Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCRM 2014 2003923
Apply for NOAA NOS OCRM 2014 2003923
- 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 "Great Lakes Areas of Concern Land Acquisition Grants" 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 Nov 22, 2013 and posted on Nov 22, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 3, 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 $800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments City or township governments Special district governments State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- All proposals must be submitted by the designated lead agency for implementing an approved state Coastal Zone Management Program. NOAA will not consider any proposals submitted independently of the states CZM lead agency. NOAA will also not consider any proposals submitted without a letter of endorsement from the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) implementation group. Only Great Lakes States are eligible to participate in the FY2014 AOC Land Acquisition competition. The CZM Lead Agency may solicit proposals from local governments as defined at 15 CFR 24.3, or entities eligible for assistance under section 306A(e) of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) (16 U.S.C. 1455a(e)), defined below, provided that each agency or entity has the authority to acquire and manage land for conservation purposes. As defined at 15 CFR 24.3, local government means a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority (including any public and Indian housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937), school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law), any other regional or interstate government entity, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government. Under section 306A(e) of the CZMA, an eligible entity may be a local government, an areawide agency designated under Chapter 41, Subchapter II, Section 3334 of Title 42, a regional agency, or an interstate agency. The CZM Lead Agency may choose to prioritize/rank projects for the regional competition according to state conservation and/or AOC restoration priorities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC) Land Acquisition Grants program is a NOAA grant opportunity designed to help communities and states permanently protect and restore important coastal and watershed habitats in U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The core purpose is straightforward: provide federal financial and technical assistance so that priority parcels can be acquired either through fee simple purchase (outright ownership) or through conservation easements (permanent restrictions that protect conservation values while the land may remain in private ownership). The program is specifically geared toward projects that directly advance NOAA's habitat protection and restoration mission while also supporting broader Great Lakes priorities, including the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan.
A central theme of the opportunity is readiness and speed. NOAA expected selected projects to be essentially "ready to go" and to reach completion within about 18 months of the award start date (the notice anticipated an October 1, 2014 start). The conservation outcome must also be permanent: lands acquired or protected under easement are expected to be held in perpetuity, meaning the habitat protection benefits are intended to last indefinitely rather than for a limited term.
The program is competitive and focuses on measurable restoration outcomes in Areas of Concern. Successful applications are expected to do more than simply conserve land; they need to help move an AOC toward recovery by contributing to the delisting of fish and wildlife habitat-related Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs). In practice, that means NOAA is looking for acquisitions that remove or reduce documented habitat problems tied to an AOC's formal list of impairments. Beyond BUI progress, NOAA emphasizes proposals that produce significant ecological benefits, can realistically close and be completed within the award period, and clearly document community-facing benefits. Community benefits can include improved public recreation, park access, protection of open space, or other tangible outcomes that residents can experience alongside ecological gains.
Eligibility is structured in a way that routes applications through the Great Lakes states rather than allowing individual local entities to apply on their own. All proposals must be submitted by the designated lead agency for an approved state Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program. NOAA will not consider applications submitted independently of the state's CZM lead agency, and it will not consider proposals that lack a letter of endorsement from the local Remedial Action Plan (RAP) implementation group, which is the stakeholder body tied to AOC planning and implementation. Only Great Lakes states could participate in this particular FY2014 competition, though the state CZM lead agency may solicit project ideas from eligible subapplicants and may also choose to rank or prioritize projects based on state conservation goals and AOC restoration priorities.
Within that state-led structure, the kinds of organizations that can be involved as project proponents include a wide range of governmental entities recognized in federal regulations and the Coastal Zone Management Act. This can include counties, municipalities, cities, towns and townships, special districts, public authorities (including public and Indian housing authorities), councils of governments, and other local or regional agencies, as well as eligible entities described under CZMA Section 306A(e). Federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations are also listed among eligible applicant types, but the key gatekeeping requirement remains that the official application package must come through the state's CZM lead agency and include the RAP endorsement.
Funding under the opportunity was limited and competitive. NOAA anticipated making about three awards, with an estimated total of $800,000 available. Individual awards were expected to range from a $100,000 floor up to an $800,000 ceiling. The opportunity listed no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which can reduce barriers for communities that may have limited local funds available, although applicants still typically need to show that the acquisition is feasible and that the transaction can be completed on the program's timeline.
Administratively, this was a discretionary grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA (National Ocean Service, Office for Coastal Management). It was posted on November 22, 2013, and had a closing date of February 3, 2014, with an archive date of March 5, 2014. The funding opportunity number was NOAA NOS OCRM 2014 2003923, and it aligned with CFDA 11.463 (Habitat Conservation). For applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed federal program officer contact was Elizabeth Mountz (phone 301-563-1148).
In summary, this grant program targets permanent land protection transactions in Great Lakes Areas of Concern that are tightly linked to AOC recovery goals, especially fish and wildlife habitat BUIs. It prioritizes projects that can close quickly, deliver clear ecological lift, and provide visible benefits to nearby communities, with applications funneled through each Great Lakes state's CZM lead agency and supported by local RAP implementation groups.
Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC) Land Acquisition Grants - FAQs
What is the Great Lakes AOC Land Acquisition Grants program?
It is a NOAA grant opportunity that provides federal financial and technical assistance to help permanently protect and restore important coastal and watershed habitats in U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). The program supports acquisition of priority parcels to advance habitat protection and restoration goals tied to AOC recovery.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to permanently protect habitat by acquiring priority parcels either through fee simple purchase (outright ownership) or through conservation easements (permanent restrictions that protect conservation values while land may remain in private ownership).
What kinds of land protection transactions are eligible?
The opportunity focuses on two transaction types: (1) fee simple acquisition, where the property is purchased outright, and (2) conservation easements, which place permanent restrictions on the property to protect conservation values while potentially keeping the land in private ownership.
Does the conservation protection have to be permanent?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes permanent outcomes. Lands acquired or protected by easement are expected to be held in perpetuity, meaning the habitat protection benefits are intended to last indefinitely rather than for a limited term.
Where must projects be located to be eligible?
Projects must be in U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) and must protect and restore important coastal and watershed habitats relevant to those AOCs.
What is an Area of Concern (AOC) in the context of this grant?
An AOC is a designated Great Lakes location with documented environmental impairments. This grant targets acquisitions that contribute to measurable restoration outcomes in AOCs, especially related to fish and wildlife habitat.
What outcomes does NOAA expect projects to achieve?
NOAA is looking for projects that help move an AOC toward recovery. Applications are expected to contribute to the delisting of fish and wildlife habitat-related Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) by removing or reducing documented habitat problems tied to an AOC's formal list of impairments.
Is simply conserving land enough to be competitive?
No. The opportunity indicates that competitive projects are expected to do more than conserve land. They should be clearly linked to AOC recovery and measurable restoration outcomes, including progress toward delisting habitat-related BUIs.
What types of benefits does NOAA prioritize besides ecological outcomes?
NOAA emphasizes proposals that document community-facing benefits along with ecological gains. Examples listed include improved public recreation, park access, protection of open space, and other tangible outcomes residents can experience.
How important is project readiness and timeline?
Readiness and speed are central themes. NOAA expected selected projects to be essentially ready to go and to reach completion within about 18 months of the award start date (the notice anticipated an October 1, 2014 start).
How long is the expected period to complete a funded project?
The notice anticipated completion within about 18 months from the award start date.
Who is eligible to submit an application?
Applications must be submitted by the designated lead agency for an approved state Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program in a Great Lakes state. NOAA will not consider applications submitted independently of the state's CZM lead agency.
Can a city, county, or local organization apply directly to NOAA?
No. The opportunity states that NOAA will not consider applications submitted independently of the state's CZM lead agency. Local entities can be involved as project proponents, but the official application package must come through the state CZM lead agency.
Which states could participate in this competition?
Only Great Lakes states could participate in this particular FY2014 competition, with proposals routed through each state's CZM lead agency.
Can the state CZM lead agency solicit or prioritize projects?
Yes. The opportunity notes that the state CZM lead agency may solicit project ideas from eligible subapplicants and may also choose to rank or prioritize projects based on state conservation goals and AOC restoration priorities.
What is the required role of the local Remedial Action Plan (RAP) implementation group?
A letter of endorsement from the local RAP implementation group is required. NOAA will not consider proposals that lack this endorsement.
What types of organizations can be involved as project proponents?
The opportunity describes a wide range of eligible entity types recognized in federal regulations and the Coastal Zone Management Act. Examples include counties, municipalities, cities, towns and townships, special districts, public authorities (including public and Indian housing authorities), councils of governments, local or regional agencies, and eligible entities described under CZMA Section 306A(e). Federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations are also listed among eligible types, with the application still required to go through the state's CZM lead agency.
Is this funding competitive?
Yes. The program is described as competitive, with limited funding and an anticipated small number of awards.
How many awards did NOAA anticipate making?
NOAA anticipated making about three awards under this opportunity.
How much total funding was expected to be available?
The opportunity estimated a total of $800,000 available.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $100,000 (minimum) to $800,000 (maximum).
Is there a required match or cost share?
The opportunity listed no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Which federal agency and office issued this opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA, specifically the National Ocean Service, Office for Coastal Management.
What program priorities does this grant align with?
The program is geared toward projects that advance NOAA's habitat protection and restoration mission while supporting broader Great Lakes priorities, including the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on November 22, 2013, and closed on February 3, 2014. It listed an archive date of March 5, 2014. The notice anticipated an October 1, 2014 award start.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The funding opportunity number is NOAA NOS OCRM 2014 2003923, and it aligned with CFDA 11.463 (Habitat Conservation).
Who is the listed federal program officer contact?
The opportunity lists Elizabeth Mountz as the federal program officer contact. The provided phone number is 301-563-1148.
What makes an application more likely to succeed based on the notice?
The notice emphasizes acquisitions that (1) directly advance AOC recovery by addressing fish and wildlife habitat-related BUIs, (2) produce significant ecological benefits, (3) can realistically close and be completed within the award period, and (4) clearly document community benefits such as recreation access, park access, or protected open space.
Does NOAA expect the acquisition to close within the award period?
Yes. The opportunity strongly emphasizes readiness and the ability to complete the transaction and project within the expected award timeframe (about 18 months from the start date).
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