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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

11.474:  Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act

Objectives:  To provide assistance to eligible States and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in order to support and encourage the development, implementation, and enforcement of effective interstate conservation and management of Atlantic Coastal resources. Activities conducted under projects will be used to collect information necessary for the preparation, implementation and enforcement of coastal fisheries management plans and State activities required within such plans. Primary users of the information would be the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the Atlantic Coast States, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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

11.474 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

11.474 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The standard application forms are furnished by NOAA. 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) Regional Director. 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 Nonprofit 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/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 recommended for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval.

Deadlines:  Applications must be received by the Program Office by April 1 of each fiscal year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  The application processing time is 75 days as required by 15 U.S.C. 1539 (sole source selection).

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Grants and cooperative agreements are generally approved on an annual basis, but may be continued beyond the initial project period, subject to approved time frame and scope of work, satisfactory progress, and availability of funds. The Department of Commerce has the discretion to renew the award to increase funding, or extend the period of performance.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Proposals are solicited from eligible coastal States and other eligible applicants by notification from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast and Southeast Regional Offices. Proposals must undergo rigorous technical review and comply with all OMB, DOC, and NOAA grants policies and procedures.

Examples of Funded Projects:  A Cooperative State-Federal Program for Conservation of Atlantic Coastal Fisheries; Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey; Interstate Fisheries Management Support Program; Implementation of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program; and Biomonitoring and Assessment Project for American Shad and River Herring.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  The range and average is indeterminate and highly variable.

11.474 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 11.405 Anadromous Fish Conservation Act Program;
• 11.407 Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986.

11.474 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

11.474 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

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

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $4,797,000; FY 00 est $5,024,000; and FY 01 est $5,024,000.

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

Authorization:  Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 5107, as amended.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  For cost principles, see OMB Circular No. A-87 (State and local governments) and OMB Circular No. A-122 for other recipients. For grants management principles, see 15 CFR 24 (States and local governments) and OMB Circular No. A-110 for other recipients.

11.474 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Northeast: Mr. Harold Mears, NMFS, State, Federal and Constituent Programs Office, One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester MA 01930. Phone: (978) 281-9243. Fax: (978) 281-9117, Email: Grants.Information@noaa.gov. Southeast: Ms. Cynthia Pierce, State/Federal Liaison Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702. Phone: (727) 570-5324, e-mail: cynthia.pierce@noaa.gov. Use the same number for FTS.

Headquarters Office:  Chief, Staff Office for Intergovernmental and Recreational Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, Suite 425, 8484 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone (301) 427-2014.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

11.474 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula. Projects are funded at up to 100 percent of the total project cost. A formula may be used to determine allocation of funds among eligible applicants. This formula may be based upon factors such as (but not limited to) the value of raw fish landed by domestic fishermen and the number of recreational fishing trips taken by anglers in each State, and the number of coastal fishery management plans in which the States participate. Recipient matching contributions are not required, but are encouraged. Direct allocations will be given to the District of Columbia, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, Atlantic Coastal States, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, pursuant to NOAA'S discretion in accordance with the Statute.

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 is expended in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures. Funds are released to the recipient upon request from NOAA Vendor Express, Financial Assistance Disbursement System, FADS.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Funds are restricted to "coastal fishery resources" which means any fishery, any species of fish, or any stock of fish that moves among, or is broadly distributed across, waters under the jurisdiction of two or more Atlantic Coastal States or waters under the jurisdiction of one or more Atlantic Coastal States and the exclusive economic zone. Funds can be provided to the Commission and to the specified States for the preparation, implementation and enforcement of coastal fishery management plans and State activities required within such plans. Funds can also be used for program activities to support and enhance State cooperation in collection, management and analysis of fishery data; law enforcement; habitat conservation; fishery research including biological and socioeconomic research; and fishery management planning.

11.474 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 six-month 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 3 years from the date of the final financial status report for each award.