NOAA-OAR-OER-2024-2007964 NOFO Report.pdf

Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Opportunity

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 6

A. Program Objective 6 B. Program Priorities 7 C. Program Authority 8

II. Award Information 9 A. Funding Availability 9 B. Project/Award Period 9 C. Type of Funding Instrument 9

III. Eligibility Information 10 A. Eligible Applicants 10 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 11 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 11

IV. Application and Submission Information 12 A. Address to Request Application Package 12 B. Content and Form of Application 12 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 19 D. Submission Dates and Times 20 E. Intergovernmental Review 21 F. Funding Restrictions 21 G. Other Submission Requirements 21

V. Application Review Information 22 A. Evaluation Criteria 22 B. Review and Selection Process 24 C. Selection Factors 24 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 25

VI. Award Administration Information 25 A. Award Notices 25 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 26 C. Reporting 32

VII. Agency Contacts 34 VIII. Other Information 34

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 38

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Agency Name(s): Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce

Funding Opportunity Title: Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Opportunity

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-OAR-OER-2024-2007964

Federal Assistance Listings Number: 11.011, Ocean Exploration

Dates: Applicants are required to submit a complete, maximum two-page, pre-proposal in order to be allowed to submit a full proposal. Pre-proposals must be received by 4:59 p.m. EDT on May 30, 2023. Full proposals must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 5, 2023. Pre-proposals and full proposals received after the above deadlines will be disqualified. An informational webinar will be held shortly after this funding opportunity is announced. Details will be available on the NOAA Ocean Exploration website (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/welcome.html). A recording will be posted to this page after the event.

Funding Opportunity Description: NOAA Ocean Exploration is soliciting proposals for ocean exploration-related projects under three themes. By supporting exploration, i.e., discovery through disciplined, diverse observations, NOAA Ocean Exploration seeks to advance our basic understanding of waters under U.S. jurisdiction. Projects under the ocean exploration and discovery and technology themes are restricted to waters under U.S. jurisdiction and should support national priorities such as those in the Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NOMEC_OEC_Priorities_Report.pdf) developed per the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (https://www.noaa.gov/nomec). Projects under the maritime heritage theme are not restricted to waters under U.S. jurisdiction. All projects should support at least one of NOAA’s science and technology priorities of uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, ’omics, data, and citizen science (https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/NOAA-Science-Technology- Focus-Areas).

For Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) funding, NOAA Ocean Exploration is soliciting proposals focused on any one of the following three themes:

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OCEAN EXPLORATION and DISCOVERY: Proposals should be in support of the NOAA Ocean Exploration mission to explore unknown or poorly known ocean areas, processes, and resources in waters deeper than 200 meters. Thus, NOAA Ocean Exploration is particularly interested in exploration of physical, chemical, and biological environments and processes within the oceanic water column in these deep waters. However, proposals for projects in shallower waters will be considered if they focus on exploration of tropical mesophotic environments. All proposals should be for work within waters under U.S. jurisdiction and describe how the work will address the thematic and geographic priorities for ocean exploration in the Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone.

TECHNOLOGY: Proposals should feature application of new or novel use of existing ocean technologies or innovative methods that could increase the scope and efficiency of acquiring ocean exploration data and expanding its availability and use. NOAA Ocean Exploration is particularly interested in proposals for technologies that are platform agnostic (work across multiple platforms) and/or address novel methods (for example machine learning and artificial intelligence) to analyze existing publicly accessible large datasets. Proposed ocean technologies must be applicable to water depths of 200 meters or greater, preferably full-ocean depth (testing in shallower water or lab-based testing is acceptable), address at least one of the defined ocean exploration variables as referenced in the “Exploration Variables Identified by NOAA Ocean Exploration” technical memorandum (https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/29495), and describe how the work will address the thematic and geographic priorities for ocean exploration in the Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone.

MARITIME HERITAGE: Proposals should address exploration and discovery of significant maritime heritage resources that improve archaeological knowledge and inform decisions concerning preservation, management, and potential seafloor use. Maritime heritage projects can be conducted in any water depth, can focus on prehistoric and historic-period subjects, and are not restricted to waters under U.S. jurisdiction. Data products must benefit other academic and resource management disciplines. NOAA Ocean Exploration is particularly interested in proposals that include the use of innovative and advanced technology and methodology.

Informational documents about this funding opportunity are on the NOAA Ocean Exploration website (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/welcome.html).

For the purpose of this funding opportunity, costs for ship time and/or other ocean data collection platforms (e.g., remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, etc.) are

Notice of Federal Funding Page 3 of 38 considered rental costs and therefore are not included in the modified total direct cost. The exception is for organizations with a federal negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that covers these charges.

All links were valid as of announcement publication date. If updated links are needed, email oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov.

The following lists are provided to aid in preparing pre-proposals and full proposals.

Pre-Proposals (due May 30, 2023 at 4:59 p.m. ET)

- NOAA Ocean Exploration notice of funding opportunity cover sheet

- Pre-proposal narrative, maximum 2 pages

- Demographic information

All applicants should submit proposals to oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov.

Full Proposals (due October 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm ET)

- Updated NOAA Ocean Exploration notice of funding opportunity cover sheet

- Executive summary, maximum 1 page

- Project narrative, maximum 15 pages

- Data and information sharing plan, maximum 2 pages

- Outreach and education plan, maximum 1 page

- Statement of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), maximum 1 page

- Previous significant results

- Summary of current funding support for each principal and co-principal investigator

- Curriculum vitae, maximum 2 pages for each principal investigator and co-principal investigator

- Budget justification and budget tables

- Negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)

- National Environmental Policy (NEPA) questionnaire

- Letters of support (optional, e.g. from ship time operators)

- Letter from state historic preservation office (SHPO) staff describing the project’s potential to affect historic resources (if applicable)

- Details about coordination with the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP), maximum 1 page (only applicable if the lead principal investigator is a federal employee)

- Forms (for nonfederal applicants only):

Notice of Federal Funding Page 4 of 38 o Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) o Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) o Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) o Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) o Certification Regarding Lobbying (CD511)

- Suggested reviewers (optional)

Nonfederal applicants must submit all documents required for a full proposal individually through Grants.gov.

Federal applicants must email full proposals to oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov.

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

The world’s ocean remains largely unexplored, leaving significant gaps in the basic environmental intelligence needed to manage and protect ocean resources, forecast future environmental changes, and facilitate sustainable economic development of the ocean.

Through this program, NOAA Ocean Exploration seeks to fund interdisciplinary and innovative ocean exploration-related projects that support its priorities. NOAA Ocean Exploration is dedicated to exploring the unknown ocean, unlocking its potential through scientific discovery, technological advancements, and data delivery. By working closely with partners across public, private, and academic sectors, through this program as well as others, NOAA Ocean Exploration is filling gaps in our basic understanding of the marine environment. This allows us, collectively, to protect ocean health, sustainably manage our marine resources, accelerate our national economy, better understand our changing environment, and enhance appreciation of the importance of the ocean in our everyday lives.

Successful proposals:

- Directly support NOAA Ocean Exploration priorities,

- Typically involve multiple partners,

- Are interdisciplinary and innovative in their approach,

- Leverage other programs and organizations with compatible objectives,

- Employ advanced technology platforms and sensors to conduct or further ocean exploration,

- Produce information that will be valuable to state and federal marine resource managers,

- Give consideration to environmental impacts in the project planning and demonstrate the applicant’s ability to acquire all necessary permits,

- Explain how the applicant will make data and results publicly available to advance scientific knowledge and inform environmental management decisions,

- Explain how the applicant will engage the public and address diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).

Applicants must be willing to adhere to an open data policy that ensures that all environmental data and information collected or created with program support will be promptly made publicly available after undergoing quality control. In addition, proposals must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and all other federal laws regarding environmental protection (e.g., Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and National Marine Sanctuaries Act).

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NOAA Ocean Exploration values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to the achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM);

increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology;

improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of the United States;

and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the NOAA Ocean Exploration website (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/ffo-recipients.html) to familiarize themselves with past and present NOAA Ocean Exploration-funded activities. Links to information on and resources for the NOAA Ocean Exploration competitive grant program, including frequently asked questions and the required cover sheet for pre-proposals and full proposals, are on the NOAA Ocean Exploration website (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/welcome.html). Information about the date and time of an informational webinar, and a recording of the webinar, will be posted there when available.

B. Program Priorities

NOAA Ocean Exploration is soliciting proposals for ocean exploration-related projects under three themes. By supporting exploration, i.e., discovery through disciplined, diverse observations, NOAA Ocean Exploration seeks to advance our basic understanding of waters under U.S. jurisdiction. Projects under the ocean exploration and discovery and technology themes are restricted to waters under U.S. jurisdiction and should support national priorities such as those in the Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NOMEC_OEC_Priorities_Report.pdf) developed per the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (https://www.noaa.gov/nomec). Projects under the maritime heritage theme are not restricted to waters under U.S. jurisdiction. All projects should support at least one of NOAA’s science and technology priorities of uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, ’omics, data, and citizen science (https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/NOAA- Science-Technology-Focus-Areas).

For Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) funding, NOAA Ocean Exploration is soliciting proposals focused on any one of the following three themes:

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OCEAN EXPLORATION and DISCOVERY: Proposals should be in support of the NOAA Ocean Exploration mission to explore unknown or poorly known ocean areas, processes, and resources in waters deeper than 200 meters. Thus, NOAA Ocean Exploration is particularly interested in exploration of physical, chemical, and biological environments and processes within the oceanic water column in these deep waters. However, proposals for projects in shallower waters will be considered if they focus on exploration of tropical mesophotic environments. All proposals should be for work within waters under U.S. jurisdiction and describe how the work will address the thematic and geographic priorities for ocean exploration in the Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone.

TECHNOLOGY: Proposals should feature application of new or novel use of existing ocean technologies or innovative methods that could increase the scope and efficiency of acquiring ocean exploration data and expanding its availability and use. NOAA Ocean Exploration is particularly interested in proposals for technologies that are platform agnostic (work across multiple platforms) and/or address novel methods (for example machine learning and artificial intelligence) to analyze existing publicly accessible large datasets. Proposed ocean technologies must be applicable to water depths of 200 meters or greater, preferably full-ocean depth (testing in shallower water or lab-based testing is acceptable), address at least one of the defined ocean exploration variables as referenced in the “Exploration Variables Identified by NOAA Ocean Exploration” technical memorandum (https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/29495), and describe how the work will address the thematic and geographic priorities for ocean exploration in the Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone.

MARITIME HERITAGE: Proposals should address exploration and discovery of significant maritime heritage resources that improve archaeological knowledge and inform decisions concerning preservation, management, and potential seafloor use. Maritime heritage projects can be conducted in any water depth, can focus on prehistoric and historic-period subjects, and are not restricted to waters under U.S. jurisdiction. Data products must benefit other academic and resource management disciplines. NOAA Ocean Exploration is particularly interested in proposals that include the use of innovative and advanced technology and methodology.

C. Program Authority

33 USC 3403(a)

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II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

NOAA Ocean Exploration anticipates approximately $3,000,000 will be available to fund proposed projects under this notice. With these funds, NOAA Ocean Exploration anticipates being able to support 4-10 awards with budgets ranging from $75,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000 to be spent over one or two years. Proposals for the Ocean Exploration and Discovery theme can range from $75,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000.

Proposals in this theme for less than $75,000 or more than $1,000,000 will be disqualified.

Proposals for the Technology and Maritime Heritage themes can range from $75,000 to a maximum of $750,000. Proposals in these themes for less than $75,000 or more than $750,000 will be disqualified. For all themes, these minimum and maximum dollar amounts include direct and indirect costs.

The amount available for this funding opportunity will be subject to the final FY24 appropriation/allocation for NOAA Ocean Exploration. Publication of this notice does not obligate NOAA to fund any specific project or use all or any part of available funds. There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to initiate or continue exploration activities where NOAA Ocean Exploration has recommended funding. NOAA Ocean Exploration will determine the amount of recommended funding for a proposed project during pre-award negotiations with the applicant. The NOAA Ocean Exploration selecting official may defer some select FY24 proposals for consideration for funding in a subsequent fiscal year.

B. Project/Award Period

NOAA Ocean Exploration will accept proposals for projects that are one or two years in duration. The anticipated award start date is on or near September 1, 2024.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

Projects to be awarded to non-Federal recipients will be funded through a grant or cooperative agreement under the terms of this notice. Projects funded through cooperative agreements will have substantial involvement by the federal government, including, but not limited to, direction or redirection of the scope of work due to interrelationships with other projects or stipulation that the awardee must meet or adhere to specific procedural requirements before subsequent stages of a project may commence.

Projects led by NOAA staff will be funded through an intra-agency transfer of funds.

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Proposals led by non-NOAA federal agency staff may be funded through an interagency agreement if their agency has the statutory authority to accept funding from another Federal agency for this type of work and if they agree to receive and spend FY24 funding for proposed projects.

By receiving funding from NOAA Ocean Exploration, all awardees agree to certain requirements for education and outreach, data management, and website content development. To help meet these requirements, NOAA Ocean Exploration staff and/or NOAA designee(s) will be assigned as a primary point of contact to help plan and execute these activities. In some cases, these individuals, or other NOAA Ocean Exploration staff, may join an at-sea science team and serve as a NOAA Ocean Exploration representative, expedition coordinator, data manager, or communications coordinator. For more details, refer to Section VIII of this document.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are U.S.-based institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations; U.S. state, tribal, territory, and local governments; for-profit organizations;

and federal agencies that possess the statutory authority to accept funding for this type of work.

Applicants from institutions that are part of the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), which are the University of Rhode Island, Ocean Exploration Trust, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Southern Mississippi, are not eligible to apply as these institutions have an annual opportunity to apply for NOAA Ocean Exploration funding via the OECI. Personnel from the above-listed OECI institutions may still collaborate with an eligible U.S.-based applicant on a proposal as a subawardee, but not as a principal (lead) or co-principal investigator.

Before proposals from federal agencies other than NOAA can be funded, applicants must affirm that their agency has legal authority to receive funds from another federal agency for this type of work in excess of their appropriation. NOAA and other federal agencies with this legal authority must agree to take FY24 funding for proposed projects (both one and two year projects) and allocate those funds in FY24 (i.e., between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024).

Because this notice is not proposing to procure goods or services from applicants, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. section 1535) does not provide this authority.

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B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Proposals from nonfederal applicants do not require cost sharing, matching funds, in-kind contributions, or contribution of no-cost ship time.

Proposals from federal applicants must coordinate with the NOPP IWG using the requirements in Section III. C.1.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

1. Potential Partners

NOAA Ocean Exploration encourages partnerships with academia, government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and private-sector companies. Foreign entities can participate, but only through collaboration with an eligible U.S.-based organization as a sub-awardee.

NOAA Ocean Exploration also encourages applicants to enhance or expand the scope of their proposals through complementary requests for funding from other sponsors, both internal and external to NOAA (e.g., for ship time or other assets).

NOAA Ocean Exploration participates in the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) (https://nopp.org/) to facilitate partnerships among federal agencies, academia, industry, and nongovernmental organizations to advance ocean science research and education. NOPP agencies coordinate through the NOPP Interagency Working Group (IWG), a working group of the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology.

For the purpose of this notice, federal applicants (lead principal investigator only), including NOAA, must coordinate their project with NOPP and have it designated as a NOPP project.

This entails providing information about the proposed project to the NOPP IWG through the federal applicant’s respective agency. Contact information for agency NOPP IWG representatives can be obtained by emailing info@nopp.org.

A NOPP project must include substantial partner contributions from at least two of the following sectors: academia, private sector (including nongovernmental organizations), and government (including federal, tribal, state, territory, and local). Federal applicants must describe in their full proposal in one page or less (that does not count toward the proposal page total) how they will coordinate with NOPP and the anticipated partner contributions.

Federal applicants must coordinate their partnership through the NOPP-IWG.

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2. Permits and Approvals

Applicants are responsible for obtaining all international, federal, state, and local government permits and approvals where necessary for the proposed project. Applicants are expected to design their projects to minimize potential adverse environmental impacts. If applicable, documentation of requests for or approvals of cultural resource or environmental permits must be included in the proposal package.

A National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) questionnaire (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/media/NOAA-Grants-Questionnaire-final.pdf) must be completed for each proposal to ensure there is sufficient information about the project to allow NOAA Ocean Exploration to analyze the project’s potential environmental impacts pursuant to NEPA (See Section IV.B.3.l for more details).

Before submitting a full proposal, applicants who propose maritime heritage work in U.S.

state waters must consult with the appropriate state historic preservation office (SHPO). For such proposals, applicants must provide a letter from SHPO staff that includes their determination of the project’s potential to cause no adverse effects to maritime heritage resources in the project area. Applicants are responsible for securing any necessary project permits or other records of compliance.

Applicants must adhere to any regulations, required guidelines, and agreements during fieldwork. In particular, sample collection must adhere to federal and state laws, and applicants must make accommodations for conservation and curating as described in the rules in the annex to the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000126065).

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

Information about how to apply for federal grants is available on Grants Online (https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html). For applicants without internet access, contact the NOAA Ocean Exploration grant program manager, Adrienne Copeland, by phone at (202) 603-6844 or mail to NOAA Ocean Exploration, ATTN: NOAA Ocean Exploration NOFO 2024, SSMC3-Room 3106, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, to obtain an application package and guidance on submission of pre-proposals and full proposals.

B. Content and Form of Application

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1. Format requirements (applies to both pre-proposals and full proposals)

a. Proposals must be formatted to print on 8.5” x 11”paper with 1-inch margins in 12-point font.

b. The principal investigator’s last name must be included in the bottom right-hand corner of each page. All digital files should be named with the principal investigator’s last name and a descriptor indicating the file content, e.g., “Jones Cover Sheet 2024.”

c. The title must be no longer than 15 words/100 characters.

2. Pre-Proposal Required Content

A pre-proposal is a prerequisite to submitting a full proposal. A pre-proposal should identify the project’s priorities and objectives and describe how they relate to NOAA’s and NOAA Ocean Exploration’s objective and priorities as described in Sections I.A and I.B above.

Complete, two-page pre-proposals are required for funding consideration. No more than two pages will be evaluated. Incomplete pre-proposals will not be considered. All information must be included in the designated two pages and the NOAA Ocean Exploration notice of funding opportunity cover sheet (this does not include the Demographic information).

All pre-proposals must include:

a. A completed NOAA Ocean Exploration notice of funding opportunity cover sheet (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/media/fy24-ffo-coversheet .pdf). All applicable sections must be completed in full, including project title;

priority theme addressed; principal investigator and collaborator contact information; outside support; dates of anticipated field operations and any operational constraints, especially with regard to field operations; vessel and ancillary platform information; budget estimate; and anticipated outputs (e.g., potential discoveries, knowledge and impact, published papers, reports, meetings, and/or education and outreach materials). Instructions to fill out the cover sheet are available on the NOAA Ocean Exploration website (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/media/fy24-coversheet-instructions.pdf).

b. A pre-proposal narrative not to exceed two pages, including any figures, the anticipated funding request, references, and any other content (see Sections IV.B.1 for formatting requirements and V.A.1. for evaluation criteria). The narrative should:

i. Describe how the proposed project is relevant to NOAA’s and NOAA Ocean Exploration’s missions and priorities. Proposals must describe the project’s intrinsic value, how it is exploratory rather than research based, and its

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 38 expected scientific impact.

ii. Describe the scientific and technical merit of the proposed project. Proposals must include project goals and objectives and describe how the project is innovative and interdisciplinary, its exploration value and potential impact, and its logistical feasibility.

iii. Include the qualifications and competencies of the applicant(s).

iv. Include a statement that any required platforms (ship and/or other assets), if applicable to the proposed project, are available when needed and that the applicant’s organization has the administrative means to arrange and pay for them.

c. Demographic Information: NOAA will not provide collected demographic information to reviewers for any purpose, including evaluation, and will not consider demographic information during selection. This information should be submitted as a separate page and does not apply to the two-page limit for the pre-proposal.

Provide the following information for all named collaborators on a proposal (2022, OMB approved for PRA under DOC generic clearance information collections, 0690-0030 and 0690-0035).

Do you, your organization or a program recipient/grantee/beneficiary identify with any of the following groups that the federal government, in Executive Order 13985, has identified as underserved? List all that apply:

a) Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color

b) Members of religious minorities

c) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons

d) Persons with disabilities

e) Persons who live in rural areas

f) Persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality

g) No, I do not identify with any of these groups

Pre-proposals must be submitted by email to oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov (see IV.A for guidance for mail submission). Pre-proposals received after the deadline of 4:59 p.m. EDT on May 30, 2023, will be disqualified.

3. Full Proposal Required Content

Full proposals must demonstrate relevance to NOAA’s and NOAA Ocean Exploration’s objective and priorities as described in Sections I.A and I.B. Applicants should use

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September 1, 2024, when referring to the project award date in the proposal and on the Office of Management and Budget standard forms.

No appendices are permitted.

Full proposals must include all of the documents described below in the order listed, unless otherwise indicated. Proposals that do not comply with these requirements will be disqualified. For those using Grants.gov to submit their proposal package, each document must be uploaded as a separate file. A full proposal must include all of the following documents:

a. NOAA Ocean Exploration FY24 Notice of Funding Opportunity Cover Sheet: This is the same form that is to be submitted with the pre-proposal (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/media/fy24-ffo-coversheet.pdf).

It must be updated for the full proposal and all applicable sections must be completed in full.

b. A maximum one-page executive summary describing the essential elements of the proposed project: The summary must include the project title (no more than 15 words/100 characters); a list of all investigators who will significantly contribute to the project, including their names, contact information, and affiliations; a concise statement about the compelling objectives, benefits, and rationale of the proposed project; and a funding request for each year of the project and the total funding requested. This summary must be written in language that can convey to nonexperts the key elements of the proposed project and how it will advance ocean exploration goals.

c. A project narrative not to exceed 15 pages, including all text (minimum 12-point font) and any tables and visual materials (e.g., charts, graphs, maps, photographs):

Pages beyond the 15-page limit will be removed from the proposal before it is reviewed. The 15-page limit does not include the executive summary; budget justification and tables; data and information sharing plan (see VIII.C); outreach and education plan; statement of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; literature cited; current and pending support; curriculum vitae; letters of commitment;

required forms (e.g., NEPA), and NOPP information (for federal applicants). A project narrative must include:

i. A project’s scientific, technical, historical, cultural, or socioeconomic importance and merit.

ii. A project’s goals and objectives and the proposed methodology.

iii. Anticipated contributions of participating personnel.

iv. A description of any complementary funding.

v. The dates of field operations and any operational constraints.

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vi. A statement that any required platforms (ship and/or other assets), if applicable to the proposed project, are available when needed and that the applicant’s organization has the administrative means to arrange and pay for them.

vii. Anticipated outputs from the proposed project (e.g., potential discoveries, knowledge and impact, published papers, reports, meetings, and/or education and outreach material).

viii. The value to NOAA and the nation and how the proposed project outcomes will benefit our understanding of the ocean, the science community, and society.

ix. Assessment of the feasibility of the project and mitigation measures.

x. Information about consultation activities with the appropriate state historic preservation office (SHPO) if applying for funding for a maritime heritage project. (See also Section IV.B.3.n.)

xi. Partnership information. If principal investigators are federal applicants, a separate page should be provided instead that addresses how the proposed project will meet NOPP partnership requirements described in Section III.C.1 (See Section IV.B.3.o.)

d. A data and information sharing plan: Proposals submitted in response to this notice must include a data and information sharing plan (up to two pages). See Section VI.B, Administrative and National Policy Requirements, for additional information.

e. An outreach and education plan: This plan must describe in one page or less how the proposed project incorporates education and outreach. It must also acknowledge willingness of the applicant (or project partners) to participate in NOAA Ocean Exploration’s education and outreach programming.

f. A statement of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA): This statement must describe in one page or less how the proposed project seeks to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic location, etc.) and remove barriers in ocean exploration-related activities. The statement should also summarize where and how the project will integrate DEIA, as defined in the White House Strategic Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (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); considerations regarding team composition, team management, leadership and decision making, focus areas, and partnerships; and how the outcomes of these considerations are reflected in the proposed project.

Where possible, this statement should also include goals and metrics for assessing and adjusting DEIA efforts. This program provides NOAA Ocean Exploration an opportunity to support NOAA’s commitment to DEIA by requiring applicants to consider DEIA in project development. This has the potential to make an impact on

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DEIA in science at NOAA and beyond.

g. Previous significant results: This document must provide a concise summary of previous significant results and achievements from any prior or ongoing NOAA Ocean Exploration funding to the principal investigator and/or co-principal investigators. This summary should include publications and outputs and describe related data and information sharing experience.

h. A summary of current funding support: This summary must provide information about a principal investigator’s and co-principal investigators’ current and pending federal support for ongoing projects and outstanding proposals, including potential subsequent funding in the case of continuing awards. The proposed project and all other projects or activities that use federal assistance to fund the principal investigator or other senior project personnel’s time should be included. The relationship between the proposed project and these other projects should be described, and the number of person-months per year to be devoted to the projects must be clearly stated.

i. Curriculum vitae: Curriculum vitae must be included for each principal and co-principal investigator(s), should be a maximum of two pages, and should include a list of relevant recent publications.

j. A budget justification and budget table: This budget information must adhere to the guidance and templates provided in the NOAA Grants Management Division’s Budget Narrative Guidance (https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/gmd_budget_narrative_guidance _-_05-24-2017_final.pdf). The justification and tables are to be provided in 12 point font as stated in Section IV.B.1.a. All expenses must be rounded to the nearest dollar and identified and listed in separate tables for the years in which they will be incurred.

The budget must include, and justify, sufficient resources to analyze, interpret, publish, and archive data (including archiving costs associated with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information in accordance with the applicant’s data and information sharing plan) and results of the project. Applicants must describe the scope of work and budget for each year of support being sought (not to exceed two years) and provide a summary budget table for the entire award period. The summary budget table must reflect the object classes contained in the SF-424A form, which is the Grants.gov official budget form included as part of the proposal package.

The table must reflect the computations and basis used in the development of costs and justifications for salary and travel (travel must be itemized to include destination, airfare, per diem, lodging, and ground travel), contracts for analyses and/or cataloging, publications, rentals, supplies, equipment, subawards to other parties for services, and nonstandard items, including ship time and submersibles that require NOAA Ocean Exploration funding. The summary budget table must also show how

Notice of Federal Funding Page 17 of 38 costs for ship time and submersibles were developed and whether agreement has been reached for their use. Cost sharing and/or in-kind contributions must be clearly identified and given a value.

k. Negotiated indirect cost rate agreement: A copy of the indirect cost rate agreement from the applicant’s organization that was used to calculate indirect costs must be included as a separate document. If the agreement is being renegotiated, the status of the indirect cost rate application should be indicated in an attached letter. See Section VI.B.13 for more indirect cost rate information.

l. A National Environmental Policy Act questionnaire: Applicants are required to submit answers to questions 1 through 19 and 51 through 57 of the NOAA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) questionnaire (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/media/NOAA-Grants- Questionnaire-final.pdf). See Section VI.B.7 for more NEPA information.

m. Letters of support: Letters of support are optional. A letter of support from a ship operator is an example of the kind of letter that would benefit an applicant.

n. Letter from SHPO staff (required only for maritime heritage projects): Letter including a SHPO determination of the project’s potential to pose no adverse effects to underwater cultural resources in the project area.

o. NOPP partnership information (required only if the lead principal investigator is a federal employee): A separate page addressing how the proposed project will meet NOPP partnership requirements described in Section III.C.1.

p. Forms: Nonfederal applicants must complete and submit the following Office of Management and Budget forms, which are available as part of the opportunity package on Grants.gov.

i. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

ii. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) — When applying for a multiyear award, nonfederal applicants must submit a line item budget, with each year being a separate column, in Section B and a corresponding budget narrative for each of the anticipated funding periods (years).

iii. Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)

iv. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) — This is to be filled out by the lead principal investigator’s organization.

v. Certification Regarding Lobbying (CD511) — This is to be filled out by the lead principal investigator’s organization.

Federal applicants are not to submit these Office of Management and Budget forms with their proposals.

q. A list of suggested reviewers: A list of suggested reviewers is optional. Applicants interested in including such a list should provide the names, email addresses, and

Notice of Federal Funding Page 18 of 38 phone numbers for up to five potential peer reviewers that do not have conflicts of interest. Applicants may also provide the names of individuals they would like excluded from the review process along with justification for the request.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and NOAA support cultural and gender diversity and encourage women and minority individuals and groups to apply to this notice of funding opportunity. In addition, DOC and NOAA are strongly committed to broadening the participation of individuals from historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and other organizations that work in underserved areas. DOC and NOAA encourage applications involving contributions from any of the above

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

To enable the use of a universal identifier and to enhance the quality of information available to the public as required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, 31 U.S.C. 6101, to the extent applicable, any proposal awarded in response to this notice of funding opportunity will be required to register on and use the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov/SAM/).

Applicants are required to use the Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System, as identified in the Office of Management and Budget guidance published at 2 CFR Part 25 (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2018-title2-vol1/xml/CFR-2018-title2-vol1-part25.xml).

To submit an application through Grants.gov, applicants must register for a Grants.gov user ID and password. This process can take between three and five business days, or up to four weeks if not completed correctly. To avoid delays, applicants are strongly encouraged to register early, log in, review the application instructions, and apply as soon as possible before the deadline. Information about the Grants.gov registration process for organizations is on Grants Online (https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html).

Organizations already registered with Grants.gov do not need to re-register; however, all registered organizations must keep their Grants.gov password and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) registration up-to-date, or their applications will not be accepted by Grants.gov. SAM.gov has replaced Central Contractor Registration (CCR). CCR usernames will not work in SAM.gov. Applicants must create a new user account in SAM.gov to renew or update their registration. Applicants can get additional information about SAM.gov and verify that their registrations are current at https://www.sam.gov.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 19 of 38

The following steps are recommended if an issue with Grants.gov (technical problems or glitches with the website) that may hinder submission before the deadline:

get the case number for future communications.

- Contact NOAA Ocean Exploration at (202) 603-6844 or oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov prior to the deadline.

In the event of a confirmed Grants.gov systems issue, NOAA reserves the right to accept proposals in an alternate format prior to the deadline. Problems with an applicant organization’s computer system or equipment are not considered system issues. Similarly, an applicant’s failure to complete the required registration, submit their proposal via a registered authorized organization representative (AOR), or read email messages from Grants.gov are also not considered system issues.

D. Submission Dates and Times

Pre-proposals and full proposals received after their respective deadlines will be disqualified.

1. Pre-Proposals

Pre-proposals must be submitted by email to oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov and received by 4:59 p.m. EDT on May 30, 2023. A complete pre-proposal is a prerequisite for submission of a full proposal.

Following review, applicants will receive an email on or about July 6, 2023, encouraging or discouraging submission of a full proposal. Even if NOAA Ocean Exploration discourages an applicant from submitting a full proposal, the decision of whether or not to submit a full proposal is left to the applicant. Applicants who do not receive an email by August 13, 2023, should contact NOAA Ocean Exploration at (202) 603-6844 or oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov as soon as possible.

2. Full Proposals

Full proposals must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 5, 2023.

Applicants without internet access who must submit a hard copy of their pre-proposal and full proposal by mail or delivery service should allow sufficient time for delivery to NOAA

Notice of Federal Funding Page 20 of 38

Ocean Exploration by the deadline. Pre-proposals and full proposals received after their respective cutoff dates and times will not be considered.

Note: Applicants may have to register or renew their CCR prior to submitting to Grants.gov.

Grants.gov will not accept submissions if the applicant has not been authorized or if credentials are incorrect. Authorizations and credential corrections can take several days.

Additional information can be found on SAM.gov and through the Federal Service Desk website (https://www.fsd.gov).

E. Intergovernmental Review

Proposals received in response to this notice are subject to Executive Order 12372 Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. Applicants must contact their state’s single point of contact (SPOC) to find out about and comply with the state’s process under this executive order. The names and addresses of SPOCs can be found on the Office of Management and Budget’s website (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf).

F. Funding Restrictions

For the purpose of this funding opportunity, costs for ship time and/or other ocean data collection platforms (e.g., remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles) are considered rental costs and therefore are not included in modified total direct cost (MTDC).

The exception is for applicants from organizations with a federal negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that covers these charges.

NOAA Ocean Exploration will not provide funding to hire and/or fund the salaries and associated overhead costs of any permanent federal or state government employee. In addition, NOAA Ocean Exploration will not pay facilities and administrative (F&A or “overhead”) fees to federal and state agencies for subawards (e.g., for personnel time, ship time, or other ocean data collection platform support). Awardees from federal and state agencies may use award funding to cover travel, equipment, supplies, and contractual personnel costs associated with the proposed work.

Funding for ship time on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is not available through this announcement.

Federal applicants serving as lead principal investigators must coordinate their project with the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (see Section III.C.1).

G. Other Submission Requirements

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Applicants without internet access should see Section IV.A for mailing information.

1. Pre-Proposals

Applicants must submit pre-proposals by email to oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov, preferably as an Adobe .pdf file. Applicants should put their last name in the subject heading along with the words “ocean exploration pre-proposal” (e.g., “Jones ocean exploration pre-proposal”).

2. Full Proposals

Nonfederal applicants must submit their full proposals through Grants.gov, which will record the official date and time of receipt.

Federal applicants cannot submit their proposals through Grants.gov and must instead email them to oer.nofo2024@noaa.gov.