Public-Private Partnership for Coral Reef Conservation and Marine Debris Programs | NOAA NOS OCM 2018 2005474

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2018 2005474

This grant opportunity, titled Public-Private Partnership for Coral Reef Conservation and Marine Debris Programs (NOAA NOS OCM 2018 2005474), is a NOAA-led effort to select one nonprofit organization to serve as NOAA's primary external partner under a single cooperative agreement. The partnership is designed to connect public funding with private and philanthropic investment to advance coral reef conservation and marine debris work, including prevention and removal activities and the specific problem of derelict fishing gear. The legal authorities behind the work are the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 for the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) and the Marine Debris Act for the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP), which together frame the goals, eligible activities, and NOAA's role in overseeing implementation.

At its core, the agreement is meant to create a durable mechanism for NOAA to collaborate with one non-federal partner that can mobilize additional resources, run competitive funding processes, and manage a portfolio of projects in the United States and internationally. A central responsibility of the selected partner is administering subawards through multiple competitions, including the Coral Reef Conservation Fund, a statutorily established fund specifically intended to leverage NOAA coral reef resources with investments from private donors, foundations, and other federal agencies. Rather than NOAA directly awarding many small grants, this model concentrates administrative and partnership functions in one organization that can coordinate competitions, attract and align outside funds, and support project implementation across different geographies and conservation needs.

Funding supported through this partnership is intended to cover three main areas. First is support for priority coral reef conservation projects, which can include on-the-ground conservation actions and related efforts that NOAA identifies as important through CRCP priorities. Second is administration of the Fishing for Energy partnership, an initiative associated with addressing fishing gear waste and derelict gear by facilitating collection and responsible end-of-life management, often tied to energy recovery pathways. Third is marine debris prevention and removal projects, with an emphasis on removing derelict fishing gear, which can continue to entangle wildlife and damage habitats long after it is lost.

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically signals substantial involvement by NOAA during the period of performance, such as collaboration on program design, competition structures, project selection processes, performance tracking, and alignment with NOAA priorities. NOAA expected to make a single award under this announcement (ExpectedAwards: 1), meaning the chosen nonprofit becomes the hub for the partnership's competitive subaward programs and related coordination activities.

Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit organizations. While the listing uses a broad eligibility category (CFDA 11.482; eligible applicants listed as "Others" with clarification in the text), the narrative makes the limitation clear: only nonprofits may apply for this public-private partnership role. Competitiveness is also tied to experience, since applicants are expected to have significant prior experience working in partnership with NOAA program offices. That experience likely matters because the work involves navigating NOAA program requirements, coordinating multi-party investments, administering competitions with federal funds, and delivering measurable outcomes across coral reef and marine debris program priorities.

The anticipated annual funding range is approximately 800,000 to 2,000,000, with an award ceiling of 2,000,000. The announcement notes that funding is subject to the availability of FY 2018 and future appropriations and other programmatic considerations, so amounts and continuity depend on congressional appropriations and NOAA priorities over time. The opportunity was posted December 19, 2017, with an original closing date of February 28, 2018, and is categorized as discretionary funding within the environment, natural resources, and science and technology/research and development space under the Department of Commerce.

• 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 "Public-Private Partnership for Coral Reef Conservation and Marine Debris Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.482.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 19, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 28, 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 $2,000,000.00 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).

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