Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2021 Funding Opportunity | NOAA OAR OER 2021 2006431

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR OER 2021 2006431

The Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2021 Funding Opportunity is a competitive NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) grant and cooperative agreement program that supports projects focused on exploring and characterizing poorly understood areas in waters under U.S. jurisdiction, especially within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The core aim is to generate new ocean exploration data and information that can strengthen understanding of the deep seafloor and water column, inform responsible management and conservation, and provide knowledge that may benefit ocean-related parts of the U.S. economy. In addition to natural systems, the opportunity also emphasizes marine cultural heritage in U.S. waters, reflecting a broad view of exploration that includes both environmental and historical resources.

NOAA OER invited proposals under three main themes. The Ocean Exploration theme targets exploration and initial characterization in deep ocean areas of the U.S. EEZ that remain poorly explored, with a clear depth requirement: proposed work must occur at 200 meters water depth or deeper. Projects in this theme are expected to produce observations and baseline information that can support management decisions, sustainable use, and conservation of marine resources. The Technology theme supports the application of new technologies, novel uses of existing tools, or innovative methods that expand the reach and efficiency of ocean exploration and improve the usability and accessibility of the resulting data. Technology projects must be relevant to operations at 200 meters depth or greater, but NOAA explicitly allows testing in shallower water or in laboratory settings, and it also allows technology testing outside U.S. waters as long as it advances deep-capable exploration needs. The Marine Archaeology theme supports the discovery and characterization of underwater cultural heritage within the U.S. EEZ, with no minimum depth requirement, and is intended to inform preservation decisions, guide seabed use planning, and help identify potential sources of environmental impacts associated with cultural sites or debris.

From a funding and awards perspective, the opportunity was issued by the Department of Commerce under CFDA 11.011 as a discretionary program, using grant and cooperative agreement instruments. NOAA listed an award ceiling of $750,000 and anticipated making about seven awards. While the eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the full eligibility text, the program is structured like a typical federal research and exploration competition that expects capable institutions and teams with the facilities, expertise, and partnerships to deliver complex field, data, and outreach outcomes.

A notable budgeting and indirect cost detail affects how applicants treat ship time and major platform support. NOAA specifies that costs for ship time and other ocean data collection platforms, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), are treated as rental costs and are therefore excluded from Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) when calculating indirect costs. The stated exception is for organizations that have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement that explicitly covers these types of charges. NOAA also makes clear that ship time on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer would not be funded through this announcement, meaning applicants needed to plan around other vessels or access arrangements.

The application process followed a two-stage structure with separate deadlines. A required or strongly expected pre-proposal stage was due June 18, 2020, consisting of an OER funding opportunity cover sheet and a concise pre-proposal limited to two pages, submitted by email to oer.ffo2021@noaa.gov. Full proposals were due October 22, 2020, and required a more complete package submitted through Grants.gov, with each component uploaded as an individual document. The full submission package included an updated cover sheet; a one-page executive summary; a project narrative capped at 15 pages; a data and information sharing plan (up to two pages) emphasizing how exploration data would be managed and made accessible; a one-page outreach and education plan; a statement addressing diversity and inclusion; sections on previous significant results and current funding support for each principal investigator; two-page CVs for each PI; detailed budget tables and justification; and administrative items such as an indirect cost rate memo (if applicable) and a NEPA questionnaire. Optional materials included letters of support, such as from a State Historic Preservation Office for archaeology-related efforts, and suggested reviewers. Non-federal applicants also needed to submit standard federal forms (SF-424 series, SF-LLL as applicable) and an unpaid tax liability disclosure.

Overall, this opportunity was designed to push practical ocean exploration forward in U.S. waters by funding deep-water exploration and characterization, enabling technologies that make exploration more capable and efficient, and documenting underwater cultural heritage that can influence preservation and seabed-use decisions. The program places heavy emphasis on generating high-value data, planning for data sharing and public benefit, and demonstrating broad impacts through outreach, education, and inclusive project practices, while also requiring careful attention to platform-cost treatment and federal submission requirements.

• 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 "Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2021 Funding Opportunity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.011.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 22, 2020. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA OAR OER 2021 2006431

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