National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Collaborative Science Program 2019 | NOAA NOS OCM 2019 2005778

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2019 2005778

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Collaborative Science Program 2019 is a NOAA funding opportunity that seeks a single organization to run and oversee a national, five-year applied research program for the NERRS network. Rather than funding one-off studies, NOAA is looking for a grantee that can build and administer a comprehensive extramural research program that supports collaborative science projects across the reserve system. The central idea is to ensure the NERRS community and its partners generate practical, decision-ready science that directly supports coastal and estuarine management needs at both the system-wide level and in ways that remain responsive to local and regional priorities and to NOAA priorities.

A defining feature of this program is its emphasis on collaboration and usability of results. The funded administrator is expected to structure the program so that resource managers, practitioners, and other end-users help shape research questions and project designs, not just receive findings at the end. By incorporating user input throughout the research process, the program aims to produce information that coastal decision-makers consider credible, relevant, and timely. In addition to generating applied science, the program is intended to strengthen the ability of NERRS sectors (management, research, education, stewardship, and coastal training) to move knowledge into practice, meaning better communication of results, stronger training and outreach, and improved transfer of tools and skills to stakeholders who manage coastal and estuarine resources.

This 2019 competition represents the third five-year cycle of a collaborative science program that has been operating for roughly a decade. NOAA explicitly notes that the award is meant to support the administration and management of the national collaborative research program itself. It is not designed to directly fund individual research projects or short-term, single-location efforts focused narrowly on specific local issues. Instead, the grantee would be responsible for setting up the program framework that will later fund and coordinate competitive, extramural collaborative science projects aligned with NERRS-wide research and management needs.

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA, within the National Ocean Service (NOS), Office for Coastal Management (OCM). It is a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by NOAA in guiding or collaborating on program direction, oversight, and outcomes. The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA NOS OCM 2019 2005778, and the CFDA number listed is 11.419. The activity area is broadly categorized under environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.

Financially, the award ceiling is $20,000,000, with NOAA anticipating one award, reinforcing that this is a single national program administrator role rather than multiple separate grants. The opportunity was created on August 29, 2018, with an original closing date of December 3, 2018.

Eligibility is broad for non-federal entities and includes non-federal institutions of higher education, other nonprofit organizations, state governments, local governments, Indian Tribal governments, and commercial organizations. Federal agencies and federal employees are not eligible to receive funds under this announcement, though they may participate as collaborators or project partners, which allows federal expertise to contribute without federal entities serving as the funded lead applicant.

• 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 2019" 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 Aug 29, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 03, 2018. (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 $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2019 2005778

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