Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS ORR 2021 2006716
The FY2021 North America Marine Debris Prevention and Removal opportunity is a discretionary funding competition run by the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is grounded in the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951-1958) and uses supplemental funding provided under the USMCA Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-113, Title IX) to support marine debris work in the North American region. The central aim is practical, on-the-ground action that reduces the harms marine debris causes to the U.S. economy, the marine and Great Lakes environment, and navigation safety, especially in areas where debris problems and solutions are shared across borders.
This competition is specifically designed to tackle marine debris issues of mutual interest in border and cross-border contexts involving the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with a clear preference for work that meaningfully engages Mexico. NOAA expects to fund projects through cooperative agreements, which generally means NOAA will stay involved during the project period rather than issuing a simple pass-through grant. Projects are intended to be time-limited and results-driven, with an award period of up to two years.
In terms of funding, NOAA anticipated up to $5,000,000 total available for FY2021 under this solicitation. Typical individual award sizes were expected to fall between $150,000 and $750,000, with a stated award ceiling of $750,000. NOAA projected making roughly 6 to 12 awards, depending on proposal quality, scope, and available funds. The application closing date listed for this opportunity was January 29, 2021 (Opportunity Number: NOAA NOS ORR 2021 2006716; CFDA: 11.999).
Programmatically, the solicitation emphasizes implementation rather than research. It is not intended to fund scientific research projects. Instead, it prioritizes two main categories of work. The first category is prevention: stopping land-based and sea-based debris from entering the marine and Great Lakes environment. This includes targeted engagement and outreach approaches that encourage more sustainable behaviors and practices, with an explicit goal of reducing waste generation upstream. The second category is removal: physically removing priority debris types from the environment and supporting alternative disposal pathways for what is collected (for example, diversion from landfill where feasible, or other responsible end-of-life solutions). NOAA also indicates it will consider proposals that combine prevention and removal in an integrated strategy, which can be attractive where removal activities are paired with actions that reduce future inputs from the same sources.
Eligibility depends on where the applicant is based. In the United States, eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments whose activities affect marine debris prevention or removal, as well as institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit (commercial) organizations with relevant expertise. Federal agencies and federal employees cannot apply as recipients, and proposals from them are not considered; however, federal entities may participate as collaborators as long as they do not receive funds through the award. For U.S.-based applicants, NOAA states that engaging partners in Mexico and/or Canada will receive greater consideration during review, with partner engagement in Mexico receiving higher priority.
The opportunity also allows certain non-U.S. applicants to apply directly, but with important limits. Eligible applicants in Mexico or Canada are restricted to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or for-profit organizations with marine-debris-related expertise. The solicitation explicitly includes community-based organizations, business associations, and non-public foreign organizations within that eligible pool. At the same time, foreign public entities (as defined in 2 CFR 200.46) are not eligible to receive awards or subawards under the Marine Debris Act, meaning government agencies or similar public bodies in Mexico or Canada cannot be paid recipients or subrecipients through this program, though they may collaborate without receiving funds. For Mexico- or Canada-based applicants proposing work solely outside the United States, NOAA requires a clear justification that the work addresses marine debris that affects the United States economy, U.S. marine environment, or U.S. navigation safety, and it signals a higher priority for activities conducted in Mexico.
Finally, NOAA highlights an equity and inclusion focus. The agency states it is strongly committed to broadening participation by veterans, minority-serving institutions, and entities working in underserved areas, and it encourages proposals that come from or meaningfully involve those groups. The solicitation also notes that applications previously submitted to other NOAA grant programs may be considered here, but they will not receive any preferential treatment simply because they were submitted elsewhere.Apply for NOAA NOS ORR 2021 2006716
- 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 "FY2021 North America Marine Debris Prevention and Removal" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.999.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-11-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-29. (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.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY2021 North America Marine Debris Prevention and Removal opportunity?
It is a discretionary funding competition run by the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) within the U.S. Department of Commerce to support practical projects that prevent and remove marine debris in the North American region.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central aim is on-the-ground action that reduces the harms marine debris causes to the U.S. economy, the marine and Great Lakes environment, and navigation safety, especially where debris problems and solutions are shared across borders.
What law or authority supports this competition?
The opportunity is grounded in the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951-1958) and uses supplemental funding provided under the USMCA Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-113, Title IX).
Which countries and geographies are emphasized?
The competition focuses on border and cross-border marine debris issues involving the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with a clear preference for work that meaningfully engages Mexico.
Is this opportunity meant for research projects?
No. The solicitation emphasizes implementation rather than research and is not intended to fund scientific research projects.
What types of projects are prioritized?
The solicitation prioritizes two categories: (1) prevention projects that stop debris from entering the marine and Great Lakes environment and (2) removal projects that physically remove priority debris types and support responsible disposal pathways for collected materials.
What counts as a prevention project under this solicitation?
Prevention projects focus on stopping land-based and sea-based debris from entering the marine and Great Lakes environment and can include targeted engagement and outreach approaches that encourage more sustainable behaviors and practices, with an explicit goal of reducing waste generation upstream.
What counts as a removal project under this solicitation?
Removal projects involve physically removing priority debris types from the environment and supporting alternative disposal pathways for what is collected, such as diversion from landfill where feasible or other responsible end-of-life solutions.
Can a project combine prevention and removal?
Yes. NOAA indicates it will consider proposals that combine prevention and removal in an integrated strategy, including situations where removal activities are paired with actions that reduce future inputs from the same sources.
How is NOAA expected to make awards (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
NOAA expects to fund projects through cooperative agreements, which generally means NOAA will stay involved during the project period rather than issuing a simple pass-through grant.
How long can a project last?
Projects are intended to be time-limited and results-driven, with an award period of up to two years.
How much total funding was anticipated for FY2021 under this solicitation?
NOAA anticipated up to $5,000,000 total available for FY2021 under this opportunity.
What is the typical award size?
Typical individual award sizes were expected to range from $150,000 to $750,000.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is $750,000.
How many awards did NOAA expect to make?
NOAA projected making roughly 6 to 12 awards, depending on proposal quality, scope, and available funds.
What was the application deadline for this opportunity?
The listed application closing date was January 29, 2021.
What is the Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
Opportunity Number: NOAA NOS ORR 2021 2006716. CFDA: 11.999.
Who can apply if based in the United States?
Eligible U.S.-based applicants include state, local, and tribal governments whose activities affect marine debris prevention or removal, as well as institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit (commercial) organizations with relevant expertise.
Can federal agencies or federal employees apply for funding?
No. Federal agencies and federal employees cannot apply as recipients, and proposals from them are not considered. They may participate as collaborators as long as they do not receive funds through the award.
How important are partners in Mexico or Canada for U.S.-based applicants?
For U.S.-based applicants, engaging partners in Mexico and/or Canada will receive greater consideration during review, with partner engagement in Mexico receiving higher priority.
Can organizations in Mexico or Canada apply directly?
Yes, with limits. Eligible applicants in Mexico or Canada are restricted to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or for-profit organizations with marine-debris-related expertise. The eligible pool explicitly includes community-based organizations, business associations, and non-public foreign organizations.
Are government entities in Mexico or Canada eligible to receive funds?
No. Foreign public entities (as defined in 2 CFR 200.46) are not eligible to receive awards or subawards under the Marine Debris Act. This means government agencies or similar public bodies in Mexico or Canada cannot be paid recipients or subrecipients through this program, though they may collaborate without receiving funds.
If a Mexico- or Canada-based applicant proposes work entirely outside the United States, is that allowed?
It can be, but NOAA requires a clear justification that the work addresses marine debris that affects the U.S. economy, the U.S. marine environment, or U.S. navigation safety. NOAA also signals a higher priority for activities conducted in Mexico.
Does this competition prioritize activities in Mexico?
Yes. The solicitation shows a clear preference for meaningful engagement with Mexico and indicates a higher priority for activities conducted in Mexico.
What does the solicitation say about equity, inclusion, and broadening participation?
NOAA states it is strongly committed to broadening participation by veterans, minority-serving institutions, and entities working in underserved areas, and it encourages proposals that come from or meaningfully involve those groups.
If an application was submitted to another NOAA grant program, does it get preference here?
No. The solicitation notes that applications previously submitted to other NOAA grant programs may be considered here, but they will not receive preferential treatment simply because they were submitted elsewhere.
What kinds of impacts is NOAA trying to reduce with this funding?
The opportunity targets reductions in harms caused by marine debris to the U.S. economy, the marine and Great Lakes environment, and navigation safety.
Does the solicitation emphasize cross-border coordination?
Yes. It is specifically designed for marine debris issues of mutual interest in border and cross-border contexts involving the United States, Mexico, and Canada, especially where problems and solutions are shared across borders.
Is NOAA looking for time-limited projects with measurable outcomes?
Yes. Projects are described as time-limited and results-driven.
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