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NERRS Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Competition

ID: NOAA-NOS-OCM-2023-2008058 • Type: Posted
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Description

The purpose of this notice is to solicit grant proposals from National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRS or Reserves) for coastal habitat restoration; coastal habitat restoration planning, engineering, and design; and land conservation projects that support the goals and intent of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, coastal habitat conservation is defined as the acquisition of fee simple interest in real property or conservation easements.

NOAA anticipates that approximately $16 million will be competitively awarded to Reserves' designated state lead agency or university. For habitat restoration engineering, design and planning, it is anticipated that projects will range from approximately $200,000-$350,000. For habitat restoration, it is anticipated that projects will range from approximately $2 million to $4 million. For land conservation, it is anticipated that projects will range from approximately $500,000 to $1.5 million. Applicants may propose projects with a Federal funding request less than or more than these amounts, up to $4 million.

The NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) encourages applicants and awardees to support the principles of equity and inclusion when writing their proposals and performing their work. Promoting equity and inclusion through community engagement, co-development, and partnership improves creativity, productivity, and the vitality of the coastal management community that OCM supports.

Background
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) is seeking grant proposals for coastal habitat restoration, planning, engineering, and design, and land conservation projects that align with the goals of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to strengthen protection of key land and water areas, improve climate resilience, enhance long-term protection of Reserve areas for research and education, and support the habitat protection goals and priorities of the National Coastal Zone Management Act.

Grant Details
The grant anticipates approximately $16 million to be competitively awarded to Reserves’ designated state lead agency or university. Projects will range from approximately $200,000-$350,000 for habitat restoration engineering, design, and planning; from approximately $2 million to $4 million for habitat restoration; and from approximately $500,000 to $1.5 million for land conservation. Applicants may propose projects with a Federal funding request less than or more than these amounts, up to $4 million. The competition has a mandatory pre-proposal/letter of intent. Only applicants whose pre-proposals strongly align with program objectives will be invited to submit full applications.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are NERRS lead state agencies or universities designated to receive NERRS operations funding through a Memorandum of Understanding with NOAA in coastal states and territories including the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic Coast, and Great Lakes. Non-governmental organizations may serve as the lead applicant for habitat restoration projects or for habitat restoration engineering, design and planning projects. All projects must be located on publicly-owned land or land where a public entity holds a lease or easement that provides for adequate public control of the property.

Period of Performance
Projects are expected to be completed within three years of the start date of the award, with a potential period of up to five years. The award start date is anticipated to be August 1, 2024. Applicants may submit proposals with a project period of 12 to 36 months or up to 48 months for habitat restoration projects.

Grant Value
$16 million is anticipated to be competitively awarded to Reserves’ designated state lead agency or university. The individual project awards range from approximately $200,000-$350,000 for habitat restoration engineering, design and planning; from approximately $2 million to $4 million for habitat restoration; and from approximately $500,000 to $1.5 million for land conservation.

Overview

Category of Funding
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Funding Instruments
Cooperative Agreement
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
False
Source
On 6/13/23 the Department of Commerce posted grant opportunity NOAA-NOS-OCM-2023-2008058 for NERRS Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Competition with funding of $16.0 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 11.473 Office for Coastal Management. It is expected that 10 total grants will be made worth between $200,000 and $4.0 million.

Timing

Posted Date
June 13, 2023, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
Jan. 10, 2024, 12:00 a.m. EST Past Due
Last Updated
June 13, 2023, 1:45 p.m. EDT
Version
1
Archive Date
Feb. 9, 2024

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Additional Info
Eligible applicants are NERRS lead state agencies or universities designated to receive NERRS operations funding through a Memorandum of Understanding with NOAA in coastal states and territories including the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes. Eligible applicants should meet requirements as stated in the NERRS regulations codified at 15 C.F.R. § 921.32 that are available online at http://go.usa.gov/xkGEf. Each applicant may submit no more than three letters of intent for consideration under this competition. NOAA may, with concurrence of the NERRS lead state agency or university, make a grant directly to an eligible Reserve partner in order to expedite completion of an approved project. For these projects, the NERRS lead state agency or university would submit the Letter of Intent and include a description of which Reserve partner would be the final grant recipient. If the Reserve is invited to submit a final application for this proposal, then the Reserve partner would submit the final application through grants.gov. These final proposals should include a letter of support from the Reserve. In such cases, the Reserve Partner (as the grant recipient) will be responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the approved purposes and in a manner consistent with this program. Non-governmental organizations may serve as the lead applicant for habitat restoration projects or for habitat restoration engineering, design and planning projects. As noted in section III C.3. Public Benefit, all projects must be located on publicly-owned land, or land where a public entity holds a lease or easement that provides for adequate public control of the property. For these projects, the project application should also include a letter of support from the public entity who holds title or a legal interest on the project site. Non-governmental organizations are not eligible to hold title to lands acquired with these funds and therefore may not serve as the lead applicant for habitat conservation projects and also should not be listed as a subawardee for the land acquisition portion of the project However, non-governmental organizations may participate as partners with eligible entities in the acquisition, restoration and long-term stewardship of lands through this program, such as: identifying target properties; conducting or assisting in acquisition negotiations to secure properties; conducting restoration activities; and providing stewardship and management of properties in perpetuity, including holding a secondary easement or other stewardship agreement for these lands. DOC/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and is strongly committed to broadening the participation of Minority Service Institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and Asian American and Pacific Islander serving institutions that work in underserved areas. While this program limits applicants to NERRS lead agencies or universities, DOC/NOAA encourages applicants to include partners and contributors from any of the above groups or institutions.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$4,000,000
Floor
$200,000
Estimated Program Funding
$16,000,000
Estimated Number of Grants
10

Contacts

Contact
Alexis P Toussaint Grants Management Specialist
Email Description
E-mail
Contact Phone
(301) 628-1448

Documents

Posted documents for NOAA-NOS-OCM-2023-2008058

Grant Awards

Grants awarded through NOAA-NOS-OCM-2023-2008058

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