Fiscal Year 2011 Community based Marine Debris Removal Project Grants | Apply Online

Fiscal Year 2011 Community Based Marine Debris Removal Project Grants (NOAA) - FAQs

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This was a competitive NOAA funding opportunity for Fiscal Year 2011 focused on community based marine debris removal. It supported practical, locally driven projects to prevent, assess, and remove marine debris in ways that directly benefit coastal habitats, waterways, and NOAA trust resources.

2) Which NOAA program offered the funding?

The opportunity sat under the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Funding was appropriated to NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration within the National Ocean Service.

3) What law authorized the program?

The program was authorized by the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.).

4) What types of projects were most strongly emphasized?

NOAA emphasized projects with strong on-the-ground habitat outcomes, especially projects that physically remove marine debris and derelict fishing gear.

5) What outcomes were applicants expected to deliver?

Projects were expected to deliver measurable ecological improvements for living marine resource habitats, such as cleaner habitats and reduced hazards like entanglement and smothering. NOAA also expected tangible social benefits for people and communities, such as local engagement, volunteer or workforce participation, education and awareness, and broader stewardship benefits.

6) How did NOAA describe the overall purpose of these grants beyond debris removal?

In addition to removing debris, NOAA framed the grants as a way to strengthen local capacity for habitat restoration through debris removal and to increase public awareness of marine debris impacts.

7) What was the total amount of funding available?

Total funding for FY2011 was expected to be up to $2,000,000 across all awards.

8) What was the typical award size?

Typical award sizes were described as ranging from $15,000 to $150,000.

9) Was there a minimum or maximum award amount?

Yes. The stated award floor was $15,000 and the award ceiling was $250,000.

10) What type of award did NOAA make (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

Awards were made as cooperative agreements. That means NOAA expected to have an active partnership role during project implementation rather than simply issuing a standard grant with minimal agency involvement.

11) Was cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applied, so applicants needed to plan for non-federal contributions in accordance with the full announcement terms.

12) When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?

The opportunity was posted on July 16, 2010. The application deadline was November 1, 2010.

13) What is the archive date listed for this opportunity?

The archive date was December 1, 2010.

14) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was NOAA NMFS HCPO 2011 2002657.

15) What CFDA program was associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA listing associated with it was 11.463 (Habitat Conservation).

16) What activity category did this opportunity align with?

The activity category was aligned with environment, natural resources, science and technology, and related research and development.

17) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility covered a broad set of applicant types as long as the proposed work had the potential to benefit NOAA trust resources. Eligible applicants included:

• Institutions of higher education
• Nonprofit organizations
• Commercial (for-profit) organizations
• State, local, and Indian tribal governments
• International organizations
• Organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments

18) Are federal agencies or federal employees eligible to apply?

No. Applications from federal agencies or federal employees were explicitly not eligible.

19) If federal entities are not eligible, can they still participate?

Yes, NOAA encouraged federal entities interested in this work to collaborate with eligible partners (such as states, nongovernmental organizations, national service clubs, youth corps organizations, and similar groups) that could apply directly.

20) Did NOAA encourage participation by specific institution types or communities?

Yes. NOAA explicitly encouraged proposals involving historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions working in underserved areas.

21) Which Department was the parent agency and which agency administered the opportunity?

The parent agency was the U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA was the administering body.

22) Was any other NOAA program involved in administering the competition?

Yes. The competition was administered in part in coordination with the NOAA Restoration Center's Community based Restoration Program.

23) Where could applicants find the detailed requirements (allowable costs, match, evaluation criteria, reporting, special conditions)?

Those details were available through the complete announcement referenced by the "full opportunity" link in the source posting. The summary information noted that the full announcement contained specific match requirements, evaluation criteria, allowable costs, reporting expectations, and any special conditions tied to cooperative agreements.

24) Who was the point of contact for problems downloading the application?

For access issues related to obtaining the full announcement electronically (application download problems), the listed point of contact was Steve Drescher (Policy Advisor).

25) What kinds of benefits to NOAA trust resources were implied by the solicitation?

The solicitation emphasized benefits such as improved conditions for species and ecosystems NOAA is responsible for, including reducing impacts like entanglement and smothering hazards and improving habitat conditions through debris and derelict gear removal.