BIENNIAL INVITATION FOR PRELIMINARY
PROJECT PROPOSALS
2008/2009 Awards
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee
Maine Sea Grant
Deadline for Preliminary Proposals: Friday, March 9, 2007,
4:30 p.m.
Late applications will not be accepted.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee (MOSAC), and Maine Sea Grant College Program invite preliminary proposals for one- or two-year research projects that will be funded in the period February 2008 through January 2010. (Note: there will not be a call for proposals in 2008.) The mission of the Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee is to monitor the opportunities and constraints of scientific, engineering, and technical advances in spill response and prevention techniques in order to make recommendations to the DEP.
The following are research priorities for the 2008-2009 competition. However, creative and rigorously conceived proposals in areas not mentioned may be considered, provided that they contribute to the mission of MOSAC. Projects may be in engineering and the natural and social sciences, and they should lead to results that can be incorporated in the near term into procedures of user groups (petroleum transporters, spill responders, hazard managers, etc.). Although the competition is run by Maine Sea Grant, projects are not restricted to the marine environment.
· Rapid, safe techniques for personnel involved in removal or recovery of petroleum products from disabled vessels, tank trucks, or spills.
· Understanding on-water containment and recovery of spilled oil.
· Understanding spill impacts and ecosystem recovery. Special emphasis is placed on evaluation of the potential impact of spilled oil on ecologically or commercially important marine or coastal life.
· Prevention of oil spills through understanding and avoiding human behaviors that cause accidents.
The Maine Sea Grant College Program will run the research competition and manage funded projects using the same guidelines as for Sea Grant’s federally funded research competition. Although the University of Maine administers the Maine Sea Grant Program, this oil-spill competition is open to faculty and staff at any public or private research laboratory or institution of higher education. We anticipate that $100,000 will be available for funded projects in each of 2008 and 2009.
The development, review, and reporting of oil-spill proposals is a four-step process:
· First, short preliminary proposals are to be submitted to Maine Sea Grant by 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 9, 2007. Preliminary proposals must follow the guidelines available from the Maine Sea Grant office found on this site, or by calling 207-581-1435. One electronic copy and 16 paper copies are required.
· Second, applicants who submit the most promising preliminary proposals will be invited to submit full project proposals by 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 1, 2007.
· Third, after a comprehensive merit review by mail and panel, the most promising full proposals will be submitted to MOSAC and DEP with a recommendation for funding.
· Fourth, awarded PIs will be requested to give a brief presentation to MOSAC at a date to be specified later, in addition to annual and final technical reports.
Guidelines and forms for preparing Preliminary Proposals are available on this web site or from the address below.
Dr. James McCleave, Assistant Director for Research
Maine Sea Grant College Program
5784 York Complex, Suite 66
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5784
(207) 581-1435 voice
(207) 581-1426 fax
sgresearch@maine.edu
Proposal Development
Calendar
January 12, 2007. Release 2008-2009 request for preliminary proposals.
Friday, March 9. Preliminary proposals due in Sea Grant office by 4:30 p.m.
April 11 (approximate). Stakeholder advisory panel reviews preliminary proposals and makes recommendations to Sea Grant Management Team, which are sent to DEP.
April 25. Applicants receive recommendations regarding development of full proposals.
Friday, May 18. Proposal Submission Form due in Sea Grant office by 4:30 p.m.
Friday, June 1. Full proposals due in Sea Grant office by 4:30 p.m.
June 11-15. E-mail proposals to scientific reviewers.
July 27. Reviews due in Sea Grant office; anonymous copies provided to applicants.
Friday, August 17. Rebuttal letters due in Sea Grant office by 4:30 p.m.
September 19 (approximate). Technical advisory panel reviews proposals and makes recommendations to the Maine Sea Grant Management Team.
September 25. Sea Grant Executive Committee ranks proposals and provides MOSAC/DEP with information and recommendations. MOSAC/DEP makes final decisions.
October 5 (approximate). Applicants informed of decisions.
February 1, 2008. Anticipated 2008-2009 awards begin.
