This funding opportunity requires a Letter of Intent to be submitted for competitive review before a full proposal can be submitted. LOIs must be received via email as an attachment (to grants.marinedebris@noaa.gov) no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, September 24, 2021. 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. Eastern time, January 14, 2022. Due to limited staffing of federal offices, hardcopy LOIs or full applications will not be accepted. Please follow all LOI submission guidelines and instructions outlined in the notice of funding opportunity.
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 marine and Great Lake resources. Projects awarded through this grant competition will create long-term, quantifiable ecological benefits and habitat improvements 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, contribute to the understanding of marine debris composition, distribution and impacts, and work to prevent marine debris reaccumulation. Projects awarded through this competition may be implemented throughout all United States coastal, marine, and Great Lakes areas; the coastal and marine areas of United States territories and Freely Associated States, or; within coastal areas of Mexico or Canada as long as benefits to United States resources, navigation or economy can be clearly demonstrated. Successful proposals through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements. Funding of up to $5,000,000 is expected to be available for Marine Debris Removal grants in Fiscal Year 2022. The typical funding level for the federal share of project awards ranges from $150,000 to $350,000. Funding for this grant competition comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as annual or supplemental appropriations to the National Ocean Service, Coastal Science, Assessment, Response and Restoration budget line, as well as from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 Pub. L. 116-113, Title IX to carry out Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. § 1952) in the North American region.