Nondiscretionary funding under this authorization provides support to State agencies for the collection and analysis of information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact with State managed fisheries and other marine resources.

Information collected is used by the State

credit: Wikimedia Commons

and Federal governments to conserve marine mammals, address or resolve conflicts between marine mammals, fisheries and living marine resources, and to improve their understanding of the health of individual marine mammals as well as marine mammal populations.

Discretionary funds may be announced in the Federal Register under competitive programs to undertake research in subjects which are relevant to the protection and conservation of marine mammals.

Programs support marine mammal research and management efforts relative to marine mammal health and strandings and fulfill commitments under Title IV of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Several programs contribute to the United States participation in the International Whaling Commission and the fulfillment of native subsistence co-management commitments under section 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Northwest: Information is provided to state and federal fishery managers to support regulatory decisions.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Nondiscretionary funds may be nondiscretionary and appropriated for a particular recipient for a particular purpose such as the Marine Mammal cooperative agreements in Alaska (16 U.S.C.

1388) or allocated to State agencies for collection of information on marine mammals that occur in State waters and interact with fisheries and other marine resources.

Discretionary funds announced in the Federal Register under competitive programs may restrict the use of funds or include additional program restrictions based on the appropriation language.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State governments and quasi-public nonprofit institutions or organizations.

U.S.

Marine Mammal Stranding Network participants, including state and local governments, academia, aquaria, non profits, private individuals and organizations.

Eligibility may vary under programs announced in the Federal Register.

Beneficiary Eligibility

This program benefits the States that have marine mammals in waters under State jurisdiction and supports Federal requirements for conservation of marine mammals, and other public resources. The program also benefits the active volunteer U.S. marine mammal stranding network members throughout coastal states.

Credentials/Documentation

Proposal from a State fishery agency or an Interstate Fisheries Commission, or an eligible stranding network member, should be submitted in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14; 15 CFR Part 24 and the applicable Federal Register notice.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs".

A State 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 Procedures

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 Procedures

Applications are evaluated by the National Marine Fisheries Service Regional or Headquarters Offices and processed by the NOAA Grants Management Division. Pursuant to Section 404 of Public Law 102- 567, financial assistance awards to a State or Interstate Fishery Commission may be provided to the State on a non- discretionary basis for projects involving the collection and analysis of information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact with State managed fisheries and other marine resources. For discretionary funds including Stranding Networks, a competitive award process is announced in the Federal Register for projects related to stranding network activities. A small percentage of discretionary funds will be available to be provided on a non-competed basis for catastrophic stranding events.

Deadlines

According to the NOAA Grants Management Division, project applications should be submitted at least 75 days in advance of desired effective date.

Authorization

Marine Mammal Act of 1972, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; and Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 2000, 16 U.S.C. 1421f-1.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Within 75 calendar days after a complete and acceptable application is received.

Appeals

No formal appeal procedure.

Renewals

For projects involving the collection and analysis of information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact with State managed fisheries and other marine resources, continuation grants can be made on an annual basis for approved multi- year projects. For projects related to stranding network activities, grants or cooperative agreements will be awarded for a maximum award period of three years; however the total Federal share of each award is fixed at a maximum of $100,000 regardless of the funding period requested. Future or continued funding will be at the discretion of NMFS, based on the availability of each fiscal year funding and satisfactory performance. Procedures for renewals are the same as application procedures.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

For projects involving the collection and analysis of information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact with State managed fisheries and other marine resources, the program has no statutory formula. Projects are funded at up to 100 percent Federal share. For projects related to stranding network activities the maximum Federal award for each project will be $100,000, and a minimum cost share of 25 percent of total project costs is required.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are normally made for one year. 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.

The Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions generally require that performance and financial reports be submitted semi-annually unless a waiver is provided by the NOAA Grants Officer.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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 sub grantees are required to be maintained in accordance the terms and conditions of the Financial Assistance Award. The grantee must maintain records for three years from the date when the final expenditure report is submitted.

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 07 $25,000,000; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$50,000 to $2,807,000; $530,826.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended. 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

Discretionary: Stranding Network Contacts-Alaska Region: Aleria Jensen, Alaska Region, NMFS, Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, 14th Floor, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telehone: (907) 586-7248 or aleria.jensen@noaa.gov. Northeast Region: Dana Hartley, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298. Telephone: (978) 281-9328 or dana.hartley@noaa.gov. Northwest Region: Brent Norberg, NMFS, Brent Norberg, 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Building 1, Seattle, WA 98115. Telephone: (206) 526-6733 or brent.norberg@noaa.gov; Southeast Region: Laura Engelby, NMFS, 263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Telephone: (727) 824-5312 or laura.engleby@noaa.gov; Southwest Region: Joe Cordaro, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA: 90802-4213. Telephone: (562) 980-4017 or joe.cordaro@noaa.gov. Nondiscretionary: Alaska Regional Office: Barbara Fosburg, NOAA/NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telephone: (907) 586-7273. Northwest Regional Office: Joe Scordino, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115. Telephone: (206) 526-6150, Fax: (206) 526-6426, E-mail: Joe.Scordino@noaa.gov. Pacific Islands Area Office: Margaret Akamine, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI, 96814-4700. Telephone: (808) 973-2935 or margaret.akamine@noaa.gov. Headquarters Office: Budget Officer, Administrative and Budget Processes Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone: (301) 713-2245. Fax: (301) 713-2299.

Headquarters Office

Teri Rowles, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, Teri Rowles, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Telephone: (301) 713-2322, ext. 178.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Nondiscretionary: For projects involving the collection and analysis of information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact with State managed fisheries and other marine resources, priority consideration is given to proposals for the collection of information on marine mammals involved in interactions with fisheries and other marine resources, and on activities impacting marine mammals such as native subsistence; Discretionary: For projects involving stranding network activities, priorities are published in the Federal Register Notice soliciting applications for financial assistance. Unsolicited proposals may also be submitted outside of the competitive process for response to catastrophic stranding events.