October 2023
The National Sea Grant College Program has released two new funding opportunities supported by the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act related to marine debris prevention and removal. The first, Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions, will support the creation of coalitions and partnerships among communities, groups, and localities, especially those that have been traditionally underserved, to address marine debris prevention and removal. The second, the Marine Debris Challenge Competition, will support original, innovative, and transformational marine debris prevention and removal research that pushes the boundaries of existing technologies and approaches, changes the current landscape of marine debris mitigation, and ties that research to tangible outputs.
Eligibility and application for each opportunity is different. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the details and deadline dates carefully.
Opportunity 1 – Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions
The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates approximately $3,000,000 (with a maximum request of $300,000) to support the creation of coalitions and partnerships among communities, groups, and localities, especially those that have been traditionally underserved, to address marine debris prevention and removal.
Specific to this opportunity, Pennsylvania Sea Grant staff will be involved in all the development of all proposals and must submit proposals to the National Sea Grant Office. Further, Pennsylvania Sea Grant staff will be involved in the implementation of the project. As such, Pennsylvania Sea Grant will review proposed project ideas internally, using the established strategic plan as a reference for project justification, and to consider staff capacity for participating.
Dates and Details
November 22, 2023 – Deadline for initial contact with Pennsylvania Sea Grant.
The first step in the process is to contact Pennsylvania Sea Grant’s Research Director, Sean Rafferty, Ph.D., to express interest in the opportunity and to discuss feasibility of potential project. The deadline for contacting Sean Rafferty is November 22, 2023.
December 8, 2023 – Deadline for draft Letter(s) of intent to Pennsylvania Sea Grant.
Draft letters of intent are due to Pennsylvania Sea Grant by December 8, 2023. Pennsylvania Sea Grant will then review and consider the feasibility of the project, whether it aligns with the Program’s strategic plan, and capacity for staff involvement.
December 14, 2023 – Deadline for Submitting Letters of intent to NSGO.
If determined to be a feasible project, staff will finalize and submit final letters of intent to the National Sea Grant Office by December 14, 2023.
February 5, 2024 – Final application materials due to Pennsylvania Sea Grant
All proposals and application materials are due to Pennsylvania Sea Grant for final review and in preparation to submit.
March 5, 2024 – Deadline to submit proposals to grants.gov
Pennsylvania Sea Grant will submit all proposals through Grants.gov, which is a one-stop website for federal agencies to post discretionary funding opportunities and for grantees to find and apply to them.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to any person or group within the United States or its territories, as well as tribal nations within those geographies. Proposals for this opportunity must be submitted by a Sea Grant program. Sea Grant staff members are expected to have involvement in both proposal development and project implementation.
Please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed information about this opportunity: NOAA-OAR-SG-2024-23704
Opportunity 2 – Marine Debris Challenge Competition
The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates approximately $16,000,000 (with a maximum request of $3,000,000) to support original, innovative, and transformational marine debris prevention and removal research that pushes the boundaries of existing technologies and approaches, changes the current landscape of marine debris mitigation, and ties that research to tangible outputs.
Eligibility- This opportunity is open to any person or group within the United States or its territories, as well as tribal nations within those geographies. Applicants and awardees from the FY22 National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Marine Debris Challenge Competition are eligible to apply for these funds.
Please Note: Applicants must submit proposals in partnership with a relevant Sea Grant program, but Pennsylvania Sea Grant is not required to be the primary applicant, or serve as the proposal PI, or a Co-PI on the project.
Applicants and awardees from the FY22 National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Marine Debris Challenge Competition are eligible to apply for these funds.
Due Dates and Details
November 22, 2023 – Deadline for contacting Pennsylvania Sea Grant Research Director, Sean Rafferty, Ph.D. to discuss the opportunity.
January 31, 2024 – Letters of intent are due to the National Sea Grant Office
March 27, 2024 – Full proposals are due to grants.gov
Please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed information about this opportunity: NOAA-OAR-SG-2022-2007452
