OpportunityTitle: NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Program 2012
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: Institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, commercial organizations, State, local and Indian tribal governments and individuals are eligible. Federal agencies and their personnel are not permitted to receive federal funding under this competition; however, federal scientists can serve as uncompensated partners or co-Principal Investigators on research proposals.  Directors of the state Sea Grant Programs are not eligible to compete for funds under this announcement, although for administrative purposes, they will be considered to be the Principal Investigator for all awards made to their state programs.
Description: Depending on the availability of funds, NOAA expects to have approximately $3,200,000 available for a national competition to fund marine aquaculture research projects for FY 2012. This is part of the overall plan to support the development of environmentally and economically sustainable ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes aquaculture. Aquaculture that occurs in the Great Lakes or its coastal zone is considered marine aquaculture for this competition. Priorities for this FY 2012 competition include: Research to inform specific regulatory decisions; Research that supports multi-use spatial planning; and Socio-economic research targeted to understand aquaculture in a larger context. Proposals must be able to express how the proposed work will have a high probability of significantly advancing U.S. marine aquaculture development in the short-term (1-2 years) or medium-term (3-5 years). This Federal Funding Opportunity includes information on application and criteria for aquaculture research projects requesting a total of $50,000 to $500,000 in federal funding for up to a two-year period. Matching funds are required. Given the anticipated amount of funding and the anticipated number and quality of proposals submitted, it is anticipated that at least seven projects will be awarded in FY 2012. Additional proposals from this competition may be selected for funding in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds. Ideally, awards are anticipated to start no later than September 1, 2012.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: For application download issues only.
GrantorContactText: Steve Drescher &lt;br/&gt;Policy Advisor &lt;br/&gt;
CloseDateExplanation: The deadline for receipt of preproposals via electronic mail at the National Sea Grant Office is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 7, 2012.  By March 9, 2012, applicants should receive a summary statement that includes whether their preproposal is likely to fare well (&quot;encouraged&quot;) or poorly (&quot;discouraged&quot;) as a submitted full proposal. Only those who submit preproposals that meet the deadline, are responsive to this Federal Funding Opportunity, and meet all other requirements of this notice are eligible to submit full proposals.  Full proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 17, 2012.  State Sea Grant Programs must forward applications unchanged to Grants.gov by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 9, 2012.  Applications received after the closing dates and times will not be accepted.