Guidelines for Preparing a 2008—2010 Alaska Sea Grant Proposal

Full proposals due by 5:00 p.m. Friday, 13 April 2007

PDF version of this document [48 KB]

Only those who submit preliminary proposals are eligible to submit a full proposal. Projects will have a start date no earlier than 1 February 2008 and are generally for a period of two years.

Submit original with signed cover sheet and an electronic version to

Mailing address

Alaska Sea Grant College Program
University of Alaska Fairbanks
PO Box 755040
Fairbanks, AK 99775-5040

Physical address

Alaska Sea Grant College Program
University of Alaska Fairbanks
794 University Avenue, Suite 238
Fairbanks, AK 99709

Electronic copies should be e-mailed to frandsen@ims.uaf.edu.

Introduction

The Alaska Sea Grant College Program (ASG) is a NOAA-funded program of research, education, and extension services aimed at helping the people of Alaska better understand, conserve, and wisely use the state's marine, estuarine, and coastal watershed resources. ASG sponsors applied social, economic, engineering, and biological research and is soliciting research proposals for 2008–2010. Successful research proposals will address one or more of these five theme areas:

as outlined in the Alaska Sea Grant College Program 2004–2010 Strategic Plan. To address these themes over the next five years, we have provided a series of goals, objectives, and strategies. We seek creative and innovative research proposals that are driven by identified needs and relate to the goals and objectives found in the strategic plan.

The size and complexity of the concerns surrounding the careful development, conservation, and sustainable use of Alaska's marine, estuarine, and coastal watershed resources exceed the monetary assets of ASG and the human capabilities of the higher education system in Alaska. The strongest proposals will be those that collaborate with government, industry, and other concerned constituent groups so that ASG's research investment is leveraged and yields the greatest possible benefits.

Required Elements for Full Proposals

Each full proposal that is submitted for funding consideration by the Alaska Sea Grant College Program for the Omnibus Implementation Period 2008–2010 must include the following elements:

  1. Signed Proposal Cover Sheet
  2. Project Summary Form (NOAA form 90-2, 1-page limit)
  3. Abstract (1-page limit)
  4. Project Narrative (15-page limit including figures and tables)
  5. References Cited (no page limit)
  6. Project Budget (budget spreadsheet, narrative, and NOAA form 90-4)
  7. Project Schedule and Budget Projection (NOAA form 90-6)
  8. Vitae of Principal Investigator (PI) and Key Associate Investigators (2-page limit per investigator)
  9. Current and Pending Research Projects (for PI and key associate investigators)
  10. Results of Previous Sea Grant Support (no more than one page per project)
  11. Suggested Reviewers (4 suitable peer reviewers)
  12. An electronic version of above items in Microsoft Word and Excel. In addition the entire document should be sent as a PDF. Electronic copies should be e-mailed to frandsen@ims.uaf.edu.

Following is a brief description of the elements of the full proposal.

  1. Signed Proposal Cover Sheet: Proposals should be clearly identified with a project title and name(s) and affiliation(s) of principal investigator(s). Cover sheets should include complete mailing address, phone, and email information; duration of project; proposed start date; and amount requested. The cover sheet must be signed by the principal investigator(s), the program officer(s) for the academic unit of each investigator, and their institutional representative(s). Full name and title should identify these signers. These signatures are extremely important and no proposal will be accepted without them.
  2. Project Summary Form (1-page limit, NOAA form 90-2): The project summary should include
    • Project title: Use the exact title as it appears in the rest of the application. Please keep title succinct.
    • Project period: Indicate initiation and completion dates. Proposals should request a start date of 1 February 2008 or later and are generally for a period of two years.
    • Investigators: List the names, affiliations, and amount of effort of each investigator who will significantly contribute to the project. Start with the principal investigator.
    • Funding request: Total amount of Sea Grant funds requested for this project.
    • Related projects: List project number and name for any related projects funded by Alaska Sea Grant (either currently or in the past).
    • Keywords: Keywords are used by many people (not all are scientifically oriented) in searches of National Sea Grant and Alaska Sea Grant databases.
    • Project summary: This should include the objectives, rationale, and methodology for the project, as well as a brief summary of work to be completed and the benefits that will accrue.
  3. Abstract (one-page limit): The abstract is used to help compare proposals quickly and allows the respondents to summarize key points in their own words. Project summaries of applications that receive funding may be posted on program-related websites.
  4. Project Narrative (15-page limit including all figures and tables): The proposal narrative should include the following items. Letters of support or collaboration do not count toward the 15-page limit.
    • Description and need: This description must summarize the proposed project, discuss the problem or need being addressed, explain how the project will address ASG’s goals, describe the expected output or product, and describe the project’s expected long-term impact. Letters of support should be included that are from anticipated or potential benefactors, constituent groups or stakeholders who view the proposal as important in some specific way or are from likely users of the proposal’s anticipated results, outcomes or products. Letters must state how they likely would use the results, outcomes or products derived from the project, if funded.
    • Objectives and approach: The narrative should include a concise statement of the objectives of the project and hypotheses to be addressed and a description of the project activities. Explain the conceptual approach for achieving objectives and the methods to be used. Describe how the project activities will be evaluated for effectiveness in meeting stated project goals and objectives as well as the goals of ASG.
    • Outreach component:Include a description of how the need for the project was established, whether regional or other stakeholders were consulted in the project’s development, and how project results will be disseminated. ASG encourages principal investigators to involve local residents or users/stakeholders to the greatest extent possible in the project. Alaska Sea Grant has many resources for development and production of publications, videos, and multimedia; coordination of meetings and workshops; release of information to news media; and development of Web sites. Applicants are encouraged to contact the following personnel for potential participation in the proposal or for assistance in developing an outreach component for the proposal. Outreach activities must be budgeted as part of the overall proposal.
    • Coordination with project partners: The description of project partners should include anticipated or potential benefactors, constituent groups, or stakeholders who view the proposal as important in some specific way. Describe likely users and state how they would use the anticipated results, outcomes or products, if funded. Letters describing extent of collaboration are required.
    • Available resources: State briefly the PI’s qualifications, institutional capabilities, and key partnerships within the user community that will contribute to the proposed work. Letters specifying level of involvement in the proposed work must document collaboration with individuals for whom salary is not requested.
    • Outcomes: Describe the anticipated project outcomes and impacts. In order to comply with the National Sea Grant reporting requirements, all projects will be evaluated based upon outcomes and impacts of the research. Describe specific anticipated outcomes and/or products. Detail follow-on steps that may be needed to further the anticipated outcome.
  5. References Cited (no page limit): Reference information is required. Each reference must include the names of all authors in the same sequence in which they appear in the publication, the article title, book or journal title, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication.
  6. Project Budget: The budget spreadsheet should provide as much detail as possible in order for reviewers to understand the budget amount requested. The budget narrative should describe costs associated with project implementation and describe the graduate student’s involvement in the project. The NOAA form 90-4 is a summary budget form. Budgets should be by year and include a summary budget.
  7. Project Schedule and Budget Projection (NOAA form 90-6).
  8. Vitae of Principal Investigators (PI) and Key Associate Investigators (2-page maximum per investigator): Include vitae for individuals who will play a major role in the project. Normally, graduate student vitae are unnecessary. List ALL persons for whom you have served as thesis advisor or postdoctoral sponsor, the names and institutions of the individual’s own graduate and postgraduate advisors, and a list of all collaborators within the past 4 years that do not appear on your list of publications. This information is used to help identify potential conflicts in the selection of reviewers.
  9. Current and Pending Research Projects: For all PIs, list on a separate page all current and pending outside support. Include project title, the dollar amount, source and period of funding, and the PI's time involvement in each project.
  10. Results of Previous Sea Grant Support: No more than one page per project; include all projects receiving funding from any Sea Grant program during the previous four years. If the PI (or any co-investigator identified on the proposal) has received Alaska Sea Grant funding in the past 4 years, information on the prior award(s) is required. The following information should be provided:
    1. the ASG award number, amount and period of support
    2. the title of the project
  11. Suggested Reviewers: Submit the names of at least 4 suitable peer reviewers for your proposal. These potential reviewers must reside outside of Alaska and must not have collaborated with any of the investigators in the past 48 months. Please remember these reviewers must be available in May, June, and July. Do not include any scientists whose fieldwork makes them unavailable. You may also indicate any reviewers who may be biased against your project.
  12. An electronic version: Please e-mail an electronic version (Microsoft Word and Excel files) of your complete proposal to frandsen@ims.uaf.edu. In addition the entire document should be sent as a PDF.

Reporting Requirements

All NOAA programs are required to report annually on their performance to NOAA leadership,
OMB, and Congress. All projects will be evaluated based upon outcomes and impacts of the research. The definition of “impacts” from the National Sea Grant Office:

“Impacts are higher order, usually long-term results of a program’s activities that have significant scientific, economic or social benefits. Impacts may involve behavioral, policy or economic changes. Seminal contributions to science are considered impacts especially if the research findings lead to major progress in a particular field, implementation of new technologies or have a substantive bearing on an economic or societal issue. While breakthroughs do occur, it is important to realize that impacts are developed over the long term—both in the scientific arena and through sustained, integrated efforts by Sea Grant programs themselves.”

Reporting requirements include submission of an annual report, a final report, and participation in an annual research review in the spring of each year. Additional assistance may be requested in ASG outreach, education, and special reporting efforts. By receiving grants from Alaska Sea Grant, investigators agree to these requirements, and failure to submit timely required reports could result in freezing of remaining grant funds and denial of future funds.

Proposal Review Schedule

13 April 2007 Full proposals with all institutional signatures due in Alaska Sea Grant office.
Spring/summer 2007 Proposals sent out for peer review.
Mid-July 2007 Scientific panel meets to advise on the final selection of projects.
October 2007 PIs will be notified.
1 October 2007 Omnibus implementation plan due in National Sea Grant Office.
1 February 2008 Funding for selected proposals begins.

For Additional Information

If you wish to talk with ASG Director Brian Allee, either by phone or in person, about how your idea may compete in the context of ASG programmatic interest, call (907) 474-7949 or (907) 474-7088.

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Forms

Facilities and administration (F&A) costs rate for organized research
UAF 47.5%
UAA 42.2%
UAS 40.0%
If you are outside the UA system or have other questions, please contact Michele Frandsen at 907-474-7088 or frandsen@ims.uaf.edu.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this RFP, the required forms, or other information you feel might be missing, please contact Michele Frandsen at 907-474-7088 or frandsen@ims.uaf.edu. If you have problems viewing or using this Web page, or cannot download the forms from the links above, contact Carol Kaynor.