The NOAA Marine Debris Program, authorized in the Marine Debris Act, codified at 33 U.S.C. § 1951 et seq., supports the development and implementation of marine debris assessment, removal, and prevention projects that benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and marine and Great Lake resources. Through this solicitation, NOAA seeks to openly compete funding made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) to support impactful marine debris removal efforts throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States. There are two separate priorities for this solicitation: the first priority aims to support highly capable applicants in creating and administering national and/or regional marine debris removal programs (hereafter, “partnerships”) for the removal and disposal of large marine debris, such as abandoned and derelict vessels, derelict fishing gear, and other large debris. The second priority aims to support marine debris removal through the development, deployment, and management of proven interception technologies to capture ocean and Great Lakes bound trash and marine debris in coastal riverine, shoreline, estuarine, and urban environments.
The overall objective of this funding opportunity is to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal and marine habitats and communities across a broad geographic scale, through a variety of marine debris removal methods as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The NOFO describes the types of partnerships and projects that are eligible for funding, as well as the proposal requirements and criteria under which applications will be evaluated for funding consideration. Funding of up to $56 million is expected to be available split between both priorities of this solicitation. NOAA expects to support between six to ten partnerships under Priority 1, but may support more or fewer based on the merit of submitted applications and their proposed geographies and scale. For Priority 2, the number of marine debris interception projects will be based on the merit of submitted applications.
Deadline: Sep. 30, 2022
PRIORITY 1: the development of large scale and high-value marine debris removal programs (hereafter “partnerships”) that can be responsive to local and regional marine debris removal needs, with a focus on large marine debris. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, “large debris” is defined as abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs), derelict fishing gear (DFG), and other debris that is generally unable to be collected by hand. Applicants may apply for funding to execute a plan for a particular marine debris removal project or to administer a competition for subawardees that will propose marine debris removal projects.
PRIORITY 2: the implementation of projects that use proven interception technologies that capture marine debris at or close to known marine debris sources or pathways. These two priorities will be reviewed as separate, parallel tracks under this funding opportunity, and they have different application requirements, described in this NOFO, that applicants must adhere to. Applicants wishing to compete under both priorities must submit separate applications for each. Funding will be split across the two priorities. While NOAA anticipates a greater portion of funding going to Priority 1, the specific funding split will depend on the merit of submitted applications.
As outlined in the Marine Debris Act, eligible applicants for projects taking place in the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States (or their adjacent waterways), are state, local, tribal, and territory governments whose activities affect research or regulation of marine debris. Equally eligible are any institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or commercial (for-profit) organization with expertise in a field related to marine debris. Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered. Interested federal agencies may collaborate with eligible applicants but may not receive funds through this competition. Foreign public entities (see 2 CFR 200.1) from outside of the Freely Associated States are not eligible to apply.
Funding of up to $56,000,000 is expected to be available for this grant solicitation. The minimum federal request for Priority 1 is $1,000,000. The maximum federal request for Priority 1 is $15,000,000. The minimum federal request for Priority 2 is $100,000. The maximum federal request for Priority 2 is $1,000,000.
