Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program Application Form and transcripts

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 1 of 27

FY20 Dr Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Program Objective
B. Program Priorities
C. Program Authority
II. Award Information
A. Funding Availability
B. Project/Award Period
C. Type of Funding Instrument
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement
C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address to Request Application Package
B. Content and Form of Application
C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
D. Submission Dates and Times
E. Intergovernmental Review
F. Funding Restrictions
G. Other Submission Requirements
V. Application Review Information
A. Evaluation Criteria
B. Review and Selection Process
C. Selection Factors
D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
C. Reporting
VII. Agency Contacts
VIII. Other Information

5
5
5
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
10
19
20
20
20
20
21
21
22
23
23
23
23
24
25
26
26

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 2 of 27

ANNOUNCEMENT OF NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Federal Agency Name(s): National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce
Funding Opportunity Title: FY20 Dr Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
Announcement Type: Initial
Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2020-2006239
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.429, Marine Sanctuary Program
Dates: Completed applications must be received by Grants.gov by December 6, 2019 at 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time or postmarked no later than December 6, 2019 and sent to the NOAA Office
of National Marine Sanctuaries. Applications received after the due date will not be reviewed or
considered and will be disqualified.
PLEASE NOTE: We encourage all Grants.gov applicants to begin the application process
several days before the December 6, 2019 deadline. All applicants should be aware that adequate
time must be factored into applicant schedules for delivery of the application. It may take
Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in
mind in developing your submission timeline. Electronic applicants are advised that volume on
Grants.gov can be extremely heavy resulting in further delays. If Grants.gov is unable to accept
applications electronically in a timely fashion, applicants are encouraged to exercise their option
to submit their application in paper format by the due date outlined in this Notice of Funding
Opportunity (NOFO).
Funding Opportunity Description: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support
for master’s and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime
archaeology—this can include but is not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social
science, marine education, marine stewardship, resource management disciplines—and
particularly encourages women and members of minority groups to apply. Individuals who are
U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or citizens of U.S. territories, and are applying to or have
been accepted to a graduate program at a U.S. accredited institution, may apply. Prospective
scholars do not need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application but must be
admitted to a graduate level program in order to be awarded this scholarship. Scholarship
selections are based on academic excellence, letters of recommendations, research and career
goals, and financial need. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average to be
eligible to apply and maintain a minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.30 for

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 3 of 27

every term and for the duration of their award. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships may provide,
subject to appropriations, yearly support of up to $42,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of
$30,000 in addition to an education allowance of up to $12,000) and up to $10,000 of support for
a 4-6 week program collaboration at a NOAA facility. Applicants can only obtain funding for the
number of years they have remaining in their graduate studies when they applied for the Dr.
Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. For example, if you have already completed two years of
your PhD studies, and you become a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship recipient and indicate it will
take you two additional years to complete your degree, you will only be able to obtain funds for
the remaining two years of your graduate studies. Note that scholars are allowed one (1) one-year
no-cost extension that must be requested at least 60 days before the end of the award and will
need to provide a justification and a current budget.
Completion of one (1) program collaboration is required for every doctoral scholarship award,
with a second recommended, but not required. For master's degree level scholars, completion of
a program collaboration is strongly recommended, but not required. The Dr. Nancy Foster
Scholarship funds cannot be used toward research costs.
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients will be required to participate in a mandatory
NOAA Orientation Training to meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries staff
at a date and location to be determined in the summer of 2020. If scholarships have not been
awarded before this training, recipients may be required to incur pre-award costs that will be
reimbursed after award funds have been issued.
As a recipient of the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, you become a recognized member
of the NOAA community. NOAA provides significant financial resources to help you pursue
your independent graduate degree, as well as the staff expertise to assist you with your research
along the way. Therefore, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars must conduct some specific outreach
efforts. To help increase diversity of future applicants, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
recipients must give at least one presentation about the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program to
a diverse audience, such as undergraduate students at a minority serving institution, historically
black colleges and universities, or other appropriate venue(s). All Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship
Program recipients must also put together an outreach product (e.g., video, infographic) that
communicates their scientific research in a way that the average viewer can understand it, its
importance, and its relevance to the NOAA mission. Appropriate training in the creation of
outreach products will be provided to all scholarship recipients.
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholars also participate in a program collaboration. This opportunity is
designed to allow scholars to participate in research or other activities for four to six weeks at a
field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System, or other NOAA program offices. Federal

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 4 of 27

support for the program collaboration may be used toward allowable costs such as: travel to and
from the NOAA facility, housing, per diem, laboratory costs, research vessel support, and
consumables while conducting research at the NOAA facility. Scholars are required to provide
their own health insurance coverage during the program collaboration. More details on allowable
costs can be found in 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles. If scholars choose to
participate in a program collaboration during a specific year, they must notify the Program
Officer by December of the academic year in which they intend to participate in the
collaboration. Approval from the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is required prior
to embarking on the program collaboration.
In order to have a competitive application for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program, it is
recommended that you review the following bullets to assess whether or not you should apply
for this scholarship.
1. Your research proposal aligns closely with NOAA's mission, with particular emphasis on
meeting the science needs of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This is 20% of
your application score.
2. Your financial need statement documents a strong financial need due to challenges,
hardships, or other information through a compelling personal narrative. This is 25% of your
application score.
3. You (likely) have exceptional letters of recommendation. This is 10% of your application
score.
4. Historically, proposals that do not support the science needs of NOAA’s National Marine
Sanctuary System do not rank as high.
5. If you are in the last year of your Masters or Ph.D. program, it is not advised to apply for this
scholarship.
Additional information about the scholarship can be obtained in the full announcement text of
the Federal Funding Opportunity.

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 5 of 27
FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Program Objective
The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is authorized at 16 U.S.C. 1445c-1 and 16
U.S.C. 1445c to recognize outstanding achievement in master’s and doctoral degrees in
oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology—this can include but is not limited
to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship,
resource management disciplines—and particularly to encourage women and members of
minority groups to apply. The scholarship supports independent graduate level research
through financial support of graduate degrees in such fields. Gender and minority status are
not considered when selecting award recipients. However, special outreach efforts are
employed to solicit applications from women and members of minority groups. Scholarships
are distributed by disciplines, institutions, and geography, and by degree sought, with
selections within distributions based on financial need, the potential for success in a graduate
level studies program (academic achievement), and the potential for achieving research and
career goals. The program is administered through the NOAA Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries and is funded annually with 1% of the amount appropriated each fiscal year to
carry out the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.
B. Program Priorities
The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking applications for the Dr.
Nancy Foster Scholarship Program from individuals, particularly women and minorities,
who, due to financial constraints, may otherwise not be able to pursue an advanced degree in
oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology, and all other science, engineering,
social science, and resource management disciplines involving ocean and coastal areas. The
program seeks to increase the number of women and minorities in these scientific
disciplines, particularly as they relate to the mission of the NOAA Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries.
The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries conducts, sponsors, and facilitates
research to better understand ecosystems and cultural resources in national marine
sanctuaries, their changing condition, and the significance of threats. The National Marine
Sanctuary System uses conservation science to support policy decisions, develop effective
response capabilities, evaluate management practices, and support broader, NOAA-wide
responsibilities for marine conservation and management. Science priorities are identified
within national marine sanctuary management plans and are necessary to protect and

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 6 of 27

conserve sanctuary resources, manage risks, reduce threats and respond to unexpected
events. Strong partnerships, expert scientific content and judgment, and peer review
enhances the accuracy and credibility of monitoring and research. In addition, science,
education, outreach, and policy development work together to raise awareness and prompt
effective action that will address ocean problems. More information on the NOAA Office of
National Marine Sanctuaries can be found at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov.
NOAA recognizes the student's need to ensure that scholarly research, which is often
hypothesis based, addresses critical gaps in knowledge about ecological processes,
physiological mechanisms, evolutionary underpinnings, human behaviors, preferences and
values, and related areas. The nature of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’
research, as well as interactions with sanctuary staff and partners with similar goals, can help
students fulfill their degree requirements through work benefiting not only national marine
sanctuaries, but marine conservation more broadly and ecosystem science as a whole. In
addition to natural resource studies, scholars may investigate socioeconomic, maritime
archaeological and maritime heritage resource studies in national marine sanctuaries.
General science priorities for the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries are stated
below. Site-specific needs are identified in the Science Needs Assessment available at:
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment. Contact information for Conservation
Science Program staff is also available at:
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment/research_coordinators.html.
•
Integrated approaches to assess and monitor the condition and trends of natural and
heritage resources using ecological, archaeological, and socioeconomic indicators. Results
support development of sanctuary conditions reports, in which site-specific, regional, and
national needs can also be found: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/ and help
sanctuary management evaluate the condition of sanctuary resources.
•
Climate change research and monitoring as it relates to sanctuary resources (e.g., ocean
acidification, temperature change, sea level change, species range shifts and phenology, and
changes in physical processes).
•
Assessments of how human activities such as fishing, land use runoff, and marine debris
affect sanctuary qualities such as biodiversity, biomass, water quality, and health of
sanctuary ecosystems.
•
Historical ecology studies to evaluate changes over the past centuries, including social
dynamics that drove changes.
•
Documentation and assessment of sanctuary submerged archaeological resources to
assess their national significance according to criteria of the National Register of Historic
Places.

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 7 of 27

•
Comprehensive surveys for historic shipwreck sites, particularly those in deeper waters,
where sites may have better chances for good preservation in sanctuaries.
•
Socioeconomic valuation and impact research regarding ONMS resource protection and
management efforts, including regulatory impact and effectiveness, education programs, or
user (types and levels of use) assessments and characterizations.
•
Economic value of ecosystem services of natural and/or heritage resources and
assessment of related indicators for those services. This could include use and non-use
values.
•
Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of sanctuary management strategies and
regulations for different stakeholders/user groups.
•
Native and indigenous peoples’ perceptions of heritage landscapes of sanctuaries and
other protected areas located within their traditional coastal lands and waters and how these
differing cultural perceptions can be effectively integrated into place-based management of
protected areas.
C. Program Authority
16 USC 1445c-1 and 16 USC 1445c.
II. Award Information
A. Funding Availability
Subject to appropriations, approximately $500,000 may be available for FY 2020. The
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program anticipates that each year approximately 2-4
scholarships will be awarded. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides yearly
support of up to $42,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to a tuition
allowance of up to $12,000) and up to $10,000 support for a 4-6 week program collaboration
at a field office of the National Marine Sanctuary System or other NOAA facility.
Based on the availability of funding, the completion of one (1) program collaboration may
be required for every doctoral scholarship award, with a second recommended, but not
required. For master's degree level scholars, completion of a program collaboration is
strongly recommended, but not required.
A mandatory orientation will be held annually for incoming and current scholars. Scholars
must participate in this orientation to ensure knowledge base of the scholarship program. If
scholars cannot participate, the program manager has the discretion to revoke the
scholarship. Travel support (logistics and funding, not to exceed $2,000 per year) will be
provided to Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients where Foster Scholars will

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 8 of 27

also meet with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries leadership and staff. A
maximum of $98,000 may be provided to master's degree level students (up to two (2) years
of support, one (1) program collaboration opportunity and travel support for the orientation
meeting) and up to $196,000 may be provided to doctoral level students (up to four (4) years
of support, two (2) program collaboration opportunities and travel support for the orientation
meeting). The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship funds cannot be used toward research costs.
B. Project/Award Period
The award periods are up to two (2) years for a student in a master's level program and
up to four (4) years for a doctoral level candidate. The anticipated start date is June 1, 2020.
If an applicant is selected for initial funding, NOAA has no obligation to provide additional
funding in connection with that award in subsequent years.
C. Type of Funding Instrument
The funding instrument will be a cooperative agreement to the individual applicant. The
substantial involvement anticipated under this award includes a program collaboration, a
component where the scholar is required to spend approximately 4 - 6 weeks at a NOAA
facility to contribute to their education and training. The NOAA Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries’ (ONMS) staff intends to work with each scholar to facilitate placement at a
NOAA facility and to help the scholar refine the scope of their program collaboration, if
necessary. Scholars will also be required to provide an outreach presentation specific to the
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program to a diverse audience of undergraduate students; and
develop a multimedia outreach product by the end of their scholarship. ONMS staff will be
substantially involved in providing feedback and guidance on the outreach presentation and
product.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Only individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or citizens of U.S.
territories, and are applying to or have been accepted to a U.S. accredited graduate institution
to pursue a master's or doctoral level degree in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime
archaeology—this can include but is not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social
science, marine education, marine stewardship, resource management disciplines—are
eligible for an award under this scholarship program. In addition, to be eligible to apply,
applicants must have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average. Scholars must maintain a
minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.30 for every term and for the
duration of their award. If applicant does not maintain this grade point average, he/she will

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 9 of 27

be placed on probation after the first term. If the grade point average is not brought up for
that year, the recipient’s scholarship will be terminated. In addition, satisfactory progress
must be made toward the completion of a thesis or dissertation. If it is determined that the
scholar will not complete his/her thesis or dissertation prior to the end of the award, funding
may be withdrawn.
Individuals who already receive NOAA or federal funding from grants or scholarships for
graduate school are not eligible to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship. If a student is
willing to give up the other federal funding, then he/she is eligible to receive the award.
Universities or other organizations may not apply on behalf of an individual. Prospective
scholars do not need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application but must
be admitted to a graduate level program in order to be awarded this scholarship. Eligibility
must be maintained for each succeeding year of support, and annual reporting requirements,
to be specified at a later date, will apply. Individuals who are in their last year of graduate
school are unlikely to receive this award.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement
There are no matching requirements for this award.
C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility
There are no other criteria that affect eligibility.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address to Request Application Package
Application packages are available through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
Grants.gov requires applicants to register with the system prior to submitting an application.
This registration process can take several weeks and involves multiple steps. In order to
allow sufficient time for this process, applicants should register as soon as they decide they
intend to apply, even if they are not yet ready to submit their applications. The NOAA Office
of National Marine Sanctuaries will not accept applications that are submitted late due to an
applicant’s error during the time of submission to Grants.gov. The NOAA Office of National
Marine Sanctuaries may allow more time for application submission due to a “systems
issue” with Grants.gov that takes place at the time of application submission and is beyond
the control of the applicant. In these limited circumstances where there is a systems issue,
the applicant must contact the help desk for the relevant system (e.g. Grants.gov) and obtain

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 10 of 27

a help desk ticket number. The applicant must contact the NOAA Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries immediately upon discovering the issues and must still submit the required
application documents in order for his/her application to be considered for review. Required
information for the application, such as financial documentation, may require extra time to
obtain, so please plan accordingly. Completed applications must be received by Grants.gov
by December 6, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or postmarked by December 6,
2019 and sent to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
Adobe Acrobat is continuously making updates to their software. We recommend that
applicants check the compatibility of Adobe products with the application’s required forms
well in advance.
Additional guidance on the application package, instructions, submission procedures, and an
application checklist can be located on the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program website:
http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov. Further information about the scholarship and the NOAA
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries research priorities can be found at the following
websites: http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov and http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment,
respectively.
Information in hard copy may be requested from:
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
1305 East-West Highway
11th Floor, Room 11622
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Information contact: Send requests for information to the NOAA Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries at the address shown above or via email to [email protected]. Please
allow adequate time for inquiry responses, do not expect an immediate response to email.
B. Content and Form of Application
Each application package must include the items listed below unless otherwise indicated.
Failure to submit any items as described in this section will disqualify the application from
consideration.
Application packages are available through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
Each application package must be included within the single Adobe PDF document in the
correct order as outlined in Section B of the Application and Submission Information.
Failure to submit any items as described in this section will disqualify the application from

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 11 of 27

consideration. Please provide a title of the item (for example, General Information Sheet,
Statement of Intent, etc.) on each page in a Header Section.
1. Standard Form 424 (SF-424), Application for Federal Assistance is located on the
Grants.gov portal and must be completed with information pertinent to the applicant.
Detailed guidance on how to complete the SF-424 form can be found at
https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf. Item number 21 on the
SF-424 cannot be used as a replacement for the declaration statement required in Item 10
below. The SF-424 must be uploaded to Grants.gov separately than the items outlined below.
If submitting a paper application, the application packet must also include a completed SF424 and the SF-424 must be signed and dated with pen and ink.
Numbers 2-10: The following items of the application listed below shall be uploaded into
Grants.gov in a single Adobe PDF file, in the order outlined below. Failure to provide a
single Adobe PDF file with all of the components in the order listed below will result in the
application being disqualified. If submitting a paper application, the full application must be
in the order outlined below. Submitting a paper application is only acceptable for the
following reasons: 1) Grants.gov is unable to accept applications electronically in a timely
fashion; 2) if the applicant does not have access to the internet; or 3) if the person providing
the letter of recommendation does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter.
2. Table of Contents: On a single page, please list the items and page numbers of the
following required information.
3. General Information Sheet: Provide the information outlined below, but do not exceed
two (2) typewritten single-spaced pages, font size 12 in Times New Roman, with a 1”
margin. General Information Sheets that are longer than two (2) pages in length and/or do
not follow the formatting requirements listed above will not be accepted and will result in
the application being disqualified. The General Information Sheet must be included within
the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the
Application and Submission Information.
a. Personal Data: Provide your full name (including all aliases and maiden/married names);
country of citizenship; current address and/or permanent address; current phone number; and
email address. Failure to include any of this information will make your application noncompliant.
b. Optional Personal Data: The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is committed to
broadening the participation of groups currently underrepresented in science. In order to
accurately gauge whether the scholarship program is achieving this important goal, we ask
that applicants indicate his/her gender and race or ethnicity. Please note that this information

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 12 of 27

is voluntary. Your application will not be disqualified if you do not provide this optional
personal data.
c. Degree Sought: State your proposed field of study oceanography, marine biology or
maritime archaeology (including all science, engineering, and resource management of
ocean and coastal areas) and the degree being sought (e.g. M.S., M.A., Ph.D.). Include the
month and year the degree is expected. If already enrolled in a graduate program, state the
name and location of your institution and your academic department for your graduate study.
d. Education: List the academic degrees received, or expect to receive, by the start of your
proposed graduate degree for this program, including the institution, date of receipt, and your
cumulative GPA. If enrolled in an institution, include your current GPA. If enrolled in
graduate school, provide your graduate advisor's name, address, telephone number, and
email address.
e. Academic Honors: List any academic honors received.
f. Relevant Work Experience: List work experience related to your field of study. You may
include research and teaching assistantships and any other paid or unpaid work.
g. Knowledge of Scholarship: In a few words, please describe how you initially heard about
the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program (e.g. word of mouth, current scholar,
school/institution, specific professor/mentor, online database, etc.).
Failure to include the General Information Sheet, as outlined above, will result in the
application being disqualified.
4. Statement of Intent: Provide the following components outlined below in two separate
sections. The Statement of Intent should be typewritten, single-spaced, font size 12 Times
New Roman, with a 1” margin and should not exceed one (1) page in length including
sections (a) and (b). Both sections (a) and (b) will be weighted equally; therefore, your
descriptions must provide enough detail to review accordingly. Statements longer than one
page and/or that do not follow the formatting requirements listed above will not be accepted
and will result in the application being disqualified. The Statement of Intent must be
included within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B
of the Application and Submission Information.
This statement should not be a research proposal or scientific abstract. This statement will be
used to evaluate you as an individual, not necessarily as a scientist, it evaluates your
motivation for applying for this scholarship, and evaluates your communication skills and
ability to educate the public about your research. This statement should tell us something
about why you are interested in this scholarship opportunity and demonstrate your
organizational and written communication skills.
a. Academic, Research, Career Goals and Aspirations: A self-description of your academic,
research, career goals, and how your proposed course of study or research will help you

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 13 of 27

achieve these goals. This is your opportunity to present yourself, your aspirations and your
career goals. Include any background information that is pertinent and provide insight into
why you choose to pursue these goals.
b. Communicating the Importance of your Research: As a Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar, you
are asked to become a “National Marine Sanctuary Ambassador” which emphasizes the
opportunity to conduct education and outreach to the public (i.e. your college or university,
community groups/organizations, or schools) about current research issues in the National
Marine Sanctuary System. In this section, please provide a description of how you envision
sharing your research and your results to the broader community and how the benefits of
your research will impact society. Outline your ideas for a focused and effective education
and outreach strategy regarding your research as it relates specifically to the National Marine
Sanctuary System, as well as the global ocean. This should include anticipated locations and
audiences for education and outreach events, potential partners in the community, and any
potential outputs or outcomes from your activities. If you are a recipient of this scholarship,
you will be required to show proof of completion of the project outlined in this section
before the conclusion of your scholarship period.
To strengthen this section of your application, please provide one outreach letter from a
community organization or group with which you would partner or collaborate to
communicate your research. No more than one outreach letter will be considered. Please
make sure it is on official letterhead, signed and inserted after the statement of intent. The
letter should outline your strategy for the outreach and education work you plan to undertake
with this partner, their role in the collaboration, and the potential for success. Inclusion of
this letter will be taken into consideration during the review process. Your application will
not be disqualified if you do not include this letter. However, an outreach letter is factored in
when applicants are scored and is worth five (5) points in the evaluation rubric.
Failure to submit a Statement of Intent as indicated above will result in the application being
disqualified.
5. Transcripts: Applicants must submit transcripts for all complete years of academic
training (both undergraduate and graduate), including courses in which you are currently
enrolled. Transcripts from an institution or university that are only for one (1) semester are
not required (excluding work in progress), but may be included in a single Adobe PDF
document if needed to support evidence of research experience. Applicants must currently
have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average to be eligible to apply. If applicants have
completed at least a year towards their current graduate degree, the cumulative GPA
considered will be from that program. If students have not completed at least a year, the
cumulative GPA considered will be from their most recent degree received. Students whose

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 14 of 27

schools do not follow a typical GPA scale must submit official documentation that states
they meet the 3.30 GPA requirement. Unofficial transcripts, which clearly state the name of
the student and institution, submitted by the applicant are acceptable and must be included
within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the
Application and Submission Information. All unofficial transcripts must list the student’s
name and the name of the institution.
Failure to submit transcripts, as outlined above, will result in the application being
disqualified. Official transcripts will be required prior to making an award.
6. Enrollment Verification or List of Graduate Schools Applied: For current graduate
students, transcripts showing courses in which you are currently enrolled can be used as
enrollment verification. Enrollment verification must include the name of school and
applicant. If an applicant is not currently enrolled but is applying to graduate schools, they
must submit a "List of Graduate Schools Applied to" including the month and year graduate
studies will begin, and any acceptance letters received at the time of application, with their
application. Individuals selected to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship award must
provide proof of acceptance into a graduate program at a U.S. accredited institution at the
time of notification or the individual will be ineligible to receive the award.
The Enrollment Verification or "List of Graduate Schools Applied to" must be included
within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the
Application and Submission Information.
Failure to include the Enrollment Verification or "List of Graduate Schools Applied to" as
applicable, as indicated above, will result in the application being disqualified. Applicants
selected to receive the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship will be required to submit a
certification of enrollment at the start of each academic term.
7. Research Proposal: The Research Proposal should be typewritten, single-spaced, font
size 12 Times New Roman with a 1” margin and should not exceed three (3) pages in length.
Do not include a cover page for your research proposal. Page limits are inclusive of figures,
and other visual materials, but are exclusive of references. Proposals longer than three (3)
pages and/or that do not follow the formatting requirements listed above will not be accepted
and will result in the application being disqualified. The Research Proposal must be included
within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the
Application and Submission Information.
The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is designed to support students interested in

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 15 of 27

NOAA mission related sciences of oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology;
this can include but is not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine
education, marine stewardship, resource management disciplines.
In your Research Proposal, please include the following information: Discuss the research
area you plan to pursue in graduate school and its relationship to sciences in the
aforementioned research priorities and how your research activities support NOAA's
mission, particularly the mission of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and
the science needs of one or more national marine sanctuaries. Historically, proposals that do
not support the science needs of the National Marine Sanctuary System do not rank as high.
Information about NOAA is available at http://www.noaa.gov and in particular, the NOAA
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov, and it’s Science Needs
Assessment at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/assessment.
Please make sure that your research goals and path are clearly defined and can be completed
within the period of the scholarship. Make sure the proposal is constructed well, and you
clearly demonstrate your technical knowledge of the research area. Your proposal will be
evaluated on the alignment with NOAA and ONMS priorities, feasibility of project, and
technical understanding and clarity of proposal. Also, you will be evaluated your
communication skills. Failure to submit a Research Proposal as indicated above will result in
the application being disqualified.
8. Two Letters of Recommendation: Each application must include only two (2) letters of
recommendation with written signatures on the actual letter from individuals who have
knowledge of your academic record, research effort, and work and/or life experience. It is
recommended that each letter is no more than two pages long. One of these letters must be
from someone in your current academic career. If you are currently not enrolled, one letter
should be from a professor who can provide knowledge of your academic career. Relevant
paid work, such as internships and volunteer efforts, are applicable. Letters of
recommendation should include:
•
Statements of the applicant's ability to succeed in the program proposal;
•
Familiarity with the applicant’s work;
•
Statement that the individual writing the letter has a clear understanding of the goals and
aspirations of the applicant on a personal and professional level; and
•
Clear support for the applicant.
If an applicant plans to have a NOAA employee submit a letter of reference as one of the
letters of recommendation required in this section, please note that the letter is limited to

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 16 of 27

factual information and the NOAA employee’s knowledge of the applicant’s ability or
character based on the employee’s government interactions with the applicant. The letter
may not endorse one applicant over other applicants. Subject to restrictions and management
approval, a NOAA employee may submit a letter of reference to NOAA for the agency’s use
in evaluating the application. The supervisor must make a decision regarding whether it is in
the agency’s interest to write such a letter. If the supervisor approves the letter, it should be
written on agency letterhead and the employee should use his or her NOAA title. The
employee may not send the letter in his or her personal capacity.
The two letters of recommendation must be included in the single Adobe PDF document.
Each letter must be a scanned PDF with a handwritten signature on official letterhead of the
person recommending the candidate. If the person providing the letter of recommendation
does not wish for the applicant to see the contents of the letter, the applicant should submit a
paper copy of their full application and include their letters of recommendation in sealed
envelopes. Note that if you are submitting a paper copy of your application, the SF-424 form
must be signed and dated with pen and ink. Failure to provide two (2) signed letters of
recommendation on official letterhead, as outlined above, will result in the application being
disqualified. If more than two (2) letters of recommendation are provided, this will result in
the application being disqualified.
9. Statement of Financial Need: All required components of this section must be included
within the single Adobe PDF document in the correct order as outlined in Section B of the
Application and Submission Information. Your EFC documentation (9a) should be one (1)
page. Answers to all questions in 9c should be answered within one (1) page, font size 12
times New Roman with 1” margins. All information must be provided and all questions
answered, or the application will be disqualified. The Statement of Financial Need requires
the following documentation:
a. Department of Education's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determination: To
evaluate financial need, NOAA will use the Department of Education's Expected Family
Contribution (EFC) determination. To receive an EFC determination, applicants must submit
a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Department of Education. See
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. In response to the FAFSA, the Department of Education will
provide the applicant with a Student Aid Report (SAR), which will contain the EFC
determination. It may take up to two weeks to receive these results, so please make sure to
budget enough time. The previous year's SAR is acceptable for this requirement if no major
financial changes have occurred. A copy of the first page of the SAR, which includes the
EFC and the applicants name or last four digits of the applicant’s social security number,
must be submitted. The documentation of EFC must be from the Department of Education.
b. Yearly Tuition Documentation: Applicants must also provide documentation of
estimated yearly tuition for each school they are applying to. The tuition estimate must

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 17 of 27

clearly state the name of the school and applicants must also provide documentation of
where this estimate comes from, either as a screenshot of a tuition estimate from the
university’s website, or a letter or other documentation from the school, on official
letterhead, showing tuition costs. Tuition is not inclusive of room, board, and other
miscellaneous fees. Only the forms of documentation outlined above will be accepted.
c. Financial Need Information Questions (answers to these questions should be provided on
one (1) page):
1.
How likely are you to get a paid teaching or research assistantship in your program for
the upcoming year? Choose from the following choices: a) highly likely, b) somewhat likely,
c) unlikely, or d) there is no opportunity for assistantship. Write 1-2 sentences explaining
your answer.
2.
How likely are you to get a paid teaching or research assistantship in your program for
the entirety of your degree? Choose from the following choices: a) highly likely, b)
somewhat likely, c) unlikely, or d) there is no opportunity for assistantship. Write 1-2
sentences explaining your answer.
3.
Do you have other money supporting your degree (e.g., grants or scholarships)? Please
answer yes or no, and if needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.
4.
What is the amount of tuition needed for each school you are applying to or currently
attend? List school(s) and the amount needed for tuition. Remember tuition does not include
room and board or other associated fees.
5.
Are you a first-generation college graduate? A first-generation college graduate is
defined as a student whose parent(s)/legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s
degree. This means that you are the first in your family to attend a four-year
college/university to attain a bachelor’s degree. Please answer yes or no, and if needed,
provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.
6.
Are there circumstances that will waive your tuition such as a teaching assistantship,
research assistantship, or other instances? Please answer yes or no, and if needed provide 1-2
sentences explaining your answer.
7.
Is your financial need based on personal hardships? Please answer yes or no, and if
needed provide 1-2 sentences explaining your answer.
8.
Provide your Estimated Financial Need for each school to which you are applying,
which can be determined by performing the following calculation: (Estimated Tuition per
academic year) - (Expected Family Contribution [this is a monetary value]) = Estimated
Financial Need (EFN). If your tuition is waived by your school, use zero (0) for the
Estimated Tuition per Academic Year. Do not use room and board as part of your estimated
tuition expenses. If your EFN is not calculated correctly, your application will be
disqualified.
For example:

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 18 of 27

Estimated Tuition (not to include room and board) = $12,000/year (documentation of this
estimate is required)
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = $8,000 (determined by Student Aid Report)
$12,000-$8,000 = $4,000 (So $4,000 is your EFN or Estimated Financial Need)
d.
Statement of Need Essay: In, a one (1) page, single spaced essay, provide a personal
narrative of your financial need and, if necessary, include further clarification for the
answers to the Financial Need Information Questions section. This is your personal story and
your opportunity to give insight into your financial status, including any challenges,
hardships, or information that may not be evident in the statements above. In your essay
describing your financial need, discuss how you plan to use these scholarship funds for your
graduate level education and what the impact will be if you do not receive this scholarship.
Funds for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship cannot be used to fund research. Statements
longer than one (1) page, font size 12 Times New Roman with 1” margins, will not be
accepted and will result in the application being disqualified.
Failure to submit all of the components of the Statement of Financial Need (a-d) will result
in the application being disqualified.
10. Declaration: Applicants must certify that all statements and information in their
application are true and correct by either 1) copying the following statement on a separate
sheet of paper or 2) downloading the declaration statement from
http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/pdfs/declaration_statement.pdf, then providing a handwritten
signature on the same paper, and including it in the single Adobe PDF document:
I, the undersigned, declare, under penalty of perjury, that:
I understand and agree to the limitations of the allowable costs for the scholarship funds as
defined in this NOFO and that I am aware of the data sharing stipulation policy applicable to
all NOAA Federal Funding Opportunities. This statement serves as my "Data/Information
Sharing Plan" insofar as it expressly states that no funds associated with this award will be
used for the collection or creation of any environmental information or data. If I engage in
fraudulent conduct or fail to comply with any term or condition of the scholarship my
funding may be withdrawn, or I may be required to repay amount of funding already
received. I understand that if determined by the selecting official that satisfactory progress
towards a thesis or dissertation is not completed within the timeframe of the award, I may be
required to pay the full amount of the scholarship provided.
All statements and information in my application are true and correct at the time of this
application.
Executed on [insert date]:
Print or type name:
Signature:

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 19 of 27

Failure to include the exact statement above, signed by the applicant, will result in the
application being disqualified.
Answers to frequently asked questions on the application process are available at:
http://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/faqs.html.
Questions from the NOAA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) questionnaire are
not required to be answered because the scholarship has been determined to be exempt from
NEPA review.
Each application package must include the items listed in the Application and Submission
Information section. Failure to submit all items, excluding the SF 424, which can be
uploaded individually, in a single Adobe PDF document as described in the Application and
Submission Information section and in the above outlined order or if any item is omitted will
disqualify the application from consideration. Individual documents uploaded to Grants.gov
will not be accepted and the applicant will be disqualified.
If the applicant has difficulty obtaining any of the above components of the application in
electronic copy form, the applicant may submit a single hard copy application. If submitting
a paper application, the application packet must also include a completed SF-424 and the SF424 must be signed and dated with pen and ink. The hard copy submission must be
postmarked by the due date as outlined in the NOFO.
C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
To enable the use of a universal identifier and to build the quality of information
available to the public as required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency
Act, 16 U.S.C. 6101 note, to the extent applicable, any applicant awarded in response to this
announcement will be required to use the System for Award Management (SAM), which
may be accessed online at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. Each applicant (unless
the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those
requirements under 2 CFR §25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal
awarding agency under 2 CFR §25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before
submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and
(iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times
during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by
a Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to
an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and
SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 20 of 27

time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding
agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use
that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant. Applicants are
also required to use the Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System and will be subject
to reporting requirements, as identified in OMB guidance published at 2 CFR Part 25 and 2
CFR Part 170. See Section IV.F.3. of this Announcement below for more information.
D. Submission Dates and Times
Completed applications must be received by Grants.gov by December 6, 2019 at 11:59
p.m. Eastern Standard Time or postmarked by December 6, 2019 and sent to the NOAA
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
mailing address is located in Section IV.G. “Other Submission Requirements,” below.
Applications received after the due date will not be reviewed or considered and will be
disqualified. Applicants may submit applications via Grants.gov or in paper hard copies.
Date and time of receipt of each application sent via Grants.gov is electronically recorded.
For hard copy submission, each envelope is time and date stamped when received. In order
for an application to be considered "Complete" all items required in subsection IV.B.
"Content and Form of Application" must be received by Grants.gov or postmarked by the
submission date. If you choose to mail in a paper application, we suggest using a service that
can guarantee confirmation of delivery.
PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about registering as an individual and applying in
the Grants.gov system, please review the following document:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/individual-registration.html. All applicants,
both those using electronic and paper, should be aware that adequate time must be factored
into applicant submission timelines for delivery of the application. It may take Grants.gov up
to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. You will receive an official
notice from Grants.gov if you have uploaded your application correctly. It is not the
responsibility of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to verify receipt of any
application.
E. Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372,
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.
F. Funding Restrictions
No special restrictions apply.
G. Other Submission Requirements

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 21 of 27

Please refer to important information in submission dates and times above to help ensure
your application is received on time. Applications should be submitted via Grants.gov. If an
applicant does not have internet access to complete the application through Grants.gov or
prefers to apply using a hard copy, hard copy applications may be submitted in one envelope
to:
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
1305 East West Highway
11th Floor, Room 11622
Silver Spring, MD 20910
PLEASE NOTE: For paper submissions, failure to submit all application items in one
envelope and in the correct order, including a completed SF-424 will result in
disqualification of the application. If submitting a paper application, the application packet
must also include a completed SF-424 and the SF-424 must be signed and dated with pen
and ink.

V. Application Review Information
A. Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation criteria and weighting of the criteria are as follows:
1. Academic Record and Statement of Career Goals of the Students (20 points). For this
program, this includes:
a. Statement of Intent – 10
b. Sanctuary Ambassador – 5
c. Outreach Letter – 5
2. Quality of Project and Applicability to Program Priorities (30 points). For this program,
this includes:
a. Alignment with NOAA and National Marine Sanctuaries Priorities – 20
b. Feasibility – 5
c. Technical Understanding and Clarity of Proposal – 5
3. Recommendations and or Endorsements of Students (10 points). For this program, this
includes:
a. Familiarity of Applicant – 5
b. Strength of Support – 5

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 22 of 27

4. Additional Relevant Experience (15 points). For this program, this includes:
a. Experience – 7
b. Communication Skills – 8
5. Financial Need (25 points)
a. Estimated Financial Need – 4
b. Financial Need Information Questions – 11
c. Statement of Financial Need – 8
d. Clarity of Financial Need Statement – 2
B. Review and Selection Process
Once NOAA receives an application, an initial administrative review is conducted to
determine compliance with the minimum requirements, including completeness of the
application and inclusion of all elements required in each of the NOFO sections.
Master’s and doctoral applications will be evaluated based on the same criteria; however,
masters and doctoral scores will be ranked and considered separately. If an existing Dr.
Nancy Foster Scholar who has been selected to receive funding for a Master’s level degree
from a previous year of funding chooses to bypass the Master’s degree and continue directly
to a Ph.D. degree, he/she may be given priority in the final selection process and selected
over existing applicants.
All applications that pass the administrative review will be evaluated and scored individually
in accordance with the assigned weights of the above evaluation criteria by a review panel.
The panel will be comprised of three or more individuals, having expertise in NOAA-related
science and knowledge of the program priorities of the NOAA Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries. The reviewers will rate the proposals using the evaluation criteria and weighting
provided above. The panel will then meet to discuss proposals. The review panel will not
come to a consensus regarding applicants’ scores. The individual panelist scores will be
averaged for each application and placed in a ranking order of all applications. The Program
Officer will transmit the review information to the Selection Official and may make a
recommendation to the Selection Official about applying the selection factors below. We
strive to have varied research projects across selection factors, such as academic disciplines,
type of institution, geographic area, national marine sanctuary priorities, degree in scientific
area and type of degree sought. The Selection Official will award in rank order unless an
application is justified to be selected out of rank order based on one or more of the selection
factors below.

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 23 of 27

C. Selection Factors
The merit review ratings shall provide a rank order to the Selecting Official for final
funding recommendation. The Selecting Official shall award in rank order unless the
proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon one or more of the following
factors:
1. Balance/Distribution of Funds
a. Across academic disciplines
b. By types of institution
c. Geographic area
d. New universities that ONMS has not partnered with in the past through the Dr. Nancy
Foster Scholarship Program
2. Availability of funds
3. Specific to the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ science needs
4. Degree in scientific area and type of degree sought
D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Subject to the availability of funds, review of applications and subsequent notification to
applicants will be completed by May 22, 2020. Funds are expected to be awarded by June 1,
2020, which is the start date that should be used on the Application for Federal Assistance
(SF-424) for successful applications.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive an electronic notification that the application has been
funded from the NOAA Grants Management Division. Electronic notification will be issued
to each successful applicant with instructions on how to access the Grants.gov system and
view the terms of the award. The annual reporting requirements are also included in the
award package.
The names, academic institutions, degrees being sought, research plans, photographs and
biographical information of the scholarship award recipients will be posted on the Dr. Nancy
Foster Scholarship Program website: http://www.fosterscholars.noaa.gov after selections
have been confirmed and accepted. The information posted on the website may also be

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 24 of 27

published in marketing materials developed to advertise the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship
Program and further the mission of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified that their proposal was not recommended for
funding (declined) by May 22, 2020.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
1. DATA SHARING PLAN –This announcement is seeking proposals that do not
generate environmental data therefore no data management plan is required as part of the
application.
2. Administrative and national policy requirements for all DOC awards apply to this
competition. These requirements may be found in the “Department of Commerce Financial
Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions” (ST&Cs) and are as summarized in the
“Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements,” published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2014 (79 FR
78390) This notice may be accessed at the Government Printing Office website a website at
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-12-30/pdf/2014-30297.pdf. The ST&Cs may be accessed
at the following website:
http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/default%20p2.htm.
3. Limitation of Liability: In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be
responsible for proposal preparation costs. Publication of this announcement does not oblige
NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.
4. It has been determined that the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program awards are
categorically excluded from the requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act.
5. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): In the event that an application contains
information or data that you do not want disclosed prior to award for purposes other than the
evaluation of the application, you should mark each page containing such information or
data with the words "Privileged, Confidential, Commercial, or Financial Information Limited Use" at the top of the page to assist NOAA in making disclosure determinations.
DOC regulations implementing the FOIA are found at 5 U.S.C 552, which sets forth rules
for DOC to make requested materials, information, and records publicly available under
FOIA. The contents of funded applications may be subject to requests for release under the
FOIA. Based on the information provided by you, the confidentiality of the content of
funded applications will be maintained to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 25 of 27

C. Reporting
Scholarship recipients are required to provide annual reports documenting the scholar's
activities, accomplishments, academic progress, research progress, and education and
outreach progress. The report must include copies of receipts indicating disbursement of the
education allowance and copies of receipts for allowable expenses under the program
collaboration. The report must include a certification from the scholar's academic advisor
indicating that the student's work is on track and a copy of the official transcript indicating
the scholar has a minimum term and cumulative GPA of 3.30. These reports must be
submitted through the Grants.gov system. An outline of the report format can be found on
the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program web page:
https://fosterscholars.noaa.gov/media/docs/nfs-report-template.pdf.
At the conclusion of the program collaboration, recipients are required to submit a trip report
documenting their accomplishments and including a summary testimonial of their
experience. In addition, recipients will be required to participate in an evaluation survey.
To help increase diversity of future applicants, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
recipients must give at least one presentation about the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship
Program to a diverse audience, such as undergraduate students at a minority serving
institution, historically black colleges and universities, or other appropriate venue(s).
Documentation of this outreach presentation must be included in the final scholarship report.

All Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recipients must develop an outreach product (e.g.,
video, infographic, lesson plan) that communicates their scientific research in a way that the
average viewer can understand it and its importance. This final product should be agreed
upon with the Program Officer and submitted as part of the final scholarship report.
Appropriate training in the creation of outreach products will be provided to all scholarship
recipients.
At the conclusion of the award, recipients are required to submit a final report encompassing
their accomplishments during the award period and their post scholarship plans, especially
regarding NOAA interactions and the "National Marine Sanctuary Ambassador"
requirement. The final report should include a copy of the final transcript indicating degree
earned, if applicable. All scholars are required to submit a copy of their master's thesis or
doctoral dissertation upon completion of their degree.
Scholars are allowed one (1) one-year no-cost extension that they must request at least 60

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 26 of 27

days before the end of the award and will need to provide a justification and a current
budget. This semi-detailed justification can include the following:
1. Completion rate of sampling/data collection, data analysis, and or writing.
2. Plan or timeline for finishing uncompleted item.
3. Identify additional costs, if any, and funding sources.
4. Statement supporting the additional time requested will be sufficient to complete the
remaining tasks, especially writing of dissertation and why.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 includes a requirement
for awardees of applicable Federal grants to report information about first-tier sub-awards
and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY 2011 or later. All
awardees of applicable grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the
Federal Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS) available at http://www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over $25,000.
VII. Agency Contacts
Send requests for information to [email protected] or mail requests to:
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
1305 East West Highway
11th Floor, Room 11622
Silver Spring, MD 20910
VIII. Other Information
A. The Stipend and Education Allowance
The annual stipend (which consists of the full scholarship award) will be paid directly to the
scholar. Tuition (including fall, winter, spring and summer) and academic fees may be
negotiated between the academic institution and the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
Officer at NOAA prior to the receipt of funds. This negotiation is intended to leverage
scholarship funds and enhance opportunities for scholarship recipients. In those instances, in
which tuition and academic fees are not totally waived by the academic institution, the
education allowance in an amount equal to the tuition and fee not waived (but not to exceed
$12,000) will be paid directly to the scholar for remittance to the academic institution. If
tuition and fees are reduced or waived by the academic institution, then that portion of the
education allowance not needed (i.e., up to $12,000 in the case of a total waiver) will be
retained by NOAA for future scholarships. No money will be paid directly to the student
from the education allowance for purposes other than the payment of tuition, fees, and

Notice of Federal Funding

Page 27 of 27

education costs including but not limited to books required for courses. Health insurance is
an allowable education cost if it is directly billed on the tuition statement. You may work
and receive loans if you receive this scholarship.
B.
General Scholarship Information
Specific instructions regarding the disbursement, management, and reporting requirements
for all stipend and tuition allowance payments will be provided to the scholarship recipients
upon selection for the award. The awarding of funds beyond the first year will be based on
availability of funds, continued eligibility of the student, semi-annual certification by the
academic institution that adequate academic progress is being made, and in compliance with
applicable reporting requirements. At its discretion, each academic institution may
supplement a scholar's stipend from institutional funds in accordance with the
supplementation policy of the institution.