2024 Sea Scallop Research Set Aside | NOAA NMFS GARFO 2024 2008103

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS GARFO 2024 2008103

The 2024 Sea Scallop Research Set Aside (RSA) opportunity is a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) funding program under the U.S. Department of Commerce that supports research surveys of the Atlantic sea scallop resource. The focus in this announcement is specifically on regional-scale scallop surveys in three broad areas: the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and the Mid-Atlantic. NMFS is seeking proposals to plan and carry out these regional surveys to improve information on scallop abundance, distribution, and related resource indicators that support science-based management.

A key feature of this opportunity is that NMFS will consider multi-year projects for up to four years, but only for this particular priority area (regional surveys). Applicants proposing a multi-year project need to clearly lay out the research needs and planned work for each year of the project period, rather than describing the effort in general terms. They also have to show that requesting a multi-year award matches RSA program priorities. This multi-year approach is not being applied across the board to all RSA work; it is limited to the regional survey priority. More discrete projects, such as fine-scale or high-resolution surveys, or other RSA priorities, may still be funded on shorter time horizons (for example, one- or two-year awards).

Instead of being supported entirely through a traditional fixed appropriation model, the surveys are intended to be largely supported through the sale of sea scallops that have been "set aside" for research from the fishing year in which the survey is conducted. In practice, this means that the project’s financial support is closely tied to RSA scallop allocations and how those allocations are converted into research funds, aligning the research activity with the fishery and the management framework that sets aside product for scientific work.

Administratively, this is a discretionary competitive opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA NMFS GARFO 2024 2008103) offered through either grants or cooperative agreements. It is associated with CFDA/Assistance Listing 11.454, which covers fisheries-related science and management activities. The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including entities other than small businesses); and small businesses. NMFS anticipated making about five awards under this competition. The posting lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that a standard maximum award amount is not specified in the synopsis and that funding levels may be determined by available RSA resources, project scope, and program decisions.

The opportunity was created on August 23, 2023, with an original application closing date of October 23, 2023. Overall, the program is aimed at sustaining and improving regional scallop survey coverage over time, with an emphasis on multi-year planning where it makes sense for these larger, recurring regional survey efforts, and with funding largely derived from the RSA scallop set-aside in the year the survey work takes place.

• The Department of Commerce in the agriculture, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2024 Sea Scallop Research Set Aside" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.454.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 23, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 23, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for NOAA NMFS GARFO 2024 2008103

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