Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2024 2008247
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2024 is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce, administered by NOAA, focused on strengthening and expanding the network of protected estuarine sites across the United States and its territories. NERRS is a nationally designated system of estuarine areas managed primarily for long-term research, monitoring, and education. Each reserve is selected to represent a distinct biogeographic region and a range of ecosystem types, following the national classification framework laid out in federal regulations (15 C.F.R. Part 921). The overall intent of this funding is to reinforce the scientific and educational mission of NERRS by supporting projects that either secure important lands and waters or build and improve the physical infrastructure needed to run reserve programs effectively.
Funding under this program is aimed at two main categories of work. The first is land acquisition, meaning strategically planned purchases or other forms of acquisition that allow a reserve to expand its boundaries or better protect key habitats and priority areas. These acquisitions are meant to improve the long-term integrity of reserves as conservation units and as dependable sites for sustained research and monitoring. The second category is construction and facilities-related work, which can include developing, upgrading, or enhancing reserve facilities and related infrastructure. This includes in-situ monitoring infrastructure that supports scientific data collection over time, as well as facility and exhibit construction that strengthens education and public engagement. A notable emphasis is placed on achieving the highest feasible sustainable design standards for construction projects, aligning facility investments with long-term environmental performance and resilience.
The opportunity reflects NOAA's rationale that healthy estuaries deliver ecological, economic, recreational, and aesthetic benefits, and that these benefits depend on maintaining functioning ecosystems. NERRS sites provide critical habitat for a broad range of species, including commercially and ecologically important fish and shellfish, migratory and resident birds, and other aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. By protecting land and water areas and ensuring reserves have appropriate facilities and monitoring capacity, the program supports not only conservation outcomes but also the quality and continuity of research and education activities that depend on stable, well-managed sites.
From an administrative standpoint, this grant opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NOS OCM 2024 2008247 and CFDA (Assistance Listing) 11.420. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity areas are broadly categorized as environment and natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development. The opportunity anticipated up to 20 awards, with an award ceiling of $8,500,000. It was posted on October 25, 2023, with an original application deadline of February 9, 2024. Eligibility is described as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement's eligibility section; however, the program description indicates that reserve lead agencies and universities are key intended applicants or partners for implementing land acquisition and construction projects that directly support the NERRS mission.
In practical terms, the program is designed to help reserves stay effective and relevant over time by giving them a pathway to secure vulnerable or high-value estuarine lands and to build or modernize the facilities and monitoring systems needed to meet evolving research, monitoring, and education demands. The expected outcome is a stronger, better protected, and better equipped reserve system that can support long-term environmental science, public education, and stewardship of estuarine ecosystems.Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2024 2008247
- 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) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2024" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.420.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 25, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 09, 2024. (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 $8,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NERRS Land Acquisition and Construction Program (FY 2024)?
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2024 is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce, administered by NOAA. It is designed to strengthen and expand the national network of protected estuarine sites by funding land acquisition and construction/facilities projects that support long-term research, monitoring, and education within NERRS reserves.
Which federal agency is offering and administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce and administered by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
What is the purpose of this grant program?
The program’s purpose is to reinforce the scientific and educational mission of NERRS by (1) securing important lands and waters that protect priority habitats and strengthen reserve integrity, and/or (2) building, upgrading, or improving the physical and monitoring infrastructure needed to operate reserve programs effectively over the long term.
What is NERRS, and what does it do?
NERRS is a nationally designated system of estuarine areas managed primarily for long-term research, monitoring, and education. Each reserve is selected to represent a distinct biogeographic region and a range of ecosystem types, consistent with the national classification framework in federal regulations (15 C.F.R. Part 921).
What types of projects does this funding support?
Funding is aimed at two main categories: land acquisition and construction/facilities-related work. Projects should support the ability of reserves to protect estuarine ecosystems and sustain long-term research, monitoring, and education activities.
What counts as land acquisition under this program?
Land acquisition refers to strategically planned purchases or other forms of acquisition that allow a reserve to expand its boundaries or better protect key habitats and priority areas. These acquisitions are intended to improve the long-term integrity of reserves as conservation units and as reliable sites for sustained research and monitoring.
What kinds of construction or facilities projects are eligible?
Construction and facilities-related work can include developing, upgrading, or enhancing reserve facilities and related infrastructure. The description also includes in-situ monitoring infrastructure that supports long-term scientific data collection, and facility or exhibit construction that strengthens education and public engagement.
Does the program support monitoring infrastructure?
Yes. The opportunity specifically notes in-situ monitoring infrastructure that supports scientific data collection over time as part of the construction and infrastructure category.
Does this grant support education or public engagement improvements?
Yes. The program includes facility and exhibit construction that strengthens education and public engagement as part of the construction/facilities category.
Is sustainable design a requirement for construction projects?
The opportunity places a notable emphasis on achieving the highest feasible sustainable design standards for construction projects, aligning facility investments with long-term environmental performance and resilience.
Why does NOAA focus on estuaries in this program?
NOAA’s rationale is that healthy estuaries provide ecological, economic, recreational, and aesthetic benefits, and those benefits depend on maintaining functioning ecosystems. Protecting land and water areas and ensuring reserves have appropriate facilities and monitoring capacity supports conservation outcomes and the continuity of research and education activities.
What kinds of species or habitats benefit from NERRS protection?
NERRS sites provide critical habitat for many species, including commercially and ecologically important fish and shellfish, migratory and resident birds, and other aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA NOS OCM 2024 2008247.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 11.420.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What are the main activity areas associated with this grant?
The activity areas are broadly categorized as environment and natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development.
How many awards does NOAA anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates up to 20 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $8,500,000.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on October 25, 2023.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was February 9, 2024.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional details referenced in the full announcement’s eligibility section. The program description indicates that reserve lead agencies and universities are key intended applicants or partners for implementing land acquisition and construction projects that directly support the NERRS mission.
What is the overall expected outcome of this funding?
The expected outcome is a stronger, better protected, and better equipped reserve system that can support long-term environmental science, public education, and stewardship of estuarine ecosystems.
How do land acquisition projects support research and monitoring goals?
By securing vulnerable or high-value lands and waters and improving long-term reserve integrity, land acquisition helps ensure NERRS sites remain dependable locations for sustained research and monitoring over time.
How do construction and facility investments support reserve operations?
Construction and facility improvements help reserves meet evolving research, monitoring, and education demands by providing or modernizing the infrastructure, facilities, exhibits, and in-situ monitoring systems needed to run reserve programs effectively.
What regulations guide how reserves represent biogeographic regions and ecosystem types?
The national classification framework is laid out in federal regulations at 15 C.F.R. Part 921, which the program references in describing how reserves are selected to represent distinct biogeographic regions and ecosystem types.
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