Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2001 / Notices 13295

announces NFS’ selection and the

renewal of NFS’ permit through

December 31, 2003.

The PSD permit may not be

transferred and will be in effect for a 3-

year period unless suspended or

revoked. Suspension, modification, or

revocation could occur under 15 CFR

part 904, for noncompliance with terms

and conditions specified in the permit

or for a violation of this section or other

regulations in 50 CFR part 679.

Classification

This action is taken under 50 CFR

679.26.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et

seq., and 3631 et seq.

Dated: February 27, 2001.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 01–5263 Filed 3–2–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[Docket No. 990125030–1039–02]

RIN 0648–ZA56

National Oyster Disease Research

Program and Gulf Oyster Industry

Initiative: Request for Proposals

AGENCY: National Sea Grant College

Program, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is

to advise the public that the National

Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant)

is entertaining grant proposals to

participate in innovative research,

outreach and demonstration in two

separate competitions: one to continue

the National Oyster Disease Research

Program (ODRP) and one to continue

the Gulf Oyster Industry Program

(GOIP). Approximately $1.85 million is

available for the Oyster Disease

Research Program and $.9 million for

the Gulf Oyster Program in FY–2001

and a similar amount is expected for

FY–2002. Therefore, two year proposals

are being accepted. The National Oyster

Disease Research Program focuses on

diseases that are impacting the oyster

populations of the US and the Gulf

Oyster Industry Program focuses on the

oyster industry problems of the Gulf

Coast with special emphasis on the

human health considerations within

that industry.

DATES: Preliminary proposals must be

received at the individual state Sea

Grant Programs by 5:00 p.m. (local time)

on April 4, 2001 and at the National Sea

Grant Office by 5:00 pm (EST) April 9,

2001. After evaluation at the National

Sea Grant Office (NSGO), some

proposers will be encouraged to prepare

full proposals, and those comments will

be made available by April 23, 2001.

Full proposals must be received at

individual Sea Grant Programs by 5:00

p.m. (local time), May 28, 2001 and

copies to the National Sea Grant Office

by 5:00 pm (EDT) May 31, 2001. Written

peer reviews from state Sea Grant

programs must be at the National Sea

Grant Office by 5:00 pm (EDT) on July

11, 2001. It is anticipated that full

proposal funding decisions will be

made by July 20, 2001. State Program

Directors should allow enough time in

their process to pass the proposals and

other materials to the National Sea

Grant Office by the dates indicated

above. Please see list of state program

addresses and phone numbers below.

ADDRESSES: For those applicants living

in Sea Grant States, the preliminary

proposals and full proposals must go to

state Sea Grant programs at the

addresses obtainable at the web address

below. If the applicant is not from a Sea

Grant state they should submit directly

to: National Sea Grant College Program,

R/SG, Attn: Oyster Disease and Gulf

Oyster Industry Competition, Room

11838, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway,

Silver Spring, MD 20910, by the dates

listed for submission to the National Sea

Grant Office.

Electronic Addresses:

Sea Grant Directors—

http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/

SGDirectors.html;

Sea Grant Forms—

www.nsgo.seagrant.org/research/rfp/

index.html#3

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James P. McVey, Program Director for

Aquaculture, or Mary Robinson,

Secretary, National Sea Grant Office,

301–713–2451, facsimile 301–713–0799,

e-mail-Jim.McVey@NOAA.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Program Authority

33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.

Catalog of Federal Assistance Numbers:

11.417. Sea Grant Support.

II. Program Description

Background

National Oyster Disease Research

Program: For more than two decades,

oyster populations in the Chesapeake

Bay and mid-Atlantic area have been

increasingly battered by Dermo and

MSX, two parasitic diseases for which

there is no known remedy. In the

Northeast, a new and as yet unidentified

pathogen, called Juvenile Oyster Disease

(JOD), has been taking a toll in

hatcheries. On the West Coast, the

Pacific Oyster has been subjected to

puzzling summer mortalities.

The continuing decline of oyster

stocks has been a catalyst for federal

support of the Oyster Disease Research

Program, a far-reaching effort by the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration to support innovative

research that will lead to improved

techniques for combating oyster disease.

The Program began in 1990 with

oversight by the NOAA National Marine

Fisheries Service and its Chesapeake

Bay Office, and is now administered by

the National Sea Grant College Program.

The Oyster Disease Research Program

is supporting efforts to reduce the

impacts of oyster disease on oyster

populations through a competitive

research program coupled with outreach

and management efforts. The ODRP is

committed to the restoration of healthy

populations of oysters in the nation’s

coastal waters.

Gulf Oyster Industry Program: The

Gulf Oyster Industry Program is a long

term, research-based program aimed at

assisting the oyster industry in states

adjoining the Gulf of Mexico to achieve

full economic recovery and sustainable

oyster production. This program will

foster the participation of highly

qualified academic researchers with

industry and management agency

personnel in an organized,

comprehensive search for practical

solutions to the most pressing problems

of the Gulf oyster industry, including

those relating to Vibrio vulnificus, a

human pathogen, and other human

health risks associated with raw

molluscan shellfish.

Funding Availability and Priorities

Approximately $1.85 million in FY–

2001 funding is available for the Oyster

Disease competition and approximately

$900,000 is available for the Gulf Oyster

Industry competition. A similar amount

is expected but not assured for both

competitions in FY–2002, therefore,

two-year projects will be considered.

Funding will be on an annual basis,

with grant renewal depending upon

satisfactory demonstration of progress

and availability of funds. Any two-year

grant awards that are funded annually

must have scopes of work that can be

easily separated into annual increments

of meaningful work that represents solid

accomplishments if prospective funding

is not made available to the applicant

13296 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2001 / Notices

(i.e., the scopes of work for each funding

period must produce identifiable and

meaningful results in and of

themselves).

The National Sea Grant College

Program encourages proposals that

address one of the following two

program areas:

(1) National Oyster Disease Research

Program (ODRP)

The official vision statement for the

program is ‘‘to provide, through a

coordinated research and outreach

program, the technological basis for

overcoming diseases which currently

limit oyster production in the United

States.’’ Even though ODRP emphasis is

on diseases associated with the

American oyster, proposals addressing

disease problems of other oyster species

will be considered as long as they relate

to the priorities identified below.

In response to the progress reports

and discussions that took place at the

International Shellfish Restoration

Conference, 16–18 November, 2000, this

announcement will encourage

partnerships for the transfer of basic

research findings and new technology to

the industry and to State shellfish

managers where opportunity exists.

Even though this announcement is

encouraging projects of this type, Sea

Grant recognizes that some of the best

work being done on oyster disease

involves basic research, which may not

be ready for application, but which still

contributes to a greater understanding of

the fundamental nature of oyster

diseases. Sea Grant will continue to

support this basic research, while

providing opportunity for those

researchers that have already developed

useful applications to receive

consideration in the proposal process.

Primary consideration for funding

will be given to proposals which

address the specific priorities listed

below. These priorities, originally

determined at a national workshop in

January, 1995 and further refined at the

Oyster Disease Research Program

session during the International

Shellfish Restoration Conferences in

1996 and 2000, are not listed in any

implied order of importance.

(1) Design, apply and evaluate disease

management strategies for enhanced

natural and aquaculture production and

prediction (i.e. advanced forecasting)—

there are many issues related to

establishment of oyster sanctuaries,

commercial oyster beds, oyster

aquaculture, remote setting, use of

natural seed, bottom cleaning before

setting, cultch type, etc. which should

be addressed as related to the impacts

of disease. Activities that involve

private sector, state restoration programs

and extension/outreach in the

implementation of research results and

field trials using diagnostic methods,

and other disease related technology

and information for improved oyster

disease management or oyster culture

are appropriate under this priority.

(2) Parasite life cycles and the

dynamics and mechanisms of

transmission—investigations of selected

aspects of the life cycles of oyster

pathogens, especially MSX and

Perkinsus, and the dynamics/

mechanisms of disease transmission

among host organisms.

(3) Host-parasite interactions—

investigations which: determine how

pathogens avoid host defense

mechanisms, biochemically characterize

Perkinsus strains, determine factors

which confer virulence to Perkinsus

strains, determine mechanisms of

infection/entry into the host, or compare

disease processes in oyster species are

being sought.

(4) Mechanisms of disease

resistance—continued emphasis is

placed on studies concerning cellular/

molecular mechanisms of disease

infection and resistance in Crassostrea

spp. and studies which determine the

mechanisms of immune response in

oysters. In addition, analysis of host

defense factors, the development of

molecular markers of disease and stress

resistance, the development of immunostimulants, the application of chemotherapeutics, and the identification of

pathogen virulence and resistance

mechanisms are needed; as are studies

comparing resistance among diploid

and polyploid oysters.

(5) Development and application of

diagnostic methods for all oyster

diseases—investigations which lead to

the development and application of

molecular techniques for disease

diagnosis, and those which develop

rapid field diagnostic methods are high

priority. This program has already

developed many diagnostic techniques

for several disease organisms and new

proposals will be expected to show a

significant improvement over the

techniques already developed.

(6) Environmental influences on

disease processes—proposals which

address the influence of biotic and

abiotic factors upon host-parasite

interactions are high priority. Also

included are studies of the effects of

eutrophication and other stresses upon

disease dynamics, basic physiological

and adaptation processes in both hosts

and parasites, the mechanisms of the

summer kill phenomenon, relationships

between disease progression and

climate, and the eco-physiology of

Perkinsus.

Taxonomy, phylogeny and population

studies of both hosts and parasites—

emphasis continues on studies of

variations in population susceptibility,

host resistance and pathogen virulence.

Also needed are investigations of the

genetic structure of both hosts and

parasites.

(8) Development and application of

selective breeding strategies—We are

seeking studies which develop

molecular/biochemical markers for

breeding resistance into oysters, as well

as genome analysis and gene transfer

techniques related to disease resistance.

Evaluation of non-native oyster species

genomes with regard to disease

resistance under aquaculture conditions

will also be considered.

(9) Development and testing of

geographic and mathematical models to

improve understanding of disease

dynamics—A basic model now exists

and new work in this area must clearly

state how additional investment will

take us to an even better level of

prediction or disease management.

(2) Gulf Oyster Industry Program

The Gulf Oyster Industry Program was

created as a result of information

provided by Gulf oyster industry

leaders, state resource managers, and

academic researchers spanning the fivestate Gulf region. Specific needs

identified by these individuals were

subsumed into 12 concise issue

statements as a result of a workshop

held in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1997

and reaffirmed in 2000. This list of

research and extension needs and

proposed responses was presented to a

select Industry Advisory Panel at the

Gulf Oyster Industry Program Workshop

conducted in New Orleans, La., on

February 28, 1998, and again in 2000

and the group was asked to establish

research priorities based on that

framework. Through an ensuing

discussion, the high-priorities were

delineated as shown below:

(1) At-Risk Consumer Education and

Evaluation—This RFP seeks proposals

that will develop, implement and/or

evaluate a Vibrio vulnificus Education

Program, including, but not limited to:

at-risk consumer foundations and

associations, pharmacies, alcohol

treatment centers, wound infection

issues, media relations, and public

perceptions.

(2) Human Pathogenic Organisms—

Raw oysters have the potential to cause

human illness due to the presence of

naturally occurring opportunistic

pathogens (e.g., Vibrio vulnificus),

naturally occurring pathogens that

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2001 / Notices 13297

become a concern only when present at

elevated levels (e.g., Vibrio cholrea or

Vibrio parahaemolyticus), and which

pathogens are related to contaminated

growing areas (e.g., Norwalk and

Norwalk-like viruses, Salmonella sp.

and Shigella). This potential has created

a perception that consumption of raw

oysters places a large number of people

at risk of contracting illnesses from

opportunistic bacteria, toxins, and

viruses. This RFP also seeks proposals

that will develop new means of treating

shell stock to eliminate human

pathogens, and, develop or investigate

new technology, such as ionized water,

for depurating oysters of human

pathogens.

(3) Post-Harvest Treatment (PHT)

Process Evaluation and Education—This

RFP seeks proposals that will develop

and evaluate PHT demonstration

projects, including, but not limited to,

providing PHT product in

demonstration projects to wholesalers &

retailers, and, conducting economic

analyses regarding the changes to

current handling and processing

practices.

(4) Consumer Attitudes and

Preferences—The oyster industry and

regulators lack knowledge concerning

the attitudes, preferences, and other

characteristics of potential oyster

consumers. Learning about consumers’

attitudes and preferences will help

increase demand for new PHT and

traditional oyster products. This RFP

seeks proposals that will determine

oyster consumer demographics,

consumption patterns, attitudes and

preferences, develop media-relations

protocol for the oyster industry, conduct

media-relations workshops for the Gulf

oyster industry to improve

communication skills, develop mediarelations protocol or decision tree for

researchers and state regulatory

personnel, and, determine the

characteristics of the market for Gulf

oysters, including sales (region, size of

establishment, average sales, etc.),

distribution, and product forms.

(5) Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB)/Red

Tide—HAB causes lengthy public

health closures of shellfish growing

waters, halting production for weeks

and causing severe economic hardship

in the impacted area. This RFP seeks

proposals to develop rapid detection

methods for toxic marine algae,

especially G. breve, conduct HAB

research advisory and outreach

activities in the Gulf states, and,

conduct a workshop for state and

federal shellfish sanitation personnel

and researchers to include new

monitoring, diagnostic, and

management protocols for use in the

reopening of shellfish growing waters

closed by HAB.

(6) Economic and Legal Impacts of

Regulatory Action—The regulation of

molluscan shellfish is unique from all

other foods. Regulatory action either by

state or federal public health agencies,

and subsequent news media responses

can have severe economic and legal

impacts on the harvesting, processing

and marketing of shellfish, such as Gulf

oysters. This RFP seeks proposals that

analyze the effects of inaccurate media

reports on sales, the delisting of a

processor or state from the Interstate

Certified Shellfish Shippers List, the

ramifications from product

disparagement, and/or, the impact of the

oyster and support industries on

demand for labor and the coastal

economies of the Gulf region.

(7) Coastal Restoration/Freshwater

Diversion—Coastal land loss,

deterioration of estuarine habitat, and

coastal restoration programs, e.g.,

freshwater diversions and

sedimentation projects, are causing

widespread dislocations and conflicts

with established oyster-producing

operations. This RFP seeks proposals

that educate oyster men, public officials,

and citizens regarding the economic role

of the oyster industry and the economic

costs of displacing and relocating oyster

bedding operations, and/or, conduct

demonstration projects for oyster

farmers to show them the best strategy

to relocate their oyster farms that are

damaged by coastal restoration projects.

(8) Labor and Mechanization—The

traditional labor base that supports

oyster growing, harvesting, and

processing is shrinking rapidly, with

consequently declining production and

increased costs. This RFP seeks

proposals that investigate and develop

cost-effective mechanized approaches to

oyster harvesting, and processing,

including, but not limited to,

developing new means to package and

handle oyster shell stock and shucked

oysters, including large re-usable, lowcost containerization of shell stock for

vessels to trucks, handling equipment to

move large containers of shell stock;

and, cheaper containers for shucked

oysters.

(9) Oyster Diseases—Oyster diseases

are having a major impact on Gulf Coast

oyster stocks and for the most part this

topic will be covered under the Oyster

Disease topic in this solicitation.

However, oyster disease research

specific to the Gulf Coast will be

considered in this solicitation.

(10) Genetics and Oyster Hatchery

technology—These technologies are

needed to develop cost-effective

hatchery/nursery operations to augment

wild oyster production with specialized

strains. This RFP seeks proposals that

develop polyploid broodstock for the

Gulf Coast, disease resistant transgenic

oysters, and/or, address practical

problems which may be common to

oyster production in general, but

especially acute in a farming situation,

e.g., biofouling, predation, disease, etc.

Primary consideration for funding

will be given to proposals that address

the topics listed above. Although the

Industry Advisory Panel has indicated a

clear preference for projects with a

technological focus, more fundamental

scientific studies may be supported

when clear linkages between scientific

findings and their incorporation into

technological advances and

management practices can be,

demonstrated.

III. Eligibility

Eligible applicants include

institutions of higher education, other

non-profits, commercial organizations,

state, local and Indian tribal

governments. For the Oyster Disease

Research topic National Marine Fishery

Services personnel may participate in

joint efforts with non-federal persons or

groups in these projects as long as nonFederal matching fund requirements are

met and these non-federal persons or

groups are the principal investigators

and have applied and successfully

competed for oyster disease research

funds through the process outlined in

this announcement.

Note: NMFS personnel must demonstrate

that they have been authorized to participate

in this activity. Should funds be requested as

part of the NMFS personnel effort, NMFS

must demonstrate that they have legal

authority to receive these funds in excess of

their appropriation.

Investigators submitting proposals in

response to this announcement are

strongly encouraged to develop interinstitutional, inter-disciplinary research

teams in the form of single, integrated

proposals or as individual proposals

that are clearly linked together. Such

collaborative efforts will be factored into

the final funding decision.

IV. Evaluation Criteria

A. The evaluation criteria for both

preproposals and full proposals

submitted for support under the Oyster

Disease Research Program are as

follows:

(1) Impact of proposed project (35

points)—Significance of the ODRP

problem that is being addressed and the

level of expected improvement of oyster

industry production or technology as a

result of funding or the need for this

activity as a necessary step toward

13298 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2001 / Notices

having a positive impact on future

improvement of technology or

production.

(2) Scientific or Professional Merit (30

points)—Degree to which the activity

will advance the state of the science or

state-or-the-art methods.

(3) Field-Scale trials (5 points)—

Degree to which industry and state

oyster managers are using or will use

technology or products developed

through applied research under actual

field conditions.

(4) User Relationships, partnerships,

collaborative efforts and leveraging (15

points)—Degree to which the potential

users of the results have been involved

in the planning of the activity, will be

involved in the execution of the activity

and/or are providing matching funds.

Establishment of effective partnerships

and collaborations that leverage funds.

(5) Innovativeness (10 points)—

Degree to which new approaches to

solving problems and exploiting

opportunities in oyster disease research,

or in public outreach on such issues

will be employed, or the degree to

which the activity will focus on new

types of important or potentially

important resources and issues.

(6) Qualifications and Past Record of

investigators (5 points)—Degree to

which investigators are qualified by

education, training, and/or experience

to execute the proposed activity; record

of achievement with previous funding.

B. The evaluation criteria for both

preproposals and full proposals

submitted for support under the Gulf

Coast Oyster Industry Initiative are as

follows:

(1) Impact of proposed project (40

points)—Significance of the GCOIP that

will be addressed; the effect this activity

will have on the improvement of oyster

industry production or technology as a

result of funding or the need for this

activity as a necessary step toward

having a positive impact on future

improvement of technology or

production.

(2) Field-Scale Trials (10 points)—

Degree to which industry and state

oyster managers are using or will use

technology or products developed

through applied research under actual

field or industry conditions.

(3) Scientific or Professional Merit (20

points)—Degree to which the activity

will advance the state of the science or

discipline through use and extension of

state-of-the-art methods.

(4) User Relationships, partnerships,

collaborations and leveraging (15

points)—Degree to which potential

users of the results of the proposed

activity have been involved in planning

the activity, will be involved in the

execution of the activity, and/or are

providing matching funds.

Establishment of effective partnerships

and collaborations that leverage funds.

(5) Innovativeness (10 points)—

Degree to which new approaches to

solving problems and exploiting

opportunities in Gulf Coast Oyster

Industry issues, or in public outreach on

such issues will be employed, or the

degree to which the activity will focus

on new types of important or potentially

important resources and issues.

(6) Qualifications and Past Record of

Investigators (5 points)—Degree to

which investigators are qualified by

education, training, and/or experience

to execute the proposed activity; record

of achievement with previous funding.

V. Selection Procedures

All preliminary proposals will be

evaluated by selection panels

constituted by the National Sea Grant

Office for each of the oyster programs.

A determination will be made as to the

preproposal’s appropriateness according

to the list of priorities listed above for

each of the two competitions. Points

will be assigned to each of the

evaluation criteria relative to the

priority areas listed by the review

panels with a total of 100 points

possible for all criteria in the respective

competitions. Full proposals will be

requested of those preliminary

proposals that are rated above a certain

score to be determined by the panel.

Invitation to submit a full proposal does

not constitute an indication that the

proposal will be funded. Interested

parties who are not invited to submit

full proposals will not be precluded

from submitting full proposals if they

have submitted a preliminary proposal

in accordance with the procedures

described below. A list of those projects

already funded in previous years is

available from the National Sea Grant

Office.

Full proposals will be received at the

individual state Sea Grant programs or

at the National Sea Grant Office if from

a non-Sea Grant State applicant, and

sent to peer reviewers for written

reviews. The National Sea Grant Office

will obtain the written reviews for

proposals from Non-Sea Grant states.

Complete full proposals and their

written reviews will be sent from the

state Sea Grant programs to the National

Sea Grant Office to be ranked in

accordance with the assigned weights of

the above evaluation criteria by one of

two independent peer review panels

consisting of government, academic,

and industry experts; one panel will

review the Oyster Disease Research

Program and a second panel will review

the Gulf Oyster Industry Program. The

panel members of each panel will

provide individual evaluations on each

proposal, but there will be no consensus

advice. Proposals not receiving an

average score of 81 points or above, will

not be given further consideration. For

the Proposals rated 81 points and higher

the Sea Grant Program Managers will:

(a) Ascertain which proposals best meet

the priorities, and do not substantially

duplicate other projects that are

currently funded by NOAA or other

federal agencies; (b) select the proposals

to be funded; (c) determine which

components of the selected projects will

be funded; (d) determine the total

duration of funding for each proposal;

and (e) determine the amount of funds

available for each proposal, hence,

awards may not necessarily be made to

the highest-scored proposals.

Investigators may be asked to modify

objectives, work plans, or budgets prior

to approval of the award. Subsequent

grant administration procedures will be

in accordance with current NOAA

grants procedures. A summary

statement of the scientific review by the

peer panel will be provided to each

applicant.

Applications must reflect the total

budget necessary to accomplish the

project, and be matched by one dollar of

non-federal funds for each two dollars

of federal funds. The appropriateness of

all cost-sharing will be determined on

the basis of guidance provided in

applicable Federal cost principles. The

applicants will be bound by the

percentage of cost sharing reflected in

the grant award.

VI. Instructions for Application

What To Submit

Preliminary Proposal Guidelines

To prevent the expenditure of effort

that may not be successful, proposers

must first submit preliminary proposals.

Preliminary proposals must be single- or

double-spaced, typewritten in at least a

10 point font, and printed on metric A4

(210mm × 297mm) or 81⁄2′′ × 11′′ paper.

The following information should be

included:

(1) Signed title page: The title page

should be signed by the Principal

Investigator and should clearly identify

the program area being addressed by

starting the project title with either

‘‘Oyster Disease Research Program’’ or

‘‘Gulf Oyster Industry Initiative.’’

Principal Investigators and collaborators

should be identified by affiliation and

contact information. The total amount of

Federal funds and matching funds being

requested or provided should be listed

for each budget period, as well as the

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2001 / Notices 13299

source of the matching funds.

Preliminary proposals must include

matching fund equivalent to at least

50% of the Federal funds requested.

(2) A concise (2-page limit)

description of the project, its

experimental design, its expected

output or products, the anticipated

users of the information, and its

anticipated impact. Proposers should

use the Evaluation Criteria for

additional guidance in preparing the

preliminary proposals.

(3) Resumes (1-page limit) of the

Principal Investigators.

(4) Proposers are encouraged (but not

required) to include a separate page

suggesting reviewers that the proposers

believe are especially well qualified to

review the proposal. Proposers may also

designate persons they would prefer not

review the proposal, indicating why.

These suggestions will be considered

during the review process.

The original and two copies of the

preliminary proposals must be

submitted to the state Sea Grant

Program Director or, for investigators in

non-Sea Grant states, directly to the

National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) by the

times and dates listed under the ‘‘Dates’’

section of this announcement.

Preliminary proposals submitted to state

Sea Grant Programs will be forwarded,

along with a cover letter, to the NSGO

by the dates indicated in this

announcement.

Full Proposal Guidelines

Each full proposal should include the

items listed below. All pages should be

single- or double-spaced, typewritten in

at least a 10-point font, and printed on

metric A4 (210 mm × 297 mm) or 81⁄2′′

× 11′′ paper. Brevity will assist

reviewers and program staff in dealing

effectively with proposals. Therefore,

the Project Description may not exceed

15 pages. Tables and visual materials,

including charts, graphs, maps,

photographs and other pictorial

presentations are included in the 15-

page limitation. Conformance to the 15-

page limitation will be strictly enforced.

All information needed for review of the

proposal should be included in the

main text; no appendices are permitted.

(1) Signed title page: The title page

should be signed by the Principal

Investigator and the institutional

representative and should clearly

identify the program area being

addressed by starting the project title

with either Oyster Disease Research

Program or Gulf Oyster Industry

Initiative, as appropriate. The Principal

Investigator and institutional

representative should be identified by

full name, title, organization, telephone

number, e-mail address, and mailing

address. The total amount of Federal

funds and matching funds being

requested should be listed for each

budget period.

(2) Project Summary: This

information is very important. It is

critical that the project summary

accurately describe the research being

proposed and convey all essential

elements of the research. The project

summary should include: 1. Title: Use

the exact title as it appears in the rest

of the application. 2. Investigators: List

the names and affiliates of each

investigator who will significantly

contribute to the project. Start with the

Principal Investigator. 3. Funding

request for each year of the project,

including matching funds if

appropriate. 4. Project Period: Start and

completion dates. Proposals should

request a start date of October 1, 2001.

5. Project Summary: This should

include the rationale for the project, the

scientific or technical objectives and/or

hypotheses to be tested, and a brief

summary of work to be completed.

(3) Projected Description (15-page

limit):

Introduction/Background/

Justification: Subjects that the

investigator(s) may wish to include in

this section are: (a) Current state of

knowledge; (b) contributions that the

study will make to the particular

discipline or subject area; and (c)

contributions the study will make

toward addressing the problems of

oyster disease or Gulf oyster industry

issues.

Research or Technical Plan: (a)

Objectives to be achieved, hypotheses to

be tested; (b) Experimental design and

statistical analysis to be used; (c) Plan

of work discuss how stated project

objectives will be achieved; and (d) Role

of project personnel.

Output: Describe the project outputs

that will enhance the Nation’s ability to

improve the status of oysters and the

oyster industry.

Coordination with other Program

Elements: Describe any coordination

with other agency programs or ongoing

research efforts. Describe any other

proposals that are essential to the

success of this proposal.

Reference and Literature Citations:

Should be included but will not be

counted in the 15 page project

description limit.

(4) Budget and Budget Justification:

There should be a separate budget for

each year of the project as well as a

cumulative annual budget for the entire

project. Applicants are encouraged to

use the Sea Grant Budget Form 90–4,

but may use their own form as long as

it provides the same information as the

Sea Grant form. Subcontracts should

have a separate budget page. Matching

funds must be indicated; failure to

provide required matching funds will

result in the proposal being rejected

without review. Each annual budget

should include a separate budget

justification page that itemizes all

budget items in sufficient detail to

enable reviewers to evaluate the

appropriateness of the funding

requested. Please pay special attention

to any travel, supply or equipment

budgets and provide details. For

proposals to either of the competition

categories the total dollar amount of

indirect costs must not exceed the

indirect cost rate negotiated and

approved by the cognizant Federal

agency prior to the proposed effective

date of the award or 100 percent of the

total proposed direct costs dollar

amount in the application, whichever is

less.

(5) Current and Pending Support:

Applicants must provide information on

all current and pending Federal support

for ongoing projects and proposals,

including subsequent funding in the

case of continuing grants. The number

of person-months per year to be devoted

to the projects must be stated, regardless

of source of support. Similar

information must be provided for all

proposals already submitted or

submitted concurrently to other possible

Federal sponsors, including those

within NOAA.

(6) Vitae (2 pages maximum per

investigator)

(7) Standard Application Forms: See

Address section for web address for

forms. Forms can also be obtained from

state Sea Grant programs or the National

Sea Grant Office. The following forms

must be included:

(a) Standard Forms 424, Application

for Federal Assistance, and 424B,

Assurances—Non-Construction

Programs, (Rev 4–88). Applications

should clearly identify the program area

being addressed by starting the project

title with either Oyster Disease Research

Program or Gulf Oyster Industry

Program, as appropriate. Please note

that both the Principal Investigator and

an administrative contact should be

identified in Section 5 of the SF424. For

Section 10, applicants for the National

Oyster Disease Research Program and

Gulf Oyster Industry Initiative program

areas should enter ‘‘11.417’’ for he

CFDA Number and ‘‘Sea Grant Support’’

for the title. The form must contain the

original signature of an authorized

representative of the applying

institution.

13300 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2001 / Notices

(b) Primary Applicant Certifications.

All primary applicants must submit a

completed Form CD–511,

‘‘Certifications Regarding Debarment,

Suspension and Other Responsibility

Matters; Drug-Free Workplace

Requirements and Lobbying,’’ and the

following explanations are hereby

provided:

(i) Nonprocurement 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;

(ii) Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as

defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 605)

are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart

F, ‘‘Government wide Requirements for

Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)’’ and the

related section of the certification form

prescribed above applies;

(iii) Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as

defined at 15 CFR part 28, section 105)

are subject to the lobbying provisions of

31 U.S.C. 1352, ‘‘Limitation on use of

appropriated funds to influence certain

Federal contracting and financial

transactions,’’ and the lobbying section

of the certification form prescribed

above applies to applications/bids for

grants, cooperative agreements, and

contracts for more than $100,000, and

loans and loan guarantees for more than

$150,000, and

(iv) Anti-Lobbying Disclosures. Any

applicant that has paid or will pay for

lobbying using any funds must submit

an SF–LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying

Activities,’’ as required under 15 CFR

part 28, Appendix B.

(c) Lower Tier Certifications.

Recipients shall require applicants/

bidders for subgrants, contracts,

subcontracts, or other lower tier covered

transactions at any tier under the award

to submit, if applicable, a completed

Form CD–512, ‘‘Certifications Regarding

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility

and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier

Covered Transactions and Lobbying’’

and disclosure form, SF–LLL,

‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.’’

Form CD–512 is intended for the use of

recipients and should not be transmitted

to the Department of Commerce (DOC).

SF–LLL submitted by any tier recipient

or subrecipient should be submitted to

DOC in accordance with the

instructions contained in the award

document.

How To Submit

Although investigators are not

required to submit more than the

original and two copies of the proposal,

the normal review process requires ten

copies. Investigators are encourage to

submit sufficient proposal copies for the

full review process if they wish all

reviewers to receive color, unusually

sized (not 8.5 × 11′′), or otherwise

unusual materials submitted as part of

the proposal. Only the original and two

copies of the Federally required forms

are needed.

Federal Policies and Procedures

Grant recipients and subrecipients are

subject to all Federal laws and Federal

and DOC policies, regulations, and

procedures applicable to Federal

financial assistance awards.

Unsatisfactory performance under prior

Federal awards may result in an

application not being considered for

funding.

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,

these is no obligation on the part of the

Department of Commerce to cover preaward costs.

Applicants are hereby notified that

they are encouraged, to the extent

feasible, to purchase American-made

products with funding provided under

this program.

If an application is selected for

funding, the Department of Commerce

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 the Department of Commerce.

No award of Federal funds shall be

made to a applicant who has an

outstanding delinquent Federal debt or

fine until either:

a. The delinquent account is paid in

full,

b. A negotiated repayment schedule is

established and at least one payment is

receive, or

c. Other arrangements satisfactory to

Department of Commerce are made.

All non-profit and for-profit

applicants are subject to a name check

review process. Name checks are

intended to reveal if any key individuals

associated with the applicant have been

convicted of or are presently facing

criminal charges such as fraud, theft,

perjury, or other matters which

significantly reflect on the applicant’s

management honestly or financial

integrity.

Pursuant to Executive Orders 12876,

12900, and 13021, the Department of

Commerce, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (DOC/

NOAA) is strongly committed to

broadening the participation of

Historically Black Colleges and

Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving

Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges

and Universities (TCU) in its

educational and research programs. The

DOC/NOAA vision, mission, and goals

are to achieve full participation by

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in

order to advance the development of

human potential, strengthen the nation’s

capacity to provide high-quality

education, and to increase opportunities

for MSIs to participate in and benefit

from Federal Financial Assistance

programs. DOC/NOAA encourages all

applicants to include meaningful

participation of MSIs. Institutions

eligible to be considered MSIs are listed

at the following Internet website:

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/

99minin.html.

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.

Applications under this program are

subject to Executive Order 12372,

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs.’’

Prior notice and an opportunity for

public comments are not required by the

Administrative Procedure Act or any

other law for this notice concerning

grants, benefits, and contracts.

Therefore, a regulatory flexibility

analysis is not required for purposes of

the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

This action has been determined to be

not significant for purposes of Executive

Order 12866.

This notice contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to

the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Sea

Grant Project Summary Form and the

Sea Grant Budget Form have been

approved under the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) Control

Number 0648–0362, with estimated

times per response of 20 and 15

minutes, respectively. The use of

Standard Forms 424, 424B, and the SF–

LLL have been approved by OMB under

the respective control numbers 0348–

0043, 0348–0040 and 0348–0046. The

response time estimates above include

the time for reviewing instructions,

searching existing data sources,

gathering and maintaining the data

needed, and completed and reviewing

the collection of information. Send

comments on these estimates or any

other estimates of these collections to

the National Sea Grant Office/NOAA,

1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,

Maryland 20910 and to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget,

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2001 / Notices 13301

Washington, DC 20503 (Attention:

NOAA Desk Officer). Notwithstanding

any other provision of the law, no

person is required to respond to, nor

shall any person be subject to a penalty

for failure to comply with, a collection

of information subject to the

requirements of the Paperwork

Reduction Act, unless that collection of

information displays a currently valid

OMB Control Number.

Dated: February 23, 2001.

Louisa Koch,

Deputy Assistant Administrator, Oceanic and

Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration.

[FR Doc. 01–5264 Filed 3–2–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–KA–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[Docket No. 990125028–1050–02]

RIN 0648–ZA54

Aquatic Nuisance Species Research

and Outreach: Request for Proposals

for FY 2001

AGENCY: National Sea Grant College

Program, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is

to advise the public that the National

Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant)

is entertaining preliminary proposals

and subsequently full proposals for

innovative research and outreach

projects that address the problems of

Aquatic Nuisance Species in U.S.

coastal waters. In FY 2001 and 2002,

Sea Grant expects to make available

about $2,700,000 per year to support

projects to prevent and/or control

nonindigenous species invasions in all

U.S. marine waters, the Great Lakes, and

Lake Champlain; matching funds

equivalent to a minimum of 50% of the

Federal request must be provided.

Successful projects will be selected

through national competitions.

DATES: Preliminary proposals must be

submitted before 5 pm (local time) on

April 4, 2001. After evaluation at the

National Sea Grant Office (NSGO), some

proposers will be encouraged to prepare

full proposals, which must be submitted

before 5 pm (local time) on May 28,

2001. (See ADDRESSES for where to

submit preliminary and full proposals.)

ADDRESSES: Preliminary proposals and

full proposals from applicants in Sea

Grant states must be submitted through

the state Sea Grant Program. Preliminary

proposals and full proposals from

applicants outside Sea Grant states may

be submitted either through the nearest

Sea Grant Program or directly to the

Program Manager at the National Sea

Grant Office. The addresses of the Sea

Grant College Program directors may be

found on Sea Grant’s home page

(www.nsgo.seagrant.org/

SGDirectors.html) or may also be

obtained by contacting the Program

Manager at the National Sea Grant

Office (see below).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Leon M. Cammen, Aquatic Nuisance

Species Coordinator, National Sea Grant

College Program, R/SG, NOAA, 1315

East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD

20910, or Mary Robinson, Secretary,

National Sea Grant Office, 301–713–

2435; facsimile 301–713–0799.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Program Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1121–1131.

Catalog of Federal Assistance

Number: 11.417, Sea Grant Support.

II. Program Description

Background

Nonindigenous species introductions

are increasing in frequency and causing

substantial damage to the Nation’s

environment and economy. Although

the most prominent of these has been

the zebra mussel, many other

nonindigenous species have been

introduced and have truly become a

nationwide problem that threatens

many aquatic ecosystems. While some

intentional introductions may have had

beneficial effects, there are many other

nonindigenous species already present

in U.S. waters, or with the potential to

invade, that may cause significant

damage to coastal resources and the

economies that depend upon them. In

response, the Nonindigenous Aquatic

Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of

1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) established

a framework for the Nation to address

the problems of aquatic nuisance

species invasions of coastal and Great

Lakes ecosystems.

Although problems such as the zebra

mussel and the sea lamprey within the

Great Lakes have received the most

attention, invasions of nonindigenous

species in coastal marine environments

are an increasing and serious threat. The

National Invasive Species Act of 1996

(16 U.S.C. 4711–4714) recognized this

by calling for Federal funding to support

aquatic nuisance species prevention and

control along the Nation’s marine coast.

Funding Availability and Priorities

The National Sea Grant College

Program encourages proposals that

address the following program area:

‘‘Research and Outreach to Prevent and

Control Aquatic Nuisance Species

Invasions.’’

An interagency Ad Hoc Committee on

Exotic Species in the Great Lakes has

prepared a report entitled, ‘‘Coordinated

Program of Research for Exotic Species

in the Great Lakes.’’ Although targeted

for the Great Lakes, the report provides

a useful framework for research and

outreach on any nonindigenous species

problems and is therefore being used to

structure this more general request for

proposals covering U.S. marine waters,

the Great Lakes, and Lake Champlain.

Research and outreach proposals are

requested that address one or more of

the following program areas:

(a) Biology and Life History: Basic

biological research into population

dynamics, genetics, physiology,

behavior, and parasites and diseases of

nonindigenous species with the

potential to lead to the development of

ecologically safe, effective, and

inexpensive control. Research on the

ecological and environmental tolerances

of nonindigenous species with the

potential for prediction of eventual

geographic and ecological impacts.

(b) Effects on Ecosystems: Research on

the impacts of nonindigenous species at

each stage of their life history with the

potential for helping natural resource

managers determine how to minimize

the impacts on established biota and

their habitats.

(c) Socio-Economic Analysis: Costs

and Benefits: Research on the potential

impacts of nonindigenous species on

human health in terms of spread of

disease, concentration of pollutants, and

contamination or purification of

drinking water sources. Economic

impact on sport, commercial and tribal

fisheries, the recreation and tourism

industry, the shipping and navigation

industry, and municipal and industrial

water users. Use of research results to

provide a scientific basis for developing

sound policy and environmental law,

and for public education and technology

transfer.

(d) Control and Mitigation: Research

into various types of control—

engineering (redesigning water intakes,

etc.), physical (scraping, filtering, etc.),

chemical (biocides, antifoulants, etc.),

biological (parasites, predators, etc.),

and physicochemical (heat, salinity, pH,

etc.)—to develop selective, effective

controls that minimize adverse

ecological/environmental impacts.

Outreach activities that will transfer