1. How are the (canceled) 2007 FFO and this year's FFO related or different, and is it appropriate to update proposals that were submitted last year and to resubmit them for this new call?
The 2008 competitions for technology and practices demonstration projects is similar, but not identical, to the canceled 2007 competition. The overall goal of the Program and eligibility requirements remain the same, but the priorities have changed, and there are new priorities this year that were not explicitly called out last year. If you submitted something last year, please read the FFO carefully before deciding if you want to submit it again, with or without modification, this year.
There are also things in the 2008 technologies and practices FFO that were not present at all last year. For example, there is a newly-defined program area called "Verification Testing". A successful applicant in this program area would not receive any grant funds, but would have certain expenses covered for an ETV or modified-ETV verification test of his technology at a qualified testing facility.
2. Are proposals submitted to last year's canceled competition automatically considered this year?
3. What is the relationship between the Ballast Water Management Demonstration Program competitions and the ongoing Sea Grant Aquatic Invasive Species Research and Outreach competition?
They are completely different competitions, with different timelines, application requirements, evaluation criteria, and funding sources.
4. Is the Ballast Water Management Demonstration Program RDTE facility competition focused more on facilities for treatment system R&D, facilities for system certification, or a facility that can ultimately do both?
Please review section I.A., Program Objective, in the FFO. It describes the capabilities we think are most important in an RDTE facility. This year, there is a strong emphasis on the ability of facilities to perform evaluations of ballast water technologies.
5. Do proposals for RDTE facility competition have to reflect exactly the IMO G8 Guideline and/or ETV ballast water treatment evaluation protocols under development or will scientifically sound and justified alternatives to these be considered for a new facility? In particular, is the holding tank volume of 200 cubic meters (listed by IMO and ETV) a requirement for a successful RDTE facility proposal?
Proposed facilities are not required to have the capacity to meet IMO, ETV, or any other requirements, but as one of the program objectives is to develop "The national capacity to evaluate technologies and other management practices in
support of pending federal requirements", the more closely existing or proposed federal evaluation requirements can be met, the more favorably a proposal will be reviewed, all else being equal. Keep in mind that federal requirements, including tank size requirements, are not yet finalized.
6. Would you be willing to meet with our team in person to discuss questions that may arise as we draft our proposals for this FFO?
If it is logistically possible, we would be willing to meet with interested parties; however, to be fair to all potential applicants, if a meeting were arranged, it would either be a public meeting open to all, or the questions asked and responses given would be posted here.
7. Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Section III. of the FFO lists the foreign entities that are eligible to apply. However, as section III.C. points out, the law authorizing this Program requires that "installation and construction of the technologies and practices used in the demonstration program must be performed in the United States."
8. What projects have been awarded in the past?
Go to this link for a complete list of project titles.
9. Can you give me any tips for a successful proposal?
Read the FFO announcement carefully, as it is different from last year.
Don't spend too much space in your proposal talking about the seriousness of the ballast water issue or the importance of solving it--the evaluation panel will already be well aware of this. This link leads to a PDF document on lessons learned for applicants. It was prepared back in 2002, but the suggestions are still in general valid.
10. Although matching funds are not required in the Technologies and Practices FFO, it is indicated they may be considered in the evaluation process. How?
Applications are reviewed by a technical reviewers, who base 10% of their score on project cost. As stated in the FFO, the reviewers are instructed that the cost assessment "will evaluate the degree to which the proposed budget is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time frame; and the degree to which the
applicant has minimized the need for program funding by identifying low-cost
alternatives, and by securing commitments from partners to provide in-kind services,
use of equipment, or matching funds."
11. Must applications be submitted online via http://grants.gov?
Yes, unless the applicant does not have internet access. Note: you must first register with grants.gov, using a process that can take several weeks to complete. This PDF document contains some nonbinding tips for internet submission.
For the RDTE competition, applicants are allowed to prepare an appendix of oversize materials. If they do prepare one, this must be submitted in paper hardcopy, following the instructions in the FFO.
12. What are the mandatory submission due dates, and what are the minimum and maximum amounts that can be requested?
Please review the full Federal Funding Announcement (FFO) for this information and other information you will need to submit an application. The General summary of these competitions shows you what FFO numbers to search for on grants.gov.
13. The RDTE FFO indicates that the agency anticipates awarding a grant of up to $1.25 million lasting up to four years. Does that mean that amount will be evenly dispersed over the four years?
No. The application should propose how much will be needed each year of the project. Be aware that we anticipate having no more than $1 million available for award in the first year.
14. I have several different projects in mind. May I submit more than one application?
15. The FFOs say that awards may be made as grants or cooperative agreements. What is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement is a just a special kind of grant, in which the government anticipates a "substantial involvement" (e.g., collaboration, participation, or intervention by NOAA in the management of the project) during performance of the activity.
You can find many specific examples of what would constitute substantial involvement on page 41 of the interim Department of Commerce grants manual. For the Ballast Water RDTE Facility competition, examples of substantial involvement might be: an ex-officio seat for NOAA on the facility's executive board, and required approval by NOAA of the project selection process prior to selecting projects to be undertaken at the facility.
16. I'm having trouble filling in the SF-424 Form in the application package. What do all the fields mean?
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