The purpose of this notice is to solicit grant proposals from eligible state and territory Coastal Zone Management Programs (CZM Programs) for coastal habitat restoration; coastal habitat restoration planning, engineering, and design; and coastal land conservation projects that support the goals and intent of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law)(BIL, Public Law 117-58, 135 STAT. 1356 (Nov. 15, 2021).

NOAA anticipates that approximately $45 million will be competitively awarded to approved state and territory Coastal Zone Management Programs or eligible Program partners. For habitat restoration engineering, design and planning projects, it is anticipated that awards will range from approximately $200,000-$500,000. For habitat restoration projects, it is anticipated that awards will range from approximately $2 million to $6 million. For land conservation projects, it is anticipated that awards will range from approximately $1 million to $4 million. Applicants may propose projects with a Federal funding request less than or more than these amounts, up to $6 million.

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Any coastal state or territorial CZM Program that has been approved by NOAA pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act (16 U.S.C. § 1455) is eligible for funds under this announcement. For selected projects, NOAA may make financial assistance awards to the lead CZM Program agency, which will be responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the purposes of and in a manner consistent with this program. NOAA may also, with concurrence from the CZM Program lead agency, make a grant directly to an identified eligible CZM Program partner in order to expedite completion of an approved project. For these projects, the CZM Program lead agency would submit a Letter of Intent and include an identification and brief description of the CZM Program partner that would be the final grant recipient. If the CZM Program is invited to submit a final application for the proposal, then the CZM Program partner would submit the final application through grants.gov. In such cases, the CZM Program partner (as the grant award recipient) will be responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the approved purposes of, and in a manner consistent with, this program.Eligible CZM Program partners may include regional authorities, non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and state, territorial, tribal, and county/local governments. Non-governmental organizations may serve as the lead applicant for habitat restoration projects or for habitat restoration engineering, design and planning projects. As noted in section III C.3. Public Benefit, all projects must be located on publicly-owned land, or land where a public entity holds a lease or easement that provides for adequate public control of the property. For these projects, the project application should also include a letter of support from the public entity who holds title or a legal interest on the project site.Non-governmental organizations may not serve as the lead applicant for land conservation projects, as they are not eligible to hold title to lands acquired with these funds. Non-governmental organizations also must not be listed as a subawardee for land acquisition purchase funds. However, non-governmental organizations, such as land trusts, may participate as partners in the acquisition of lands through this program in other ways such as: identifying target properties; conducting or assisting in acquisition negotiations to secure properties; preparing due diligence materials; conducting restoration activities; and providing stewardship and management of properties in perpetuity, including holding a secondary.

For administrative or technical questions regarding this announcement, contact the Office for Coastal Management via email at ocm.czm.infrastructure@noaa.gov