Fiscal Year 2012 Scallop Research Set Aside | Apply Online

Fiscal Year 2012 Scallop Research Set Aside (RSA) - FAQs

What is the Fiscal Year 2012 Scallop Research Set Aside (RSA) opportunity?

It was a NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) competitive research solicitation, run in coordination with the New England Fishery Management Council, to support research tied directly to management of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery for the 2012 RSA program period.

Which federal agency sponsored this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency was the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA NMFS, specifically the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC).

What was the program period covered by this solicitation?

The opportunity covered the 2012 RSA program period from March 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

How does the RSA funding model work?

Instead of receiving traditional federal grant dollars, researchers receive access to a portion of the scallop fishery Total Allowable Catch (TAC) that the Council set aside for research. The RSA quota can be harvested and sold, and the resulting proceeds are used to pay for the research and to compensate participating vessels for research work and/or for harvesting the RSA quota.

Did this opportunity provide traditional federal grant funding?

No. A key point of the announcement is that it did not distribute appropriated federal funds under this notice. The published estimated total funding and award ceilings/floors were listed as zero because project budgets were expected to be generated through industry-based revenue from harvesting and selling RSA quota.

Why were the estimated total funding amount and award ceilings/floors shown as zero?

They were shown as zero because NMFS was not providing appropriated grant dollars under the notice. The intent was that funding for each project would come from monetizing the RSA quota set aside for research.

What is the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) set-aside in this program?

The TAC set-aside refers to a portion of the scallop fishery catch limit that the New England Fishery Management Council intentionally reserved for research purposes. Projects were invited to use that set-aside quota as the mechanism to generate revenue for research.

What kinds of expenses could RSA quota revenue support?

The announcement describes that proceeds could cover research costs such as survey costs, gear, staff time, data analysis, and compensation for participating vessels, including compensation tied to research work and/or harvesting the RSA quota.

What was the main purpose of the FY 2012 Scallop RSA program?

The program was focused on improving the scientific foundation for scallop management. NMFS required that supported projects measurably enhance knowledge of the scallop resource or add to the body of information used to make management decisions, rather than being purely academic.

What types of research were considered most relevant?

Based on the description, the intent was to support work relevant to management needs such as stock status, survey methods, fishery impacts, bycatch and habitat interactions, and other uncertainties that affect how the scallop fishery is managed.

Were there specific research priorities?

Yes. Proposals addressing the New England Fishery Management Council's identified research priorities received higher priority in review. The solicitation referenced a "Program Priorities" section for the specific priority list.

How were proposals reviewed or prioritized?

The information provided indicates it was a competitive research solicitation, and that proposals aligned with the Council's identified research priorities were given higher priority in review.

What award instruments were used for this opportunity?

The opportunity allowed both grant and cooperative agreement instruments, reflecting that projects could involve varying degrees of federal involvement depending on the work proposed.

How was the opportunity categorized administratively?

It was categorized as a discretionary opportunity.

What CFDA number was associated with this program?

The CFDA number was 11.454, listed as "Unallied Management Projects."

How many awards were anticipated?

NMFS anticipated making around 12 awards.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. This aligns with the quota-revenue financing structure, though applicants still needed a credible plan for how RSA quota would be harvested/monetized and managed to pay project expenses.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included institutions of higher education, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, individuals, and state, local, and Native American tribal governments. The listing also noted "Others (see text...)," and the accompanying eligibility statement indicated that most common research and public-sector entities, as well as private-sector and individual applicants, could apply if they could execute the work and responsibly manage the RSA-based funding approach.

Do applicants need to have an industry partnership to apply?

The description notes that projects generally involve partnerships among scientists, fishing vessels, and sometimes seafood dealers or other industry participants to convert quota into cash for project costs. While the text does not state a strict requirement, it emphasizes the need for a credible plan to harvest/monetize RSA quota, which typically involves industry participation.

What was the application timeline for this solicitation?

The notice was posted on August 22, 2011 (created August 23, 2011). The original and final closing date was October 7, 2011. It was later archived on November 6, 2011.

What was the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was NOAA NMFS NEFSC 2012 2003101.

Who was the program officer contact for questions or access issues?

The program officer contact listed was Eric Eidswick at NMFS NEFSC in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The announcement included phone and fax numbers for assistance.

What management bodies were involved in running or coordinating this RSA opportunity?

The solicitation was run by NMFS in coordination with the New England Fishery Management Council.

What does it mean that projects should not be "purely academic"?

In this context, it means projects were expected to be directly tied to management of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery and to produce outcomes that measurably enhance knowledge used in management decisions, rather than only contributing to general academic research without clear management relevance.

Why is the RSA model considered distinctive?

Because the set-aside scallop quota functions as the funding mechanism. Instead of receiving appropriated federal dollars, the project budget is generated through controlled access to a portion of the allowable catch, which can be harvested and sold to finance research.