FY23-24 CRCP State and Territorial Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements

Eligible applicants are limited to the State, Territorial and Commonwealth natural 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. The designated point of contact agency is considered to be the lead applicant on any proposal and is responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the purposes of, and in a manner consistent with, this program, including any Federal funds awarded to an eligible sub-recipient. NOAA employees and affiliates (contract staff) are not permitted to assist in the preparation of applications or write letters of support for any application. NOAA CRCP staff is available to provide general information on programmatic goals and objectives, ongoing coral reef conservation programs/activities, and regional funding priorities. For proposals that involve collaboration with current NOAA projects or staff, NOAA employees may provide a limited statement verifying the nature and extent of the collaboration and confirming any prior coordination activities. Letters of support from NOAA employees are not allowable and will not be included among the materials considered by peer reviewers. Federal agencies and employees are not allowed to receive funds under this announcement but may serve as collaborative project partners. Federal agencies and employees "in-kind" services cannot be considered as part of an applicant’s match on shared costs. If federal agencies are collaborators, applicants are expected to provide detail on the planned level of federal engagement in the application. Examples might include, but are not limited to partnership services; serving in a review capacity; or participating in priority task teams, working groups, or leadership teams. Federal staff may provide a limited statement verifying the nature and extent of any such collaboration and confirming any prior coordination activities. DOC/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity and is strongly committed to broadening the participation of historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions that work in underserved areas. While this program limits applicants to the State, Territorial and Commonwealth natural resource management agencies, DOC/NOAA encourages applicants to include partners and contributors from any of the above groups or institutions.

Dana Wusinich-Mendez Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands dana.wusinich-mendez@noaa.gov (561) 223-1629 Liz Fairey Guam, Hawaii, and American Samoa liz.fairey@noaa.gov 301-427-8632 Stephanie Bennett CNMI stephanie.bennett@noaa.gov 323-372-2912