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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

11.457:  Chesapeake Bay Studies

Popular Name:  Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment

Objectives:  This program implements a baywide plan for the assessment of commercially, recreationally, and selected ecologically important species in the Chesapeake Bay, coordinated through the State/Federal Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee. In addition, NMFS administers a grant program in cooperation with the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office to support fishery habitat and fishery management planning efforts.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

11.457 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

11.457 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is eligible for coverage 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 more 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:  Submission of an application on Standard Form 424 as furnished by NOAA, including all required certifications, to the appropriate National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Program Office. This program is subject to the provisions of 15 CFR 24 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), and OMB Circular No. A-110 (Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations). NOAA reserves the right to withhold the awarding of a grant or cooperative agreement to any individual or organization delinquent on a debt to the Federal government until payment is made or satisfactory arrangements are made with the agency to whom the debt is owed.

Award Procedure:  Proposals are initially evaluated by the pertinent NMFS Office, 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 recommended for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for Department of Commerce clearance and processing procedures. In addition, funds during FY 1993-1999 have been made available on a sole source basis for priority fish passage, oyster reef restoration and fishery management projects to state resource agencies responsible for stewardship for Chesapeake Bay resources.

Deadlines:  Project applications should be submitted 75 days in advance of desired effective date.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 60 to 120 working days.

Appeals:  No formal appeal procedure. If an application is unacceptable, the reasons are fully stated to the applicant. If the applicant desires to submit an application, the project must be revised in accordance with recommended changes.

Renewals:  Continuation grants / cooperative awards on an annual basis are contingent upon the availability of each fiscal year funding. Individual grants / cooperative awards may be extended contingent upon the demonstration of satisfactory progress.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Priority consideration is given to projects that directly relate to the interstate Stock Assessment Plan developed in response to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1987. Special consideration is given to proposals which address the implementation of baywide fishery assessment and statistical surveys. In addition, funds during fiscal years 1993 - 1999 have been made available on a noncompetitive basis for priority fish passage and fishery management projects to state resource agencies responsible for stewardship for Chesapeake Bay resources.

Examples of Funded Projects:  All projects are State and Federal cooperative efforts to implement and develop fishery stock assessment programs in the Chesapeake Bay or for anadromous fish habitat monitoring and coordination, fishery management planning and aquatic reef designs. Examples of project activities include: Design and continued monitoring and analysis of a baywide blue crab winter dredge survey; design of a baywide recreational blue crab survey; stock assessment of oysters in the Virginia portion of the bay; stock assessment of Chesapeake Bay blue crabs and related supplemental analyses; and the biochemical measures of age in blue crabs using lipofuscin; and development of an alosa juvenile index. Oyster Reef Restoration in Virginia; Maryland Fishery Management Plan Implementation Initiative; Evaluation of Fish Assemblage and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Response to Removal of Two Run-of-River Dams in the Susquehanna River Drainage, Pennsylvania; Virginia Anadromous Fish Restoration.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $39,743 to $280,000; $88,900.

11.457 RELATED PROGRAMS:

11.457 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

11.457 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Grants/cooperative awards) FY 99 $1,313,633; FY 00 est $1,088,340; and FY 01 est $1,040,000.

Budget Account Number:  13-1450-0-1-306.

Authorization:  Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. 753a; Department of Commerce Appropriation Act of 1999; NOAA Authorization Act of 1992, Public Law 102-567.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  15 CFR 24; Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956.

11.457 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  NOAA/NMFS, Chesapeake Bay Division, 410 Severn Ave., Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403. Contact: Derek Orner. Phone: (410) 267-5676, Fax (410) 267-5666, e-mail: derek.orner@noaa.gov. Northeast Regional Office: Mrs. Susan Olsen, NMFS, State, Federal and Constituent Programs, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Phone: (978) 281-9330. Email: Grants.Information@noaa.gov.

Headquarters Office:  Budget Officer, Office of Operations, Management and Information, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone: (301) 713-2245. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

11.457 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula. Projects are funded at up to 100 percent Federal share. Grantee matching contributions are not required but are encouraged.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants /cooperative awards are normally made for one year. Assistance is released via the NOAA Financial Assistance Disbursement System. 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 in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Funds can be used to improve surveys and fisheries statistics and conduct research in support of fisheries stock assessments in conjunction with cooperative, long-term data collection programs for the Bay's fish and shellfish resources. Funding is also used for anadromous fish habitat monitoring and coordination, fishery management planning and aquatic reef designs.

11.457 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 work has not been completed. Financial reports indicate use of funds during reporting period.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Non-profit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document.

Records:  All records must be maintained for a period of three years from the date of the final financial report for each award.