[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9751-9753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5265]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 970121009-7009-01]
RIN 0648-ZA27


Coastal Services Center Coastal Management Fellowship

AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Federal assistance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coastal Services Center is issuing this notice to solicit 
applications for the Coastal Services Center Coastal Management 
Fellowship program. The Fellowship program was established to provide 
professional on-the-job education and training opportunities for post-
graduate students in coastal resource management and policy and to 
provide specific technical assistance for state coastal resource 
management programs. For two years the Fellows will work on substantive 
state-level coastal resource management issues that pertain to Federal 
management policies and regulations. The grants will be provided to the 
Sea Grant Programs of the States hosting the Fellows. These Sea Grant 
Programs will administer the grants.

DATES: Applications for Fellowship positions will be available from all 
Sea Grant Program offices and the Coastal Services Center beginning on 
21 February 1997. Applications will be due to State Sea Grant Directors 
no later than 28 March 1997. Each Sea Grant Directors may nominate up 
to two qualified candidates. These nominations from the Sea Grant 
Directors are due to the Coastal Services Center no later than 11 April 
1997. Those candidates selected to be finalists will be notified by 30 
April 1997. Fellowships and selected projects will begin 1 October 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Send requests for the Fellowship Selection Application 
packages as well as completed nomination packages to CSC Coastal 
Management Fellowships, Attn: Mr. Michael Pentony, NOAA Coastal 
Services Center, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina, 
29405-2413.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Pentony, Coastal 
Management Services, at (803) 974-6257.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority

    Statutory authority for these awards is provided under 16 USC 
1456.c [Technical Assistance]; 15 USC Sec. 1540 [Cooperative 
Agreements]; and, 33 USC 1442 [Research program respecting possible 
long-range effects of pollution, overfishing, and man-induced changes 
of ocean ecosystems].

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

    The CSC Program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under Number 11.473.

Program Description

    The goal of the Coastal Services Center is to build capabilities 
around the nation which simultaneously address pressing issues of 
coastal health and change by conserving coastal environments including 
coastal wetlands, riparian forested wetlands, maritime forests, 
fisheries/shell fisheries, and other living marine resources and by 
promoting efficient and sustainable industry, farming, commercial and 
residential development, urban redevelopment, and tourism.
    Seven competitive post-graduate fellowships will be awarded for 
meritorious recent Masters, professional, and Ph.D. degree recipients 
to spend two years working with coastal resource management agencies on 
state-level needs and federal management issues. State coastal zone 
programs provided project proposals in a competition for placement of 
one of the CSC Coastal Management Fellows (see section on Application 
Requirements).
    The project selection process was completed before the fellow 
selection process in order to give the Sea Grant Directors and 
prospective Fellows better guidance as to the nature of the projects 
for which they will be competing. Given that the projects are being 
selected independently of the fellow selection and the desire to 
broaden the educational experience of selected fellows, they will most 
likely be serving outside of their Sea Grant home state.

Funding Availability

    Coastal Service Center funding for each twenty-four month 
fellowship is expected to be $64,000, for a total of $448,000 for the 
seven fellowships over the fellowship period. Publication of this 
announcement does not require NOAA CSC to make any specific award or to 
obligate any amount of the funds available. The two year grant of 
$64,000 with an additional $12,000 State match made for each Fellow to 
the receiving state's Sea Grant program includes $30,000 per year for 
the Fellow divided into a $20,000 stipend and $10,000 for per diem. The 
remaining $8,000 per year will be roughly divided as follows: $5,000 
for benefits, including health insurance; $1,000 for moving expenses; 
$1,500 for travel associated with the fellowship experience; and, $500 
for any administrative costs incurred by the administering Sea Grant 
program. Required travel for the Fellows includes attending either the 
Coastal Zone Conference or the bi-annual meeting of The Coastal 
Society, depending on the year. NOAA will provide funding directly to 
the Sea Grant Programs that will administer the grants.

Matching Requirements

    Cost sharing of a portion of the fellow cost for the second year of 
the fellowship is required by each state in which a Fellow is placed, 
in the amount of $12,000. Additionally, the coastal zone program is 
expected to provide in-kind support (office space, phone service, 
computer equipment, etc.) for the entire term of the fellowship.

Type of Funding Instrument

    The projects will be awarded as a Grant, distributed by the Coastal 
Services Center. NOAA anticipates that there be no substantial 
involvement of the Coastal Services Center in the performance of 
activities under this assistance program.

Eligibility Criteria

    Any student who has completed a master's, doctoral, or professional 
degree program in coastal, marine, or Great Lakes related studies at 
any

[[Page 9752]]

accredited United States institution of higher education in 1996 or by 
30 September 1997, is eligible to apply through the state Sea Grant 
Program nearest their residence or graduate institution. Knauss Marine 
Policy Fellows from the previous year, who have finished their degree 
requirements, may also apply.
    All states with federally approved coastal zone management 
programs, and states developing such programs for approval, were 
eligible to submit one application for this program through the NOAA 
Coastal Services Center. All eligible agencies were notified for the 
project proposal application process by mail in December 1996, and 
projects were selected in February 1997. The seven selected project 
agencies will serve as hosts to the CSC Coastal Management Fellows.
    Once the seven Fellows have been selected and matched to the state 
host agencies, the Sea Grant Programs in those states will be asked to 
prepare a grant application package in order to receive the grant from 
NOAA. Those grant application packages will be due to NOAA no later 
than 30 June 1997.

Award Period

    The twenty-four month fellowship commences 1 October 1997.

Indirect Costs

    Funds to support the Coastal management Fellowship program will be 
given directly to the state Sea Grant programs, and the maximum 
allowable Administrative or Indirect Costs are five hundred dollars per 
year.

Application Requirements

    The Coastal Services Center, in cooperation with the Coastal States 
Organization, National Sea Grant College Program Office, and the 
National Ocean Service's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource 
Management (OCRM), is seeking applications from qualified individuals 
to complete for Fellowship projects. These projects will directly 
involve the Fellow in such activities as natural coastal hazards 
planning, mitigation and recovery; habitat evaluation or restoration; 
and mitigation of habitat impacts caused by a major project or type of 
projects.
    All fellowship applications must include:
    A. A personal and academic resume or curriculum vitae.
    B. An educational and career goal statement from the applicant with 
emphasis on what the prospective Fellow expects from the experience. 
Placement preference in terms of geographical placement or topic of 
focus may be stated by the applicant, and will be honored to the extend 
practical. Prospective fellows should keep in mind that limited 
descriptions of placement or topic will make final placement more 
difficult.
    C. Two letters of recommendation, including one from the student's 
major professor.
    D. A detailed letter of endorsement from the sponsoring state Sea 
Grant Director, as a result of a face to face interview, addressing 
such important topics as communication skills, philosophical approach 
toward work, and ability to work with people.
    E. Copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts.
    F. Standard Form 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.''
    All Fellow applicants will be evaluated and chosen only on their 
qualifications, therefore letters of endorsements from individuals such 
as members of Congress, friends, and/or relatives should not be 
submitted.
    Sea Grant Programs submitting grant applications will be required 
to submit the following:
    A. SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance;''
    B. SF-424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs;''
    C. SF-42B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs;''
    D. Budget with necessary supporting detail, Budget Narrative;
    E. Audit Information; and,
    F. CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, 
Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace 
requirements and Lobbying;''

Project Funding Priorities

    Funds will be awarded for the support of the Fellow, as delineated 
in Section 7.f. of this notice. Funds for the fellowship will be given 
to the Sea Grant programs in the states receiving Fellows and not to 
the state coastal programs that submitted project proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

    Fellow applications will be evaluated based on the following 
criteria:

    (a) Support of Sea Grant Director (25%);
    (b) Support of major professor (15%);
(c) Strength of academic performance (15%);
(d) Diversity of academic background (15%);
(e) Experience working in coastal management or marine affairs (10%);
(f) Written and verbal communications skills (10%); and
(g) Ability to work with people (10%).

    All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of age, 
race, color, sex, creed, marital status, national origin, lawful 
political affiliation, religious preference or non-disqualifying 
physical handicap. Academic discipline, geographic representation, and 
individual state coastal program needs will be considered in balancing 
the class.

Selection Procedures

    Applications will be received at the Sea Grant program office 
nearest the applicant's graduate institution. All applications will be 
reviewed by the Sea Grant Director, or a designee. Applications which 
do not conform to the requirements may not be considered for further 
evaluation. Each Sea Grant Director may nominate up to two applicants 
for further consideration. The complete application package, with a 
letter of endorsement by the nominating Sea Grant Director, will be 
submitted to the Coastal Services Center at the address listed above 
under the Addresses section of this notice.
    A finalist selection panel will be convened, by 28 April 1997, to 
review and recommend selection of the top fourteen Fellow applicants 
using the criteria outlined above. This selection panel will present 
its recommendations to the CSC Coastal Management Fellowship Program 
Director. The panel will consist of the Coastal States Organization 
Executive Director and representatives from the Coastal Services 
Center, a Sea Grant Director representative from the Sea Grant 
Directors' Association, a representative from the NOAA Office of Ocean 
and Coastal Resources Management, and a current Fellow. Representatives 
from these groups will be chosen according to availability, timing, and 
other exigencies. Final decision will be made by 28 April 1997, and all 
Fellow applicants will be notified of the selection decision.
    Although the fourteen selected Fellow applicants will be considered 
finalists, only seven of the finalists will become Fellows and be 
placed with state coastal management program hosts. Each of the 
selected host states will send a representative, preferably the Fellow 
mentor, to the final placement workshop in Charleston, SC, 28-30 May 
1997. The fourteen Fellow finalists will be brought by CSC to the 
workshops for final interviews and placement. The placement workshops 
will serve as the final selection and placement point and will consist 
of: 1. Orientation to the program; 2. Host office project proposal 
presentations; 3. Finalist presentations;

[[Page 9753]]

4. Finalist-Host interviews; and 5. Fellow Matching.
    By 7 May 1997, CSC will send each finalist a packet of information 
detailing the interview process during the placement workshop in 
Charleston. This packet will include information on each of the final 
seven coastal resource management projects, the host agencies, and 
background on the area of assignment. No contact between prospective 
hosts and finalists should be made prior to the placement workshop.

Other Requirements

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to 
Federal financial assistance awards.

Past Performance

    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.

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 objection on the part of DOC to cover pre-award 
costs.

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.

Delinquent Federal Debts

    No award of Federal Funds shall be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
    (i) The delinquent account is paid in full,
    (ii) A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least 
one payment is received, or
    (iii) Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.

Primary Applicant Certifications

    All Sea Grant Programs preparing grant applications must submit a 
completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements and Lobbying,'' and explanations are hereby provided:
    Non-procurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective participants 
(as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 15 CFR Part 
26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related section 
of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, 
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government 
side Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related 
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    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 application/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
    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.

Lower-Tier Certifications

    Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for sub-grants, 
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.'' 
Form CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be 
transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or sub-
recipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the 
instructions contained in the award document.

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.

Intergovernmental Review

    Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''

Buy American-Made Equipment or 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 in accordance with 
Congressional intent.

Classification

    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.
    This notice contains a collection-of-information requirement 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection-of-information 
has been approved by OMB, OMB Control Numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 
0348-0040 and 0348-0046.

    Dated: February 20, 1997.
David L. Evans,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal 
Zone Management.
[FR Doc. 97-5265 Filed 3-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M