Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see the answer to your question below, please submit all questions to alcoe@disl.edu with “ALCoE RFP” in the Subject line.

  • 03/17/2021 IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to the incoming bad weather, the Full Proposal submission deadline has been EXTENDED until Monday, March 22 at 5pm (Central).

  • Full proposals are due on **March 19th, 2021 by 5pm CST**.
    There were two discrepancies in the orginal RFP that was released on pages 11 and 16. The RFP was corrected and posted to the website https://alcoe.disl.edu/grants on 01/23/2021

  • We understand that sections 3c (pg 12), 6a and 6c (pg 14-15) in the RFP appear duplicative. Our intent was to ensure that adequate opportunity was provided to describe the qualifications of PIs since 20% of the reviewers’ scores will be based on the expertise and the record of achievement of PIs. However, to free up additional space to describe the research being proposed and to avoid duplication, we have made the following changes to the RFP.

    1. Section 3c: Contract Compliance has been removed, freeing up additional pages for describing your proposed work. This section will now be covered in Section 6a: Biographical sketch

    2. Section 6a: Biographical Sketches The Biographical Sketch should cover bullets 2-4 from 6c. This includes:

      • a synopsis of key research accomplishments by the PI and co-PI(s) that establishes the feasibility of the project and demonstrates the track records of the PI and co-PI(s);

        • a description of how graduate student and postdoctoral career mentoring will be ensured; and
          • metrics of progress to be used in evaluating project personnel, to guide management of the Research Project as actively led by the PI. If appropriate, the metrics described in the proposal could also be used by the ALCoE in its evaluation of the research project.

        The 2 page limit per investigator remains unchanged.

    3. Section 6b remains unchanged

    4. Section 6c: Qualifications

      • a 2 page c.v. similar to that used by the National Science Foundation (https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/biosketch.jsp ) that includes sections on Professional Preparation, Appointments, Products most Closely Related to the Proposed Project, as well as Other Significant Products, and Synergistic Activities
  • Please email the SeaGrant Research Coordinator, Loretta Leist (loretta.leist@usm.edu ), to address your concerns.
  • In the main narrative, you should use the author names and years in the text, and the Literature Cited section you should list the references in alphabetical order but with each reference written in Science style. This was done to reduce the page load for the Literature Cited section.
  • This description should be included in section 6a: Biographical Sketch.

  • No, investigators should use their home institution’s federally approved indirect cost rate.
  • No
  • No you do not need to budget for the data manager. If you have intensive work (e.g. database development) it would require additional costs. Please contact alcoe@disl.edu for specific requests.
  • Yes
  • Yes, however you will need to follow State procurement procedures.
  • There is no facilities charge, however you will have to budget for gas. ALCoE has tanks and regulators already from our supplier (NexAir) so you would be paying for the rental fee for the tanks you would be using (roughly $17.50 per tank). NexAir has a delivery charge of $50 for when you need to swap out an empty tank for a full one.
    If using the wetlab at DISL, you will need to have someone around campus when you are running an experiment to take care of things. DISL’s Tech Support department will help with general maintenance of the whole system, but the users are responsible for setup, and clean up after.

  • Yes, researchers can participate in up to three (3) proposals, but may only be the Lead investigator on one.
  • There is no requirement in the RFP that multiple institutions be included for a proposal to be successfully submitted and recommended for funding. However, the intent of the Center was for submissions to be collaborative, partnering with at least 1 or more collaborators (ie. minimum of 2 PIs). Partnering with other MESC institutions (preferred) and other entities (including non-profit or for-profit entities, government agencies, and public or private companies) from in or outside Alabama is encouraged. The Lead PI must be from a MESC institution and preference will be given to those that collaborate with other MESC institutions. While one goal of ALCoE is to foster collaborations among MESC institutions, our primary goal is to fund the best possible research, as judged by the review process.
  • ALCoE is viewing dual appointments as who is your home institution (ie. who pays you). So for the example in question, a USA faculty (ie. salary is paid by South Alabama) could partner with a DISL faculty (ie. salary is paid by DISL) and that would be considered as 2 MESC institutions. Two USA faculty that have dual appointments at DISL (and vice versus) would not satisfy that preference.
  • Yes
  • Yes, the goal is to compile the best team possible to complete the proposed work.
  • Yes, the limit is not based on institution, it is based on investigators. Investigators can be on up to 3 proposals. One as the lead PI, and then 2 as co-PIs. Please see page 6 of the RFP “In the event that an investigator is involved in more than one proposal, a clear description should be included that explains how the proposal work is complementary, not duplicative, of other proposed efforts and how the participant will budget their time.”
  • No, LOIs will not be reviewed for feedback. They will allow SeaGrant to find the right reviewers that 1) have adequate expertise to review the full proposals and 2) will have minimum conflicts of interest of reviewers. By requesting the LOI, SeaGrant can start the process of finding the reviewers while researchers work on the full proposals - thus minimizing the time between full proposal submission, reviews and award notifications.
  • A list of references cited in the LOI will not count against the 5 page limit. However, we ask that you limit references in the LOI to one page. Thus, references could be the sixth page in the LOI submission.
  • Yes you may change your project team between the LOI and Full Proposal submission; however, the Lead PI cannot change. Adding or changing co-PIs as you develop your full proposal is understandable, but again the Lead PI cannot be changed
  • The major direction of the proposal should be in line with the topic of the Letter of Intent. Letters of Intent are not reviewed but serve as a means to quickly find appropriate reviewers for the Technical Review Panel while researchers work on the full proposal; thus minimizing the time between full proposal submission, review and award notifications. Because of that, major changes to the direction of proposed work are not allowed. Minor/slight changes to the final objectives/methods would be ok.
  • Essentially, yes. We are restricted by the RESTORE Act to conduct all research in the coastal zones defined under section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act which includes waters off coastal counties that border the Gulf of Mexico, from 25 nm inland of the coastline to the offshore boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone. For ALCoE, emphasis will be placed on studies conducted in Alabama coastal and nearshore waters. Mobile and Baldwin counties are both large and cover the entire 25 miles in coastal Alabama. Research can take place in other counties/states that occur within that 25nm area; however, focus should be prioritized to the regions in Alabama that fall within this area.
  • The theme of multi-stressors was developed after reviewing the National Academy of Sciences Reports and the literature acknowledging that multi-stressors are taking place and there is a big need to understand how these stressors are going to influence the future conditions of our natural resources. ALCoE thinks this is an area where we can make a real impact and have major effects on science, on the whole science framework, and on the kind of climate change research that is going on in this country.
  • The priority is to focus on the Northern Gulf of Mexico. ALCoE’s objective is to fund projects that can help prepare for possible new disasters, with climate change being at the forefront of those stressors. If your project is broadly applicable to global issues, that is acceptable; however, projects that are focused on local/regional issues will not be at a disadvantage.
  • While the focus needs to be on the coastal zone, you can discuss the broader implications of the work for the entire state’s economic health. Similarly, environmental work in Alabama’s coastal zone could have broader implications for the entire Gulf coast.
  • There is no need to include either modeling or forecasting in a proposal for it to be fundable.
  • The RFP does ask for an outreach plan and constitutes 5% of the review evaluation. (see page 8 of the RFP, under Part V. Evaluation Information: Contract Compliance Plan). ALCoE will work with funded projects to get your science out. ALCoE will facilitate videos and seminars given through DISL’s PR department to present your research to the public, and will host webinars on communicating science.