§1903 Grants, Contracts, and Cooperative Agreements

Summary

The Secretary must give grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible organizations to support research on marine minerals. The research can fund: ways and tools to find and study marine mineral resources safely; ways to detect, watch, predict, and clean up harmful environmental effects from exploration, development, or production; and education and training materials about marine mineral research and management. Federal money can pay up to 80% of a project’s cost. The rest can be cash or in-kind support. Other federal funds may count, but at least 10% of the total must come from non‑Federal sources. Not later than 180 days after October 19, 1996, the Secretary must set rules for funding that follow the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (see section 3511(d)(12) of title 19). To get funds, an organization must send a proposal and have it reviewed by a competitive panel led by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. The Secretary appoints the panel. At least half the panel members must represent private marine resource companies involved in exploration or mineral development, and members cannot have a stake in proposals they review. Non‑Federal panelists get no pay but may get travel expenses. The panel will judge proposals on factors like the idea’s merit, methods and costs, the applicant’s ability to do the work and provide matching support, the amount of matching funds, collaboration with others, whether noncommercial applicants work with commercial partners, and whether the project supports responsible environmental stewardship. Up to 10% of program funds may be used for administration. No money may be used to build or alter buildings. Grant or contract recipients must send yearly progress reports and a final technical report describing the project, its importance to marine mineral research, and any possible commercial or economic benefits; yearly reports must include a plan for the next year.