Foa_Content_of_NOAA-NMFS-SE-2025-28271.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

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Table of Contents

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Executive Summary

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

IV. Application and Submission Information

V. Application Review Information

VI. Award Administration Information

VII. Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

Executive Summary Federal Agency Name Fisheries Southeast Region Program Office (SE) Funding Opportunity Title

FY 25 MARFIN

Announcement Type Competitive Funding Opportunity Number

NOAA-NMFS-SE-2025-28271

Assistance Listing Number(s) 11.433 Dates Full proposals must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 31, 2024 NOTE: We strongly encourage all prospective applicants to begin required registrations as early as possible.

Completing the required registrations can take six weeks or longer. Submission due dates will not be extended because of registration delays. Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted.

Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov).

Applicant organizations and individuals must first register with SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). After you obtain your UEI, you can complete your Grants.gov and eRA Commons registrations concurrently.

See Section IV(G) for detailed instructions on registration requirements. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Agency Contacts listed in this NOFO for submission instructions.

Funding Opportunity Description

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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Region, is seeking proposals under the Marine Fisheries Initiative Program (MARFIN), for research and development projects that optimize the use of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and off the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, involving the U.S. fishing industry (recreational and commercial), including fishery biology, resources assessment, socio-economic assessment, management and conservation, selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and processing. This program addresses NOAA's mission goal "Healthy Oceans."

Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Program Objective The Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) is a competitive Federal assistance program that funds projects seeking to optimize research and development benefits from U.S. marine fishery resources through cooperative efforts involving the best research and management talents to accomplish priority activities. Projects funded under MARFIN provide answers for fishery needs covered by NOAA Fisheries Strategic Plan, available from NOAA Fisheries, particularly those goals relating to: rebuilding overfished marine fisheries, maintaining currently productive fisheries, and integrating conservation of protected species and fisheries management. Funding priorities for MARFIN are formulated from recommendations received from non-scientific and technical experts and from NOAA Fisheries research and operations officials.

With the long-term planning capabilities available through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) process, the priorities are selected to coordinate assessment needs with this solicitation.

B. Program Priorities

1. Economics and Human Dimensions

a. Estimate seafood demand models for commercially important species managed in the Southeast Region, including but not limited to yellowtail snapper, vermilion snapper (South Atlantic only), groupers (South Atlantic only), golden and blueline tilefish (Gulf and South Atlantic), black sea bass (South Atlantic only), king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, dolphinfish (Atlantic), wahoo (Atlantic), golden crab, and spiny lobster. The primary purpose of these models is to estimate potential changes in prices because of regulatory actions (e.g., changes in annual commercial harvest limits) or other events that would be expected to cause a change in the domestic landings of that species.

b. In the Gulf of Mexico region, estimate the net economic benefits of a range of alternative allocations to the private angler, for-hire and commercial sectors, inclusive of all value generated up to the end user/consumer, in at least one fishery where at least one sector is managed under catch shares and at least one species where no sector is managed under catch shares. Research should include estimating the loss of net economic benefits when a portion of the allocation is left unharvested.

c. In the South Atlantic Region, estimate the net economic benefits of a range of alternative allocations to the private angler, for-hire and commercial sectors, inclusive of all value generated up to the end user/consumer for key species with allocations. Research should include estimating the loss of net economic benefits when a portion of the allocation is left unharvested.

d. Evaluate the realized or potential economic and social effects of alternative catch share programs (e.g., catch shares, harvest tags, days at sea, etc.) in the private recreational sector in fisheries (marine or inland) where they have been implemented or in fisheries where this sector has its own allocation (e.g., Gulf Red Snapper).

e. Develop a simulation model to forecast the expected change in commercial fishing behavior (e.g., effort) and profits to changes in, for example but not limited to, the stock size, regulations, and economic factors (costs and fish prices). Apply the model to one fishery (or component thereof) managed with catch shares and one fishery not managed with catch shares.

f. Conduct a survey and develop a simulation model to forecast the expected change in for-hire (charter vessel and headboat) angler demand, effort, and profits in response to, for example but not limited to, changes in recreational regulations. Apply the model to one or more commonly targeted species in the Gulf of Mexico or South Atlantic.

g. Develop economic impact models (e.g., input-output models) for Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands that can be used to assess accurately the economic impacts of the commercial fisheries and changes to those impacts due to regulatory changes and other factors.

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h. Undertake interview work and archival research to better define and thoroughly identify both place-based and non-place-based underserved communities in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic and examine historical factors/processes that have led to status as underserved. Use summary results to develop and refine principles and processes for defining, measuring, and assessing equity in Southeast fisheries in consultation with key staff members at SERO, SEFSC, and the regional fishery management councils.

i. Research the importance of diversification of operations in federally managed fisheries (where diversification refers to involvement in multiple commercial fisheries, use of dual charter/commercial permits, and involvement in both state and federal fisheries).

j. Examine barriers and inequities experienced by women involved in or seeking involvement in domestic marine fisheries, and identify potential means for mitigating such challenges and for monitoring mitigation outcomes.

k. Undertake primary and secondary source research to identify, describe, and analyze "subsistence" or consumption-oriented use of federal fishery resources and related dimensions of fishing-oriented communities in each sub-region (Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and US Caribbean) of the Southeast.

2. Ecosystems

a. Link inshore coastal habitats to offshore fisheries production so habitat protection and restoration could be incorporated into stock assessments. Provide scientific support to demonstrate how NOAA’s habitat program is adding value to the fishing economy.

b. Evaluate how dredging affects federally-managed fish species' use of shallow sand bottom areas as nursery, spawning and foraging habitat. Evaluate effects of dredging on the use of ebb/flood shoals as nursery, spawning, and foraging habitat.

c. Develop habitat utilization assessments for priority federally-managed fish stocks in the Southeast Region that will help us better understand and demonstrate the benefits of habitat conservation to fisheries and protected species.

d. Evaluate the use of nearshore hardbottom, tidal freshwater, oligohaline wetland, and coastal inlet habitats by NOAA trust resources in the Southeast Region.

e. Study the factors contributing to listed corals’ susceptibility to disease and corals’ resiliency to climate stressors to support efforts to improve resistance to disease and adaptation to climate impacts.

f. Identify the science needed to better integrate and inform EFH consultation processes for managed fisheries:

1) Improve the understanding of shore-side factors, such a land use run-off, coastal development, etc., on the marine ecosystem and associated fisheries resources.

2) Define and develop an inshore-offshore decision support tool to help effectively habitat managers evaluate the impacts of management decisions affecting onshore habitats on the productivity of offshore fish populations.

3) Investigate the value of artificial reefs and Gulf oil rigs as fish habitat for reef fishes as well as their potential as habitats to enhance stock building efforts.

g. Obtain and provide georeferenced data to support development of a Caribbean Fishery Ecosystem Plan;

exemplary datasets include but are not limited to turbidity, ocean color (chlorophyll), sea surface temperature and others that may be available to a limited audience.

h. Study the factors impacting coral recruitment, particularly grazing, to inform management measures to facilitate recruitment.

i. Collect fisherman’s local ecological knowledge to develop innovative strategies for adapting to and mitigating negative effects of environmental change in the Southeast region.

3. Fisheries

a. Conduct comprehensive fishery-independent monitoring and sampling in the South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, or U.S. Caribbean to support quantitative assessments, track changes in fish size and abundance through time, assess status and trends of reef fish species, and reconcile difference between catch per unit effort indices and fishery-dependent age composition used for stock assessments. Indices should cover a broad seasonal/spatial scale and age structure and incorporate climate-related impacts and trends.

b. Create reliable annual bycatch estimates of marine mammals, threatened and endangered species, and other bycatch in managed fisheries by enhancing existing observer and survey programs and applying new technologies, including working with the Marine Recreational Information Program and Southeast For-hire Integrated Electronic Reporting program to test and validate the use of electronic reporting methodologies for this purpose; priority fisheries include shrimp (including assessing compliance with turtle excluder device requirements), South Atlantic snapper-grouper, other Southeast Region recreational hook-and-line fisheries, and fisheries under take reduction teams.

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c. Obtain better estimates of the natural and release mortality in commercial and recreational reef fish fisheries and evaluate the effects of devices and methods to improve survival of released fish.

d. Develop pilot studies and methods for enhancing data collection to test alternative management strategies for the recreational sector, such as harvest tags, days-at-sea, regional state-by-state management, and catch share programs.

e. Continue to invest in maintaining and improving both fishery-dependent (including sample processing) and fishery-independent data from the Marine Recreational Information Program, Marine Resources Monitoring Assessment and Prediction program, Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program, Southeast Fishery- Independent Survey, video surveys in the Gulf and South Atlantic, National Coral Reef Monitoring Program, targeted demographic surveys for threatened corals in the Florida Keys and Puerto Rico, and surveys for threatened corals in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

f. Develop and validate three-dimensional larval dispersal/connectivity models and conduct associated genetic studies for identifying and predicting spatial patterns of recruitment of reef fishes, queen conch, and spiny lobster in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and U.S. Caribbean.

g. Conduct research on age, growth, and reproduction of reef fish in anticipation of upcoming stock assessments, with emphasis on data-poor species.

h. Conduct density dependence studies using a habitat context to examine the potential effects of habitat on catchability and selectivity.

i. Conduct research (e.g., otolith analysis, tagging, etc.) to better describe stock structure and mixing rates of stocks.

Table 1. Data and Research Needs by Stock - Please note this table is not inclusive or prioritized.

South Atlantic Black Sea Bass – Climate change impacts on species distribution Blueline Tilefish - Abundance indices, fecundity, recruitment, discard mortality rates and effects of best fishing practices Cobia - Stock identification, abundance indices, tagging, recruitment Dolphin - Age information, assessment approach, recruitment Gag – Abundance index for age-0 fish, discard mortality rates, and effects of besting fishing practices Gray Snapper - Stock ID, discard mortality, age validation, recruitment Gray Triggerfish – Recruitment, abundance index for age-0 fish Greater Amberjack - Age validation, discard mortality rates, abundance indices, recruitment, role of Sargassum in life history Red Grouper – Recruitment, discard mortality rates and effects of best fishing practices Red Porgy – temporal trends in growth, sex at age, and female maturity at age, potential factors contributing to low recruitment, investigate whether males establish and maintain territories as part of spawning behavior Red Snapper - Discard mortality rates, private recreational discards, recruitment, hot spots of abundance Scamp - Age and growth, age validation, recruitment, discard mortality rate and effects of best fishing practices Snowy Grouper – Abundance indices, stock ID, recruitment, discard mortality rates and effects of best fishing practices Spanish Mackerel - Stock ID, recruitment Tilefish - Abundance indices, particularly for juveniles, recruitment Vermilion Snapper - Growth models with age-0 fish, recruitment Gulf of Mexico Cobia - Recruitment measures, discard mortality, stock structure Gag - Continuous red tide effect analysis, sex ratio, recruitment, reproduction Gray Snapper - Recruitment measures, age and growth, Stock ID Gray Triggerfish - Age composition and validation, recruitment, gear selectivity Greater Amberjack - Age composition and validation, recruitment Red Snapper - Discard mortality rates, effect of devices to reduce barotrauma, stock structure Scamp - Recruitment measures, age and growth, Stock ID Spanish Mackerel - Recruitment measures Tilefish - Recruitment measures, age and growth, Stock ID Vermilion Snapper - Recruitment measures Yellowedge Grouper - Age and length composition samples, recruitment, discard mortality Gulf and South Atlantic Black Grouper - Recruitment

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Goliath Grouper - Non-catch based assessment methods, age and length composition data, recruitment, reproduction, discard mortality rates, gear selectivity Hogfish - Recruitment, stock ID, gear selectivity, discard mortality King Mackerel - Discard mortality, recruitment, Mexican data Mutton Snapper - FI indices, recruitment, discard mortality, climate change impacts on species distribution Spiny Lobster - Age composition, recruitment, relationship between the reproductive cycle characteristics in Florida and in the Caribbean, with postlarval recruitment in Florida Yellowtail Snapper - Stock ID, recruitment U.S. Caribbean Queen conch - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; biomass, abundance, and spatial distribution; changes in fishing effort; recreational catch and effort data Spiny Lobster - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; biomass, abundance, and spatial distribution; changes in fishing effort; recreational catch and effort data Queen Triggerfish - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; biomass, abundance, and spatial distribution; changes in fishing effort; recreational catch and effort data Red hind - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; information on spawning aggregation areas (SPAG); recreational catch and effort data; environmental parameters including effects of climate change Queen Snapper - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; changes in fishing effort; recreational catch and effort data Silk Snapper - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; changes in fishing effort; recreational catch and effort data Yellowfin grouper - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; information on SPAG areas; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; recreational catch and effort data Yellowtail Snapper - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; recreational catch and effort data Mutton Snapper - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; information on SPAG areas; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; recreational catch and effort data Lane Snapper - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; recreational catch and effort data Hogfish - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; recreational catch and effort data Redtail Parrotfish - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; biomass, abundance, and spatial distribution; recreational catch and effort data Stoplight Parrotfish - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information; environmental parameters including effects of climate change; biomass, abundance, and spatial distribution; recreational catch and effort data Dolphin - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information (including Sargassum influxes); environmental parameters including effects of climate change;

recreational catch and effort data Wahoo - Stock ID; Life history information; larval distribution and recruitment; incorporation of ecosystem information (including Sargassum influxes); environmental

C. Program Authority Authority for the Marine Fisheries Initiative Program is provided by 16 U.S.C 753a and 16 U.S.C. 742d.

II. Award Information A. Funding Availability

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Actual funding available for this program is contingent upon the availability of FY 2025 Congressional appropriations. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. The number of awards made as a result of this solicitation will depend on the number of eligible applications received, the amount of funds requested for each project, the merit and ranking of the proposals, and the amount of funds made available to the MARFIN program.

B. Project/Award Period The period of award may be from one to three years. The requested award start date must begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month. The earliest start date for projects will be September 1, 2025, dependent upon availability of Federal funding as provided by Congress, acceptable completion of all NOAA/applicant negotiations including National Environmental Policy Act analysis and permit requirements, and the provision of other supporting documentation as requested. Applicants selected to receive funding may be asked to modify the project start date.

C. Type of Funding Instrument The funding instrument will be a basic grant.

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants may be institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, individuals, and state, local, and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible. For-profit organizations are ineligible.

Foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and international organizations are excluded for purposes of this solicitation since the objective of the MARFIN program is to optimize research and development benefits from U.S. marine fishery resources.

Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov).

NOTE: We strongly encourage all prospective applicants to begin required registrations as early as possible.

Completing the required registrations can take six weeks or longer. Submission due dates will not be extended because of registration delays. Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted.

Registration Requirements: Applicant organizations and individuals must first register with SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). After you obtain your UEI, you can complete your Grants.gov and eRA Commons registrations concurrently.

See Section IV(G) for detailed instructions on required registrations. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Agency Contact listed in this NOFO for submission instructions B. Cost Share or Matching Requirement There is no cost-sharing requirement.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

NA

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request Application Package Applications and all required forms must be submitted through www.grants.gov. Please refer to Section G. for submission requirements.

The standard application package is available at https://www.Grants.gov. If an applicant has problems with Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@Grants.gov. If you do not have internet access, or if Grants.gov is inaccessible, you can obtain an application package by contacting Kelly Donnelly, Federal Program Officer, NOAA/NMFS/SERO, 263 13th Avenue S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Phone:

(727) 551-5731, e-mail: kelly.donnelly@noaa.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application

1. Format Requirements:

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A complete standard NOAA grant application package is required in accordance with the guidelines in this document. Applications that are not complete on the closing date of this announcement will not be reviewed. Your application must contain all required documents and forms; if these forms are not signed via the www.Grants.gov application process, they MUST be signed in ink. Paper applications without inked signatures on their forms will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed. The Authorized Representative MUST sign and date these forms in the space reserved for electronic signature. Signatures (electronic or ink) must match the name printed in the “Authorized Representative” section of the SF-424 Block 21. Another Authorized Representative may not sign on behalf of the individual noted in Block 21. An incomplete application or one that does not follow the format requirements will not be reviewed and will be withdrawn from the competition.

All application materials should be submitted in Adobe PDF or a common word processing format, and when printed out should meet all format requirements. All pages must be no less than single-spaced printed or typed, in at least 12-point font, and printable on 8.5-inch x 11- inch paper, with 1-inch margins. If these requirements are not followed, the proposal will be withdrawn without consideration.

2. Content Requirements:

Each application must include (listed below are minimum requirements that must be included in the proposal submission. If any of these are not included the proposal will not be considered and will be withdrawn from the competition):

A. Federal Application forms, which are available on Grants.gov, including:

• SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance - The Application for Federal Assistance (SF- 424) must be signed by the authorized representative identified in GEMS/eRA.

o Electronic signatures submitted through Grants.gov satisfy this requirement. If the person submitting the application is not the AOR listed in Block 21 of the SF-424, then hardcopies of ink signatures of the AOR must be included.

• SF-424A - Budget Information, Non-Construction Programs SF-424B - Assurances, Non- Construction Programs

• CD-511 - Certifications Regarding Lobbying (CD-511)

• SF-LLL - Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable)

B. Project Synopsis (2-page maximum):

It is critical that the project synopsis accurately describes the project being proposed and conveys all essential elements of the activities. It is imperative that potential applicants tie their proposals to one of the program priorities listed in Section I.B of the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The synopsis must include:

• Applicant Information: Applicant organization, and name, title, and contact information of the Principal Investigator.

• Project Information: Project title, location, requested project period (start and end dates), Federal funding requested, and identification of the MARFIN priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal. If more than one priority is addressed by the proposal, one priority must be identified as the primary. The primary priority will determine the type of subject matter expert used to evaluate your proposal.

• Partners: partners and their organizations. Identification and contact information of co- Principal Investigators.

• Abstract: A clear description of proposed activities, including the species/resources to be addressed. It is critical the abstract accurately describes the project being proposed and conveys all essential elements of the project for public dissemination.

C. Project Narrative (15-page maximum) http://www.Grants.gov/

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The project narrative comprises the research plan for the project. The narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the proposed activities and the proposed benefits. The major part of the narrative should be devoted to a description and justification for the project, including details of the methods to be used. It should include a timeline for major activities, and should indicate who will be responsible for which activities. There should be no ambiguity about who will perform particular parts of the project, and the time at which these activities take place. The Project Narrative may not exceed 15 pages. Any tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs and other pictorial presentations that you submit to document the project and the problem/opportunity you seek to address are included in the 15-page limit. The Project Synopsis, required federal forms, the Budget Narrative and Supporting Documentation (described in this NOFO) do not count towards the 15-page Project Narrative limit.

The project narrative should closely follow the evaluation criteria outlined in this solicitation (See Section V.A. Evaluation Criteria) for the application to receive a consistent review against competing applications.

The narrative should demonstrate your knowledge of, and convey the need for, the project and show how your proposal builds upon any past and current work in the subject area, as well as relevant work in related fields.

The narrative should highlight any relationship to fishery management plans, or other fishery-related strategic planning or management documents, and if the project will yield environmentally compatible socioeconomic benefits.

The Project Narrative should include:

1. Project goals and objectives – Identify the one specific MARFIN priority (described in Section I. B.

Program Priorities) to which the proposed project responds. The primary priority will determine the subject matter expert used to evaluate your proposal. Identify the problem/opportunity you intend to address and describe its significance to the fisheries resource and fishing community. Objectives should be simple and understandable; as specific and quantitative as possible; clear as to the “what and when,” but should avoid the “how and why”; and attainable within the time, money and human resources available. Projects should be accomplishment oriented and identify specific performance measurements.

2. Project impacts – Describe the anticipated impacts of the project on the fisheries resource and the fishing community in terms of increased product yield, or other measurable benefits. Identify the benefits that will be achieved as a result of this effort, to both the recipient, the industry and the public as a whole. Describe how you/your organization (or others) will monitor progress and measure the project’s impacts.

3. Evaluation of Project – Specify the criteria and procedures that you will use to monitor and evaluate the relative success or failure of a project in achieving its objectives.

4. Need for governmental financial assistance – Explain why you need NOAA financial assistance for the proposed work, and why other funding sources, if applicable, cannot fund all of the proposed work. List all other sources of funding you have or are seeking for the project.

5. Federal, state, and local government activities and permits – It is your responsibility to obtain all necessary Federal, state, and local government permits and approvals where necessary for the proposed work to be conducted. You must note whether or not permits are required. If no permits are required, this section must indicate “no permits are required.” If permits are required, provide a list of all applicable permits that will be required to perform the proposed work and an indication of the status of any permits needed (e.g., not yet applied, permit application submitted/pending/ permit granted, etc.) or a statement indicating that no permits are necessary.

6. Statement of Work

• What is the project design? What specific work, activities, procedures, statistical design, or analytical methods will you undertake? Describe methodologies or technical plans for activities the project. You should provide sufficiently detailed information on the proposed activities and potential environmental effects so that NOAA can analyze the impacts of the project as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (see Section VI. B.). The NEPA questionnaire is a federal form and does not count towards application page limitations.

• Who will be responsible for carrying out the various activities? Provide information about the specific responsibilities of other personnel funded through the proposal, including the technical and administrative points of contact, as appropriate.

NOAA NOFO Page 9 of 22 o What are the project milestones? Display timelines for major tasks, target milestones for important immediate and final products, and key project outcomes. This includes identifying all consultation and permitting requirements and their status (e.g., not applied for, pending, secured). Describe the timeline in increments (e.g., month 1, month 2) rather than by specific dates. Identify the individual(s) responsible for the various activities.

7. Project Management - Describe how the project will be organized and managed. Describe how the necessary experience, facilities, and administrative resources are in place to successfully meet the responsibilities associated with managing a federal financial assistance award. Proposals should demonstrate the applicant organization's knowledge and experience in delivering the project requested in this application.

8. Participation by groups or persons other than the applicant - Describe how any entities other than the applicant will participate in the project, and the nature (sub-award, subcontract, volunteer, etc.) of their participation.

D. Budget Narrative (10-page maximum)

Each application must include clear and concise budget information, both on the required federal forms and as described here. To evaluate the appropriateness of proposed costs, a budget narrative must explain and justify all costs by object class category, as listed on the SF-424A, Section B., Cost Categories. Provide detailed narrative descriptions of all costs, and explain each calculation for all budget categories. Please include a budget table to clarify the cost breakdown. All proposed costs must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary to the supported activity. Guidance may be found at https://www.noaa.gov/organization/acquisition-grants/frequently-asked-questions.

All funds must be estimated to the nearest dollar, do not submit budgets containing cents. For multi-year award applications, indicate and describe separate funding amounts for each year in the detailed justification, budget table, and in Section B of the SF-424A Budget Information form. You must submit a copy of a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement with a federal agency, if such an agreement exists.

The Budget Narrative must include the following, as applicable:

1. Personnel costs, including salary and wages, should be broken out by named Principal Investigator (PI)and number of months requested per year, per PI, as a percentage of their normal salary rate. Support for each PI should be commensurate with their stated involvement. Any unnamed personnel (graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, technicians) should be identified by their job title, monthly or hourly rate, and amount of effort per year. Cost for graduate students must comply with 2 CFR §200.466 Scholarships and student aid costs, and must be reasonable compensation for the work performed. Fringe benefits should be listed separately from salary and wages. Funds for salaries and fringe benefits may be requested only for those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are directly related to specific products or outcomes of the proposed project.

2. Travel costs should be broken out by number of people traveling, destination, purpose of travel, and projected costs per person. Travel costs include transport costs, lodging, per diem for all travelers, which are to be described in the budget narrative. If details for a particular trip are unknown, explain how the estimate was determined. To qualify for support, attendance at meetings or conferences must enhance the investigator’s capability to perform the research or disseminate its results. Domestic travel is to be justified separately from foreign travel, since the latter may require additional clearances. You must adhere to the provisions of the "Fly America Act."

3. Equipment is non-expendable, tangible personal property with a unit cost of $10,000 or more, and a useful life of more than one year. Items that do not meet the equipment definition must be included under supplies. List each piece of equipment separately and reference the type/model to be purchased and its contribution to the achievement of the project goals. General use equipment must be used 100% for the proposed project if charged directly to the award; if the equipment will be used for multiple projects, only a portion of the expense that is commensurate with the actual use of the equipment during the project may be requested.

4. Supplies should be itemized to the level of detail known or may be based on established historical costs.

Whenever possible, you should include the quantity/number of units and cost per unit to justify expenses listed in the supplies category.

5. Each contract should be itemized and explained in the budget narrative and table. Contract budgets should follow standard budget categories that appear in the SF-424A. For each contract include a budget and explanation of the products or services to be obtained. You must indicate the basis for selection of the contractor.

http://www.noaa.gov/organization/acquisition-grants/frequently-asked-questions http://www.noaa.gov/organization/acquisition-grants/frequently-asked-questions

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6. Other costs should be listed by type of material or nature of expense (e.g., sub-award) and should be broken down by quantity/number of units and cost per unit, if applicable.

7. The budget may include an amount for indirect costs if the applicant has an approved indirect cost rate agreement with the Federal government. Indirect costs are costs for basic operational functions that are incurred for a common purpose, and cannot be identified specially with a particular project. A copy of the current, approved negotiated indirect cost rate agreement must be included with the application, if applicable.

If an applicant has not previously established an indirect cost rate with a Federal agency, they may choose to negotiate a rate with the Department of Commerce or use the de minimis indirect cost rate of up to15% of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) (as allowable under 2 C.F.R. §200.414). The negotiation and approval of a rate is subject to the procedures required by NOAA and the Department of Commerce Standard Terms and Conditions. The NOAA contact for indirect or facilities and administrative costs is: Jennifer Jackson, Grants Officer, NOAA Grants Management Division, jennifer.jackson@noaa.gov.

E. Supporting Documentation (15-page maximum) In addition to the required 2-page résumé or curriculum vitae of the PI and any key partners, this section should include references, agreements, contracts and permits (budget contracts and agreement are included in the budget narrative), and /or other information relevant to the proposal not included in the Project Narrative.

All supporting documentation must be combined and uploaded as a single document not exceeding 15 pages.

Supporting documents (described above) will not be accepted as separate stand-alone attachments.

Letters of support or collaboration are allowable only from individuals or entities with direct involvement in the project and should outline the specifics of the collaborative effort. Letters of support from those who do not have direct involvement in the project will not be accepted during the review process. It is recommended, but not required, that each application should also include the NOAA NEPA questionnaire (https://www.nepa.noaa.gov/docs/NOAA-Grants-Questionnaire-final.pdf), Questions 1-37. If the application results in an award, this will be required (the NEPA questionnaire does not count against the page maximum).

Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Management Plan (up to 2 pages). See Section VI.B., Administrative and National Policy Requirements, below for additional information on what the plan should contain.

C. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) Provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) in its application; and (iii) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. NOAA may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time NOAA is ready to make a Federal award, NOAA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

D. Submission Dates and Times Applications may be submitted by https://www.Grants.gov, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on December 31, 2024.

Use of Grants.gov is preferred. If Grants.gov cannot be used, use of U.S. mail or another delivery service must be documented with a receipt; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. Applications received more than five (5) business days following the closing date will not be accepted. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be accepted.

Please note: Validation or rejection of your application by Grants.gov may take up to two (2) business days after submission. Please consider this process in developing your submission timeline. Applications not adhering to postmark or submission deadlines will be rejected and returned to the sender without further consideration.

E. Intergovernmental Review

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Applications submitted by state and local governments are subject to the provisions of Executive Order (E.O.)

12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. Any applicant submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 19 on SF-424 regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) established as a result of EO 12372. Names and address of SPOCs are listed in the Office of Management and Budget's home page at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.htm.

F. Funding Restrictions Construction is not an allowable activity under this program. Therefore, applications will not be accepted for construction projects.

The MARFIN Program will not consider expenses associated with fees, fund-raising activities, travel for activities not directly related to project implementation, travel or salaries for Federal employees, or profit as allowable costs in the proposed budget. NOAA funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements.

The total costs of a project consist of all allowable costs incurred in accomplishing project activities during the project period. Applicants will not be reimbursed for time expended or costs incurred in developing a project or in preparing an application, or in any discussions or negotiations with the agency prior to the award.

Funding beyond the first year will be dependent upon satisfactory performance and the continued availability of funds. The total amounts awarded shall not exceed $175,000 for a one-year project, $350,000 for a two-year project, and $525,000 for a three-year project. Each funding year cannot exceed $175,000. Applications should be submitted with those limits in mind.

G. Other Submission Requirements NOTE: We strongly encourage all prospective applicants to begin required registrations as early as possible.

Completing the required registrations can take six weeks or longer. Submission due dates will not be extended because of registration delays. Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted.

Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov). See below for more detailed information on each required registration process.

1. System for Award Management (SAM.gov) SAM.gov registration is required to do business with the U.S. government. After registering with SAM.gov, you will receive a 12-character Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) that you will use throughout the application process.

We recommend allowing at least three weeks for initial SAM.gov registrations and at least two weeks for SAM.gov registration renewals. Additional information on SAM.gov registration is available here:

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration You must update your SAM.gov registration any time your entity’s information changes. You must also renew and revalidate your entity’s SAM.gov registration at least every 12 months from the date you last certified to and submitted the registration. The renewal process may take up to two weeks. Your SAM.gov account’s primary point of contact will receive an email message alerting them to the renewal requirement at 60 days, 30 days, and 15 days prior to expiration. If you do not renew your registration by the deadline, it will expire.

2. eRA Commons After completing your SAM.gov registration and receiving your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), you must register with eRA Commons and create several required user accounts. NOAA uses eRA Commons to process grant applications and manage grant awards.

NOTE: eRA Commons requires applicants to create one ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE and two USER ACCOUNTS before submitting an application. These requirements are described in detail below.

We recommend allowing at least three weeks for eRA Commons registration. This process can be completed concurrently with your Grants.gov registration. Additional information on the eRA Commons registration process is available here: https://www.commerce.gov/ocio/programs/gems/applicant-and-grantee-training After creating an overall account for your “institution”, which may be for your organization or yourself as an individual, eRA Commons requires you to set up at least two user accounts: one Signing Official (SO) account and one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account.

• The Signing Official (SO) user account must be assigned to an individual with signature authority to legally bind the organization in grants administration matters. The SO will receive 4-5 emails throughout the registration process.

https://www.commerce.gov/ocio/programs/gems/applicant-and-grantee-training

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• The Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account must be assigned to an individual with primary responsibility for the project(s) described in the grant application. The eRA Commons User ID for the PD/PI must also be listed on the SF-424 form for item 4 (Applicant Identifier).

Your SO and PD/PI user accounts must be active before you submit an application. Both accounts can be assigned to the same individual if appropriate.

3. Grants.Gov After completing your SAM.gov registration and receiving your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), you must complete a one-time registration process with Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a government-wide portal used to solicit and accept grant applications.

We recommend allowing at least two weeks for Grants.gov registration. This process can be completed concurrently with your eRA Commons registration. Additional information on the Grants.gov registration process is available here: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration.

Submission Validation The Grants.gov and eRA Commons validation processes for a submitted application can take up to two business days after submission. Only validated applications are sent to NOAA to review. To ensure successful submission of an application, we strongly recommend that you submit a final and complete application at least two business days prior to the submission deadline.

Grants.gov and eRA Commons will not accept submissions if the applicant has not been authorized or if credentials are incorrect. Submissions may also be rejected if:

• The Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)’s account username within eRA Commons is not provided on the SF-424 form for item 4 (Applicant Identifier).

• The Universal Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov is not provided on the SF-424 form for item 8.c

(UEI).

• The Congressional District is not entered in the correct format on the SF-424 form for item 16 (Congressional Districts). The correct format is: [State Abbreviation]-[three digit district number]. For example, Virginia’s 1st Congressional District would be listed as VA-001.

• PDF files are not flattened. To flatten a fillable PDF, you can use the “Print to PDF” function from any web browser or PDF reader application.

• File sizes exceed 100 MB.

• Page sizes are greater than 8.5x11.

• File names exceed 50 characters (including spaces).

• File names include special characters.

After you submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by NOAA.

Applications submitted through Grants.gov will be accompanied by FOUR automated responses (1-Grants.gov Submission Receipt; 2-Grants.gov Submission Validation Receipt for Application; 3-Grants.gov Grantor Agency Retrieval Receipt for Application; 4-Grants.gov Agency Tracking Number Assignment for Application).

In addition to the Grants.gov automated notification messages, you may receive automated email notifications of any errors or warnings identified by eRA Commons. You must resolve all eRA Commons errors prior to the application due date in order for the application to be processed.

Once an electronic application is accepted in eRA Commons, you will…