FY 2020-2021 Coral Reef Conservation Program Non-Governmental Organization Partnership Cooperative Agreements | NOAA NOS OCM 2020 2006329

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2020 2006329

This grant opportunity, titled FY 2020-2021 Coral Reef Conservation Program Non-Governmental Organization Partnership Cooperative Agreements (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NOS OCM 2020 2006329), is a NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) solicitation designed to build formal partnerships with experienced non-governmental organizations to advance the conservation and management of U.S. coral reefs. Issued by the Department of Commerce under CFDA 11.482, it uses a cooperative agreement structure, which generally means NOAA expects to be actively involved during the project period rather than simply providing funds with limited interaction. The overall intent is to leverage NGO expertise, capacity, and on-the-ground relationships to support coral reef management priorities across U.S. jurisdictions.

The opportunity anticipates approximately $900,000 in total federal funding in FY 2020, contingent on Congressional appropriations, to initiate partnerships with up to ten NGOs. Awards are planned for a period of up to 24 months (two years). While the program can fund multiple awards, NOAA signals that it is open to either one comprehensive proposal that supports all seven coral reef states and territories or a set of regional proposals that split efforts between the Pacific Islands and the Atlantic/Caribbean. The Pacific focus may include Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, while the Atlantic/Caribbean focus may include Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NOAA also notes that applicants may include some international work if it is paid for with non-federal match and is similar in scope to the domestic effort, but international activities are not a priority compared with U.S.-focused work.

A key design feature is jurisdictional coverage and balance. NOAA expects that at least one project, but no more than two projects, will be selected to benefit each jurisdiction, across whatever combination of funded proposals ultimately results. Budget requests are tied to the number of jurisdictions served: applicants may request support for work plans of up to 24 months and may seek between $100,000 and $700,000 per year, with a rough planning assumption of about $100,000 per state or territory supported. In practice, that means a proposal serving a single jurisdiction would likely be at the lower end, while a multi-jurisdiction proposal could scale upward, capped at the stated ceiling.

The program is governed by the Coral Reef Conservation Act (CRCA), specifically Section 6403 of 16 U.S.C. 6401-6409, and it carries a statutory non-federal cost share requirement. Recipients must provide matching contributions at a minimum 1:1 ratio (at least one non-federal dollar for every federal dollar) unless they request and NOAA grants a waiver of the matching requirement. Applicants should also be aware that funding beyond the first year is not automatic; continued support generally depends on future appropriations, alignment with NOAA/CRCP priorities, and satisfactory performance during the initial year(s) of the cooperative agreement.

From an applicant standpoint, the competition is aimed at NGOs with demonstrated expertise and experience specifically in supporting coral reef management in the United States. NOAA emphasizes that the announcement outlines the kind of partnership it envisions, the qualities it wants in a partner organization, and the criteria that will be used to evaluate proposals for funding consideration. While the detailed evaluation criteria are referenced as being provided in the full announcement, the framing suggests NOAA is looking for credible organizations with a proven track record, the capacity to coordinate across jurisdictions and stakeholders, and the ability to deliver measurable conservation benefits through close collaboration with NOAA.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity with an original closing date of February 21, 2020, and a creation date of November 29, 2019. The award ceiling is listed as $700,000, and the announcement projects up to 10 expected awards. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NOAA CRCP investing in a small set of NGO partners to help execute coral reef conservation priorities across the seven U.S. coral reef jurisdictions through two-year cooperative agreements supported by significant non-federal matching resources.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2020-2021 Coral Reef Conservation Program Non-Governmental Organization Partnership Cooperative Agreements" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.482.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 29, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 21, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2020 2006329

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