PKG00263371-instructions.pdf

FY21 Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description 5

A. Program Objective 5 B. Program Priorities 8 C. Program Authority 19

II. Award Information 19 A. Funding Availability 19 B. Project/Award Period 19 C. Type of Funding Instrument 20

III. Eligibility Information 22 A. Eligible Applicants 22 B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 23 C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility 23

IV. Application and Submission Information 24 A. Address to Request Application Package 24 B. Content and Form of Application 24 C. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 33 D. Submission Dates and Times 34 E. Intergovernmental Review 34 F. Funding Restrictions 34 G. Other Submission Requirements 35

V. Application Review Information 36 A. Evaluation Criteria 36 B. Review and Selection Process 37 C. Selection Factors 39 D. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates 40

VI. Award Administration Information 40 A. Award Notices 40 B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 41 C. Reporting 45

VII. Agency Contacts 49 VIII. Other Information 49

Notice of Federal Funding Page 1 of 50

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: FY21 Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR)

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2021-2006594

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

Dates: The required letters of intent (LOI) sent by e-mail to nccos.grant.awards@noaa.gov and must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 16, 2020.

Responses to LOIs should be expected by October 30, 2020.

Full applications must be received and validated by Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 7, 2021.

An informational webinar on this opportunity will be offered approximately two weeks from the date of publication and will be recorded. Information on the date/time and a recording of the webinar after the event occurs, can be found via https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/research/coastal-change/ecological-effects-sea-level-rise-program.

Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

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

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

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 2 of 50 received your application.

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

Funding Opportunity Description: The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program (CRP) [formerly Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)/Coastal Ocean Program (COP)], is soliciting proposals for the Effects of Sea Level Rise Program (ESLR). The program name was shortened in 2020, and was formerly known as the Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Program (EESLR). This solicitation is to improve adaptation and planning in response to regional and local effects of sea level rise and coastal inundation through targeted research on key technologies, natural and nature-based infrastructure, physical and biological processes, and model evaluation. The overall goal of the ESLR Program is to facilitate informed adaptation planning and coastal management decisions through a multidisciplinary research program that results in integrated models of dynamic physical and biological processes capable of evaluating vulnerability and resilience under multiple SLR, inundation, and management scenarios. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2021 Federal appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have a September 1, 2021 or September 1, 2022 start date.

Total funding for this research:

There are two distinct focal areas for this solicitation that will compete separately, 1) Coastal Resilience and 2) Surface Transportation Resilience.

It is anticipated that approximately $1,200,000 may be available in Fiscal Year 2021 for the first year for some projects in each focus area, while an additional $1,200,000 could be available in Fiscal Year 2022 for the first year for additional projects selected from this opportunity.

Approximately 2-4 projects of 2-4 years in duration are expected to be funded under the Coastal Resilience focus area at a level of approximately $200,000 to $400,000 per year per proposal, with a total budget (across all years) that is less than $1,600,000 for the Coastal Resilience focus area.

Approximately 2-4 projects of 2-4 years in duration are expected to be funded under the Surface Transportation Resilience focus area at a level of approximately $200,000 to $500,000 per year per proposal with a total budget (across all years) that is less than $2,000,000 for the Surface

Notice of Federal Funding Page 3 of 50

Transportation Resilience focus area.

Electronic Access: Background information about the ESLR Program, including additional information on this Announcement, details on the timing of an informational webinar, and eventually a recording of the webinar can be found at https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/research/coastal-change/ecological-effects-sea-level-rise-program.

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

Full proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov, http://www.grants.gov. Sign up to receive any potential amendments to this Announcement via www.grants.gov.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 4 of 50

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Program Objective

Organization Background and Strategy:

The Competitive Research Program (CRP), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), develops and improves predictive capabilities for managing the Nation's use of its coastal resources through competitive research programs. NCCOS/CRP also supports efforts to translate the results of its research investments, and those of others, into accessible and useful information for coastal managers, planners, infrastructure engineers, lawmakers, and the public to help balance the needs of economic growth with those of conserving the resources of our Nation's oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.

NCCOS/CRP provides a focal point for regional ecosystem-scale, multidisciplinary coastal ocean research within NOAA. Together with partners in NOAA and other organizations responsible for coastal resources, NCCOS/CRP advances the scientific understanding needed to protect coastal resources and ensure their viability for future generations. This increased understanding of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes directly benefits the management of U.S. coastal and ocean resources, and helps NOAA, other Federal agencies, and state, tribal, and local governments achieve their stewardship responsibilities.

A key objective of NCCOS/CRP research is the production of user-driven information that will enable resource managers to assess alternative management and policy strategies to restore degraded ecosystems and protect healthy ones. Research supported is outcome-oriented towards predictions, as well as increased scientific understanding that will provide managers and the public with sound scientific information for making decisions in support of societal objectives. Articulation of outcome-based management goals is required in proposals (see Section IV.B.) and recipients must report progress toward achieving outcome-based goals annually.

Responding to the growing problem of SLR and coastal flooding impacts:

Rising sea level represents a significant threat to coastal ecosystems, communities and infrastructure through land loss, altered habitats, and increased vulnerability to coastal storms, nuisance flooding, and wave actions such as wave run-up, wave forces, wave induced buoyancy, and erosion. Trends in increasing coastal sea level have been well

Notice of Federal Funding Page 5 of 50 documented and are expected to accelerate in the coming decades (Sweet et al. 2018, USGCRP, 2018). While global consequences of SLR provide a sobering assessment for possible coastal conditions in the future, significant variability in the rates of SLR and response of ecosystem types and impacts at the regional and local level exists. The actual impact from a given sea level in a region varies substantially given the shoreline geomorphology, development and human response (e.g., beach nourishment, setbacks) to changes. Damages and economic losses could be reduced with improved knowledge on the potential impacts of SLR and coastal flooding as well as options for mitigation and adaptation (Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience 2016).

In recognition of the need to facilitate increased coastal resiliency and improve adaptation and mitigation capabilities, numerous informational reports and tools have been produced to provide guidance to scientists, managers, and communities. The ESLR Program aims to contribute to this information delivering effective information to guide policy, land management decisions, and infrastructure design. However, where appropriate (e.g., NOAA 2020, USGCRP, 2018, etc.), projects should build on existing information sources used by the end-user community before developing new outputs including tools and interactive applications.

Effects of Sea Level Rise Program:

Providing the scientific foundation for coastal decision making, particularly related to SLR and coastal flooding, is a high priority need identified by NOAA. To address this need, NCCOS’s ESLR Program has sought to develop a suite of science information and products required to assess coastal vulnerability and solutions to SLR and inundation. Application of these tools allows for improved coastal planning, management, mitigation, and ecosystem restoration in response to SLR and inundation. The ESLR Program was initiated in 2005 in North Carolina to examine ecosystem impacts in a collaboration with state and local managers that resulted in the development of mapping and modeling tools. The ESLR Program shifted to the northern Gulf of Mexico in 2010, with an emphasis on a collaborative research approach to develop dynamic models of coastal change and improved abilities to examine SLR impacts to storm surge. In 2015, the ESLR Program initiated a suite of projects in support of the NOAA Sentinel Site Program that focused on advancing capacity and capabilities required to improve long-term regional and local ecosystem predictions of SLR and coastal inundation effects. These projects occurred in West Hawai’i, North Carolina, and San Francisco Bay (CA). In 2016, three additional projects were supported that reflect a new focus of the ESLR Program on the use of Natural and Nature-based Features (NNBF) for coastal protection and ecosystem services. These three projects occurred in Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico. In 2019, a funding opportunity led to six

Notice of Federal Funding Page 6 of 50 additional awards of three years in length beginning in FY2020 and two additional awards beginning in FY2021. These awards support work around the country and have a similar focus on determining the potential for implementing Natural and Nature-based Features (NNBF) for coastal protection and ecosystem services across many different coastal habitat types. A description of these 8 projects and a detailed explanation of all past and current projects can be found at: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/research/coastal-change/ecological-effects-sea-level-rise-program.

Natural and Nature based Features for Mitigation:

The use of NNBF has gained traction as a means to enhance coastal resilience and mitigate the potential impacts of extreme events, SLR and inundation to coastal communities, while offering non-protective societal and ecosystem benefits (Sutton-Grier 2015; Bridges et al.

2018; Webb et al. 2019). NNBF refer to a spectrum of features from natural coastal ecosystems to nature-based features that utilize a combination of natural and human engineered features to create a ‘hybrid’ shoreline (Sutton-Grier 2015). Specifically, NCCOS/CRP defines NNBF as:

• Natural features are existing ecosystems including coastal marshes and wetlands, dune and beach systems, oyster and coral reefs, forests, coastal rivers and floodplains, and barrier islands that provide multiple benefits to communities, such as storm protection through wave attenuation or flood storage capacity and enhanced water services and security.

• Nature-based features (or green/grey infrastructure) are engineered systems where natural features are built or combined with hard or structural engineering approaches (i.e., conventional traditional, or grey approaches) to create a hybrid system such as in a living shoreline or dune with a buried sea wall.

Unlike hardened structures (e.g., bulkheads and groins), NNBF are often living features that can adapt to changing conditions and may become more stable over time, while providing multiple ecological and socio-economic benefits to coastal communities and ecosystems (Sutton-Grier et al. 2015, Bridges et al. 2018, Webb et al. 2019). In recent years, there has been considerable effort among multiple levels of government, non-governmental organizations, scientists, and private interests to advance the use of NNBF (World Bank 2017, Pinson and White 2017). While there is a growing scientific literature quantifying the benefits of NNBF in reducing wave energy, mitigating erosion, and reducing flooding, further quantification of their current and long-term capabilities and performance under a broad range of conditions is needed to improve decision-making on where and how to

Notice of Federal Funding Page 7 of 50 implement NNBF. Examples of identified research gaps include:

• the ability of NNBF to enhance coastal resilience (or performance) during extreme and chronic events and how these benefits vary with coastal landscape variables such as topography, or bathymetry;

• long-term performance of NNBF under various scenarios of changes in sea level, precipitation patterns, and temperature.

• a quantitative understanding of the biophysical, socioeconomic and behavioral factors that influence NNBF production functions (e.g., influence of sedimentation and water flows, performance and protective benefits of natural systems, combined hybrid approaches, and sources of non-linearity in ecosystem function);

• ecosystem service valuations to facilitate consistent, standardized monetary and non-monetary valuation of NNBF including benefits, co-benefits and trade-offs of NNBF versus other coastal protection approaches; and,

• development of best practices on construction or restoration of NNBF to enhance coastal resilience.

B. Program Priorities

NCCOS/CRP is soliciting proposals to evaluate and quantify the ability of NNBF approaches to mitigate the effects of SLR and inundation (storm surge, nuisance flooding, and/or wave actions) in two focal areas, Coastal Resilience and Surface Transportation Resilience. Although the term SLR is used instead of relative sea level rise (SLR, i.e., localized) in this document, it is expected that relative sea level rise rates will be used that are scientifically supported and selected with support from the end-users for the region of interest. Coastal resilience focuses broadly on mitigating impacts on coastal ecosystems, communities, and infrastructure (excluding a principle focus on surface transportation infrastructure); while Transportation Resilience focuses specifically on mitigating impacts to surface transportation infrastructure (i.e., road, public transportation, and rail). The impacts should be explored through integrated field research and advancement of predictive modeling applications. These efforts should focus on the advancement and application of dynamic models of physical and biologic processes with that of SLR and/or coastal inundation effects to evaluate the use of NNBF in mitigation and adaptation solutions.

Though all proposals in the Coastal Resilience focus area must consider NNBF approaches, successful proposals should address at least two the following the ESLR Program research priorities:

Notice of Federal Funding Page 8 of 50

- Quantify the vulnerability of coastal communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems due to SLR and inundation, based on shoreline condition through the advancement of existing predictive approaches, field-based studies and/or dynamic models;

- Quantify the social, economic, and/or ecological benefits that natural and nature-based features provide for communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems in comparison to grey protective infrastructure with respect to the risk of inundation under future SLR;

- Predict the effects of SLR and inundation on ecosystems, and/or communities and infrastructure under varying risk management strategies to inform technical and policy actions that increase long term coastal resilience.

All three of the following priorities, with two optional sub-priorities, should be addressed in the Transportation Resilience focus area:

- Quantify the vulnerability of surface transportation systems to SLR and inundation, based on shoreline condition through advancing existing predictive approaches and dynamic models that could include field based studies (required). NCCOS/CRP specifically seeks to fund at least one proposal that will include a focus on both the following two sub-priorities:

* Enhance hydrodynamic model resolution to allow for localized and regional surface infrastructure vulnerability assessments (optional), and;

* Quantify the relationship between inundation and surface transportation asset deterioration (optional).

- Quantify the social, economic, and/or ecological benefits that NNBF provide for communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems in comparison to conventional (i.e., grey) protective infrastructure with respect to the risk of inundation under future SLR (required);

and,

- Predict the effects of SLR and inundation on surface transportation infrastructure under varying risk mitigation and management strategies, including-protective benefits of the NNBF scenarios, in order to inform technical and policy actions that increase long term transportation infrastructure resilience (required).

For both focal areas, proposals incorporating predictive or scenario-based model application should focus on the advancement of existing modeling platforms and/or community

Notice of Federal Funding Page 9 of 50 modeling systems used by NOAA and relevant partners (some found below in expectations for each focus area). Advancements could include dynamic model integration or downscaling, enhanced parameterization, improved uncertainty estimates, and/or module development required to assess and evaluate possible approaches to mitigate inundation.

Application of existing approaches to novel application is also encouraged when appropriate.

Proposed new or novel modeling approaches of any type require significant justification and explicit end-user demand for funding consideration. Shoreline condition includes:

geomorphic setting, health of the natural systems, and anthropogenic additions made to the study area. Ecosystem service assessments of NNBF must explicitly include coastal protection benefits provided by the feature. Community benefits could also include reducing the risk posed by coastal flooding and storms to lives, coastal economies, emergency services, and quality of life including variables associated with recreational opportunities and open space. However, studies that solely consider benefits and/or ecosystem services that do not directly relate to SLR and/or coastal flood protection will not be considered. The most effective ecosystem service proposals will address both protective and non-protective aspects of NNBF. Regional evaluations of suites of NNBF approaches are preferred over a local focus.

The ESLR Program is open to all coastal regions of the United States. To the extent possible, proposals should build on existing research (e.g., prior projects through state resources, non-governmental organizations, the ESLR Program, the NOAA Coastal and Ocean Climate Applications program, U.S. Geological Survey, Integrated Ocean Observing System, U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, and/or Sea Grant). Leveraging of data and capabilities associated with National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR), National Wildlife Refuge, and other protected areas are encouraged.

Additional Guidance for Surface Transportation Resilience focus area

For the Surface Transportation Resilience focus area, projects should be designed to enable transportation professionals to consider nature-based solutions for protecting transportation infrastructure as part of a broader portfolio, or system, of resilience measures. Substantial advancements in guidance on the consideration of natural systems for transportation planning have occurred over the last decade, especially for coastal highways (Webb et al.

2019). Surface transportation infrastructure includes roads and rail that represent key infrastructure critical for the safe movement of people and goods on land. This focus area explicitly targets surface transportation and projects that focus generally across all types of transportation infrastructure should be considered in the Coastal Resilience focus area.

Feedback on this aspect may be provided following submission of the LOI. Projects are expected to be regional and/or highly transferable and need to directly inform decision

Notice of Federal Funding Page 10 of 50 making at the system planning level and/or project specific level. Preference will be given to transferable approaches relevant to larger scales that can inform system level planning or multiple transportation projects.

There are two technical advancements of specific interest from the Surface Transportation Resilience focus area: advancements in coastal model resolution, and improvements to the understanding of the relationship between inundation and transportation asset deterioration.

Addressing these technical components is not required, though priority may be given to proposals that demonstrate a contribution to these areas with the expectation that some awards selected will address these challenges. More detailed descriptions of the desired technical advancements follow:

Coastal Model Resolution

Models often lack resolution to properly render transportation infrastructure elevations and local topography in the model environment which is important to reliably predict if a road or other transportation infrastructure surface will become inundated, and how mitigation actions affect inundation. Computational power has greatly increased and numerical modeling has advanced substantially, offering the opportunity to greatly increase model resolution over local-regional scales. It remains important for approaches to focus regionally or demonstrate high transferability. A model grid size will not be mandated in this award, though a resolution capable of rendering the infrastructure and an array of mitigation options must be considered. Using nested approaches, wherein a higher resolution mesh may be nested within a larger mesh (grid) to provide the resolution needed for the area of interest, is acceptable. Whatever resolution is described in the proposal should be defended.

Predicting Asset Deterioration

While existing literature describes the damage mechanisms to pavements due to coastal flooding (e.g., loss of subgrade from wave attack, weir flow damage, delamination, failure of subgrade due to prolonged inundation; FHWA 2008, chapter 8 “Over washing”, FHWA 2017), transportation agencies need the ability to estimate the extent, timing, frequency, and costs of future coastal flooding on roadways in order to assess the cost effectiveness of management strategies.

The extent of road damage from a given flood event (high tide flooding or storm surge) depends on a number of factors related to the flood event, such as flow velocities, wave forces, length of time of inundation, depth of inundation, and frequency. The extent of road damage also depends on various factors related to the roadway, such as the type of soil, Notice of Federal Funding Page 11 of 50 subgrade structure, pavement type, and exposure to traffic loads during or soon after inundation. Transportation agencies would benefit from scenario forecasting that predicts damages to assets and costs incurred based on various combinations of these factors.

Projects should focus on developing the methodology for creating asset deterioration curves and quantifying the benefits of nature based solutions rather than testing novel engineered pavement designs or subgrade (foundation). However, pavement deterioration should be specific to pavement type, which includes differences in structural pavement designs and subgrade types.

Expectations for Management Engagement

In both focus areas, scientific outputs that support decision making that leads to increased coastal resilience is valued equally with the advancement of high level basic science, as designated by an equal scoring percentage for the evaluation criteria for Importance and Relevance and Technical/Scientific Merit (Section V). Together these represent 70% of the scoring criteria. Proposals should apply a highly integrated and collaborative management-science approach and outline a continuous engagement process with relevant end-users that clearly defines management linkages and drivers. The management linkages could include, but are not limited to: end-users serving on the project team, pre-project meetings, annual workshops, training on application of information or tools, and inclusion of selected managers on coordination calls where local knowledge and natural resource management issues can help guide study objectives and methods. Successful proposals will work with relevant regional partners to ensure the study outlines management relevant objectives at the proposal stage. We encourage the inclusion of a Management Transition Advisory Group (MTAG), composed of prospective end-users of the research project outputs, and/or a dedicated principle investigator focused on coordinating end-user engagement, though these are not required. The team should leverage existing groups to avoid overburdening end-users if appropriate, before creating a new MTAG.

Expectations for each focus area include:

For the Coastal Resilience subcomponent, Examples of possible results and outcomes of the ESLR Program applied and/or enhanced capabilities could include:

1. Advanced predictive approaches that are designed in collaboration with end-users to enable coastal managers/planners the ability to better evaluate the short- and long-term vulnerability of ecosystems, communities and infrastructure to SLR and inundation (Note that vulnerability assessments alone are not sufficient outputs);

Notice of Federal Funding Page 12 of 50

2. Models and information that will assist in evaluating the regional implications of policy options and the design, construction and adaptive management of restoration and/or NNBF projects to mitigate inundation effects, in comparison to conventional (grey) flood mitigation approaches;

3. Improved knowledge of the effectiveness, services, and sustainability of NNBF under varying scenarios of application, inundation, and/or SLR;

4. Enhanced capabilities for quantifying changes in locally valued ecosystem services associated with anticipated impacts from SLR and coastal inundation in conjunction with NNBF approaches, including recreational benefits;

5. Guidance and strategies for regional transition and application of integrated NNBF features and/or metrics for objective evaluation of performance.

Proposals should clearly demonstrate the value added of the proposed work, partnerships, and, where possible, leverage related regional efforts (e.g., NOAA Coastal Resilience Grants and/or state/local initiatives). Finally, linkages to topically relevant partners with a known interest in the ESLR Program products are encouraged. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance

(HMA)

o FEMA’s HMA includes three funding programs for flood risk reduction activities: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance program, and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. States, Territories, Tribes, and local communities may apply for HMA funding if they have a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan. These groups could apply to receive support to plan for or build NNBF based projects, and would benefit from information to inform cost benefit analyses. See https://www.fema.gov/benefit-cost-analysis for more information.

o FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) grant program provides funds to assist communities responding to and recovering from declared disasters. PA provides funding for permanently restoring community infrastructure, and for hazard mitigation measures to minimize future loss to damaged facilities through PA 406 Hazard Mitigation.

https://www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit

Notice of Federal Funding Page 13 of 50

• United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) o Regional USACE Districts represent important partners that perform restoration and other important land management activities (e.g., dredging). Science that informs these activities is a priority for NOAA.

o NOAA has partnered with the USACE's Engineering With Nature (EWN®) initiative to advance research and implementation of NNBF for coastal protection. NOAA and USACE have held a series of workshops and symposiums in 2016 - 2019 to identify research needs and opportunities for collaboration. Additional information on these workshops can be found at https://ewn.el.erdc.dren.mil/nnbf-resources.html, while overall information on the Engineering With Nature initiative can be found at https://ewn.el.erdc.dren.mil/.

• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) o NOAA and NFWF partner to provide grant funding through the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) to plan for, design, and implement natural and nature based solutions to protect coastal communities while also enhancing habitats for fish and wildlife.

The NCRF supports innovative projects that seek to re-shape our thinking on how to best protect communities through habitat restoration, by using novel approaches to address these challenges. NFWF seeks to incorporate adaptation to the projected future conditions of each investment. Program information can be found here https://www.nfwf.org/programs/national-coastal-resilience-fund.

For the Transportation Resilience focus area, it is expected that individuals who develop, design, build, and/or manage transportation infrastructure will be part of the project team.

Examples include transportation planners, engineers, and environmental specialists at state departments of transportation, local transportation agencies, and metropolitan planning organizations. Additional individuals and a broader array of end-users may contribute to the project through pre-project meetings, annual workshops, training on application of tools, and inclusion of selected managers on coordination calls where local knowledge and natural resource management issues can help guide study objectives and methods. Successful proposals will work with relevant regional partners to ensure the study outlines management relevant objectives at the proposal stage. We encourage the inclusion of a MTAG, and/or a dedicated principal investigator focused on coordinating end-user engagement. Examples of possible results and outcomes of the ESLR Program applied and/or enhanced capabilities could include:

Notice of Federal Funding Page 14 of 50

1. Advanced predictive approaches that are designed in collaboration with end-users to enable transportation planners and engineers to better evaluate the short- and long-term vulnerability of transportation systems to SLR and inundation (Note that vulnerability assessments alone are not sufficient outputs);

2. Advanced predictive approaches of pavement deterioration due to inundation from relative sea level rise, nuisance flooding, wave actions, and storm events that allow for evaluation of mitigation options;

3. Improved knowledge of the flood mitigation effectiveness, non-protective ecosystem services, and sustainability of NNBF for transportation infrastructure under varying scenarios of application, inundation, and/or SLR;

4. Models and information that will assist in evaluating the regional implications of the design, construction and adaptive management of restoration and/or NNBF projects to mitigate SLR and inundation effects on transportation infrastructure;

5. Guidance and strategies for system planning and application of integrated NNBF features and/or metrics for objective evaluation of project-performance.

6. Guidance on options for mitigating flood vulnerability due to tidal restrictions from transportation infrastructure (e.g., bridges and culverts).

7. Analysis of the potential for NNBF to reduce transportation system vulnerability to SLR and flooding in a particular metropolitan area or geographic region. The analysis would feed into a statewide or metropolitan long range transportation plan or asset management plan. Long range transportation plans are 20 year plans that analyze long term trends and transportation needs. Asset management plans analyze risks and strategies to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and the performance of the system. Both plans are required for receiving federal surface transportation funds. Incorporating nature-based solutions into the long range transportation planning process and asset management plans enables systematic consideration across a region or state and allows for identification of opportunities at an early stage, maximizing opportunities for deployment. It also allows for larger projects that are part of a regional network, which increases both flood risk mitigation and ecological benefits, and can reduce costs. The analysis can pre-identify locations where particular nature-based solutions may be appropriate given existing natural resources, transportation vulnerabilities, and ecological priorities.

8. Study of a specific transportation corridor and NNBF designs that could reduce

Notice of Federal Funding Page 15 of 50 flooding impacts. This analysis would feed into decisions on maintenance, rehabilitation or rebuilding of particular road segments or other transportation assets. For instance, for a particular stretch of roadway that is experiencing increasingly disruptive “high tide” or “nuisance” flooding, researchers could analyze the effectiveness for mitigating road flooding by NNBF alone or in combination with raising the roadway or moving it inland. This analysis could then be used in developing construction bid documents for planned rehabilitation of the roadway that could include NNBF flood risk mitigation as part of the road project.

Please note that mitigation options must include NNBF.

Proposals should clearly demonstrate the value added of the proposed work, partnerships, and, where possible, leverage related regional efforts (i.e., FHWA 2014, FHWA 2017, FHWA 2019, FHWA 2020). This could include prior work conducted by the transportation community, including the Transportation Research Board (TRB), University Transportation Centers (UTCs), the US Department of Transportation, and State and local transportation agencies. For instance, the FHWA-funded resilience pilots conducted by State departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) provide a helpful starting point and practitioner contacts.

Finally, NOAA encourages applicants to propose products that are relevant to local, state, and federal agencies with a known interest in the ESLR Program products. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) o Highways represent one of the stronger opportunities for mitigation support for natural and nature based protective features, as roads are large, are expensive to replace and require varying solutions for protection. FHWA released an implementation guide to assist transportation professionals in considering NNBF to mitigate coastal flood risks to roads.

FHWA also funded pilot analyses of NNBF potential for protecting vulnerable segments of highways and sponsored four regional peer exchanges with coastal managers, transportation practitioners, and academics. See https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/ongoing_and_current_resear ch/green_infrastructure/index.cfm for more information.

• State Transportation and Natural Resources Departments o Individuals at DOTs will be important collaborators for this topic area, to ensure

Notice of Federal Funding Page 16 of 50 information is developed and delivered in a format that has the potential to inform asset management plans and future projects. See https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/about/webstate.cfm for state DOT information.

• United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Regional Districts o USACE districts support flood risk mitigation analyses under the Continuing Authorities Program and have the authority to endorse restoration and infrastructure construction projects for support with construction funds.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance

(HMA)

o See above Coastal Resilience Section for details.

All NOAA environmental data developed through this announcement shall adhere to the guidelines documented in NOAA Administrative Order 212-15 (http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/ames/administrative_orders/chapter_212/212- 15.html). Proposals must include a data management plan that considers how to provide data as soon as it is feasible to the public (see Data Reporting Requirements in Section VI. C.).

References:

Bridges, T. S., Bourne, E. M., King, J. K., Kuzmitski, H. K., Moynihan, E. B., and Suedel, B. C.

(2018). Engineering with Nature: an Atlas. ERDC/EL SR-18-8, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS.

Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. 2016. Opportunities to Enhance the Nation’s Resilience to Climate Change.

https://toolkit.climate.gov/sites/default/files/finalresilienceopportunitiesreport.pdf

FHWA. 2008. Hydraulic Engineering Circular 25 (HEC-25), Volume 1: Highways in the Coastal Environment, 2nd edition.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/hydraulics/pubs/07096/07096.pdf

FHWA. 2014. Hydraulic Engineering Circular 25 (HEC-25), Volume 2: Highways in the Coastal Environment: Assessing Extreme Events.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/hydraulics/pubs/nhi14006/nhi14006.pdf

Notice of Federal Funding Page 17 of 50

FHWA. 2017. Synthesis of Approaches for Addressing Resilience in Project Development, 2017.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/ongoing_and_current_resear ch/teacr/synthesis/

FHWA. 2019. Nature-based Resilience for Coastal Highways, 2019. Implementation Guide, Pilot Reports, Peer Exchange Report.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/ongoing_and_current_resear ch/green_infrastructure/

FHWA, 2020. Resilience Pilots, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/pilots/

USGCRP. 2018: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II: Report-in-Brief [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R.

Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S.

Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, 186 pp. doi:

10.7930/NCA4.2018.RiB

NOAA. Office for Coastal Management Digital Coast. 2020. Natural Infrastructure.

https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/topics/green-infrastructure.html

Pinson, A.O., K.D. White. 2017. Report on Lessons Learned from USACE Climate Change Adaptation Pilot Projects, Fiscal Years 2010-2015. Civil Works Technical Series.

https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p266001coll1/id/5109

Sutton-Grier, A., K. Wowk, and H. Bamford. 2015. Future of our coasts: The potential for natural and hybrid infrastructure to enhance the resilience of our coastal communities, economies and ecosystems. Environmental Science and Policy 51: 137-148.

Sweet, W., Dusek, G., Obeysekera, J., Marra, J. 2018. Patterns and Projections of High Tide Flooding Along the U.S. Coastline Using a Common Impact Threshold. NOAA Technical Report NOS CO-OPS 086.

https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/techrpt86_PaP_of_HTFlooding.pdf.

USGCRP. 2018: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II: Report-in-Brief [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R.

Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S.

Notice of Federal Funding Page 18 of 50

Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, 186 pp. doi:

10.7930/NCA4.2018.RiB

Webb, B., B. Dix, S. Douglass, S. Asam, C. Cherry, B. Buhring. 2019. Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Highway Resilience: An Implementation Guide. FHWA-HEP-19-042.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/ongoing_and_current_resear ch/green_infrastructure/implementation_guide/#toc18511912

World Bank. 2017. Implementing nature-based flood protection: Principles and implementation guidance. Washington, DC: World Bank.

C. Program Authority

16 U.S.C. § 1456c; Public Law 102-567, § 201(c), Coastal Ocean Program.

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

It is anticipated that approximately $1,200,000 may be available in Fiscal Year 2021 for the first year for some projects in each focus area, while an additional $1,200,000 could become available in Fiscal Year 2022 for the first year for additional projects selected from this opportunity.

Approximately 2-4 projects of 2-4 years in duration are expected to be funded under the Coastal Resilience focus area at a level of approximately $200,000 to $400,000 per year per proposal, with a total budget (across all years) that is less than $1,600,000 for the Coastal Resilience focus area.

Approximately 2-4 projects of 2-4 years in duration are expected to be funded under the Transportation Resilience focus area at a level of approximately $200,000 to $500,000 per year per proposal with a total budget (across all years) that is less than $2,000,000 for the Transportation Resilience focus area.

B. Project/Award Period

Full applications may cover a project/award period of 2-4 years.

Awards may be funded incrementally, generally on an annual basis, but once awarded, those awards will not compete for funding in subsequent years. This multi-year funding is often appropriate for projects to be funded for two to four years. Once approved, full applications

Notice of Federal Funding Page 19 of 50 are not required for the continuation out years. While applicants are not required to divide Federal assistance project activities into annual increments based on appropriations law, this approach may be constructive given the possibility that funding may not be available in subsequent years.

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

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

Regardless of the budget for any given fiscal year, NCCOS/CRP Program Managers will consider the length of time remaining for each project, the amount of funds available, the tasks to be completed in the upcoming fiscal year, the pace of research, and any delayed progress relative to that originally proposed, before determining the funding amount in any given fiscal year.

C. Type of Funding Instrument

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

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

Notice of Federal Funding Page 20 of 50 as NCCOS/CRP Program Manager involvement in PI meetings, setting up management advisory groups, development of management transition plans, and communication of project results.

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

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

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

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

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

2. The proposed project must fit the intent of the CESU’s existing cooperative and joint

Notice of Federal Funding Page 21 of 50 agreement, which means (1) the research partnership will carry out or stimulate an activity (e.g., data, products, or services) for a public purpose, and (2) NOAA will be significantly involved in the work.

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

The funding instrument for a selected application from a non-NOAA…