Community-based Restoration Program Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants

The principal objective of the NMFS Community-based Restoration Program Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration solicitation is to support fish habitat restoration projects that use an ecosystem-based approach to foster species recovery and increase fish populations. Proposals submitted under this solicitation will be primarily evaluated based on their ability to demonstrate how the proposed habitat restoration actions will help recover threatened and endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (hereafter, Listed Species), especially species identified by NMFS as "Species in the Spotlight" (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2015/05/05_14_15species_in_the_spotlight.html) and sustain or help rebuild fish stocks managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (hereafter, Managed Species). Successful proposals will 1) identify a habitat-based issue/concern limiting the recovery or sustainability of one or more species targeted by the proposed restoration action; 2) describe in detail the actions and on-the-ground habitat restoration project(s) to be undertaken to resolve the issue/concern and; 3) describe the project(s)' expected outcomes and measurable impact on the project's target species and their ecosystem. Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements. One year or multi-year awards up to three funding years will be considered, and additional releases of funds may be used to fund selected proposals through FY19 without further competition. NOAA anticipates typical federal funding awards will range from $300,000 to $1.5 million over one to three years. NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of less than $100,000 or more than $4 million over three years. NOAA anticipates up to $5 million will be available under this FFO in FY17. Funds will be administered by the Community-based Restoration Program within the NOAA Restoration Center. Awards are dependent upon the amount of funds Congress makes available to NOAA for this purpose in the FY17-FY19 budgets.