2009 CRCP Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 2009 CRCP Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring (NOS NCCOS 2009 2001474)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the 2009 CRCP Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring funding call (Funding Opportunity Number: NOS NCCOS 2009 2001474) issued by NOAA's National Ocean Service under CFDA 11.426 (Financial Assistance for National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science). It supported coral reef ecosystem monitoring activities authorized by the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.

2) What is the purpose of the program?

The program was designed to strengthen and sustain long-term, jurisdiction-led monitoring of coral reef condition across U.S. coral reef areas and certain Freely Associated States. The intent was for monitoring information to support management decisions, track reef health over time, and coordinate with broader coral reef conservation efforts.

3) What types of activities were supported?

The opportunity supported coral reef ecosystem monitoring activities with a strong emphasis on collecting, managing, and delivering monitoring data that can be used for applied conservation and resource management.

4) Which broad fields or activity areas did this opportunity fall under?

The activity areas were listed under environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.

5) What was the estimated total funding available?

NOAA estimated the total available funding for the competition at $1,100,000.

6) What funding mechanisms were used?

Funding was offered through financial assistance mechanisms listed as cooperative agreements and grants.

7) Was cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The opportunity included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients were expected to contribute non-federal resources to match a portion of the award.

8) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was narrowly limited to the governor-appointed (or otherwise officially designated) coral reef point of contact natural resource management agency in each eligible U.S. state or territory. For the Freely Associated States, an appropriate non-governmental organization could apply where the governmental structure differs.

9) Which jurisdictions were covered?

The covered jurisdictions were Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The opportunity also included the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae, and Pohnpei), the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

10) Were federal agencies eligible?

No. Federal agencies were explicitly ineligible to apply.

11) Were there special requirements for applicants from the Freely Associated States?

Yes. Applicants from the Freely Associated States had to provide a letter of support from their officially designated coral reef point of contact to demonstrate coordination with other ongoing coral reef conservation work.

12) Did prior recipients have additional conditions to compete for FY 2009 funding?

Yes. Jurisdictions that had received earlier awards needed to demonstrate significant progress, meet data submission deadlines, and be current on performance, fiscal reporting, and data transfer requirements to compete for FY 2009 funding.

13) Was there a preproposal requirement?

Yes. The application process used a two-step timeline with a required preproposal stage.

14) When were preproposals due?

Preproposals were due by 5 p.m. Eastern on November 14, 2008.

15) When did NOAA plan to provide comments on preproposals?

NOAA planned to provide comments back to applicants by January 9, 2009.

16) When were full proposals due?

Full proposals were due by 5 p.m. Eastern on February 20, 2009.

17) How could preproposals be submitted?

Pre-applications could be submitted by email to coral.grants@noaa.gov or mailed to Jenny Waddell at NOAA National Ocean Service, N/SCI 1, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

18) How were final applications submitted?

Final applications were to be submitted through Grants.gov.

19) Was a paper submission option available for final applications?

Yes, but only for applicants without internet access. Paper submissions required hard copies with original signatures and were mailed to the same Silver Spring address (NOAA National Ocean Service, N/SCI 1, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910).

20) When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The opportunity was posted on July 11, 2008, and later archived on March 22, 2009.

21) Who was the contact for access issues with the full announcement?

The listing referenced Steve Drescher, Policy Advisor, at 301-713-0926, for assistance with access issues related to the full announcement.

22) Where were the official details provided?

The official details were available through the opportunity posting via the "Full Opportunity" link referenced in the announcement.

23) Who was listed as the mail recipient for preproposal submissions?

Preproposals could be mailed to Jenny Waddell at NOAA National Ocean Service, N/SCI 1, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

24) What was the main intent behind collecting and delivering monitoring data?

The main intent was for the data to support management decisions, track coral reef health over time, and align monitoring with broader coral reef conservation efforts.