Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2015 2004209
Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2015 2004209
- The Department of Commerce in the education environment science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2015 NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B WET) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.463 Habitat Conservation.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 19, 2014 and posted on Aug 19, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 24, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are K 12 public and independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for profit organizations, state or local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Fiscal Year 2015 NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program was a competitive federal funding opportunity run through the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region. The program focuses on environmental education in the Gulf of Mexico region, with an emphasis on giving K-12 students hands-on, locally relevant learning tied directly to their watersheds and coastal ecosystems. The core idea is to move beyond classroom-only instruction and support experiential, place-based education that helps students understand how local water systems connect to ocean health, fisheries, habitats, and broader ecosystem function.
Projects funded under this opportunity were expected to deliver what NOAA calls Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). In practical terms, that usually means structured learning that combines classroom preparation with outdoor field experiences, authentic data collection or investigation, and student reflection or action related to real environmental issues. Alongside student experiences, the program also supports professional development for teachers, since sustained impact depends on educators having the training, confidence, and materials to run high-quality watershed and coastal science activities year after year. In addition, funded projects were intended to align with and strengthen regional education and environmental priorities across the Gulf of Mexico, helping communities build knowledge and capacity around coastal resilience, habitat conservation, and stewardship.
The opportunity explicitly tied its purpose to two major NOAA-wide outcomes. First, it supports NOAA's long-term goal of Healthy Oceans, meaning marine fisheries, habitats, and biodiversity are sustained within healthy and productive ecosystems. Second, it advances NOAA's engagement objective of building an engaged and educated public with stronger ability to make scientifically informed environmental decisions. In other words, the program was not just about field trips; it was meant to create durable science literacy and civic readiness so students and educators can better understand and respond to environmental challenges affecting Gulf waters and coastal communities.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, awards were made as grants or cooperative agreements under a discretionary program. The opportunity anticipated making about six awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $700,000. Individual awards had a ceiling of $100,000, and the listed award floor was $0, which generally signals NOAA could consider a range of project sizes depending on merit and available funds. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowered the barrier for schools and community organizations that might not have access to non-federal matching dollars. The funding was associated with CFDA number 11.463, Habitat Conservation, indicating the education work is tied to NOAA's broader conservation and habitat mission.
Eligibility was broad and designed to encourage partnerships across education and community sectors. Eligible applicants included K-12 public and independent schools and school systems, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, state or local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments. This wide eligibility list reflects how MWEEs are often most effective when schools work with external partners such as universities, aquariums, nature centers, conservation groups, sea grant programs, or local and state agencies that can provide scientific expertise, field sites, and community connections.
Key dates for the FY 2015 competition were straightforward: the opportunity was posted on August 19, 2014, and the application deadline was October 24, 2014, with the archive date listed as November 23, 2014. Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact the Gulf of Mexico B-WET Program Manager, Amy Clark, at 228-688-1520.
FY 2015 NOAA Gulf of Mexico B-WET Program (Bay Watershed Education and Training) FAQs
What is the FY 2015 NOAA Gulf of Mexico B-WET Program?
The FY 2015 NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program was a competitive federal funding opportunity run through the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region. It funded environmental education projects in the Gulf of Mexico region, with a focus on K-12 student learning connected to local watersheds and coastal ecosystems.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The program aimed to support hands-on, locally relevant, place-based environmental education that helps K-12 students understand how local water systems connect to ocean health, fisheries, habitats, and overall ecosystem function. The intent was to move beyond classroom-only instruction and support experiential learning tied directly to real watershed and coastal issues.
Who administered the program?
The program was administered by NOAA under the U.S. Department of Commerce, through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region.
What kinds of projects were expected to be funded?
Projects were expected to deliver Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). These typically include a structured sequence of learning that combines classroom preparation with outdoor field experiences, authentic data collection or investigation, and student reflection or action related to real environmental issues affecting their watershed or coastal environment.
What is a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) in practical terms?
Based on the program description, an MWEE generally involves (1) learning and preparation in a classroom setting, (2) field-based experiences outdoors that are tied to the local watershed or coastal ecosystem, (3) authentic investigation such as data collection or analysis connected to real environmental conditions, and (4) student reflection and/or action addressing real environmental issues.
Was the funding intended only for student activities, or also for teachers?
The opportunity also supported professional development for teachers. The rationale is that long-term impact depends on educators having the training, confidence, and materials to deliver high-quality watershed and coastal science activities over time.
What geographic area did the program focus on?
The program focused on the Gulf of Mexico region and emphasized learning tied to local watersheds and coastal ecosystems within that region.
How does the program connect education to broader NOAA priorities?
The opportunity tied its purpose to two NOAA-wide outcomes: (1) NOAA's long-term goal of Healthy Oceans, meaning marine fisheries, habitats, and biodiversity are sustained within healthy and productive ecosystems; and (2) NOAA's engagement objective of building an engaged and educated public with a stronger ability to make scientifically informed environmental decisions.
Was this program meant to fund simple field trips?
No. The description emphasizes that the program was not just about field trips. It was intended to build durable science literacy and civic readiness by using structured, experiential, place-based learning connected to real environmental challenges affecting Gulf waters and coastal communities.
What type of federal funding mechanism was used?
Awards were made as grants or cooperative agreements under a discretionary program.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making about six awards.
How much total funding was expected to be available?
The estimated total program funding level was $700,000.
What was the maximum award amount?
The ceiling for individual awards was $100,000.
What was the minimum award amount?
The listed award floor was $0, which indicates NOAA could consider a range of project sizes depending on project merit and available funds.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The funding was associated with CFDA 11.463, Habitat Conservation.
Why is an education program tied to a Habitat Conservation CFDA number?
The CFDA listing (11.463, Habitat Conservation) reflects that the education work supported by this opportunity is connected to NOAA's broader conservation and habitat mission, particularly in relation to coastal ecosystems and stewardship.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included K-12 public and independent schools and school systems, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, state or local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments.
Why does the program allow such broad eligibility?
The opportunity description highlights that MWEEs are often most effective through partnerships. Schools frequently work with external partners such as universities, aquariums, nature centers, conservation groups, sea grant programs, or local and state agencies that can provide scientific expertise, field sites, and community connections.
What kinds of partnerships did the program encourage?
While the announcement does not require specific partners, it describes cross-sector collaboration as an effective way to deliver MWEEs. Examples mentioned include partnerships with universities, aquariums, nature centers, conservation groups, sea grant programs, and local or state agencies.
What regional priorities were projects expected to align with?
Funded projects were intended to align with and strengthen regional education and environmental priorities across the Gulf of Mexico, helping communities build knowledge and capacity around coastal resilience, habitat conservation, and stewardship.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 19, 2014.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was October 24, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was listed as November 23, 2014.
Who could applicants contact for help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact the Gulf of Mexico B-WET Program Manager, Amy Clark, at 228-688-1520.
What NOAA office or region is referenced for this opportunity?
The opportunity references NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region.
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