Notice of Bid/Request for Proposal

Coastal Partnership Initiative, Request for Proposals, FY 09-10

The Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP) of the Department of Environmental Protection announces the availability of funds for innovative coastal projects under its Coastal Partnership Initiative (CPI) for fiscal year 2009-2010. Eligible applicants include local governments within the 35 coastal counties that are required to include a coastal element in the local comprehensive plan, national estuarine research reserves (NERR) and national estuary programs (NEP). Eligible applicants also include public and private colleges, universities, regional planning councils and nonprofit groups, as long as an eligible local government, NERR, or NEP agrees to participate as a partner in the application and project. Applications must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. (EDT), October 21, 2008. Mail CPI applications to FCMP, MS 47, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000; electronic copies and facsimiles will not be accepted. Selected proposals will be included in the FCMP application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for fiscal year 09-10 which begins July 1, 2009 and ends June 30, 2010.

The purpose of the COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE is to inspire community action and promote the protection and effective management of Florida’s coastal resources in four specific categories: Working Waterfronts, Access to Coastal Resources, Remarkable Coastal Places, and Community Stewardship. These categories are described in Rules 62S-4.004, 62S-4.005 and subsection 62S-4.007(2), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), along with other information about the COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE grant program, including the required information to be included in the application; the format in which it is to be submitted; application submittal procedures; and the criteria and procedures by which applications will be evaluated and ranked. There is no specific application form. A copy of Chapter 62S-4, F.A.C., may be printed from the FCMP website at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/cmp/grants/index.htm. Important details regarding the COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE grant process:

1.     Financial assistance is available as reimbursement grants ranging from $15,000 to a maximum of $50,000.

2.     Recipients are required to provide 100 percent (1 to 1) matching contributions in the form of goods and services that directly benefit the specific grant project.

3.     There are additional requirements for applications involving construction, exotic species removal, habitat restoration, and land acquisition, including:

a.     The application package must include a completed and signed 306A checklist form, which may be obtained at htt p://www.dep.state.fl.us/cmp/grants/files/306A_0507.doc.

b.     Applicants proposing construction, exotic species removal, habitat restoration or land acquisition must conduct a preliminary consultation with appropriate local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. A summary of the consultation must be included in the COASTAL PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE application or it will be considered incomplete and will not be processed.

c.     Construction activities occurring in designated Coastal Barrier Resource Act units are subject to additional review and approval by NOAA and/or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

d.     Nonprofit organizations are not eligible to receive FCMP funds for these types of activities.

For questions or to request a copy of Chapter 62S-4, F.A.C., or the 306A Checklist, please contact: Ms. Dornecia Allen, FCMP, MS 47, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000, (850)245-2161 or by email to Dornecia.Allen@dep.state.fl.us.