be used to support both comprehensive college programs and individ- 

 ual Sea-Grant projects. 



Criteria 



The National Science Foundation has developed, and the Council 

 has endorsed, criteria by which proposals for such grants will be 

 judged. These criteria, soon to be announced by the Foundation, are 

 stated only in general terms, to encourage maximum flexibility and 

 imagination on the part of applicants. 



These criteria consider : 



1. Existing resources. — The institution should have a substantial 

 ongoing program in some area related to objectives of the Sea Grant 

 Act, such as oceanography, marine biology, ocean engineering, etc. 

 Additionally, any necessary facilities such as laboratory buildings, 

 ships, and docks must be available, since the Act forbids Sea-Grant 

 funding of such facilities. It must also demonstrate capabilities for 

 interdisciplinary activities. In some cases, needed facilities might be 

 provided by a consortium of institutions. 



2. Capacity for development. — The institution should demonstrate 

 the ability to plan and implement a new or augmented program. 

 Each applicant will be required to submit a long-range plan, supported 

 by appropriate statistical material, showing how its sea-grant activities 

 will develop in relation to overall institutional plans. 



3. G ommitTnent to program goals. — Sea-Grant College support will 

 be given only to those institutions which are prepared to conduct 

 comprehensive programs encompassing the education, research, and 

 information transfer objectives of the Act. This must be demon- 

 strated not only by a willingness to share costs as required by the Act 

 but by full commitment of responsible senior officials to an effective 

 program. This commitment should be accompanied by a well-de- 

 veloped consideration of the proposed program's potential for con- 

 tributing to the health and welfare of the Nation as well as to the 

 Nation's economic strength in marine-related activities. 



4. Regional factors. — Institutions conducting Sea-Grant College 

 programs will be responsible for serving as regional centers for 

 strengthening the marine resources utilization program. Each insti- 

 tution requesting support for a Sea-Grant College program will be ex- 

 pected to have examined thoroughly the needs and capabilities of its 

 region. It must also consider national needs and services relating to 

 the marine aspects of transportation, fisheries, mining, and other eco- 

 nomic endeavors. Institutional programs will be expected to provide 

 advisory sei-vices to regional economic and governmental interests 

 as may be appropriate. 



62 



