The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is inviting applications for the establishment of two Reef Research Coordination Institutes (RRCIs) through cooperative agreements aimed at enhancing the research, restoration, and management of coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. The selected institutes, designated as the Atlantic and Pacific RRCIs, will operate for an initial five-year period with the possibility of a five-year renewal, focusing on interdisciplinary research, capacity building, and collaboration with local governments and nonprofits. This funding initiative is crucial for addressing the challenges faced by coral reef ecosystems, with an estimated total program funding of $22.5 million and an annual award ceiling of $4.5 million. Interested applicants must submit their proposals by January 31, 2025, and can direct inquiries to Craig Reid at Craig.A.Reid@noaa.gov.

NOAA-NOS-OCM-2025-28920.pdf

The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program is announcing funding opportunities for the establishment of two Reef Research Coordination Institutes (RRCIs) in the U.S.: the Atlantic Reef Research Coordination Institute and the Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute. The selected institutes will engage in research, restoration, and management of coral reef ecosystems for an initial period of five years, with the potential for a five-year renewal. A total of up to $4,500,000 annually is available to support the RRCIs, contingent on funding and project alignment with national priorities.

Eligible applicants include designated coral reef research centers, which must demonstrate capabilities in interdisciplinary research, capacity building, and partnerships with local governments, nonprofits, and other relevant organizations. The application process requires several registrations, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and submissions must be completed by January 31, 2025.

Proposals will be evaluated based on their relevance to coral reef management priorities, technical soundness, qualifications of applicants, budget realism, and outreach effectiveness. NOAA emphasizes collaboration and will participate significantly in funded projects to ensure alignment with coral reef research goals. This funding initiative aligns with federal efforts to enhance resilience and management of coral reef ecosystems in light of environmental challenges.

The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) invites applications for the establishment of two Reef Research Coordination Institutes (RRCIs) through cooperative agreements to support the research, restoration, and management of shallow-water coral reef ecosystems within the U.S. states and territories. The two RRCIs will be to be known as the &#8220;Atlantic Reef Research Coordination Institute&apos;&apos; and the &#8220;Pacific Reef Research Coordination Institute&apos;&apos; and will hold this designation for an initial five (5) year period of performance and may be renewed for up to another five (5) years without competition. Applicants must be previously designated as a Coral Reef Research Center by the CRCP in 2024. The selected RRCIs must be able to work across a variety of areas including conducting research, supporting ecological research and monitoring, building capacity within jurisdictional resource management agencies, translating research findings to management and restoration practices, and conducting public education and awareness programs. Building capacity in the jurisdictions may include a variety of actions such as supporting personnel, providing training on jurisdictional driven topics, and/or managing a national fellowship program. NOAA CRCP anticipates that up to $4,500,000 may be available annually for distribution between the two RRCIs. The actual annual funding will be based on 1) CRCP annual appropriations, 2) current and future national and state priorities, 3) the quality of projects proposed and selected during the negotiations, and 4) the satisfactory progress in achieving the stated goals described in project proposals. 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 effective 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.

For administrative or technical questions regarding this announcement, contact the competition manager:  &lt;br/&gt;Craig Reid  &lt;br/&gt;NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Grant Coordinator 1305 East-West Highway, SSMC4, 10th floor,  &lt;br/&gt;Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone 202-240-7382&#8236;, or email &lt;Craig.A.Reid@noaa.gov&gt;. &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;Applicants with questions about the All Islands Committee Executive Director position may contact Craig Reid, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Grant Coordinator &lt;Craig.A.Reid@noaa.gov&gt;. &lt;br/&gt; &lt;br/&gt;Applicants with questions about the Susan L. Williams Coral Reef Management Fellowship program may contact the NOAA National Coral Reef Fellowship Coordinator, John Tomczuk &lt;John.Tomczuk@noaa.gov&gt;.

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