Marine Monuments Outreach | F17AS00013

Marine Monuments Outreach (F17AS00013) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the Marine Monuments Outreach grant opportunity?

The Marine Monuments Outreach opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00013) was a U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.608. It was designed to support outreach related to U.S. marine national monuments by funding the creation of professional visual media.

2) What was the main purpose of the funding?

The primary purpose was to fund the creation of high-quality film and photographic products focused on U.S. marine national monuments. The deliverables were intended to be finished, ready-to-use products that FWS could use internally and externally for outreach.

3) What kinds of deliverables were expected?

The opportunity centered on producing polished film and photographic products. The emphasis was on professional-grade, completed content in formats that could be used immediately, rather than drafts or raw footage intended for later production.

4) How were the final products intended to be used by FWS?

The finished media was intended for both external and internal use, including public education, communications, and storytelling, as well as agency briefings, presentations, and other official uses where professional-quality visual materials are needed.

5) Which marine national monuments were tied to this opportunity?

The opportunity was framed around federal actions affecting several marine protected areas, including the expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the establishment of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, and the expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

6) What federal actions prompted or influenced this outreach project?

The project was positioned in the context of recent, high-profile actions, including presidential proclamations that expanded or established the listed monuments. The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument expansion was described as occurring through a presidential proclamation paired with an accompanying Secretarial Order.

7) What was the program trying to communicate through film and photography?

Based on the framing, the intent was to document, interpret, and help explain the monument designations and expansions using compelling visuals, likely emphasizing conservation value, ecological significance, and the broader public interest served by marine monument protections.

8) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity was open to any type of applicant entity, subject to any additional conditions that may have appeared in the full solicitation under "Additional Information on Eligibility."

9) How many awards were anticipated?

The funding parameters indicated a single anticipated award (Expected Awards: 1), which suggests FWS intended to select one partner to carry out the complete scope of work rather than dividing the work across multiple recipients.

10) What was the maximum funding amount?

The award ceiling was $200,000.

11) What type of funding instrument was used?

The instrument type was a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant.

12) What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement?

Because it was a cooperative agreement, the structure implies substantial federal involvement during the project. In practical terms, this can include coordination with FWS on content priorities, review cycles, alignment on branding and messaging, and acceptance of final deliverables, along with any access- or permitting-related considerations.

13) When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on November 3, 2016, and had an original closing date of November 8, 2016.

14) How long was the application window?

Based on the creation and closing dates provided, the application window was very short (from November 3, 2016 to November 8, 2016).

15) Was the award already decided when the opportunity was posted?

The posting notes that the recipient had already been selected. This typically indicates the announcement served as a public notice for an award that was effectively predetermined or already decided through an internal or prior selection process.

16) What does "discretionary" mean in this context?

The opportunity was described as discretionary, meaning the agency had discretion in selecting and funding the project under this cooperative agreement framework.

17) What is CFDA 15.608 as referenced in the opportunity?

The opportunity was listed under CFDA 15.608, which is the program listing identifier referenced in the announcement for this cooperative agreement.

18) What does "ready-to-use formats" imply for deliverables?

"Ready-to-use formats" implies that the outputs were expected to be delivered as completed products suitable for immediate use by FWS across outreach and official contexts, rather than materials requiring substantial additional editing or production.

19) Was the goal general media production or outreach tied to a specific policy moment?

The opportunity was designed to quickly produce professional outreach media tied to major updates in U.S. marine monument policy, particularly the establishment and expansions described in the announcement.

20) Why does the opportunity emphasize high-quality visuals?

The description emphasizes professional-grade film and photography because the materials were intended to support public engagement and agency communications, including briefings and presentations where polished, authoritative visuals are especially important.