Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2020 2006252
The National Sea Grant College Program 2020 Special Projects opportunity (NOAA-OAR-SG-2020-2006252) is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Commerce, administered through NOAA under the National Sea Grant College Program (CFDA 11.417). Sea Grant itself was created by Congress in 1966 and later amended in 2008 (Public Law 110-394) to strengthen federal and state partnerships that tap the expertise of universities and research institutions to address real-world needs in coastal and Great Lakes communities. This particular notice is designed to solicit proposals for "special projects" that align with the Sea Grant strategic plan focus areas, while also creating a path for work that is not typically supported through Sea Grant's standard national competitive processes.
A key point of this announcement is that it functions as an umbrella Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) rather than a single, fully funded competition. At the time it was posted, funding was not yet available for applications under the NOFO, but NOAA indicated that funding may become available during the year. When funds do become available, NOAA plans to release individual competition announcements that sit under this NOFO. Those sub-announcements are where applicants will find the specific details that matter most for submission and budgeting, such as the amount of money available, any cost share requirements, priority topics, and any additional restrictions or conditions. Only applications that respond directly to one of those individual competition announcements will be considered; unsolicited proposals submitted outside those specific calls will not be reviewed.
Eligibility is limited: this opportunity is open only to Sea Grant Programs, not to the general public, individual researchers, or institutions applying independently. The notice references Section III for the detailed eligibility requirements, but the practical implication is that interested researchers or partners generally need to work through an eligible Sea Grant Program rather than applying on their own. Awards are expected to be made through grants and cooperative agreements, which typically indicates a spectrum of federal involvement, with cooperative agreements often involving more substantial NOAA participation during the project period compared to a standard grant.
In terms of scale and timing, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and anticipates up to 20 awards, although actual award numbers and amounts would depend on the specific competition announcements and appropriated or otherwise made-available funding. The NOFO was created on October 21, 2019, and lists an original closing date of September 30, 2020, which signals the period during which related competitions may have been released and proposals accepted. Programmatically, the activity categories emphasize environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, consistent with Sea Grant's mission of producing usable science and practical solutions for coastal resilience, economies, ecosystems, and community needs.
For applicants, the NOFO emphasizes process and compliance: it sets the baseline requirements for submissions under this funding number and points applicants to the Sea Grant General Application Guide for additional instructions, best practices, and preparation tips. In other words, this announcement establishes the governing framework, while the actual opportunities to apply (and the conditions tied to them) are expected to appear in the separate, topic- and funding-specific competition announcements issued under the NOFO.Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2020 2006252
- 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 Sea Grant College Program 2020 Special Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.417.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 21, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2020. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: National Sea Grant College Program 2020 Special Projects (NOAA-OAR-SG-2020-2006252)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Commerce, administered by NOAA through the National Sea Grant College Program (CFDA 11.417). It is titled the National Sea Grant College Program 2020 Special Projects opportunity and is identified by funding number NOAA-OAR-SG-2020-2006252.
What is Sea Grant, and why does it exist?
Sea Grant is a federal program created by Congress in 1966 and later amended in 2008 (Public Law 110-394). Its purpose is to strengthen federal and state partnerships and leverage university and research institution expertise to address practical, real-world needs in coastal and Great Lakes communities.
What does "Special Projects" mean in this notice?
In this context, "special projects" refers to proposals that align with the Sea Grant strategic plan focus areas while also creating a pathway for work that is not typically supported through Sea Grant's standard national competitive processes.
Is this a single, fully funded competition?
No. This notice functions as an umbrella Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). It provides an overarching framework rather than presenting one single competition with immediate, guaranteed funding.
Was funding available when the NOFO was posted?
No. At the time the NOFO was posted, funding was not yet available for applications under it. NOAA indicated that funding may become available during the year.
How will funding be offered if it becomes available?
If and when funds become available, NOAA plans to release individual competition announcements under this umbrella NOFO. Those sub-announcements are where the actionable, submission-ready details will be provided.
Where will the specific application requirements be listed?
The specific requirements that usually drive application planning, such as the amount of money available, cost share requirements, priority topics, and any additional restrictions or conditions, are expected to be listed in the individual competition announcements released under this umbrella NOFO.
Can an applicant submit a proposal directly to this umbrella NOFO?
No. Only applications that respond directly to one of the individual competition announcements issued under this NOFO will be considered. Unsolicited proposals submitted outside those specific calls will not be reviewed.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to Sea Grant Programs. This opportunity is not open to the general public, individual researchers, or institutions applying independently.
If I am a researcher or external partner, can I apply on my own?
No. Based on the notice, interested researchers or partners generally need to work through an eligible Sea Grant Program rather than applying independently.
What types of awards will NOAA use for this opportunity?
Awards are expected to be made through grants and cooperative agreements.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement here?
The notice indicates a spectrum of federal involvement. Cooperative agreements often involve more substantial NOAA participation during the project period compared to a standard grant.
What is the maximum award size?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000. Actual award sizes would depend on the individual competition announcement and available funding.
How many awards are anticipated?
The NOFO anticipates up to 20 awards, but the actual number of awards would depend on the specific competitions and the funds appropriated or otherwise made available.
What is the relevant program identifier (CFDA) for this opportunity?
The notice is administered under the National Sea Grant College Program and references CFDA 11.417.
What are the main activity or subject areas supported?
The activity categories emphasize environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, consistent with Sea Grant's broader mission.
What kinds of community or mission outcomes does this connect to?
The notice aligns with Sea Grant's mission of producing usable science and practical solutions for coastal resilience, economies, ecosystems, and community needs in coastal and Great Lakes communities.
When was this NOFO created?
The NOFO was created on October 21, 2019.
What closing date is listed for this NOFO?
The notice lists an original closing date of September 30, 2020, signaling the period during which related competitions may have been released and proposals accepted.
Does the umbrella NOFO itself include final budgeting and submission instructions?
It establishes baseline requirements and a governing framework, but the detailed submission and budgeting specifics are expected to appear in the separate competition announcements issued under it.
What guidance does the NOFO reference for preparing submissions?
Applicants are pointed to the Sea Grant General Application Guide for additional instructions, best practices, and preparation tips.
What does it mean that this NOFO sets "baseline requirements"?
It means this announcement provides overarching process and compliance expectations for submissions under the funding number, while the individual competition announcements provide the topic-specific and funding-specific details needed to apply.
If a competition announcement is released under this NOFO, what should applicants look for first?
Applicants should look for the sub-announcement details on available funding, any cost share requirements, priority topics, and any additional restrictions or conditions, since those items govern whether and how to submit a compliant application.
What is the main takeaway for someone trying to figure out whether they can apply?
This umbrella NOFO is not open for unsolicited submissions and is only open to Sea Grant Programs. Participation by other researchers or organizations would typically need to occur through collaboration with an eligible Sea Grant Program and in response to a specific competition announcement issued under this NOFO.
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