Frequent Questions: FY2020 Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants

When are proposals due?

The deadline for pre-proposals is January 8, 2020. The pre-proposal process will help determine if proposed projects are well-suited for this specific funding competition and if a full application is warranted. The full application deadline, which will be in April 2020, will be sent to eligible applicants that were successful in the pre-proposal process.

What is a pre-proposal?

The FY2020 funding opportunity contains a requirement for a pre-proposal. The pre-proposal process will reduce the applicant’s burden for this first step, and will streamline the proposal review. The pre-proposal process will help determine if proposed projects are well-suited for this specific funding competition and if a full application is warranted.

Will match or cost-share be required for this program?

While there is no statutory match or cost-share requirement for this funding, NOAA typically leverages its federal funding with matching contributions and/or partnerships from a broad range of sources in the public and private sector to implement locally important coastal habitat restoration. To this end, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate a 1:1 non-federal match for NOAA funds requested to conduct the proposed project.

Who is eligible to apply for this program?

Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; foreign public entities and foreign organizations; and state, territory, local, and Indian tribal governments. Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered. Federal agencies are strongly encouraged to work with states, tribes, non-governmental organizations, municipal and county governments, conservation corps organizations, and others that are eligible to apply.

Will there be any educational resources (webinars, phone calls, etc.) on how to apply or improve applications?

Yes, we plan to hold an applicant webinar, which will be recorded and the information posted to the website. Information about the webinar will be posted on the NOAA Fisheries website once it is scheduled. In addition, each applicant is offered feedback about how to improve an application after the competitive process is complete.

What is the minimum and maximum NOAA funding request?

NOAA will not accept proposals with a NOAA federal funding request of less than $75,000 or more than $3 million over a three-year award period.

What types of projects will be supported by this funding?

Restoration includes activities that return degraded or altered marine, estuarine, coastal, and freshwater, migratory fish habitats to functioning conditions, and techniques that return NOAA trust species to their historic habitats.

When can funded projects start?

October 1, 2020, is the earliest potential start date for awards.

Are there ineligible project types?

Yes, a complete list is in Section III.C of the funding opportunity. Some examples include land acquisition, marine debris removal, and those that propose water quality improvement measures that rely primarily upon hard infrastructure.

Will proposals that seek to restore habitat important to species such as forage fish be considered?

Yes, all projects that propose to restore coastal habitat for estuarine and marine species, including forage fish or prey of species managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, listed under the Endangered Species Act, or identified as important recreational fishing species, are eligible for funding and will be considered through the proposal evaluation criteria (Section V.A. of the funding opportunity). 

Can projects in the Great Lakes be funded?

No, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) will continue to fund habitat restoration projects in the Great Lakes at this time. The NOAA Restoration Center will continue to support current Great Lakes partnerships with GLRI funds in FY2020.

Is there a limit on the number of proposals from any one applicant, geographic area or region?

No. There is no limit on the number of proposals from any one applicant, geographic area, or region.

Will a letter from my state or territory's governor be required?

No, a letter from your state or territory governor is not required. However, letters of support from a diverse set of stakeholders may enhance the proposal’s score in the Outreach and Education criteria (Section V.A.5 of the funding opportunity).

Will NOAA ensure geographic distribution of selected awards?

The NOAA Selecting Official will select applications in rank order, unless there is justification to select out of rank order based upon standard selection factors outlined in the funding opportunity, including the availability of funding and balanced distribution of funds according to geography, type of partners, research/focus areas, and project types.

Will there be another Community-based Restoration Program Federal Funding Opportunity issued next year (FY2021)?

No, we do not anticipate issuing the next Notice of Funding Opportunity for coastal and marine habitat restoration projects in FY2021; however, we plan to issue another Notice of Funding Opportunity in FY2022, depending on funding appropriated by Congress for the program. In FY2021, funding appropriated to the Community-based Restoration Program will be used to complete the multi-year projects awarded in FY2019 and to further support the projects awarded under this FY2020 competition.