2011 REPP Understanding Coral Ecosystem Connectivity in the Gulf of Mexico Pulley Ridge to the Florida Keys | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

This funding opportunity, titled "2011 REPP Understanding Coral Ecosystem Connectivity in the Gulf of Mexico Pulley Ridge to the Florida Keys," was announced by the Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and its Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR). It was issued under the Regional Ecosystem Prediction Program (REPP) in partnership with several NOAA offices, including the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office, and the Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaboration Team. The central purpose is to support a multi-year research effort that clarifies how key marine species populations are connected between mesophotic coral ecosystems at the southernmost portion of Pulley Ridge (on the West Florida continental shelf) and the downstream coral ecosystems of the Florida Keys. Projects may also consider coral ecosystems upstream of Pulley Ridge when that information directly strengthens the connectivity analysis or provides essential ecological context for interpreting connectivity patterns.

The research focus is population connectivity, meaning the biological and physical links that allow organisms (often through larval dispersal, juvenile movement, or adult migration) to move between reef systems and maintain or replenish populations. NOAA is looking for proposals that can improve practical understanding of these connections for "key species" associated with coral ecosystems, with a strong emphasis on mesophotic reefs, which are deeper, light-limited reef habitats that have historically been less studied than shallow reefs. The intent is explicitly management-driven: the connectivity information is expected to help Gulf of Mexico and Florida resource managers move from reactive to proactive decision-making, particularly in the design and siting of marine protected areas (MPAs), the development of MPA networks that function ecologically across depth zones, and broader coastal and marine spatial planning. In other words, the scientific output is meant to translate into better protection strategies for coral ecosystems that are poorly understood but potentially important as habitat, refugia, or stepping-stones linking the Gulf and Florida reef systems.

In terms of funding structure, NOAA anticipated supporting a single project (ExpectedAwards: 1) for up to five years. The annual budget could be as high as $1,000,000, with an estimated total potential funding level of $5,000,000 and an overall award ceiling of $5,000,000. The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding and could be awarded as either a cooperative agreement or a grant, reflecting NOAA's ability to remain substantially involved when appropriate under a cooperative agreement arrangement. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. Funding was explicitly contingent on the availability of Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations, with NOAA expecting to make final funding recommendations in early calendar year 2011 and targeting a start date of September 1, 2011 for any selected project.

Eligibility was broad, covering institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state, local, and Tribal governments, U.S. territories, commercial organizations, and agencies with the statutory authority to receive federal financial assistance. Proposals had to be submitted by an eligible entity on behalf of the researchers, meaning individual researchers could not apply on their own unless routed through an eligible institution. NOAA also emphasized its interest in broadening participation and encouraged applications involving or led by historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions working in underserved areas, as well as proposals submitted by women and minority individuals and groups. Foreign researchers were permitted to participate through subawards under an eligible U.S. applicant entity, rather than applying directly.

A notable budget rule in the announcement is that NCCOS/CSCOR would not fund salaries for full-time employees (FTEs). However, the program would fund many other common project costs, including travel, equipment, supplies, and contractual personnel costs tied to the proposed work. Non-NOAA applicants also needed to be prepared to provide certifications or documentation demonstrating they had legal authority to receive Department of Commerce funds for this research. Applicants affiliated with NOAA University Cooperative or Joint Institutes were instructed to follow their joint institutional submission requirements, with funding flowing through grants to their institutions or joint institutes.

Administratively, the opportunity was posted on July 21, 2010 (creation date July 22, 2010) with an application deadline of October 21, 2010, and it was later archived on November 20, 2010. Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and additional program background was referenced through NOAA's coastal ocean program website. The funding opportunity number was NOAA NOS NCCOS 2011 2002586, and it fell under CFDA 11.478 (Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, Coastal Ocean Program). Overall, the competition was designed to produce a single, substantial, multi-year research effort delivering connectivity science that could be directly used to guide protection and spatial planning for interconnected shallow and mesophotic coral ecosystems spanning Pulley Ridge and the Florida Keys.

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