Grants / Department of Commerce / DOC NOAA - ERA Production

NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2025-28604: 2025 Regional Ecosystem Research (RER) Program: Understanding Species’ Habitat Usage and Connectivity in and around Marine Protected Areas

Closed Closed January 30, 2025 Opportunity NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2025-28604 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Advancing coastal flood protection through public-private partnerships, innovative insurance products, and improved sediment management. (NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2026-32934). Status: Closes February 12, 2027 (97 days left). It is in our archive of DOC NOAA - ERA Production notices from 2024.

• Award ceiling$2.0 million
• Award floor$500,000
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement, Grant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Eligible applicants for Federal financial assistance in this competition are U.S. institutions of higher education, non-profits, state and local governments, tribal government entities, U.S. Territories, U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands institutions, and for-profit organizations. Department of Commerce (DOC)/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and encourages women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications to its programs. In addition, DOC/NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and universities, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian institutions, Asian American and Native Pacific Islander-serving institutions, and institutions that work in underserved areas. DOC/NOAA encourages applications involving any of the above institutions to apply. Please note that:1. PIs must be employees of an eligible entity listed above; and applications must be submitted through that entity. Non-Federal researchers should comply with their institutional requirements for application submission.2. Non-Federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University Cooperative Institutes will be funded through cooperative agreements.3. Foreign researchers must apply as subawards or contracts through an eligible U.S. entity.4. Federal applicants are eligible to submit applications for intra- or inter-agency funds transfers through this competition. Non-NOAA Federal applicants will be required to submit certifications or documentation showing that they have specific legal authority to accept funds for this type of research.5. An eligible U.S. entity may propose Federal agency researchers as funded or unfunded collaborators. If Federal agency researchers are proposed as funded collaborators, the applicant should present the collaborator's funding request in the application in the same way documentation is provided for a subrecipient for purposes of project evaluation, even though intra- or inter-agency funding transfers will generally be used if the project is selected.6. NCCOS researchers may apply through an eligible U.S. entity as funded or unfunded collaborators, but cannot be the lead PI on the application. NOAA Federal salaries will not be paid.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research Coastal Ocean Program awards averaged $825,181; this notice allows up to $2.0 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (58% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program (CRP) [formerly Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)/Coastal Ocean Program (COP)], in partnership with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and National Marine Protected Areas Center, is soliciting proposals under the Regional Ecosystem Research Program for projects to understand species’ habitat usage and connectivity in and around marine protected areas. This information will be used to improve the ability of resource managers to address habitat connectivity, species’ habitat affinities, and spatial and temporal usage of habitats in management plans for marine protected areas. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2025 Federal appropriations. If funds become available for this program, two projects are expected to be supported for up to three to four years in duration, with an approximate annual budget for each project up to $500,000, not to exceed $2,000,000 per project. An informational webinar on this solicitation will be offered on October 22, 2024 from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Information regarding this Announcement, including the webinar and additional background information, is available on the NCCOS Regional Ecosystem Research Program page (https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/crp/regional-ecosystem-research/). NOAA is committed to making equity central to its mission. This supports a vision in which the nation’s people, economy, and ecosystems are thriving and supported by NOAA’s equitable and actionable weather, water, and climate research and services. NOAA encourages applicants and awardees to support the principles of equity in science and service delivery when writing their proposals and performing their work. By promoting equity NOAA seeks to improve the creativity, productivity, and the vitality of its research community. Electronic Access: Proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov, http://www.grants.gov. Sign up to receive any potential amendments to this Announcement via http://www.grants.gov.

Category: Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NOAA-NOS-NCCOS-2026-32934, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.