Boating Safety Data Collection and Analysis | Apply Online

Boating Safety Data Collection and Analysis Grant (DHS-USCG-2014-002) - FAQs

1) What is the Boating Safety Data Collection and Analysis grant?

This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DHS-USCG-2014-002) is a U.S. Coast Guard cooperative agreement intended to fund a single national effort to carry out the 2015 National Recreational Boating Survey (NRBS). The purpose is to collect and analyze high-quality, nationally representative data on recreational boating activity and participation.

2) What is the main goal of the 2015 National Recreational Boating Survey (NRBS) under this award?

The central goal is to build a reliable national evidence base about recreational boating across the United States and territories covered by the survey, so the Coast Guard and its partners can produce valid and dependable estimates about boating ownership, use, participation, and related measures.

3) Is this grant meant to fund direct boating safety services?

No. The announcement positions this as an information-and-statistics focused award. It supports planning and evaluation for boating safety programs by improving data infrastructure, rather than providing direct service delivery.

4) What geographic areas are included in the survey coverage?

The survey is intended to be nationally representative across the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

5) How many awards does the Coast Guard expect to make?

The Coast Guard anticipates making one award to support a single national effort for the 2015 NRBS data collection and analysis.

6) What is the total estimated funding level for this opportunity?

The opportunity anticipates an estimated total funding level of $5,100,000.

7) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching is not required.

8) What type of funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism. That indicates the Coast Guard expects to have substantial involvement in the project as it is carried out.

9) What does “cooperative agreement” mean in practical terms for this project?

Based on the announcement language, it means the Coast Guard anticipates substantial involvement during project execution (as opposed to a more hands-off relationship). The specific forms of involvement are not detailed in the provided text.

10) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status. Institutions of higher education are excluded from eligibility under the information provided.

11) Are universities or colleges allowed to apply?

No. The eligibility statement specifies 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, excluding institutions of higher education.

12) What kind of data is the Coast Guard seeking to collect about boats?

The survey is intended to estimate how many boats are owned, including breakdowns by different types and sizes, and how many of those boats are actually used on the water.

13) What kind of data is the Coast Guard seeking to collect about boating activity and intensity?

The NRBS is intended to measure boating intensity in practical terms, including the number of days and hours boats are used when they are actively on the water.

14) What kind of data is the Coast Guard seeking to collect about people who go boating?

The survey aims to estimate the number and characteristics of people in the general population who go boating. This supports understanding who participates in recreational boating and how participation varies across population characteristics (for example, demographic characteristics, as referenced in the description).

15) What national “annual totals” are expected as deliverables from the survey?

The opportunity calls for national estimates describing the overall amount of recreational boating that occurs in a year, including total annual person-days and person-hours of recreational boating. It also emphasizes more detailed breakdowns connecting usage patterns to boat type and size.

16) Does the survey include economic or spending measures?

Yes. The survey is expected to capture spending both during boating trips and for ongoing annual upkeep, such as storage and maintenance. These estimates are intended to support economic impact assessment in addition to safety planning.

17) How does the Coast Guard expect the data to be used?

The Coast Guard describes this work as foundational data infrastructure for the recreational boating safety system. The resulting data and analyses are intended to strengthen program planning, guide outreach and education strategies, and support development and monitoring of effectiveness measures for boating safety programs.

18) What longer-term outcomes does the Coast Guard associate with improved boating data and analysis?

The announcement links improved data capabilities to outcomes such as increased lifejacket wear, greater awareness and use of on-water instruction, improved understanding of safe boating operations, and ultimately fewer accidents, injuries, and fatalities, contributing to safer and more enjoyable experiences on U.S. waterways.

19) Is the project expected to span multiple years?

Yes. Applicants are expected to propose a plan covering the entire project period, and the Coast Guard signals that funding and award actions may be issued over multiple fiscal years depending on appropriations and availability.

20) Does “multiple fiscal years” mean the full funding is guaranteed up front?

No guarantee is stated. The announcement notes that actions may be issued over multiple fiscal years depending on appropriations and availability, which implies funding timing may be staged and dependent on future availability of funds.

21) What is the stated deadline for completing the data collection and analysis?

The timeline described includes a final report for all data collection and analysis due by August 2016.

22) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting date is January 9, 2014. The closing date is March 14, 2014. The opportunity was archived on April 13, 2014.

23) What is the listed point of contact for access issues related to the full announcement?

The listed contact is Carlin Hertz, Non Profit Organization Grants Coordinator, at 202-372-1060.

24) What is the overall scope of work implied by this opportunity?

The scope centers on executing a national survey (the 2015 NRBS) and producing analyses and estimates that cover boat ownership, boat use, on-water activity intensity, participant characteristics, national totals for person-days and person-hours, and boating-related spending (trip spending and annual upkeep such as storage and maintenance), culminating in a final report by August 2016.

25) Why does the Coast Guard emphasize “high-quality, nationally representative” data?

The announcement states that the intent is to produce valid and reliable estimates of recreational boating activity. National representativeness and data quality are emphasized because the results are meant to support planning, evaluation, and effectiveness measurement across the covered jurisdictions.