Fiscal Year 2013 NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (BWET) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): FY 2013 NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (BWET)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Fiscal Year 2013 NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (BWET) grant/cooperative agreement opportunity, a competitive Department of Commerce program designed to strengthen environmental education across the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA NMFS NCBO 2013 2003501.

3) What is the main purpose of the BWET program described here?

The program aims to strengthen environmental education across the Chesapeake Bay watershed by supporting established, high-quality watershed education efforts and also helping new and innovative programs get started. A major theme is building long-term regional capacity through partnerships that make watershed education more coordinated, durable, and widely available.

4) What kinds of projects does this opportunity support?

Based on the description provided, supported projects can include:

• Watershed education projects that directly serve K-12 students through field-based learning and classroom-integrated instruction
• Professional development for teachers to improve delivery of high-quality watershed instruction
• Capacity-building efforts for watershed education, such as strengthening delivery systems, expanding partnerships, improving coordination, or enhancing tools and curricula that support Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs)

5) What is a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) in this opportunity?

MWEEs are structured learning experiences that combine real field investigations or outdoor experiences with related classroom instruction and activities. Projects are expected to connect classroom learning to authentic watershed-based work, and to incorporate NOAA-related content where appropriate.

6) Is hands-on or field-based learning required or emphasized?

Hands-on learning is a central emphasis. The opportunity is centered on providing students with hands-on learning about environmental issues affecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed, particularly through MWEEs that include real field investigations or outdoor experiences.

7) Does the opportunity mention alignment with larger strategies or plans?

Yes. The opportunity is aligned with the NOAA Education Strategic Plan and the Mid-Atlantic Elementary and Secondary Environmental Literacy Strategy, suggesting projects should contribute to broader regional environmental literacy and stewardship goals.

8) What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?

The intent is to increase both the quality and reach of Chesapeake Bay watershed education and training. The opportunity supports outcomes such as direct student learning, stronger teacher capacity through professional development, and broader capacity building through improved coordination, partnerships, and program infrastructure.

9) How much funding is available per award?

Awards under this announcement range from $25,000 to $200,000.

10) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

11) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include organizations within the U.S. Chesapeake Bay watershed education community, specifically:

• K-12 public and independent schools and school systems
• Institutions of higher education
• Community-based and nonprofit organizations
• State and local government agencies
• Interstate agencies
• Indian tribal governments

12) Are federal agencies eligible to receive funding?

No. Federal agencies cannot receive funds under this announcement, but they may participate as project partners.

13) Can for-profit organizations apply?

No. For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply under this announcement, based on the information provided.

14) Can foreign organizations or foreign government agencies apply?

No. Foreign institutions, foreign organizations, and foreign government agencies are not eligible to apply under this announcement, based on the information provided.

15) Can ineligible entities still be involved as partners?

Yes. While for-profit and foreign entities cannot apply as the eligible applicant, they may participate as partners on an eligible applicant's project. Federal agencies also may participate as partners even though they cannot receive funds.

16) What kinds of partnerships does NOAA encourage in this opportunity?

The opportunity encourages partnerships among schools, nonprofits, higher education, and government entities. The goal is to build long-term capacity so watershed education is more coordinated, durable, and broadly available across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

17) When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on October 4, 2012.

18) What was the application process timeline?

The timeline required a Letter of Intent first, followed by a full application.

19) When was the Letter of Intent due?

Letters of Intent were due November 5, 2012 (noted as updated from an earlier date).

20) When was the full application due?

Full applications were due December 19, 2012.

21) Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was archived on January 31, 2013.

22) What CFDA program listing is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA listing associated with this program is 11.457 (Chesapeake Bay Studies).

23) What activity category is this opportunity associated with?

The activity category is Education, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development.

24) Who was the listed program contact for help accessing the full announcement?

The listed program contact was Kevin Schabow at the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office.

25) What contact information was provided for the program contact?

Kevin Schabow, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403, phone 410-295-3145.