National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Collaborative Science Program 2024 | NOAA NOS OCM 2024 2008212

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2024 2008212

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Collaborative Science Program 2024 is a NOAA funding opportunity to select one organization to run a nationwide, five-year applied research program that supports collaborative science across the entire NERRS network. Rather than paying for a single research study, NOAA is looking for a capable program administrator that can design, manage, and oversee a comprehensive, competitive extramural research portfolio. The core idea is to fund and coordinate multiple collaborative projects that respond to system-wide NERRS research and management needs, while still staying aligned with local and regional priorities at individual reserves and with broader NOAA priorities.

A central feature of the program is that the funded science should be directly useful to coastal decision-makers and practitioners. NOAA emphasizes producing credible, relevant information for the coastal management community by building user input into the way research questions are selected, projects are designed, and results are delivered. In practice, this means the program is expected to support stakeholder-driven or co-produced science, where reserve staff, managers, educators, stewardship practitioners, and other end-users help shape what gets studied and how findings are translated into management applications.

The opportunity also aims to strengthen the overall capacity of the NERRS system to move science into practice. NOAA describes a goal of increasing the ability of NERRS sectors, including management, research, education, stewardship, and coastal training, to transfer information and skills to end-users. The expectation is that the program administrator will not only run funding competitions and manage awards, but also help ensure that project outcomes are communicated and adopted in ways that improve coastal and estuarine resource management.

This is an established program with a long track record. NOAA notes that a NERRS collaborative science program has existed for about fifteen years, and this competition represents the fourth time NOAA has competed the cooperative agreement for a five-year program. That context signals NOAA is seeking an administrator with strong experience in national-scale grantmaking, partnership management, and applied research translation, because the role is to operate an ongoing program infrastructure, not to conduct a short-term initiative.

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial NOAA involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant. The total potential funding ceiling is $25,000,000, with NOAA expecting to make one award for the five-year period. The funding instrument and scale suggest the selected applicant will be responsible for building and maintaining the program framework, running competitive processes to select and fund collaborative science projects, coordinating review and governance processes, tracking performance, and ensuring the funded work meets NERRS and NOAA needs across multiple geographies and reserves.

Eligibility is intentionally broad but excludes federal entities as direct recipients. Eligible applicants include non-federal institutions of higher education, other nonprofit organizations, state governments, local governments, Indian Tribal governments, and commercial organizations. Federal agencies and federal employees cannot receive funds under this announcement, but they may participate as collaborators or partners. If federal agencies are involved as collaborators, the application is expected to clearly describe the planned level of federal engagement, such as serving in a review role or participating on priority task teams, working groups, or leadership structures.

NOAA also draws clear boundaries around the role of its own staff in the application process. NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) employees and contractors are not allowed to help prepare applications, and letters of support from OCM staff or contractors are not permitted and will not be considered in merit review. At the same time, OCM staff identified in the opportunity can provide general information to potential applicants about program goals and objectives, ongoing NERRS activities, and NOAA funding priorities, which is meant to help applicants align proposals without crossing into proposal-writing assistance.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are explicit priorities for this program. NOAA encourages applicants and awardees to incorporate diversity and inclusion principles in both proposal development and program implementation. The opportunity highlights NOAA and Department of Commerce interest in broadening participation in the climate and coastal research community, including encouraging applications that involve historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions working in underserved areas. The overall message is that the program administrator should be prepared to build an inclusive national program, including outreach, partnership strategies, and processes that expand participation and strengthen the vitality of the research and practitioner communities connected to NERRS.

Administratively, the lead applicant carries responsibility for ensuring that all awarded funds, including any passed through to sub-awardees, are used in ways that are consistent with the program purpose and requirements. This underscores that the selected organization will function as the primary steward of federal funds for a network of collaborative projects and partners, with accountability for compliance, project oversight, and alignment with intended outcomes.

Key public listing details include the funding opportunity title "National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Collaborative Science Program 2024," opportunity number NOAA NOS OCM 2024 2008212, agency Department of Commerce (NOAA), CFDA 11.419, discretionary opportunity category, and an original application closing date of February 9, 2024. The activity focus is environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, with the primary deliverable being the effective administration of a national collaborative science program for the NERRS system rather than direct support for a single local research effort.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Collaborative Science Program 2024" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.419.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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