Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology (CMRET) Gas Hydrates Research Program at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MA

The summary for the Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology (CMRET) Gas Hydrates Research Program at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MA grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Minerals Management Service, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology (CMRET) Gas Hydrates Research Program at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MA: U.S. Department of the InteriorMinerals Management ServiceProgram Announcement No. MMSHQPA0008FY 2008 for Center Marine Resources and Environmental Technology (CMRET) Gas Hydrates Research Program at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MSCFDA Number 15.423 July 9, 2008 I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION1. IntroductionThis announcement provides instructions and guidance to the Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology (CMRET) at the University of Mississippi to apply for funds for gas hydrate research to be conducted by the Center in the FY 2008 appropriations for the MMS. The proposed work is for the further development and testing of a permanent gas hydrates observatory located in the Gulf of Mexico on Mississippi Canyon Block MC-118 in approximately 2,700 feet of water.The gas hydrates observatory is truly a cooperative program, with the direct involvement of three Federal agencies and more than a dozen universities and research institutes. In addition to the funding from the MMS, equal amounts of additional funding for this project are also being provided by the Department of Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Office of Naval Research has contributed sensory equipment, expertise, and materials. The State of Mississippi through its Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute also contributes research ship time and personnel as in-kind contributions to the project. Marine gas hydrates hold the largest potential reserves of natural gas in the world with some estimates running as high as four times that of all conventional gas reserves. Developing new sources of gas, the most clean-burning of the fossil fuels, is clearly in the national interest, and the primary reason that funds have been provided for this project. Hydrates are also a domestic energy resource that can serve as an alternative to expensive imported liquefied natural gas. Much research needs to be done before gas from marine hydrates deposits can be produced, particularly from fine-grained reservoir rocks, which host most hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico. The gas hydrates observatory promises to provide much of the information needed to tap these potentially prolific resources. 2. SummaryThe CMRET was organized under the Marine Minerals Research Act of 1996 (MMRA). Under the provisions of the Act, the authority and responsibility for the management of the CMRET is vested in the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (Secretary). The Secretary has delegated this authority and responsibility to MMS to gather new information about mineral resources including gas hydrates on the Outer Continental Shelf, which the agency manages through the OCS Lands Act.All funds for the CMRET will be disbursed through noncompetitive cooperative agreements. 3. Authorized UsesThe MMRA of 1996 stipulates that CMRET funds shall only be used for one or more of the following authorized uses:1. Provide technical assistance to the Secretary concerning marine mineral resources; 2. Advise the Secretary on pertinent international activities in marine mineral resource development;3. Engage in research, training, and education transfer associated with the characterization and utilization of marine mineral resources; and 4. Promote the efficient identification, assessment, exploration and management of marine mineral resources in an environmentally sound manner.II. AWARD INFORMATIONThis announcement is for FY 2008 funds specified for the CMRET in the FY 2008 MMS appropriations bill.1. Funding AmountThe amount available for the CMRET in FY 2008 is $841,662.00.2. Assistance InstrumentThe CMRET funds shall be disbursed as cooperative agreements through a noncompetitive cooperative agreement process. Cooperative Agreement recipients shall comply with all applicable sections of 43 C.F.R. Part 12, Administrative and Audit Requirements and Cost Principles for Assistance Programs.3. Cost Sharing or Matching RequirementsAlthough the CMRET Program does not require recipients to cost share or match funds, cost-sharing is encouraged to maximize the research dollars.Recipients should include a complete cost breakdown for costs incurred before grant award, and include this with the Budget Narrative Attachment (Section IV.2).III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATIONEligible Applicants Applicant must be able to clearly demonstrate their capabilities and experience relevant to the proposed work. IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION1. Address to Request Application PackageAll CMRET grant applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. To apply for a grant, recipients must first complete the Grants.gov registration process. To register, go to http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp and follow the steps; the process takes 3-5 business days to complete. Recipients are encouraged to register as soon as possible. To view or submit application forms, recipients must also download Adobe Version 8.1.2 (available at:http://www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp#adobe811); the PureEdge Viewer is no longer used at Grants.gov. 2. Content and Form of ApplicationA CMRET grant application for non-construction projects consists of the following mandatory forms and attachments:. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance;. SF-424A: Budget Information Non-Construction Programs;. SF-424B: Assurances for Non-Construction Programs;. GG_Lobbying Form: Certification Regarding Lobbying (for applications over $100,000). SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (for applications over $100,000, if required);. Project Narrative Attachment; and. Budget Narrative Attachment.Specific instructions for each follow. Please note that when completing the SF-424 forms, all blocks in yellow must be filled out or the application submission will be rejected by Grants.gov.OMB Form SF-424: Application for Federal AssistanceThese are the cover pages of the application; most blocks are self-explanatory. Please note the following:Block #4: If your organization has a tracking number, it is optional to place it in this block.Block #5 Organizational DUNS: This is the DUNS number set up in the Department of the Treasurys Automated Stand Application for Payment (ASAP) system.Block #6 Employer Identification Number: This is the EIN number that is set up in ASAP.Block #11: The CFDA number is 15.423; the title is "Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology Gas Hydrates Research Program."Block #21: Must be the name (signature) of an authorized representative of the recipient.OMB Form SF-424A: Budget Information Non-Construction ProgramsSections A (Budget Summary), B (Budget Categories), and C (Non-Federal Resources) request budget information for the funds currently being requested. Provide sufficient detail in the Budget Narrative Attachment such that MMS can determine that the funds in each budget category are reasonable, allowable, and allocable.A breakdown by the individual project should be provided in Section B, Lines a-k. For bundled grants, list each project in its own column (1), (2), or (3).Section A - Budget SummaryLines 1-4, Columns (a) through (g):Applications should enter the acronym "CMRET" on Line 1, Column (a); for Column (b), enter the CFDA number 15.423Columns (c) and (d) should be left blank.Enter in Columns (e), (f), and (g) the appropriate amounts of funds needed to support the project for the funding period (two years).Section B - Budget CategoriesIn the column headings (1) through (3), enter the same titles of the same programs shown on Lines 1-4, Column (a), Section A.Lines 6a-6h: Enter the total amounts for each category of cost.Line 6i: Show the totals of Lines 6a to 6h in each column.Line 6j: Show the total amount of indirect costs.Line 6k: Enter the total amounts on Lines 6i and 6j. Section C - Non-Federal ResourcesCompletion of Section C is not required. The CMRET Program does not require recipients to cost share or match funds (Section II.6).Section D - Forecasted Cash NeedsLine 13 - Enter the estimated amount of funds to be spent, by quarter, for the first year of the project. Recipients, in the Project Narrative Attachment, must provide sufficient detail such that MMS can determine that the timing of the forecasted cash needs reflects the actual amounts the recipient anticipates spending during each quarter.For a project with fixed and level costs throughout the year, dividing the years total into four equal amounts may be appropriate. For complicated projects, though, many costs are not level and would require each quarters cash needs be different.For grants that provide funding for a period greater than 12 months (4 quarters), the recipient can request, via email to the Contracting Officer, the forecasted cash needs for the 5th - 8th quarters when the timing of these cash needs are known. For additional quarterly cash needs, repeat the request via email to the Contracting Officer.The forecasted cash needs will be used to set maximum quarterly withdrawal amounts in Department of the Treasurys Automated Stand Application for Payment (ASAP) system. Recipients may request needed changes to these amounts by contacting the Contracting Officer via email. During the performance of the grant, the forecasted cash needs will be compared to the actual withdrawals made by the recipient.Line 14 - Completion of this line is optional.Line 15 - Enter the total amounts of Lines 13 and 14.Section E - Budget Estimates of Federal Funds Needed for Balance of the ProjectLines 16-19 - Enter in Column (a) the same project titles shown in Section A, Column (a). For Columns (b)-(e), provide the amounts of Federal funds which will be needed to complete the project over the succeeding funding periods (one to two additional years depending on available funding).Line 20 - Enter the total for each of the Columns (b)-(e).Line 21 - Use this space to explain amounts for individual direct cost categories that appear to be out of the ordinary.Line 22 - Enter the type of indirect rate (provisional, predetermined, final, or fixed) that will be in effect during the funding period.Line 23 - Provide any other explanations or comments deemed necessary.OMB Form SF-424B: Assurances for Non-Construction ProgramsSubmitting this form with the Grants.gov application will constitute agreement to abide by the Statutes, terms, and conditions contained in the form.3. GG_Lobbying Form: Certification Regarding LobbyingFor grant applications in excess of $100,000, recipients must certify, by filling out and submitting with their application the GG_Lobbying Form: Certification Regarding Lobbying, that to the best of their knowledge and belief, no Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the recipient, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.All contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and sub-grantees at any tier that request or receive funds in excess of $100,000 in connection with a Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement must fill out the GG_Lobbying certification and forward it to the tier above.Further information is available at: 43 C.F.R. Part 18, New Restrictions on Lobbying.4. OMB Form SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying ActivitiesFor grant applications in excess of $100,000, recipients must complete the SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities and submit it with their application if any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.All contractors, subcontractors at any tier, and sub-grantees at any tier that request or receive funds in excess of $100,000 in connection with a Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement must fill out the SF-LLL disclosure, if required, and forward it to the tier above. All SF-LLL disclosures must be submitted with the application.Further information is available at: 43 C.F.R. Part 18, New Restrictions on Lobbying.5. Project Narrative AttachmentRecipients are required to submit the following information (in Microsoft Office Word) with their grant application. 6. Project DescriptionDescribe the project in sufficient detail (up to 5 pages) such that a reviewer understands the following bulleted topics. The requested information need not be provided in the order given below, but it should be easily identified (by the title below) in the Project Narrative.If a document is included with an application that includes required project narrative information, summarize the appropriate information and reference the documents section(s) and page number(s).. Goal(s) of the Current Grant ApplicationThe goals of the FY 2008 gas hydrates observatory are to continue the characterization of the hydrate deposits at Block MC-118 by high-resolution geophysical surveys and collection of sediment samples and cores, to conduct ambient noise investigations to monitor changes in the gas hydrate deposits at the site, to support efforts, including those of graduate students, to develop novel ways to process geophysical data obtained at the site, to support the efforts of the CMRET and its affiliates and subcontractors to mobilize scientific, engineering, and technical support and equipment for constructing the hydrates observatory, and to provide funds for ship time to conduct research cruises and deploy equipment at the site. . Statement of Work: The project is divided into three sets of tasks: (1) pre-deployment (preparation and testing of the equipment to be deployed at the site; (2) deployment (positioning and connecting new sensory equipment, replacing malfunctioning sensors and downloading data at the site; and (3) post-deployment (data processing and analysis). . Schedule: include: the duration of the project; major milestones with dates; major tasks by duration (number of months and start date); and an explanation of any factors that could expedite or disrupt the schedule. Remember to provide sufficient detail to validate the timing of forecasted cash needs (SF-424A). The duration should match what is submitted on the SF-424 and SF-424A.. Project Management Plan: describe the plan to assure the projects performance. The project management plan (PMP) will be incorporated into the grant award and should be used by the recipient when producing the Performance Report. The PMP should include: the person(s) (name and discipline) responsible for the projects progress and quality (the amount of time/budget allocated should be indicated on the Budget Narrative Attachment); inspections by frequency and person(s) (name and discipline); and reporting by frequency. . Deliverable (s): identify the interim and final deliverables. 7. Budget Narrative AttachmentThe overall proposed budget shall be submitted by completing the SF-424A: Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs which provides an overall view of the project budget. The SF-424A, though, does not provide enough detail for the Contracting Officer to determine if each cost element is reasonable, allowable, and allocable to the project. The Budget Narrative, to be submitted in Microsoft Office Word, will provide the details necessary to make this determination in this award:a) Salaries and Wages: Identify individuals or categories of salaries and wages, estimated hours, and the rate of compensation proposed for each person or category. Provide an explanation for any pay increases during the length of the project. Identify each person with a task in the project. b) Fringe Benefits/Labor Overhead: Indicate the rates/amounts in conformance with normal accounting procedures. Explain what costs are covered in this category and the basis of the rate computations. c) Travel: State the purpose of the trip and itemize the estimated travel costs to show: the number of trips required; the destinations; the number of people traveling; the per diem rates; the cost of transportation; and any miscellaneous expenses for each trip. Calculations of other special transportation costs (such as charges for use of applicant owned vehicles or vehicle rental costs) should also be shown.d) Equipment: Show the cost of all special purpose equipment necessary for achieving the objectives of the project. "Special purpose equipment" means equipment having a useful life of more than 1 year and having an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per item. Each item should be itemized and include a full justification.e) Supplies: Enter the cost for all tangible property. Include the cost of office, laboratory, computing, and supplies separately. Provide detail on any specific item which represents a significant portion of the proposed amount.f) Contractual Services or Consultants: Identify the tasks or problems for which such services would be used. List the contemplated sub-grantee/subcontractors by name (including consultan