NOAA Marine Debris Program: FY2021 Marine Debris Removal Grant

This funding opportunity requires a Letter of Intent (LOI) to be submitted before full proposals will be invited. LOIs must be received via email to grants.marinedebris@noaa.gov (as an attachment) no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, September 4, 2020. If invited per the instructions in this announcement, full proposals must then be submitted through and validated by Grants.gov on or before 11:59 p.m. EST, December 4, 2020. 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 locally-driven, marine debris assessment, removal and prevention projects that benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and NOAA trust resources. Projects awarded through this grant competition will create long-term, quantifiable ecological benefits and habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources through on-the-ground marine debris removal activities, with highest priority for those targeting derelict fishing gear and other medium- and large-scale debris. Projects should also foster awareness of the sources and effects of marine debris to further the conservation of living marine resource habitats, and contribute to the understanding of marine debris composition, distribution and impacts. Successful proposals through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements. Funding of up to $2,500,000 is expected to be available for Marine Debris Removal grants in Fiscal Year 2021. The typical funding level for the federal share of project awards ranges from $50,000 to $150,000. Funding for this grant competition comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as annual or supplemental appropriations to the Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service.

All projects should take place within the United States or territories or their adjacent waterways and have clear benefits to NOAA trust resources. Foreign organizations and foreign public entities are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant but can be involved as project partners.

NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation of veterans, minority-serving institutions, and entities that work in underserved areas. The NOAA MDP encourages proposals from, or involving any of the above types of institutions.

Applications that have been submitted to other NOAA grant programs or as part of another NOAA grant may be considered under this solicitation.

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 locally-driven, marine debris assessment, removal and prevention projects that benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and NOAA trust resources. Projects awarded through this grant competition will create long-term, quantifiable ecological benefits and habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources through on-the-ground marine debris removal activities, with highest priority for those targeting derelict fishing gear and other medium- and large-scale debris. Projects should also foster awareness of the sources and effects of marine debris to further the conservation of living marine resource habitats, and contribute to the understanding of marine debris composition, distribution and impacts. Successful proposals through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements. Funding of up to $2,500,000 is expected to be available for Marine Debris Removal grants in Fiscal Year 2021. The typical funding level for the federal share of project awards ranges from $50,000 to $150,000. Funding for this grant competition comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as annual or supplemental appropriations to the Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service.