NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2022-2006972 NOFO Report (1).pdf

Understanding multi-stressor impacts on marine ecosystems under climate change

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 4

A. Program Objective 4 B. Program Priorities 6 C. Program Authority 9

II. Award Information 10 A. Funding Availability 10 B. Project/Award Period 10 C. Type of Funding Instrument 11

III. Eligibility Information 13 A. Eligible Applicants 13 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 14 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 14

IV. Application and Submission Information 14 A. Address to Request Application Package 14 B. Content and Form of Application 14 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 24 D. Submission Dates and Times 24 E. Intergovernmental Review 25 F. Funding Restrictions 25 G. Other Submission Requirements 25

V. Application Review Information 26 A. Evaluation Criteria 26 B. Review and Selection Process 27 C. Selection Factors 30 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 31

VI. Award Administration Information 31 A. Award Notices 31 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 31 C. Reporting 36

VII. Agency Contacts 39 VIII. Other Information 39

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 40

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: Understanding multi-stressor impacts on marine ecosystems under climate change

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2022-2006972

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.478, Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research - Coastal Ocean Program

Dates: The required letters of intent (LOI) must be submitted by e-mail to nccos.grant.awards@noaa.gov and received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 4, 2021.

Applicants will receive an email verification of receipt.

Responses to LOIs should be expected by approximately October 18, 2021.

Full applications must be received and validated by Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 18, 2022. Electronic submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

Investigators are advised to submit full applications well in advance of the deadline as a precaution against unanticipated delays. Applicants must register with Grants.gov before submitting application materials. When developing your submission timeline, keep in mind the following information regarding application submission on Grants.gov:

1. Grants.gov requires applicants to complete a free annual registration process in the electronic System for Award Management (SAM), which may take between three and five business days or as long as several weeks to process as described in Section IV.G. of this Announcement.

2. If you submit a full application via Grants.gov, you will receive a series of email notifications for up to two business days before learning via validation or rejection whether NOAA has received your application.

If use of Grants.gov is not feasible, contact the NCCOS Grants Administrator (see section VII for contact information) as soon as possible and no later than a week before the due date to assess whether alternative arrangements can be made.

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Funding Opportunity Description: The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program (CRP) [formerly Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)/Coastal Ocean Program (COP)], the NOAA Climate Program Office (CPO), and the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP), in partnership with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) and the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), are soliciting proposals to understand the combined impacts of multiple stressors on the function and health of marine ecosystems within the context of climate change. This information will be used to improve place-based management of marine protected areas and enable the proactive protection of these critical ecosystems under future climate scenarios.

Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2022 Federal appropriations. If funds become available for this program, 1-2 projects are expected to be supported for up to four years in duration, with an approximate annual budget for each project up to $1,000,000, not to exceed $4,000,000 total per project.

NOAA encourages applicants and awardees to support the principles of diversity and inclusion when writing their proposals and performing their work. Diversity is defined as a collection of individual attributes that together help organizations achieve objectives. Inclusion is defined as a culture that connects each employee to the organization. Promoting diversity and inclusion improves creativity, productivity, and the vitality of the research community in which NOAA engages.

The required LOI should be sent by e-mail to nccos.grant.awards@noaa.gov. Full proposals will not be considered if a LOI was not submitted.

Electronic Access: Proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov, http://www.grants.gov.

Sign up to receive any potential amendments to this Announcement via www.grants.gov.

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

Climate change is exacerbating existing environmental stressors (e.g., hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, and ocean acidification) through changes to the fundamental drivers of ecosystems (e.g., temperature, precipitation, seasonal cycles, and biogeochemistry). These changes impact processes such as oxygen, nutrient, and carbon cycling, respiration rates, stratification, ocean circulation, upwelling, and mixing, with implications for the prevalence, severity, and duration of harmful algal blooms, ocean acidification, and hypoxic events.

Understanding how these multiple stressors interact and subsequently impact species, habitat assemblages, and ecosystems is critical for place-based management.

The complex and large-scale nature of these environmental stressors requires a coordinated, interdisciplinary ecosystem approach. Past and current research efforts and programs typically have focused on understanding the impact of single stressors on species and ecosystems. However, understanding the impacts and relationships among multiple stressors remains elusive, yet critical, given the potential for unexpected interactions between multiple stressors, the possibility of irreversible ecosystem effects, and the need to manage and anticipate such possibilities.

Addressing climate change is a priority for the U.S. as stated in the 2021 Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/). The need for multiple stressor research to understand climate-related tipping points and thresholds for ecosystem functions within a multi-stressor framework has been identified in several recent fora and documents. These include the National Marine Sanctuary Climate Change Science Priorities Workshop (January 2021;

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/30718), the Ocean Acidification and Harmful Algal Blooms: Defining a Research Agenda Workshop (August 2020;

https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/HABOA2020.aspx), the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Implementation Plan 2021–2030 (https://oceanexpert.org/document/27347), the Fourth National Climate Assessment (2018;

https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/), and NOAA’s Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Acidification Research Plan: 2020-2029 (2020;

https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/ResearchPlan2020/Download.aspx).

This Announcement brings together five offices within the National Oceanic and

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Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science’s (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program (CRP), the Climate Program Office’s (CPO) Modeling Analysis Prediction and Projections (MAPP) program through the Marine Ecosystem Risk Team (MERT), and the Ocean Acidification Program (OAP), in partnership with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) and the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) — to tackle a research question that combines the focal interests of each office — hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, ocean acidification, climate change, ocean observing, modeling, data management, and marine protected area (MPA) management.

NCCOS/CRP, the administrative lead for this Announcement, supports the development of actionable information and tools that improve how NOAA protects, manages, and conserves ocean and coastal ecosystems. NCCOS/CRP supports sound coastal management decisions by involving resource managers, planners, policymakers, and impacted communities as research project partners or advisors to ensure useful results. NCCOS/CRP funds regional-scale and targeted research through a competitive, peer-reviewed process to address our Nation’s most pressing issues including harmful algal blooms and hypoxia research as authorized under the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA), coastal resiliency, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, mesophotic coral ecosystems, and effective ecosystem-based management.

The OAP was established by the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring (FOARAM) Act. OAP coordinates research, monitoring, and other activities to improve our understanding of how the chemistry of the ocean is changing, how variable that change is by region, and what impacts these changes are having on marine organisms, people, and the local, regional, and national blue economies. NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the world’s oceans, share that knowledge, and conserve coastal and marine ecosystems. The OAP plays an integral role in NOAA’s mission by monitoring changes in ocean chemistry, measuring the biological response of ecologically and economically important species, assessing the socioeconomic impacts of the ocean chemistry changes and organismal responses, promoting ocean acidification educational opportunities; engaging in national public outreach activities related to ocean acidification and its impacts; and coordinating ocean acidification activities with other agencies and international ocean science bodies.

CPO’s MAPP program focuses on the development and application of Earth System models and analyses across NOAA, among partner agencies, and with the external research community. Primary objectives include: 1) improving Earth System models; 2) supporting an integrated Earth System analysis capability; 3) improving methodologies for global- to regional-scale climate analysis, predictions, and projections; and 4) developing climate

Notice of Federal Funding Page 5 of 40 modeling capabilities and applications relevant to decision makers based on climate analyses, predictions, and projections. MAPP is contributing to the cross-CPO MERT, which seeks to address select climate risk challenges through holistic, interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations that produce usable and actionable science to support and inform decision making, reduce risk, and build resilience to climate-related hazards. Towards this goal, MERT aims to provide climate research and modeling to reinforce and expand the application of climate science in national marine sanctuaries, and ultimately improve long-term planning and management of the National Marine Sanctuary System in support of NOAA’s stewardship mission.

B. Program Priorities

NCCOS/CRP, CPO/MAPP, and OAP, in partnership with ONMS and IOOS, are soliciting proposals to understand the combined impacts of multiple stressors on the function and health of marine ecosystems within the context of climate change. This information will be used to improve place-based management of MPAs and enable the proactive protection of these critical ecosystems under future climate scenarios.

Proposals should specifically focus on understanding how multiple stressors are currently impacting ecosystems, and how these impacts will change and interact under future climate scenarios. Is the change linear, or are there clearly defined thresholds where rates change abruptly, acting as tipping points to irreversible states? Awareness and comprehension of existing and predicted stressor interactions and their actual/potential impact to ecosystems are of keen interest to resource and place-based managers.

This Announcement solicits proposals focused on understanding how multiple stressors are currently impacting marine ecosystems, and how these impacts will change under future climate scenarios. Proposed projects may address all relevant stressors in their chosen region, but must include, at a minimum, harmful algal blooms (i.e., high biomass, fish- or shellfish-killing, and/or toxin-producing bloom events), deoxygenation (i.e., includes a range of states from any loss of oxygen to hypoxia and anoxia), increasing temperature, and ocean acidification. Chosen species/habitat assemblages must be of broad management interest (e.g., commercial, recreational, subsistence, keystone, foundational, cultural, and/or ecologically important species) and relevant to an MPA or MPA network in the waters under the jurisdiction of the U.S. (including U.S. territories and the Great Lakes). The inclusion of a National Marine Sanctuary is encouraged, but not required.

To increase the resilience of MPAs to multiple stressors, this research initiative is focused on using MPA management-relevant species/habitat assemblages to:

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a. Determine the climate-related thresholds and tipping points for loss of ecosystem function due to the combined effects of ocean and coastal stressors that include increasing temperature, deoxygenation, acidification, and harmful algal blooms.

b. Identify the limits and tolerances for species to ecosystem stressors (at a minimum, increasing temperature, deoxygenation, acidification, and harmful algal blooms), both individually and in combination, and how this might impact ecosystems under various future climate and emission scenarios (10–100 years).

c. Downscale climate scenarios using regional modeling (i.e., coupled biological-physical) frameworks capable of examining the interactions among the multiple stressors and their impacts on species and associated ecosystems at spatial and temporal scales useful for management decisions.

Research projects must:

* Describe the importance of the region or habitat under study, key species, and/or parameters and why they are chosen for analysis with respect to thresholds, tipping points, and social and economic factors.

* Apply model (e.g., reanalyses, hindcasts, and large ensembles) and observational data to examine conditions/drivers of past extremes, tipping points, and benchmark variability patterns that drive ecosystem response;

* Integrate models to enable exploration of multiple stressors in the context of future climate scenarios, building upon and leveraging existing modeling platforms where possible;

* Conduct lab and/or field studies to better understand the relationship between multiple stressors, quantify ecological impacts, and resolve critical model parameters; and

* Focus on or have application to species and/or ecosystems of importance to U.S.

MPAs.

* Engage the relevant end users of the information through a management transition advisory group or MTAG (see Expected Outcomes). This includes translation of research results (e.g., development and/or contribution to online tools and workshops).

Expected Outputs:

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1. A more comprehensive understanding of how the prevalence, severity, and duration of harmful algal blooms, ocean acidification, and deoxygenation will be altered under climate change in the selected region(s).

2. Threshold profiles for selected species using a multi-stressor framework that considers (at a minimum) the impacts of realistic increases in temperature, deoxygenation, acidification, and harmful algal blooms.

3. Projections of how future climate conditions within the next 10–100 years under various emissions scenarios may impact ecosystems experiencing a multi-stressor environment.

4. Identification and assessment of management actions and/or adaptive industry practices that may mitigate the impacts of multiple stressors.

Expected Outcomes:

The intended outcome of this research is to provide place-based and resource managers, and other end users with the scientific information and tools necessary to improve the resilience of MPAs and living marine resources to current and future changes in habitat and species composition resulting from multiple stressors. Management end users of these research results include Federal, state, territorial, and/or tribal authorities, ONMS, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils, and any other organization or agency with a role in living marine resources and MPA management. Additionally, this information will be useful to place-based and resource managers concerned with understanding the impacts of climate change, deoxygenation, ocean acidification, and harmful algal blooms to species and ecosystems. The ability to holistically forecast changes in the prevalence, severity, and duration of these events will enable more effective ecosystem-based management under projected future conditions.

Application of research results for use by managers, policy-makers, and other end users through a highly integrated and collaborative approach is a central objective of NCCOS/CRP. Proposals should clearly articulate outcome-based management goals of the project (more information can be found in Section IV.B. and at https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/about/fundingopportunities/outputs-and-outcomes/) and a continuous engagement process with relevant end users. Engagement activities with end users may include, but are not limited to, annual meetings, workshops, training sessions on how to apply information or tools, and inclusion on coordination calls. At a minimum, the Lead Principal Investigator (PI) must establish a MTAG to ensure effective collaboration

Notice of Federal Funding Page 8 of 40 between the project PI(s) and end users and successful transfer of research results to the intended end user(s). Proposals must articulate specific plans for sharing information and research products with end users and the community in a timely manner, for example by proposing workshops and public outreach activities throughout the life of the project.

To facilitate a collaborative science approach with resource managers and other end users, the Lead PI shall hold an initial meeting within three months of the project start date, and at least one meeting per year with project PIs, their MTAG, and NCCOS/CRP, CPO/MAPP, and OAP Program Managers. The purpose of the annual meeting will be to present results of the research to date and to interact with the MTAG to ensure that collaboration between the PIs and the MTAG is maximized and that research results are optimized for utility by end users. The end users can then facilitate the transfer and use of information derived from this work for management applications, including sustainable fisheries management, habitat conservation, protection, and restoration, and protection of listed threatened and endangered species. Applicants should include all costs associated with the annual meetings and MTAG engagement (with the exception of end user travel costs for Federal employees) in their proposal.

In addition to the above outputs and outcomes, the applicant will be expected to work with the NCCOS/CRP, CPO/MAPP, and OAP Program Managers and relevant staff to develop outreach and education materials (e.g., materials for websites, handouts, and social media;

incorporating research into the classroom; and highlighting research findings/discoveries as they emerge). The NCCOS/CRP Program Manager will work closely with the Lead PI to ensure that the appropriate management representatives (as end users of the program outputs) are engaged as advisors to the project.

IOOS can facilitate data management and archiving related activities (see Section VI.C.) for interested applicants. This includes helping make the data publicly available and preparing data for archive. Applicants interested in partnering with IOOS should contact the appropriate IOOS Regional Association (RA), https://ioos.noaa.gov/regions/. Additional funds beyond the funding cap are available for this partnership (see Section II.A.).

C. Program Authority

33 U.S.C. §4001-4009, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (HABHRCA), as amended; Public Law 102-567, §201(c), Coastal Ocean Program; 33 U.S.C. Chapter 50, Sec. 3701-3708, Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act (FORAM); 15 U.S.C. 2904, National Climate Program; 15 U.S.C. 2931- 2934, U.S. Global Change Research Program

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II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Funding is contingent upon availability of Federal appropriations. If funds become available for this program, 1-2 projects are expected to be supported for up to four years, with an approximate annual budget for each project up to $1,000,000, not to exceed $4,000,000 total per project. For proposals which involve an IOOS RA, NOAA IOOS will contribute additional funding to cover RA costs to participate in data management activities (up to 5% of the total project budget per year, over and above the funding thresholds described above).

B. Project/Award Period

Full applications may cover a project/award period up to four years.

Awards may be funded incrementally, generally on an annual basis, but once awarded, those awards will not compete for funding in subsequent years. Once approved, full applications are not required for the continuation in the out years. While applicants are not required to divide Federal assistance project activities into annual increments based on appropriations law, this approach may be constructive given the possibility that funding may not be available in subsequent years.

Funding for each year's activity is contingent upon the availability of appropriations, satisfactory performance, and is at the sole discretion of the agency.

During the implementation phase of research projects funded under this Announcement, regardless of the funding mechanism used, NCCOS/CRP Program Managers will analyze financial statements and progress reports for each continuing award, and will have dialogue with the PIs and Authorized Representatives of the recipient institutions to discuss research progress and expected timelines for the remaining award period. If NOAA experiences budget fluctuations in future fiscal years, the amount of funding provided in any given fiscal year will be determined on a project-specific basis by the remaining tasks to be completed, the overall pace of the research and the length of time remaining on the award, and/or across the board reductions or increases based on the overall funds available.

Regardless of the budget for any given fiscal year, NCCOS/CRP Program Managers will consider the length of time remaining for each project, the amount of funds available, the tasks to be completed in the upcoming fiscal year, the pace of research, and any delayed

Notice of Federal Funding Page 10 of 40 progress relative to that originally proposed, before determining the funding amount in any given fiscal year.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

In an effort to maximize the use of limited resources, applications from non-Federal, non-NOAA Federal, and NOAA Federal applicants will be evaluated in the same competition, with different funding instruments applicable to the type of applicant.

The funding instrument for a research application selected for funding from a non-Federal researcher is expected to be a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is appropriate when substantial Federal government involvement is anticipated. This means that the recipient can expect substantial agency collaboration, participation, or intervention in project performance. Substantial involvement exists when: responsibility for the management, control, direction, or performance of the project is shared by the assisting agency and the recipient; or the assisting agency has the right to intervene (including interruption or modification) in the conduct or performance of project activities. "Substantial involvement” will be coordinated and communicated by NCCOS/CRP Program Managers, and can include collaboration and participation by NOAA (but see section III.A.5-6), as well as NCCOS/CRP Program Manager involvement in PI meetings, setting up management advisory groups, development of management transition plans, and communication of project results.

If the non-Federal applicant is at an institution that has a NOAA Cooperative Institute (CI), https://ci.noaa.gov/, it is allowed to submit applications that reference the CI by attaching a cover letter to the application stating its desire to have the application associated with the CI.

This letter should specify the name of the CI, the CI cooperative agreement number, and the NOAA-approved research theme and task that applies to the proposal. The application will use the Facilities & Administrative (F&A, or indirect cost) rate associated with the main CI agreement. If the application is selected for funding, NOAA will notify the university that a separate award will be issued with its own award number. However, the award will include two Special Award Conditions (SACs): (1) the existing University/NOAA Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would be incorporated by reference into the terms of the competitive award, and (2) any performance report(s) for the competitive project must follow the timetable of the funding program and be submitted directly to the funding program.

Report(s) will be copied to the CI's administrator when due, to be attached to the main cooperative agreement progress report as an appendix. This will allow the CI to coordinate all the projects submitted through the CI, since the terms of these awards will specify that this is a CI project via the MOA.

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If the non-Federal applicant is at an institution that has a NOAA approved Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), http://www.cesu.psu.edu/, and meets the criteria described below for using that status, they may include a cover letter with their application stating their desire to have the application associated with that CESU. This letter should specify the name of the CESU. Of the 17 CESUs across the nation, NOAA is a member of 10: North and West Alaska, California, Hawaii-Pacific Islands, South Florida-Caribbean, Gulf Coast, Piedmont- South Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Watershed, North Atlantic Coast, Pacific Northwest, and Great Plains. The following criteria must be met for NOAA to use the established partnerships with CESUs:

1. The proposed project must fit within the objectives of the National CESU Network Program, which are to provide research, technical assistance, and education to Federal land management, environmental, and research agencies and their partners in biological, physical, social, cultural, or engineering disciplines needed to address natural and cultural resource management issues at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context.

2. The proposed project must fit the intent of the CESU’s existing cooperative and joint agreement, which means (1) the research partnership will carry out or stimulate an activity (e.g., data, products, or services) for a public purpose, and (2) NOAA will be significantly involved in the work.

The funding instrument for a selected application from an eligible NOAA Federal applicant will be an intra-agency transfer of funds.

The funding instrument for a selected application from a non-NOAA Federal applicant will be through an inter-agency transfer of funds, provided legal authority exists for the Federal applicant to receive funds from another agency. Non-NOAA Federal applicants that intend to be the lead institution should contact the NCCOS Grants Administrator (refer to Section VII) to discuss how to structure budgets and prepare required documentation. PLEASE NOTE: Before non-NOAA Federal applicants may be funded, they must demonstrate that they have applicable legal authority for an inter-agency transfer of funds.

Support may be solely through NCCOS/CRP or partnered with other Federal offices and agencies.

The intra- and inter-agency transfers of funds are not Federal assistance (grants or cooperative agreements), and the policies described in this Announcement applicable to Federal assistance awards do not apply to Federal entities receiving intra- and inter-agency transfers of funds. In the agreements implemented in these situations, NOAA will be

Notice of Federal Funding Page 12 of 40 substantially involved in the projects in a manner similar to the cooperative agreements with non-Federal parties. Contact the NCCOS Grants Administrator for more information (refer to Section VII).

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for Federal financial assistance in this competition are U.S.

institutions of higher education, other non-profits, state, local, Indian Tribal Governments, U.S. Territories, and for-profit organizations. Federal agencies that possess the statutory authority to receive transfers of funds are eligible to submit applications for intra- or inter-agency funds transfers through this competition. Department of Commerce (DOC)/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and encourages women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications to its programs. In addition, DOC/NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation of historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions that work in underserved areas. DOC/NOAA encourages applications involving any of the above institutions to apply.

Please note that:

(1) PIs must be employees of an eligible entity listed above; and applications must be submitted through that entity. Non-Federal researchers should comply with their institutional requirements for application submission.

(2) Non-Federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University Cooperative/Joint Institutes will be funded through cooperative agreements.

(3) Foreign researchers must apply as subawards or contracts through an eligible U.S.

entity.

(4) Federal applicants are eligible to submit applications for intra- or inter-agency funds transfers through this competition. Non-NOAA Federal applicants will be required to submit certifications or documentation showing that they have specific legal authority to accept funds for this type of research.

(5) An eligible U.S. entity may propose Federal agency researchers as funded or unfunded collaborators. If Federal agency researchers are proposed as funded collaborators, the applicant should present the collaborator's funding request in the application in the same

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 40 way documentation is provided for a subrecipient for purposes of project evaluation, even though intra- or inter-agency funding transfers will generally be used if the project is selected.

(6) NCCOS researchers may apply through an eligible U.S. entity as funded or unfunded collaborators, but cannot be the lead PI on the application. NOAA Federal salaries will not be paid.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

None.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

Applications that did not submit an LOI are not eligible and will be rejected. Each application must substantially comply with the 15 elements listed under Section IV.B(c) Content and Form of Application: Required Elements (1) - (15), or it will be returned to sender without further consideration. A checklist with the required and requested application elements can be found in Section VIII.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

Proposal materials are available at http://www.grants.gov as part of the electronic proposal package. Please contact the NCCOS Grants Administrator (see section VII) should you have an issue accessing the materials.

B. Content and Form of Application

(a) Letter of Intent (LOI)

LOIs are required. Any full proposals submitted without a prior timely LOI submission will not be considered. The purpose of the LOI process is to provide information to potential applicants on the relevance of their proposed project and the likelihood of it being competitive in advance of preparing a full application. Full applications will be encouraged only for LOIs deemed relevant; however, the final decision to submit a full proposal is made by the investigator. The LOI should provide a concise description of the proposed work and its relevance to program priorities. The LOI should be no more than two pages (front only) in length, single spaced in 12-point font with 1-inch margins and should include in order the components listed below. If all these components are not included, the LOI will not be considered.

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(1) Tentative project title.

(2) Name phone number, email address, and institution of all PIs and specification of which individual is the Lead PI.

(3) Approximate cost of the project.

(4) Statement of the problem and its management relevance.

(5) Brief summary of work to be completed, methodology to be used and the plan for transitioning results to management application.

NOAA Program Managers will review each LOI to determine whether it is responsive to the Program's goals, as advertised in this Announcement. Letters or emails to encourage or discourage a full application are scheduled to be sent out two weeks after the LOI due date.

Late LOIs will not be considered and any associated full applications will not be considered.

(b) Example Application

A sample application package and other guidance can be found under “Information for Applicants” located on the NCCOS website at:

https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/about/funding-opportunities/application-forms/.

(c) Collaborative Proposals

If more than one institution is collaborating in a project awarded funds, the lead institution will be the only institution to directly receive funds from NOAA and will be responsible for distributing funds to the partner institutions with the exception of Federal agency partners.

Federal agencies will be funded with either intra- or inter-agency agreements initiated by NCCOS. Only one full proposal per project must be submitted via grants.gov. Collaborating institutions expected to receive funds must be budgeted as subawards or contracts in the submitted proposal and provide the lead institution with their documents for submission by the lead. Unfunded collaborators may also participate.

(d) Required Elements

Each application must substantially comply with the following 15 elements to be forwarded for merit review. The Summary Title Page, Abstract, Project Description, References, Notice of Federal Funding Page 15 of 40

Biographical Sketch, and Budget Narrative must be single spaced in 12-point font with one-inch margins. The Collaborators List must be an Excel spreadsheet. The 15 elements are as follows:

(1) Standard Form 424. The applicant must submit the Standard Form, SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance,” to indicate the total amount of funding proposed for the whole project period. This form is to be the cover page for the original application and is the first required form in the grants.gov application package.

(2) Summary Title Page. One-page maximum. The Summary Title Page identifies the project's title and the PI’s name, affiliation, complete address, phone, and email information.

The requested funding amounts for each fiscal year should be included on the Summary Title Page. If this proposal is a resubmission from a previous NCCOS competition, indicate that information on the Summary Title Page.

(3) One-page Abstract/Project Summary. The summary (abstract) should appear on a separate single page, headed with the proposal title, institution(s), investigator(s), total proposed cost, and budget period. It should be written in the third person. The project summary should include an introduction of the problem, rationale, scientific objectives and/or hypotheses to be tested, and a brief summary of work to be completed. The summary is used to help compare proposals quickly and allows the respondents to summarize their key points in their own words. Project summaries of applications that receive funding may be posted on program-related websites.

(4) Project Description. The description of the proposed project must include four narrative sections: the Proposed Research, its Application to Management, a Data Management Plan, and a statement of Diversity and Inclusion. The proposal shall not exceed more than: 25 pages for the description of the Proposed Research and Application to Management; two pages for the Data Management Plan; and one page for the statement of Diversity and Inclusion. These four sections must include the information as described below.

a. Proposed Research The Proposed Research narrative section should be thorough and explicitly indicate its relevance to the program goals and scientific priorities by:

i. Identifying the topic that is being addressed by the proposal;

ii. Describing the proposed scientific objectives and research activities in relation

Notice of Federal Funding Page 16 of 40 to the present state of knowledge in the field and in relation to previous and current work by the proposing PI(s);

iii. Discussing how the proposed project lends value to the program goals; and

iv. Identifying the function of each PI. The Lead PI will be responsible for communicating with the NCCOS/CRP Program Manager on all pertinent verbal or written information.

[Note: If the proposal is a resubmission from a previous competition, any concerns identified with the Project Description in the previous review process and provided to the applicant(s) should be addressed in the resubmitted proposal.]

b. Application to Management

The Applications to Management Narrative should establish the connection to relevant resource management needs by explicitly identifying the end user group(s) including evidence of the linkage between the scientific questions and management needs. The format and role of MTAG (see Section I.B.) should be included in this section. The narrative should provide the management justification for the research by:

i) Articulating the coordination with one or more end users.

ii) Discussing the expected significance of the project to management priorities and needs. Specific management targets, with proposed outputs and outcomes, should describe how this project will improve management capabilities. Outputs are defined as products (e.g., publications and models) or activities that lead to outcomes (changes in management knowledge or action). Definitions and examples of outputs and outcomes can be accessed at https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/about/funding-opportunities/outputs-and-outcomes/. The timeline for achieving outputs should be included in the Milestone Chart (below).

iii) Describing specific activities, such as workshops or development of outreach materials, that will enhance information transfer from project scientists to relevant management entities, other end-users, or the public.

iv) Describing the structure, size, and activities of the MTAG, particularly by including a plan for how the MTAG will engage with project PIs. Members of the MTAG should be named, when possible. Letters may be included, but are not required, to indicate

Notice of Federal Funding Page 17 of 40 that they have agreed to serve on the MTAG; these letters do not count against the page limits.

c. Data Management Plan

Proposals must provide a detailed Data Management Plan that describes how metadata and data collected as part of the project will be disseminated to the broader community, and plans for longer term archiving of these data. PIs that propose to collaborate with data centers or networks, except the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI), are advised to obtain letters of commitment that affirm the collaboration. Where possible, all PIs are strongly encouraged to use existing data centers and data portals to archive and disseminate their data. All ocean acidification data must be archived and accessible through NCEI (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/oceanacidification/index.html). Costs associated with use of data centers, or data archiving, should be included in the application budget. See the section on the NOAA Data Reporting requirements in Section VI.C.

d. Statement of Diversity and Inclusion

NOAA recognizes that it has a particular and unique opportunity to support NOAA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by taking an intentional step that encourages program applicants to consider diversity and inclusion as part of their scientific projects. This action has the potential to make an impact on not only the diversity and inclusion in science at NOAA, but also beyond the agency. In this section, describe how well the proposed activity broadens the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.). Examples could include, but are not limited to, full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

(5) References cited. Reference information is required. Each reference should include the names of all authors in the same sequence they appear in the publications, the article title, the journal or book title, volume number, page numbers, and year of publications. While there is no established page limitation, this section should include bibliographic citations only and should not be used to provide parenthetical information outside of the Project Description.

(6) Milestone chart. Provide timelines of major tasks covering the duration of the proposed project.

(7) Biographical sketch. All PIs and co-PIs must provide summaries of up to two pages

Notice of Federal Funding Page 18 of 40 that include the following:

a. A listing of professional and academic credentials and mailing address; and

b. A list of up to five publications most closely related to the proposed project and five other significant publications.

(8) Current and Pending Support. Describe all current and pending Federal financial/funding support for all PIs and co-PIs. Continuing grants must also be included. A current and pending support form is available on the NCCOS website for your use:

https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/about/application-forms. You should respond to this element whether or not you have any current and/or pending support, i.e., by indicating “not applicable.”

(9) A list of all known applicable permits that will be required to perform the proposed work. You should respond to this requirement element whether or not permits are required.

(10) Accomplishments from Prior Federal Support. If any PI or co-PI identified on the project has received Federal funding in the past five years for research on harmful algal blooms, deoxygenation (including hypoxia), ocean acidification, and/or climate change, information on the award(s) is required. Each PI and co-PI who has received more than one award (excluding amendments) must report on the award most closely related to the proposal. This section should not exceed two pages (in total, NOT per investigator) in addition to the Project Description.

The following information on accomplishments should be provided:

a. the award number, amount, and period of support;

b. the title of the project;

c. a summary of the results of the completed work;

d. publications resulting from the award;

e. a brief description of outputs and outcomes; and

f. as appropriate, a description of the relation of the completed work to the proposed work.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 19 of 40

When applicable, this information will be considered by reviewers in the evaluation of overall qualifications of applicants. You should respond to this element even if the applicant has no accomplishments from prior Federal support on research on harmful algal blooms, deoxygenation (including hypoxia), ocean acidification, and/or climate change by stating “no prior Federal research on harmful algal blooms, deoxygenation (including hypoxia), ocean acidification, and/or climate change.”

(11) 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 .

Personnel costs should be broken out by named PI, number of months, and percentage of time requested per year per PI. Support for each PI should be commensurate with their stated involvement each year in the milestone chart (see Required Elements: (6) Milestone Chart).

Any unnamed personnel (graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, technicians) should be identified by their job title, and their personnel costs explained similar to PI personnel costs.

The contribution of any personnel to the project goals should be explained.

Travel costs should be broken out by number of people traveling, destination and purpose of travel, and projected costs per person (i.e., hotel rate, meals and incidentals, and transportation). Registration fees belong in the “h.other” category in the SF424A and budget justification.

Equipment costs should describe the equipment to be purchased, and its contribution to the achievement of the project goals.

Any ship time needs must be clearly identified in the proposed budget. The applicant is responsible for requesting ship time through appropriate channels and for meeting all requirements to ensure the availability of requested ship time. If any NOAA personnel will be present during ship operations, vessel safety clearances must be obtained through the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) in advance of the cruise.

Required information and procedures are detailed in a Charter Vessel Acquisition and Safety NOAA Administrative Order which can be accessed via the OMAO website at http://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/headquarters/safety-environmental-compliance/vessel-chartering-info.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 20 of 40

If more than one institution is collaborating in a project awarded funds, the lead institution will be the only institution to directly receive funds from NOAA unless a Federal agency is a funded collaborator. Federal agencies may be funded directly by NOAA. The lead institution is responsible for sending funds to the other subaward institutions. A separate budget narrative is required for each subaward (including Federal collaborators) and must be provided to the lead institution for submission. Signed approval from each identified subaward institution is required. For acquisition contracts, the purpose and cost or price must be fully justified and the contract must fully comply with 2 C.F.R. 200.317-.327.

Applications are permitted to include the costs of project-level data management, including:

coordinating, organizing, documenting, formatting, or otherwise preparing datasets for submission to NOAA or non-NOAA data facilities; establishing and maintaining data access tools and services and related metadata; managing non-digital data that are not required to be made publicly accessible, including laboratory notebooks, preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific papers, plans for future research, peer review reports, communications with colleagues, or physical objects, such as laboratory specimens.

An applicant requesting funds for indirect costs in its proposal budget that has a current Federally approved rate should submit documentation of the indirect cost rate agreement as an attachment to its application submission. An applicant without a Federally approved rate should refer to Section IV.F. of this Announcement regarding options.

(12) 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.

(13) 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.

(14) Standard Form 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.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 21 of 40

Each subaward should provide a SF-424A listing each year of funding being requested. 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. Signed approval from the institution of each identified subaward and contractor should be provided.

All ship costs belong in the “other” category and are not subject to indirect…