FY25 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | NOAA NOS ORR 2025 25572

FY25 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies Grant: FAQs

What is the FY25 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies grant?

This is a competitive funding opportunity run by the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) within NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration. It uses Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding (Public Law 117-58) to support on-the-ground projects that intercept and remove marine debris before it spreads through coastal and Great Lakes environments.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The goal is to reduce the harms of marine debris by funding installation, monitoring, and maintenance of proven debris interception technologies that protect NOAA trust resources in marine and coastal areas, including the Great Lakes.

What types of projects is NOAA looking to fund?

NOAA is seeking projects that deploy proven debris interception technologies and include the practical work needed to make them successful in the field, including installation, monitoring, and ongoing maintenance. The emphasis is on real-world interception and removal rather than early-stage experimentation.

Does this opportunity fund research and development (R&D) or experimental technology?

No. NOAA will not fund research and development or the deployment of unproven devices. Technologies must already have been used successfully in the type of environment where they are being proposed.

Is there a two-step application process?

Yes. This opportunity uses a two-step process: (1) a required Letter of Intent (LOI) submitted by email for competitive review, and (2) a full proposal that may be submitted only if NOAA invites the applicant after the LOI stage.

Is the Letter of Intent (LOI) required?

Yes. The LOI is required and is a competitive gatekeeper. Only applicants invited after LOI review may submit a full application.

How do applicants submit the LOI, and where is it sent?

The LOI must be submitted by email to grants.marinedebris@noaa.gov.

What is the LOI deadline?

The LOI deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 9, 2024.

If invited, how is the full application submitted?

If invited after the LOI stage, full applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and must also be validated by eRA Commons.

What is the full application deadline (including validation)?

Full applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and validated by eRA Commons no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 7, 2025.

Why does NOAA stress starting early on registrations and submission steps?

NOAA cautions that required registrations and validation steps can take time. Specifically, registrations can take about 4 to 6 weeks, and applications must be validated in eRA Commons by the deadline to avoid errors that could prevent timely acceptance.

How much total funding is available under this solicitation?

Funding is expected to total up to $7,000,000 for the solicitation.

How many awards does NOAA expect to make?

NOAA anticipates about five awards, but retains discretion over the final number of awards.

What type of award instrument will be used?

Awards will be made as cooperative agreements.

What are the minimum and maximum federal funding request amounts?

The minimum federal request is $100,000 and the maximum is $1,000,000.

What funding range is NOAA expecting for most proposals?

Most proposals are expected to fall in the $250,000 to $750,000 range.

Can NOAA change award amounts or the number of awards?

Yes. NOAA retains discretion over the final number of awards and award amounts, and may adjust amounts after pre-award negotiations for proposals that score highly in the review process.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to non-federal applicants based in the United States, its territories, or the Freely Associated States. Eligible applicants include state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments; federally and non-federally recognized Tribes and Native or Indigenous organizations; colleges and universities; nonprofit organizations; and commercial (for-profit) organizations.

Are federal agencies or federal employees eligible to apply?

No. Federal agencies and federal employees cannot apply and will not be considered for funding.

Can federal agencies participate in any way?

Yes. Federal agencies may collaborate with eligible applicants, but they cannot be the applicant for this funding.

Are foreign organizations eligible?

No. Foreign organizations and foreign public entities from outside the Freely Associated States are not eligible.

Where must projects take place?

Projects must occur within the United States, its territories, or the Freely Associated States, and they must directly benefit NOAA trust resources.

Is this opportunity intended for non-coastal states?

No. The program is focused on coastal states and Great Lakes watershed locations. Projects in non-coastal states or outside the Great Lakes watershed are not the intended target.

Are projects in international waters eligible?

No. Proposals involving removals in international waters (including the Great Pacific Garbage Patch) are not eligible.

Does NOAA define what counts as "marine debris" for this program?

Yes. NOAA uses the regulatory definition of marine debris as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and ends up in the marine environment or the Great Lakes either intentionally or unintentionally (15 C.F.R. 909.1). The program is tied to NOAA's statutory mandate under the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951 et seq.).

Are microplastics or microfibers projects encouraged under this solicitation?

No. Applications focused on microplastics or microfibers are explicitly not a priority and will be withdrawn from review.

Will NOAA fund large-scale stormwater management infrastructure?

No. Proposals centered on installing large-scale stormwater management infrastructure will be withdrawn from review.

Will NOAA fund debris removal that is eligible for reimbursement under a Federal Disaster Declaration?

No. NOAA will not support activities that are eligible for removal and reimbursement under a Federal Disaster Declaration to avoid duplicating disaster-related funding mechanisms.

What systems must an applicant be registered in to apply?

Applicants must have active registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons.

How long can registrations take?

NOAA cautions that completing these registrations can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants should start well ahead of deadlines.

Is a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) required?

Yes. A UEI obtained through SAM.gov is required as part of the registration process.

What does eRA Commons registration require?

eRA Commons registration requires the organization to set up at least one Signing Official (SO) account and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account so the application can be submitted and validated without errors.

Does NOAA encourage participation from specific types of organizations or communities?

Yes. NOAA emphasizes an interest in broadening participation and encourages proposals from veterans, minority-serving institutions, Tribal entities, and organizations working in communities facing environmental or climate burdens and socioeconomic challenges.

Do prior NOAA awardees receive preference in this competition?

No. Prior NOAA awardees may apply to renew or supplement existing work, but those proposals compete on equal footing and do not receive preferential treatment.

What is the practical takeaway for applicants?

Based on NOAA's stated expectations, applicants should start required registrations early, treat the LOI as a true competitive gatekeeper, and design a project that deploys demonstrated interception technology in a coastal or Great Lakes context with clear benefits to NOAA trust resources.