Funder: DOC NOAA - ERA Production
Due Dates: June 4, 2025 (Full proposals due by 11:59pm Eastern)
Funding Amounts: Up to $3,400,000 total; initial award anticipated at ~$1.4M, scalable to $3.4M; project period up to 4 years; 50% non-federal match required.
Summary: Funding for Northeast Sea Grant programs to coordinate, synthesize, and extend research and outreach supporting the American lobster fishery.
Key Information: Only the seven Northeast Sea Grant programs are eligible; proposals with multi-program collaboration are prioritized.
Description
This opportunity supports a regional program to advance research, extension, and outreach for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery in the Northeast U.S. The program aims to synthesize previous and ongoing research, support new and ongoing place-based extension and education, and address emerging priorities affecting lobster fishing communities. The initiative builds on the National Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative and seeks to foster regional coordination, leverage resources, and enhance partnerships among stakeholders, including state and federal agencies.
Due Dates
- Full Proposal Deadline: June 4, 2025, by 11:59pm Eastern Time
- Anticipated Award Notification: July 2025
- Project Start Date: No earlier than September 1, 2025
- Project End Date: No later than August 31, 2029
Funding Amount
- Total Available Funding: Up to $3,400,000 (subject to federal appropriations)
- Initial Award Anticipated: ~$1,400,000, with scalability up to $3,400,000
- Project Duration: Up to 4 years
- Cost Share: 50% non-federal match required (in-kind contributions allowed)
- Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants: Only the following Northeast Sea Grant programs:
- Maine Sea Grant
- New Hampshire Sea Grant
- MIT Sea Grant
- Woods Hole Sea Grant
- Connecticut Sea Grant
- Rhode Island Sea Grant
- New York Sea Grant
- Collaborative proposals involving multiple programs are strongly encouraged and will be prioritized.
- All projects must take place within the United States, its territories, or their respective waterways.
- Applicant organizations must complete and maintain registrations with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons.
Application Process
- Submission: Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and accepted by eRA Commons.
- Required Registrations: SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons (can take 4–6 weeks; start early).
- Proposal Components:
- Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile Form (with CVs and current/pending support)
- Research & Related Budget Form (with Sea Grant 90-4 forms and budget narratives)
- Project Abstract and Narrative (max 15 pages for narrative)
- Data Management Plan (up to 2 pages)
- NEPA Questionnaire or Statement for each project
- Letters of support (required for multi-program applications)
- Formatting: All attachments must be PDFs, file names ≤50 characters, max file size 100 MB, U.S. letter size only.
- Match Requirement: 50% non-federal match (unless a statutory waiver applies).
- Review Criteria: Relevance to program goals, technical merit, applicant qualifications, budget realism, and outreach/education strategy.
Additional Information
- Program Objectives:
- Synthesize and communicate findings from past and ongoing lobster research.
- Support new and ongoing place-based extension, outreach, and education.
- Identify research needs and fund competitive research.
- Provide oversight and support for selected projects.
- Prioritization: Proposals that demonstrate collaboration among multiple Sea Grant programs and leverage regional resources will be favored.
- Reporting: Semi-annual financial and technical reports required.
- Indirect Costs: If no current federal rate, applicants may negotiate with DOC or use the de minimis rate (15% MTDC).
- Restrictions: Funds may not be used for land/building purchase or construction (with limited exceptions for research platforms).
External Links
Contact Information