The Renewable Energy Program oversees the leasing of areas on the outer continental shelf for development of renewable energy facilities.

The program not only supports decisions made within the Department of the Interior, but also provides coastal states and local governments with the information

credit: Wikimedia Commons

necessary to ensure that all stages of offshore renewable energy projects are conducted in a manner to protect both the human and natural environments.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) Section 1345 authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected states to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing information, joint utilization of available expertise, formation of joint monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable Federal and state laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore.

Fiscal Year 2012: Geological Survey of the Wind Energy Area off the Virginia Coast, Field Surveys and Marine Resource Characterization for Offshore Wind Energy Planning in Massachusetts Wind Energy Area. Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available. Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available.

Uses and Use Restrictions

The assistance can be used to acquire information to satisfy the information needs associated with leasing and plan review for renewable energy development on the outer continental shelf.

Applications must be for projects which are within BOEM"s area of responsibility.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State agencies and public universities may apply.

More than one institution may collaborate in the preparation of an application for assistance.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Research scientists, Federal, state and local decision makers, Native American Organizations, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the program.

Credentials/Documentation

Proposals must furnish evidence of the applicant"s qualifications for performance of the proposed project. This includes submission of proposals that describe the proposed activities, identify methods for accomplishing the activities, and/or describe the process for ensuring that qualified personnel are used to conduct the activities. The regulations at 2 CFR 220 Cost Principles for Educational Institutions (OMB Circular A-21) and 2 CFR 225 Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments (OMB Circular No. A-87) apply to this program. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Limited discussions regarding funding availability and program interest are permitted.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The regulations under 43 CFR Part 12 apply to this program. Applicants are required to post their applications on www.grants.gov.

Award Procedures

Awards are made on the basis of competitive peer review of proposals by a panel consisting of government research managers and external reviewers, as appropriate. Criteria for judging proposals may include mission relevance, technical merit, and the quality and appropriateness of the personnel, project management, logistics plan, safety management, permits and interagency coordination, budget/matching funds, and where appropriate, minimizing of impacts. Notification of an award is issued. It is anticipated that five applicants will be received and five cooperative agreement awards will be made in FY 2013.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

43 U.S.C. 1337; 43 U.S.C. 1345 (e); 43 U.S.C. 1346.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 - 270 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Renewals can be made through submission and approval of a project agreement amendment.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching Requirements: Cost sharing of 1:1 is encouraged.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Cooperative agreements will normally be awarded for 1 to 5 years, with funding awarded as a lump sum, or added incrementally as funds become available. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Quarterly progress reports; draft and final report; draft and final technical summary; data must be made publicly available.

Progress reporting requirements are met through the quarterly progress report.

Annual financial reports and a final report using the Federal Financial Report SF-425 are also required.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

All records must be maintained for 3 years after submission of the final financial report.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1917-0-1-302.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 12 Not Available; FY 13 est $2,000,000; and FY 14 est $2,000,000 - FY 2015 est. $2,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range is $100,000 to $1,000,000; Average $500,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Information about plan requirements can be found in 30 CFR Part 585.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Mary Boatman 381 Elden Street, HM 3115, Herndon, Virginia 20170 Email: mary.boatman@boem.gov Phone: (703) 787-1662 Fax: (703) 787-1708

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Panels of BOEM, and non-BOEM scientist (government, public and private sector as appropriate), review and evaluate proposals. Criteria for judging proposals may include mission relevance, technical merit, and the quality and appropriateness of the personnel, including past performance and publication record, project management, logistics plan, safety management, permits and interagency coordination, budget/matching funds,and where appropriate, minimization of impacts.