NOAA-NOS-ORR-2022-2007199 NOFO Report.pdf

FY22 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 4

A. Program Objective 4 B. Program Priorities 6 C. Program Authority 12

II. Award Information 12 A. Funding Availability 12 B. Project/Award Period 13 C. Type of Funding Instrument 14

III. Eligibility Information 14 A. Eligible Applicants 14 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 15 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 15

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) 27 D. Submission Dates and Times 28 E. Intergovernmental Review 28 F. Funding Restrictions 29 G. Other Submission Requirements 30

V. Application Review Information 30 A. Evaluation Criteria 30 B. Review and Selection Process 42 C. Selection Factors 44 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 45

VI. Award Administration Information 45 A. Award Notices 45 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 45 C. Reporting 51

VII. Agency Contacts 52 VIII. Other Information 52

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 52

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: FY22 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-ORR-2022-2007199

Federal Assistance Listings Number: 11.999, Marine Debris Program

Dates: Full proposals must be submitted through and validated by Grants.gov on or before 11:59 p.m. ET, September 30, 2022. Due to limited staffing of federal offices, hardcopy applications will not be accepted.

Funding Opportunity Description: The NOAA Marine Debris Program, authorized in the Marine Debris Act, codified at 33 U.S.C. § 1951 et seq., supports the development and implementation of marine debris assessment, removal, and prevention projects that benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and marine and Great Lake resources. Through this solicitation, NOAA seeks to openly compete funding made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) to support impactful marine debris removal efforts throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States. There are two separate priorities for this solicitation: the first priority aims to support highly capable applicants in creating and administering national and/or regional marine debris removal programs (hereafter, “partnerships”) for the removal and disposal of large marine debris, such as abandoned and derelict vessels, derelict fishing gear, and other large debris. The second priority aims to support marine debris removal through the development, deployment, and management of proven interception technologies to capture ocean and Great Lakes bound trash and marine debris in coastal riverine, shoreline, estuarine, and urban environments.

The overall objective of this funding opportunity is to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal and marine habitats and communities across a broad geographic scale, through a variety of marine debris removal methods as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The NOFO describes the types of partnerships and projects that are eligible for funding, as well as the proposal requirements and criteria under which applications will be evaluated for funding consideration. Funding of up to $56 million is expected to be available split between both priorities of this solicitation. NOAA expects to support between six to ten partnerships under

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Priority 1, but may support more or fewer based on the merit of submitted applications and their proposed geographies and scale. For Priority 2, the number of marine debris interception projects will be based on the merit of submitted applications.

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP), a division of the Office of Response and Restoration, leads national efforts to address marine debris. The mission of the NOAA MDP is to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris. This mission is achieved through research, prevention, and removal activities that aim to conserve and protect our nation’s marine environment and coastal economy, as well as ensure navigation safety.

Marine debris is defined as "any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes" (15 C.F.R. § 909.1). This funding opportunity focuses on the removal of marine debris from coastal and marine waters (including the Great Lakes and coastal riverine systems) of the United States, territories, and Freely Associated States.

The overall objective of this funding opportunity is to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal and marine habitats and communities across a broad geographic scale, through a variety of marine debris removal methods as described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). While there are a number of effective ways to address the sources and impacts of marine debris, this funding opportunity focuses on two distinct priorities aimed at making the largest measurable impact:

PRIORITY 1: the development of large scale and high-value marine debris removal programs (hereafter “partnerships”) that can be responsive to local and regional marine debris removal needs, with a focus on large marine debris. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, “large debris” is defined as abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs), derelict fishing gear (DFG), and other debris that is generally unable to be collected by hand.

Applicants may apply for funding to execute a plan for a particular marine debris removal project or to administer a competition for subawardees that will propose marine debris removal projects.

PRIORITY 2: the implementation of projects that use proven interception technologies that capture marine debris at or close to known marine debris sources or pathways.

These two priorities will be reviewed as separate, parallel tracks under this funding opportunity, and they have different application requirements, described in this NOFO, that applicants must adhere to. Applicants wishing to compete under both priorities must submit

Notice of Federal Funding Page 4 of 52 separate applications for each. Funding will be split across the two priorities. While NOAA anticipates a greater portion of funding going to Priority 1, the specific funding split will depend on the merit of submitted applications.

NOAA expects to support organizations with the technical and administrative ability to successfully carry out the objectives of this funding opportunity.

This funding opportunity meets NOAA's mission to prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of marine debris through the conservation and management of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. To be competitive, applicants to this competition should demonstrate clear connections to this mission and benefits to NOAA trust resources. NOAA trust resources generally refer to marine habitats and resources in which NOAA has a stewardship interest. This includes resources associated with National Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Monuments, National Estuarine Research Reserves, and areas under state coastal management programs, including Areas of Concern within the Great Lakes. NOAA trust resources also include commercial and recreational fishery resources (marine and Great Lakes fish and shellfish); coastal habitats; diadromous fish species; endangered and threatened marine species; marine mammals and marine turtles; marshes, mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, other coastal habitats; Essential Fish Habitat (EFH); and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs). For the purposes of this competition, NOAA trust resources may also include foreign, transient, or transboundary marine species.

Funding of up to $56,000,000 is expected to be available for this grant solicitation. The minimum federal request for Priority 1 is $1,000,000. The maximum federal request for Priority 1 is $15,000,000. The minimum federal request for Priority 2 is $100,000. The maximum federal request for Priority 2 is $1,000,000. Cost sharing, leveraged funds, and in-kind support will make projects more competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA federal funding with formal matching contributions and informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors. To this end, applicants should note that cost sharing and leverage of other funds is an element considered in the evaluation criteria.

This funding opportunity will support organizations that will collaborate with diverse entities and groups. These include (but are not limited to) collaborations with public and nonprofit organizations, community and watershed groups, anglers, boaters, industry (e.g., commercial and recreational fishing industries, other marine industries, and plastic and waste management industries), corporations and businesses, youth groups, students, landowners, academia, tribal governments, and local and state government agencies.

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To further support effective collaborations, and in alignment with the Executive Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government, the NOAA MDP encourages applicants and awardees to support the principles of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility when writing their proposals and performing their work. Ensuring these principles means paying particular attention to the most vulnerable or underserved communities, which are often low-income, those already overburdened by pollution, those who lack economic or social opportunity, and people facing disenfranchisement.

In alignment with the Executive Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government, all applicants are asked to describe how their proposed project will advance equity and inclusion (see Section IV.B.4).

For this funding competition, the following definitions from Executive Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government are being included:

-The term “equity” means 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.

-The term “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.

The term “accessibility” means the design, construction, development, and maintenance of facilities, information and communication technology, programs, and services so that all people, including people with disabilities, can fully and independently use them. NOAA defines “diversity” as a collection of individual attributes that together help organizations achieve objectives. “Inclusion” is defined as a culture that connects each person to the larger organizing structure. Promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion improves the creativity, productivity, and vitality of communities in which the program engages. All applicants are asked to describe how their proposed partnership or project will advance these principles.

B. Program Priorities

The overarching objective of this NOFO is to remove marine debris to benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and marine and Great Lake resources. There are two priorities underneath that objective, as follows.

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PRIORITY 1: PARTNERSHIPS FOR REMOVAL OF LARGE MARINE DEBRIS

For Priority 1, NOAA seeks to support partnerships with applicants that will support large scale and high-value removal and disposal of large marine debris. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, “large debris” is defined as abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs), derelict fishing gear (DFG), and other debris that is generally unable to be collected by hand;

“high-value” refers to the benefit removing the marine debris will have for trust resources or other priority areas and activities; and “partnership” refers to the joint, collaborative efforts – funded through a cooperative agreement – of both NOAA and the applicant to support projects focused on the removal and disposal of large marine debris. While removal and disposal of large marine debris will be the main activity conducted by these partnerships, applicants are encouraged to propose complementary prevention, assessment, tracking, and monitoring activities as part of their application.

Eligible applicants are those listed in Section III.A below, including state, local and territory governments, tribes, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, and academic institutions.

These partnerships can take one of two forms:

(a) Applicants may apply to this competition with the intent of administering a nationally- or regionally-focused competition for subawardees that will propose specific marine debris removal projects. In this instance, the applicant must demonstrate their ability to administer a robust and efficient competition, track subawards, and report on subawardee accomplishments. The applicant must also demonstrate that an applicant pool exists for future competed projects, and that the way they administer the competition will achieve the goals of this NOFO. The Marine Debris Program envisions working jointly on such partnerships by providing technical assistance to identify, evaluate, and recommend activities and projects funded by partnerships. Strong applications will demonstrate an applicant’s administrative capability to solicit, evaluate, award, and monitor the progress of funded activities for the priorities identified in this NOFO.

- Examples include, but are not limited to, a non-profit establishing a national or regional competitive grant program, or a state agency establishing a statewide competitive grant program that is guided by clear goals, objectives, and priorities for marine debris removal with associated prevention and monitoring and assessment components.

(b) Applicants may apply to this competition to execute a plan for a particular marine

Notice of Federal Funding Page 7 of 52 debris removal project. In this instance, the applicant must demonstrate their ability to utilize awarded funding for removal of specific marine debris (this may include contract support).

- Examples include, but are not limited to, a state or non-profit that has identified multiple large debris targets within a project area and applies for funding to remove those debris. The application may include associated prevention and monitoring components.

NOAA seeks to fund partnerships that are high-impact. For example, for applicants that apply to execute a plan for a particular marine debris removal project, projects that remove multiple ADVs will likely be more competitive than projects that remove one ADV. For applicants that apply to administer a separate competition for subawardees, proposals that allow subawardees from the whole country or a large region of the country will likely be more competitive than applicants that restrict eligible subawardees to only one state. NOAA will also seek to achieve geographic diversity with the portfolio of partnerships they award under Priority 1 and will balance that objective with the objective for high-impact projects.

Partnership proposals should clearly demonstrate how the geographic scope of the proposed partnership fits with the applicant’s own expertise, capabilities, and mission. Partnerships awarded through this competition are expected to be responsive to large marine debris removal, disposal, and prevention needs within the coastal and marine areas of the United States; this includes the Great Lakes, United States territories, and Freely Associated States.

National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves, are also areas where applicants may consider focusing their partnerships. Partnerships do not need to cover all geographic areas mentioned here; they may focus on specific geographic regions or locations, based on an applicant’s normal areas of focus, expertise, or existing relationships to the community. Competitive proposals will demonstrate the applicant’s ability to achieve meaningful, measurable, and sustainable ecological benefits, and will incorporate the priorities identified in this NOFO.

All partnerships selected for funding through Priority 1 will be implemented through cooperative agreements with the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Despite NOAA’s involvement, successful applicants are expected to have sufficient technical expertise to direct partnership funding towards marine debris removal projects in a cost-effective manner with a focus on projects that have beneficial ecological and economic outcomes within coastal communities. NOAA will rely on awardees and their ability to direct or award partnership funding toward marine debris removal, with NOAA providing technical assistance and oversight. Partnership proposals can be new projects or projects that expand on previous work.

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The highest priority activities for partnerships are those that focus on ADV, DFG, and other large debris removal with tangible benefits to NOAA trust resources and coastal economies.

Partnerships must primarily support removal and disposal activities, and applications should demonstrate an applicant’s strong understanding of the marine debris issue and the technical requirements of large debris removal and disposal. NOAA will prioritize those partnership applications that demonstrate clear removal and disposal outcomes. Removals should be conducted with a focus on alternative disposal methods when possible. For the purposes of the NOFO, this means removal practitioners should use the disposal method that is the most environmentally friendly given the location, availability, and resources of the specific removal effort. Examples of this kind of disposal may include: recycling, reuse, waste-to-energy, or other innovative disposal methods. Removal metrics expected to be tracked include, at minimum: pounds of debris removed, the number and type of ADVs/DFG/other debris items removed, GPS coordinates, geographic area (in square miles or shoreline miles) surveyed, etc.

While removal of marine debris is the focus of this competition, applicants are encouraged to incorporate complementary prevention, assessment, tracking, and monitoring activities into their applications. Prevention activities may include those activities aimed at building capacity to address chronic large marine debris problems. This might include the establishment of reliable, sustainable funding mechanisms to address both chronic and acute marine debris problems; or the development or expansion of state-, regionally-, or nationally-focused marine debris prevention programs (e.g., vessel or fishing gear turn-in opportunities, vessel or fishing gear recycling programs, targeted work groups, programs working with boaters or fishermen, contracts for pre-approved qualified salvage companies).

Prevention activities proposed in applications should be in service of sustaining the benefits of the marine debris removal proposed in the application. Assessment, tracking, and monitoring activities include the establishment or expansion of real-time large marine debris reporting and tracking databases, or project-specific, in-situ pre- or post-removal monitoring where important ecological metrics (debris location, habitat/species impacts, ecosystem services, vegetation, etc.) are collected and analyzed. With regard to prevention, assessment, tracking, and monitoring activities, any requests to develop or expand prevention programs or tracking databases should include clear descriptions of why those programs or expansions are needed, how they will be developed, as well as plans for long-term maintenance. Where possible, tracking systems should be publicly available and coordinated with existing systems to avoid duplicating any existing efforts. Preferably, tracking systems should be able to be integrated with the Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA), found at: https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/resources/maps-and-spatial-data/environmental-response-management-application-erma.

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Selected partnerships and the activities they support are expected to be committed to sound science, and aimed at producing tangible ecological benefits. Partnerships are also expected to be cost effective, accountable to the efficient expenditure of federal funding, and strive for equity and diversity. Applicants should reference Section V.A. of this NOFO to see how partnership applications will be evaluated and develop proposals with those criteria in mind.

PRIORITY 2: MARINE DEBRIS INTERCEPTION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS

For Priority 2, NOAA seeks to fund projects focused on the deployment of marine debris interception technologies in coastal riverine, shoreline, estuarine, and urban environments where trash, plastics, and other persistent, reaccumulating macro-debris can be captured and removed. Proposals selected for funding through Priority 2 will be implemented through cooperative agreements with the NOAA Marine Debris Program, and are distinct from the partnership priority (Priority 1) above. The NOAA Marine Debris Program envisions working jointly on funded projects by providing technical assistance where needed; however successful applicants are expected to have sufficient technical expertise to implement these technologies, navigate and comply with all regulatory requirements associated with such projects, and properly maintain these technologies once deployed.

For the purpose of this funding opportunity, marine debris interception technologies include devices (such as litter traps, shoreline removal technologies, boats, booms, skimmers, conveyors with receptacles, floating collection devices, etc) that capture trash, plastics, and other macro-debris. These interception technologies may be utilized alone or together as part of a wider interception strategy. Funding for research and development, or deployment of unproven, or prototype devices will not be made through this competition, and proposals requesting funding for such activities will be withdrawn from the review. Applicants with ideas for research and development proposals should consider other NOAA funding opportunities that may be available for marine debris research and capacity building (e.g., the National Sea Grant IIJA Marine Debris Challenge Competition NOFO and the National Sea Grant IIJA Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions NOFO).

Furthermore, while the problem of microplastics and microfibers remains a critical issue to understand and mitigate, this funding opportunity is not intended to support marine debris interception technologies specifically targeting microplastics and/or microfibers.

Applicants should clearly demonstrate the need for deployment of these interception technologies by indicating the severity of the debris problem in the chosen location, as well as the ecological and socio-economic benefits to marine and coastal species and communities of the proposed debris interception. Proposals will also be evaluated on their

Notice of Federal Funding Page 10 of 52 likelihood of long-term success and benefits. Not all interception technologies are suitable for all locations. Proposed projects should clearly articulate the appropriateness of the chosen interception technology (or technologies) for the desired location. Applications should demonstrate the proven past success of the chosen technology/technologies in removing marine debris from the environment. Applicants should demonstrate in their application how they will monitor the ecological and socio-economic impacts of the interception technology on an on-going basis. Funding for research and development, or deployment of unproven prototype devices will not be made through this competition.

As part of the budget narrative, applicants should clearly demonstrate the cost effectiveness of the proposed technology. Applicants should demonstrate their capacity to procure and deploy selected interception technologies, navigate any regulatory hurdles and secure permits for the selected interception technology, maintain equipment in the long-term, and partner with municipalities and/or other public or private partners. Marine debris interception technologies require long-term maintenance. As such, project proposals should provide a monitoring and implementation plan which describes how the chosen technology/technologies will be monitored and maintained both throughout the award (if made), but also in the long-term with the absence of federal funding following any award.

Removal and disposal of debris collected from interception technologies should be conducted with a focus on alternative disposal methods when possible. This means removal practitioners should use the disposal method that is the most environmentally friendly given the location, availability, and resources of the specific removal effort. Examples of this kind of disposal may include: recycling, reuse, waste-to-energy, or other innovative disposal methods.

The strategic use of interception technologies is an important technique in addressing chronic marine debris runoff problems from land-based sources of marine debris into the marine and coastal environment. Interventions alone do not inherently address the sources or pervasive causes of marine debris. To this end, successful interception technology proposals for this funding opportunity should also incorporate efforts to raise awareness of the issue of marine debris and involve local stakeholders with the goals of preventing everyday problems (e.g. littering, waste mismanagement) as well as to ensure the long-term maintenance of any deployed equipment that is procured with federal funding.

Applicants should reference Section V.A. of this NOFO to see how applications will be evaluated and develop proposals with those criteria in mind.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BOTH PRIORITIES 1 AND 2

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The NOAA MDP strongly encourages applicants (and when relevant, sub-awardees) to incorporate justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility when writing their proposals and performing their work. Applicants may demonstrate this in a variety of ways, and examples include, but are not limited to, working in or with under resourced or underserved communities, working with stakeholders for whom there is currently limited direct engagement on marine debris issues, encouraging diverse perspectives from project leaders and partners (including, but not limited to, sectors, age, career stage, gender, ethnicity, disability, geography), incorporating different learning or engagement approaches into the project, or translation of resources/signage into other languages. Greater consideration will be given to partnerships or interception projects that propose to work in areas with disadvantaged communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened by pollution.

Funding for both priorities is primarily aimed at supporting new or innovative efforts, or programs that require funding to scale-up or expand their existing efforts to achieve broader and more impactful outcomes. This is not a request for individual or localized marine debris removal or prevention project proposals that fall outside the descriptions of Priorities 1 and 2, and any such proposals may be withdrawn from the review. Applications addressing microplastics or microfibers are not priorities for this solicitation and will be withdrawn from the review. This funding opportunity is not intended for removal efforts in non-coastal states or inland areas outside the Great Lakes watershed.

Applicants should also note that the following activities, in general, will not be considered for use of federal dollars under project awards: (1) activities that constitute legally required mitigation for the adverse effects of an activity regulated or otherwise governed by local, state, or federal law; (2) activities that constitute restoration for natural resource damages under federal, state, or local law; (3) activities that are required by a separate consent decree, court order, statute, or regulation; (4) activities that are eligible for removal and reimbursement under a Federal Disaster Declaration.

C. Program Authority

Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. § 1951 et seq.); Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

(PL 117-58)

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

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Funding of up to $56,000,000 is expected to be available for this grant solicitation.

NOAA expects to support between six to ten partnerships under the first priority, but may support more or less based on the merit of submitted applications and their proposed geographies and scale. The number of marine debris interception projects will be based on the merit of submitted applications. The minimum federal request for Priority 1 is $1,000,000. The maximum federal request for Priority 1 is $15,000,000. The minimum federal request for Priority 2 is $100,000. The maximum federal request for Priority 2 is $1,000,000.

Cost sharing, leveraged funds, and in-kind support will make projects more competitive.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA federal funding with formal matching contributions and informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors. To this end, applicants should note that cost sharing and leverage of other funds is an element considered in the evaluation criteria.

The exact amount of funds to be awarded and the number of awards made will be at the discretion of NOAA following pre-award negotiations with highly meritorious applicants.

NOAA may request that a highly ranked applicant submitting more than one meritorious proposal combine all or parts of its proposals into one award. Publication of this opportunity does not obligate NOAA to award any specific partnership or project or obligate all or any part of available program funds. Awards may include funding from other programs or agencies. There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to make awards for any or all proposals. The number of awards to be made under this solicitation will depend on the number and quality of eligible applications, the amount of funding requested by recommended applicants, the merit and ranking of the proposals, and other program funding needs.

B. Project/Award Period

Applications should cover a project period of performance from two to four years in duration. The earliest anticipated start date for awards will be January 1, 2023 – applicants should consider this date when developing plans for initiating proposed project activities.

Applicants selected to receive funding may be asked to modify the project start date to accommodate any delays in federal funding or environmental compliance consultations.

Applications for renewal or supplementation of previously-awarded NOAA projects are allowed; however such proposals will be subject to the competitive process and will not receive preferential treatment. In some cases NOAA may fund a project with incremental funding, usually in the form of a multi-year award. If incremental or multi-year funding is awarded, in which NOAA only obligates funds initially for the first phase of a project, NOAA has no obligation to provide any additional prospective funding in connection with

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 52 that award in subsequent time periods; additional funding is contingent upon satisfactory performance, continued relevance to program mission and priorities, and the availability of funds.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

Selected applications will be funded through cooperative agreements since NOAA staff will be substantially involved in aspects of both partnerships and marine debris interception projects. Substantial involvement may include, but is not limited to, jointly draft funding opportunity documents or other strategic planning, sitting on partnership review panels, and participating in project selection meetings, tracking the progress of removal, disposal, and prevention efforts through site visits; developing performance measures to assess project outcomes; participating in regular conference calls, and progress report evaluation and milestone approval; engaging with the recipient on environmental compliance requirements, technical collaboration, or permitting assistance; supporting the development of public-facing communication materials or events to highlight marine debris prevention activities;

supporting the development of and/or reviewing study approach, methodologies, and conceptual models; and reviewing manuscript drafts (if any).

Activities funded through this competition may have long-term planning goals and objectives common to the programmatic needs of both NOAA and the recipients. As such, NOAA may seek to maintain a long-term partnership with recipients by establishing cooperative agreements in relevant situations as “institutional awards.” If a cooperative agreement is established as an institutional award, the initial cooperative agreement will be established for no more than five years and NOAA may issue new cooperative agreements to the recipient for similar or related activities through a noncompetitive selection process.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

As outlined in the Marine Debris Act, eligible applicants for projects taking place in the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States (or their adjacent waterways), are state, local, tribal, and territory governments whose activities affect research or regulation of marine debris. Equally eligible are any institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or commercial (for-profit) organization with expertise in a field related to marine debris. Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered. Interested federal agencies may collaborate with eligible applicants but may not receive funds through this competition. Foreign public entities (see 2 CFR 200.1) from outside of the Freely Associated States are not eligible to apply.

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NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation of veterans, minority-serving institutions, and entities that work in underserved and underrepresented areas. The NOAA MDP encourages applicants of all backgrounds, circumstances, perspectives, and ways of thinking to apply.

Applications that have been submitted to other NOAA grant programs or as part of another NOAA grant may be considered under this solicitation. Applicants should indicate if the proposal has been submitted elsewhere for funding as described in the Budget Justification referenced in Section IV. Application and Submission Information (Subsection B “Content and Form of Application”) of this announcement.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

There is no non-federal matching requirement for this funding. However, cost sharing, leveraged funds, and in-kind support will make projects more competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA federal funding with formal matching contributions and informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors. To this end, applicants should note that cost sharing and leverage of other funds is an element considered in the evaluation criterion (see Section V.A).

Applicants should refer to 2 C.F.R. 200.306 for cost sharing or matching policies. Applicants with approved indirect cost rates planning to provide cost sharing may propose a portion or all of their indirect costs as match, since the valuation of such costs has already been federally approved and documentation is readily available. Refer to Section IV.F "Funding Restrictions" for information on indirect costs.

For funded applications that include non-federal match funds within the proposed budget, the ratio of approved NOAA funds to non-federal match funds will be legally binding within the award document signed by NOAA's Grant Management Division (GMD). NOAA is under no obligation to amend the match contributions once the award document is signed by the recipient, unless the amount is amended based on extenuating circumstances.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

For activities conducted under an award funded through this competition, recipients of financial assistance from the NOAA MDP involved in the collection, assessment, oversight, or interpretation of scientific information are required to adhere, to the best of their ability, to the principles, policies, and codes of conduct identified in NOAA’s Policy on Scientific Integrity (NOAA Administrative Order 202-735D), which is available at:

https://www.noaa.gov/organization/administration/nao-202-735d-2-scientific-integrity

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The intent of the policy is to strengthen widespread confidence (from scientists, decision makers, and the general public) in the quality, validity, and reliability of NOAA-funded science. Further information on this policy can be found at: https://nrc.noaa.gov/Scientific- Integrity-Commons.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

Complete application packages, including required federal forms, general instructions, and supplementary instructions specific to this competition can be found on Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). If the application forms and instructions cannot be downloaded from Grants.gov, please contact Tom Barry (tom.barry@noaa.gov, 202-870-2863).

B. Content and Form of Application

Applicants are required to apply through the Grants.gov website. No hardcopy applications will be accepted due to limited staff presence in federal offices.

Please visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/funding-opportunities/proposal-submission-guidance-applicants for helpful information on developing and submitting proposal documents/information.

Applicants are also encouraged to minimize the number of files uploaded to an application by combining the proposal’s files as much as possible. Adobe PDF is the preferred file format for application attachments.

Applications must adhere to page limits and any pages that exceed the limit for each section may not be reviewed. Files that cannot be opened or downloaded will not be reviewed.

Proposals will not be accepted if sent via fax or email. Application documents must use 11-or 12-pt font on an 8.5” x 11” page size and have page margins no smaller than 1” on each edge.

Applications should be sufficiently detailed in accordance with the guidelines and information requirements listed below and elsewhere in this announcement, and proposed activities should be able to be completed within the proposed period of performance. Each proposal application must contain the following required federal application forms (available from Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov)) and adhere to page limits indicated for each category, unless otherwise noted below:

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- SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance;

- SF-424A - Budget Information, Non-construction Programs;

- SF-424B - Assurances, Non-construction Programs;

- CD-511 - Certifications Regarding Lobbying;

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

- Summary (described below, 3 pages or less);

- Narrative (described below, 15 pages or less);

- Data Management Plan (described below, 2 pages or less);

- Budget Justification Narrative (described below, 6 pages or less);

- Curriculum vitae or résumé of applicant personnel (2 pages or less per person);

- Maps depicting the geographic extent of where removal efforts will be targeted including any site location(s) and or potential removal locations highlighted (no page limit);

- Photographs of example debris targets, if any (no page limit);

- Letter(s) documenting partner support (no page limit);

- Indirect cost rate agreement, if applicable (no page limit); and

- Other relevant attachments important to the overall understanding and evaluation of the proposed partnership or interception project, such as documentation about any permits necessary to perform the work proposed under the partnership or interception project (20 pages or less).

The following sections describe the information that should be provided in the proposal.

Note for some sections there are different requirements for proposals submitting under Priority 1 and Priority 2.

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1. Summary (3 pages or less)

A brief summary must indicate at the top of the page whether the application is being submitted under Priority 1 or Priority 2, and must include the following components:

a) Applicant Organization;

b) Proposal Title;

c) Indication of if the application is submitted under Priority 1 or Priority 2

d) Applicant Point of Contact Name, Address, Telephone Number, and Email Address;

e) Location: list the geographic area(s) in which the partnership or interception project will be implemented;

f) Funding: federal funds requested and any voluntary, non-federal match anticipated;

g) Description: clearly state the purpose of the proposed activities and the specific marine debris issues being addressed; clearly articulate the proposed approach (e.g., for Priority 1, if the applicant proposes executing a plan for a particular marine debris removal project OR administering a competition for subawardees that will propose marine debris removal projects); summarize all proposed planning and on-the-ground activities expected; identify stakeholders and non-federal partners that are likely to be involved; identify NOAA trust resources that are likely to benefit; indicate the duration of the proposed partnership or project and provide a general timeline of activities.

h) Outcomes: briefly describe the anticipated ecological and socio-economic outcomes (i.e. ecological services to be restored, benefits to local economies from an increase in tourism, etc.) the partnership or interception project is expected to produce. Long-term outcomes can be measured with an increased focus on prevention activities in association with the removal efforts. The intent of this funding is to not only remove debris but to reduce the reaccumulation of debris in the future. By incorporating prevention activities along with removal, the likelihood of reaccumulation of specific debris types will decrease. Any activities aimed at changing behaviors and raising awareness should also be described.

Incorporating long-term monitoring may also be used to measure the effectiveness and benefits of these actions, if desired. Therefore, applicants should describe how they will ensure project activities will continue following the completion of the funded period, if applicable.

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2. Narrative (15 pages or less)

When writing the Narrative, applicants should understand the components of the evaluation criteria (see Section V. Application Review Information Subsection A "Evaluation Criteria" in this announcement), as they explain how proposals will be scored for the application to be competitive. The Narrative is limited to 15 pages and should give a clear presentation of the proposed work. Generally, the Narrative should include the following information. Please note there are separate Narrative requirements for Priority 1 and Priority 2:

NARRATIVE REQUIREMENTS IF SUBMITTING UNDER PRIORITY 1:

a) Introduction: A summary of the proposed partnership’s focus, including the geographic reach, priorities for sub-awards or removal activities, the anticipated benefits to specific NOAA trust resources (as described in Section I.A.), as well as any benefits to the economy or navigation safety that might result. Describe how these benefits will be achieved through the marine debris removal and prevention activities proposed in the application. Identify the habitats, species, and/or resources expected to directly and indirectly benefit from removal activities, including anticipated ecological services to be restored by debris removal (these benefits should be tracked during the award period).

b) Description: This section should clearly describe the following components in detail:

i) How the partnership would be structured and how it will meet the goals of this NOFO. This should include a description of short- and long-term objectives and goals, and specific large marine debris issues the partnership plans to address and an overview of the activities proposed (removal, disposal, prevention, monitoring, and assessment).

For Priority 1(a) applications that propose administering a competition for subawardees that will propose marine debris removal projects, the application should include what applicants and types of marine debris will be eligible for the competition. Applications should identify the targeted applicant pool for sub-awards (if applicable), as well as the expected number and funding amount of sub-awards to be made for the overall life of the partnership.

Applications should also include the methods proposed for identifying potential sub-awards or projects, how NOAA will be involved in the process and funding decisions, and the criteria that will be used for selecting strong projects and determining the success of projects implemented under the partnership. Please note, it is NOAA's intention to maintain maximum competition and flexibility in the administration of federal funds through these partnerships. If the partnership anticipates limiting competition or otherwise restricting the

Notice of Federal Funding Page 19 of 52 allocation of funding to specific purposes, these limitations or restrictions should be clearly detailed in the narrative. Applications should also outline how they estimate ecological, social, and economic benefits that are likely to result from the projects funded through the partnership and how the applicant will create the conditions to realize those benefits. The application should include a discussion on how the partnership plans to work with sub-awardees to develop appropriate evaluation parameters for both the socio-economic and ecological aspects of sub-award projects, and how partners plan to work with NOAA during project selection and negotiation to ensure that the proposed parameters are adequate and meaningful to ensure a basic level of project success.

For Priority 1(b) applications that propose executing a plan for a particular marine debris removal project, the application should include the specific marine debris they plan to remove, how those marine debris targets were identified, and why they should be removed.

If the list of the specific marine debris targets has not been finalized, the applicant should describe their goals in detail and the process they will run to finalize the list of marine debris targets. Applications should also outline the expected ecological, social, and economic benefits that are likely to result from the project funded through the partnership.

ii) The relevance and significance of the proposed partnership to national or regional marine debris removal and prevention efforts. Applicants should align efforts with existing regional or national publicly vetted programs, priorities, or strategic plans (e.g., National Estuary Program or NOAA Habitat Focus Area sites, 2021-2025 NOAA MDP Strategic Plan, regional Marine Debris Action Plans, National Marine Sanctuary management plans, etc.) and describe how they do so. Proposal narratives should explicitly list or otherwise cite such documents for verification purposes, including the page number or specific action number within the plan. NOAA Marine Debris Action Plans can be found on the NOAA MDP website at https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/emergency-response-guides-and-regional-action-plans.

iii) Disposal approach. For applications that propose executing a plan for a particular marine debris removal project, the application should describe the planned disposal methods.

For applications that propose administering a competition for subawardees that will propose marine debris removal project, the application should describe how disposal methods will be considered and tracked as part of the competition and on-going monitoring.

iv) Complementary prevention, monitoring, and assessment activities. Applications should include the metrics expected to be tracked, including specific, measurable metrics on removal, disposal, prevention, tracking, and post-removal monitoring efforts, species/habitat impacts, volunteer participation, economic benefits, and other performance measures.

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Removal metrics should include, at minimum, the number of large-debris items removed, pounds of debris removed, geographic area (in square miles or shoreline miles) of the removal area, community engagement, jobs created, etc. For any prevention, monitoring, and assessment activities proposed, the application should describe how those activities complement the removal and disposal activities proposed.

NARRATIVE REQUIREMENTS IF SUBMITTING UNDER PRIORITY 2:

a) Introduction: A summary of the proposed interception project’s focus, including the geographic location, the…