The NOAA and NOPP Department offers the US Marine Life Observation Grant to advance marine biodiversity and telemetry networks for resilient ecosystems.

If an applicant has a partner(s) who would receive funds, the lead grantee will be expected to use subawards or contracts to provide funds to the partner(s). If a partner is a US Government agency, office, or laboratory, the US Government will transfer funds internally.

Applicants should note that paying for transportation, travel, or other expenses for any Federal employee are unallowable costs.

On behalf of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP), NOAA and partner agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the Office of Naval Research request proposals that: (1) build upon the foundation established by the US Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), the US Animal Telemetry Network (ATN), and the US IOOS Regional Associations to work across sectors and disciplines towards an integrated, sustained marine life observing capability for the U.S. ocean, coasts and Great Lakes, from estuaries to the deep ocean; (2) advance technologies for efficient and/or automated collection of species and associated habitat observations; (3) enable open access to biodiversity data and information; and (4) utilize these observations, technologies, and data to address place-based (e.g., sanctuaries, reserves, protected areas, leasing blocks, etc) management, conservation and restoration needs.

NOPP anticipates making multiple awards, subject to the availability of funds, in amounts up to $500,000 per project per year for up to five years. Total estimated funding for all awards is up to $6M million per year. The number of awards is anticipated to range from approximately three (3) to twelve (12) and will be adjusted based on availability of funds. Proposals not funded in the current fiscal period may be considered for funding in the next fiscal period without NOAA or NOPP repeating the competitive process outlined in this announcement. Proposals that include a team leader component can request up to an additional $40,000 per year for that role in a separate budget (further details provided below).

Applicants are encouraged to visit marinebon.org and ioos.noaa.gov for more information about MBON, ATN and related activities. Applicants should note requirements later in the call for direct involvement of both resource managers (local, tribal, state and federal) and IOOS Regional Associations in proposal development and project implementation.