Financial Assistance for Oyster Disease Research

SUMMARY: A total of $1.3 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 1994 funds is

available through the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office to assist

interested state fishery agencies, academic institutions, and other

nonprofit organizations relating to cooperative research units, in

carrying out research projects to provide information on oyster

diseases through cooperative agreements. NMFS issues this notice

describing the conditions under which eligible applications will be

accepted and how NMFS will determine which applications will be

selected for funding.

DATES: Applications for funding under this program will be accepted

between May 16, 1994 and 6 p.m. eastern standard time on June 30, 1994.

Applications received after that time will not be considered for

funding. No applications will be accepted by facsimile machine

submission.

Successful applicants generally will be selected approximately 90

days from the date of publication of this notice and the earliest date

for awards will be about 180 days after the date of publication of this

notice.

ADDRESSES: Send applications to: M. Elizabeth Gillelan, Division Chief,

NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, NMFS, 410 Severn Avenue, suite 107A,

Annapolis, MD 21403.

Questions of an administrative nature should be referred to: Grants

Management Division, Attn: Jean West, Chief, Grants Operations Branch,

NOAA, SSMC2, OA321, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, at

301/713-0926.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: M. Elizabeth Gillelan, 410/267-5660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, at 16 U.S.C. 753

(a), authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), for the purpose

of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training

programs for fish and wildlife resources, to continue to enter into

cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, with game and

fish departments of the several states, and with non-profit

organizations relating to cooperative research units. The Departments

of Commerce (DOC), Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies

Appropriations Act of 1994 makes funds available to the Secretary.

The research to be funded is in support of the Oyster Disease

Research Program, which provides information on American oyster

disease-related research and management concerns in the northeastern

United States. The program investigates selected aspects of the life

cycle of oyster pathogens, physiological and genetic factors that

influence disease resistance in the American oyster, Crassostrea

virginica, and management strategies that would enhance survival of the

public fishery and prospects for resource rehabilitation.

Oyster disease research is essential, given the recent devastating

effect of oyster diseases on the Maryland and Virginia oyster

fisheries. Oyster harvests from the Chesapeake Bay reached record lows

in 1992-1993. Fishery management approaches that manage around the

diseases have not been able to guard against widespread disease

outbreaks. New research into the diseases should provide new knowledge

and new tools for managing and restoring these oyster populations.

II. Areas of Special Emphasis

A. Proposals should exhibit familiarity with related work that is

completed or ongoing. Where appropriate, proposals should be

multidisciplinary. Coordinated efforts involving multiple eligible

applicants or persons are encouraged. Eligible women and minority

scientists, associated with eligible applicants, are encouraged to

submit applications. While the areas for special emphasis are listed

below, proposals in other areas will be considered on a funds-available

basis. Primary consideration for funding will be given to applications

addressing the specific priorities listed in this section. These

priorities are not listed in any implied order. NMFS will accept

proposals that address other significant areas of research on C.

virginica; however, consideration cannot be guaranteed.

Consideration will be given to applications that address the

following American oyster disease research and management priorities

for the northeastern United States:

1. Technical Priorities

a. Investigate the basic mechanisms (physiological, genetic,

immunological, biochemical, etc.) that may make C. virginica resistant/

susceptible to the diseases currently affecting the Northeast Region's

oyster populations. This includes the genetic basis for disease

resistance and the possible development of gene transfer techniques

that could lead to improved native oysters.

b. Investigate selected aspects of the life cycle and natural

history of C. virginicus pathogens, with emphasis on transmission

dynamics; identification of intermediate hosts; and determination of

the time/age when young oysters first become susceptible to

Haplosporidium nelsoni, commonly known as MSX, or Perkinsus marinus,

known as Dermo.

c. Utilize P. marinus cultures and isolated cells to investigate

the biochemistry and physiology of this pathogen, with emphasis on

osmotic tolerance of cells in vitro and the role of virulence factors

in pathogenicity.

d. Investigate juvenile oyster mortalities occurring in the

Northeast Region, including the identification of the definitive

disease agent, its range, and impact on the oyster industry.

2. Management-Related Priorities

a. Develop and test new management strategies that would enhance

survival of a fishery in the continuous presence of disease, such as

the establishment of brood stock sanctuaries, genetic selection

programs, aquaculture techniques, and oyster reef research and

development.

b. Develop resource survey techniques that can be adopted to manage

disease-affected oyster populations effectively and provide background

data to support development of management options for resource

rehabilitation.

c. Evaluate the potential of a Geographic Information System

approach for characterizing the transmission dynamics of oyster

diseases throughout the Chesapeake Bay.

B. Applications addressing the priorities should build upon, or

take into account, any related past or current work. During FY 92 and

FY 93, funds under this program were awarded for the following

projects, at a total cost of $1.3 million, for each year.

1. FY 93:

a. Role of Oyster Lysosomal Enzymes in Disease Resistance.

b. Field and Laboratory Study of the Process and Dynamics of

Perkinsus marinus Infection of the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea

virginica.

c. Extracellular Protein from Perkinsus marinus: Analysis of

Pathogenic Mechanisms and Development of Enhanced Diagnoses.

d. Population Genetic Structure of Perkinsus marinus.

e. Intertidal Oyster Reefs as a Tool for Estuarine Environmental

Rehabilitation and Rejuvenation of the Virginia Oyster Fishery.

f. Replenishment Strategies in the Continuous Presence of Disease.

g. Infectivity of Cultured Perkinsus marinus: Effects of Parasite

Life Stage and Delivery Method.

h. Development of Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX)-Specific DNA Probes

for Diagnostic Applications and Life Cycle Studies.

i. Hybridization of Eastern and Pacific Oysters Using Bridging

Taxa.

j. Development of Culture Strategies to Reduce Losses Due to

Juvenile Oyster Mortalities in the Northeast.

k. Physiological Responses of the Oyster Crassostrea virginica to

Infections of Perkinsus marinus: Effects of Environmental Variables on

Acid-base Status.

l. ELISA Assay for Detection of Perkinsus marinus in Oyster Tissue.

m. American Oyster Stock Assessment in Maryland.

n. Technical Support for Maryland's Oyster Recovery Action Plan.

o. Flow Cytometric Enumeration of P. marinus Cells in Chesapeake

Bay Waters.

p. Development and Evaluation of Nucleic Acid Probes for Diagnosis

and Detection of Genetic Polymorphisms of Perkinsus marinus.

q. Utilization of Genetically Selected Lines to Reduce the Impact

of Juvenile Oyster Mortality.

2. FY 92:

a. Use of Immuno-Stimulants to Augment the Resistance of the

Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica to Infection by Perkinsus marinus.

b. A Stock-Recruitment Model of the James River Oyster Fishery.

c. Studies of Genetic Variation Between and Within Strains of the

American Oyster Selected for Disease Resistance II. Analysis of

Anonymous Nuclear Loci.

d. Development of a Microcomputer-Based Geographic Information

System (GIS) for the Visualization, Interpretation, and Analysis of

Maryland Chesapeake Bay Oyster Disease and Population Information.

e. American Oyster Stock Assessment in Maryland.

f. In vitro Propagation of Perkinsus marinus.

g. Resistance of Crassostrea virginica Races to Perkinsus marinus

Isolates: A Foundation for Breeding and Management.

h. Life Cycle Studies of Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) Spores and

Non-Oyster Hosts.

i. Relative Effects of Harvest Pressure and Disease Mortality on

the Population Dynamics of the Eastern Oyster in Delaware Bay.

j. Development of a DNA Probe to Investigate the Life Cycle of

Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX).

k. Life Cycle Studies of Perkinsus marinus-Host Specificity.

l. Flow Cytometric Quantification and Analysis of Perkinsus marinus

Cells Present in Estuarine Waters.

m. Integrated Physiological Investigation of the Effects of

Protozoan Parasitism in the Oyster, Crassostrea virginica.

III. How To Apply

A. Eligible Applicants

The cooperative agreement has been determined as the appropriate

funding instrument because of the substantial involvement of NMFS in

(1) developing program research priorities, (2) performing cooperative

research jointly with eligible applicants through the NMFS unit at the

Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, (3) evaluating the performance of the

program for effectiveness in meeting national and regional goals for

Chesapeake Bay oyster conservation and restoration, (4) monitoring the

progress of each funded project, (5) holding periodic workshops with

investigators to encourage inter-disciplinary dialogue and forge

synthesis of results, and (6) working with recipients in preparation of

annual reports summarizing current accomplishments of the Oyster

Disease Research Program.

Applications for cooperative agreements under the oyster disease

research program may be submitted, in accordance with the procedures

set forth in this notice, by any state game and fish department,

college or university, or other nonprofit organizations relating to

cooperative research units. Eligible applicants outside the

northeastern United States (Maine to Virginia) may submit proposals, as

long as their objectives support the technical and management

priorities of the Northeast Region, as defined in sections II.A.1. and

II.A.2. above. All solicited proposals received by the closing date

will be considered by NMFS. Applicants will be expected to identify the

principal investigators who will be conducting the research. Curricula

vitae should also be provided for all essential personnel.

Investigators submitting proposals in response to this announcement

are strongly encouraged to develop interinstitutional, inter-

disciplinary research teams in the form of single, integrated proposals

or as individual proposals that are clearly linked together. Such

collaborative efforts will be factored into the final funding decision.

These efforts may be among external eligible applicants, as well as

with NMFS scientists at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory. NMFS

personnel may participate in joint efforts with non-NMFS persons or

groups in these projects, as long as these non-NMFS persons or groups

have applied and successfully competed for oyster disease research

funds through the process outlined in this announcement and as long as

these applications refer to, or include, an internal NMFS proposal that

details how NMFS personnel plan to cooperate. Any activities to be

undertaken by NMFS personnel under such cooperative agreements will be

funded by direct transfer of oyster disease research funds or regular

appropriated funds within NMFS. No such NMFS activity is to be funded

by non-NMFS persons or groups using oyster disease research funds other

than those who have successfully competed for funds under this

announcement.

B. Amount and Duration of Funds

Under this solicitation, NMFS will fund American oyster disease

research projects under this program for 1-year cooperative agreements.

Project dates should be scheduled to begin on December 1, 1994.

Cooperative agreements are approved on an annual basis but may be

considered eligible for continuation beyond the first project and

budget period subject to the approved scope of work, satisfactory

progress, and availability of funds at the total discretion of NMFS.

However, there are no assurances for such continuation. Publication of

this notice does not obligate NMFS to award any specific cooperative

agreement or to obligate any part of the entire amount of funds

available.

C. Cost-Sharing Requirements

Applications must reflect the total budget necessary to accomplish

the project, including contributions and/or donations. Cost sharing is

not required under the oyster disease research program. However, cost

sharing is encouraged to enhance the value of a project, and in case of

a tie in considering proposals for funding, cost-sharing may affect the

final decision. The appropriateness of all cost-sharing will be

determined on the basis of guidance provided in applicable Federal cost

principles. If an applicant chooses to share cost, and if that

application is selected for funding, the applicants will be bound by

the percentage of cost sharing reflected in the grant award.

The non-Federal share may include funds received from private

sources or from state or local governments or the value of in-kind

contributions. Federal funds may not be used to meet the non-Federal

share of matching funds, except as provided by Federal statute. In-kind

contributions may be in the form of, but are not limited to, personal

services rendered in carrying out functions related to the project, and

permission to use real or personal property owned by others (for which

consideration is not required) in carrying out the project.

The total cost of a project begins on the effective date of a

cooperative agreement between the applicant and an authorized

representative of the U.S. Government and ends on the date specified in

the award. Accordingly, the time expended and costs incurred in either

the development of a project or the financial assistance application,

or in any subsequent discussions or negotiations prior to the award,

are neither reimbursable nor recognizable as part of the recipient's

cost share.

D. Format

1. Applications for project funding must be complete. Applicants

must identify the specific research priority or priorities to which

they are responding. For applications containing more than one project,

each project component must be identified individually using the format

specified in this section. If an application is not in response to a

priority, it should be so stated. Applicants should not assume prior

knowledge on the part of NMFS as to the relative merits of the project

described in the application. Applications are not to be bound in any

manner and should be one-sided. All incomplete applications will be

returned to the applicant. Applicants must submit one signed original

and two copies of the complete application.

2. Applications must be submitted in the following format:

a. Cover Sheet: An applicant must use OMB Standard Form 424

(revised 4/92) as the cover sheet for each project. Applicants may

obtain copies of these forms from the NOAA Grants Management Division

or the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (see ADDRESSES).

b. Project Summary: Each proposal must contain a summary of not

more than one page that provides the following:

(1) Project title.

(2) Project status (new).

(3) Project duration (beginning and ending dates).

(4) Name, address, and telephone number of applicant.

(5) Principal Investigator(s).

(6) Project objectives.

(7) Summary of work to be performed.

(8) Total Federal funds requested.

(9) Cost-sharing to be provided from non-Federal sources, if any.

Specify whether contributions are project-related cash or in-kind.

(10) Total project cost.

c. Project Description: Each project must be completely and

accurately described. Each project description may be up to 15 pages in

length. If an application is awarded, NMFS will make all portions of

the project description available to the public for review; therefore,

NMFS cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any information submitted

as part of any project, nor will NMFS accept for consideration any

project requesting confidentiality of any part of the project.

Each project must be described as follows:

(1) Identification of Problem(s): Describe the specific problem to

be addressed and the area of emphasis to which the project responds

(see section II above).

(2) Project Objectives: This is one of the most important parts of

the Project Proposal. Use the following guidelines for stating the

objective of the project.

(a) Keep it simple and easily understandable.

(b) Be as specific and quantitative as possible.

(c) Specify the ``what and when;'' avoid the ``how and why.''

(d) Keep it attainable within the time, money, and manpower

available.

(e) Use action verbs that are accomplishment oriented.

(3) Need for Government Financial Assistance: Demonstrate the need

for assistance. Any appropriate database to substantiate or reinforce

the need for the Project should be included. Explain why other funding

sources cannot fund all the proposed work. List all other sources of

funding that are or have been sought for the project.

(4) Benefits or Results Expected: Identify and document the results

or benefits to be derived from the proposed activities.

(5) Project Statement of Work: The Statement of Work is the

scientific or technical action plan of activities that are to be

accomplished during each budget period of the project. This description

must include the specific methodologies, by project job activity,

proposed for accomplishing the proposal's objective(s). If the work

described in this section does not contain sufficient detail to allow

for proper technical evaluation, NMFS will not consider the application

for funding and will return it to the applicant. Each Statement of Work

must include the following information:

(a) The applicant's name.

(b) The inclusive dates of the budget period covered under the

Statement of Work.

(c) The title of the proposal.

(d) The scientific or technical objectives and procedures that are

to be accomplished during the budget period. Devise a detailed set of

objectives and procedures to answer who, what, how, when, and where.

The procedures must be of sufficient detail to enable competent workers

to be able to follow them and to complete scheduled activities.

(e) Location of the work.

(f) A list of all project personnel and their responsibilities.

(g) A milestone table that summarizes the procedures (from item

III.D.(c)(5)(d)) that are to be attained in each month covered by the

Statement of Work.

(6) Participation by Persons or Groups Other Than the Applicant:

Describe the level of participation required in the project(s) by NOAA

or other government and non-government entities. Specific NOAA

employees should not be named in the initial proposal.

(7) Federal, State and Local Government Activities: List any

programs (Federal, state, or local government or activities, including

Sea Grant, state Coastal Zone Management programs, NOAA Chesapeake Bay

Stock Assessment Committee, the state/Federal Chesapeake Bay Program,

etc.) this project would affect and describe the relationship between

the project and those plans or activities.

(8) Project Management: Describe how the project will be organized

and managed. Include resumes of principal investigators. List all

persons directly employed by the applicant who will be involved with

the project, their qualifications, and their level of involvement in

the project.

(9) Monitoring of Project Performance: Identify who will

participate in monitoring the project.

(10) Project Impacts: Describe the impact of the project in terms

of anticipated increased production, sales, product quality and safety,

improved management, or any other values that will be produced by this

project. Describe how these products or services will be made available

to the fisheries and management communities.

(11) Evaluation of Project: The applicant is required to provide an

evaluation of project accomplishments at the end of each budget period

and in the final report. The application must describe the methodology

or procedures to be followed to determine technical feasibility, or to

quantify the results of the project in promoting increased production,

product quality and safety, management effectiveness, or other

measurable factors.

(12) Total Project Costs: Total project costs is the amount of

funds required to accomplish what is proposed in the Statement of Work,

and includes contributions and donations. All costs must be shown in a

detailed budget. Cost-sharing must not come from another Federal

source. Costs must be allocated to the Federal share and non-Federal

share provided by the applicant or other sources. Non-Federal costs are

to be divided into cash and in-kind contributions. A standard budget

form (SF-424A) is available from the offices listed (see ADDRESSES).

NMFS will not consider fees or profits as allowable costs for grantees.

To support the budget, the applicant must describe briefly the basis

for estimating the value of the non-Federal funds derived from in-kind

contributions. Additional cost detail may be required prior to a final

analysis of overall cost allowability, allocability, and

reasonableness. The date, period covered, and findings for the most

recent financial audit performed; as well as the name of the audit

firm, the contact person, and phone number and address; must be also

provided.

d. Supporting Documentation: This section should include any

required documents and any additional information necessary or useful

to the description of the project. The amount of information given in

this section will depend on the type of project proposed, but should be

no more than 20 pages. The applicant should present any information

that would emphasize the value of the project in terms of the

significance of the problems addressed. Without such information, the

merits of the project may not be fully understood, or the value of the

project may be underestimated. The absence of adequate supporting

documentation may cause reviewers to question assertions made in

describing the project and may result in lower ranking of the project.

Information presented in this section should be clearly referenced in

the project description.

IV. Review Process and Criteria

A. Initial Evaluation of Applications

Applications will be reviewed to assure that they meet all

requirements of this announcement, including eligibility and relevance

to the Oyster Disease Research Program.

B. Consultation With Experts in the Field of Oyster Disease Research

For applications meeting the requirements of this solicitation,

NMFS will conduct a technical evaluation of each project prior to any

other review. This review normally will involve experts from non-NOAA

as well as NOAA organizations. All comments submitted to NMFS will be

taken into consideration in the technical evaluation of projects.

Reviewers will be asked to comment on the following evaluation

criteria:

1. Problem description and project conceptual approach toward

resolution, especially the applicant's comprehension of the problem(s),

familiarity with related work that is completed or ongoing, and the

overall concept proposed to resolve the problem(s) (30 points).

2. Soundness of project design/technical approach, especially

whether the applicant provided sufficient information to technically

evaluate the project and, if so, the strengths and weaknesses of the

technical design proposed for problem resolution (35 points).

3. Project management and experience and qualifications of

personnel, including organization and management of the project, and

the personnel experience and qualifications (15 points).

4. Justification and allocation of the budget in terms of the work

to be performed (20 points).

C. Review Panel

NMFS will convene a review panel of nationally or regionally

recognized experts in the scientific and management aspects of oyster

disease research who will review each proposal as follows:

1. Review field review responses.

2. Provide their own reviews based on the same criteria as the

field reviews.

3. Discuss all review comments as a panel.

4. Provide individual panelist scores and suggestions for

modifications (i.e., budget, personnel, technical approach, etc.).

D. Funding Decision

1. Applications will be ranked by NMFS into two groups: (a)

Recommended, and (b) not recommended. As previously stated (section

III.A.1., above), collaborative proposals are strongly encouraged, and

therefore will be given added weight in the selection process. Numeric

ranking will be the major consideration for deciding which of the

``recommended'' proposals will be selected for funding. Because NMFS

will seek to balance technical and management priorities of the

program, the highest-ranked ``recommended'' proposals may not

necessarily receive funding.

2. After projects have been ranked for funding, the Chief of the

NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office, in consultation with the Assistant

Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, will ascertain which projects do not

substantially duplicate other projects that are currently funded by

NOAA or are approved for funding by other Federal offices, determine

the projects to be recommended for funding, and determine the amount of

funds available for the program. The exact amount of funds awarded to

each project will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the

applicant, the Grants Office, and the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office

staff. A project must not be initiated by a recipient until a signed

award is received from the Grants Officer.

V. Other Requirements

A. Deliverables

In addition to quarterly status and budget reports, and at the time

of submission of the final report of results of funded projects,

recipients must submit a four-to-five page summary of project work and

results that will be compiled in a report of oyster disease research

program results. Projects that produce non-experimental data must have

copies of these data transferred to the NOAA/NMFS Chesapeake Bay Office

in both compiled, hard copy format, and as a verified, electronic data

file. Full, clearly stated documentation of the contents of such data

files must be submitted with these data.

B. Periodic Workshops

Investigators will be expected to attend periodic workshops with

other Oyster Disease Research Program researchers to encourage inter-

disciplinary dialogue and forge synthesis of results.

C. Administrative

Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and

Federal and DOC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to

Federal financial assistance awards.

The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an

application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate

negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the

proposed effective date of the award, or 100 percent of the total

proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is

less.

Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in

an application not being considered for funding. In addition, any

recipient and/or researcher who is past due for submitting acceptable

progress reports on any previous project funded under this program may

be ineligible to be considered for new awards until the delinquent

reports are received, reviewed and deemed acceptable by NMFS.

No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an

outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:

1. The delinquent account is paid in full;

2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one

payment is received; or

3. Other arrangements satisfactory to DOC are made.

Primary Applicant Certifications--All primary applicants must

submit a completed FORM CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,

Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace

Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby

provided:

1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective

participants (as defined at 15 CFR 26.105) are subject to 15 CFR part

26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension,'' and the related

section of the certification form prescribed above applies;

2. Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26.605)

are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart F, ``Governmentwide Requirements

for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants),'' and the related section of the

certification form prescribed above applies;

3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR 28.105) are subject

to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, ``Limitation on use of

appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and

financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification

form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants,

cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans

and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family

maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater; and

4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure--Any applicant who has paid or will pay

for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of

Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.

Lower Tier Certifications--Recipients shall require applicants/

bidders for subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier

covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if

applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier

Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form SF-LLL,

``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the

use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL

submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to

DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award

document.

Potential recipients may be required to submit an ``Identification-

Application for Funding Assistance'' (Form CD-346), which is used to

ascertain background information on key individuals associated with the

potential recipient. All non-profit and for-profit applicants are

subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to

reveal if any key individuals associated with the applicant have been

convicted of or are presently facing, criminal charges such as fraud,

theft, perjury, or other matters that significantly reflect on the

applicant's management honesty or financial integrity. Applicants will

also be subject to credit check reviews.

A false statement on the application is grounds for denial or

termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or

imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001. Applications under this

program are subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental

Review of Federal Programs.''

If an application is selected for funding, DOC has no obligation to

provide any additional funding in connection with that award. Renewal

of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is

at the total discretion of DOC.

If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do

so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government.

Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been

received, there is no obligation on the part of DOC to cover preaward

costs.

Cooperative agreements awarded pursuant to pertinent statutes shall

be in accordance with the Fisheries Research Plan (comprehensive

program of fisheries research) in effect on the date of the award.

Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products

authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program

must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible in accordance with

Public Law 103-121, sections 606(a) and (b).

Classification

This action has been determined to be ``not significant'' for

purposes of E.O. 12866.

Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required

by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this notice

concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a regulatory

flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act.

This notice contains collections of information subject to the

Paperwork Reduction Act, which have been approved by OMB under OMB

control numbers 0348-0043 and 0605-0001.

Dated: May 12, 1994.

Charles Karnella,

Acting Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service,

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

[FR Doc. 94-11949 Filed 5-12-94; 1:03 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P