The NOAA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY2025 aims to support Sea Grant Programs focused on legal, regulatory, and policy issues relevant to U.S. coastal and Great Lakes aquaculture. With a total funding availability of approximately $500,000, eligible applicants can request between $100,000 and $250,000 for research projects spanning three years, commencing on September 1, 2025. Proposals should emphasize collaboration with Sea Grant extension personnel and address topics such as regulatory compliance, disaster resilience, and science-based management strategies.
Eligibility is limited to Sea Grant College, Institutional, and Coherent Area Programs, with a requirement for at least a 50% non-federal match. Applications must fulfill various submission criteria, including maintaining registrations with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. The deadline for full proposals is February 26, 2025. The review criteria consider the relevance, technical merit, anticipated outcomes, outreach strategies, and qualifications of the applicants. Successful projects will enhance the ability of the aquaculture community to navigate legal and regulatory challenges while promoting sustainable practices in the industry.
The NOAA Grants Management Division's Budget Narrative Guidance outlines requirements for submitting detailed budget narratives with federal grant applications. Applicants must provide a comprehensive justification of federal and non-federal expenditures, matching the amounts on forms SF-424A and SF-424C. Costs must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary, adhering to 2 CFR §200 for administrative requirements. Budgets must present personnel details—including names, salaries, and the relationship of positions to program objectives—alongside explicit breakdowns of fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, and contractual expenses.
Each category requires specific justifications relating to project goals, with the expectation that all costs, such as administrative staff salaries, be classified appropriately. Special emphasis is placed on ensuring that indirect costs are calculated in compliance with a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), with the option for non-federal entities to charge a de minimis rate if no agreement exists. Additionally, any required cost sharing must be thoroughly documented and justified, matching federal fund details. This structured guidance ensures accountability and transparency in federal grant management and expenditure planning within NOAA's funding programs.