Sea Grant Programs Only - FY2025 Establishing and Supporting Partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in Aquaculture: Regional Collaboratives
This funding opportunity supports collaborations between Sea Grant programs and Minority Serving Institutions to enhance aquaculture research, education, and community engagement across four U.S. regions.
The FY2025 Sea Grant Program opportunity aims to foster regional collaborations between Sea Grant programs and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to advance aquaculture research and education, improve sustainability in fisheries, and support community engagement. Up to $4 million is available for this initiative, divided among four U.S. regions, with a maximum of $1 million for each awarded collaborative. The focus is on creating robust partnerships within designated geographic regions—West Coast/Pacific, Southeast/Caribbean, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, and Great Lakes—to enhance the capacity of MSIs in aquaculture and support a range of activities including research, student training, and industry engagement. Projects must meet several criteria. Proposals should seek to establish new MSI partnerships or strengthen existing ones to address needs specific to aquaculture at MSIs. Key priorities include developing funding mechanisms that support MSI-based research and extension activities, expanding aquaculture workforce capacity, advancing aquaculture curriculum development, and enhancing outreach to both academic and local communities. Funded projects are expected to incorporate the involvement of Sea Grant extension personnel, who will assist in community outreach and knowledge dissemination, further linking academic research with public interests. Eligibility is limited to Sea Grant College, Institutional, and Coherent Area Programs. Proposals involving multiple Sea Grant programs within a region are strongly encouraged, as is collaboration with a range of local stakeholders, such as NGOs, state and tribal agencies, and industry members. Each funded project will be required to attend a National Sea Grant Aquaculture Symposium to share outcomes and methodologies with a wider audience. The application process requires a Letter of Intent by January 29, 2025, followed by full proposals due by March 19, 2025. Applicants should complete the necessary registrations with SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons in advance, as delays in registration could affect submission eligibility. Project durations can span from September 2025 to August 2028, and the cost-sharing requirement mandates a 50% non-federal match. Applications will be evaluated based on technical merit, alignment with Sea Grant’s goals for aquaculture sustainability, and the strength of outreach and education strategies. Review criteria include the applicant’s ability to clearly define objectives, ensure effective community engagement, and leverage resources. Additionally, partnerships with underserved communities and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential components. Upon award, projects must follow NOAA’s data management and reporting policies, including submitting semi-annual financial and performance reports and sharing environmental data as applicable. Proposals should also account for NOAA’s environmental compliance requirements, including NEPA, if the research involves human subjects or significant environmental impact.
Award Range
$100,000 - $1,000,000
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
Yes - Non-federal matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the federal funding request must be provided unless a waiver justified by statute is granted, such as the waiver for insular areas granted by the Department of Commerce pursuant to 48 U.S.C. 1469a.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
The following entities are eligible to submit to this opportunity: Sea Grant College Programs, Sea Grant Institutional Programs and Sea Grant Coherent Area Programs. For the remainder of this document, these entities are collectively referred to as Sea Grant Programs. A Sea Grant Program may submit or be a part of more than one application. Applications involving multiple Sea Grant programs within a given region are strongly preferred. Federal agencies and their personnel are not permitted to receive federal funding under this competition; however, federal scientists and other employees can serve as uncompensated partners or co-Principal Investigators on applications. Federal labs and offices can also make available specialized expertise, facilities or equipment to applicants but cannot be compensated under this competition for their use, nor can the value of such assets be used as match. Programs are required to partner with MSIs as part of each Regional Collaborative. While it is the expectation of this competition that Sea Grant programs will partner with MSIs in their respective regions. It should be noted that partnerships with MSIs need not be solidified by the NOFO deadline. It is envisioned that the Sea Grant program-led Collaboratives will continue to establish relationships/partnerships with MSIs throughout the award. It should be noted that, in addition to collaborations currently existing between Sea Grant programs and MSIs, Collaboratives should also strive to engage MSIs that have aquaculture programs or are interested in aquaculture, but not have collaborated with a Sea Grant program. Programs are encouraged to partner with other Sea Grant Programs and/or other entities such as individuals, State and Tribal Agencies/Organizations, NGOs, aquaculture industry members and associations, universities, and colleges, including community colleges. To be eligible to apply or receive an award, applicants must complete and maintain three registrations; SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. For each, the complete registration process can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants should begin this activity as soon as possible and well before the proposal due date. For more information on how to meet these registration and application submission requirements without errors, we advise all to carefully review relevant Applicant and Grantee Training modules: https://www.commerce.gov/ocio/programs/gems/applicant-and-grantee-training. Additionally, we advise that all carefully read Additional Application Package Forms within the Full Proposal Required Elements section below. The National Sea Grant College Program champions diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by recruiting, retaining, and preparing a diverse workforce, and proactively engaging and serving the diverse populations of coastal communities. Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives, and ways of thinking. We encourage Sea Grant program applications to reflect diverse participation with regards to age, race, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, education levels, job classifications, veteran status types, income, and socioeconomic status.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Next Deadline
January 29, 2025
Letter of Intent
Application Opens
October 31, 2024
Application Closes
March 19, 2025
Grantor
Chuck Weirich
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