FY17-19 Habitat Blueprint – Coastal and Marine Habitat Focus Area Cooperative Agreements | NOAA NMFS HCPO 2017 2005105

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS HCPO 2017 2005105

The FY17-19 Habitat Blueprint - Coastal and Marine Habitat Focus Area Cooperative Agreements opportunity is a NOAA (Department of Commerce) competitive grant program designed to fund on-the-ground habitat conservation projects that are comprehensive, partner-driven, and clearly tied to NOAA's Habitat Blueprint goals. The core purpose is to support efforts that conserve, protect, and restore coastal and marine habitats in ways that help sustain healthy ecosystems while also strengthening coastal communities and local economies. Projects are expected to be collaborative in nature and to show a strong likelihood of measurable results, not just planning or outreach.

Funding is targeted specifically to nine designated NOAA Habitat Focus Areas (HFAs): Biscayne Bay (Florida), Choptank River (Maryland/Delaware), Kachemak Bay (Alaska), Manell-Geus (Guam), Muskegon Lake (Michigan), Northeast Marine Corridor and Culebra Island (Puerto Rico), Penobscot River (Maine), Russian River (California), and West Hawaii (Hawaii). Each HFA has its own set of place-based priorities, and applicants are expected to align their proposals with the specific needs and objectives identified for that location. Across all HFAs, NOAA emphasizes work that protects and or restores high-priority habitat for managed fisheries and protected species, supports broader coastal and marine wildlife, improves resilience to stressors such as habitat loss and degradation, advances habitat science, and generates clear socio-economic benefits where relevant.

A strong proposal under this opportunity is expected to do three main things. First, it must directly address the key problems driving habitat loss or deterioration in the chosen focus area, such as degraded water quality, altered shorelines, barriers to fish passage, or other locally documented stressors. Second, it must lay out specific and realistic outcomes and goals, describing the project actions in enough detail to show how the work will be carried out and how it connects to the larger conservation strategy in the HFA. Third, it must define how progress and impact will be measured, including practical evaluation methods and metrics that demonstrate whether the project is reducing the identified problem and improving habitat conditions over time.

Awards are made as cooperative agreements rather than standard grants, which generally means NOAA expects a more active role in project implementation, coordination, and oversight. The program will consider project periods of one to three years, and NOAA notes that additional funding increments may be provided to continue selected projects through FY19 without a new competition, as long as Congress appropriates funds for those years and the project is performing well. Total anticipated funding availability is up to about $3.5 million over three years to support and maintain selected awards, though the actual amount depends on congressional appropriations.

The funding request limits are clearly defined. NOAA will not accept applications requesting less than $50,000 or more than $250,000 in federal funds for the first year, and the total federal request cannot exceed $650,000 across the full three-year period. Typical awards are expected to fall roughly between $150,000 and $600,000 over three years. The program is administered by the NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation, and the opportunity was released under Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NMFS HCPO 2017 2005105 (CFDA 11.463), with an original closing date of February 2, 2017. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional details provided in the full notice, meaning applicants need to consult the eligibility section to confirm whether their organization type qualifies.

• 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 "FY17-19 Habitat Blueprint – Coastal and Marine Habitat Focus Area Cooperative Agreements" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.463.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 10, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 02, 2017. (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 $650,000.00 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 NMFS HCPO 2017 2005105

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