Announcement of Availability of Funds

Proposals are no longer being accepted for fiscal year 2006. Please visit the CMI home page for information about current funding opportunities.

The University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI), established by a cooperative agreement among the University of Alaska, the State of Alaska and the Minerals Management Service (MMS), is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for Federal Fiscal Year 2006. The purpose of CMI is to provide matching MMS funding for research in Alaska on coastal, marine and human environmental issues pertaining to offshore mineral exploration and extraction. Up to $1,000,000 per year is available as match (co-funding) for projects. No limit is set on the dollar amount for each project, but the intent of CMI is to fund several smaller projects. Researchers must secure at least one dollar of nonfederal matching funds for every dollar from CMI. Acceptable nonfederal match includes funding from university, municipal, state or private sources. Match may also be in-kind, such as needed services.

Projects should address at least one CMI Framework Issue, focus on an area of current interest to MMS (Beaufort Sea and Cook Inlet/Shelikof Strait), or be applicable regardless of geographic area (e.g., laboratory studies).At least one Principal Investigator on each project must be a University of Alaska faculty member.

CMI Framework Issues

Scientific studies for better understanding marine, coastal or human environments affected or potentially affected by offshore oil and gas or other mineral exploration and extraction on the outer continental shelf;
Modeling studies of environmental, social, economic, or cultural processes related to OCS gas and oil activities in order to improve scientific predictive capabilities;
Experimental scientific studies for better understanding of environmental processes, or the causes and effects of OCS activities;
Projects which design or establish mechanisms or protocols for sharing data or information regarding marine or coastal resources, or human activities to support prudent management of oil, gas and marine mineral resources; and
Synthesis studies of scientific environmental or socioeconomic information relevant to the OCS gas and oil program.

CMI is looking for studies that will help managers and regulators make better decisions about issues relating to offshore oil, gas and other marine minerals. Examples of specific informational needs are detailed in the MMS Alaska OCS Region's Environmental Studies Plan available online at http://www.mms.gov/alaska/ess/essp/sp.htm. Investigators are encouraged to review the plan; however, proposals are not limited to the needs described in the Environmental Studies Plan provided that proposals address at least one CMI Framework Issue.

Student and Public Involvement

Inclusion of graduate or undergraduate students is encouraged, as is involvement of local residents and communication of results with the general public. Projects may include continuing education of academic and regulatory communities on topics relating to the framework issues through development of short courses, workshops and seminars. Graduate students may propose projects through the sponsorship of a faculty member.

Deliverables

CMI project deliverables include quarterly, annual and final reports. Each project is required to present ongoing research yearly at the CMI Annual Research Review in February (Fairbanks) and at the MMS offices in Anchorage. Draft final reports are due three months before contract end dates for review, revision and publication.

Evaluation

Letters of Intent will be evaluated on the quality and clarity of the proposed hypothesis, the adequacy of proposed methods, budget, and the overall relevance of the project to CMI Framework Issues. Applicants will be notified in November 2005 whether CMI will entertain a full proposal for their project concept. Full proposals will be due 21 December 2005. Final decisions on proposals will be made in February, with funds available by May 2006.

LOI Content

Letters of Intent should be no more than 10 pages long (authors should be aware that we're looking for a synopsis, not a full proposal) and include the following:

Abstract
Background/Relevance to Framework Issues
Objectives/Hypotheses
Methods/Analyses
Logistics plan
Safety management
Permits/Interagency coordination
Local involvement/Traditional knowledge
Project management/Staffing plan
Budget justification
Budget (include personnel, travel, services, supplies, equipment, tuition, indirect costs, anticipated match)*
Timeline (including deliverables)

Sample Budget and Timeline Template are available for download in Word document format.

Submission and Deadline

Letters of Intent must be submitted in both electronic and hard copy format (original plus 7 copies). Electronic versions should be emailed to carter@sfos.uaf.edu or sent on CD. Submissions must be postmarked no later than or be received by close of business on Monday, October 3, 2005.

Please submit Letters of Intent to:

UA Coastal Marine Institute
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks AK 99775-7220

For additional information please contact:

Kathy Carter-carter@sfos.uaf.edu