Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2022 2007068
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2022 is a NOAA-funded competitive grant opportunity designed to strengthen and expand the long-term protection and functionality of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. NERRS is a nationwide network of protected estuarine areas across the United States and its territories that are designated specifically for research, education, and stewardship. Each reserve is selected to represent a distinct biogeographic region and to capture a range of ecosystem types, following the national classification framework laid out in federal regulations (15 C.F.R. Part 921). This program focuses on practical, on-the-ground investments that help reserves better protect key coastal and estuarine lands and waters and improve the facilities needed to support research and public education.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, meaning NOAA expects an ongoing partnership role rather than a simple pass-through grant. For FY 2022, NOAA anticipated making roughly $4.5 million available in total to support a set of land acquisition and construction projects across the reserve network. The program projected approximately 5 to 20 awards, with individual project budgets generally expected to fall between about $20,000 and $1,500,000 (the stated award ceiling). Project timelines are typically 12 to 36 months, with the exact period depending on the nature of the work and overall funding availability. In practice, this structure supports both smaller, targeted improvements (for example, limited facility upgrades or discrete acquisition steps) and larger, more complex efforts such as major construction or significant land protection actions.
The main purpose of the funding is twofold. First, it supports land acquisition efforts that protect high-value estuarine and coastal areas, helping reserves secure critical habitats and watershed lands that underpin long-term research and education. Second, it supports construction and related facility improvements, including buildings, visitor and education infrastructure, and exhibits that advance the NERRS mission. NOAA emphasizes that facility and exhibit projects should aim for the highest sustainable design standards feasible, reinforcing resilience and environmental performance as core expectations for reserve infrastructure investments.
Eligible applicants are tied closely to reserve operations and leadership. The opportunity is open to state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education, with the described intent that awards go to designated reserve lead agencies or universities in coastal states. The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA, specifically connected to NOAA’s National Ocean Service and the Office for Coastal Management. The assistance listing is CFDA 11.473, and the funding opportunity number is NOAA NOS OCM 2022 2007068.
Beyond the technical and programmatic goals, NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management also encourages applicants to incorporate diversity and inclusion principles into both proposal development and project execution. In the notice, diversity is framed as the mix of individual attributes that help organizations meet their goals, while inclusion is described as building a culture that meaningfully connects people to the organization. NOAA links this emphasis to stronger creativity, productivity, and overall vitality in the broader climate and coastal research community that the reserves support.
Key administrative details include the opportunity’s creation date (October 26, 2021) and the original application closing date (February 11, 2022). Overall, the program is a targeted investment tool for ensuring NERRS sites have the protected land base and modern, sustainable facilities needed to carry out long-term estuarine research, monitoring, and education for the public and decision-makers.Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2022 2007068
- The Department of Commerce in the energy, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2022" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.473.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 26, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 11, 2022. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NERRS Land Acquisition and Construction Program (FY 2022)?
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2022 is a NOAA-funded competitive grant opportunity that supports practical, on-the-ground investments to strengthen and expand the long-term protection and functionality of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.
What is NERRS?
NERRS is a nationwide network of protected estuarine areas across the United States and its territories. These reserves are designated specifically for research, education, and stewardship.
Why do the reserves represent different regions and ecosystem types?
Each reserve is selected to represent a distinct biogeographic region and to capture a range of ecosystem types, following a national classification framework established in federal regulations (15 C.F.R. Part 921).
What types of projects does this program fund?
The program funds two main types of projects: (1) land acquisition efforts to protect high-value estuarine and coastal areas and (2) construction and related facility improvements that support research and public education at reserves.
What is meant by "land acquisition" under this opportunity?
Land acquisition funding supports efforts to protect high-value estuarine and coastal lands and waters, including securing critical habitats and watershed lands that help sustain long-term reserve research and education.
What is meant by "construction" under this opportunity?
Construction funding supports buildings, visitor and education infrastructure, and exhibits that advance the NERRS mission, including facility improvements needed to support research and public education.
Are exhibit or facility projects expected to follow sustainability standards?
Yes. NOAA emphasizes that facility and exhibit projects should aim for the highest sustainable design standards feasible, reflecting resilience and environmental performance as core expectations for reserve infrastructure investments.
Is this funding provided as a standard grant or another type of award?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements. This means NOAA expects an ongoing partnership role in the project rather than a simple pass-through grant arrangement.
How much total funding was anticipated for FY 2022?
For FY 2022, NOAA anticipated making roughly $4.5 million available in total to support land acquisition and construction projects across the reserve network.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The program projected approximately 5 to 20 awards.
What is the expected funding range per project?
Individual project budgets were generally expected to fall between about $20,000 and $1,500,000, with $1,500,000 stated as the award ceiling.
How long can projects last?
Project timelines are typically 12 to 36 months, with the exact period depending on the nature of the work and overall funding availability.
What kinds of project sizes does this program support?
The structure supports both smaller, targeted improvements (such as limited facility upgrades or discrete acquisition steps) and larger, more complex efforts (such as major construction or significant land protection actions).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education. The described intent is that awards go to designated reserve lead agencies or universities in coastal states.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA, connected to NOAA's National Ocean Service and the Office for Coastal Management.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 11.473.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is NOAA NOS OCM 2022 2007068.
Does NOAA encourage any cross-cutting priorities in proposals?
Yes. NOAA's Office for Coastal Management encourages applicants to incorporate diversity and inclusion principles into proposal development and project execution.
How are diversity and inclusion described in the notice?
Diversity is framed as the mix of individual attributes that help organizations meet their goals, while inclusion is described as building a culture that meaningfully connects people to the organization.
Why does NOAA emphasize diversity and inclusion in this program?
NOAA links this emphasis to stronger creativity, productivity, and overall vitality in the broader climate and coastal research community that the reserves support.
When was this opportunity created, and when did it close?
The opportunity creation date was October 26, 2021, and the original application closing date was February 11, 2022.
What is the overall goal of the program for reserves?
The program is intended to ensure NERRS sites have both a protected land base and modern, sustainable facilities needed to carry out long-term estuarine research, monitoring, and education for the public and decision-makers.
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