Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA SEC OED 2012 2003333
Apply for NOAA SEC OED 2012 2003333
- The Department of Commerce in the education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ocean Education Partnership Grants for Professional Development and other Capacity building of Informal Science Educators and Volunteers" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.008 NOAA Mission Related Education Awards.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 4, 2012 and posted on Mar 22, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2012 The closing time on May 7, 2012 is 115959 pm EDT.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants are collaborative teams that include at least three 501(c)(3) non profit aquariums in the United States. At least one applicant in each collaborative team must be an aquarium accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Each individual applicant must submit an application to NOAA as part of the collaborative team. Applications that do not meet these eligibility criteria will not be merit reviewed. The following types of organizations may also serve as applicants on a collaborative team that meets the eligibility criteria listed above institutions of higher education other nonprofits K 12 public and independent schools and school systems and state, local and Indian tribal governments in the United States. There are no eligibility restrictions on institutions that are serving as project partners but are not submitting an application. These partners can receive a portion of the funding through sub awards. Also, federal employees may not serve as principal investigators (PIs) or co PIs on any application, although they may be included as key personnel. An individual may apply only once as a PI through this funding opportunity. However, institutions may submit more than one application and individuals may serve as co PIs or key personnel on more than one application.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Ocean Education Partnership Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA SEC OED 2012 2003333) is a competitive, discretionary federal grant program run through the Department of Commerce, NOAA, using a cooperative agreement funding instrument. Its central purpose is to help a multi-institution collaboration strengthen the skills, reach, and overall capacity of informal science educators and volunteers, especially those working in aquariums and related public-facing settings. The program is aimed at improving how these educators and volunteers engage visitors and translate science into public understanding and practical stewardship of coastal, marine, and freshwater environments. In other words, the focus is not simply on creating new exhibits or one-time events, but on building the people and systems that make informal education more effective over the long term.
Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to be collaborative by design, meaning the work should clearly leverage the resources, expertise, and audiences of multiple institutions rather than operating as a single-aquarium initiative. NOAA also expects meaningful integration of NOAA assets through partnerships with NOAA entities, so a strong proposal would show how NOAA science, data, tools, programs, staff expertise, or related resources are being used to improve training and professional development for educators and volunteers. When relevant, applicants are encouraged to ground their project design in evidence from prior successful efforts funded through NOAA's Environmental Literacy Grants Program, using those earlier awards as models or starting points rather than reinventing approaches that have already been shown to work.
The subject matter must connect to NOAA's broader mission areas, specifically ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather, and climate sciences, along with stewardship and public preparedness. Proposals are expected to align with one or more goals from NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan, including Healthy Oceans, a Weather-Ready Nation, Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, and Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies. This framing signals that NOAA is looking for projects that do more than teach facts; they should help visitors and communities understand real-world environmental challenges and encourage informed decision-making and stewardship behaviors.
Awards are designed for mid-term projects, with a required duration between two and five years. The total combined budget request for the entire project period can be up to $1,000,000, and that total must include any portion associated with partnering with NOAA. A key administrative detail is that the program will not provide award funds to the collaborative applicants to cover NOAA's internal project costs; instead, any anticipated NOAA costs will be transferred directly within NOAA. This means applicants need to plan budgets carefully and understand that NOAA-related costs are handled differently from the funds flowing to the non-federal partners.
In terms of eligibility, the core requirement is that applicants apply as a collaborative team anchored by aquariums. Each collaborative team must include at least three U.S.-based nonprofit aquariums that are recognized as 501(c)(3) organizations, and at least one of those aquariums must be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). NOAA also indicates that collaborations spanning multiple U.S. states are expected, reinforcing the goal of broader reach and shared learning across regions. The program strongly encourages including at least one aquarium that has not previously received a grant from NOAA's Office of Education, which suggests an interest in expanding participation beyond the usual grantees. NOAA also expresses special interest in teams that represent a mix of aquarium sizes and capacities, such as differences in annual operating budgets, total visitorship, and physical footprint, presumably to promote scalability and applicability across the field rather than concentrating benefits among only the largest institutions.
While aquariums must anchor the collaborative team to meet eligibility requirements, other entities can also apply as part of that team. These additional eligible applicants may include institutions of higher education, other nonprofit organizations, K-12 public or independent schools and school systems, and state, local, or federally recognized tribal governments in the United States. Partners that are not submitting an application are not restricted by these eligibility rules and may still participate and receive funding through subawards. NOAA also sets some personnel limits: federal employees cannot serve as principal investigators or co-principal investigators, although they may participate as key personnel. Each individual may apply only once as a principal investigator under this specific opportunity, though institutions may submit more than one application, and individuals may appear on multiple applications as co-PIs or key personnel.
Funding levels in the announcement indicate an estimated total program funding amount of $1,000,000, with an award floor of $100,000 and an award ceiling of $500,000. NOAA anticipated making up to three awards. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can lower the barrier for smaller institutions or those with less fundraising flexibility. The CFDA listing provided is 11.008, NOAA Mission Related Education Awards, and the activity categories emphasize education, environment, and natural resources.
The timeline included a posting date of March 22, 2012, with an application deadline of May 7, 2012 (11:59:59 pm EDT), and an archive date of June 6, 2012. NOAA anticipated funding recommendations by September 28, 2012, and indicated that the earliest project start date would be October 1, 2012. Applicants were directed to NOAA's Office of Education website for the full announcement and supporting materials, and a named contact was provided for assistance accessing the announcement electronically (with the contact role described as support for application download issues).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Ocean Education Partnership Grants (NOAA SEC OED 2012 2003333)
1) What is the Ocean Education Partnership Grants opportunity?
The Ocean Education Partnership Grants opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA SEC OED 2012 2003333) is a competitive, discretionary federal grant program run through the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Funding is issued using a cooperative agreement.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The central purpose is to support a multi-institution collaboration that strengthens the skills, reach, and overall capacity of informal science educators and volunteers, particularly those working in aquariums and similar public-facing settings. The intent is to improve how educators and volunteers engage visitors, translate science into public understanding, and encourage practical stewardship of coastal, marine, and freshwater environments.
3) Is this grant focused on building new exhibits or hosting one-time events?
No. The emphasis is not simply on creating new exhibits or one-time events. The focus is on building the people and systems that make informal education more effective over the long term, such as training and professional development that improves informal science education capacity.
4) What does NOAA mean by "collaborative by design"?
Projects are expected to clearly leverage the resources, expertise, and audiences of multiple institutions rather than operating as a single-aquarium initiative. The collaboration should be central to how the work is planned and implemented.
5) Are partnerships with NOAA required or encouraged?
Meaningful integration of NOAA assets is expected through partnerships with NOAA entities. A strong proposal would show how NOAA science, data, tools, programs, staff expertise, or related resources are used to improve training and professional development for educators and volunteers.
6) What subject areas must proposed projects address?
The subject matter must connect to NOAA mission areas, specifically ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather, and climate sciences, along with stewardship and public preparedness.
7) Do projects need to align with NOAA strategic goals?
Yes. Proposals are expected to align with one or more goals from NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan, including Healthy Oceans, a Weather-Ready Nation, Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, and Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies.
8) What outcomes is NOAA looking for in visitor engagement?
The framing indicates NOAA is looking for projects that do more than teach facts. Projects should help visitors and communities understand real-world environmental challenges and encourage informed decision-making and stewardship behaviors.
9) What is the required project duration?
Awards are designed for mid-term projects, with a required duration between two and five years.
10) What is the maximum total budget that can be requested?
The total combined budget request for the entire project period can be up to $1,000,000, and that total must include any portion associated with partnering with NOAA.
11) What are the anticipated award sizes (floor and ceiling)?
The announcement indicates an award floor of $100,000 and an award ceiling of $500,000.
12) How many awards did NOAA anticipate making?
NOAA anticipated making up to three awards.
13) What is the estimated total program funding amount?
The announcement indicates an estimated total program funding amount of $1,000,000.
14) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
15) What funding instrument is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument.
16) Who is eligible to apply as the core applicant team?
The core requirement is that applicants apply as a collaborative team anchored by aquariums. Each collaborative team must include at least three U.S.-based nonprofit aquariums recognized as 501(c)(3) organizations, and at least one of those aquariums must be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
17) Does the collaboration need to span multiple states?
Yes. NOAA indicates that collaborations spanning multiple U.S. states are expected, reinforcing the goal of broader reach and shared learning across regions.
18) Is NOAA encouraging participation from aquariums new to NOAA Office of Education funding?
Yes. The program strongly encourages including at least one aquarium that has not previously received a grant from NOAA's Office of Education.
19) Does NOAA have preferences about the mix of aquarium partners?
Yes. NOAA expresses special interest in teams that represent a mix of aquarium sizes and capacities, such as differences in annual operating budgets, total visitorship, and physical footprint.
20) Can non-aquarium organizations be part of the applicant team?
Yes. While aquariums must anchor the collaborative team to meet eligibility requirements, additional eligible applicants may include institutions of higher education, other nonprofit organizations, K-12 public or independent schools and school systems, and state, local, or federally recognized tribal governments in the United States.
21) Can partners participate without being an eligible applicant?
Yes. Partners that are not submitting an application are not restricted by the applicant eligibility rules and may still participate and receive funding through subawards.
22) Can federal employees serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI?
No. Federal employees cannot serve as principal investigators or co-principal investigators, although they may participate as key personnel.
23) How many times can a person apply as a Principal Investigator (PI)?
Each individual may apply only once as a principal investigator under this specific opportunity.
24) Can an institution submit more than one application?
Yes. Institutions may submit more than one application.
25) Can someone be listed on multiple applications in other roles?
Yes. Individuals may appear on multiple applications as co-principal investigators or key personnel.
26) How should applicants handle NOAA internal project costs in the budget?
The program will not provide award funds to the collaborative applicants to cover NOAA's internal project costs. Instead, any anticipated NOAA costs will be transferred directly within NOAA. Applicants are expected to plan budgets with this distinction in mind, because NOAA-related internal costs are handled differently from the funds that flow to non-federal partners.
27) What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided is 11.008, NOAA Mission Related Education Awards.
28) What activity categories are emphasized?
The activity categories emphasize education, environment, and natural resources.
29) What were the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The posting date was March 22, 2012. The application deadline was May 7, 2012 (11:59:59 pm EDT). The archive date was June 6, 2012.
30) When did NOAA anticipate making funding recommendations and starting projects?
NOAA anticipated funding recommendations by September 28, 2012. The earliest project start date was indicated as October 1, 2012.
31) Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement and materials?
Applicants were directed to NOAA's Office of Education website for the full announcement and supporting materials.
32) Who should applicants contact if they have trouble accessing or downloading the announcement?
A named contact was provided for assistance, with the contact role described as support for application download issues.
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