Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS AK 2015 2004372
Apply for NOAA NMFS AK 2015 2004372
- The Department of Commerce in the environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2015 Alaska Pinniped Research Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.439 Marine Mammal Data Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 3, 2015 and posted on Feb 3, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 6, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants must be in good standing with NMFS. An applicant is considered to be in good standing if the entity meets the following criteria 1) No pending enforcement actions under the MMPA or ESA. 2) Progress and financial reports on current Federal assistance awards are up to date and/or completed in a timely manner. 3) Satisfactory past performance. This includes completion of proposed projects in a timely manner or as stated in previous proposals. Unsatisfactory performance under prior or current Federal awards, including delinquency in submitting progress and financial reports and inability in meeting proposal objectives and tasks within the project period, may result in either that proposal not being considered for funding or an adjusted final funding recommendation under the 2015 Alaska Pinniped Research Program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2015 Alaska Pinniped Research Program is a competitively awarded, merit-based federal funding opportunity run by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The program is focused specifically on research that supports NMFS responsibilities for the stewardship, conservation, and management of pinniped species in Alaska. It targets seven NMFS-managed pinnipeds: Steller sea lion, Northern fur seal, ringed seal, bearded seal, spotted seal, ribbon seal, and harbor seal. A central purpose of the program is to generate scientific information needed to guide management decisions, improve conservation outcomes, and strengthen recovery efforts where Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections apply.
A key driver for the program is NMFS statutory responsibility under the ESA and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Two Alaska pinniped groupings are highlighted as ESA-listed at the time of the announcement: the endangered western Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Steller sea lions and the threatened Arctic subspecies of ringed seals. The notice also clarifies that while the Beringia DPS of bearded seals had been listed as threatened, that listing was vacated by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, which affects the regulatory context but not the broader need for research on Alaska pinnipeds. For non-ESA-listed pinnipeds, NMFS notes that some are considered "strategic stocks" under the MMPA and/or are important subsistence resources for Alaska Native communities, with co-management involving Alaska Native co-management partners. The program frames research not just as academic work, but as an essential tool for recovery planning, stock assessment, and co-management decision-making.
The opportunity is limited to pinniped research under NMFS jurisdiction in Alaska. Proposals that focus on marine mammals managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are explicitly excluded from consideration under this program. In other words, eligibility is tied not only to who applies, but also to whether the proposed species and management authority fall under NMFS, reinforcing that the program is meant to fill NMFS-specific science needs rather than broadly fund Arctic or Alaska marine mammal work.
Financially, NMFS anticipated making around 10 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $3,500,000. Individual awards were expected to range from a floor of $100,000 up to a ceiling of $2,000,000. The funding instruments allowed include both grants and cooperative agreements, meaning some projects may involve more substantial federal involvement or collaboration depending on the award structure selected. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.439, the Marine Mammal Data Program, and it carries no stated cost-sharing or matching requirement, lowering the barrier to participation for qualified applicants.
The application timeline for FY 2015 shows the announcement was posted on February 3, 2015, with an original and final closing date of April 6, 2015, and an archive date of May 6, 2015. The opportunity category is discretionary, and the activity area is framed broadly as environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, which signals that NMFS was seeking applied research capable of informing real-world management and recovery actions.
Eligibility is described in general terms as "Others" with additional clarification emphasizing that applicants must be in good standing with NMFS. The good-standing requirement is practical and compliance-focused: applicants must have no pending enforcement actions under the MMPA or ESA; they must be current and timely on progress and financial reporting for any existing federal assistance awards; and they must have a satisfactory performance history, including completing prior work on schedule and meeting stated objectives. The notice emphasizes that poor performance on prior or current federal awards, including late reports or failure to meet project objectives within the project period, can lead to a proposal not being considered or to a reduced funding recommendation. This highlights that NMFS is screening not just for scientific merit, but also for demonstrated administrative reliability and compliance.
For applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed contact is Jenn Hall-Brown at the NMFS Alaska Regional Office in Juneau, Alaska, including a phone contact. Overall, the program is best understood as NMFS Alaska's mechanism, beginning in FY 2015, for directing competitive research funding toward priority science questions affecting Alaska pinniped conservation, ESA recovery responsibilities, MMPA stock management, and Alaska Native subsistence-related co-management needs.
FY 2015 Alaska Pinniped Research Program (NMFS) - FAQs
What is the FY 2015 Alaska Pinniped Research Program?
The FY 2015 Alaska Pinniped Research Program is a competitively awarded, merit-based federal funding opportunity run by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. It funds research intended to support NMFS responsibilities for stewardship, conservation, and management of pinniped species in Alaska.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program is designed to generate scientific information needed to guide NMFS management decisions, improve conservation outcomes, and strengthen recovery efforts where Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections apply. Research supported under this program is framed as directly contributing to recovery planning, stock assessment, and co-management decision-making (not only academic research).
Which federal agency is administering the program?
The program is administered by NMFS, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Which species are targeted by this program?
The program targets seven NMFS-managed pinniped species in Alaska:
- Steller sea lion
- Northern fur seal
- Ringed seal
- Bearded seal
- Spotted seal
- Ribbon seal
- Harbor seal
What laws and statutory responsibilities are driving the research priorities?
The opportunity highlights NMFS responsibilities under two key federal laws:
- The Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
Which Alaska pinniped populations are identified as ESA-listed in the announcement?
The notice highlights two ESA-listed groupings at the time of the announcement:
- The endangered western Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Steller sea lions
- The threatened Arctic subspecies of ringed seals
How does the bearded seal ESA listing affect this opportunity?
The announcement notes that the Beringia DPS of bearded seals had been listed as threatened, but that listing was vacated by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. This changes the regulatory context described in the notice, while the broader need for research on Alaska pinnipeds remains part of the program rationale.
Are non-ESA-listed pinnipeds still relevant to this program?
Yes. The notice explains that some non-ESA-listed pinnipeds are considered "strategic stocks" under the MMPA and/or are important subsistence resources for Alaska Native communities. The program also references co-management involving Alaska Native co-management partners, indicating that management needs go beyond ESA status.
Is this funding opportunity open to research on all Alaska marine mammals?
No. The opportunity is limited to pinniped research under NMFS jurisdiction in Alaska. Proposals focused on marine mammals managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are explicitly excluded from consideration under this program.
What types of funding instruments may be used for awards?
The opportunity allows for both grants and cooperative agreements. This means some awards may involve more substantial federal involvement or collaboration depending on the instrument selected.
How much total funding was expected to be available?
NMFS anticipated an estimated total program funding level of $3,500,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
NMFS anticipated making around 10 awards.
What is the expected funding range for individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range from $100,000 (minimum) to $2,000,000 (maximum).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.439, Marine Mammal Data Program.
What is the opportunity category and general activity area?
The opportunity category is discretionary. The activity area is described broadly as environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, with an emphasis on applied research that can inform real-world management and recovery actions.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The announcement was posted on February 3, 2015. The original and final closing date was April 6, 2015. The archive date was May 6, 2015.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described in general terms as "Others," with added emphasis that applicants must be in good standing with NMFS. The program also ties eligibility to whether the proposed research is on pinniped species under NMFS jurisdiction in Alaska.
What does it mean to be "in good standing" with NMFS for this program?
The notice describes good standing as meeting compliance and performance expectations, including:
- No pending enforcement actions under the MMPA or ESA
- Current and timely progress and financial reporting for any existing federal assistance awards
- A satisfactory performance history, including completing prior work on schedule and meeting stated objectives
Can late reporting or poor performance on prior federal awards affect consideration?
Yes. The notice emphasizes that poor performance on prior or current federal awards (including late reports or failure to meet objectives within the project period) can result in a proposal not being considered or can lead to a reduced funding recommendation.
Where is the program administered from and who is the contact for announcement access help?
Assistance accessing the full announcement is available through the listed contact, Jenn Hall-Brown, at the NMFS Alaska Regional Office in Juneau, Alaska (phone contact listed in the opportunity notice).
What is NMFS trying to achieve with this program overall?
The program is presented as NMFS Alaska's mechanism (beginning in FY 2015) for directing competitive research funding toward priority science questions affecting Alaska pinniped conservation, ESA recovery responsibilities, MMPA stock management, and Alaska Native subsistence-related co-management needs.
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