Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCRM 2015 2004040
Apply for NOAA NOS OCRM 2015 2004040
- The Department of Commerce in the education environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY15 16 CRCP State and Territorial Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.482 Coral Reef Conservation Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 14, 2015 and posted on Aug 6, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 16, 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 $4,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are limited to the State, Territorial and Commonwealth natural resource management agencies that were appointed by their respective Governors to serve as the primary point of contact agencies for coral reef conservation activities in each of the jurisdictions of American Samoa, Florida, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.The designated point of contact agency is considered to be the lead applicant on any proposal and is responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the purposes of, and in a manner consistent with, this program, including any Federal funds awarded to an eligible sub recipient.NOAA employees are not permitted to assist in the preparation of applications or write letters of support for any application. NOAA CRCP staff is available to provide general information on programmatic goals and objectives, ongoing coral reef conservation programs/activities, and regional funding priorities. For proposals that involve collaboration with current NOAA projects or staff, NOAA employees may provide a limited statement verifying the nature and extent of the collaboration and confirming prior coordination activities. Letters of support from NOAA employees are not allowable and will not be included among the materials considered by merit reviewers. Federal agencies and employees may not receive funding under these awards but may serve as collaborative project partners. If Federal agencies are collaborating, applicants must provide detail on the level of Federal engagement in the application by accounting for contributions such as in kind services or staff time of Federal employees who would be serving in a review capacity or participating in award tasks, working groups or leadership teams. In any case, Federal travel and salaries are not allowable costs under this competition unless expressly approved in advance by the NOAA Grants Officer, and no Federal in kind services or staff time can be used as match. All questions about this competition, including application procedures and materials and selection criteria, must be directed to the official Federal Program Officer listed under Section VII. Agency Contacts.In certain instances, when requested by the applicant and agreed upon by NOAA, NOAA may hold back a portion of awarded funds in order to enable the agency to provide specific technical assistance to the recipient in the form of contractual or other services. Such requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis with respect to the specific management objectives of the local coral reef program. NOAA will work with recipients to ensure the greatest degree of success in meeting local, state, territorial and national coral reef management needs.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY15 16 CRCP State and Territorial Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NOS OCRM 2015 2004040) is a discretionary NOAA funding program under the Department of Commerce aimed at helping U.S. coral reef jurisdictions reduce major threats to coral reef ecosystems and strengthen long term conservation and management. The program is rooted in the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, which created the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) and directs federal support toward coral reef conservation projects. The underlying need is that coral reefs, along with connected seagrass and mangrove habitats, provide high value services such as fisheries production, tourism benefits, coastal storm and wave protection, island building, and potential pharmaceutical resources, while also supporting local food security and cultural practices. Because reefs are shallow, near shore systems tightly linked to land based watersheds, they are especially exposed to human driven impacts.
This funding category focuses on cooperative agreements that support practical, jurisdiction led conservation work addressing the most pressing reef threats identified in CRCP priorities. While earlier CRCP efforts were guided by a broader national action strategy covering many threat categories, NOAA refined its focus in 2009 to concentrate investments on three priority threat areas: land based sources of pollution (for example runoff and inadequate sewage treatment that degrade water quality), fishing impacts (including destructive practices and unsustainable pressure), and climate impacts (including warming related stress and ocean chemistry changes). Applicants are expected to align proposals with CRCP priorities and the official Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program Implementation Guidelines, originally published in 2002 and revised in 2010, which set the program rules and expectations for projects funded under the Act. NOAA also points applicants to supporting strategy documents such as the CRCP Goals and Objectives 2010 2015, jurisdiction specific coral reef management priority documents, and jurisdictional capacity assessments that describe local needs and implementation constraints.
The competition anticipates making 7 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $4,500,000. Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 to $900,000, and cost sharing or matching is required. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means NOAA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example through coordination, technical input, or collaboration expectations) rather than acting purely as a pass through funder.
Eligibility is narrowly limited to the designated state, territorial, and commonwealth natural resource management agencies appointed by their Governors as the primary point of contact for coral reef conservation in the jurisdictions of American Samoa, Florida, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The designated point of contact agency must serve as the lead applicant and is accountable for proper use of funds, including any federal funds passed to eligible subrecipients, and for ensuring funded activities remain consistent with program purposes and requirements.
The announcement also emphasizes boundaries around NOAA and other federal involvement. NOAA employees cannot help write applications or provide letters of support, and such letters will not be considered in merit review. CRCP staff can answer general questions about program goals, existing efforts, and regional priorities, and in cases where a proposal collaborates with NOAA projects or staff, NOAA personnel may provide a limited factual statement confirming the collaboration and prior coordination, but not a support letter. Federal agencies may participate as partners but cannot receive funding through these awards, and federal salaries and travel are generally unallowable unless explicitly approved in advance by the NOAA Grants Officer. In kind services or staff time from federal partners cannot be counted as match. The notice also notes that, when requested by the applicant and agreed upon by NOAA, NOAA may withhold a portion of awarded funds to provide targeted technical assistance through contractual or other services, handled case by case to support local management objectives.
Key dates included a posted date of August 6, 2014, an original closing date of February 13, 2015, and a current closing date of April 16, 2015, with an archive date of May 16, 2015. The CFDA listing is 11.482 (Coral Reef Conservation Program). For access issues or official inquiries, the listed contact is Jenny Waddell at NOAA CRCP in Silver Spring, Maryland (301 713 3155 ext. 150).
FAQs - FY15-16 CRCP State and Territorial Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements (NOAA NOS OCRM 2015 2004040)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY15-16 CRCP State and Territorial Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NOS OCRM 2015 2004040). It is a discretionary NOAA funding program under the U.S. Department of Commerce intended to help U.S. coral reef jurisdictions reduce major threats to coral reef ecosystems and strengthen long-term conservation and management.
What law or authority is the program based on?
The opportunity is rooted in the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, which created the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) and directs federal support toward coral reef conservation projects.
Why is NOAA offering this funding (what is the underlying need)?
The opportunity is based on the need to protect coral reefs and connected seagrass and mangrove habitats that provide valuable services such as fisheries production, tourism benefits, coastal storm and wave protection, island building, potential pharmaceutical resources, and support for local food security and cultural practices. Because reefs are shallow, near-shore systems tightly linked to land-based watersheds, they are especially exposed to human-driven impacts.
What types of projects is this category intended to support?
This category focuses on cooperative agreements that support practical, jurisdiction-led conservation work addressing the most pressing coral reef threats identified in CRCP priorities. Applicants are expected to align proposals with CRCP priorities and the official Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program Implementation Guidelines.
What are the current CRCP priority threat areas that proposals should address?
NOAA refined its focus in 2009 to concentrate investments on three priority threat areas:
- Land-based sources of pollution (for example runoff and inadequate sewage treatment that degrade water quality)
- Fishing impacts (including destructive practices and unsustainable pressure)
- Climate impacts (including warming-related stress and ocean chemistry changes)
What guidance documents are applicants expected to follow or align with?
Applicants are expected to align proposals with CRCP priorities and the Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program Implementation Guidelines (published in 2002 and revised in 2010). NOAA also points applicants to strategy and planning documents such as CRCP Goals and Objectives 2010-2015, jurisdiction-specific coral reef management priority documents, and jurisdictional capacity assessments describing local needs and implementation constraints.
How much funding is NOAA expecting to award in total?
The competition anticipates an estimated total funding amount of $4,500,000.
How many awards are expected?
NOAA anticipates making 7 awards.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards are expected to range from $200,000 to $900,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required under this opportunity.
What is the funding instrument?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means NOAA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as coordination, technical input, or collaboration expectations, rather than acting purely as a pass-through funder.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is narrowly limited to the designated state, territorial, and commonwealth natural resource management agencies appointed by their Governors as the primary point of contact for coral reef conservation in the jurisdictions of:
- American Samoa
- Florida
- Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
Does the designated point of contact agency need to be the lead applicant?
Yes. The designated point of contact agency must serve as the lead applicant.
What responsibilities does the lead applicant agency have?
The designated point of contact agency is accountable for proper use of funds, including any federal funds passed to eligible subrecipients, and for ensuring funded activities remain consistent with program purposes and requirements.
Can NOAA employees help write the application?
No. NOAA employees cannot help write applications.
Can NOAA employees provide letters of support?
No. NOAA employees cannot provide letters of support, and such letters will not be considered in merit review.
Can CRCP staff answer questions before submission?
Yes, within limits. CRCP staff can answer general questions about program goals, existing efforts, and regional priorities.
If a proposal collaborates with NOAA staff or projects, can NOAA provide any written documentation?
In cases where a proposal collaborates with NOAA projects or staff, NOAA personnel may provide a limited factual statement confirming the collaboration and prior coordination. This is not a support letter.
Can other federal agencies participate in the project?
Yes. Federal agencies may participate as partners, but they cannot receive funding through these awards.
Are federal salaries and federal travel allowable costs under this award?
Federal salaries and travel are generally unallowable unless explicitly approved in advance by the NOAA Grants Officer.
Can in-kind services or staff time from federal partners be counted as match?
No. In-kind services or staff time from federal partners cannot be counted as match.
Can NOAA withhold part of the awarded funds to provide technical assistance?
Yes. When requested by the applicant and agreed upon by NOAA, NOAA may withhold a portion of awarded funds to provide targeted technical assistance through contractual or other services. This is handled case by case to support local management objectives.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
- Posted date: August 6, 2014
- Original closing date: February 13, 2015
- Current closing date: April 16, 2015
- Archive date: May 16, 2015
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA listing is 11.482 (Coral Reef Conservation Program).
Who is the contact for access issues or official inquiries?
The listed contact is Jenny Waddell, NOAA CRCP, Silver Spring, Maryland. Phone: (301) 713-3155 ext. 150.
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