FY2021 North America Marine Debris Prevention and Removal

The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP), authorized in the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. § 1951-1958), provides funding to address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the United States economy, the marine environment, and navigation safety through the identification, determination of sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal of marine debris. Funds available through this solicitation were allocated to MDP in furtherance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019 Pub. L. 116-113, Title IX to carry out Section 3 of the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. § 1952) in the North American region. The purpose of this competition is to address marine debris issues of mutual interest in the border areas of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Successful proposals through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements.

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As outlined in the Marine Debris Act, eligible applicants in the United States are state, local, and tribal governments whose activities affect removal and prevention of marine debris and any institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or commercial (for-profit) organization with expertise in a field related to marine debris. Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered. Interested federal agencies may collaborate with eligible applicants but may not receive funds through this competition. Applicants from the United States that engage partners in Mexico and/or Canada will receive greater consideration for funding in this competition, with a higher priority for partner engagement in Mexico. This award is also open for application by certain organizations (as noted below) in Mexico and Canada, with a higher priority for activities to be conducted in Mexico. This can include applicants either working with partners in the United States, or working solely in Mexico or Canada, but only if such proposed work demonstrates that it addresses marine debris that impacts the United States economy, the United States marine environment, or navigation safety in the United States. Consistent with the Marine Debris Act, eligible applicants in Mexico or Canada are limited to any institution of higher education, nonprofit organization or commercial (for-profit) organization with expertise in a field related to marine debris. This includes community based organizations, business associations, and non-public foreign organizations. Applicants from foreign public entities (see 2 CFR 200.46), including from Canada or Mexico, are not eligible to receive awards or subawards under the Marine Debris Act and will not be considered. Interested governmental agencies in Canada or Mexico may collaborate with eligible applicants but may not receive funds as recipients or subrecipients through this competition. NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation of veterans, minority-serving institutions, and entities that work in underserved areas. The NOAA MDP encourages proposals from, or involving, any of the above types of eligible institutions. Applications that have been submitted to other NOAA grant programs or as part of another NOAA grant may be considered under this solicitation, but will not be given preferential treatment.

For further information contact Tom Barry (tom.barry@noaa.gov, 202-870-2863)