Announcement of Research Funding Opportunity for 2010–2012

Pre-proposals due by 5:00 p.m. Monday, 26 January 2009

The Alaska Sea Grant College Program is a partnership between the NOAA National Sea Grant College Program and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Alaska Sea Grant supports research, education, and extension activities that enhance the ability of Alaskans to understand, conserve, and sustainably use our rich and diverse marine and coastal resources.

Alaska Sea Grant invites pre-proposals for research projects for the 2010–2012 biennium. We seek creative and innovative research proposals in the natural and social sciences that focus on the environmental and economic viability of Alaska's coastal communities. In this solicitation we are interested in proposals that address

  1. Impacts on and adaptation strategies for coastal ecosystems and/or coastal communities from environmental change, especially in relation to climate change or human activity on various scales.
  2. Improvements to the economic viability of Alaska coastal communities through innovation in marketing, processing, safety, or other means of adding to the value of local resources.

We anticipate that approximately $700,000 per year will be available for this solicitation, funding about 5–7 projects during this period. Project duration may be for one or two years with a projected start date no earlier than 1 February 2010. Pre-proposals must be submitted by 26 January 2009. Based on review of the pre-proposals, approximately 15 invitations to submit full proposals will be issued by 23 February 2009, with final funding recommendations by 15 September 2009.

Pre-proposals will be ranked on the basis of:

Impacts are tangible direct or indirect benefits to Alaska communities, policy makers, or stakeholders. Each proposal must include outreach activities that engage relevant stakeholders or communities.

For further guidance on possible impacts, see Impacts Criteria for Research Proposals.

In addition, favorable consideration will be given to proposals that

Alaska Sea Grant encourages investigators to consider themselves partners with Sea Grant in serving the needs of Alaska's communities. For this reason, staff members are available to discuss all aspects of pre-proposals prior to submission.

For Additional Information

Project scope, relevance to themes or research issues, questions about impacts:

Outreach issues:

Program information, budget issues, or forms:

Pre-Proposal Guidelines

Applications will be accepted from qualified investigators at universities, federal, state, local, and tribal government entities or approved nonprofit organizations. Alaska Sea Grant encourages participation from the broad research community and welcomes proposals from investigators new to the Alaska Sea Grant RFP process.

Required Elements for Pre-Proposals

The pre-proposal should concisely summarize the essential elements of the proposed research, including project description, potential impacts, and outreach component.

Pre-proposals must include all of the following sections indicated by numbered headings. Page-length guidelines must be followed without reductions in font size, line spacing, or margins (no smaller than single-spaced Times-Roman 12 point font, 3/4 inch margins). Figures and captions must be clearly legible at 100% on-screen size.

  1. Project Summary (half page or less): Submit a concise summary of the research, written for a nonspecialist, scientifically literate audience. The summary should indicate how the project will address the theme for this RFP, and outline expected outcomes and impacts.
  2. Project Description (up to three pages, including figures): Submit a concise statement of objectives, hypotheses, methodologies, and project activities.
  3. Impacts (one page): Impacts are tangible, direct or indirect benefits to Alaska communities, policy makers, or stakeholders. Submit a concise summary of the need for the project, how this was established, and whether regional or other stakeholders were consulted. Briefly discuss potential short- or long-term impacts. How will the project activities meet the goals and objectives of Alaska Sea Grant? For further guidance on possible impacts, see Impacts Criteria for Research Proposals.
  4. Outreach Component (one page): Alaska Sea Grant encourages principal investigators to involve local residents, users, or other stakeholders in the project. How will project results be disseminated and/or translated to a tangible community benefit? Outreach activities may be budgeted as part of the proposal. Coordination with Alaska Sea Grant extension (Marine Advisory Program), communications, or education staff is strongly encouraged and should be initiated well ahead of the deadline. Alaska Sea Grant has limited resources for print, video, and Web production; media relations; and meeting coordination.

    Contacts:
  5. Other Project Partners (half page or less per partner): Provide an annotated list of project partners. For each partner, provide contact information for the responsible individual and the name of their organization. Briefly indicate the nature of their contribution, how they will enhance and/or benefit from the anticipated outcomes, and plans for preserving and sharing data.
  6. People and Resources: Provide vitae for all individuals, including graduate students, who will play a significant role in the project. In a brief introductory statement, describe qualifications, relevant institutional capabilities, and division of the workload. (Vitae: 2-page maximum per investigator, maximum ten most relevant publications.)
  7. Budget Spreadsheet and Budget Narrative: The spreadsheet should provide sufficient detail for reviewers to understand the budget amount requested. The budget narrative should describe the basis for each significant cost item.

Budget guidelines:

Salary and tuition support may be requested for graduate students who are participating in the project as part of their training. Minimal funds are available for faculty member or technician salary. Partial support for postdoctoral researchers or early-career faculty may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Federal agencies may not request salaries, travel, or indirect costs.

  1. Project Schedule and Budget Projection (NOAA form 90-6)
  2. Current and Pending Research Projects: For all PIs, list on a separate page all current and pending support. Include project title, dollar amount, source and period of funding, and PI's time involvement in each project.
  3. Results of Previous Sea Grant Support (one page or less per project): Include all projects receiving funding from any Sea Grant program during the previous five years.

Proposal Review Schedule

26 January 2009 Deadline: Pre-proposals due via online submission by 5 pm, Alaska time.
23 February 2009 Invitations issued to submit full proposals.
17 April 2009 Deadline: Full proposals with all institutional signatures due in Alaska Sea Grant office at 5 pm, Alaska time.
Spring/summer 2009 Proposals sent out for peer review.
Late August 2009 Scientific panel meets to advise on the final selection of projects.
15 September 2009 PIs notified.
1 October 2009 Omnibus implementation plan due in National Sea Grant Office.
1 February 2010 Funding available (anticipated).

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Forms

Facilities and administration (F&A) costs rate for organized research
UAF 45.1%
UAA 34.0%
UAS 42.0%
If you are outside the UA system or have other questions, please contact Michele Frandsen at 907-474-7088 or frandsen@ims.uaf.edu.