The Competitive Research Program (CRP), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), supports the development of actionable information and tools that improve how the nation protects, manages, and conserves ocean and coastal ecosystems.
Donor Name: Department of Commerce
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/23/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 4 Years
Details:
NCCOS/CRP funds regional-scale and targeted research through a competitive, peer-reviewed process to address the Nation’s most pressing issues and needs, including harmful algal blooms and hypoxia (as authorized under the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act), coastal resilience, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, mesophotic coral ecosystem characterization, and effective ecosystem-based management.
The Regional Ecosystem Research (RER) Program was established to provide resource managers with actionable information, tools, and capabilities to improve their ability to protect, conserve, and restore the Nation’s ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. The RER Program identifies key regional research needs that are limiting the ability of resource managers to address one or more issues from a regional ecosystem perspective.
Program Priorities
NCCOS/CRP, in partnership with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and National Marine Protected Areas Center, is soliciting proposals under the RER Program to understand species’ habitat usage and connectivity in and around marine protected areas (MPAs). This information will be used to improve the ability of resource managers to address habitat connectivity, species’ habitat affinities, and spatial and temporal usage of habitats in MPA management plans. This research supports national and global commitments to effectively conserve 30% of marine and coastal areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, by 2030.
Connectivity can be broadly defined as the exchange of materials (e.g., nutrients and pollutants), organisms, and genes within and across geographic space, and can be divided into three categories: (1) genetic connectivity that concerns the exchange of genetic material, (2) demographic or ecological connectivity, which is the exchange of individual propagules, juveniles, and adults, and (3) oceanographic connectivity, which includes flow of materials and circulation patterns and variability that underpins many of these exchanges. This Announcement primarily addresses demographic or ecological connectivity; however, projects may also address genetic and oceanographic connectivity, as appropriate.
Funding Information
Funding is contingent upon availability of Federal appropriations. If funds become available, two projects are expected to be supported for up to three to four years, with an approximate annual budget for each project up to $500,000, not to exceed $2,000,000 per project.
Grant Period
Full applications may cover a project/award period up to four years, but shorter-term project proposals are encouraged. Projects funded under this Announcement will have a September 1, 2025, start date.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants for Federal financial assistance in this competition are U.S. institutions of higher education, non-profits, state and local governments, tribal government entities, U.S. Territories, U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands institutions, and for-profit organizations.
- Department of Commerce (DOC)/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and encourages women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications to its programs. In addition, DOC/NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and universities, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian institutions, Asian American and Native Pacific Islander-serving institutions, and institutions that work in underserved areas. DOC/NOAA encourages applications involving any of the above institutions to apply.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
