AO for Joint US-Russia Bering and Chukchi Sea Cruise

Joint US-Russia Bering and Chukchi Sea Cruise
Announcement of Opportunity for FY2004 Funding

Dear Colleague:
This is an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) and Call for Letters of
Interest for the FY2004 joint US-Russia research cruise to the Bering
and Chukchi Seas. Letters of Interest must be received at the
NOAA/University of Alaska Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research
(CIFAR) office in Fairbanks, Alaska no later than 5:00 p.m. 29 August
2003.

This AO can also be found on the CIFAR web site at
http://www.cifar.uaf.edu. Please forward this announcement to other
interested members of the research community.

Thank you.

Gunter Weller
Director, CIFAR

Joint Russian-American Long-term Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA)
Initial Research Cruise to the Bering and Chukchi Seas
Announcement of Opportunity

INTRODUCTION

Letters of Interest are requested for participation in a joint
U.S.-Russia research cruise to the Bering and Chukchi Seas, including
sampling and instrument deployment in both U.S. and Russian territorial
waters. This is the first activity under the Russian-American Long-term
Census of the Arctic (RUSALCA). The cruise objectives are to support
the U.S. interagency Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH)
Program [ http://psc.apl.washington.edu/search/ ] and the NOAA Ocean
Exploration Program [ www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov ], including the Census
of Marine Life. Because of the trend in reduction of ice cover in the
Arctic and the possibility of permanent loss in seasonal ice cover in
the study region as shown by climate models, it is thought that this
area might be subject to significant ecosystem change. A program of
ecosystem-oriented exploration would help provide a foundation for
detecting future ecosystem change, and also provide the potential for
discovery of new marine resources. This call for Letters of Interest is
being released by the Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research (CIFAR)
for response by scientists from the United States and by the Russian
Academy of Sciences for response by scientists from Russia.

The primary study area will be the Northern Bering Sea (north of 60
degrees North Latitude) and the Chukchi Sea (Wrangel Island to Point
Barrow and north toward the Chukchi Plateau to the extent that ice
conditions permit). The cruise is expected to occur in summer 2004 on a
Russian ice-strengthened (not ice-breaking) research ship. The ship
will likely depart from Vladivostok and make 2 or 3 port stops in Alaska
before returning to Russia. The total cruise length will be about 45
days, with intensive activities in the primary study area during the
middle 20 days or so. Underway activities can be carried out during the
entire 45 days.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The availability of funding from NOAA will be limited and dependent on
FY2004 appropriations. Most awards are expected to be less than
$75,000. The award period should be 1 April 2004 through 31 December
2005 and should allow for participation in a post-cruise data synthesis
meeting in late 2005, location to be determined.

Investigators are encouraged to seek collaborations with scientists from
the U.S. or other countries, and to seek cost-sharing whenever possible.

Based on the Letters of Interest, projects will be selected that best
support the cruise objectives, complement other projects proposed by
both U.S. and Russian scientists, and fit NOAA's logistic and funding
constraints. Scientists whose projects are selected will be asked to
submit full proposals that will be subject to peer review. Some of the
selected scientists may be invited to join a cruise-planning meeting,
tentatively scheduled for 24-25 September 2003 in Vladivostok, Russia.
Travel support for this meeting will be provided separately.

ELIGIBILITY

Proposals may be submitted by scientists from any governmental,
academic, or non-profit research organization located or chartered in
the United States of America. Scientists from non-U.S. organizations may
participate as sub-awardees. Russian scientists should respond to the
announcement from the Russian Academy of Sciences. Scientists from U.S.
or foreign organizations who are interested in collaborating at their
own expense are invited to submit Letters of Interest.

PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

Responses to this announcement will involve a two-step process: Letters
of Interest and encouraged full proposals.

A Letter of Interest may be submitted by either an individual
investigator or an individual investigator serving as the "lead"
investigator for two or more collaborating investigators. No
institutional signatures are required on pre-proposals.

Invitations for submission of full proposals will be extended to certain
investigators after review of the Letters of Interest.

Letter of Interest Format and Content

Letters of Interest must include: 1) names of PI and other key
participants; 2) statement of research to be undertaken and critical
geographic targets (limit 2 pages); 3) estimated budget, including
indirect charges; 4) logistic or scientific requirements that must be
met from other sources for the proposed research to be successful; and
5) curriculum vita (1 page maximum) for each principal or co-
investigator.

Full Proposal Format

Investigators whose projects are selected will be encouraged by 5
September 2003 to submit full proposals, which will be due on 3 November
2003. Proposals should not exceed 15 pages in text and illustrations
(not including cover page, references, budget page and curriculum
vitae). Proposals should have 2.5-cm (1-inch) margins at the top, bottom
and on each side. The type size must be clear and readily legible, in a
standard font size of 10-12 point. The original signed copy should be
clipped together (not stapled) and printed on one side of each sheet
only. An additional 10 copies of the proposal are required, and may be
printed on both sides. These 10 copies should be stapled in the upper
left-hand corner, but otherwise be unbound.

Sections of the Full Proposal

1. Cover page.
   The cover page should include a title, the Principal Investigator's
   name(s) and affiliation(s), complete address, phone, fax and e-mail
   information, the budget summary broken out by year, and the date
   submitted. It must be signed by the investigator's authorized
   institutional official.

2. Abstract (on a separate page).
   This should list the nature of the proposed work (e.g., sampling or
   observation scheme, hypotheses to be tested, the relationship of the
   proposed studies to the SEARCH or Ocean Exploration Programs, etc.) and
   a summary of the key approach.

3. Project Description.
   This section presents the problem or opportunity to be addressed by the
   project, and states the questions, hypotheses, and project objectives,
   clearly relating them to the goals of this competition. Proposals should
   summarize the approach that will be used to address the questions,
   hypotheses and objectives; describe how the PIs and co-PIs would
   contribute to the overall study approach; describe the methods to be
   used; and present expected results.

4. Data Plan.
   The proposal must include a plan on how the data generated by the
   proposed research will be made available to other scientists (e.g., web
   pages) and deposited in a recognized data archive. It is the
   responsibility of the PI to contact the data archive and arrange for
   submittal of data in a format accepted by the archive.

5. References cited.

6. Milestone chart for the project.

7. Statement of the project responsibilities of each Principal
   Investigator and key participant.

8. Biographical sketch.
   This is limited to two pages for each Principal Investigator and should
   be focused on information directly relevant to undertaking the proposed
   research.

9. Budget.
   Budget categories include the following: salaries & wages, fringe
   benefits, equipment, travel, materials and supplies (expendable),
   publication costs, consultant services, computer services, sub-awards,
   tuition, other expenditures, and indirect costs (facilities &
   administration). Travel to a data synthesis meeting in late 2005 should
   be included; assume the meeting will be in Moscow, Russia for budget
   purposes. Travel expenses need to be broken down by airfare and per
   diem. Please include a copy of your institution's negotiated agreement
   for facilities and administrative costs and staff benefits.

10. Required Forms:
    SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance
    SF-424A: Budget Information - Non-Construction
    SF-424B: Assurances - Non-Construction Programs

11. Federal assurances, certifications and representations (submit one
    copy with original proposal only).

SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, and Form CD-511 Certifications
Regarding Debarment, Suspension and other Responsibility Matters:
Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying.

SUBMISSION AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

Letters of Interest due at CIFAR: 29 August 2003
Selected PIs encouraged to submit full proposals: 5 September 2003
Full proposals due: 3 November 2003
Final decisions announced: 5 January 2004
Funds available: 1 April 2004

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

It is preferred that academic scientists associated with any NOAA Joint
or Cooperative Institute submit their proposals through that Institute,
but this is not a requirement. Federally employed scientists should
submit their proposals to the NOAA Arctic Research Office at the address
below.

Letters of Interest Submission. One (1) original and two (2) copies
must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., 29 August 2003, at the CIFAR
office (address below).

Full Proposal Submission. One (1) original and ten (10) copies must be
received no later than 5:00 p.m., 3 November 2003, at the CIFAR office
(non-governmental investigators) or NOAA Arctic Research Office
(Federally employed investigators) (addresses below).

FY2004 CIFAR/NOAA Competition
Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research
306 IARC, 930 Koyukuk Drive
PO Box 757740
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7740
ATTN: Dr. Gunter Weller
907-474-5818

FY2004 CIFAR/NOAA Competition
NOAA Arctic Research Office
1315 East West Highway, Room 11362
Silver Spring, MD 20910
ATTN: Dr. John Calder
301-713-2518, ext. 146

CONTACT INFORMATION

For further information, contact:

Dr. John A. Calder
Director, Arctic Research Office
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Silver Spring, MD 20910

John.Calder [at] noaa.gov , Phone: 301-713-2518, ext. 114

Dr. Gunter Weller, Director
Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research (CIFAR)
301 International Arctic Research Center
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7740

gunter [at] gi.alaska.edu , Phone: 907-474-7371

NONDISCRIMINATION

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides awards for
research in the sciences. The awardee is wholly responsible for the
conduct of such research and preparation of the results for publication.
NOAA, therefore, does not assume responsibility for such findings or
their interpretation. CIFAR welcomes proposals on behalf of all
qualified scientists and engineers, and strongly encourages women,
minorities, and persons with disabilities to compete fully in any of the
research and research-related programs described in this document. In
accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, and NOAA policies, no
person on the grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or
disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits
of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity
receiving financial assistance from NOAA.