FY 2024 – 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

NOFO

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

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Table of Contents
NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY .........................................................................................1
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................1
Full Text of Announcement ......................................................................................................2
I. Funding Opportunity Description .......................................................................................2
II. Award Information ............................................................................................................6
III. Eligibility Information .......................................................................................................6
IV. Application and Submission Information .........................................................................6
V. Application Review Information ......................................................................................12
VI. Award Administration Information .................................................................................15
VII. Agency Contacts ...........................................................................................................21
VIII. Other Information ........................................................................................................21
Executive Summary
Federal Agency Name
OAR Climate Program Office (CPO)
Funding Opportunity Title
FY 2024 – 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research (OAR)
Announcement Type
Broad Agency Announcement
Funding Opportunity Number
NOAA-OAR-CPO-2024-28363
Assistance Listing Number(s)
11.015
Dates
Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov up to 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time,
September 30, 2026. Applications received after this time will not be reviewed or considered
for funding. Applications will be considered on a continuing/rolling basis as they are
received.
Funding Opportunity Description
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This notice is not a mechanism to fund existing NOAA awards. The purpose of this notice is
to request applications for special projects and programs associated with NOAA's strategic
plan and mission goals, as well as to provide the general public with information and
guidelines on how NOAA will select applications and administer discretionary Federal
assistance under this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Each NOAA Line Office that
supports financial assistance (National Marine Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service,
National Weather Service, Office of Atmospheric Research, Office of Education, and National
Environmental Satellite Data Information Service) has a separate BAA found in Grants.gov,
so applicants should submit their application to the BAA for the Line Office that best fits their
application. A description of NOAA Line Offices is found at
https://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/public/lineoffices.html and
https://www.noaa.gov/office-education, and applicants may contact the Agency Contacts in
Section VII. below for more information. If you submit the same application to more than one
Line Office, mention this in your application and notify the relevant contacts in Section
VII. so that NOAA may coordinate internally.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Program Objective
This Broad Agency Announcement is a mechanism to encourage research, education and
outreach, innovative projects, or sponsorships that are not addressed through NOAA’s
competitive discretionary programs. This announcement is not soliciting goods or services
for the direct benefit of NOAA. Funding for activities described in this notice is contingent
upon the availability of appropriations in the fiscal years applicable to the application.
Applicants are hereby given notice that funds have not yet been appropriated for any
activities described in this notice. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to
review an application beyond an initial administrative review, or to award any specific
project, or to obligate any available funds.
B. Program Priorities
As an agency with responsibilities for maintaining and improving the viability of marine and
coastal ecosystems, for delivering valuable weather, climate, and water information and
services, for understanding the science and consequences of climate change, and for
supporting the global commerce and transportation upon which we all depend, NOAA must
remain current and responsive in an ever-changing world.
We do this in concert with our partners and stakeholders in Federal, state, and local
governments and private organizations, applying a systematic approach that links our
strategic goals through multi-year plans to the daily activities of our employees. Every year
we are committed to re-evaluate our progress and priorities, look for efficiencies, and take
advantage of new opportunities to improve our information, products, and services. In
furtherance of this objective, NOAA issues this BAA for extramural research, innovative
projects, and sponsorships (e.g., conferences, newsletters, etc.) that address one or more of
the mission goal descriptions contained in the NOAA Strategic Plan.
1. Ocean Exploration
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The world’s ocean remains largely unexplored, leaving significant gaps in the basic
environmental intelligence needed to manage and protect ocean resources, forecast future
environmental changes, and facilitate sustainable economic development of the ocean.
Through this program, NOAA Ocean Exploration seeks to fund interdisciplinary and
innovative ocean exploration-related projects that support its priorities. NOAA Ocean
Exploration is dedicated to exploring the unknown ocean, unlocking its potential through
scientific discovery, technological advancements, and data delivery. By working closely with
partners across public, private, and academic sectors, through this program as well as
others, NOAA Ocean Exploration is filling gaps in our basic understanding of the marine
environment. This allows us, collectively, to protect ocean health, sustainably manage our
marine resources, accelerate our national economy, better understand our changing
environment, and enhance appreciation of the importance of the ocean in our everyday
lives. Proposals should address one of four themes: ocean exploration of unknown or poorly
known ocean areas, processes, or resources in waters deeper than 200 meters or in tropical
mesophotic environments; maritime heritage exploration for significant maritime heritage
resources that improve our understanding of the past and inform decisions about
management and preservation; application of new or novel use of existing ocean
technologies or innovative methods that could increase the scope and efficiency of acquiring
ocean exploration data and expanding its availability and use; outreach and education
initiatives that increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the education
program and/or develop education resources to complement virtual and hybrid education
delivery. All proposals must support priorities in the NOAA Ocean Exploration Strategic Plan
and should also consider the Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization
of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. Proposed projects are not restricted to waters
under U.S. jurisdiction, but proposals should address how projects will provide national
benefit.
2. Long-term mission goal: Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
An informed society anticipating and responding to climate and its impacts.
Projected future climate-related changes include increased global temperatures, melting sea
ice and glaciers, rising sea levels, increased frequency of extreme precipitation events,
acidification of the oceans, modifications of growing seasons, changes in storm frequency
and intensity, air quality, alterations in species' ranges and migration patterns, earlier
snowmelt, increased drought, and altered river flow volumes. Impacts from these changes
are regionally diverse, and affect numerous sectors related to water, energy, transportation,
forestry, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and human health. A changing climate will alter the
distribution of water resources and exacerbate human impacts on fisheries and marine
ecosystems, which will result in such problems as overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution,
changes in species distributions, and excess nutrients in coastal waters. Increased sea levels
are expected to amplify the effects of other coastal hazards as ecosystem changes increase
invasions of non- native species and decrease biodiversity. The direct impact of climate
change on commerce, transportation, and the economy is evidenced by retreating sea ice in
the Arctic, which allows the northward expansion of commercial fisheries and provides
increased access for oil and gas development, commerce, and tourism.
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These changes already have profound implications for society, underscoring the need for
scientific information to aid decision makers, develop and evaluate options that mitigate the
human causes of climate change, and adapt to foreseeable climate impacts. While the
Nation has made significant progress in understanding climate change and variability, more
work is needed to identify causes and effects of these changes, produce accurate
predictions, identify risks and vulnerabilities, and inform decision making. No single
organization can accomplish these tasks alone. NOAA will advance this long-term goal of
climate adaptation and mitigation as it builds upon a strong scientific foundation and
decades of engagement with interagency, academic, and private sector partners to
strengthen scientific understanding of climate; monitor changes in the atmosphere, oceans,
and land; produce climate assessments; develop and deliver climate services at global and
regional scales; and increase public knowledge of climate change and its impacts. Through
its stewardship responsibilities and expertise, NOAA will improve its capacity to monitor,
understand, and predict the impacts of a changing climate on weather patterns, water
resources, and ocean and coastal ecosystems.
3. Long-term mission goal: Weather-Ready Nation
Society is prepared for and responds to weather-related events. A weather-ready nation is a
society that is able to prepare for and respond to environmental events that affect safety,
health, the environment, economy, and homeland security. Urbanization and a growing
population increasingly put people and businesses at greater risk to the impacts of weather,
water, and climate-related hazards. NOAA's capacity to provide relevant information can
help create a society that is more adaptive to its environment; experiences fewer
disruptions, dislocation, and injuries; and that operates a more efficient economy.
Over the long-term, climate change may increase the intensity and even the frequency of
adverse weather events, which range from drought and floods, to wildfires, heat waves,
storms, and hurricanes. Changing weather, water, and climate conditions affect the
economic vitality of communities and commercial industries, including the energy,
transportation, and agriculture sectors. Environmental information aligned with user needs
will become ever more critical to the safety and well-being of those exposed to sudden or
prolonged hazards and is essential to sustain competitive advantage, expand economic
growth, and to secure the Nation. All of the objectives within the Weather-ready Nation goal
is highly dependent on progress toward the objectives under the Climate Adaptation and
Mitigation goal. Likewise, progress toward this goal will benefit many of the objectives of the
Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies goals, and vice versa.
4. Long-term mission goal: Healthy Oceans
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Marine fisheries, habitats, and biodiversity sustained within healthy and productive
ecosystems.Ocean ecosystems provide many benefits to humans. They provide food and
recreational opportunities, and they support economies. Yet the resources that our marine,
coastal, and Great Lakes environments present to us are already stressed by human uses.
Habitat changes have depleted fish and shellfish stocks, increased the number of species
that are at-risk, and reduced biodiversity. Because humans are an integral part of the
ecosystem, declines in ecosystem functioning and quality directly impact human health and
well-being. As long-term environmental, climate, and population trends continue, global
demands for seafood and energy, recreational use of aquatic environments, and other
pressures on habitats and over-exploited species will increase as will concerns about the
sustainability of ecosystems and safety of edible fish. Depleted fish stocks and declines in
iconic species (such as killer whales, salmon, and sea turtles) result in lost opportunities for
employment, economic growth, and recreation along the coasts. In addition, climate change
impacts to the ocean, including sea level rise, acidification, and warming, will alter habitats
and the relative abundance and distribution of species. Climate change poses serious risks
to coastal and marine ecosystem productivity, which, in turn, affects recreational, economic,
and conservation activities.
NOAA's goal of healthy ocean ecosystems will ensure that ocean, estuarine, and related
ecosystems and the species that inhabit them are vibrant and sustainable in the face of
challenges. A strong understanding of these systems supports an ecosystem-based
approach to management. The approach accounts for the complex connections among
organisms (including humans); their physical, biotic, cultural, and economic environments;
and the wide range of processes that control their dynamics. An ecosystem-based approach
will assist policy makers to weigh trade-offs between alternative courses of action. By
working toward the long-term sustainability of all species, NOAA will also help ensure for
present and future generations that seafood is a safe, reliable, and affordable food source;
that seafood harvest and production, recreational fishing opportunities, and non-
consumptive uses of living marine resources continue to support vibrant coastal
communities and economies; and that species of cultural and economic value can flourish.
5. Long-term mission goal: Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies
Coastal and Great Lakes communities are environmentally and economically sustainable.
The complex interdependence of ecosystems and economies will grow with increasing uses
of land, marine, and coastal resources, resulting in particularly heavy economic and
environmental pressures on the Nation's coastal communities. Continued growth in coastal
populations, economic expansion, and global trade will further increase the need for safe
and efficient maritime transportation. Similarly, the Nation's profound need for conventional
and alternative energy presents many economic opportunities, but will also result in greater
competition for ocean space, challenging our ability to make informed decisions that
balance conflicting demands as well as economic and environmental considerations. At the
same time, the interdependence of ecosystems and economies makes coastal and Great
Lakes communities increasingly vulnerable to chronic and potentially catastrophic impacts
of natural and human-induced hazards, including climate change, oil spills, harmful algal
blooms and pathogen outbreaks, hypoxia, and severe weather hazards. NOAA's long-term
coastal goal will invigorate coastal communities and economies, and lead to increased
resiliency and productivity. Comprehensive planning will help protect coastal communities
and resources from the impacts of hazards and land-based pollution to vulnerable
ecosystems by addressing competing uses, improving water quality, and fostering
integrated management for sustainable uses. Geospatial services will support communities,
navigation, and economic efficiency with accurate, useful characterizations, charts and
maps, assessments, tools, and methods. Coastal decision makers will have the capacity to
adaptively manage coastal communities and ecosystems with the best natural and social
science available.
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C. Program Authority
The specific program authority will vary depending on the nature of the proposed project. A
list of the most prevalent assistance authorities are 15 U.S.C. 1540; 15 U.S.C. 2901 et. seq.;
16 U.S.C. 661; 16 U.S.C. 1456c; 33 U.S.C. 883a-d; 33 USC 893a; 33 U.S.C. 1442; 49 U.S.C.
44720(b).
II. Award Information
A. Funding Availability
There are no funds specifically appropriated by Congress for this BAA. Funding for potential
projects in this notice is contingent upon the availability of appropriations in the fiscal years
applicable to the application. Applicants are hereby given notice that funds have not yet
been appropriated for any proposed activities in this notice.
B. Project/Award Period
The anticipated start date of the award generally will be three to six months after receipt of
the application by NOAA. Applications should generally be submitted for a one-year award
period, but this may be negotiated if the application is recommended for funding.
Note: The award must start on the first day of a month in the year, and end on the last day
of a month in the year (i.e. 08/01/2025 – 07/31/2026).
C. Type of Funding Instrument
Selected applicants will either enter into a grant or a cooperative agreement depending
upon the amount of NOAA's involvement in the project. Substantial involvement by NOAA in
the project would require a cooperative agreement.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants may be institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial
organizations, international or foreign organizations or governments, individuals, state,
local, and Indian Tribal governments. Eligibility also depends on the statutory authority that
permits NOAA to fund the proposed activity. Funding of Federal organizations is outside the
scope of this announcement; if funding authority exists, Federal organizations seeking NOAA
funds should contact relevant program officials about the interagency agreement process.
B. Cost Share or Matching Requirement
Cost sharing is not required unless it is determined that a project can only be funded under
an authority that requires matching/cost sharing funds.
C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility
None.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address to Request Application Package
Applicants can obtain electronic application packages through Grants.gov by using Notice of
Funding Opportunity Number NOAA-OAR-CPO-2024-28363 to conduct a search. Grants.gov
requires applicants to complete a free annual registration process in the electronic System
for Award Management (SAM), found at https://sam.gov/content/status-tracker, as described
in section IV.C. and IV.G. of this Announcement.
These registration processes can take several weeks and involve multiple steps. In order to
allow sufficient time for these processes, applicants should register as soon as they decide
to apply even if they are not ready to submit their application.
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For applicants without Internet access, please contact the CPO Grants Manager Diane Brown
by mail to obtain an application package:
Diane Brown
NOAA Climate Program Office (R/CP1)
SSMC3, Room 12737
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
B. Content and Form of Application
1. Format Requirements.
All pages should be single-spaced and composed in at least 11-point font with one-inch
margins on 8” x 11” paper. The project description may not exceed 15 pages, exclusive of
title page, project synopsis, literature cited, budget information, resumes of investigators,
and letters of support (if any). Failure to follow the requirements may result in the rejection
of the application and its subsequent return. Any PDF or other attachments that are included
in an electronic application must meet the above format requirement when printed out.
2. Content Requirements. The following information must be included:
a. Signed SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance: The SF-424 must be signed by the
Authorized Representative. Electronic signatures submitted through Grants.gov satisfy
this requirement.
b. Title Page (1-page limit): The title page identifies the project's title, total budget, start
and end dates; and the Principal Investigator's (PI’s) and co-PI's names, affiliations,
complete mailing addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers and fax numbers. The
title page should identify the OAR program targeted by the application.
c. Project Synopsis (1-page limit): It is critical that the project synopsis accurately
describes the project being proposed and conveys all essential elements of the activities.
It is imperative that potential applicants tie their applications to one of the NOAA mission
goals described in Section I.B. of this announcement and state it here in the synopsis.
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d. Project Description (15-page limit): The applicant should describe and justify the
project being proposed and address each of the evaluation criteria as described below in
Section V. Project descriptions should include clear objectives and specific approaches to
achieving those objectives, including methods, timelines, and expected outcomes.
e. Literature Cited: If applicable
f. Assurances: The SF-424B Assurances form must be completed and submitted for all
non-construction applications, and the SF-424D Assurances form must be completed and
submitted for all construction applications.
g. Completed Form CD-511, Certification Regarding Lobbying.
h. Resumes for each major participant: Key Personnel; Principal Investigator(s).
i. Standard Application Forms: Please refer to the application package available through
Grants.gov. Please review each form to determine which are required with submission.
Each applicant may not be required to submit all forms listed, depending on the project
type or applicant type.
j. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Questionnaire: NOAA has a NEPA policy
applicable to funding applicants, described in Section VI of this announcement. NOAA
has a NEPA Questionnaire that may be applicable to some projects, but applicants do not
need to provide answers to the NOAA NEPA Questionnaire at this time. However, NOAA
may require additional information from the applicant regarding potential environmental
impacts prior to reviewing the application.
k. Data Management Plan: If relevant for the proposed project, include a data sharing
plan. Refer to Section VI.
l. Budget and Budget Justification: The SF-424A Budget Information Form must be
completed, and there should be a detailed budget justification accompanying the SF-
424 budget forms (SF-424A non-construction or SF-424C construction, as appropriate).
Indicate matching funds if provided in a separate column. Provide justifications for all
budget items in sufficient detail to enable the reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness
of the funding requested. The budget justification should be broken out and detailed
using the same budget categories as the SF-424 budget form (SF-424A or SF-424C).
m. If an applicant has not previously established an indirect cost rate with a Federal
agency, the applicant may choose to negotiate a rate with its cognizant agency (the
agency from which the applicant receives the most grant funding), or use the de minimis
indirect cost rate with the Modified Total Direct Costs (as allowable under 2 C.F.R.
§200.414). Applicants requesting indirect costs at a rate greater than the de minimis
rate must provide a signed copy of their existing approved Federal indirect cost (IDC)
rate agreement with the application package.
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If an applicant seeks to establish a new indirect cost rate agreement and NOAA would be
the cognizant agency, the applicant must submit its indirect cost rate agreement
documentation per the Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms
and Conditions (2019),https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2020-
11/DOC%20Standard%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20%2012%20November%20202
0%20PDF_0.pdf within 90 days after award start date or those costs will not be allowed.
The approval process may take several weeks. The indirect cost rate applications in
these cases should be sent by mail or email (separately from the grant application) to:
Jennifer Jackson, Grants Officer
NOAA Grants Management Division,
Email: jennifer.jackson@noaa.gov
For applicants seeking to establish a new indirect cost rate agreement and NOAA would
be the cognizant agency, the information that must be provided (separate from the
application) to establish an Approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement is described below:
Submitted by Non-Profits and Commercial Entities
1. A chart showing the organizational structure during the period for which the
proposal applies, along with a functional statement noting the duties and/or
responsibilities of all units that comprise the organization. Please make sure this
includes a brief narrative background statement outlining the financial operation of
the organization.
2. The basic proposal including all other supporting schedules and financial and
statistical information supporting the basic proposal. Any supporting schedules
should be cross-referenced to the basic proposal (accounting records and related
work papers to support the costs contained in the indirect cost proposal).
a. The total costs shown in the basic proposal should also reconcile to the
financial statements in the most recent audit report, which should also be
provided.
b. Reconciliations/Analyzes
i. As stated above, detailed reconciliation between the proposal and the
financial statements;
ii. Adjusted detailed trial balance which agrees to the audited financial
statements;
iii. Trend Analysis Report - It must itemize expense account line items that
support the totals of both direct and indirect expenses, for three years (only two
years would be required if the entity has only been in business for two years).
Comparisons or trends of the indirect cost rates only will cause your indirect cost
proposal to be rejected, until the correctly prepared trend analysis report
is received; and
iv. Calculations showing how applicable prior year carry-forward amounts
were applied to formulate current year’s rate submission.
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3. A listing of directly awarded grants and contracts by Federal agency, Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number, dollar amounts separated by direct-
indirect-total costs, period of performance, applicable cost principle, and the
identification of any cost limitations and special award terms/conditions applicable to
each.
4. Cost Policy Statement (e.g. Disclosure Statement) the purpose of which is to
establish an unambiguous understanding between the grantee and the Federal
Government as to what costs will be charged directly and what costs will be charged
indirectly. If a Cost Policy Statement was submitted with last year’s proposal and not
proposing any changes to the current year’s submission, the following suggested
language should be included in their transmittal letter when a proposal is submitted:
[ABC Organization] hereby confirms that no changes to its accounting practices as
set forth in its Cost Policy Statement dated [date] have been made.
5. Statement of Total Costs contains all line items of cost included in the
organization’s chart of accounts and applicable columns for direct costs (by cost
center/activity, Federal grants, non-Federal grants, fundraising, etc.), indirect costs
(overhead, G&A, etc.), and unallowable costs (if applicable). These columns should
show the type (e.g. labor, travel supplies, etc.) and amount of cost incurred by each
activity. The total costs should reconcile to the organization’s financial statements. If
the reconciliation is not clear, the organization should provide a separate schedule
supporting the difference.
6. Statement of Indirect Costs contains all line items of cost included in the indirect
cost pool(s), the applicable base(s), and the resulting indirect cost rate(s). The
allocation base should be traceable to the organization’s total costs. If not clearly
traceable, an additional schedule should be provided to support the reconciliation.
7. Specific Personnel Costs includes a list of all volunteers by job title, along with a
description of the services they provided to the organization, if significant. Also
required is a list of all management level employees, their position descriptions and
salaries.
8. Certification of Indirect Costs - A completed Certification must be signed on behalf
of the organization by an official at a level no lower than Executive Director or Chief
Financial Officer. The Certification must identify the period of coverage for the
indirect cost proposal, asserting that it has been prepared in accordance with the
applicable cost principles and guidelines [2 CFR Part 200 (non-profits), FAR Part 31
(commercial)].
9. Identification of Other Items to be included within the indirect cost proposal
package. If these items are not provided with the organization’s proposal, it may be
necessary for them to be provided later during the review process as circumstances
dictate.
a. Identify assets purchased with Federal sponsored program funds or Non-
Federal sponsored program funds, if any, and specify if ownership remains with
sponsoring entity or transfers to recipient upon successful completion of the
awards.
b. Identify all related party transactions.
c. Identify idle facilities, if any.
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10. Lobbying Certificate – A completed Certification must be signed on behalf of the
organization by an official at a level no lower than Executive Director or Chief
Financial Officer. Completion of this Certification indicates the organization has
complied with the requirements and standards on lobbying costs in the development
of the indirect cost rate.
11. DOC’s Indirect Cost Proposal Checklist. Please mark the Checklist item number
on the corresponding document (or start of section) within the final proposal
package. Follow this link to view a copy of the IDC Proposal Checklist,
https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/tip/doc_indirect_cost_rate_program_gui
delines_for_grantee_organizations_june_2011.pdf
Submitted by States and Local Government and Indian Tribe
All entities receiving this Guidance desiring to claim indirect costs under Federal awards
using an indirect cost rate must prepare and maintain their completed indirect cost rate
proposal for review, as set forth in 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements
for Federal Grants.
Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Management
Plan (up to 2 pages). See Section VI.B., Administrative and National Policy Requirements,
below for additional information on what the plan should contain.
If required, provide NOAA NEPA Questionnaire.
C. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is
excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception
approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to:
(i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application;
(ii) Provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) in its application; and
(iii) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times
during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration
by a Federal awarding agency.
NOAA may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied
with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has
not fully complied with the requirements by the time NOAA is ready to make a Federal
award, NOAA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal
award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another
applicant.
D. Submission Dates and Times
Applications can be submitted on a rolling basis starting from the publication date of this
Broad Agency Announcement up to 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time on September 30,
2026. Applications received after this time will not be reviewed or considered for funding.
Applications shall be evaluated for funding generally within three to six months of receipt.
An applicant can expect to receive either a rejection notice based on the initial prescreening
review (if found ineligible), a rejection notice based on merit review or program restrictions,
a request for additional information, and/or an award within that time frame.
E. Intergovernmental Review
Applications submitted by state and local governments are subject to the provisions of
Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Any applicant
submitting an application for funding is required to complete item 16 on the SF-424
regarding clearance by the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) established as a result of EO
12372.
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To find out about and comply with a State's process under EO 12372, the names, addresses
and phone numbers of participating SPOCs are listed in the Office Management and
Budget's home page at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SPOC-list-
as-of-2023.pdf.
F. Funding Restrictions
None, unless required by the statute under which the award is funded.
G. Other Submission Requirements
Applicant organizations must complete and maintain three registrations to be eligible to
apply for or receive an award. These registrations include SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA
Commons. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. The
complete registration process for all three systems can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants
should begin this activity as soon as possible. If an eligible applicant does not have access to
the internet, please contact the Agency Contacts listed in Section VII for submission
instructions.
Prior to registering with eRA Commons, applicant organizations must first obtain a Unique
Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, if needed (refer to Section IV. Applications and
Submission Information, Section C). Organizations can register with eRA Commons in
tandem with completing their full SAM and Grants.gov registrations; however, all
registrations must be in place by time of application submission. eRA Commons requires
organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program
Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
The first PD/PI listed on the application must include their eRA Commons ID in the
"Credential, e.g. agency login" Applicant Identifier field on the SF424 form. Failure to
register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the Applicant Identifier
field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application.
H. Address for Submitting Proposals
Diane Brown, CPO Grants Manager
NOAA Climate Program Office (R/CP1)
SSMC3, Room 12737
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
V. Application Review Information
Evaluation Criteria
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The criteria for this BAA are listed below. Applicants are required to adhere to all the noted
submission requirements and to provide a demonstrable link and/or to emphasize the
manner in which study objectives results relate to NOAA's mission goals/priorities. Since
applications responding to this BAA may vary significantly in their activities/objectives,
assigning a set weight for each evaluation criterion is not feasible, but is based on a total
possible score of 100. The Program Office and/or Selection Official will determine which of
the following criteria and weights will be applied. Some applications, for example
sponsorships, may not be able to address all the criteria like technical/scientific merit.
However, it is in your best interest to prepare an application that can be easily evaluated
against these five criteria. When applicable, an applicant’s Data Sharing Plan, as described
in Section VI of this announcement, will be considered within the criteria below.
1. Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposed project to the mission goals:
This ascertains whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed work and/or relevance to
NOAA, Federal, regional, state, or local activities: i.e., How does the proposed activity
enhance NOAA's strategic plan and mission goals? Applications should also address
significance/possibilities of securing productive results, i.e., Does this study address an
important problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge
be advanced? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive
this field? What effect will the project have on improving public understanding of the role of
the ocean, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem?
Applications may also be scored for innovation, i.e., Does the project employ novel concepts,
approaches or methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does the project challenge
existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?
2. Technical/scientific merit:
This assesses whether the approach is technically sound and if the methods are appropriate,
and whether there are clear project goals and objectives. Applications should address the
approach/soundness of design: i.e., Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and
analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the
audiences to be engaged through the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential
problem areas
and consider alternative tactics?
This criterion should also address the applicant's proposed methods for monitoring,
measuring, and evaluating the success or failure of the project, i.e., What are they? Are they
appropriate?
Additionally, if needed, a data sharing plan should include descriptions of the types of
environmental data and information expected to be created during the course of the project;
the tentative date by which data will be shared; the standards to be used for data/metadata
format and content; methods for providing data access; approximate total volume of data to
be collected; and prior experience in making such data accessible.
3. Overall qualifications of applicants:
This ascertains whether the applicant possesses the necessary education, experience,
training, facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project. If appropriate,
applications should also address the physical environment and collaboration, if any, i.e.,
Does the environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of
success? Do the proposed experiments or activities take advantage of unique features of the
intended environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements?
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4. Project cost
The budget is evaluated to determine if the cost is realistic and commensurate with the
project needs and time-frame. Additionally, if required, this will assess the value of the
matching/cost sharing funds.
5. Outreach and education:
NOAA assesses whether this project provides a focused and effective education and
outreach strategy regarding NOAA’s mission to protect the Nation’s natural resources. NOAA
assesses whether this project aligns with NOAA's education vision, for an informed society
that uses ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather, and climate science to make the best social,
economic, and environmental decisions. Evaluation of these criteria will include if the project
addresses any of the goals or employs any of the strategies of the NOAA Education Plan
(http://www.noaa.gov/explainers/noaa- education-strategic-plan), as well as how the
outcomes of the project will be communicated to NOAA and the interested public.
Review and Selection Process
NOAA will conduct an initial administrative review to determine eligibility for award,
compliance with requirements and completeness of the application. This review includes
determining whether:
1. Sufficient funds are available in the budget of the program office receiving the application
to support the proposed project;
2. Statutory authority exists to provide financial assistance for the project or organization;
3. A complete application package has been submitted, that is, all required elements of the
application are included and application follows format requirements;
4. The Project Description/Narrative is consistent with one or more of NOAA’s mission goals;
5. If the application falls within the scope of an existing NOAA competitive announcement
(found at www.Grants.gov) or duplicates an existing non-discretionary project announced or
awarded in FY22, FY23, FY24, FY25, or FY26, then it cannot be funded under this
announcement;
6. The work in the application does not directly benefit NOAA (if it will, it should be
supported by a procurement contract, not a financial assistance award which cannot be
funded under this announcement, as provided in 31 U.S.C. 6303).
Additional Information
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Applications not passing this initial review will not be considered further for funding through
this BAA, and will not receive further review. NOAA will evaluate application(s) that pass this
initial review and comply with all the requirements under this BAA individually (i.e.,
applications will be not compared to each other). A merit review will be conducted by mail
reviewers and/or peer panel reviewers. Each reviewer will individually evaluate the
application(s) using the evaluation criteria provided above; a minimum of three merit
reviewers per application is required. More than three reviewers may be used based on the
complexity of the application. The reviewers may be any combination of Federal and/or non-
Federal personnel. Reviewers may discuss an application, but if more than one non-Federal
reviewer is used, the application(s) will be individually scored (i.e., a consensus is not
reached). Otherwise, the Program Officer has the discretion to authorize a score based on
consensus. NOAA selects evaluators on the bases of their professional qualifications and
expertise as related to the unique characteristics of the
application. The NOAA Program Officer will assess the evaluations and make a fund or do-
not-fund recommendation to the Selecting Official with an explanation of the reasons for the
recommendation. The Selecting Official shall provide a rationale for funding the application
and shall address any comments provided by the reviewers. Any applicant considered for
funding may be required to address the issues raised in the evaluation of the application by
the reviewers, Program Officer, Selecting Official, and/or Grants Officer before an award is
issued.
Applications not selected for funding in the fiscal year the application is submitted may be
considered for funding in a subsequent fiscal year, but may be required to revalidate the
terms of the original application or resubmit in the next BAA cycle if one is published for
FY2027. The Program Officer, Selecting Official and/or Grants Officer may negotiate the final
funding level of the application with the intended applicant. The Selecting Official makes the
final recommendation for award to the NOAA Grants Officer who is authorized to commit the
Federal Government and obligate the funds.
Selection Factors
Not applicable.
Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Subject to the availability of funds, awards are expected to be made three to six months
after receipt by NOAA of the full application.
Submissions received after March 31, 2025 may not be able to be awarded in FY25 (October
1, 2024 through September 30, 2025).
Similarly, submissions received after March 31, 2026 may not be able to be awarded in FY26
(October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026).
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
PRE-AWARD COSTS. Per 2 CFR 200.458, NOAA authorizes award recipients to expend pre-
award costs up to 90 days before the period of performance start date at the applicant’s
own risk without approval from NOAA and in accordance with the applicant’s internal
policies and procedures. Such costs are allowable only to the extent that they would have
been allowable if incurred after the date of the Federal award. This does not include direct
proposal costs (as defined at 2 CFR 200.460). In no event will NOAA or the Department of
Commerce be responsible for direct proposal preparation costs. Pre-award costs will be a
portion of, not in addition to, the approved total budget of the award. Pre-award costs
expended more than 90 days prior to the period of performance start date require approval
from the Grants Officer. This does not change the period of performance start date.
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GRANTS OFFICER SIGNATURE. Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation are not
considered awards until the Grants Officer has signed the grant agreement. Only Grants
Officers can bind the Government to the expenditure of funds. The Grants Officer’s digital
signature constitutes an obligation of funds by the federal government and formal approval
of the award.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Funding for programs listed in this notice is contingent upon the
availability of funds. Applicants are hereby given notice that funds may not have been
appropriated yet for the programs listed in this notice. Publication of this announcement
does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES, AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS.
Through 2 C.F.R. § 1327.101, the Department of Commerce adopted Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 C.F.R. Part
200, which applies to awards in this program. Refer to http://go.usa.gov/SBYh and
http://go.usa.gov/SBg4.
RESEARCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS. For awards designated on the CD-450 as Research, the
Commerce Terms, and the Federal-wide Research Terms and Conditions (Research Terms)
as implemented by the Department of Commerce, currently, at
https://www.nsf.gov/awards/managing/rtc.jsp, both apply to the award. The Commerce
Terms and the Research Terms are generally intended to harmonize with each other;
however, where the Commerce Terms and the Research Terms differ in a Research award,
the Research Terms prevail, unless otherwise indicated in a specific award condition.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PRE-AWARD NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTS AND
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of December 30, 2014 (79 FR 78390) are applicable to this solicitation and may be
accessed online at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-12-30/pdf/2014-30297.pdf.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Successful applicants who
accept a NOAA award under this solicitation will be bound by the DOC Financial Assistance
Standard Terms and Conditions. This document will be provided in the award package in
eRA at http://www.ago.noaa.gov and at https://www.commerce.gov/oam/policy/financial-
assistance-policy.
BUREAU TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Successful applicants who accept an award under this
solicitation will be bound by bureau-specific standard terms and conditions. These terms and
conditions will be provided in the award package in NOAA’s Grants Online system. For NOAA
awards only, the Administrative Standard Award Conditions for National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Financial Assistance Awards U.S. Department of
Commerce are applicable to this solicitation and may be accessed online at
https://www.noaa.gov/organization/acquisition-grants/financial-assistance
HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH. For research projects involving Human Subjects an
Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or an exemption determination will be required in
accordance with DOC Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions Section G.05.i
“Research Involving Human Subjects” found at
https://www.commerce.gov/oam/policy/financial-assistance-policy.
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NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA). NOAA must analyze the potential
environmental impacts, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for
applicant projects or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities.
Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the following NOAA
NEPA website: http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our NOAA Administrative Order 216-6
for NEPA, http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6.pdf, and the Council on Environmental
Quality implementation regulations, http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/NEPA-
40CFR1500_1508.pdf. Consequently, as part of an applicant's package, and under their
description of their program activities, applicants are required to provide detailed
information on the activities to be conducted, locations, sites, species and habitat to be
affected, possible construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist
(e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, introduction of non- indigenous
species, impacts to endangered and threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts
to coral reef systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve as the
basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be requested to assist NOAA in
drafting an environmental assessment, if NOAA determines an assessment is required.
Applicants will also be required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to
reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their proposal. Failure to do
so shall be grounds for not selecting an application. In some cases if additional information
is required after an application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer
under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit additional environmental
compliance information sufficient to enable NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts
that a project may have on the environment.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. Department of Commerce regulations implementing the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552, are found at 15 C.F.R. Part 4, Public
Information. These regulations set forth rules for the Department regarding making
requested materials, information, and records publicly available under the FOIA. Applications
submitted in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be subject to requests for
release under the Act. In the event that an application contains information or data that the
applicant deems to be confidential commercial information that should be exempt from
disclosure under FOIA, that information should be identified, bracketed, and marked as
Privileged, Confidential, Commercial or Financial Information. In accordance with 15 CFR §
4.9, the Department of Commerce will protect from disclosure confidential business
information contained in financial assistance applications and other documentation provided
by applicants to the extent permitted by law.
MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS. The Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to increasing the
participation of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), i.e., Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and universities, Alaskan Native
and Native Hawaiian institutions, and institutions that work in underserved communities.
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DATA SHARING PLAN.1. Environmental data and information collected or created under
NOAA grants or cooperative agreements must be made discoverable by and accessible to
the general public, in a timely fashion (typically within two years), free of charge or at no
more than the cost of reproduction, unless an exemption is granted by the NOAA Program.
Data should be available in at least one machine-readable format, preferably a widely-used
or open-standard format, and should also be accompanied by machine-readable
documentation (metadata), preferably based on widely used or international standards. 2.
Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Management
Plan of up to two pages describing how these requirements will be satisfied. The Data
Management Plan should be aligned with the Data Management Guidance provided by NOAA
in the Announcement. The contents of the Data Management Plan (or absence thereof), and
past performance regarding such plans, will be considered as part of proposal review. A
typical plan should include descriptions of the types of environmental data and information
expected to be created during the course of the project; the tentative date by which data
will be shared; the standards to be used for data/metadata format and content; methods for
providing data access; approximate total volume of data to be collected; and prior
experience in making such data accessible. The costs of data preparation, accessibility, or
archiving may be included in the proposal budget unless otherwise stated in the Guidance.
Accepted submission of data to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
(NCEI) is one way to satisfy data sharing requirements; however, NCEI is not obligated to
accept all submissions and may charge a fee, particularly for large or unusual datasets. 3.
NOAA may, at its own discretion, make publicly visible the Data Management Plan from
funded proposals, or use information from the Data Management Plan to produce a formal
metadata record and include that metadata in a Catalog to indicate the pending availability
of new data. 4. Proposal submitters are hereby advised that the final pre-publication
manuscripts of scholarly articles produced entirely or primarily with NOAA funding will be
required to be submitted to NOAA Institutional Repository after acceptance, and no later
than upon publication. Such manuscripts shall be made publicly available by NOAA one year
after publication by the journal.
More information can be found on NOAA’s Data Management Procedures at:
https://nosc.noaa.gov/EDMC/documents/Data_Sharing_Directive_v3.0_remediated.pdf and at
NAO 212-15 Management of Environmental Data and Information:
https://www.noaa.gov/organization/administration/nao-212-15-management-of-
environmental-data-and-information
NOAA SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE POLICY.
NOAA requires organizations receiving federal assistance to report findings of sexual
harassment, or any other kind of harassment, regarding a Principal Investigator (PI), co-PI, or
any other key personnel in the award.
NOAA expects all financial assistance recipients to establish and maintain clear and
unambiguous standards of behavior to ensure harassment free workplaces wherever NOAA
grant or cooperative agreement work is conducted, including notification pathways for all
personnel, including students, on the awards. This expectation includes activities at all on-
and offsite facilities and during conferences and workshops. All such settings should have
accessible and evident means for reporting violations and recipients should exercise due
diligence with timely investigations of allegations and corrective actions.
For more information, please visit: https://www.noaa.gov/organization/acquisition-
grants/noaa-workplace-harassment-training-for-contractors-and-financial.
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SCIENCE INTEGRITY. 1. Maintaining Integrity. The non-Federal entity shall maintain the
scientific integrity of research performed pursuant to this grant or financial assistance award
including the prevention, detection, and remediation of any allegations regarding the
violation of scientific integrity or scientific and research misconduct, and the conduct of
inquiries, investigations, and adjudications of allegations of violations of scientific integrity
or scientific and research misconduct. All the requirements of this provision flow down to
subrecipients. 2. Peer Review. The peer review of the results of scientific activities under a
NOAA grant, financial assistance award or cooperative agreement shall be accomplished to
ensure consistency with NOAA standards on quality, relevance, scientific integrity,
reproducibility, transparency, and performance. NOAA will ensure that peer review of
"influential scientific information" or "highly influential scientific assessments" is conducted
in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Final Information Quality
Bulletin for Peer Review and NOAA policies on peer review, such as the Information Quality
Guidelines. 3. In performing or presenting the results of scientific activities under the NOAA
grant, financial assistance award, or cooperative agreement and in responding to allegations
regarding the violation of scientific integrity or scientific and research misconduct, the non-
Federal entity and all subrecipients shall comply with the provisions herein and NOAA
Administrative Order (NAO) 202-735D, Scientific Integrity, and its Procedural Handbook,
including any amendments thereto. That Order can be found
athttp://nrc.noaa.gov/ScientificIntegrityCommons.aspx. 4. Primary Responsibility. The non-
Federal entity shall have the primary responsibility to prevent, detect, and investigate
allegations of a violation of scientific integrity or scientific and research misconduct. Unless
otherwise instructed by the grants officer, the non-Federal entity shall promptly conduct an
initial inquiry into any allegation of such misconduct and may rely on its internal policies and
procedures, as appropriate, to do so. 5. By executing this grant, financial assistance award,
or cooperative agreement the non-Federal entity provides its assurance that it has
established an administrative process for performing an inquiry, investigating, and reporting
allegations of a violation of scientific integrity or scientific and research misconduct; and
that it will comply with its own administrative process for performing an inquiry,
investigation, and reporting of such misconduct. 6. The non-Federal entity shall insert this
provision in all subawards at all tiers under this grant, financial assistance award, or
cooperative agreement.
REVIEW OF RISK. After applications are proposed for funding by the Selecting Official, the
Grants Office will perform administrative reviews, including an assessment of risk posed by
the applicant under 2 C.F.R. 200.206. These may include assessments of the financial
stability of an applicant and the quality of the applicant’s management systems, history of
performance, and the applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or
other requirements imposed on non-Federal entities. Special conditions that address any
risks determined to exist may be applied. Applicants may submit comments about any
information concerning organizational performance listed in the Responsibility/Qualification
section of SAM.gov for consideration by the awarding agency.
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REQUIRED USE OF AMERICAN IRON, STEEL, MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS, AND
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. If applicable, and pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (“IIJA”), Pub.L. No. 117-58, which includes the Build American, Buy American (BABA)
Act, Pub. L. No. 117-58, §§ 70901-52 and OMB M-22-11, recipients of an award of Federal
financial assistance from the Department of Commerce (DOC) are hereby notified that none
of the funds provided under this award may be used for a project for infrastructure unless:
1) all iron and steel used in the project are produced in the United States–this means all
manufacturing processes, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings,
occurred in the United States; 2) all manufactured products used in the project are produced
in the United States—this means the manufactured product was manufactured in the United
States; and the cost of the components of the manufactured product that are mined,
produced, or manufactured in the United States is greater than 55 percent of the total cost
of all components of the manufactured product, unless another standard for determining the
minimum amount of domestic content of the manufactured product has been established
under applicable law or regulation; and 3) all construction materials1 are manufactured in
the United States—this means that all manufacturing processes for the construction material
occurred in the United States. The Buy America preference only applies to articles,
materials, and supplies that are consumed in, incorporated into, or affixed to an
infrastructure project. As such, it does not apply to tools, equipment, and supplies, such as
temporary scaffolding, brought to the construction site and removed at or before the
completion of the infrastructure project. Nor does a Buy America preference apply to
equipment and furnishings, such as movable chairs, desks, and portable computer
equipment, that are used at or within the finished infrastructure project but are not an
integral part of the structure or permanently affixed to the infrastructure project.
WAIVERS. When necessary, recipients may apply for, and DOC may grant, a waiver from
these requirements. DOC will notify the recipient for information on the process for
requesting a waiver from these requirements. 1) When DOC has made a determination that
one of the following exceptions applies, the awarding official may waive the application of
the domestic content procurement preference in any case in which DOC determines that: a.
applying the domestic content procurement preference would be inconsistent with the
public interest; b. the types of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials
are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of
a satisfactory quality; or c. the inclusion of iron, steel, manufactured products, or
construction materials produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall
project by more than 25 percent. A request to waive the application of the domestic content
procurement preference must be in writing. DOC will provide instructions on the format,
contents, and supporting materials required for any waiver request. Waiver requests are
subject to public comment periods of no less than 15 days and must be reviewed by the
Made in America Office. There may be instances where an award qualifies, in whole or in
part, for an existing waiver described at whitehouse.gov/omb/management/made-in-
america.
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DEFINITIONS. “Construction materials” includes an article, material, or supply—other than
an item of primarily iron or steel; a manufactured product; cement and cementitious
materials; aggregates such as stone, sand, or gravel; or aggregate binding agents or
additives2 —that is or consists primarily of: non-ferrous metals; plastic and polymer-based
products (including polyvinylchloride, composite building materials, and polymers used in
fiber optic cables); glass (including optic glass); lumber; or drywall. “Domestic content
procurement preference’’ means all iron and steel used in the project are produced in the
United States; the manufactured products used in the project are produced in the United
States; or the construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States.
“Infrastructure” includes, at a minimum, the structures, facilities, and equipment for, in the
United States, roads, highways, and bridges; public transportation; dams, ports, harbors,
and other maritime facilities; intercity passenger and freight railroads; freight and
intermodal facilities; airports; water systems, including drinking water and wastewater
systems; electrical transmission facilities and systems; utilities; broadband infrastructure;
and buildings and real property. Infrastructure includes facilities that generate, transport,
and distribute energy. ‘‘Project’’ means the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair
of infrastructure in the United States. -- 1 Excludes cement and cementitious materials,
aggregates such as stone, sand, or gravel, or aggregate binding agents or additives. 2 IIJA, §
70917(c)(1).
C. Reporting
In accordance with 2 CFR 200.328-9 and the terms and conditions of the award, financial
reports are to be submitted semi-annually and performance (technical) reports are to be
submitted semi-annually. Reports are submitted electronically through eRA.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, 31 U.S.C. 6101 note, includes a
requirement for awardees of applicable Federal grants to report information about first-tier
subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards. All awardees of
applicable grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the FFATA Subaward
Reporting System (FSRS) available at https://www.fsrs.gov/ on all subawards over $30,000.
Refer to 2 CFR Part 170.
Program reports should include progress on identified milestones. Unless otherwise specified
by the terms of the award, reports must be submitted electronically through eRA Commons
(https://public.era.nih.gov/commonsplus/home.era).
VII. Agency Contacts
Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR)
Diane Brown, CPO Grants Manager
diane.brown@noaa.gov
NOAA Climate Program Office (R/CP1)
SSMC3, Room 12737
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
VIII. Other Information
None.
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NOAA GMD Budget Narrative Guidance

NOAA Grants Management Division’s Budget Narrative Guidance
All applications must have a detailed budget narrative explaining and justifying the Federal and the non-
Federal expenditures by object class category as listed on SF-424A - Section B (Budget Category) for
non-construction awards (and the SF-424C for construction awards). For clarification and simplicity, it is
best to discuss each expense by object class in the order that they appear on the SF424A. Include
detailed descriptions of all cost justifications (see below for more detail). Additionally, provide any cost
sharing and matching funds in the same level of detail as the Federal funds. The budget narrative
submitted with the application must match the dollar amounts on all required forms. Please explain each
calculation and provide a narrative that supports each budget category (the SF-424 must equal total costs
identified on the SF-424A form which must match the budget narrative).
Costs proposed to NOAA awards must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary to the
supported activity. Refer to 2 CFR §200 for applicable administrative requirements and cost principles.
The SF424 family forms can be accessed at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-
family.html#sortby=1. If your award is for multi-year or multiple year funding, you must provide a budget
and budget justification for each year. Show each year in a separate column on the SF-424A and use a
separate column for listing any match funds. NOAA expects that applicants will ensure that no Federal or
non-Federal grant funds will be expended for in-kind goods or services, for purposes of providing
transportation, travel, and other expenses for any Federal employee.
Personnel
Provide the name of the person in each position (if known), and provide both the annual (for multiyear
awards) and total: salary/amount each position is paid; the percent of time position contributes to this
award; and the number of months the employee is paid. Personnel wages can be found on the Bureau of
Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) website at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/. State
if any positions are vacant at the time, and if so, anticipated hire date. Also, provide a justification and
description of each position (including vacant positions). Relate each position specifically to program
objectives. Personnel cannot exceed 100% of their time on all active projects. Recipient should ensure
the cost of living increase is built into the budget and justified.
The salaries of administrative and clerical staff should normally be treated as indirect (F&A) costs (2 CFR
§200.413c). Direct charging of these costs may be appropriate only if all of the following conditions are
met: (1) Administrative or clerical services are integral to a project or activity; (2) Individuals involved can
be specifically identified with the project or activity; (3) Such costs are explicitly included in the approved
budget or have the prior written approval of the Grants Officer; and (4) The costs are not also recovered
as indirect costs.
Sample Budget
PERSONNEL Total $ _________________
Position Title
& Name Yearly Salary % of Time No. of Months $Amount
PI, Jane Doe [amount] [percent] [amount] [amount]
Project Coordinator, John Doe [amount] [percent] [months] [amount]
Education Specialist, Janet Doe [amount] [percent] [months] [amount]
Administrative Assistant, Jane Doe [amount] [percent] [months] [amount]

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Sample Justification
Project Coordinator - [Name]: This position directs the overall operation of the project; responsible for overseeing the
implementation of project activities, coordination with other agencies, development of materials, provision of in-service and training,
conducting meetings and coordinating with agencies, designs and directs the gathering, tabulating and interpreting of required data,
responsible for overall program evaluation and for staff performance evaluation; and is the responsible authority for ensuring
necessary reports/documentation are submitted to NOAA. This position relates to all program objectives. John Doe will provide 10
months effort for a total of $xx each year for three years (total $xx).
Fringe Benefits
Fringe benefits are usually applicable to direct salaries and wages. Provide the fringe benefit rate used.
Provide both the annual (for multiyear awards) and total. If a fringe benefit rate is not used, show how the
fringe benefits were computed for each position. The budget justification should be reflected in the
budget description. Elements that comprise fringe benefits should be indicated. The fringe rate should be
proportional among the Federal and non-Federal share categories. If a fringe rate is greater than 35%, a
description and breakdown of the benefits must be provided unless a negotiated indirect cost rate
agreement (NICRA) has been provided with that information. If fringe benefits are not computed by using
a percent of salaries, provide a breakdown of how the computation is done. The applicant should not
combine the fringe benefit costs with direct salaries and wages in the personnel category.
Sample Budget
FRINGE BENEFITS Total $ _________________
Project Coordinator - Salary [amount]
Retirement 5% of $35,000 = [amount]
FICA 7.65% of $35,000 = [amount]
Insurance = [amount]
Workman’s Compensation, etc. = [amount]
Total [amount]
Position Title
& Name Yearly Salary % Rate $ Amount
Project Coordinator, John Doe [amount] [percent] [amount]
Education Specialist, Janet Doe [amount] [percent] [amount]
Project Assistant, Grad student [amount] [percent] [amount]
Administrative Assistant, Jane Doe [amount] [percent] [amount]
Sample Justification
The fringe benefit rate for full-time employees for years one and two is calculated at 33%. The fringe rate for the student is
calculated at 7%. For years three and four, the fringe rate is anticipated to increase to 34% for employees and remain at 7% for
graduate students.
Travel
Provide both the annual (for multiyear awards) and total for domestic and foreign travel.

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● Domestic Travel: Domestic travel includes travel within and between the U.S., the
commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Island,
and the territories and possessions of the United States. Provide a narrative justification
describing the travel staff will perform. List origin and destination, number of trips planned, who
will be making the trip, purpose of travel and how it relates to the scope of work, and approximate
dates. If mileage is to be paid, provide number of miles and the cost per mile. If travel is by air,
show cost of airfare and proposed airline (if known). If per diem/lodging is to be paid, indicate
number of days and the amount for each day’s per diem and the number of nights and the
amount for each night’s lodging. Include any ground transportation when applicable. Total each
trip planned.
● Foreign Travel: Travel outside the areas specified above is considered foreign travel. Provide a
narrative justification describing the same information as above. Follow above format. Certify
compliance with the Fly America Act. The Fly America Act limits the use of foreign flag carriers to
foreign travel. A waiver is only allowed for specific instances and will require prior approval. See
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103191 for more information.
Dollars requested in the travel category should be for staff travel only. Travel for consultants
should be shown in the consultant category along with the consultant’s fee. Travel for training
participants, advisory committees, review panels and etc., should be itemized the same way as
indicated above and placed in the “other” category. Travel should include: origin and destination,
estimated costs and type of transportation, number of travelers, related lodging and per diem
costs, brief description of the travel involved, its purpose, and explanation of how the proposed
travel is necessary for successful completion of the project.
If travel details are unknown, then the basis for proposed costs should be explained (i.e., historical
information). Travel costs can be charged on an actual basis, on a per diem or mileage basis in lieu of
actual costs incurred, or a combination of the two if applied consistently and results in reasonable
charges. Travel support for dependents of key project personnel may be requested only when the travel
is for a duration of six months or more either by inclusion in the approved budget or with the prior written
approval of the Grants Officer (2 CFR §200.474(c)(2)), and consistent with the non-Federal entity's written
travel reimbursement policies.
Sample Budget
TRAVEL - DOMESTIC Total $ _________________
Domestic Travel:
1 trip x 1 person @ $800 airfare = [amount]
2 days per diem x $37/day x 2 people = [amount]
1 night’s lodging x $67/night x 2 people = [amount]
Ground transportation 1 person = _ [amount]
Total [amount]
Sample Justification
The Project Coordinator and the Education Specialist will travel to [event location] to provide training at the “Train the Trainers”
workshop being held [date]. They will both travel from [origin] to [destination], and take ground transportation from the airport to the
event/hotel.

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Sample Budget
TRAVEL - FOREIGN Total $ _________________
Foreign Travel:
1 trip x 1 person @ $800 airfare = [amount]
3 days per diem x $45/day x 1 person = [amount]
2 nights lodging x $88/night x 1 person = [amount]
Ground transportation 1 person = [amount]
Total [amount]
Sample Justification
Project Coordinator will travel from [origin] to [destination] on [travel dates] to present research at the Sea Grant Annual Meeting.
The event will be held on [meeting date]. Traveler is requesting lodging for two nights and is requesting per diem for travel days.
Ground transportation is requested. Traveler will comply with the Fly America Act.
Equipment
Provide justification for the use of each item and relate them to specific program objectives. Provide both
the annual (for multiyear awards) and total for equipment. Equipment is defined as an article of tangible
personal property that has a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals
or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the non-Federal entity for financial
statement purposes, or $5,000. A recipient organization may classify equipment at a lower dollar value
but cannot classify it higher than $5,000. For example, a state may classify their equipment at $1,000 with
a useful life of a year.
It is recommended that applicant’s internal policies for equipment are provided in this section in order to
avoid requests by NOAA for closeout documents and delays during the closeout period.
General use of equipment (i.e., computers, faxes, etc.) must be used 100% for the proposed project if
charged directly to the grant. Maintenance fees for equipment should be shown in the “other” category.
Non-Federal entities should conduct a lease versus purchase analysis to determine best value. General
purpose equipment such as office equipment and furnishings, and information technology equipment and
systems are typically not eligible for direct cost support (2 CFR §200.439).
Provide objective-related justification for all equipment items after the detailed budget. The source for
determining the budget price for each unit of equipment should be included in the justification.
Sample Budget
EQUIPMENT Total $ _________________
[Item] = [amount]
[Item] = [amount]
[Item] = [amount]
Total [amount]
Sample Justification
Equipment costs of [$ amount] is requested for modified gill nets (1x$20,000), anchors (2x$6,000), floating and acoustic transmitters
and receivers (4x$10,000). The gill nets will be used for [description]. The anchors are needed for [description]. The transmitters and
receivers will be used for [description].

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Supplies
List by supply item. An explanation is necessary for supplies costing more than $5,000, or five percent of
the award, whichever is greater. Show unit cost of each item, number needed, and total amount. Provide
both the annual (for multiyear awards) and total for supplies. Provide justification of the supply items and
relate them to specific program objectives. It is recommended that when training materials are kept on
hand as a supply item, that it be included in the “supplies” category. When training materials (pamphlets,
notebooks, videos, and other various handouts) are ordered for specific training activities, these items
should be itemized and shown in the “other” category. If appropriate, general office supplies may be
shown by an estimated amount per month multiplied by the number of months in the budget period.
Requirements for supplies which exceed the thresholds: explain the type of supplies to be purchased, or
nature of the expense in the budget narrative; provide a breakdown of supplies by quantity and cost per
unit if known; and indicate basis for estimate of supplies, i.e., historical use on similar projects.
Sample Budget
SUPPLIES Total $ _________________
General office supplies (pens, pencils, paper, etc.)
Lab supplies (developing chemicals, petri dishes, etc.)
12 months x $100/month = [amount]
2,000 pamphlets entitled [name] x $.58 ea. = [amount]
Sample Justification
General office supplies will be used by staff to carry out daily activities of the program. Pamphlets will be kept in stock and
distributed to schools as needed upon request. Supplies relate to (describe how pamphlets relate to objectives).
Contractual
It is encouraged that applicants provide separate budgets for each contract, but necessary for each
substantial contract, to determine whether proposed costs are reasonable, necessary, allowable, and
allocable. Describe products or services to be obtained and indicate the applicability or necessity of each
to the project. Provide both the annual (for multiyear awards) and total for contractual. Do not incorporate
contractual indirect costs under the indirect costs line item for the applicant/grantee on the SF-424A or
budget narrative. A contract means a legal instrument by which a non-Federal entity purchases goods or
services needed to carry out the project or program under a Federal award, per §200.22.
Procurement standards are identified in §200.317-200.326. Procurement transactions must be conducted
in a manner providing full and open competition consistent with the standards identified in §200.319.
Sample Budget
CONTRACTUAL Total $ _________________
Name of Organization
Performance Period
Description of Activities
If requested, the non-Federal entity must provide technical specifications on proposed procurements per §200.324.

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Sample Justification
Contractual costs of [$ amount] is requested for the university to execute a contract with TBD, competed competitively, for [$
amount] to develop and deploy satellite tags on North Atlantic right whales for 2016 (one year). Expenses will include: (1) personnel
and fringe for a technician to implement tag development and testing during Year 1, (2) expenses TBD to travel to Seattle, WA to
meet with XX computers engineers to develop a GPS-linked satellite tag, (3) travel for TBD to the Southeast U.S. to lead tag
deployments in 2015 and 2016, and (4) tagging supplies (satellite tags, tag darts, measurement electronics for tag testing, other tag
testing supplies). TBD will report to the university quarterly to ensure progress. [Attach itemized budget.]
Construction
Construction activity is allowable only when program legislation includes specific authority for construction
and/or when the DOC operating unit specifically authorizes such activity. Activities under an award are
considered construction when the major purpose of the award is construction as defined in this chapter.
In contrast, alteration of facilities incidental to a non-construction purpose is not considered construction
under this chapter.
Most Federal programs do not allow construction costs, and those that do typically have detailed
instructions describing how to figure construction costs. Estimated construction costs must be supported
by documentation including drawings and estimates, formal bids, etc. As with all other costs, follow the
specific requirements of the program, the terms and conditions of the award, and applicable regulations.
Whereas non-construction awards use the SF-424A form; construction awards must use the SF-424C
form. Detail provided should include: administrative and legal expenses; land, structures, rights-of-way,
appraisals, etc.; relocation expenses and payments; architectural and engineering fees, project inspection
fees; site work; demolition and removal; equipment; contingencies; and program income.
Other
This category contains both subawards and other items not included in the previous categories.
● Subawards. It is encouraged that applicants provide separate budgets for each subaward, but
necessary for each substantial subaward, to determine whether proposed costs are reasonable,
necessary, allowable, and allocable. Indicate the applicability or necessity of each subaward to
the project. A subaward is an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the
subrecipient to carry out part of a Federal award, including a portion of the scope of work or
objectives. A pass-through entity is a non-Federal entity that provides a subaward to a
subrecipient to carry out part of a Federal program. Do not incorporate indirect costs incurred by
subawards under the indirect costs line item for the applicant/grantee on the SF-424A or budget
narrative. (It is recommended that subawards fall under the other section; however, the applicant
may opt to categorize subawards under the contractual. The applicant should be clear in the
different regulations/requirements between contracts and subawards.)
● Other. List items by type of material or nature of expense, break down costs by quantity and cost
per unit if applicable, state the necessity of other costs for successful completion of the project
and exclude unallowable costs (i.e., alcohol, fundraising, meals and coffee breaks). Provide both
the annual (for multiyear awards) and total for other. Give justification for all the items in the
“other” category (e.g., separate justification for printing, telephone, postage, rent, etc.). All costs
associated with training activities should be placed in the “other” category except costs for

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consultant and/or contractual. List all expenses anticipated for the training activity in the format
above. Include rental space for training (if required), training materials, speaker fees, substitute
teacher fees, and any other applicable expenses related to the training. Allowable conference
costs paid by the non-Federal entity as a sponsor or host of the conference may include rental of
facilities, speakers' fees, costs of meals and refreshments, local transportation, and other items
incidental to such conferences unless further restricted by the terms and conditions of the Federal
award. As needed, the costs of identifying, but not providing, locally available dependent-care
resources are allowable. Conference hosts/sponsors must exercise discretion and judgment in
ensuring that conference costs are appropriate, necessary and managed in a manner that
minimizes costs to the Federal award (2 CFR Part 200.432). Furthermore, if such costs are
unallowable by the recipient, they cannot be charged solely to the Federal award.
Total Direct Charges
Show total direct costs by listing totals of each category.
Sample Budget Total $ _________________
A. Personnel [amount]
B. Fringe [amount]
C. Travel [amount]
D. Equipment [amount]
E. Supplies [amount]
F. Contractual [amount]
G. Construction [amount]
H. Other [amount]
Total Direct Costs [amount]
Indirect Charges
Indirect costs are those costs incurred for common or joint objectives which cannot be readily identified
with an individual project or program but are necessary to the operations of the organization. The
following types of indirect cost rates apply:
● Fixed. Established for a future period based on estimates of costs for that period. They are
subject to adjustments using a "carry forward" method. Although there is no adjustment of the
rate for the current year, the difference between the estimated rate and the actual rate is carried
forward in establishing the rate for a subsequent period.
● Provisional. Temporarily established for an award to permit funding and reporting of indirect
costs pending the establishment of a final rate. Billings and charges to contracts and grants must
be adjusted if the final rate varies from the provisional rate.
● Pre-determined. Established for a future period on an estimate of costs for that period. This type
of rate is not subject to subsequent adjustments. It is used only where cost experience is such
that the actual indirect cost can be accurately predicted.

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Recipients can receive a one-time extension of up to four years on their existing rate. Please refer to the
DOC Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions and the 2 CFR 200 for more information about
indirect costs and facilities and administrative costs, including more information regarding pre-determined,
provisional, and fixed rates.
Provide the most recent negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) with the itemized budget. The
applicable indirect cost rate(s) negotiated by the organization with the cognizant negotiating agency must
be used in computing indirect costs (F&A) for a proposal (2 CFR §200.414). The amount for indirect costs
should be calculated by applying the current negotiated indirect cost rate(s) to the approved base(s). If a
recent NICRA is not in the application package, and is not filed in the organization profile, the grants
specialist should first search the HHS Rate Agreement Distribution System (RADS) at
https://rates.psc.gov/dcaweb/ prior to reaching out to the recipient. If the Grants Specialist is unable to
obtain a recent NICRA from RADS and the applicant, the Grants Specialist, as a last resort, can include a
special award condition on the award for the applicant to submit a Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate
schedule within 90 days.
Any non-Federal entity that has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, except for those non-
Federal entities described in Appendix VII to Part 200—States and Local Government and Indian Tribe
Indirect Cost Proposals, paragraph (d)(1)(B) may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified
total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. Foreign grantees that do not have a negotiated
indirect cost rate may also elect to charge the de minimis rate limited to an indirect cost rate recovery of
10% of modified total direct costs, and foreign grantees that have a negotiated rate agreement with a U.S.
Federal agency may recover indirect costs at the current negotiated rate.
(Only mandatory cost sharing or cost sharing specifically committed in the project budget must be
included in the organized research base for computing the indirect (F&A) cost rate or reflected in any
allocation of indirect costs.)
Sample Budget
INDIRECT COSTS Total $ _________________
The rate is _______ % and is computed on the following direct cost base $ ________.
Personnel
Fringe
Travel
Supplies
Other
Total
Multiplied by Indirect Cost Rate _____ %
Total Indirect Costs [amount]
Totals - Direct and Indirect Charges
Provide the total combined direct and indirect costs budgeted.

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Cost Share or Match
If a non-Federal cost share or match is required for this award, demonstrate it meets the matching
requirements. Provide sources of the match and provide adequate documentation for in-kind match. The
match should provide the same level of detail as the Federal share outlined in this guidance; therefore, it
should be broken down by object class category (personnel, fringe, travel, equipment, supplies,
contractual, other, indirect costs, etc.) The non-Federal share is subject to the same regulations as the
Federal share. If the recipient cannot meet the cost share/match stated in its application, the Federal
award should be reduced by the same percentage. (See reference under “Indirect Charges” regarding
cost sharing and indirect (F&A) cost rate computation.)
This document was last updated May 24, 2017 and is subject to change.