Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2024 23706
The FY2024-2025 National Sea Grant BIL Marine Debris Challenge Competition is a NOAA Sea Grant funding opportunity designed to move beyond studying marine debris and instead push practical, real-world solutions into use. Run through the National Sea Grant College Program under NOAA, this competition supports work that improves understanding and management of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, consistent with Sea Grant's authorizing statute (33 USC 1121(b)). The focus here is marine debris as defined in federal regulation (15 C.F.R. 909.1): persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and ends up in marine or Great Lakes environments, whether intentionally or not. That includes a wide range of debris types, such as plastic waste and trash, derelict vessels, lost or abandoned fishing gear, and microplastics. The opportunity is framed around the scale of the plastics problem in particular, noting that the United States is a leading generator of plastic waste and that mismanaged waste can leak into waterways and eventually into coastal and marine systems.
The funding is supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also referred to as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, IIJA), which directed $50 million over five years to Sea Grant specifically for marine debris prevention and removal. While plastics are a central concern, NOAA makes clear that other debris types can be addressed as appropriate, and that this Sea Grant effort is meant to complement NOAA's broader work, especially the National Ocean Service Marine Debris Program, which is heavily oriented toward removal, cleanup, mitigation, and prevention. A core expectation is that individual Sea Grant programs prioritize local needs and develop research-driven solutions that explicitly incorporate historically underserved communities, aligning with Executive Order 13985's emphasis on equity in federal programs.
What sets this competition apart is its emphasis on "research to application" (R2A). NOAA is looking for projects that take research and turn it into tangible outputs that can be deployed, adopted, or scaled, rather than stopping at academic findings. The solicitation encourages big ideas and calculated risk-taking, but it draws a firm line around deliverables: proposals may include planning or capacity-building components, yet they must be paired with implementation, and the endpoint cannot be only non-tangible products such as journal articles or general awareness and training efforts. Competitive proposals are expected to show, in a concrete way, how the work will produce new, effective deliverables that change what is possible for marine debris prevention and/or removal, and then communicate those outputs to communities, stakeholders, and industry to close real gaps in practice.
The types of projects NOAA invites include, but are not limited to, novel or not-yet-proven interception and removal technologies (for example, prototype devices that still require research and development before full deployment, or devices that need testing in new environments), reusable systems that prevent waste from becoming debris in the first place, and improved approaches for detecting and mitigating microplastics and nanoplastics. The overall intent is practical innovation that can be demonstrated, evaluated, and positioned for broader adoption. The competition also expects strong partnerships: projects should include Sea Grant education and extension professionals and bring together a diverse coalition that can include community representatives, stakeholder groups, and industry collaborators. Beyond partnership structure, proposals are expected to proactively apply diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility principles throughout the work, not as an add-on but as a built-in part of planning, implementation, and engagement.
Award recipients will be expected to participate in annual National Sea Grant Marine Debris meetings. These meetings function as a coordination and learning mechanism where funded teams share results, troubleshoot challenges, synthesize what is being learned across projects, and map next steps. In other words, NOAA is not only funding individual projects, but also trying to build a connected portfolio of applied solutions that can mature over time.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NOAA opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA OAR SG 2024 23706) using grant and cooperative agreement instruments, tied to CFDA 11.417 and categorized under IIJA/BIL activities. The posted award ceiling is $3,000,000, with an anticipated 12 awards. The opportunity was created on September 13, 2023, and the original closing date was March 27, 2024. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full notice, which typically means applicants should closely check the detailed eligibility language to confirm whether they must apply through or in partnership with Sea Grant institutions or other specific entities.
Finally, the competition strongly favors proposals that bring additional resources to the table. Cost sharing, leveraged funds, and in-kind contributions are explicitly described as making projects more competitive, and NOAA notes that leveraging is considered in the evaluation criteria. Applicants are encouraged to combine federal support with matching and informal leverage from a range of public and private sources, reinforcing the program's overall theme: build partnerships, produce deployable solutions, and accelerate meaningful on-the-ground change in marine debris prevention and removal.Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2024 23706
- The Department of Commerce, DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2024-2025 National Sea Grant BIL Marine Debris Challenge Competition" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.417.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 13, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 27, 2024. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: FY2024-2025 National Sea Grant BIL Marine Debris Challenge Competition
What is the FY2024-2025 National Sea Grant BIL Marine Debris Challenge Competition?
It is a NOAA Sea Grant funding opportunity focused on moving beyond studying marine debris and into deploying practical, real-world solutions. The competition is run through the National Sea Grant College Program and supports work that improves understanding and management of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, consistent with Sea Grant's authorizing statute (33 USC 1121(b)).
Which federal agency and program are sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is sponsored by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) through the National Sea Grant College Program.
What problem area is this competition focused on?
The core focus is marine debris, with particular emphasis on the plastics problem. The notice highlights that the United States is a leading generator of plastic waste and that mismanaged waste can enter waterways and eventually reach coastal and marine systems. NOAA also indicates that other debris types may be addressed as appropriate.
How does this opportunity define "marine debris"?
Marine debris is defined using federal regulation (15 C.F.R. 909.1) as persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and ends up in marine or Great Lakes environments, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
What types of debris are included under the definition?
Examples mentioned include plastic waste and trash, derelict vessels, lost or abandoned fishing gear, and microplastics (and the opportunity also references nanoplastics in the context of detection and mitigation approaches).
What is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL/IIJA) connection?
Funding is supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, IIJA). The law directed $50 million over five years to Sea Grant specifically for marine debris prevention and removal.
How does this competition relate to NOAA's broader marine debris work?
This Sea Grant effort is intended to complement NOAA's broader work, especially the National Ocean Service Marine Debris Program, which is described as being heavily oriented toward removal, cleanup, mitigation, and prevention.
What makes this competition different from a typical research grant?
The defining feature is its emphasis on "research to application" (R2A). NOAA is looking for projects that convert research into tangible outputs that can be deployed, adopted, or scaled, rather than stopping at academic findings.
What does "research to application (R2A)" mean in this solicitation?
R2A means the project should produce concrete deliverables that change what is possible for marine debris prevention and/or removal, and then communicate those outputs to communities, stakeholders, and industry so the work closes real gaps in practice.
Are planning or capacity-building activities allowed?
Yes. Proposals may include planning or capacity-building components, but they must be paired with implementation. The endpoint cannot be only planning or other non-implementation activities.
Are journal articles, general awareness campaigns, or training-only projects sufficient deliverables?
No. The solicitation draws a clear line that the endpoint cannot be only non-tangible products such as journal articles or general awareness and training efforts. Competitive proposals are expected to produce tangible, deployable outputs.
What kinds of projects does NOAA encourage under this competition?
Examples listed include: novel or not-yet-proven interception and removal technologies (including prototypes that still require research and development or devices needing testing in new environments), reusable systems that prevent waste from becoming debris, and improved approaches for detecting and mitigating microplastics and nanoplastics.
Does NOAA allow higher-risk or experimental approaches?
The solicitation encourages big ideas and calculated risk-taking, while still requiring clear, tangible deliverables and implementation-oriented outcomes.
What are NOAA's expectations around partnerships and collaboration?
The competition expects strong partnerships, including participation by Sea Grant education and extension professionals. Proposals are expected to bring together a diverse coalition that may include community representatives, stakeholder groups, and industry collaborators.
How important are equity and underserved communities in this competition?
Incorporating historically underserved communities is an explicit expectation. The opportunity aligns with Executive Order 13985 and calls for diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility principles to be applied proactively throughout planning, implementation, and engagement (not treated as an add-on).
Are awardees required to participate in meetings or shared program activities?
Yes. Award recipients are expected to participate in annual National Sea Grant Marine Debris meetings to share results, troubleshoot challenges, synthesize learning across projects, and map next steps as part of a connected portfolio of applied solutions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA OAR SG 2024 23706.
What assistance listing or program identifier is associated with this opportunity?
It is tied to CFDA 11.417 and categorized under IIJA/BIL activities.
What funding instruments will NOAA use for awards?
The solicitation indicates NOAA will use grant and cooperative agreement instruments.
What is the maximum award amount?
The posted award ceiling is $3,000,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates 12 awards.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on September 13, 2023. The original closing date was March 27, 2024.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full notice. Based on the provided summary, applicants should closely review the detailed eligibility language in the full announcement to confirm whether they must apply through or in partnership with Sea Grant institutions or other specific entities.
Does this competition favor projects that bring matching funds or other non-federal resources?
Yes. Cost sharing, leveraged funds, and in-kind contributions are explicitly described as making projects more competitive, and NOAA notes that leveraging is considered in the evaluation criteria.
What kinds of non-federal support can strengthen an application?
The solicitation encourages combining federal support with matching and informal leverage from a range of public and private sources, including in-kind contributions.
What is the overarching goal NOAA is trying to achieve through this competition?
The overarching goal is to build partnerships and accelerate meaningful on-the-ground change by producing deployable solutions for marine debris prevention and/or removal, then communicating those practical outputs to communities, stakeholders, and industry to drive adoption and scaling.
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