Funding Wizard

The National Marine Fisheries Service (hereinafter, "NMFS") recognizes the unique importance of marine mammals to Alaska Native Organizations (hereinafter, "ANOs") and values ongoing efforts by Alaska Native Tribes and ANOs to conserve and protect subsistence species under NMFS' jurisdiction. Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. §1388, NMFS may provide Federal assistance to ANOs to conserve marine mammals and to promote co-management of Alaska Native subsistence use of such mammals under NMFS' jurisdiction. This assistance, provided in the form of cooperative agreements, may be used to support conservation of marine mammals utilized for subsistence purposes by Alaska Natives. Funded activities may include development and implementation of species management, subsistence harvest monitoring, subsistence harvest sampling, scientific research, and public education and outreach. Proposed activities should address priority actions identified in an Endangered Species Act Recovery Plan or Marine Mammal Protection Act Conservation Plan where applicable and the priorities identified within this federal funding opportunity. Tribally-Authorized ANOs with a signed agreement for co-management with NMFS are eligible to apply under this solicitation. Proposals focusing on marine mammals under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not be considered for funding under this grant program. This document describes how to prepare and submit proposals for funding in fiscal year (hereinafter, "FY") 2023 and how NMFS will determine which proposals will be funded. This announcement should be read in its entirety, as some information has changed from the previous year.

The mission of the National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) is to support the development of technological solutions and changes in fishing practices designed to minimize bycatch of fish and protected species (including Endangered Species Act-listed fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles) and to reduce impacts to invertebrates (including sponges, deep-sea corals, and shallow (tropical) corals.) In addition, BREP may support projects that quantify post-release mortality and identify ways to minimize mortality and injury of bycaught species (including post-release injury and mortality). Projects should produce outcomes that can directly influence management needs of federally managed living marine resources. For Fiscal Year 2023, NMFS anticipates that approximately $2,300,000 could be made available for approximately 10-15 projects that address bycatch research as identified in the Program Priority Section (I.B.1 - I.B.5).

Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA) hosts a robust Prescribed Fire program that encompasses not only the North and South Rims of the Park, but includes Walnut Canyon (WACA), Wupatki, (WUPA), Sunset Crater (SUCR), Tuzigoot (TUZI), and Montezuma’s Castle (MOCA) National Monuments located Northern Arizona. Priority fuels reduction and ecological restoration work occurs in all listed locations and assistance from qualified cooperators will be necessary to meet the planned program of work. Federal funding will be allocated for Prescribed Fire support, ecological restoration, and hazardous fuels reduction projects, which will be necessary to meet the programmatic goals of the National Park Service (NPS). Applicants must demonstrate their ability to contribute to successful implementation of Prescribed Fire and Fuels work. Notable areas of evaluation criteria include ability to mobilize and arrive at the project site within 1.5-2 hours of notification, capable firefighting equipment and personnel possessing National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) qualifications recognized within the wildland fire discipline, and self-sufficiency for travel to and from sites while conducting Prescribed Fire activities.

Grant funds must be used for CONSULTATION and/or DOCUMENTATION projects under NAGPRA. Consultation projects support efforts related to revising a NAGPRA inventory and making or responding to requests for repatriation of items in a NAGPRA summary. Documentation projects support determining the geographical origin, cultural affiliation, and other basic facts surrounding the acquisition of Native American cultural items. Consultation and documentation projects should lead to determining control, treatment, repatriation, and disposition of NAGPRA cultural items.

The NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, authentic experiential learning focused on K-12 audiences. The primary delivery of B-WET is through competitive funding that promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs; defined in Section I.A.b.) for students, related professional development for teachers, and help to support regional education and environmental priorities in the Great Lakes. B-WET was established in 2002 in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and currently exists in seven regions: California, Chesapeake Bay, Hawaii, Gulf of Mexico, New England, Pacific Northwest, and Great Lakes. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries coordinates four of the seven B-WET regions. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a network of underwater areas encompassing more than 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington State to Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. The network includes a system of 15 national marine sanctuaries and Papahanaumokuakea and Rose Atoll marine national monuments. The Great Lakes B-WET region was established in 2011 with funding for awards provided by the Environmental Protection Agency through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (https://www.glri.us/). The Great Lakes B-WET program supports grantee capacity building and connects grantees to local NOAA assets and relevant STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) expertise, while being responsive to local education and environmental priorities. For the purposes of this solicitation, the Great Lakes region is defined as counties in the Great Lakes watershed in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

The Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program is an environmental education program that supports locally relevant, authentic experiential learning in the K-12 environment. Funded projects provide Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs; defined below) for students, related professional development for teachers, and help to support regional education and environmental priorities in the Pacific Northwest. The primary delivery is through competitive grants. Every year, the NOAA B-WET program supports environmental education programs for thousands of students and teachers. These programs engage youth in MWEEs that provide memorable hands-on, experiential learning that are not typically available within traditional classrooms. It also plays a significant role in providing professional develop.The FY23 Pacific Northwest B-WET funding announcement focuses on the following priority areas: Notice of Federal Funding Page 2 of 52 1) Systemic classroom-integrated Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for K-12 students that promote climate resilience and include high-quality teacher professional development related to the MWEEs; and 2) Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for K-12 students that appropriately incorporate Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge and promote climate resilience.

PaymentsDomestic recipients are required to register in and receive payment through the U.S. Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), unless approved for a waiver by the Service program. Foreign recipients receiving funds to a final destination bank outside the U.S. are required to receive payment through the U.S. Treasury’s International Treasury Services (ITS) System. Foreign recipients receiving funds to a final destination bank in the U.S. are required to enter and maintain current banking details in their SAM.gov entity profile and receive payment through the Automated Clearing House network by electronic funds transfer (EFT). The Bureau will include recipient-specific instructions on how to request payment, including identification of any additional information required and where to submit payment requests, as applicable, in all Notices of Award.

Eligible projects described in section 148(a)(4) are strategies, activities, and projects on a public road that are consistent with a transportation safety plan and that (i) correct or improve a hazardous road location or feature, or (ii) address a highway safety problem. TTPSF emphasizes the development of strategic transportation safety plans using a data-driven process as a means for Tribes to identify transportation safety needs and determine how those needs will be addressed in Tribal communities. FHWA has identified four eligibility categories: transportation safety plans; data assessment, improvement, and analysis activities; systemic roadway departure countermeasures; and infrastructure improvements and other eligible activities as listed in 23 U.S.C. § 148(a)(4).

NMFS, in coordination with the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils), is soliciting proposals under the Monkfish Research Set Aside (RSA) Program. Projects funded under the Monkfish RSA Program must enhance the knowledge of the monkfish fishery resource or contribute to the body of information on which monkfish management decisions are made. Priority will be given to proposals that investigate research priorities developed by the Council, which are detailed under the Program Priorities section of this announcement.Successful applicants will be awarded monkfish RSA days-at-sea (DAS). No federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Rather, proceeds generated from the sale of RSA DAS will be used to fund approved activities.New Program Requirements and Updates:Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety: Fieldwork activities may require additional safety inspections and permitting per US Coast Guard safety requirements. Documentation must be filed with NOAA and approved prior to initiating on-water activities. Complete information concerning this requirement is provided under section IV.B of this announcement.Recipients will be required to submit receipts, or other proof of purchase for any equipment or supplies costing $5,000 or more. The receipts should be included on the next scheduled progress report after the purchase has been made.Section IV – The following parts within this section have been updated: Content and Form of Application; Format; Proposal Content Requirements and Guidelines; and Project Costs and Budget Narrative. Questions on the new requirements should be directed to the Program Officer.Section VI.C – Reporting. Final reports must meet Section 508 Standards. These standardsensure equitable access to final reports. Questions on this requirement should be directed to theProgram Officer.Section V.A.3 The technical score for overall application qualifications has been increased from 10 to 20 points, and now includes consideration of the applicant's knowledge and experience with how funds are derived under an RSA award, and the concept of RSA compensation fishing.

The TASC program is designed to assist U.S. organizations by providing funding for projects that seek to remove, resolve, or mitigate existing or potential sanitary, phytosanitary, or technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. The TASC program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).