To provide matching grants of financial assistance in support of coral reef conservation programs and projects that preserve, sustain, and restore U.S.

and international coral reef ecosystems.

credit: MASHABLE COMPOSITE. GETTY CREATIVE JOHAVEL

Related Programs

• Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards
• Financial Assistance for National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
• Undersea Research
• Regional Fishery Management Councils
• Habitat Conservation

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: Since 2000, the CRCP has provided funding to a variety of recipient types to support projects in the following categories: coral reef management, coral reef monitoring, coral reef research, international coral reef conservation, Regional Fishery Management Councils awards for coral reef fisheries projects, and general coral reef conservation.

Each of these funding categories has different priorities and eligibility requirements, which are described in annual funding announcements.

Examples of funded projects, which number in the hundreds, are provided below by program.

Coral reef management awards provide programmatic funding to support personnel, equipment and supplies, and travel for staff within state and territorial resource management agencies.

Awards also support funding for projects conducted by local staff and partners; such projects may include activities related to direct action, MPA development and management, outreach and education efforts, management-driven research projects, watershed management activities, and other conservation-focused projects.

This is the largest funding category in terms of funding provided; $3.5M was awarded in FY09.

Coral reef monitoring awards provide programmatic funding to support personnel, equipment and supplies, and local travel for staff within state and territorial resource management agencies that are conducting long-term monitoring of coral reef habitats, the communities that live in association with them, and the environmental factors that influence their condition (e.g., sediment and water quality).

Funds also support data management and analysis, and data reporting efforts, such as in CRCP s "State of the Reefs reports (http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/coral2008/welcome.html).
Coral reef research awards fund members of the academic community to conduct research projects in coral reef ecosystems.

These awards have been competed by regional NURP centers to leverage NOAA resources and support high-caliber science.

Research results have supported management actions of Regional Fishery Management Councils and other State and Federal agencies.
International coral reef conservation awards, in the form of relatively small competitive grants, have been provided to a variety of recipients around the world to conduct projects within specific themes such as coral reef MPA and MPA network development, socioeconomic training and monitoring projects, watershed management, and reduction of land-based sources of pollution to coral reefs.

Support to FMCs has provided funding that made it possible for these regional councils to engage with CRCP on coral reef fishery related issues.

Awards have funded personnel and staff travel as well as a variety of mapping projects (particularly in important areas for fisheries such as MPAs/ closed areas, spawning aggregation sites, etc.), conferences and workshops related to coral reef fishery management, research studies and surveys, and production of outreach materials (e.g., brochures and calendars) for fishers.

General coral reef conservation awards support the involvement of community groups and smaller NGOs in coral reef conservation projects and support a wide variety of activities.

Awards provide small grants for projects focused on outreach, community engagement, capacity building, and various comparative studies related to fisheries, land-based sources of pollution and climate change.

Grants for this Program

• FY17-18 CRCP State and Territorial Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements
• FY17-18 CRCP State and Territorial Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements
• FY17 Coral Reef Conservation Program, Domestic Coral Reef Conservation Grants
• Coral Reef Conservation Program International Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements
• FY16 CRCP Coral Reef NGO Partnership

More Grants for this Program...

Fiscal Year 2009: FY 2009 - Since 2000, the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) has funded a number of competitive awards supporting a variety of governmental and non-governmental partners that are working to ensure the conservation of U.S. and international coral reef ecosystems. Funded efforts in the past addressed both local and national conservation priorities, and focused on key threats to coral reefs identified in the National Coral Reef Action Strategy and other policy documents such as the Coral Reef Local Action Strategies developed by States and Territories in conjunction with the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force. Fiscal Year 2010: FY 2010 - The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) will continue to fund competitive awards supporting a variety of governmental and non-governmental partners that are working to ensure the conservation of U.S. and international coral reef ecosystems. Funded efforts address both local and national conservation priorities, and following the publication of the CRCP s 20-year Goals and Objectives and the CRCP International Strategy, are targeted to focus primarily on the three key threats to coral reef ecosystems: climate change, fishing impacts, and land-based sources of pollution as well as supporting efforts to designate and manage marine protected areas that encompass coral reefs. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

Awards made under this program may be used to support programmatic and project expenses related to coral reef conservation activities conducted by U. S. States and Territories, Regional Fishery Management Councils with jurisdiction over coral reefs, and International partners in four key regions, and project costs associated with research studies and conservation activities undertaken by other eligible non-governmental partner organizations in the U. S. The Coral Reef Conservation Act (16 USC§6403) stipulates that at least 40% of funding must go to recipients in the Pacific and at least 40% must go to recipients in the Atlantic/Caribbean.

In addition, §6403(g) requires that only projects that are consistent with the National Coral Reef Action Strategy and meet the ten specific criteria listed in that section may be funded through this program.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, commercial organizations, local and Indian tribal government agencies, foreign governments, relevant Regional Fishery Management Councils (i.e., Caribbean Fishery Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council), and State, Territorial and Commonwealth resource management agencies that were appointed by their respective Governors to serve as the primary point of contact agencies for coral reef conservation activities in each of the jurisdictions of American Samoa, Florida, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.

Virgin Islands.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Organizations and individuals with professional expertise in managing and conserving coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. and internationally.

Credentials/Documentation

Proposals with statements of work and estimated budgets. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars (1) A-21 for agreements with education institutions; (2) A-87 for State and local governments; and (3) A-122 for nonprofit institutions. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Pre-applications are required for some funding categories.

Environmental impact information is required for this program for projects that are not covered by the CRCP s PEA/FONSI.

E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs" applies to some of the funding categories administered by the CRCP.

An environmental impact statement is required for this program.

An environmental impact assessment is required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Proposals should be submitted through Grants.Gov. Applicants will need to enter the Funding Opportunity and/or CFDA number to access the application package and instructions. Application packages will then be forwarded directly to the applicable federal program. Proposals are subject to the requirements of 15 CFR Parts 14 and 24, as applicable.

Award Procedures

Awards are made on the basis of proposals evaluations, technical reviews and administrative reviews, if applicable.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 16 U.S.C 6401-6403.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 150 to 210 days after the proposal submission deadline.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

No-cost extension requests will be considered by the federal program office only if the recipient has submitted all required performance reports. At least sixty days prior to the end of the award, recipients must discuss with their federal program officer expected reprogramming and extensions requests. After preliminary negotiation on proposed projects and extensions, formal written reprogramming and extension requests should be received by the federal program office 45 days prior to the end date of the award. The federal program office will not recommend approval for any retroactive extension request (received after the end date of the award). Recipients should submit one extension request per award. With sufficient justification, the federal program office will recommend approval of a no-cost extension. Although the federal program office discourages extensions of more than 12 months, the federal program office may recommend approval in some cases. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Department.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Per the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 USC 6401 et seq; specifically §6403) Federal funds may not exceed 50% of the total cost of a project unless a waiver to this requirement is obtained by the applicant. Provision of a waiver is at the discretion of the CRCP Program Manager, who was delegated authority for this purpose by the NOAA Administrator. Matching funds contributed by the applicant may be comprised of cash, in-kind contributions and/or other non-cash support.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Support for projects may be provided for periods up to 3 years in annual increments. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released as required and agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document applicable to each grant.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are required on a semi-annual basis.

No expenditure reports are required.

No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records will be retained in accordance with 15 CFR Parts 14 and 24 for institutions of higher education, other non-profit organizations, and for State and local governments.

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obigations

(Salaries) FY 09 not reported.; FY 10 est not reported.; FY 11 est $11,000,000 - For FY2009 and FY2010, funding for Coral Reef Conservation grants was provided within several other NOAA CFDA programs.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Allowable costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes; OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit and for- profit organizations; OMB Circular A-21 for institutions of higher education; and 48 CFR Part 31 for commercial organizations. Financial assistance management will be in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit and commercial organizations, and with 15 CRF Part 24 for state and local governments. Further guidelines are outlined in Department Administrative Order 203-36, dated May 15, 1985 (Department of Commerce Grants Administration) and also the NOAA Grants and Cooperative Agreement Policy Manual. The CRCP Grant Program Implementation Guidelines are also applicable to these awards. The guidelines were first published in 2002; final revised guidelines that reflect the restructured CRCP grant program will be published in the June 2010 Omnibus FRN.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. Katherine Andrews, Program Manager, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, 1305 East-West Hwy, SSMC4-N/ORM1, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (301) 713-3155. Jenny Waddell, Grants and External Funding Coordinator and CRCP Federal Program Officer, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, 1305 East-West Hwy, SSMC4-N/ORM1, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (301) 713-3155. Jennifer Koss, Federal Program Officer, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program and NMFS Office of Habitat Conservation, 1315 East-West Hwy, SSMC4-N/ORM1, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (301) 713-4300.

Headquarters Office

Jenny Waddell, 1305 East-West Hwy, SSCMC4-N/ORM1, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: (301) 713-3155.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Proposals are subject to office evaluations, technical reviews, administrative reviews, and externals reviews, if applicable. Recommendations for funding to the selecting official take into consideration factors such as scientific/technical merit, applicability to the goals of NOAA CRCP and jurisdictional partners, direct benefit to coral reef resources and ecosystems, past performance of the recipient, cost-effectiveness, adequacy of the project implementation plan, and availability of matching funds, as described in annual Federal Funding Opportunity notices for each competition.