
  progress	
  on	
  these	
  measures	
  throughout	
  the	
  life	
  of	
  the	
  grant,	
  using	
  the	
  attached	
  Status	
  of	
  Performance	
  

Report.	
  	
  Treasury	
  encourages the	
  applicant to	
  develop	
  additional	
  measures	
  that	
  will	
  extend	
  past	
  the	
  grant	
  

period	
  to	
  demonstrate	
  program	
  outcomes,	
  when	
  applicable.	
  

3.3 POST-­‐AWARD	
  CHANGES	
  TO	
  CENTERS	
  OF	
  EXCELLENCE

If	
  the	
  recipient	
  chooses	
  to	
  engage	
  another	
  Center	
  of	
  Excellence after	
  a	
  grant	
  agreement has	
  been	
  executed,	
  the

recipient may	
  need	
   to submit	
  a	
  new	
  application.	
  	
  The recipient will	
  need	
   to	
  describe in	
   the	
  application	
  how	
  the

new	
   Center	
   of	
   Excellence was	
   selected,	
   including	
   the	
   competitive	
   solicitation	
   and	
   selection process	
   and	
  

consideration	
  of public	
  comment.	
  	
  If	
  the	
  recipient	
  chooses	
  to	
  add	
  another	
  eligible	
  discipline	
  to	
  an	
  existing	
  Center	
  

of	
  Excellence,	
  the	
  recipient must	
  submit	
  an	
  amendment	
  to	
  the	
  existing	
  award.	
  	
  The	
  recipient may	
  contact	
  Treasury	
  

to	
  determine	
  if	
  a	
  new	
  application	
  is	
  necessary,	
  as	
  opposed	
  to	
  an	
  amendment	
  to	
  the	
  existing award,	
  such	
  as	
  if	
  the	
  

addition	
  of	
  a	
  new	
  discipline	
  occurs	
  near	
  the	
  end	
  date	
  of	
  the	
  existing	
  award.

The	
  recipient	
  may	
  submit	
  an	
  amendment	
  to	
  obtain	
  additional	
  funds	
  when,	
  during	
  a five-­‐year grant	
  period,	
  funds	
  

remain	
   available	
   in	
   the	
  recipient’s	
   allocation	
   or	
   new	
   funds	
   are	
   deposited	
   into	
   the	
   Gulf	
   Coast	
   Restoration	
   Trust	
  

Fund.	
  	
  Once	
  the	
   recipient	
   has	
   submitted	
  an	
  acceptable	
  amendment request,	
  Treasury	
  will	
  amend	
   the	
  award	
   to	
  

provide	
   additional	
   funding	
   and/or	
   extend	
   the	
   award	
   as	
   requested.	
   	
   If	
   during	
   the	
   grant	
   period,	
   the	
   recipient	
  

decides	
  to	
  remove	
  a	
  Center	
  of	
  Excellence	
  as	
  a	
  subrecipient,	
  or	
  remove	
  an	
  eligible	
  discipline	
  from	
  its	
  scope of	
  work

under	
   the	
  grant,	
   the	
   recipient	
  must	
  seek,	
  in	
  writing,	
   the	
  written	
  prior	
  approval	
  of	
  Treasury.	
  	
  The	
   recipient	
  must	
  

submit	
  a	
  grant	
  amendment	
  request	
  and	
  revised	
  budget	
  if	
  there	
  are	
  remaining	
  funds	
  for the	
  Center	
  of	
  Excellence	
  

subrecipient	
  that	
  was removed.

4.0	
  APPLICATION	
  FORMS

This	
   section provides	
   the	
   forms	
   that	
   are	
   required	
   for	
   a	
   complete	
   application.	
   The	
   fillable	
   forms in	
  

sections	
   4.0 and	
   5.0 will	
   be	
   available	
   for	
   download	
   from	
   http://www.grantsolutions.gov.	
   	
   	
   Other	
  

information	
  to	
  be	
  uploaded	
  to	
  GrantSolutions.gov should	
  be	
  in PDF format.	
  	
  	
  	
  

 

and	
  Restoration	
  Authority	
  of	
  Louisiana;	
  for	
  Mississippi,	
  the	
  Executive	
  Director of	
  the	
  Mississippi	
  Department	
  of	
  

Environmental	
  Quality;	
  and	
  for	
  Texas,	
  the	
  Governor.	
  	
  

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 8
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 9

4.0	
  RESTORE	
  ACT	
  CENTERS	
  OF	
  EXCELLENCE RESEARCH	
  GRANT FINANCIAL	
  ASSISTANCE	
  APPLICATION

Directions:	
  Complete	
  this	
  form	
  to	
  apply	
  for	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence Research	
  Grants Program funding.	
  	
  A	
  new	
  application	
  also	
  may	
  be

needed	
  for	
  a	
  request	
  to add	
  another	
  Center of	
  Excellence or to	
  add a	
  new	
  discipline.	
  

GENERAL	
  INFORMATION:

Applicant	
  Name:	
  

Name	
  and	
  Contact	
  Information	
  of	
  the	
  person	
  to	
  be	
  

contacted	
  (POC)	
  on	
  matters	
  concerning	
  this	
  

application:

POC	
  Name:

POC	
  Title:

POC	
  Email:

POC	
  Phone:

A.	
  	
  SELECTION	
  PROCESS	
  QUESTIONS

FIRST-­‐TIME	
  APPLICATION	
  QUESTION:	
  	
  Did	
  the	
  applicant	
  complete	
  a	
  competitive	
  process,	
  consistent	
  with	
  the	
  RESTORE	
  Act	
  

regulations, to	
  select	
  the	
  subrecipient organization(s)	
  to	
  establish	
  a	
  Center of	
  Excellence prior	
  to	
  submitting	
  an	
  application?	
  (If	
  yes,	
  

skip	
  questions	
  1	
  and	
  2	
  in	
  Section	
  A.	
  	
  This	
  question	
  is	
  not	
  applicable	
  after	
  Treasury	
  issues	
  an	
  award	
  based	
  on	
  the	
  applicant’s	
  initial

Center of	
  Excellence grant	
  application	
  and	
  the	
  applicant	
  executes	
  a	
  Center of	
  Excellence grant	
  agreement,	
  unless	
  the	
  applicant	
  

establishes	
  additional	
  Center(s)	
  of	
  Excellence	
  in	
  the	
  future.)

Yes	
  	
  [	
  	
  	
  ]	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  No	
  [	
  	
  ]	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  

1. Please	
  describe	
  the	
  competitive	
  review	
  process	
  that	
  the	
  applicant	
  will	
  use	
  to	
  select	
  a	
  Center	
  of	
  Excellence(s),	
  including:	
  	
  a)	
  

the	
  qualifications	
  for	
  entities	
  and	
  consortia;	
  b)	
  the	
  criteria	
  for	
  selection	
  and	
  how	
  those	
  criteria	
  will	
  be	
  applied;	
  c)	
  how	
  

priority	
  will	
  be	
  given	
  to	
  entities	
  and	
  consortia	
  that	
  demonstrate	
  the	
  ability	
  to	
  organize	
  the	
  broadest	
  cross-­‐section	
  of	
  

participants	
  with	
  interest	
  and	
  expertise	
  in	
  the	
  discipline(s)	
  on	
  which	
  this	
  application	
  is	
  focused,	
  including participation	
  by	
  

minority-­‐serving	
  institutions (see	
   http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-­‐minorityinst.html);	
  and	
  d)	
  any	
  other	
  

selection	
  factors.	
  	
  As	
  appropriate,	
  provide	
  references	
  to	
  existing	
  state	
  statutory	
  or	
  regulatory	
  requirements.

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 9
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 10

2. Please	
  choose the	
  applicable	
  

eligible	
  discipline(s)	
  that	
  the	
  

applicant	
  proposes	
  to	
  include	
  in	
  

this	
  Center	
  of	
  Excellence	
  

solicitation	
  by	
  placing	
  an	
  ‘X”	
  in	
  the	
  

‘Select’	
  column	
  in	
  the	
  row	
  

corresponding	
  to	
  the	
  qualifying	
  

eligible	
  discipline	
  focus	
  area.	
  (After	
  

completing	
  this	
  question,	
  please	
  go	
  

to	
  Section	
  B.)

Select

(check	
  all	
  that	
  

apply)

Eligible	
  Discipline

�

A. Coastal	
  and	
  deltaic	
  sustainability,	
  restoration,	
  and	
  

protection,	
  including	
  solutions	
  and	
  technology	
  that	
  

allow	
  citizens	
  to	
  live	
  in	
  a	
  safe	
  and	
  sustainable	
  

manner	
  in	
  a	
  coastal	
  delta	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  region

�

B. Coastal	
  fisheries	
  and	
  wildlife	
  ecosystem	
  research	
  

and	
  monitoring	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region	
  

�

C. Offshore	
  energy	
  development,	
  including	
  research	
  

and	
  technology	
  to	
  improve	
  the	
  sustainable	
  and	
  safe	
  

development	
  of	
  energy	
  resources	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  of	
  

Mexico

�

D. Sustainable	
  and	
  resilient	
  growth	
  and	
  economic	
  and	
  

commercial	
  development	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region

�

E. Comprehensive	
  observation,	
  monitoring,	
  and	
  

mapping	
  of	
  the	
  Gulf	
  of	
  Mexico

3. [Answer	
  if	
  the	
  applicant	
  selected	
  a	
  COE	
  prior	
  to	
  submitting	
  this	
  application]: Please	
  describe	
  the	
  competitive	
  review	
  

process	
  that	
  the	
  applicant used	
  in	
  selecting	
  its	
  first	
  subrecipient(s) as	
  a Center	
  of	
  Excellence,	
  including	
  a)	
  the	
  qualifications	
  

for	
  entities	
  and	
  consortia;	
  b)	
  the	
  criteria	
  for	
  selection	
  and	
  how	
  those	
  criteria	
  were applied;	
  c)	
  how	
  priority	
  was	
  given	
  to	
  

entities	
  that	
  demonstrated	
  the	
  ability	
  to	
  organize	
  the	
  broadest	
  cross-­‐section	
  of	
  participants	
  with	
  interest	
  and	
  expertise	
  in	
  

the	
  discipline(s)	
  on	
  which	
  their	
  proposal	
  was	
  focused,	
  	
  including participation	
  by	
  minority-­‐serving	
  institutions; and	
  d)	
  any	
  

other	
  selection	
  factors.	
  	
  As	
  appropriate,	
  provide	
  references	
  to	
  existing	
  state	
  statutory	
  or	
  regulatory	
  requirements.	
  	
  Attach	
  

additional	
  documentation	
  if	
  needed.]

4.	
  If	
  the	
  applicant	
  

answered	
  question	
  3,

please	
  provide	
  the	
  

Name:	
   Select

(check	
  all	
  that	
  

apply)

Eligible	
  Discipline

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 10
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 11

address	
  and	
  contact	
  

information	
  for	
  each	
  

organization	
  selected	
  to	
  

operate	
  a	
  Center	
  of	
  

Excellence as	
  a	
  

subrecipient of	
  the	
  

applicant prior	
  to	
  the	
  date	
  

of submission	
  of	
  this	
  

application; attach	
  more	
  

pages	
  as	
  needed.	
  (Include	
  

a	
  name	
  and	
  phone	
  

number	
  and/or	
  email	
  

address	
  for	
  Principal	
  

Contact	
  Information.	
  

Attach	
  additional	
  

information	
  as	
  needed.)	
  

Also,	
  please	
  select	
  the	
  

letter	
  of	
  the	
  applicable	
  

eligible	
  discipline(s)	
  that	
  

each	
  organization	
  will	
  be

focusing	
  on.	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  (After	
  

completing	
  this	
  question,	
  

please	
  go	
  to	
  Section	
  B.)

Street	
  address:

City:

�

A. Coastal	
  and	
  deltaic	
  sustainability,	
  

restoration,	
  and	
  protection,	
  including	
  

solutions	
  and	
  technology	
  that	
  allow	
  

citizens	
  to	
  live	
  in	
  a	
  safe	
  and	
  

sustainable	
  manner	
  in	
  a	
  coastal	
  delta	
  

in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  region

County/Parish:

�

B. Coastal	
  fisheries	
  and	
  wildlife	
  

ecosystem	
  research	
  and	
  monitoring	
  in	
  

the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region	
  

State:

�

C. Offshore	
  energy	
  development,	
  

including	
  research	
  and	
  technology	
  to	
  

improve	
  the	
  sustainable	
  and	
  safe	
  

development	
  of	
  energy	
  resources	
  in	
  

the	
  Gulf	
  of	
  Mexico

Zip	
  code:

�

D. Sustainable	
  and	
  resilient	
  growth	
  and	
  

economic	
  and	
  commercial	
  

development	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Region

Principal	
  Contact	
  Information:

�

E. Comprehensive	
  observation,	
  

monitoring,	
  and	
  mapping	
  of	
  the	
  Gulf	
  

of	
  Mexico

DUNS	
  Number:

Type	
  of	
  Entity	
  (Institution	
  of	
  Higher	
  Education,	
  

corporation,	
  etc):

Is	
  the	
  Center	
  of	
  Excellence a	
  consortium?	
  

� yes	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  � no

If	
  yes,	
  list	
  all	
  member	
  organizations and	
  

addresses:

Minority-­‐Serving	
  Institution(s)	
  included?

	
  	
  	
  � yes � no

If	
  yes,	
  type	
  of	
  institution(s):	
  (e.g.,	
  Historically	
  Black	
  

College	
  or	
  University	
  or	
  Hispanic	
  Serving	
  

Institution	
  – see	
  definition	
  of	
  Minority	
  Institution	
  

and	
  list	
  of	
  institutions	
  at

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-­‐

minorityinst.html

Is	
  the	
  Center	
  of	
  Excellence located	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  

Coast	
  Region,	
  as	
  defined	
  at	
  31	
  C.F.R.	
  §	
  34.2?	
  

Explain	
  or	
  attach	
  a	
  map	
  if	
  necessary.

� yes	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  � no

4.	
  If	
  the	
  applicant	
  

answered	
  question	
  3,

please	
  provide	
  the	
  

Name:	
   Select

(check	
  all	
  that	
  

apply)

Eligible	
  Discipline

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 11
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 12

B.	
  	
  DISCUSSION	
  OF	
  PUBLIC	
  INPUT	
  AND	
  APPLICANT	
  PROCEDURES	
  –	
  	
  All	
  applicants	
  answer	
  this	
  section	
  for	
  each	
  application

1.	
  	
  Public	
  Input	
  

[Directions:	
  	
  Explain	
  the	
  process	
  the applicant	
  has	
  engaged	
  in	
  or	
  will	
  engage	
  in	
  to	
  provide 45-­‐day	
  minimum	
  public	
  review	
  and	
  

comment	
  on	
  its	
  rules	
  and	
  policies,	
  including	
  the	
  competitive	
  selection	
  process, and	
  the	
  consideration	
  of	
  meaningful	
  input	
  from	
  the	
  

public,	
  including	
  broad-­‐based	
  participation	
  from	
  individuals,	
  businesses,	
  Indian	
  tribes,	
  and	
  non-­‐profit	
  organizations.	
  	
  Please	
  provide	
  

links	
  to	
  public	
  comments,	
  newspaper	
  articles,	
  transcripts, or	
  minutes	
  of	
  meetings,	
  etc.	
  	
  If	
  these	
  are	
  not	
  available	
  on	
  the	
  Internet,	
  

please	
  attach	
  relevant	
  documents to	
  the	
  application	
  package.]

2.	
  Applicant’s procedures	
  for	
  issuing	
  and	
  managing	
  subrecipients and	
  subawards	
  under	
  the	
  COE	
  research	
  grants	
  program.

[Directions:	
  Describe	
  the	
  applicant’s	
  policies	
  and	
  procedures	
  for	
  issuing	
  subawards to	
  the	
  COE(s),	
  including	
  the	
  process	
  to	
  guard	
  

against	
  conflicts	
  of	
  interest;	
  the	
  process	
  for	
  selecting	
  science,	
  technology,	
  or	
  monitoring	
  projects;	
  and the	
  process	
  for	
  monitoring	
  

performance,	
  reporting, and	
  compliance	
  for COE(s)).	
   Please	
  also	
  describe	
  any	
  requirements	
  for	
  COE(s)	
  in	
  working	
  with	
  third	
  parties	
  

(e.g.,	
  performance	
  monitoring	
  and	
  reporting for lower	
  tier subrecipients).]

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 12
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 13

3.	
  Applicant’s	
  research	
  grants	
  management	
  experience.

[Directions:	
  Describe the	
  applicant’s	
  experience	
  with	
  issuing and	
  monitoring	
  subawards.]

4. Budget	
  Narrative

[Directions:	
   Explain	
  how	
  the	
  overall	
  budget	
  supports	
  the	
  proposed	
  scope	
  of	
  work.	
  Attach	
  a	
  copy	
  of	
  the	
  negotiated	
  indirect	
  cost	
  

agreement	
  and	
  provide	
  specific	
  justification	
  for	
  all	
  that	
  apply:

• personnel	
  and	
  fringe	
  (see	
  5. Key	
  Personnel);

• travel	
  including	
  the	
  number	
  of	
  trips	
  and	
  estimated	
  cost	
  per	
  trip;	
  

• supplies;

• all equipment	
  greater	
  than	
  $5,000;

• contractual	
  costs

If	
  other	
  federal	
  or	
  non-­‐federal	
  funds	
  will	
  be	
  used	
  to	
  complete	
  the	
  activity,	
  provide	
  an	
  explanation	
  and	
  total	
  funds	
  by	
  type:

• other	
  RESTORE	
  Act	
  funds,	
  

• other	
  federal	
  funds,	
  

• other	
  state	
  or	
  local	
  funds,	
  

• other	
  private	
  funds.]

5.	
  Key	
  personnel

[Directions:	
  	
  Identify	
  key	
  applicant	
  personnel who	
  will	
  undertake	
  and	
  complete	
  the	
  activities.	
  This	
  will	
  include	
  state	
  entity	
  staff	
  

managing	
  the	
  process	
  to	
  establish	
  Center(s)	
  of	
  Excellence,	
  and	
  if	
  known,	
  the	
  principle	
  investigator(s)/program	
  director(s)	
  for	
  

Center(s)	
  of	
  Excellence	
  if	
  already	
  established.	
  	
  Specify	
  the	
  position	
  titles,	
  duties,	
  and	
  responsibilities	
  of	
  each	
  key	
  individual.]

6.	
  Task	
  and	
  Major	
  Milestones

[Directions:	
   Describe	
  tasks	
  and list major	
  milestones	
  with	
  a	
  description	
  and	
  target	
  completion	
  date.]

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 13
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 14

7. Permits

Does	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  require	
  any	
  federal,	
  state,	
  or	
  local	
  permits?	
  For	
  potential	
  federal	
  permits	
  needed,	
  see:	
  

http://www.permits.performance.gov/permit-­‐inventory.	
  

� yes	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  � no

If	
  yes,	
  list	
  local,	
  state,	
  tribal,	
  or	
  federal	
  permits	
  required	
  for	
  this	
  project	
  and	
  the	
  status	
  of	
  the	
  permits:

[If	
  the	
  permits	
  have	
  not	
  been	
  obtained,	
  and	
  the	
  applicant	
  is	
  seeking	
  the	
  permits,	
  work	
  may	
  not	
  begin	
  until	
  the	
  permits	
  have	
  been	
  

issued	
  and	
  received	
  by	
  the	
  applicant.]

Treasury	
  RESTORE	
  Act	
  Environmental	
  Checklist

Directions:	
  	
  The	
  following	
  questions	
  will	
  aid	
  the	
  applicant	
  in	
  identifying	
  the	
  environmental	
  laws	
  that	
  may	
  apply	
  to	
  the	
  eligible activity	
  

and	
  the	
  environmental	
  documents	
  that	
  may	
  be	
  submitted	
  with	
  the	
  grant	
  application.	
  	
  Treasury	
  will	
  use	
  the	
  submittals	
  to	
  record	
  the	
  

Applicant’s	
  assertion	
  that	
  it	
  has	
  complied	
  with	
  applicable	
  environmental	
  laws.	
  	
  

FEDERAL	
  LAWS

1.1	
  NATIONAL	
  ENVIRONMENTAL	
  POLICY	
  ACT	
  (NEPA)

The	
  NEPA	
  of	
  1969	
  (42	
  U.S.C.	
  4321	
  et	
  seq.)	
  provides	
  a	
  national	
  policy	
  that	
  encourages	
  “productive	
  and	
  enjoyable	
  harmony	
  between	
  

man	
  and	
  his	
  environment;	
  to	
  promote	
  efforts	
  which	
  will	
  prevent	
  or	
  eliminate	
  damage	
  to	
  the	
  environment	
  and	
  biosphere	
  and	
  stimulate	
  

the	
  health	
  and	
  welfare	
  of	
  man	
  .	
  .	
  .”	
  	
  The	
  NEPA	
  requires	
  that	
  all	
  federal	
  agencies	
  use	
  a	
  systematic,	
  interdisciplinary	
  approach	
  for	
  

protection	
  of	
  the	
  human	
  environment;	
  this	
  approach	
  will	
  ensure	
  the	
  integrated	
  use	
  of	
  the	
  natural	
  and	
  social	
  sciences	
  in	
  any	
  planning	
  

and	
  decision-­‐making	
  that	
  may	
  have	
  an	
  impact	
  upon	
  the	
  environment.	
  	
  The	
  NEPA	
  also	
  requires	
  the	
  preparation	
  of	
  a	
  detailed	
  

Environmental	
  Impact	
  Statement	
  (EIS)	
  on	
  any	
  major	
  federal	
  action	
  that	
  may	
  have	
  a	
  significant	
  impact	
  on	
  the	
  environment.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  be	
  under	
  the	
  permitting	
  authority	
  of	
  any	
  federal	
  agency?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

2) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  receive	
  federal	
  assistance	
  (other	
  than	
  RESTORE	
  Act	
  funding)?

Yes	
  	
  	
   No	
  	
  

3) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  be	
  subject	
  to	
  any	
  federal	
  regulatory	
  decision	
  or	
  approval?

Yes No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  any	
  of	
  these	
  questions	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  relevant	
  federal	
  agency	
  or	
  agencies	
  for	
  further	
  guidance	
  on	
  environmental	
  

compliance.	
  	
  Additional	
  information	
  concerning	
  NEPA	
  can	
  be	
  found	
  at:	
  	
  http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/nepanet.htm.

1.2.	
  COASTAL	
  ZONE	
  MANAGEMENT	
  ACT	
  (CZMA)

[Direct	
  Component	
  or	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence]	
  grant	
  applications	
  may	
  be	
  subject	
  to	
  the	
  review	
  provisions	
  of	
  Section	
  307	
  of	
  the	
  Coastal	
  

Zone	
  Management	
  Act	
  (CZMA)	
  and	
  implementing	
  regulations	
  at	
  15	
  C.F.R.	
  Part	
  930.	
  	
  Questions	
  as	
  to	
  the	
  applicability	
  of	
  the	
  CZMA

consistency	
  provisions	
  should	
  be	
  directed	
  to	
  the	
  Office	
  of	
  Ocean	
  and	
  Coastal	
  Resource	
  Management/Coastal	
  Services	
  Center	
  within	
  

the	
  National	
  Oceanic	
  and	
  Atmospheric	
  Administration.	
  	
  A	
  federal	
  consistency	
  determination	
  or	
  certification	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  from	
  the	
  

state	
  coastal	
  zone	
  management	
  program,	
  based	
  on	
  the	
  following	
  questions:

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  occur	
  in	
  or	
  near	
  the	
  state	
  designated	
  coastal	
  zone	
  

(http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/mystate/docs/StateCZBoundaries.pdf)?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

2) Is	
  the	
  activity	
  likely	
  to	
  have	
  reasonably foreseeable	
  effects	
  on	
  any	
  land	
  or	
  water	
  use	
  or	
  natural	
  resource	
  of	
  the	
  designated	
  

coastal	
  zone?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  either	
  of	
  these	
  questions	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  State	
  Coastal	
  Zone	
  Management	
  Program	
  

6.	
  Task	
  and	
  Major	
  Milestones

[Directions:	
   Describe	
  tasks	
  and list major	
  milestones	
  with	
  a	
  description	
  and	
  target	
  completion	
  date.]

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 14
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 15

(http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/programs/czm.html)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance	
  on	
  federal	
  consistency	
  requirements	
  in	
  your	
  state.	
  	
  

Additional	
  information	
  on	
  federal	
  consistency	
  can	
  be	
  found	
  at:	
  	
  http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/consistency/welcome.html

1.3	
  ENDANGERED	
  SPECIES	
  ACT	
  (ESA)

Section	
  7	
  consultations	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  if	
  a	
  threatened	
  or	
  endangered	
  species	
  or	
  critical	
  habitat	
  is	
  present.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  occur	
  in	
  proximity	
  to	
  threatened	
  or	
  endangered	
  species	
  or	
  critical	
  habitat	
  as	
  defined	
  by	
  the	
  ESA	
  

and	
  under	
  the	
  jurisdiction	
  of	
  the National	
  Marine	
  Fisheries	
  Service	
  (NMFS)	
  (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/esa/)	
  or	
  the	
  U.S.	
  Fish	
  

and	
  Wildlife	
  Service	
  (USFWS)	
  (http://endangered.fws.gov/)?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

2) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  potentially	
  affect	
  threatened	
  or	
  endangered	
  species	
  or	
  critical	
  habitat	
  as	
  defined	
  by	
  the	
  ESA	
  and	
  

under	
  the	
  jurisdiction	
  of	
  National	
  Marine	
  Fisheries	
  Service	
  (NMFS)or	
  U.S.	
  Fish	
  and	
  Wildlife	
  Service	
  (USFWS)?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  either	
  of	
  these	
  questions	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  regional	
  office	
  of	
  USFWS	
  (http://www.fws.gov/offices/)	
  and/or	
  NMFS	
  

(http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/)	
  to	
  determine	
  if	
  consultation	
  is	
  required.	
  	
  Most	
  consultations	
  are	
  conducted	
  informally	
  with	
  the	
  federal	
  

agency	
  or	
  a	
  designated	
  non-­‐federal	
  representative.	
  	
  Non-­‐federal	
  representatives	
  may	
  be	
  involved	
  in	
  the	
  informal	
  consultation	
  process	
  

and	
  may	
  request	
  and	
  receive	
  species	
  lists,	
  prepare	
  the	
  biological	
  assessment,	
  and	
  provide	
  information	
  for	
  the	
  formal	
  consultation.	
  	
  

However,	
  the	
  USFWS	
  requires	
  the	
  action	
  agency	
  to	
  designate	
  formally	
  the	
  non-­‐federal	
  representative	
  in	
  writing.	
  	
  Moreover,	
  the	
  

ultimate	
  responsibility	
  for	
  Section	
  7	
  obligations	
  remains	
  with	
  the	
  action	
  agency.	
  	
  Additional	
  information	
  concerning	
  Section	
  7	
  

consultations	
  can	
  be	
  found	
  in	
  the	
  Endangered	
  Species	
  Act	
  Consultation	
  Handbook	
  at:	
  http://www.fws.gov/policy/m0002.html

1.4	
  MAGNUSON	
  –	
  STEVENS	
  FISHERY	
  CONSERVATION	
  AND	
  MANAGEMENT	
  ACT	
  (FCMA)

Consultation	
  with	
  the	
  NMFS	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  if	
  Essential	
  Fish	
  Habitat	
  (EFH)	
  is	
  present.	
  	
  The	
  trigger	
  for	
  EFH	
  consultation	
  is	
  a federal	
  

agency’s	
  determination	
  that	
  an	
  action	
  or	
  proposed	
  action,	
  funded,	
  authorized,	
  or	
  undertaken	
  by	
  that	
  agency	
  may	
  adversely	
  affect	
  EFH.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  occur	
  in	
  proximity	
  to	
  EFH	
  as	
  identified	
  by	
  the	
  nearest	
  Regional	
  Fishery	
  Management	
  Council	
  

(http://www.fisherycouncils.org/	
  and	
  	
  

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/management/councils/)

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

2) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  potentially	
  adversely	
  affect	
  EFH?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  either	
  of	
  these	
  questions	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  regional	
  office	
  of	
  the	
  NMFS	
  (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/)	
  or	
  

Regional	
  Fishery	
  Management	
  Council	
  (http://www.fisherycouncils.org/)	
  to	
  determine	
  if	
  consultation	
  is	
  required.	
  	
  Additional	
  

information	
  concerning	
  EFH	
  can	
  be	
  found	
  at:	
  http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/index.html.	
  Information	
  about	
  consultations	
  can	
  be	
  found	
  

in	
  the	
  Essential	
  Fish	
  Habitat	
  Consultation	
  Guidance	
  at:	
  http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/pdf/efhconsultationguidancev1_1.pdf.

1.5	
  MARINE	
  MAMMAL	
  PROTECTION	
  ACT	
  (MMPA)

A	
  permit	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  if	
  an	
  activity	
  will	
  result	
  in the	
  “take”	
  of	
  a	
  marine	
  mammal.	
  	
  Taking	
  is	
  defined	
  as	
  “to	
  harass,	
  hunt,	
  capture,	
  or	
  

kill,	
  or	
  attempt	
  to	
  harass,	
  hunt,	
  capture,	
  or	
  kill	
  any	
  marine	
  mammal.”	
  	
  Permits	
  for	
  most	
  marine	
  mammals	
  are	
  issued	
  by	
  NMFS.	
  	
  

Manatees,	
  polar	
  bears,	
  sea	
  otters,	
  walruses,	
  and	
  dugongs,	
  however,	
  are	
  under	
  the	
  jurisdiction	
  of	
  the	
  USFWS.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  occur	
  in	
  proximity	
  to	
  any	
  known	
  marine	
  mammals	
  

(http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals)?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

2) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  likely	
  result	
  in	
  the	
  take	
  of a	
  marine	
  mammal?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  either	
  of	
  these	
  questions	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  regional	
  office	
  of	
  NMFS	
  (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/)	
  to	
  

determine	
  if	
  a	
  permit	
  is	
  required.	
  	
  Additional	
  information	
  concerning	
  marine	
  mammal	
  permits	
  can	
  be found	
  at:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/mmpa_permits.htm	
  and

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/guide.htm.

1.6	
  CLEAN	
  WATER	
  ACT	
  (CWA)

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 15
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 16

A	
  separate	
  type	
  of	
  permit	
  is	
  required	
  to	
  dispose	
  of	
  dredge	
  or	
  fill	
  material	
  in	
  the	
  Nation’s	
  waters,	
  including	
  wetlands.	
  	
  Authorized	
  by	
  

Section	
  404	
  of	
  the	
  Act,	
  this	
  permit	
  program	
  is	
  administered	
  by	
  the	
  U.S.	
  Army	
  Corps	
  of	
  Engineers	
  (USACE),	
  subject	
  to	
  and	
  using

environmental	
  guidance	
  from	
  the	
  Environmental	
  Protection	
  Agency	
  (EPA).	
  Some	
  types	
  of	
  activities	
  are	
  exempt	
  from	
  permit	
  

requirements,	
  including	
  certain	
  farming,	
  ranching,	
  and	
  forestry	
  practices	
  that	
  do	
  not	
  alter	
  the	
  use	
  or	
  character	
  of	
  the	
  land; some	
  

construction	
  and	
  maintenance;	
  and	
  activities	
  already	
  regulated	
  by	
  States	
  under	
  other	
  provisions	
  of	
  the	
  Act.	
  	
  

A	
  permit	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  from	
  the	
  USACE	
  for	
  the	
  disposal	
  of	
  dredge	
  or	
  fill	
  material	
  in	
  the	
  nation’s	
  waters,	
  including	
  wetlands.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  result	
  in	
  any	
  disposal	
  of	
  dredge	
  or	
  fill	
  material	
  to	
  the	
  nation’s	
  waters	
  or	
  wetlands?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  Regulatory	
  Program	
  of	
  the	
  nearest	
  District	
  Office	
  of	
  the	
  USACE	
  

(http://www.usace.army.mil/Locations.aspx)for	
  further	
  guidance	
  on	
  Section	
  404	
  permits.

A	
  Water	
  Quality	
  Certification	
  (Section	
  401)	
  is	
  required for	
  activities	
  that	
  may	
  result	
  in	
  a	
  discharge	
  into	
  navigable	
  waters,	
  including	
  

wetlands,	
  watercourses,	
  and	
  natural	
  or	
  man-­‐made	
  ponds.	
  	
  A	
  National	
  Pollution	
  Discharge	
  Elimination	
  System	
  (NPDES)	
  permit	
  may	
  also	
  

be	
  required	
  for	
  such	
  discharges.	
  1)	
  	
  Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  result	
  in	
  any	
  discharge	
  to	
  navigable	
  waters?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  your	
  state	
  water	
  quality	
  agency	
  for	
  additional	
  guidance.	
  	
  Additional	
  information	
  

concerning	
  Section	
  401	
  or	
  NPDES	
  requirements	
  can	
  be found	
  at:	
  	
  http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/waterquality	
  and	
  

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/.

1.7	
  CLEAN	
  AIR	
  ACT	
  (CAA)

Special	
  conditions	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  on	
  projects	
  that	
  could	
  affect	
  air	
  quality.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  result	
  in	
  any	
  direct	
  or	
  indirect	
  emissions	
  within	
  a	
  non-­‐attainment	
  area	
  

(http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/greenbk/index.html)?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  state	
  air	
  quality	
  agency	
  (http://www.4cleanair.org)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance	
  on	
  

determining	
  conformity	
  with	
  the	
  state	
  implementation	
  plan.

1.8	
  NATIONAL	
  HISTORIC	
  PRESERVATION	
  ACT	
  (NHPA)

Special	
  conditions	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  on	
  projects	
  that	
  could	
  affect	
  historic	
  resources.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  occur	
  near	
  property	
  listed	
  or	
  eligible	
  for	
  listing	
  in	
  the	
  National	
  Register	
  of	
  Historic	
  Places	
  

(http://www.nps.gov/nr),	
  or	
  near	
  property	
  otherwise	
  protected	
  by	
  section	
  106	
  of	
  the	
  National	
  Historic	
  Preservation	
  Act	
  

(http://www.nps.gov/history/local-­‐law/nhpa1966.htm)	
  or	
  a	
  similar	
  State	
  Preservation	
  Act?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  U.S.	
  Advisory	
  Council	
  on	
  Historic	
  Preservation	
  (http://www.achp.gov),	
  or your	
  state	
  

historic	
  preservation	
  office	
  (http://www.ncshpo.org/)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance	
  concerning	
  compliance	
  requirements.

1.9	
  COASTAL	
  BARRIER	
  RESOURCE	
  ACT	
  (CBRA)

Federal	
  funding	
  may	
  be	
  prohibited	
  for	
  projects	
  that	
  occur	
  on	
  certain	
  designated	
  coastal	
  barriers.

1) Is	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  located	
  on	
  an	
  undeveloped	
  coastal	
  barrier	
  designated	
  by	
  the	
  Coastal	
  Barriers	
  Resources	
  Act	
  

(http://www.fws.gov/cbra/)?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  Regional	
  Office	
  of	
  USFWS	
  (http://www.fws.gov/where)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance.

1.10	
  RIVERS	
  AND	
  HARBORS	
  ACT

A	
  permit	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  from	
  the	
  USACE	
  if the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  involves	
  any	
  work	
  in,	
  over,	
  or	
  under	
  navigable	
  waters	
  of	
  the	
  United	
  

States.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  involve	
  any	
  work	
  (including	
  structures)	
  that	
  will	
  occur	
  in,	
  over	
  or	
  under	
  navigable	
  waters	
  of	
  the	
  

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United	
  States?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  Regulatory	
  Program	
  of	
  the	
  nearest	
  District	
  Office	
  of	
  the	
  USACE	
  

(http://www.usace.army.mil/Locations.aspx)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance	
  on	
  Section	
  10	
  permits.	
  	
  The	
  USACE	
  can	
  authorize	
  activities	
  by a	
  

standard	
  individual	
  permit,	
  letter-­‐of-­‐permission,	
  nationwide	
  permit,	
  or	
  regional	
  permit.	
  	
  The	
  USACE	
  will	
  make	
  the	
  determination	
  on	
  

what	
  type	
  of	
  permit	
  is	
  needed.

1.11	
  RESOURCE	
  CONSERVATION	
  AND	
  RECOVERY	
  ACT	
  (RCRA)

A	
  RCRA	
  permit	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  from	
  the	
  EPA	
  or	
  designated	
  state	
  agency	
  for	
  the	
  long-­‐term	
  storage,	
  treatment,	
  or	
  disposal	
  of	
  

hazardous	
  materials	
  or	
  petroleum	
  products.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  include	
  the	
  long-­‐term	
  storage	
  of	
  hazardous	
  materials	
  or	
  petroleum	
  products?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  RCRA	
  Regional	
  Office	
  of	
  the	
  EPA	
  or	
  state	
  authorized	
  agency	
  	
  

(http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/inforesources/online/index.htm)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance	
  on	
  RCRA	
  compliance.	
  	
  

1.12	
  COMPREHENSIVE	
  ENVIRONMENTAL	
  RESPONSE,	
  COMPENSATION, AND	
  LIABILITY	
  ACT	
  (CERCLA)

Special	
  provisions	
  and	
  requirements	
  may	
  apply	
  if	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  involves	
  a	
  Superfund	
  site	
  

(http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/index.htm).

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  involve	
  a	
  known	
  Superfund	
  site?

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  Regional	
  Office	
  of	
  the	
  EPA	
  (http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa#pane-­‐4)	
  for	
  

further	
  guidance	
  on	
  CERCLA	
  requirements.

1.13	
  WILD	
  AND	
  SCENIC	
  RIVERS	
  ACT

The	
  Wild	
  and	
  Scenic	
  Rivers	
  Act	
  prohibits	
  federal	
  support	
  for actions	
  such	
  as	
  the	
  construction	
  of	
  dams	
  or	
  other	
  instream	
  activities	
  that	
  

would	
  harm	
  the	
  free-­‐flowing	
  condition,	
  water	
  quality,	
  or	
  outstanding	
  resource	
  values	
  of	
  a	
  designated	
  Wild	
  and	
  Scenic	
  River.	
  	
  There	
  are	
  

designated	
  rivers	
  in	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  States.

1) Is	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  located	
  on	
  a	
  designated	
  Wild	
  and	
  Scenic	
  River	
  (http://www.rivers.gov/index.php)?

Yes	
  	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes”	
  contact	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  Regional	
  Office	
  of	
  the	
  USFWS	
  (http://www.fws.gov/where)	
  for	
  

further	
  guidance.

1.14	
  	
  SAFE	
  DRINKING	
  WATER	
  ACT

A	
  permit	
  may	
  be	
  required	
  if	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  will	
  involve	
  underground	
  injection	
  which	
  may	
  impact	
  drinking	
  water	
  

sources.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  involve	
  underground	
  injection	
  which	
  may	
  impact	
  drinking	
  water	
  sources?

Yes	
  	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  the	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  state	
  drinking	
  water	
  or	
  underground	
  injection	
  control	
  program.	
  	
  For	
  more	
  

information	
  see:	
  http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/sdwa/.	
  

EXECUTIVE	
  ORDERS

Executive	
  Orders	
  are	
  directives	
  from	
  the	
  President	
  of	
  the	
  United	
  States	
  to	
  federal	
  agencies	
  and	
  officials.

2.1	
  E.O.	
  11988	
  – FLOODPLAIN	
  MANAGEMENT

This	
  Executive	
  Order	
  requires	
  that	
  an	
  eight-­‐step	
  process	
  be	
  followed	
  for	
  projects	
  that	
  may	
  have	
  potential	
  impacts	
  to	
  or	
  within	
  

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RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 18

floodplains.

1) Is	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  located	
  in	
  a	
  designated	
  floodway	
  or	
  “V-­‐zone”	
  on	
  a	
  National	
  Flood	
  Insurance	
  Program	
  map:

(http://msc.fema.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/FemaWelcomeView?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-­‐1)?

Yes	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  Regional	
  Office	
  of	
  the	
  Federal	
  Emergency	
  Management	
  Agency	
  

(http://www.fema.gov/regional-­‐operations)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance.

2.2	
  E.O.	
  11990	
  – WETLAND	
  PROTECTION	
  

This	
  Executive	
  Order	
  requires	
  agencies	
  to	
  minimize	
  the	
  destruction,	
  loss,	
  or	
  degradation	
  of	
  wetlands,	
  and	
  to	
  preserve	
  and	
  enhance	
  the	
  

natural	
  beneficial	
  values	
  of	
  wetlands.

1) Is	
  any	
  portion	
  of	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  in	
  wetlands?

Yes	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  provide	
  documentation	
  in	
  the	
  grant	
  application	
  demonstrating	
  that:	
  	
  (1)	
  there	
  is	
  no	
  practicable	
  

alternative,	
  and	
  (2)	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  includes	
  all	
  practicable	
  measures	
  to	
  minimize	
  harm	
  to	
  wetlands.

2.3	
  E.O.	
  12898	
  – ENVIRONMENTAL	
  JUSTICE	
  

This	
  Executive	
  Order	
  requires	
  that	
  "each	
  federal	
  agency	
  shall	
  make	
  achieving	
  environmental	
  justice	
  part	
  of	
  its	
  mission	
  by	
  identifying	
  

and	
  addressing,	
  as	
  appropriate,	
  disproportionately	
  high	
  and	
  adverse	
  human	
  health	
  or	
  environmental	
  effects	
  of	
  its	
  programs,	
  policies,	
  

and	
  activities	
  on	
  minority	
  populations	
  and	
  low-­‐income	
  populations."

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  have	
  disproportionately	
  high	
  and	
  adverse	
  human	
  health	
  or	
  environmental	
  effects	
  on	
  minority	
  or	
  

low-­‐income	
  populations?	
  

Yes	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  see	
  the	
  Council	
  on	
  Environmental	
  Quality	
  website	
  for	
  further	
  guidance	
  on	
  Environmental	
  

Justice:	
  http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa_information/justice.html.	
  	
  

2.4	
  E.O.	
  13089	
  – CORAL	
  REEF	
  PROTECTION

This	
  Executive	
  Order	
  requires	
  that	
  any actions	
  that	
  are	
  authorized	
  or	
  funded	
  by	
  federal	
  agencies	
  not	
  degrade	
  the	
  condition	
  of	
  coral	
  

reef	
  ecosystems.	
  	
  The	
  some	
  of	
  the	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  States	
  contain	
  coral	
  reef	
  ecosystems	
  and	
  include	
  National	
  Marine	
  Sanctuaries	
  

(http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov).

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  involve	
  a	
  coral	
  reef	
  ecosystem	
  or	
  National	
  Marine	
  Sanctuary?

Yes	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  National	
  Oceanic	
  and	
  Atmospheric	
  Administration	
  Coral	
  Reef	
  Conservation	
  Program	
  

(http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance.	
  	
  Additional	
  information	
  regarding	
  Executive	
  Order	
  13089	
  can	
  be	
  found	
  at:	
  	
  

http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/eos/eo13089.html.

2.5	
  E.O.	
  13112	
  – INVASIVE	
  SPECIES

This	
  Executive	
  Order	
  requires	
  agencies	
  to	
  prevent	
  the	
  introduction	
  of	
  invasive	
  species	
  and	
  provide	
  for	
  their	
  control.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  have	
  the	
  potential	
  to	
  introduce	
  or	
  cause	
  the	
  spread	
  of	
  an	
  invasive	
  species?	
  	
  For	
  more	
  information	
  

on	
  invasive	
  species,	
  see	
  http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/index.shtml.	
  

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  provide	
  documentation	
  demonstrating	
  that	
  the	
  benefits	
  of	
  the	
  activity	
  clearly	
  outweigh	
  the	
  

potential	
  harm	
  caused	
  by	
  invasive	
  species,	
  and	
  that	
  all	
  feasible	
  and	
  prudent	
  measures	
  to	
  minimize	
  risk	
  of	
  harm	
  will	
  be	
  taken	
  in	
  

conjunction	
  with	
  the	
  actions.

2.6	
  	
  	
  E.O.	
  13186	
  – RESPONSIBILITIES	
  OF	
  FEDERAL	
  AGENCIES	
  TO	
  PROTECT	
  MIGRATORY	
  BIRDS

This	
  Executive	
  Order	
  requires	
  the	
  incorporation	
  and	
  promotion	
  of	
  migratory	
  bird	
  conservation	
  considerations	
  into	
  all	
  agency	
  activities.	
  	
  

The	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  States	
  contain	
  North	
  American	
  migration	
  flyways.

1) Is	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  likely	
  to	
  occur	
  during	
  a	
  time	
  of	
  the	
  year	
  when	
  migrating	
  birds	
  are	
  in	
  the	
  vicinity?

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RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 19

Yes	
  	
   No	
  	
  

If	
  the	
  answer	
  to	
  this	
  question	
  is	
  “yes,”	
  contact	
  the	
  nearest	
  Regional	
  Office	
  of	
  the	
  U.S.	
  Fish	
  and	
  Wildlife	
  Service	
  

(http://www.fws.gov/where)	
  for	
  further	
  guidance.	
  	
  Additional	
  information	
  regarding	
  Executive	
  Order	
  13186	
  can	
  be	
  found	
  at:	
  

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds.

2.7	
  	
  E.O.	
  13653	
  – PREPARING	
  THE	
  UNITED	
  STATES	
  FOR	
  THE	
  IMPACTS	
  OF	
  CLIMATE	
  CHANGE

This	
  Executive	
  Order	
  requires	
  federal	
  agencies	
  to	
  identify	
  and	
  support	
  smarter,	
  more	
  climate-­‐resilient	
  investments	
  by	
  States,	
  local	
  

communities,	
  and	
  tribes,	
  including	
  by	
  providing	
  incentives	
  through	
  agency	
  guidance	
  and	
  grants.

1) Will	
  the	
  proposed	
  activity	
  incorporate	
  elements	
  that	
  promote	
  climate-­‐resilience	
  (e.g.,	
  to	
  rising	
  sea	
  levels)?

Yes	
  	
  	
  No	
  	
  

If	
  yes,	
  include	
  a	
  brief	
  description	
  of	
  the	
  climate-­‐resilient	
  elements	
  in	
  the	
  grant	
  application	
  -­‐ proposed	
  activity	
  description.

Additional	
  information	
  regarding	
  Executive	
  Order	
  13563	
  can	
  be	
  found	
  at:	
  	
  https://sftool.gov/learn/annotation/427/executive-­‐order-­‐

13653-­‐preparing-­‐united-­‐states-­‐impacts-­‐climate-­‐change.

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 19
SECTION	
  5.0	
  	
  	
  RESTORE	
  ACT	
  CENTERS	
  OF	
  EXCELLENCE	
  RESEARCH	
  GRANTS	
  STATUS	
  OF	
  PERFORMANCE	
  REPORT

5.0	
   RESTORE	
  ACT	
  CENTERS	
  OF	
  EXCELLENCE	
  RESEARCH	
  GRANTS	
  STATUS	
  OF	
  PERFORMANCE	
  REPORT

If	
  the	
  measures	
  of	
  success	
  have	
  been	
  selected	
  for	
  the	
  Center(s)	
  of	
  Excellence,	
  include	
  this	
  form	
  with	
  the	
  application and	
  fill	
  in	
  “Measure,”	
  

“Baseline,”	
  and	
  “Target.”	
  	
  If	
  not,	
  the	
  form must be	
  submitted	
  within	
  90	
  days	
  of	
  the	
  award	
  or	
  with	
  the	
  first	
  performance	
  report, whichever	
  comes	
  

first.	
  	
  The	
  form	
  below	
  is	
  provided	
  as	
  an	
  example. RESTORE	
  Act	
  Status	
  of	
  Performance	
  Report	
  	
  —	
  Department	
  of	
  the	
  Treasury OMB	
  Approval	
  No.	
  1505-­‐0250

Applicant/Grantee:

Grant	
  Title:	
  

Objective(s):

Reporting	
  Period	
  Ending:

Measure	
  # Measure Baseline Target

Target	
  Date	
  

(month/	
  

year)

Progress	
  

toward	
  

target	
  

(reporting	
  

period)

Progress	
  

toward	
  

target	
  

(cumulative) Status/Next	
  Steps

1 1

Coas tal	
  and	
  del taic	
  sus tainabili ty,	
  res tora tion	
  and	
  protection,	
  including	
  solutions	
  

and	
  technology	
  tha t	
  allow	
  ci tizens	
  to	
  live	
  in	
  a	
  sa fe	
  and	
  sus tainable	
  manner	
  in	
  a	
  

coas tal	
  del ta	
  in	
  the	
  Gul f	
  Coas t	
  Region

2 2 Coas tal	
  fisheries	
  and	
  wildli fe	
  ecosys tem	
  research	
  and	
  moni toring	
  in	
  the	
  Gul f	
  Coas t	
  

Region

3 3 Offshore	
  energy	
  development,	
  including	
  resea rch	
  and	
  technology	
  to	
  improve	
  the	
  

sus tainable	
  and	
  sa fe	
  development	
  of	
  energy	
  resources	
  in	
  the	
  Gul f	
  of	
  Mexico

4 4 Sus tainable	
  and	
  resilient	
  growth,	
  economic	
  and	
  commercial	
  development	
  in	
  the	
  Gul f	
  

Coas t	
  Region.

5 5 Comprehensive	
  observa tion,	
  moni toring,	
  and	
  mapping	
  of	
  the	
  Gul f	
  of	
  Mexico

6

7

8

9

10

Implementa tion	
  of	
  a	
  federally	
  approved	
  marine,	
  coas tal,	
  or	
  comprehensive	
  conserva tion	
  

management	
  plan,	
  including	
  fisheries	
  moni toring.

Workforce	
  development	
  and	
  job	
  crea tion.

According	
  to	
  the	
  Paperwork	
  Reduction	
  Act	
  of	
  1995,	
  no	
  persons	
  are	
  required	
  to	
  respond	
  to	
  a	
  collection	
  of	
  information	
  unless	
  it	
  displays	
  a	
  valid	
  OMB	
  control	
  number.	
  The	
  valid	
  OMB	
  control	
  number	
  for	
  this	
  information	
  

collection	
  is	
  1505-­‐0250.	
  	
  Comments	
  concerning	
  the	
  time	
  required	
  to	
  complete	
  this	
  information	
  collection,	
  including	
  the	
  time	
  to	
  review	
  instructions,	
  search	
  existing	
  data	
  resources,	
  gathering	
  and	
  maintaining	
  the	
  data	
  

needed,	
  and	
  completing	
  and	
  reviewing	
  the	
  collection	
  of	
  information,	
  should	
  be	
  directed	
  to	
  the	
  Department	
  of	
  the	
  Treasury,	
  RESTORE	
  Act	
  Program,	
  1500	
  Pennsylvania	
  Ave.,	
  NW,	
  Washington,	
  DC	
  20220.

Promotion	
  of	
  tourism,	
  including	
  recrea tional	
  fishing

Promotion	
  of	
  consumption	
  of	
  sea food

Improvements	
  to	
  or	
  on	
  Sta te	
  pa rks	
  loca ted	
  in	
  coa s tal	
  a rea s	
  a ffected	
  by	
  the	
  Deepwa ter	
  

Horizon	
  oil	
  spill.	
  

Res tora tion	
  and	
  protection	
  of	
  the	
  na tural	
  resources,	
  ecosys tems,	
  fi sheries,	
  ma rine	
  and	
  

wildli fe	
  habi tats,	
  beaches,	
  and	
  coas tal	
  wetlands	
  of	
  the	
  Gul f	
  Coas t	
  region

Mi tiga tion	
  of	
  damage	
  to	
  fish,	
  wildli fe,	
  and	
  na tural	
  resources.	
  

Applicable	
  Eligible	
  Activities/Disciplines:	
  (For	
  Direct	
  Component	
  grants,	
  enter	
  the	
  applicable	
  number(s )	
  from	
  the	
  lis t	
  of	
  eligible	
  

activi ties	
  below.	
  For	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  grants,	
  enter	
  the	
  applicable	
  number(s )	
  from	
  the	
  lis t	
  of	
  eligible	
  disciplines	
  below.	
  

The	
  applicable	
  eligible	
  activi ty/eligible	
  discipline	
  number(s )	
  should	
  be	
  used	
  as	
  the	
  pretext	
  of	
  the	
  measure	
  numbers.	
  	
  For	
  

example,	
  the	
  measure	
  number	
  1.2	
  indica tes	
  tha t	
  i t	
  is	
  the	
  second	
  measure	
  rela ting	
  to	
  the	
  firs t	
  eligible	
  activi ty/eligible	
  

Direct	
  Component	
  Eligible	
  Activities Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Eligible	
  Disciplines

Infras tructure	
  projects	
  benefi tting	
  the	
  economy	
  or	
  ecological	
  resources,	
  including	
  port	
  

i nfra s tructure.

Coas tal	
  flood	
  protection	
  and	
  rela ted	
  infras tructure.

Planning	
  assis tance.

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 20 Page 20
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 21

6.0	
  	
  CENTERS OF	
  EXCELLENCE	
  APPLICANT	
  CERTIFICATIONS

6.0	
  	
  CENTERS OF	
  EXCELLENCE	
  APPLICANT	
  CERTIFICATIONS

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 21
RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 22Page 22
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 23

7.0	
  RESTORE	
  ACT	
  CENTERS	
  OF	
  EXCELLENCE	
  PERIODIC	
  REPORTING	
  

DOCUMENTATION

After	
  receiving	
  an	
  award,	
  all	
  recipients	
  will	
  have	
  access	
  to	
  their	
  grant	
  portfolio	
  in	
  

GrantSolutions.gov,	
  where	
  they	
  will	
  be	
  able	
  to	
  manage	
  their	
  grant	
  activities	
  and	
  reporting	
  

requirements	
  throughout	
  the	
  effective	
  performance	
  period	
  of	
  each	
  grant.	
  	
  This	
  will	
  include	
  the	
  

ability	
  to	
  electronically	
  submit	
  Post	
  Award	
  Amendment	
  requests,	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  the	
  required	
  

Federal	
  Financial	
  Reports	
  (SF-­‐425)	
  and	
  Performance	
  Progress	
  Reports	
  (SF-­‐PPR)	
  and	
  all	
  

associated	
  reporting	
  templates.	
  	
  All	
  recipients	
  will	
  be	
  required	
  to	
  file	
  the	
  following	
  reports	
  

periodically,	
  as	
  set	
  forth	
  in	
  the	
  Centers	
  of	
  Excellence Standard	
  Terms	
  and Conditions in	
  the	
  

recipient’s	
  grant	
  agreement,	
  executed	
  by	
  the	
  recipient	
  and	
  Treasury	
  (click	
  on	
  the	
  links	
  to	
  view	
  

blank	
  forms).

7.1 SF-­‐425 – Federal	
  Financial	
  Report

7.2 SF-­‐PPR	
  – Performance	
  Progress	
  Report

7.3	
  	
  	
  	
  SF-­‐PPR	
  Attachment	
  – Status	
  of	
  Performance	
  Report

7.4	
  	
  	
  	
  If	
  applicable,	
  SF-­‐424A,	
  based	
  upon	
  the	
  original	
  application. The	
  Standard	
  Terms	
  and	
  

Conditions	
  in	
  the	
  recipient’s	
  grant	
  agreement	
  will	
  describe	
  the	
  instances	
  when	
  a	
  

recipient	
  must	
  submit	
  an	
  update.	
  

7.5 Annual	
  Report	
  to	
  Gulf	
  Coast	
  Ecosystem	
  Restoration	
  Council,	
  as	
  described	
  at	
  31	
  C.F.R.	
  §	
  

34.706(a),	
  which	
  is	
  submitted	
  annually	
  at	
  least	
  60	
  days	
  after	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  the	
  fiscal	
  year.

7.6 The	
  Recipient	
  must	
  report	
  subaward	
  data	
  under	
  the	
  Federal	
  Funding	
  Accountability	
  and	
  

Transparency	
  Act	
  (FFATA).	
  See http://www.fsrs.gov/ for	
  details	
  on	
  how	
  and	
  when	
  to	
  file.

In	
   addition,	
   the	
   following	
   forms	
   may	
   be	
   required,	
   depending	
   on	
   the	
   nature	
   of	
   the	
   award	
   or	
  

activities	
   undertaken	
   by	
   the	
   recipient.	
   The	
   grant	
   agreement	
   will	
   specify	
   which	
   forms	
   are	
  

required:

7.7 SF-­‐LLL	
  – Disclosure	
  of	
  Lobbying	
  Activities. See	
  31	
  C.F.R.	
  Part	
  21	
  for	
  information	
  on	
  who	
  

must	
  file.

7.8 SF-­‐428	
  – Tangible	
  Personal	
  Property	
  Report

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 23
RESTORE Act Direct Component Guidance and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 24

APPENDIX	
  A	
  – SUMMARY REFERENCE	
  FOR	
  CENTERS	
  OF	
  EXCELLENCE	
  APPLICATIONS

1. Operational	
  Self-­‐Assessment	
  (must	
  be	
  on	
  file	
  with	
  Treasury prior	
  to	
  award	
  of	
  funds)

2. Form	
  SF-­‐424 Application	
  for	
  Federal	
  Assistance

3. Form	
  SF-­‐424A	
  Budget	
  Information	
  – Non-­‐Construction	
  Programs	
  

4. Form	
  SF-­‐424B	
  Assurance	
  for	
  Non-­‐Construction	
  Projects

5. Negotiated	
  Indirect	
  Cost	
  Rate	
  Agreement

6. A	
   letter	
   from	
   the	
   applicant’s	
   highest	
   official	
   designating	
   a	
   senior	
   authorized	
   official	
  

who	
   can	
   legally	
   bind	
   the	
   entity	
   to	
   execute the	
   “Centers of	
   Excellence	
   Funding	
  

Certification	
  by	
  Authorized	
  Senior	
  Official “

7. Required	
  “Centers of	
  Excellence	
  Applicant	
  Certifications”

8. Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Financial	
  Assistance	
  Application,	
  including	
  the	
  Treasury	
  RESTORE	
  

Act	
  Environmental	
  Checklist

9. Centers	
  of	
  Excellence	
  Status	
  of	
  Performance	
  Report

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence and Application to Receive Federal Financial Assistance Page 24