NOAA-NOS-IOOS-2023-2008077 NOFO_REVISED_7.20.2023 (1).pdf

FY2023 Ocean-Based Climate Resilience

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 3

A. Program Objective 3 B. Program Priorities 6 C. Program Authority 11

II. Award Information 11 A. Funding Availability 11 B. Project/Award Period 12 C. Type of Funding Instrument 12

III. Eligibility Information 13 A. Eligible Applicants 13 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 13 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 13

IV. Application and Submission Information 13 A. Address to Request Application Package 13 B. Content and Form of Application 14 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 18 D. Submission Dates and Times 18 E. Intergovernmental Review 19 F. Funding Restrictions 19 G. Other Submission Requirements 19

V. Application Review Information 20 A. Evaluation Criteria 20 B. Review and Selection Process 21 C. Selection Factors 22 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 23

VI. Award Administration Information 23 A. Award Notices 23 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 24 C. Reporting 31

VII. Agency Contacts 31 VIII. Other Information 31

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 31

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Agency Name(s): National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce

Funding Opportunity Title: FY2023 Ocean-Based Climate Resilience

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-IOOS-2023-2008077

Federal Assistance Listings Number: 11.012, Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

Dates: Full proposals must be received no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on September 11, 2023.

Funding Opportunity Description: The NOAA Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators funding opportunity seeks to fund accelerator entities to support businesses navigating commercialization pathways related to NOAA’s mission to help communities prepare for, adapt to, and build resilience to climate challenges. The accelerators will support entrepreneurs and startups with training, resources, mentorship, and funding to bring ocean-based climate resilience solutions to market. This funding opportunity announcement addresses Phase One of what will be implemented as a two-phase process. In Phase One, NOAA seeks proposals from qualified accelerator entities that define an approach for scoping, planning, and designing climate resilience accelerator activities according to the requirements defined in this announcement. In a subsequent Phase Two funding opportunity announcement, to be released approximately 1 month from the start of Phase One awards, NOAA will seek proposals for the implementation of the climate resilience accelerator programs that are planned and designed in Phase One. NOAA will provide technical assistance and support to successful applicants throughout the process to ensure that the program design aligns with the identified goals and objectives. Information regarding this Announcement, including webinars and additional background information, is available at the Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerator website.

https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/governance-and-management/inflation-reduction-act/accelerators/

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal marine ecosystems and resources. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) complements the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to provide the largest direct investment to date in our Nation’s coastal resilience. Over 40% of the U.S. population lives in coastal counties, producing more than $9.65 trillion in goods and services and employing 54.6 million people.

Within the Climate Ready Coasts component of the IRA, NOAA will work with partners from multiple sectors in the U.S. coastal and Great Lakes states and territories to help address localized impacts of climate change that would otherwise have an outsized economic and societal impact on the entire nation.

The Climate Resilience Accelerators component of the IRA will fund accelerator entities to support businesses navigating commercialization pathways for coastal and ocean-based resilience solutions related to NOAA’s mission to help communities prepare for, adapt to, and build resilience to climate challenges. The accelerators will support entrepreneurs and startups with training, resources, mentorship, and funding to bring ocean-based climate resilience solutions to market.

Climate resilience focused start-ups and innovative technologies are critical to the growth of the resilience economy in the United States. Start-ups drive technology development, business model innovation, and job creation. However, the market has not demonstrated the ability to provide sufficient capital, business development services, and entrepreneurial training to early-stage climate resilience-focused companies.

NOAA recognizes that successfully navigating commercialization pathways in the climate resilience market requires a variety of services over and above capital access, including mentorship, capacity building, testing facilities, business development, data processing and storage capabilities, and connections to manufacturers. Business accelerators provide important services that assist start-ups in commercialization pathways and play an increasingly important role for companies and entrepreneurs who may have raised initial capital through private foundations or small business innovation research (SBIR) grants but struggle to bring their company to market.

Strong business accelerator services—including, but not limited to, mentoring, Notice of Federal Funding Page 3 of 31 entrepreneurial training, prototyping assistance, and follow-on commercialization support—not only provide direct support for early-stage start-ups, but also have the potential to de-risk the start-ups for follow-on investors. Accelerators have the potential to spur regional economic development, strengthen national innovation capacity, and propel the advancement of ocean-based climate resilience solutions to market. By recruiting and selecting promising entrepreneurs and startups, connecting entrepreneurs with manufacturers and other key resources, and advising start-ups to prudently use their capital on vital services, accelerators play a critical role in supporting commercialization pathways.

Accelerators can also play a key role in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within innovation ecosystems by prioritizing these practices within the accelerator’s own organizational culture, by engaging in partnerships with diverse organizations and stakeholders, through the entrepreneurs and businesses that are selected to participate in accelerator programming, and by integrating relevant best practices into the accelerator’s approach to outreach, curriculum, and retention.

The objectives of the NOAA Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators two-phase opportunity are to:

- Establish a network of ocean-based climate resilience accelerator entities across the nation with coordinated support to better understand how ocean observation technologies and information services can support solutions to climate resilience challenges, enable sustainable business models for US businesses delivering such solutions, and increase competitive advantages for innovators to meet these challenges.

- Support entrepreneurs and startups that are developing ocean-based climate resilience-focused products or services.

- Accelerate and catalyze investment in ocean-based climate resilience-focused businesses by providing funding, where appropriate, as well as access to growth capital and support in networking for innovative technologies and startups.

- Leverage and advance startups and technologies that have already received federal investments (from SBIR/STTR and other BIL and IRA projects) to enable more product and service development and industry adoption.

- Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within ocean-based climate resilience business innovation ecosystems.

Definitions

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For the purpose of this opportunity, the following definitions are provided.

Accelerator Entities are defined as entities composed of one or more eligible applicants (see Section III.A) that develop and deliver accelerator programing. For the purposes of this NOFO, accelerator entities must have a proven track record of supporting businesses and/or entrepreneurs in business development.

Accelerator program design is defined as the program development process aimed at designing an accelerator program that supports entrepreneurs and startups as they navigate commercialization pathways including, for example, market analysis, customer discovery, partner structure, challenge definition, use cases/product-market fit, and/or demonstrations that will be executed by the accelerator entity. Program designs should clearly articulate how the Accelerator Entity will provide entrepreneurs and businesses with training, resources, mentorship, connections, and funding access needed to address critical start-up challenges, overcome common pitfalls, and accelerate their path to commercialization.

Accelerator program implementation is the execution of the Accelerator Program design, including selection of cohort participant businesses, training cohort participant businesses in the concepts that they have incorporated into their accelerator program design, and other support services to assist accelerator cohort participating businesses navigating commercialization pathways. Implementation also includes conducting rigorous processes for distribution of technology, development, and commercialization (TDC) awards to cohort participant businesses. Funds for TDC awards will be provided by NOAA as part of a Phase Two award.

Cohort participant business is a company that applies and is selected to participate in a specific cohort of an accelerator program. These businesses are the entities that will participate in the accelerator program, potentially receive TDC awards, and ultimately be positioned to pursue commercial opportunities in the ocean-based climate resilience sector.

Accelerator cohort is a group of cohort participant businesses that participate in an iteration of an accelerator program together.

Technology Development and Commercialization (TDC) awards are non-dilutive funding awards that are offered to cohort participant businesses by the accelerator entity, during or after the businesses have completed the formal accelerator training, to implement specific projects or activities that were identified through the accelerator process to directly promote commercialization of their product/service.

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Climate resilience is the ability of a community to prepare and plan for, absorb impacts of, recover from, and/or adapt to extreme weather events and longer-term climate impacts.

Ocean-based climate resilience solutions are products and/or services that integrate ocean observing technologies and information services into solutions that address specific climate resilience challenges. This includes technologies that support the acquisition of coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes data, analytical and modeling tools to translate such data into actionable information, and the development of decision support services targeting specific climate resilience applications targeted to identified needs. These resources may also include integration of social science and economic information to support particular climate resilience decision making applications.

Commercialization pathways include the various strategies and approaches that lead to successful commercialization of a product or service. There are multiple potential commercialization pathways that may be appropriate for a particular product or service depending on a variety of factors including but not limited to market opportunity, scalability, and capital intensity. Examples of commercialization pathways include, but are not limited to, business scaling, partnerships, licensing, and acquisitions.

B. Program Priorities

The NOAA Climate Resilience Accelerators funding opportunity seeks to fund accelerator entities that will support businesses navigating commercialization pathways for ocean-based climate resilience solutions that support NOAA’s mission to help communities prepare for, adapt to, and build resilience to climate challenges. NOAA has developed climate resilience theme areas that align with the U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Ocean-Climate-Action- Plan_Final.pdf), and expects results of this opportunity to support relevant actions, such as:

- Maintain and expand ocean basic and applied research, observing networks, modeling, forecasting, synthesis, and technology development.

- Develop new and innovative technologies and information pathways for ocean climate action.

- Expand coastal mapping, monitoring, observational systems, research, and modeling to inform science-based decision-making capabilities and advance use of nature-based solutions.

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- Advance research, technologies, and observation systems to support climate-ready marine resources and communities.

- Enhance community resilience to ocean change by developing ocean-based solutions that help communities adapt and thrive in our changing climate

This funding opportunity announcement addresses Phase One of what will be implemented as a two-phase process.

Phase One - Scoping and Design of a Climate Resilience Accelerator Program: NOAA will award up to $250,000 per awardee over 9 months to support up to 15 qualified accelerator entities in scoping, planning, and designing an ocean-based climate resilience-focused accelerator program design that aligns with NOAA mission areas and addresses climate resilience challenges. A visual timeline for phase one and phase two of the Ocean-based Climate Resilience Accelerators program will be provided publicly via website within 2 weeks of the announcement of this funding opportunity. NOAA will invite winning applicants to engage in public workshops and webinars designed to convene a range of federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal agencies, non-governmental organizations, trade, and academic organizations, and other relevant entities to identify regional and/or sector-specific needs and market opportunities related to the identified climate resilience theme areas. NOAA will provide technical assistance and support to successful applicants throughout the process to ensure that the accelerator program design aligns with the identified goals and objectives. Applications for Phase One should propose to design a climate resilience accelerator program focused on ocean-based climate resilience solutions, which should include one or more of the following program priorities:

- Climate Resilience Theme Area: Ocean Renewable Energy – Climate resilience will require the development of ocean observation technologies and information services to support siting, construction, and operation of ocean renewable energy resources. These technologies are also necessary to support forward-looking analyses, science, and research to ensure ocean renewable energy progresses in tandem with biodiversity protection, ocean co-use, and future changes due to climate change. This effort should not support the development of energy technologies themselves but rather the tools and information services that enable sustainable, safe, inclusive and informed ocean energy development.

- Climate Resilience Theme Area: Coastal and ocean carbon sequestration monitoring and accounting - There is growing interest in enhanced natural and engineered sequestration of carbon in the coasts and oceans. To support climate resilience as these initiatives, move from pilot to large operational scale, there will be a need for ocean observation and information

Notice of Federal Funding Page 7 of 31 services that monitor their effectiveness and environmental impact and verify and monitor the quantities of carbon they remove. This effort should not support the development of carbon sequestration technologies themselves but rather the tools and information services that can measure the effectiveness and monitor the impacts of their deployment.

- Climate Resilience Theme Area: Hazard mitigation and coastal resilience - To facilitate climate resilience, coastal communities require accurate wind and water level predictions to prepare for and mitigate beach erosion, coastal flooding, and prevent loss of human life.

Accurate wind-wave forecasting in enclosed or semi-enclosed basins, nearshore coastal areas, islands, and estuaries require high resolution observations and modeling at a regional scale. These regional scale observations and model products are currently not available to vulnerable coastal communities nationwide; therefore, it is not possible to accurately predict the magnitude or extent of coastal flooding during episodic storms, King tides, and other wind and wave driven events.

- Climate Resilience Theme Area: Ecosystem Services, including change detection, change analysis (cause and effects) and change adaptation and /or mitigation - Many decision makers, including natural resource managers, offshore operators, permitting agencies, and others, require the best available science, data, and predictions to reduce uncertainty in decision making processes. Advances in ocean and coastal observation technology, modeling, and analytics are required to accurately assess and forecast ecosystem changes, such as shifts in species location, biological production, biogeochemical regulation, and physical phenomena like marine heat waves or changes in sea level. Improved predictive capabilities will provide natural resource managers and other decision makers with the ability to adapt climate resilience efforts at meaningful spatial and temporal scales.

- Other ocean-based climate resilience theme areas, as determined by the applicant.

NOAA will provide accelerator entities with access to subject matter experts (SMEs) who will provide feedback on accelerator programming design; assistance on development of selection criteria for cohort businesses; federal, state, and local networking opportunities;

and other resources relevant to selected Climate Resilience Challenge area(s). SMEs may include technical experts from NOAA and other federal agencies, as needed. SMEs will meet regularly with Accelerator Entity leadership at a mutually agreed upon cadence.

Phase One Concept Proposal

Eligible applicants should develop a Concept Proposal that outlines a vision for the development or expansion of an Accelerator program and identifies the climate resilience

Notice of Federal Funding Page 8 of 31 challenge area(s) that the program will address. The Concept Proposal must describe the applicant’s existing and planned resources, including climate resilience expertise. Resources and expertise may exist as part of the accelerator entity, current partners, or new proposed partnerships. For current and proposed partners, the Concept Proposal should describe the partner’s role and commitment to economic growth in the selected climate resilience challenge area(s). The Concept Proposal should also include a description of how the Phase One award funds will be spent and a timeline for the development of an accelerator program design including key design milestones. The Concept Proposal must also include a plan for how the Accelerator entity will advance diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility

(DEIJA).

See the Project Narrative section (IV.B) of this NOFO for more detailed information on the requirements for a Concept Proposal and DEIJA plan. NOAA will review Concept Proposals consistent with the evaluation criteria in (Section V.A.) of this NOFO.

Phase Two- Climate Resilience Accelerator Program Implementation: Phase One winners will have the opportunity to apply for funding in Phase Two through a subsequent funding opportunity announcement to be released approximately one month from the start of Phase One with applications due in 150 days. NOAA anticipates awarding a subset of accelerators from Phase One with up to $10,000,000 each over a 4–5-year award period in Phase Two to implement accelerator program designs developed in Phase One. Applications for Phase Two funding should describe an accelerator program plan that utilizes a significant portion of the total funds requested from NOAA for Technology, Development, and Commercialization Awards to be distributed to meritorious cohort participant businesses, and the remaining funds for operations and implementation. Funding for accelerator implementation and operations will be expected to support accelerator program operations, facilities, and cohort selection.

Successful Climate Resilience Accelerator Programs will include the following components for Phase II implementation:

- Structured Curriculum for Start-ups: Implemented Climate Resilience Accelerator Programs should include a structured curriculum that incorporates evidence-based entrepreneurial education, to support cohort-participating businesses in navigating commercialization pathways. Each program is expected to provide the curriculum-based training to multiple cohorts of businesses. Programs should include a 12-month offramp of support for graduates as they develop and execute their business and technology plans.

- Technology Development and Commercialization Awards: As described above, a

Notice of Federal Funding Page 9 of 31 significant portion of funding in Phase Two is expected to be awarded by the Accelerator Entity to cohort participant businesses in the form of Technology Development and Commercialization Awards. These awards will directly support cohort participant businesses as they implement activities that were identified through the accelerator process as key commercialization pathways for their product/service. Successful Accelerator Entities will have a clearly identified process for selecting appropriate startups and/or entrepreneurs for accelerator cohorts, and infrastructure to evaluate, select, and fund the most promising ocean-based climate resilience business propositions.

- Technological, Market, and Economic Analysis: Climate Resilience Accelerators should consider performing climate resilience challenge analysis for cohort-participating businesses focused on providing robust due diligence on the technology, the applications, customers, markets, and the potential technical and market competition.

- Strong Mentorship Program: Climate Resilience Accelerator programming should consider a mentorship program which can include, but is not limited to, entrepreneurs-in-residence programs, peer-to-peer mentorship networks, subject matter mentors, and legal mentors.

- Strong and Committed Board of Advisors: Accelerator Entities may choose to establish a new board or expand an existing board to include experts in the selected Climate Resilience Theme area for the purposes of this funding opportunity. The Board of Advisors should include individuals with diverse subject matter expertise related to the accelerator challenge areas as well as relevant business and/or investment experience.

- Access to Capital and Strategic Partners: Climate Resilience Accelerators should provide cohort-participating businesses with a strong understanding of the ecosystem of early-stage capital providers including venture capital, grant makers, lenders, and other sources of funding. Accelerators should assist businesses in identifying potential investors and strategic partners, facilitating connections, and securing capital. Strong evidence of corporate, investor, and other key relationships with accelerator entities will be critical for a successful accelerator program.

- Access to Prototyping and Demo Facilities, if appropriate: Climate Resilience Accelerators should determine if access to prototyping and demonstration facilities is important for successful implementation of their planned Accelerator program design. If access to these facilities is necessary, accelerators should develop a plan to meet the needs of cohort-participating businesses which could include existing (in-house) facilities or entering into agreements with government, academic, NGO, or industry partners to provide access to

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- Demonstrated Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility:

Climate Resilience Accelerators will demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility throughout the proposed effort including within the accelerator’s own organizational culture and practices, by engaging in partnerships with diverse organizations and stakeholders, through the entrepreneurs and businesses that are selected to participate in accelerator program design, and by prioritizing addressing climate resilience challenges that impact marginalized and underserved communities.

- Strong Commitment to Data Collection and Performance and Accountability:

Accelerator Entities will be required to collect data to assess progress and outcomes for cohort participant businesses and overall program execution. Proposed metrics may include valuation, number of qualified exits, qualified fundraising, business survival, commercialization outcomes, and founder satisfaction. Additional metrics may also be developed as needed. Accelerators may also collect metrics related to services provided to non-cohort businesses. Accelerators should demonstrate a long-term commitment to data collection that will continue beyond the Phase Two award and actively participate in program evaluation processes by providing related data and metrics to NOAA and a potential third-party evaluation, as requested.

During Phase II, NOAA will work closely with Accelerator Entities throughout the process, including in the selection of cohort participating businesses and awarding of Technology Development and Commercialization awards, to provide support and technical guidance and assist accelerator programs, cohort participant businesses, and selected technologies align with the Climate Resilience priorities and objectives, as described in this NOFO.

C. Program Authority

The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under the following statutes to provide grants and cooperative agreements for the purposes described in this announcement, including Section 40001 of the Inflation Reduction Act (Public Law No: 117-169), and in Title 1, Sec.

12305 of the Coordinated Ocean Observation and Research Act (Public Law No: 116-271).

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

In FY 2023 - 2024 it is estimated that up to $5 million will be available from the Inflation Reduction Act. Multiple awards are anticipated, subject to availability of funds, in

Notice of Federal Funding Page 11 of 31 amounts up to $250,000 for 9 months for Phase One. The number of awards is anticipated to support up to 15 and may be adjusted based on availability of funds or number of qualified proposals. Information regarding this Announcement, including webinars and additional background information, is available at the Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerator website, https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/governance-and-management/inflation-reduction-act/accelerators/.

There is no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards for this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or that any proposal will be selected for funding. If an applicant incurs any costs prior to receiving an award agreement signed by a NOAA grants officer, the applicant does so at the applicant’s own risk. In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for any proposal preparation costs. Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and agency policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards. Applicants must be in good standing with respect to all existing NOAA awards to receive funds.

B. Project/Award Period

Applicants may request funding for up to 9 months. Funding is contingent upon availability of funds and the satisfactory performance of the recipient and is at the sole discretion of NOAA. As noted above, Phase One awardees will have the opportunity to apply for a Phase 2 solicitation that will be released roughly 1 month from the start of the Phase One project period of performance. This will give awardees sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the Phase 2 solicitation requirements and incorporate them into their Phase One project execution. Project dates must start on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

NOAA will make awards using a cooperative agreement instrument. A cooperative agreement provides substantial involvement by the Federal government. Some examples of substantial federal government involvement include coordinating external and internal partners and teams to accomplish the work, assisting with technical aspects of the project, and coordinating access to Federal data or facilities needed to support the work.

NOAA anticipates making staff available to support each awardee to promote access to NOAA expertise and to facilitate connections to NOAA’s network of place-based partners including but not limited to:

- Regional Ocean Partnerships;

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- Integrated Ocean Observing System Regional Associations;

- National Marine Sanctuaries;

- National Estuarine Research Reserves;

- Coastal Zone Management programs;

- Sea Grant College Programs;

- NOAA and state-based Regional Climate Service Providers;

- NOAA Laboratories, Science Centers, and Cooperative Institutes;

- University-based Climate Adaptation Programs; and

- National Weather Service Coordination and service delivery networks.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are US-based, geographically concentrated entities to include the following: a) for-profit organizations, which may include small businesses, corporations, partnerships, and joint ventures, b) academic institutions, including institutions of higher education and NOAA cooperative institutes, c) nonprofit organizations, d) Tribal organizations, e) state, territorial, or local governmental entities, agencies or instrumentalities, or f) Tribal governments or consortia of Tribal governments. Applicants are encouraged to form partnerships, with one accelerator entity serving as the lead and primary applicant. NOAA recognizes that the terms “accelerator” and “incubator” are at times used interchangeably, and that some organizations which call themselves “incubators” may meet the lead institution criteria specified in this NOFO. By using the term “accelerator,” NOAA does not seek to dissuade qualified incubators from applying. Federal agencies or institutions and foreign governments may not be the primary recipient of awards under this announcement. If a primary applicant proposes a non-federal partner(s) who would receive funds, the lead entity will be expected to use subawards. If a primary applicant proposes federal partners, other appropriate mechanisms should be used to provide funds to the partner(s).

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

There is no non-federal matching requirement for this funding.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

None.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

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Application packages are available online as part of the NOFO announcement on grants.gov and final applications will only be accepted via submission through www.grants.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application

Consistent with section I.B, a complete Phase One Concept Proposal will include 7 main elements:

1. Title Page

2. Project Summary

3. Project Narrative

4. Standard Form 424A (SF-424A)

5. Standard Form 424

6. Budget Narrative

7. Plan to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility

8. Appendices

a. Supporting materials

b. Resumes

c. CD-511 Certification Regarding Lobbying

d. SF-424B Assurances - Non-Construction Programs

e. NOAA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Questionnaire (Optional).

f. Data Management Plan (if applicable).

Additional information about requirement components can be found below.

1. Title Page (Proposal Cover Sheet). Include proposal title, complete contact information for the Project Lead and Financial Representative, duration of proposed project, and funding request by year and total funds requested. If funds are to be transferred to a NOAA partner on the project, also state the amount to NOAA on the cover.

2. Project Summary. Provide a one-page (double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins) summary of the proposed project. The summary should be prepared to be readable to a broad audience and contain the following sections:

a. Project Name/Title

b. Primary Contact (name, address, telephone, fax, e-mail)

c. Primary Recipient Institution

d. Other Recipient Institutions (name, affiliated institution or agency)

e. Brief Project Summary including intended climate resilience challenge to address (Section 1.B)

f. Partners

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3. Project Narrative. The proposal concept proposal must total no more than 5 pages (double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins). The 5-page limit does not include the proposal title page, table of contents, the data sharing plan, the project summary referenced below under item two (2), and any required appendices. The project narrative should be responsive to the evaluation criteria (see Section V.A Evaluation Criteria) described for Climate Resilience Accelerator Program to receive a consistent review against competing applications.

Sufficient detail should be provided to enable reviewers to evaluate the relevance and applicability of the proposed work to program priorities described in Section I.B of this announcement; to determine the merit of the proposed work; to adequately review the qualifications of the applicants; and to assess whether the proposed scope of work raises any concerns with regard to federal policy considerations, such as those related to the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species, Act, Historic Preservation Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

All project narratives must include the following sections:

- The applicant should describe its relevant track record, including providing examples of previous work supporting business and/or entrepreneurs in business development. Previous work supporting climate resilience focused businesses is not required.

- Describes the role and level of commitment of any proposed or existing partners.

Describe the geographic and/or sectoral scope of the proposed climate resilience accelerator program including the current challenges and resource limitations that prevent entrepreneurs and startups from bringing climate resilience technologies to market.

- Describe the selected climate resilience challenge area and any previous work supporting private businesses and/or entrepreneurs in the selected challenge area by the applicant or the applicant’s partners. Applicants may also describe how they plan to incorporate expertise into their project design (e.g., through partners), if they have not previously supported businesses in the selected climate resilience challenge area.

- Describes the Accelerator Entity’s vision for supporting businesses in identifying, developing, and implementing key commercialization pathways related to NOAA’s climate resilience mission to help communities prepare, adapt, and build resilience to climate challenges. This should include the economic opportunity presented by the Accelerator Entity in relation to the target industry or industries. Applicants should also describe needs, gaps, and resources available in the target climate resilience challenge area. Applicants should describe any preliminary proposed specific metrics of success in the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 15 of 31 commercialization pathway (scaling companies, securing capital, commercializing technology, etc.).

- Describe the overall approach and any existing infrastructure that will be used to solicit, evaluate, and select the most promising ocean technologies and information services.

- A description of how the Phase One award funds will be spent, a timeline for the development of accelerator program design including key design milestones and deliverables. Applicants should include description of any known barriers to meeting design milestones and strategies to mitigate barriers.

- Identifies the types of businesses, entrepreneurs, stakeholders, etc. that the applicant expects to benefit from the climate resilience accelerator program design being proposed.

How will the benefits that they gain from participating in your proposed accelerator program design equip and enable them to:

i. Identify and pursue viable business opportunities in the defined mission areas.

ii. Ultimately provide the products and services that result in the achievement of the NOAA climate resilience mission.

Recipients will be required to submit semi-annual progress reports in which progress against these goals and objectives will be reported.

4. Standard Form (SF)-424A. All applicants are required to provide a SF-424A Budget Form that identifies the budget for each fiscal year of the proposal. Place each fiscal year in separate columns in Section B of page one on the SF-424A by filling in the fiscal years 1-5 in Section A Budget Summary - Grant Program Function or Activity column. (Note that this revised SF-424A Section B format is a NOAA requirement that is not reflected in the Instructions for the SF-424A). The budget figures must correspond with the descriptions contained in the Budget Narrative. List total subaward costs under line item 6.h. Other category and contractor costs under line item 6.f. Contractual category on the SF-424A. Each subaward institution should provide a SF-424A listing each year of funding being requested.

5. Standard Form (SF)-424. Application for Federal Assistance

6. Budget Narrative. In order to allow reviewers to fully evaluate the appropriateness of costs, all applications must include a detailed budget narrative to support all proposed budget categories for each fiscal year. For additional budget guidance https://coast.noaa.gov/data/coasthome/funding/_pdf/forms/budget-narrative-guidance-for- NOAA-grants.pdf. Each subaward institution should provide a separate budget justification

Notice of Federal Funding Page 16 of 31 that follows the above-mentioned Budget Narrative Guidance for NOAA Grants document.

7. Plan to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. NOAA is committed to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Applicants should include in their proposal a plan to address diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility including within the accelerator’s own organizational culture and practices, by engaging in partnerships with diverse organizations and stakeholders, through the entrepreneurs and businesses that are selected to participate in accelerator program design, and by prioritizing addressing climate resilience challenges that disproportionately impact marginalized and underserved communities. Applicants should include demographic data of businesses the applicant has previously served as well as a plan to recruit and retain entrepreneurs from underserved communities.

8. Appendices. Appendices should be limited to:

a. Materials that directly support the main body of the proposal (e.g., support letters, references, lists of data sources, and maps), which may not exceed 10 pages in length.

b. Resumes. Provide resumes of the Principal Investigator or Project Lead for the project and other key personnel critical to the success of the project. Ensure that resumes address qualifications relevant to conducting the proposed work, and do not exceed 3 pages per person.

c. CD-511. Certification Regarding Lobbying. Lead institutions can submit these forms through the grants.gov CD-511 document placeholder without a hard signature because electronic signatures are allowed on documents from the submitting institution.

d. Standard Form (SF) 424B. Assurances - Non-Construction Programs. Lead institutions can submit these forms through the grants.gov SF-424B document placeholder without a hard signature because electronic signatures are allowed on documents from the submitting institutions.

e. NOAA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Questionnaire. This form is not required as part of the application. See Section VI.B.5. for information on NEPA requirements.

f. Data Management Plan. Applications that involve the collection or creation of environmental data should include a general Data Management Plan. See Section VIII for

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Data Management Plan requirements.

C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

Any applicant awarded in response to this Announcement will be required to use the System for Award Management (SAM), which may be accessed online at https://sam.gov/SAM/. SAM enables the use of a universal entity identifier and to build the quality of information available to the public as required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, 31 U.S.C. 6106 Note, to the extent applicable.

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 proposal, which takes an average of 7-10 business days after entering all information into SAM and requires the applicant’s Employer Identification Number; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its proposal; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or a proposal or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. SAM registration must be revalidated and renewed every 12 months.

Applicants are advised to complete SAM registration or renewal well in advance of the full proposal deadline. For UEI registration visited this link, https://sam.directory/UEI?gclid=CjwKCAjw_b6WBhAQEiwAp4HyIJaUI9DfZ6GgKVQxxe LeLsp72ZneUyTrcA7qQsOB_vQdGh9Z8B_XIRoCm-0QAvD_BwE

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

Full proposals must be received no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on September 11, 2023. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding. For applications submitted through www.Grants.gov a date and time receipt indication is included and will be the basis of determining timeliness. Hard copy, faxed, or emailed submissions will not be accepted.

Applicants should be aware that IOOS Office staff will only be available to answer questions until 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Monday through Friday.

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E. Intergovernmental Review

Funding applications to NOAA are subject to Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." It is the State agency's responsibility to contact their State's Single Point of Contact (SPCO) to find out about and comply with the State's process under EO 12372. To assist the applicant, the names and addresses of the SPOCs are listed on the White House’s web site https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf.

F. Funding Restrictions

Since this announcement solicits applications for financial assistance, profit or other increment above cost may not be included on awards issued under this competition.

G. Other Submission Requirements

Full application packages must be submitted through www.Grants.gov/apply. Hard copy, faxed, or emailed submissions will not be accepted.

Applicants using www.Grants.gov must locate the downloadable application package for this solicitation by the Funding Opportunity Number or the CFDA number (11.012). Applicants will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit the application through Grants.gov.

Grants.gov will provide information about submitting a proposal through the site as well as the hours of operation. After electronic submission of the application, the person submitting the application will receive within 24 to 48 hours two e-mail messages from Grants.gov updating him or her on the progress of the application. The first e-mail will confirm receipt of the application by Grants.gov, and the second will indicate that the application has been either successfully validated by the system prior to transmission to the grantor agency or rejected due to errors. After the application has been validated, this same person will receive another e-mail when the application has been downloaded by the Federal agency.

Please refer to important information in "Submission Dates and Times" above to help ensure your application is received on time. Please be advised that potential funding applicants must register with Grants.gov before any application materials can be submitted. An organization's one-time registration process may take up to three weeks to complete, so please allow sufficient time to ensure applications are submitted before the closing date.

Grants.gov contains directions for submitting an application, the application package (forms), and is also where the completed application is submitted.

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Full proposals must be received in Grants.gov no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on September 11, 2023. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding. For applications submitted through www.Grants.gov a date and time receipt indication is included and will be the basis of determining timeliness. Hard copy, faxed, or emailed submissions will not be accepted.

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria

a. Importance/Relevance and Applicability of Proposal to the Project Goals (25%)

This criterion addresses whether there is material value in the proposed work and/or relevance to NOAA, Federal, regional, State, and/or local activities. This includes importance and relevance to the topics and priorities described in the Funding Opportunity, including how well the applicant 1) describes the commitment to market and/or economic growth in the climate resilience challenge area and 2) describes the geographic and/or sectoral scope of the proposed program including the challenges and resource limitations that currently prevent bringing climate resilience technologies to market.

b. Technical Approach/Merit (25%)

This assesses whether the project approach is thorough and whether there are clear project objectives and goals. Applications will be evaluated on their vision for supporting businesses in identifying, developing, and implementing key commercialization pathways related to ocean-based climate resilience. Applications will be evaluated on the proposed timeline for the development of accelerator program design including milestones and deliverables.

c. Team Composition (25%)

This criterion assesses whether the applicant team possesses the necessary education, experience, training, facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project. This assesses the applicant's previous work and technical expertise in supporting businesses and/or entrepreneurs, as well as plans for incorporating new or existing climate resilience subject matter expertise and other partners. Applications will be evaluated on 1) their description of previous work supporting businesses and/or entrepreneurs, 2) plans to incorporate subject matter expertise into the development of accelerator programming for their chosen climate resilience challenge area, and 3) any additional relevant proposed or

Notice of Federal Funding Page 20 of 31 existing partnerships.

d. Project Costs (15%)

This criterion evaluates the budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate with the project needs and time frame. Applications will be evaluated on the proposed allocation of Phase One funds as related to the proposed key milestones and deliverables.

e. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (10%)

This criterion assesses whether the proposed work addresses the requirement that accelerators demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout all its activities and includes clear, measurable goals and metrics related to these objectives.

B. Review and Selection Process

Once a full proposal application has been received by NOAA, an initial administrative review will be conducted to determine compliance with requirements and completeness of the application. Late applications, applications that are missing required elements, or applications coming from ineligible applicants will not be evaluated.

Proposal applications that pass the administrative review will be evaluated and individually scored in accordance with the assigned weights of the above evaluation…