NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2024-2008161 NOFO Report.pdf

Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) Program

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 5

A. Program Objective 5 B. Program Priorities 7 C. Program Authority 12

II. Award Information 12 A. Funding Availability 12 B. Project/Award Period 12 C. Type of Funding Instrument 13

III. Eligibility Information 15 A. Eligible Applicants 15 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 16 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 16

IV. Application and Submission Information 16 A. Address to Request Application Package 16 B. Content and Form of Application 16 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 25 D. Submission Dates and Times 26 E. Intergovernmental Review 27 F. Funding Restrictions 27 G. Other Submission Requirements 27

V. Application Review Information 29 A. Evaluation Criteria 29 B. Review and Selection Process 30 C. Selection Factors 32 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 33

VI. Award Administration Information 33 A. Award Notices 33 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 34 C. Reporting 40

VII. Agency Contacts 43 VIII. Other Information 43

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 44

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: Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) Program

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2024-2008161

Federal Assistance Listings 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 18, 2023.

Applicants will receive an email verification of receipt.

Responses to LOIs should be expected by approximately two weeks after the LOI deadline or November 1, 2023.

Full applications must be received and validated by Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time January 31, 2024. 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 and eRA Commons 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. Applicants must be registered with eRA Commons as described in Section IV.G. of this Announcement. Registering with eRA Commons can take up to four weeks to process. It is encouraged that applicants register with eRA Commons as soon as possible to avoid any delays.

3. 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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 2 of 44 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.

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)] is soliciting proposals for the Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) program. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2024 Federal appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have a September 1, 2024 start date. An informational webinar on this solicitation will be offered within approximately two weeks from the publication date of the NOFO. Information regarding this announcement, including webinars and additional background information, is available on the NCCOS funding opportunities website (https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/about/funding-opportunities/).

It is anticipated that up to approximately $3,000,000 may be available in Fiscal Year 2024 for the first year for all ECOHAB projects combined. If funds become available for this program, approximately 3 to 6 projects are expected to be funded at the level of $200,000 to $1,000,000 per year per proposal, including ship time costs. Targeted projects should range from $200,000 to $500,000 and are not expected to exceed 3 years in duration. Regional or cross-regional projects should range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year per proposal and are not expected to exceed 5 years in duration. NCCOS/CRP may reject any proposals submitted with an annual budget that is greater than $1,000,000 for any year.

NOAA encourages applicants and awardees to support the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion when writing their proposals and performing their work. NOAA defines diversity as the mixture of the unique attributes that shape an individual’s identity which they bring into the workplace to help NOAA accomplish its goals (1). Diversity refers to demographic diversity (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation), experiential diversity (e.g., affinities, hobbies, and abilities), and cognitive diversity (e.g., sensory processing and problem solving). Equity is defined as the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment (2,3). NOAA defines Inclusion as a culture that values the unique attributes of all team members. Inclusion is an environment which is respectful, collaborative, supportive, and one that allows for equal access (1). Inclusion requires active and intentional engagement on the part of everyone and provides a feeling of belonging. By promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion

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NOAA seeks to improve the creativity, productivity, and the vitality of its research community.

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.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 4 of 44

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

1. Overview of the NCCOS Competitive Research Program

The Competitive Research Program (CRP), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), supports the development of actionable information and tools that improve how the nation protects, manages, and conserves ocean and coastal ecosystems. 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, coastal resiliency, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, mesophotic coral ecosystems, and effective ecosystem-based management.

Research supported by NCCOS/CRP seeks to produce actionable information and user-driven products that will enable resource managers to assess management and policy strategies, as well as increase scientific understanding on issues threatening ecosystems and communities. To accomplish this, NCCOS/CRP emphasizes a collaborative research process that involves resource managers, planners, policymakers, and impacted communities as research project partners or advisors. To ensure useful results, NCCOS/CRP requires articulation of outcomes that benefit management in proposals and recipients must report progress toward achieving outcome-based goals annually (see Section IV.B.).

2. Ecology and Oceanography of HABs (ECOHAB) Program Objectives

a) Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Occurrence and Growing Problem of Impacts

Marine, estuarine, and Great Lakes waters of the United States are increasingly impacted by HABs with blooms reported in nearly every coastal state. The species that cause HABs in the U.S. are as diverse as the habitats in which they occur. HABs impact public health, key sectors of our Blue Economy (4), and the health of our coastal ecosystems. Multiple human poisoning syndromes are associated with the consumption of seafood contaminated with algal toxins. Human exposure to aerosolized or water-borne algal toxins and dermatological contact with HABs can also cause negative impacts. HABs can cause mortalities of fish and wildlife, ecosystem disruption, hypoxia and anoxia from high biomass blooms, and noxious impacts associated with the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 5 of 44 accumulation and decay of massive microalgal and seaweed blooms. These many and diverse impacts makes it challenging to derive a single national estimate of the annual economic impact from all U.S. HABs.

The increase in frequency, extent, and variety of HABs has increased society's concerns about the safety of our seafood and drinking water, the health of endangered species, fish and wildlife, the sustainability of beach and lakeside communities, losses to fisheries and aquaculture, increased strain on shrinking state, local, cultural and tribal resources, and long-term aquatic ecosystem changes. Economic costs associated with HAB impacts on public health, fisheries, recreation, and tourism, as well as the use of scarce funds for monitoring and management can be significant for local communities. A single HAB event can cost tens of millions of dollars, including toxin monitoring; closures of shellfish beds; fish, shellfish, turtles, birds, and mammal mortalities; closures of affected fisheries; disruptions in recreation and tourism; threats to public and coastal resource health; publication of watershed, health, drinking water and seafood advisories; and medical treatments (5).

Additional socio-economic costs can stem from public reactions to HAB events such as canceled vacations, job losses due to decreased demand for seafood, lower value for coastal or lake-front real-estate or property, or loss of access to key subsistence foods.

b) The ECOHAB Program

The ECOHAB program, based on The Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms: A National Research Agenda (6), was authorized under the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA) in 1998 as an applied competitive research program designed to increase the understanding of the fundamental processes underlying the causes and impacts of HABs. Such understanding is required to develop appropriate HAB management and response strategies.

Numerous additional reports and plans have provided more information about the magnitude of the HAB problem and outlined research plans to systematically address this issue. While considerable progress has been made toward understanding and predicting HAB events and their impacts, the complexity of HABs has become more apparent and new HAB problems have emerged. Thus, basic research into the causes and impacts of HABs and toxins is still essential and will require a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to advance our current understanding.

The overall goals of ECOHAB are to develop:

1) Quantitative understanding of HABs and, where applicable, their toxins in relation to the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 6 of 44 surrounding environment with the intent of developing new information and tools, predictive models and forecasts, and prevention strategies to aid managers in coastal environments; and

2) Understanding leading to models of trophic transfer of toxins, knowledge of biosynthesis and metabolism of toxins, and assessment of impacts of toxins on higher trophic levels.

B. Program Priorities

1. ECOHAB Priorities

HABs must be addressed to ensure public health, build viable and valuable sustainable fisheries, protect living marine resources including threatened and endangered species and their habitats, and effectively manage coastal activities and resources including aquaculture and subsistence use. In order to meet the goals stated above, NCCOS/CRP is soliciting proposals for targeted and regional FY2024 ECOHAB projects that aim to enhance predictive and/or applied science capabilities for HAB events through increased understanding of:

- The local and regional drivers that govern bloom initiation, maintenance, toxin production (where applicable), and termination from cellular-level processes to ecosystem-level interactions;

- The biosynthesis and mechanism of toxicity of known and emerging toxins (including those that are tumor-promoting or lead to long-term effects), including their persistence in dissolved and particulate form, and degradation in aquatic ecosystems;

- The uptake and depuration of toxins in commercial and subsistence seafoods and important prey species, including toxin biotransformation and fate;

- The trophic transfer of toxins in aquatic food webs, including the consequences of exposure of humans and animals to HABs via various routes, and cell and toxicity thresholds for HAB toxins and secondary metabolites;

- The presence of HAB toxins in subsistence resources and related risks to food safety and security; or

- The effects of environmental or anthropogenic changes, such as eutrophication, ocean acidification, or climate change, on HABs and their impacts.

2. ECOHAB Project Characteristics

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The ECOHAB program will support (1) targeted laboratory or field studies that address fundamental ecological and oceanographic questions related to HAB events and their management, and (2) regional-scale or cross-regional studies involving larger teams of investigators conducting coordinated, well-integrated, multi-disciplinary field programs.

Targeted, regional or cross-regional ECOHAB proposals should employ holistic multivariate approaches and/or modeling to advance understanding and prediction of HABs and their impacts in natural field conditions. Projects addressing risks related to subsistence use of specific coastal and marine resources that may be affected by HABs are especially encouraged. Proposals may incorporate in situ observing data for HABs and toxins into current ecosystem and food web models, including molecular data that reveal species-specific dynamics.

Projects can be in new areas or in areas that have been studied previously but where new or unanswered questions remain. Where ECOHAB or other funding has already established a foundation of knowledge, the need for additional research must be clearly articulated.

Support for targeted studies may be requested for up to 3 years duration; regional or cross-regional studies should not exceed 5 years duration.

a) ECOHAB Targeted Research Projects typically have the following characteristics:

- Projects range from 1 to 3 years in duration;

- Annual project budget is $200,000 to $500,000;

- Project activities are conducted either by an individual or small investigative team with participation by potential end users encouraged;

- Project findings inform predictive HAB models or forecasts, or address specific questions that are relevant to the HAB science and management community, or communities directly impacted by HABs or HAB toxins; and

- Projects with a direct management application should include a Management Transition Advisory Group (MTAG) to ensure effective collaboration between the project team and end user(s), and successful transfer of research results to the intended end user(s).

b) ECOHAB Regional-scale or Cross-regional Research Projects typically have the following characteristics:

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- Projects range from 3 to 5 years in duration;

- Annual project budget is $500,000 to $1,000,000;

- Projects take an ecosystem and/or community based approach to determining the linkages between HAB species, communities, the environment, and/or their impacts in geographic areas in the US that may experience severe, recurrent blooms;

- Projects focus on species and phenomena that have a region-wide or cross-regional impact, not specific localized impacts;

- Projects include extensive field measurements and synthesis of a variety of data types;

- Projects involve a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, collaborative team of investigators with representatives from groups with strong interests in mitigating the impacts of HABs (e.g., communities dependent upon affected resources) and appropriate local, state, tribal, regional, Federal agencies or non-governmental organizations that have responsibility for managing or communicating risks from HAB events;

- The project team has a designated lead investigator serving as the main point of contact with the Program Manager and a project team member designated to oversee transition or communication of research findings; and

- Projects must have a Management Technical Advisory Group (MTAG) whose purpose is to provide advice to the investigator team to assist with project design and transition of results to application.

3. Examples of Non-Applicable Research Topics

NCCOS/CRP coordinates with other NOAA, federal, and state research programs to leverage their research investments and avoid duplication of effort. The scope of these programs has been described in several reports (7-10). The NCCOS Competitive HAB Programs, including ECOHAB, will not fund research in the following areas:

a) Research on inland or freshwater HABs except in the Great Lakes and coastal waters, which, as defined in the Coastal Zone Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1453 (3)), contain a measurable quantity or percentage of seawater. Research on freshwater toxins that are transported into the coastal zone is, however, permitted.

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b) Disease surveillance, clinical characterization, and therapeutic guidance in humans are the purview of other agencies, such as NSF/NIEHS COHH, CDC and FDA.

c) Routine monitoring for HAB cells and toxins and water quality.

d) Operational HAB forecasting and observation systems.

4. Management Technical Advisory Group (MTAG)

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. For targeted ECOHAB projects with a direct management application, the Lead Principal Investigator (PI) is encouraged to establish a MTAG to ensure effective collaboration between the project PI(s) and end users, and successful transfer of research results to the intended end user(s).

ECOHAB regional and cross-regional projects must have a MTAG whose purpose is to collaborate with the project team in project design, implementation, and transition of project results to application. The structure, size, and activities of the MTAG should be designed by the investigators and described in the proposal, including a plan for how the MTAG will interact with the project team. If letters from MTAG members are included in the proposal indicating that they have agreed to serve on the MTAG, these letters do not count against the project narrative page limits. MTAG members can be end-users of proposed research products or information, have expertise related to the proposed research, or contribute local or traditional ecological knowledge or perspectives of communities impacted by HAB events. NCCOS/CRP employees cannot be MTAG members. Funding can be requested for MTAG activities such as participation in project investigator meetings or participation in technology/information transfer events. Travel funds for the MTAG should be included within the budget. Although federal employees may be MTAG members, they cannot receive travel funds. The ECOHAB Program Manager may request additional MTAG members during the project period.

5. References

(1) NOAA FY2020-2024 Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, December 2020.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 10 of 44 https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/document/2020/Dec/NOAA%202020- 2024%20Diversity%20and%20Inclusion%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf.

(2) Government-Wide Strategic Plan To Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. Accessibility In The Federal Workforce, November, 2021. The White House.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Strategic-Plan-to-Advance- Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-and-Accessibility-in-the-Federal-Workforce-11.23.21.pdf.

(3) Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (EO 13985), January 20, 2021.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/

(4) NOAA Blue Economy Strategic Plan 2021-2025, January 2021.

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/economy/blue-economy-strategy/.

(5) Proceedings of the Workshop on the Socio-economic Effects of Harmful Algal Blooms in the United States, U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, March 2021. https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/33455.

(6) The Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms: A National Research Agenda, 1995. https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/14226.

(7) HAB RDDTT. 2008. Harmful Algal Bloom Research, Development, Demonstration, and Technology Transfer National Workshop Report. Dortch, Q., Anderson, D.M., Ayres, D.L., Glibert, P.M. (Eds). Woods Hole, MA. https://hab.whoi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/RDDTT_National_Workshop_Report_Final_43464.pdf.

(8) Jewett, E.B., Lopez, C.B., Dortch, Q., Etheridge, S.M., Backer, L.C., 2008. Harmful Algal Bloom Management and Response: Assessment and Plan. Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia and Human Health of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology. Washington, DC, 76 pp.

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/jsost_hab0908.pdf.

(9) Lopez, C.B., Jewett, E.B., Dortch, Q., Walton, B.T., Hudnell, H.K. 2008. Scientific Assessment of Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms. Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and Human Health of the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science

Notice of Federal Funding Page 11 of 44 and Technology, Washington, D.C., 65 pp.

http://www.whoi.edu/fileserver.do?id=41023&pt=10&p=19132.

(10) National Science and Technology Council, Subcommittee on Ocean Sciences and Technology, 2016. Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Comprehensive Research Plan and Action Strategy: An Interagency Report. Washington, DC. 94 pp.

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/NSTC/final_habs_h ypoxia_research_plan_and_action.pdf.

C. Program Authority

Public Law 102-567, §201(c) authorized NOAA’s Coastal Ocean Program, now known as the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program (CRP). The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA; 33 U.S.C. §4001-4010, 1998, 2004, 2014, and 2017) authorizes NCCOS/CRP competitive Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) research programs and directs NOAA to advance the scientific understanding and ability to detect, monitor, assess, and predict HAB and hypoxia events.

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2024 Federal appropriations.

It is anticipated that up to approximately $3,000,000 may be available in Fiscal Year 2024 for the first year for all ECOHAB projects combined. If funds become available for this program, approximately 3 to 6 projects are expected to be funded at the level of $100,000 to $1,000,000 per year per proposal, including ship time costs. Targeted projects should range from $200,000 to $500,000 per year and are not expected to exceed 3 years in duration.

Regional or cross-regional projects should range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 and are not expected to exceed 5 years in duration. NCCOS/CRP may reject any proposals submitted with an annual budget that is greater than $1,000,000 for any year. It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have a September 1, 2024 start date.

B. Project/Award Period

Full applications may cover a project/award period up to 3 years for targeted projects and up to 5 years for regional or cross-regional projects.

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 12 of 44 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 progress relative to that originally proposed, before determining the funding amount in any given fiscal year.

The start date should always begin on the first day of the month and the end date should always end on the last day of any given month when making a projection for the award start and end dates.

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 44 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.

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. Unfunded proposals may be shared with other NOAA offices or other Federal Agencies for the purposes of collaboration and eliminating duplication.

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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 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 government entities, U.S. Territories, U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands institutions, 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.

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(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 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

Letters of intent are required. Applications that did not submit an LOI are not eligible and will be rejected. Each application must substantially comply with the 14 elements listed under Section IV.B.2.(c) Content and Form of Application: Required Elements (1) - (14), 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

Required proposal forms 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

1. 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)

Notice of Federal Funding Page 16 of 44 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.

(a) Tentative project title.

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

(c) Approximate cost of the project. Do not include in estimated cost, whole dollars only.

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

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

CRP 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.

2. Full Application

(a) 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/.

(b) 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.

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(c) Required Elements

Each application must substantially comply with the following 14 elements to be forwarded for merit review. The Summary Title Page, Abstract, Project Description, References, 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 14 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. Please ensure that the person who is listed as the authorized representative matches the signature, if there is shared signing authority, please submit supporting documentation.

(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 project description shall not exceed 18 pages. Page limits are as follows: Proposed Research and Application to Management (15 pages); Data Management Plan (two pages); Statement of Diversity and Inclusion (one page). These four sections must include the information as described below.

a. Proposed Research

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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 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 the Management Technical Advisory Group (MTAG, see Section I.B.) should be included in this section, if appropriate. 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, Notice of Federal Funding Page 19 of 44 that will enhance information transfer from project scientists to relevant management entities, other end-users, or the public.

iv) If the proposal includes a project advisory committee, such as a MTAG or Technical Advisory Committee, describing the structure, size, and activities of the advisory committee, particularly by including a plan for how the committee will engage with project PIs.

Members of the advisory committee should be named, when possible. Letters may be included, but are not required, to indicate that they have agreed to serve on the advisory committee; 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.

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, equity, and inclusion by taking an intentional step that encourages program applicants to consider the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of their scientific projects. This action has the potential to make an impact on not only the diversity, equity, and inclusion in science at NOAA, but also beyond the agency. In this section, describe how well the proposed project incorporates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Examples could include, but are not limited to, broadening the participation of underrepresented groups; partnering with underserved communities to ensure relevant science, services and tools reach decision-makers; partnering with minority serving institutions or programs that promote diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); having a diverse project team and MTAG across several factors (e.g., sectors, age, career stage, gender, ethnicity, disability, geography, etc.); encouraging diverse perspectives from project team members and partners; and or fostering an inclusive

Notice of Federal Funding Page 20 of 44 environment that empowers and engages all team members.

(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 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) 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, see https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/about/funding-opportunities/requirements/.

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.

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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 or leased, 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 Corporate Services https://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/~noaaforms/eforms/nf57-11-02.pdf.

Required information and procedures are detailed in a Charter Vessel Acquisition and Safety NOAA Administrative Order which can be accessed via the NOAA Office of the Chief Administrative Officer website at https://www.noaa.gov/organization/administration/nao- 209-115-noaa-employees-aboard-non-noaa-vessels in advance of the cruise.

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

Notice of Federal…