[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74294-74297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7395]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 030602141-5303-32]
Financial Assistance To Establish New Cooperative Science Centers
Under NOAA's Educational Partnership Program (EPP) With Minority
Serving Institutions in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Environmental
Sciences, Living Marine Resources Science and Management, and Remote
Sensing Technology at Minority Serving Institutions
AGENCY: Office of Education, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and solicitation for proposals
for these funds.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this document is to advise the public that
NOAA's Educational Partnership Program is soliciting new accredited
post secondary minority serving institutions (MSI)--Cooperative Science
Center proposals. These Centers are to establish partnerships between
the accredited post secondary MSIs and NOAA. The partnership goal is to
expand the institution's training and research capabilities and
supporting program development. The developed programs will support
NOAA's mission. The Cooperative Centers must establish in the NOAA core
science areas: Atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences; living
marine resources science and management; and remote sensing technology.
The EPP/MSI is a competitive program designed to strengthen and
enhance the research and training capabilities and to support the
development of programs directly related to NOAA's mission at MSIs. The
EPP is designed to enhance NOAA's capability to increase environmental
literacy by establishing partnerships with academia, the private
sector, and other Federal, State, Tribal and local agencies. Thus, the
funding opportunity is intended to engage the MSI academic community in
training and collaborative research across the spectrum of atmospheric,
oceanic and environmental sciences, living marine resources science and
management, and remote sensing technology in support of NOAA's mission.
DATES: Applications must be received by NOAA Educational Partnership
Program (EPP) no later than 2 p.m. (eastern standard time), February
13, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Applications submitted in response to this announcement are
strongly encouraged to submit through the Grants.gov Web site.
Electronic access to the Full Funding Opportunity Announcement for this
program is available via the Grants.gov Web site: http://www.grants.gov. The announcement will also be available at the NOAA EPP
Web site http://epp.noaa.gov or by contacting the program officials
identified below. Applicants must comply with all requirements
contained in the full funding opportunity announcement. If Internet
access is unavailable, paper applications (a signed original and two
copies) may be submitted to the Educational Partnership Program at the
following address: NOAA/OAR/EPP, 1315 East West Highway, Room 10600,
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. No facsimile applications will be
accepted. Institutions are encouraged to submit Letters of Intent to
NOAA/EPP within 30 days of this announcement to aid in planning the
review processes.
Letters of Intent may be submitted via e-mail to
[email protected] or [email protected]. Information
should include a general description of the Center proposal and
participating institutions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline J. Rousseau, Program
Director at 301-713-9437 ext. 124 or [email protected].
The alternative contact is Meka E. Laster at 301-713-9437 ext. 147 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Summary Description
NOAA is committed to recruiting and retaining underrepresented
community employees. NOAA is committed to training students in NOAA
related sciences and conduct the ongoing mission of the agency.
Therefore, the agency established a program aimed at MSI partnering
that train and graduate students in the areas of atmospheric, oceanic
and environmental sciences, fisheries sciences, and management, and
remote sensing technology. Since approximately 40% of minority students
receive their undergraduate degrees at MSIs, direct collaboration with
MSIs is an effective way to increase the number of minority students
trained and graduated. The MSI students receive NOAA-related science
degrees and may engage in research and pursue careers compatible with
the Agency's mission.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Engineering
Indicators 2004 Report furnishes the doctoral and master's degree
statistics for selected years, 1994-2003. The sciences include earth,
atmospheric, and ocean sciences. The minority student statistics are
below the national average. For example, the 2004 NSF report lists
26,413 U.S. citizen, science and engineering doctoral degrees. However,
the number of minority student graduates awarded doctoral degrees
includes:
1708 African Americans;
1270 Hispanics;
133 American Indian/Alaskan Natives;
1417 Asian/Pacific Islanders.
The 474 earth, atmospheric and ocean sciences doctoral degrees were
awarded to:
15 African Americans;
13 Hispanics;
2 American Indians and Alaskan Natives;
10 to Asian/Pacific Islanders.
Additionally, minority group master's degrees statistics are
disproportionately low. With such a limited pool of potential employees
from underrepresented communities trained in NOAA-related sciences, it
is important that NOAA seek new ways to make students aware of the
mission of the agency and to support activities that increase
opportunities for students trained in NOAA-related sciences.
Proposals for the Cooperative Science Centers shall support NOAA's
mission as defined in NOAA's Strategic Plan--located at http://www.noaa.gov--.
The Educational Partnership Program supports the
NOAA Strategic Plan.
U.S. Ocean Action Plan.
NOAA Education Plan.
DOC/NOAA Succession Planning and Management Program Plan.
Institutions may compete for an award to establish a Cooperative
Science Center based on the following criteria:
Atmospheric Cooperative Science Center: Atmospheric Cooperative
Science Center proposals should address the ability to conduct
collaborative research in numerical weather prediction, data
assimilation, climate modeling, climate analysis and prediction, water
resources, and/or studies that lead to improvements in warning and
forecast operations. Atmospheric Center graduates should meet the
National Weather Service's course requirements for meteorologists which
include:
1. Twenty four (24) semester hours in meteorology including six
semester
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hours in weather analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/
mesoscale); six semester hours of atmospheric dynamics and
thermodynamics; three semester hours of physical meteorology; and two
semester hours of remote sensing technology of the atmosphere and/or
instrumentation;
2. Six semester hours of physics with at least one course that
includes laboratory sessions;
3. Three semester hours of ordinary differential equations; and,
4. Nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical
science major in any combination of three or more of the following:
Physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography,
physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeronomy, advanced
thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and optics,
computer science. There is a prerequisite or co-requisite of calculus
for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics,
and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a
physical science major. The Center's proposal should address how its
graduates will meet these course requirements.
Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center: Living Marine
Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) proposals should address
the ability to support education and research in marine science
including an emphasis on the following: Biological assessments; stock
assessment; marine chemical assessments; habitat quality, coastal
ecology--including ecosystem monitoring; remote sensing technology and
GIS mapping; biodiversity; essential fish habitat; fishery economics;
fishery-related social sciences and fishery biology, to include
reproduction and food habitats; systematics and taxonomy;
biotechnology; aquaculture; and enhancement.
LMRCSC graduates should meet the course requirements with a major
studies in biology, zoology, or biological oceanography that include at
least 30 semester hours in biological, marine, and aquatic science and
15 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences. The course
work must include:
1. At least 15 semester hours in zoology beyond introductory
biology or zoology in such course as invertebrate zoology, comparative
anatomy, histology, physiology, embryology, advanced vertebrate
zoology, genetics, entomology, and parasitology.
2. At least 6 semester hours of training applicable to fishery
biology in such subjects as fishery biology, ichthyology, limnology,
oceanography, algology, planktonology, marine or fresh water ecology,
invertebrate ecology, principles of fishery population dynamics, or
related course work in the field of fishery biology.
3. At least 15 semester hours of training in any combination of two
or more of the following chemistry, physics, mathematics, or
statistics.
Graduates must be able to carry out a variety of tasks including:
predicting population trends of living marine resources (LMR);
developing harvest strategies that maintain sustainable yields of
renewable resources; analyzing the social and economic impacts of
various management decisions on communities by decisions related to
LMR. In addition, graduates must be able to design and carry out
projects for LMR.
Environmental Cooperative Science Center: Environmental Cooperative
Science Center (ECSC) proposals should address the ability to respond
to coastal and ocean threats, restore damaged areas, manage coastal and
ocean resources and support maritime commerce. Key areas of focus could
include:
1. Understanding, predicting, assessing, managing, and
communicating the impacts of human and natural stresses on coastal
ocean ecosystems, including impacts from climate change, pollution,
land and resource use, invasive species, and extreme natural events;
2. Developing science-based support and guidance for integrated
coastal and ocean management, including full integration of biophysical
sciences, ecology, and human dimensions; and,
3. Increased understanding of the physical, chemical, and
biological processes that both impact and support coastal navigation
and ports, as well as an integration of this biophysical understanding
with human dimensions to increase navigation safety and decrease
potential negative impacts to ecosystems and coastal resources.
ECSC graduates should have at least 24 semester hours that include
coursework in each of the areas of physical, chemical, biological, and
ecological sciences. Supporting coursework in engineering (civil,
marine, electrical, chemical, environmental, mechanical, ocean, as
applicable to Center focus areas) would be an asset. Knowledge of
pertinent research and analytical methodology, as well as the ability
to apply the aforementioned sciences and disciplines to policy and
management issues, is required.
Remote Sensing Technology Cooperative Science Center: Remote
Sensing Technology Cooperative Science Center must have particular
emphasis in environmental satellite-related research activities
directed toward helping to sustain healthy coasts, to build sustainable
fisheries, to recover protected species, to help improve weather
forecasts and warnings, to provide improved environmental forecasts or
analyses, and to prepare for future NOAA operational environmental
satellite missions. The Center will be expected to:
1. Provide an organizational setting to promote and establish
programs and related research relating to remote sensing technology by
drawing upon multiple disciplines and involving collaboration with
multiple performing and research-sponsoring partners;
2. Serve as a model for outreach, input, and collaboration that
help ensure that research can be applied to solving priority NOAA
remote sensing technology, current satellite system optimization, and
future satellite system development and planning;
3. Expand research in remote sensing technology, satellite data
management, and user access technologies; and,
4. Support multi-disciplinary research projects aimed at NOAA's
remote sensing technology mission responsibilities, to include: (a)
Passive radiometric remote sensing technology; (b) Passive multi-
spectral remote sensing technology; (c) High spectral resolution
(hyperspectral) remote sensing technology; (d) Active and passive
microwave remote sensing technology; (e) Satellite sensor development
and demonstration in the categories above; (f) technologies relating to
satellite data acquisition, data distribution, mission operations, and
mission planning; and, g) Technologies relating to improved user data
access and data management. Through such multi-disciplinary research,
explore new approaches to enhance the use of present and future
environmental satellites to meet the rapidly changing environmental
needs of the Nation.
The Cooperative Science Centers's principal academic institution
must be an accredited MSI with a Ph.D. program in one of the NOAA core
science areas in atmospheric, oceanic and environmental sciences,
living marine resources science and management, and remote sensing
technology. A Cooperative Science Center Distinguished Scientist
position must be created--within one year-- to develop significant
research projects for their respective Center and other EPP Centers,
MSIs, NOAA science and
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research facilities and relevant agencies. Faculty and staff exchanges
are an integral part of this program and opportunities for faculty and
staff exchanges are available for collaborative research or other
agreed upon activities. A postdoctoral program supported by NOAA EPP
funds must be established at each of the Science Centers. During the
two-year fellowship the postdoctoral research should be collaborative
between the postdoctoral fellow and NOAA scientist and address a NOAA
core science area. The candidates do not become NOAA employees. NOAA
expects the Center to develop mechanisms and approaches that increase
Center student course and seminar offerings not only at the Center MSI
but at other MSIs and partner institutions. A K-12 science education
program must be established at each of the Science Centers. The K-12
science education program purpose is increasing the basic science and
math skilled student pipeline. A thirty percent (30%) award minimum is
required for student support, that includes--but is not limited to--
scholarships, fellowships, travel expenses to professional meetings and
for conducting site research. While the Centers are established at
MSIs, non-minority serving institutions consortia are not restricted.
Also, private and public sector partnerships are encouraged.
Electronic Access
Applicants can access download and submit electronic grant
applications, including the Full Funding Opportunity Announcement, for
NOAA programs at the Grants.gov Web site: http://www.grants.gov. The
announcement will also be available at the NOAA EPP Web site http://epp.noaa.gov or by contacting the program officials identified above.
The closing date will be the same as for the paper submissions noted in
this announcement. NOAA strongly recommends that you do not wait until
the application deadline date to begin the application process through
Grants.gov. If Internet access is unavailable, hard copies of proposals
will also be accepted-a signed original and two copies at time of
submission. This includes color or high-resolution graphics, unusually
sized materials, or otherwise unusual materials submitted as part of
the proposal. For color graphics, submit either color originals or
color copies. Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail submission of
full proposals will not be accepted.
Funding Availability
Subject to Congressional appropriations, this solicitation
announces that funding at a maximum of $50 million will be available
for the Cooperative Science Centers over a five-year period. Proposals
are limited to a total of $12.5 million for a maximum of five years and
four proposals will be funded. The funding instrument will be a
cooperative agreement since NOAA will be substantially involved in
developing research priorities, conducting cooperative activities with
recipients, exchanging staff and providing internship opportunities for
students at MSIs.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1540, 49 U.S.C. 44720, 33 U.S.C. 883d, 33
U.S.C. 1442, 16 U.S.C. 1854(e), 16 U.S.C. 661, 16 U.S.C. 753(a), 16
U.S.C. 1451 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 1431, 33 U.S.C. 883a and Executive
Orders 13230, 13256, 13270, 13336, and 13339.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 11.481--Educational
Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions.
Eligibility: For the purposes of this program, Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal
Colleges and Universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian
Serving Institutions, as identified on the 2004 United States
Department of Education, Accredited Postsecondary Minority Institution
list at http://epp.noaa.gov, are eligible to apply. Proposals will not
be accepted from non-profit organizations, foundations, auxiliary
services or any other entity submitted on behalf of MSIs.
Cost Sharing Requirements: None.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Evaluation and Selection Criteria and Procedures: NOAA published
its agency-wide solicitation entitled ``Omnibus Notice Announcing the
Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2006'' for projects for
Fiscal Year 2006 in the Federal Register on June 30, 2005 (70 FR
37766). The evaluation and selection criteria and procedures for
projects contained in that omnibus notice are applicable to this
notice. Copies of this notice are available on the Internet at http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/%7Eamd/SOLINDEX.HTML. Further details on evaluation
and selection criteria and procedures applicable to this notice can be
found in the full funding opportunity announcement.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required
by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects
or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities.
Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the
following NOAA NEPA Web site: http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for NEPA, http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6_TOC.pdf, and the Council on Environmental Quality
implementation regulations, http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm. Consequently, as part of an applicant's package, and
under their description of their program activities, applicants are
required to provide detailed information on the activities to be
conducted, locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected,
possible construction activities, and any environmental concerns that
may exist (e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals,
introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and
threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef
systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve
as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be
requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if
NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be
required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to
reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their
proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for the denial of an
application. In some cases if additional information is required after
application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer
under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit
additional environmental compliance information sufficient to enable
NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts that a project may have on
the environment.
Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative
Agreements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389) are applicable to this
solicitation.
Limitation of Liability
Funding for the Cooperative Science Centers listed in this notice
is
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contingent upon availability of Fiscal Year 2006 appropriations.
Applicants are hereby given notice that funds have not yet been
appropriated for the Cooperative Science Centers. In no event will NOAA
or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation
costs if these programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled
because of other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement
does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any
available funds. Recipients and sub-recipients are subject to all
Federal laws and agency policies, regulations and procedures applicable
to Federal financial assistance awards.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This notification involves collection-of-information requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424,
424A, 424B, and SF-LLL and CD-346 has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) under control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044,
0348-0040 and 0348-0046 and 0605-0001. Notwithstanding any other
provision of 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 PRA unless that
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Executive Order 12866
It has been determined that this notice is not significant for
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required
by the Administrative procedure Act or any other law for rules
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comments are not
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not
been prepared, and none has been prepared.
Mark Brown,
Chief Financial Officer, NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
[FR Doc. E5-7395 Filed 12-14-05; 8:45 am]
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