The Cooperative Agreements support coral reef management and monitoring programs and conservation projects that seek to improve the condition of coral reef ecosystem resources located in these seven U.S. States, Territories and Commonwealths.
Donor Name: Department of Commerce
State: Florida and Hawaii
County: All Counties
Territory: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/15/2023
Size of the Grant: $1,800,000
Grant Duration: 24 months
Details:
The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, as authorized by the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, provides matching awards of financial assistance to State, Territorial and Commonwealth resource management agencies appointed by their respective Governors to serve as the primary point of contact agencies for coral reef conservation activities in each of the jurisdictions of American Samoa, Florida, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Program Objective
Coral reefs and associated seagrass and mangrove communities are among the most complex and diverse ecosystems on earth. They support important fishing and tourism industries, protect coasts from wave and storm damage, build tropical islands, contain an array of potential pharmaceuticals, and provide local communities with a source of food, materials and traditional activities.
As shallow-water, near shore communities, coral reef ecosystems are ecologically linked to adjacent watersheds and are highly vulnerable to human activity. Stresses in the coral reef environment include poor water quality from runoff and inadequate sewage treatment, sedimentation, destructive fishing practices, recreational overuse and misuse, and impacts from climate change, including changes in ocean chemistry.
Program Priorities
Since 2001, CRCP has provided annual funding to eligible State, Territorial, and Commonwealth agencies for conservation projects in coral reef jurisdictions. This funding, in the form of cooperative agreements, has supported development and implementation of numerous projects and activities, based on guidance provided by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, NOAA, strategic guidance documents, such as Local Action Strategies and the National Coral Reef Action Strategy, and the State and Territorial agencies themselves.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $1,800,000
- Award Floor: $1,000,000
- Each applicant must submit an application that covers a 24-month period with an anticipated start date of either July 1, 2023 or October 1, 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants are limited to the State, Territorial and Commonwealth natural resource management agencies that were appointed by their respective Governors to serve as the primary point of contact agencies for coral reef conservation activities in each of the jurisdictions of American Samoa, Florida, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- The designated point of contact agency is considered to be the lead applicant on any proposal and is responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the purposes of, and in a manner consistent with, this program, including any Federal funds awarded to an eligible sub-recipient.
- NOAA employees and affiliates (contract staff) are not permitted to assist in the preparation of applications or write letters of support for any application. NOAA CRCP staff is available to provide general information on programmatic goals and objectives, ongoing coral reef conservation programs/activities, and regional funding priorities. For proposals that involve collaboration with current NOAA projects or staff, NOAA employees may provide a limited statement verifying the nature and extent of the collaboration and confirming any prior coordination activities. Letters of support from NOAA employees are not allowable and will not be included among the materials considered by peer reviewers.
- Federal agencies and employees are not allowed to receive funds under this announcement but may serve as collaborative project partners. Federal agencies and employees “in-kind” services cannot be considered as part of an applicant’s match on shared costs. If federal agencies are collaborators, applicants are expected to provide detail on the planned level of federal engagement in the application. Examples might include, but are not limited to partnership services; serving in a review capacity; or participating in priority task teams, working groups, or leadership teams. Federal staff may provide a limited statement verifying the nature and extent of any such collaboration and confirming any prior coordination activities.
- DOC/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and is strongly committed to broadening the participation of historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions that work in underserved areas. While this program limits applicants to the State, Territorial and Commonwealth natural resource management agencies, DOC/NOAA encourages applicants to include partners and contributors from any of the above groups or institutions.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
