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Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (NMFS NWRO 2009 2001656) - FAQs

1) What is the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund grant opportunity?

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund is a discretionary NOAA grant and cooperative agreement program that supports salmon recovery work along the U.S. Pacific coast and in the Columbia River region. This 2009 notice (Funding Opportunity Number NMFS NWRO 2009 2001656) is an amendment to an opportunity NOAA originally announced on January 2, 2009.

2) What does it mean that this is an amended notice?

This notice updates key parts of the original competition to align with the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. Specifically, NOAA changed the eligibility criteria, adjusted program priorities, revised the available funding level, and extended the application deadline compared with the original announcement.

3) What agency is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The notice references NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) in connection with application handling and program administration.

4) Is this a grant, a cooperative agreement, or both?

It is a grant and cooperative agreement program. Applicants should expect standard federal grant requirements, and in some cases closer NOAA involvement consistent with cooperative agreements.

5) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 11.438, which covers Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery and the Pacific Salmon Treaty Program.

6) What kinds of projects is the program intended to fund?

Projects are intended to implement salmon recovery actions and related efforts that fit statutory and program goals. The notice describes typical activities such as on-the-ground habitat restoration, rebuilding and protecting watershed processes, improving fish passage, addressing limiting factors for salmon populations, and other actions that support the long-term viability of salmon stocks.

7) What policy areas does this opportunity relate to?

The program sits in the general policy space of environmental and natural resource protection, with ties to disaster prevention and relief and to science and technology/research and development activities.

8) Which states are eligible to apply?

Eligible state applicants are Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California.

9) Which tribes are eligible to apply?

Eligible tribal applicants include any federally recognized Pacific Coastal or Columbia River tribes in Washington, Oregon, California, or Idaho.

10) Are any other applicant types eligible?

The listing notes "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," but the explicit eligibility language centers on the specific eligible states and federally recognized tribes in the listed regions.

11) How much total funding was available under this competition?

NOAA estimated total funding for the competition at $80,000,000.

12) Is there a cost share or match requirement?

Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement. Recipients must contribute non-federal funds or qualifying in-kind contributions consistent with the program rules described in the full announcement.

13) What should applicants keep in mind about the match requirement?

Applicants would need to plan for the match early, document it clearly, and ensure it complies with federal allowability and documentation standards, as described in the full announcement.

14) Was a pre-application required?

No. NOAA encouraged (but did not require) pre-applications to allow NMFS to provide feedback on package completeness and an initial compliance check.

15) What was the pre-application deadline (if an applicant chose to submit one)?

The pre-application deadline mentioned in the notice was February 2, 2009 for applicants who wanted NMFS feedback.

16) What was the original final application deadline before the amendment?

The original final application deadline was February 17, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

17) What is the final application deadline under the amended notice?

Under the amended notice, the final application deadline was extended to May 20, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

18) How must applications be submitted?

Applications were to be submitted through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov). NOAA made clear that faxed or emailed applications would not be accepted.

19) Are faxed or emailed applications allowed?

No. The notice states that faxed or emailed applications would not be accepted.

20) What are the rules for paper submissions?

For paper submissions, applications had to be postmarked by the deadline date. Late submissions, including applications postmarked after the deadline, would be deemed non-responsive and would not be considered.

21) What counts as a late submission for electronic applications?

Electronic submissions transmitted after the cutoff time (11:59 p.m. Pacific time on the deadline date) would be considered late and deemed non-responsive.

22) What did NOAA say about Grants.gov processing time?

NOAA warned that Grants.gov validation or rejection can take up to two business days. Applicants were advised to submit early enough to address system errors or required corrections before the deadline.

23) How are submission times recorded?

Electronic submissions receive a date/time indicator through Grants.gov. Hard copy applications are date/time stamped upon receipt (with paper submissions also needing to be postmarked by the deadline).

24) Where can applicants find the official full announcement and requirements?

NOAA directed applicants to access the full announcement using the "Full Announcement" button on the posting page.

25) Who should be contacted if there are problems downloading the full announcement?

For application download problems accessing the full announcement, the listed contact was Steve Drescher, Policy Advisor, at 301-713-0926.