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11.434 COOPERATIVE FISHERY STATISTICS

FEDERAL AGENCY

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

AUTHORIZATION

Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. 753 a.

OBJECTIVES

To maintain a cooperative State and Federal partnership to provide a continuing source of fisheries dependent statistics to support fishery management in the States' Territorial Sea and the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

Funds are to support cooperative State and Federal programs to collect statistics on commercial and recreational fisheries in support of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants are the Marine Fisheries Conservation agencies of the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Beneficiary Eligibility

This program benefits Federal, State and interstate marine resource conservation and management agencies; U.S. and foreign commercial and recreational fishing industries; conservation organizations; academic institutions; international and Indian Tribal treaties; private and public research groups; consumers; and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants are required to satisfy all DOC/NOAA standards and regulations, including routine and special terms and conditions for financial assistance programs application and conduct. Applicants may be required to show proof that they are mandated by their own State to monitor fishery resources and to manage or participate in the management of these resources.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

The standard application forms as furnished by the agency. This program is covered under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

Proposals are submitted through Grants.Gov. Applicants will need to enter the Funding Opportunity Number and/or CFDA number to access the application package and instructions. Application package will then be submitted directly to the (Name of your Office - Example Coastal Services Center). Proposals are subject to the requirements of 15 CFR Parts 14 and 24, as applicable.

Award Procedure

Proposals are initially evaluated by the pertinent NMFS Office/Region/Science Center, and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, competency of the applicant to perform the proposed work, potential contribution of the project to national or regional goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects approved for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division and the Department of Commerce's Office of Federal Assistance for review and approval.

Deadlines

Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Information Network (GulfFIN) grants should be submitted to: National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Room 12441, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approval time is expected to range from 90 to 120 days, which includes processing of the award through the NMFS, NOAA, and DOC financial assistance procedures.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Multiple year awards of up to five years may be approved. Funding for multi-year projects beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of program funds in subsequent fiscal years, and the extent to which the recipient meets project objectives and reporting requirements.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Projects are funded at up to 100 percent of the Federal share. Grantee matching contributions are not required, but are encouraged.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards are normally for a 12 month period but in some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months, or may be completed in less than 12 months. Award funds must be spent in the indicated budget period and are to be expended in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures. Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

Reporting requirements are outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Financial Assistance Award. Progress reports summarize work accomplished and explain situations where expected work has not been completed. Financial reports indicate use of funds during the financial reporting period designated.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of grantees or subgrantees are required to be retained for 3 years from the date of the final financial status report for each award.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 04 actual: $5,733,284; FY 05 est $6,000,000; and FY 06 est $6,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$59,417 to $124,167; $79,735. (One award to GulfFIN for $3,304,789, is not included.)

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

GulfFIN: Collecting, managing, and disseminating marine recreational fisheries data; head boat port sampling in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida; menhaden data collection; development and implementation of a FIN data management system; trip ticket program development, implementation, and operation; and biological sampling of commercial and recreational catches.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

Application guidelines are provided by the NMFS Regional Office, address listed below. Allowable cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes; OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit and for-profit organizations; OMB Circular A-21 for institutions of higher education; and 48 CFR Part 31 for commercial organizations. Financial assistance management will be in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit and commercial organizations, and with 15 CRF Part 24 for state and local governments.

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

Southeast: Cynthia Binkley, Federal Program Officer, State/Federal Liaison Office, 263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Telephone: (727) 824-5324. Fax (727) 824-5364.

Headquarters Office

For GulfFIN - Patty Zielinski, Fisheries Statistics and Economics Division, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Science and Technology, 1315 East West Highway, SSMC3, Room 12441, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone: (301)713-2328. FAX: (301)713-4137. E-mail: Patty.zielinski@noaa.gov.

Web Site Address

http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/programs/csp.htm;http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

All projects are NMFS/State (U.S. territory/commonwealth) cooperative fisheries statistics, agreements, for the collection, analysis and distribution of statistical information and for research into better methods for those tasks.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

Proposals are selected based on the results of Cooperative Statistics and Fisheries Information Network (FIN) committee activities and on negotiations between NMFS and cooperators. The nature and scope of cooperative activities are based on the needs of the cooperating agencies. Funding is allocated by NMFS based on Cooperative Statistics and Fisheries Information Network (FIN) committee recommendations and on the level of activities that are planned for accomplishment. Regardless of source, proposals must under go rigorous technical review and comply with all OMB, DOC, and NOAA grants policies and procedures.