National Competitive Harmful Algal Bloom Programs

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program (CRP) is soliciting proposals for the Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB) and The Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) Research Programs. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2019 Federal appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have a September 1, 2019 start date.
Total funding for this research:
MERHAB: It is anticipated that up to approximately $2,500,000 may be available in Fiscal Year 2019 for the first year for all MERHAB projects combined. Approximately 7 to 9 projects are expected to be funded at the level of approximately $200,000 to $600,000 per year per proposal. Projects are expected to last 3 to 5 years.  Both Regional and Targeted projects are expected to be funded.
ECOHAB:  It is anticipated that up to approximately $3,000,000 may be available in Fiscal Year 2019 for the first year for all ECOHAB projects combined.  Approximately 1-4 Regional projects are expected to be funded at the level of $700,000 to $1,000,000 (including ship time) per year per proposal.  Projects are expected to last 5 years.  Only Regional projects are expected to be funded.
Electronic Access: Background information about the MERHAB Program can be found at https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/research/habs/merhab and for the ECOHAB Program at https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/research/stressor-impacts-mitigation/ecohab/.
Any Frequently Asked Questions that arise will be posted at these sites. Proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov, http://www.grants.gov. Sign up to receive any potential amendments to this Announcement via www.grants.gov.

Eligible applicants for Federal financial assistance in this competition are institutions ofhigher education, other non-profits, state, local, Indian Tribal Governments, U.S. Territories,and for-profit organizations. Federal agencies that possess the statutory authority to receivetransfers of funds are eligible to submit applications for intra- or interagency funds transfersthrough this competition. DOC/NOAA supports cultural and gender diversity andencourages women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications to the CRPprograms. In addition, DOC/NOAA is strongly committed to broadening the participation ofhistorically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribal colleges anduniversities, and institutions that work in underserved areas. DOC/NOAA encouragesapplications involving any of the above institutions to apply.Please note that:(1) Principal Investigators should be employees of an eligible entity listed above; andapplications should be submitted through that entity. Non-Federal researchers should complywith their institutional requirements for application submission.(2) Non-Federal researchers affiliated with NOAA-University Cooperative/Joint Instituteswill be funded through cooperative agreements.(3) Foreign researchers must apply as subawards or contracts through an eligible USentity.(4) Federal applicants are eligible to submit applications for intra- or interagency fundstransfers through this competition. Non-NOAA Federal applicants will be required to submitcertifications or documentation showing that they have specific legal authority to acceptfunds for this type of research.(5) An eligible U.S. entity may propose Federal agency researchers as funded orunfunded collaborators. If Federal agency researchers are proposed as funded collaborators,the applicant should present the collaborator's funding request in the application in the sameway documentation is provided for a subrecipient for purposes of project evaluation, eventhough intra- or interagency funding transfers will generally be used if the project is selected.(6) NCCOS researchers may apply through an eligible U.S. entity as funded or unfundedcollaborators, but cannot be the lead PI on the application.

Marc Suddleson, MERHAB Program Manager, CRP, 240-533- 0305, Marc.Suddleson@noaa.gov Quay Dortch, ECOHAB Program Manager, CRP, 240-533-0198, Quay.Dortch@noaa.gov Maggie Broadwater, Acting Program Manager, CRP, 843-460-9684, Maggie.Broadwater@noaa.gov Grants Administration Information: Laura Golden, NCCOS Grants Administrator, 240-533-0285, Laurie.Golden@noaa.gov