Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS GARFO 2016 2004873
Apply for NOAA NMFS GARFO 2016 2004873
- The DOC in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Vessel Strikes to Sturgeon and Threats to Recovery" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.472.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2016 and posted on Apr 19, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 03, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Vessel Strikes to Sturgeon and Threats to Recovery opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA NMFS GARFO 2016 2004873) is a competitive federal funding notice from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), focused on improving the survival and recovery prospects of shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon. Both species are listed under the Endangered Species Act, and NMFS is looking for projects that can generate practical, decision-ready information to better understand major sources of mortality and other barriers to recovery in the Greater Atlantic Region, defined here as Maine through Virginia. The underlying purpose is to fill key data gaps that currently limit effective management actions and to support research and applied work that can directly inform conservation measures.
A central emphasis of the solicitation is vessel strikes, which available information suggests are a relatively significant cause of sturgeon deaths in at least some locations. NMFS is interested in work that clarifies how and where vessel interactions occur, what conditions increase risk, and what management approaches could reduce those risks. At the same time, the notice makes clear that vessel strikes are not the only concern. Proposals may also address other significant threats, including bycatch in fisheries, impacts to early life stages such as larvae and juveniles (with examples like impingement and entrainment at water intakes), and broader habitat-related stressors such as degraded water quality. Across these topics, NMFS highlights that the existing understanding of threat magnitude, risk factors, and effective responses is often limited, which is why the agency is seeking targeted projects that can strengthen the evidence base for recovery actions.
The program is categorized as discretionary funding, and awards may be made as either grants or cooperative agreements, depending on the anticipated level of federal involvement in the project. The activity areas align with environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, and the listed CFDA number is 11.472. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of applicant entity may apply, subject to any additional clarifications that would have been included in the full announcement text. In practice, this structure typically allows participation by universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal entities, private organizations, and other qualified groups, so long as the proposal meets the program goals and any stated requirements.
Funding under this notice was projected not to exceed a total of $250,000, with individual award amounts determined by the merit of proposals and the funds available. The announcement also notes that actual funding depended on FY 2016 congressional appropriations. The opportunity anticipated up to 20 awards, with the possibility of making one or more awards depending on how proposals scored and how funding ultimately shook out. The posting and creation dates were April 19, 2016, and the application deadline (original and current) was June 3, 2016, indicating a relatively short application window aimed at moving projects forward quickly.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a focused call for applied research and management-support projects that help NMFS diagnose and reduce key threats to endangered sturgeon in the Greater Atlantic. Competitive proposals would be expected to produce information that can be used to understand patterns of risk (for example, where vessel strikes or bycatch are most likely, which life stages are most vulnerable, and what environmental or operational factors drive harm) and to evaluate or inform practical measures that could meaningfully reduce mortality and improve habitat and recovery outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Vessel Strikes to Sturgeon and Threats to Recovery" funding opportunity?
This is a competitive federal funding notice from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). It supports projects that improve the survival and recovery prospects of shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon by filling key data gaps and producing practical, decision-ready information for management and conservation actions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA NMFS GARFO 2016 2004873.
Which sturgeon species are the focus of this opportunity?
The opportunity focuses on two species: shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon.
Why is NMFS funding this work?
Both target species are listed under the Endangered Species Act, and NMFS is seeking targeted projects to address major sources of mortality and other barriers to recovery. The stated intent is to close important data gaps that currently limit effective management actions and to strengthen the evidence base for recovery measures.
What geographic area does this opportunity cover?
The focus is the Greater Atlantic Region, defined in the notice as Maine through Virginia.
Is the opportunity only about vessel strikes?
No. Vessel strikes are a central emphasis because available information suggests they may be a relatively significant cause of sturgeon deaths in at least some locations. However, proposals may also address other significant threats that affect recovery.
What kinds of vessel-strike questions or topics is NMFS interested in?
NMFS is interested in projects that clarify how and where vessel interactions occur, what conditions increase risk, and what management approaches could reduce that risk. The goal is to produce information that can be used for practical decision-making.
What other threats can projects address besides vessel strikes?
The notice states that proposals may address other significant threats, including bycatch in fisheries, impacts to early life stages such as larvae and juveniles (with examples like impingement and entrainment at water intakes), and broader habitat-related stressors such as degraded water quality.
What types of project outcomes is NMFS looking for?
Competitive projects are expected to generate practical, decision-ready information that helps NMFS and partners understand the magnitude of threats, identify risk factors, and evaluate or inform management responses. Examples include identifying where threats are most likely, which life stages are most vulnerable, and what environmental or operational factors drive harm.
What are the main program activity areas for this funding?
The activity areas align with environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The listed CFDA number is 11.472.
Is this a competitive or non-competitive grant program?
This is a competitive funding opportunity, meaning proposals are evaluated on merit and funding decisions depend on proposal scoring and available funds.
What kind of federal funding instrument will be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards may be made as either grants or cooperative agreements. The notice indicates the choice depends on the anticipated level of federal involvement in the project.
What does "discretionary funding" mean in this context?
The program is categorized as discretionary funding, which generally means awards are made at the agency's discretion based on the competitive review process, program priorities, and funds available.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any type of applicant entity may apply, subject to any additional clarifications that would have been included in the full announcement text.
What kinds of organizations can apply under "unrestricted" eligibility?
Based on the unrestricted eligibility description in the notice, applicants can include a wide range of entity types (as long as they meet the program goals and any stated requirements), such as universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal entities, private organizations, and other qualified groups.
How much total funding was projected for this opportunity?
Total funding under the notice was projected not to exceed $250,000.
How large could individual awards be?
Individual award amounts were to be determined by the merit of proposals and the funds available. The notice does not specify a fixed amount per award.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated up to 20 awards, with the possibility of making one or more awards depending on proposal scores and how funding ultimately became available.
Was funding guaranteed?
No. The notice states that actual funding depended on FY 2016 congressional appropriations.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting and creation dates were April 19, 2016.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline (original and current) was June 3, 2016.
How long was the application window?
Based on the provided dates (posted April 19, 2016 and due June 3, 2016), the application window was relatively short and appeared designed to move projects forward quickly.
What is the overarching purpose of the projects funded under this notice?
The overarching purpose is to support applied research and management-support work that helps NMFS diagnose and reduce key threats to endangered sturgeon in the Greater Atlantic. Projects are intended to provide information that can directly inform conservation measures and improve recovery outcomes.
What kinds of data gaps is NMFS trying to fill?
NMFS highlights that the current understanding is often limited regarding threat magnitude, risk factors, and effective responses. This opportunity is intended to fund targeted work that strengthens the evidence base needed for effective management actions, including understanding patterns of risk and identifying practical measures to reduce mortality.
What does "decision-ready information" mean for applicants?
Within the context of this notice, "decision-ready" refers to information that can be used to guide management and conservation actions, such as pinpointing where and when risks are highest, determining which factors contribute most to harm, and informing approaches that could reduce vessel strikes, bycatch, early life-stage impacts, or habitat-related stressors.
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