Funding Opportunities

Step1: Before You Apply

Before you apply for a grant, familiarize yourself with http://grants.gov, the registration process and the types of forms you may be required to submit as part of your application package.

What Are the Steps for Applying for Funds through Grants.gov?

What Forms are Reguired to Apply for Funding through Grants.gov?

How Do I Fill Out These Forms?

What are the Steps for Applying for Funds through Grants.gov?

1. Find the grant opportunity you are interested in by using the Grants.gov search interface at http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do .  You can conduct a basic or advanced search.  In a basic search, you can search for information on available grant opportunities using a keyword, funding opportunity number, or a catalog of federal domestic assistance (CFDA) number.  Advanced searches allow you to search by funding opportunity dates, funding activity category, funding instrument type, eligibility, agency name, and any of the basic search parameters.  Grants.gov also allows anyone to register to receive e-mail updates as new grant opportunities are added.  Anyone can also signup to receive e-mail notices of any changes to any specific grant application packages or federal funding opportunity announcements.
   
   
2. Apply for the grant you are interested in by using the Apply for Grants tab. The Apply for Grants feature enables users to apply for competitive federal grant opportunities through a single, unified process.
   
   
3. Download the Grant Application Package and application instructions for the grant you wish to apply for. You will need to enter the Funding Opportunity or the CFDA number to access the application package and instructions. The IOOS CDFA number is 11.012.
   
   
4. Complete the Selected Grant Application Package. Once it has been downloaded, you can complete the application off-line.
   
   
5. Submit the completed Grant Application Package on-line. Once Grants.gov has received your submission, within the next 24 to 48 hours, you should receive two e-mail messages from Grants.gov updating you on the progress of your application. The first e-mail will confirm receipt of your application by the Grants.gov system, and the second will indicate that the application has either been successfully validated by the system prior to transmission to the grantor agency or has been rejected due to errors. After the application has been validated, you will receive another e-mail when the application has been downloaded by the federal agency. If the federal agency assigns an agency-specific tracking number, then you will also receive an email about this application.

What Forms are Reguired to Apply for Funding through Grants.gov?

 All proposals submitted to IOOS under NOAA's Omnibus Notice must include completed forms.  Most forms will be provided on Grants.gov, however, some forms are relevant to only certain organizations.  Refer to the section below on how to complete forms and especially the forms checklist for guidance on which forms your organization must complete.  Forms will be provided in the downloadable “grants application package” found on Grants.gov.  The following list of forms is provided as a reference, however, if you find that there are newer or modified forms a part of the application package on Grants.gov, use those forms versus the versions of the forms referenced below:

• SF-424 – Application and instructions for Federal Assistance (PDF)

• SF-424A – Budget Information (PDF) (OMB version with instructions - content is same as Grants.gov form)

• SF-424B – Assurances (PDF)

• CD-511 – Certifications required by the Department of Commerce (PDF)

• SF-LLL – Disclosure of Lobbying Activity (PDF) – Please remember to submit this form with your proposal ONLY IF your organization is engaged in lobbying activities.

• CD-346 – Applicant for Funding Assistance (PDF) (required only from nonprofit or for profit organizations; universities and state/local government agencies are not required to complete this form).

  
How Do I Fill Out These Forms?

• To help you complete the grants and cooperative agreement application package, we have provided a forms checklist (PDF) that you can refer to as you work on Grants.gov.

• Grant forms can be confusing. This guidance (PDF) will help answer frequently asked questions, address common mistakes made on certain forms, and explain terminology used for budget preparation.

• It is important that the budget information you provide on the SF-424 and SF-424A be consistent with the brief budget information presented in the project narrative and with detailed budget information provided in a budget appendix. Detailed budget information presented in an appendix should, at a minimum, restate and further explain the information presented on form SF-424A.

  Review Checklist (pdf 26kb) - Guidance on how to prepare detailed budget justification
  
  Budget Justification Template (doc, 28kb)

Step 2:Apply for Funding

Once familiar with the basics of http://grants.gov and what may be required as part of a proposal, it is time to apply for funding.

 

What Announcements are Presently Open?

How Do I Apply For Funding?

 

What Announcements are Presently Open?

 

FY2013 Integrated Ocean Observing System Community Modeling to Support the Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) (pdf)

This federal funding opportunity (FFO) notice requests proposals from which NOAA will competitively identify a non-Federal partner that will continue to advance the operation of the U.S. IOOS COMT under a community modeling environment. Specifically, this announcement seeks an applicant that can transition  specific models, tools and techniques from research to operations. When fully implemented, IOOS aims to estimate the past, present and future states of the oceans, coasts and Great Lakes for addressing the societal goals enhancing lives and livelihoods.

This is the Supplemental Information Sheet(pdf) referenced in the COMT FFO.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Now that Congress has voted on the Hurricane Sandy emergency supplemental appropriations bill, is it appropriate to propose Sandy-related work within our response to the COMT FFO?
  • A: No. At this time the program office does not have specific information on how Sandy supplemental funds will be distributed. Proposals will be evaluated by how well the scope of work responds to the FFO using the evaluation criteria. If the work proposed is outside the scope of the FFO, applicants may risk getting a lower score by merit reviewers.
• Q: Assuming the program office may distribute the $7.5 M equally over the multi-year period, can an applicant propose more than $1.5M per year in some years and less in others? 
  • A: Yes. When the program office awards the COMT cooperative agreement, the intention is to award the full amount in annual increments depending on funding availability as appropriations are made each year. If there is a recission in any given year, the program office will require the recipient to revise work plans and budgets to meet the available funding level. However, proposers should be realistic about project needs, time frames and how much the government may be able to fund in any given year. Remember, project cost is one of the evaluation criteria.
• Q: Should applicants team up with a federal operational facility? If, so which one do you recommend?
  • A: You may contact the recipient of the current cooperative agreement or members of the technical advisory group, http://testbed.sura.org/contactuspanel, for input on your ideas. However, the program office may not provide any advice to proposers during an open competition in order to maintain the integrity of the merit review process.
• Q: Does the program office prefer proposals with a large or small number of principal investigators (PI)?
  • A: The number of PIs required is not specified in the FFO.  The proposal should just speak to the items identified in the FFO and it will be evaluated on those merits. The intent of the FFO though, as stated, is to identify "a non-federal partner to that will continue to advance the operation of the U.S. IOOS COMT."

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NOAA's Broad Area Announcement (pdf)

The notice requests proposals for special projects and programs associated with NOAA's strategic plan and mission goals. This BAA is a mechanism to encourage research, education and outreach, innovative projects, or sponsorships that are not addressed through NOAA competitive discretionary programs. It is not a mechanism for awarding Congressionally directed funds. Funds have not yet been appropriated for any proposed activities in this notice. Refer to Section V, Part B (page 11), in the announcement for detailed information on the Review and Selection Process.

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How Do I Apply For Funding?

Grant applications should be submitted electronically using Grants.gov. Applicants without Internet access may submit hard copy application packages if that option is stated in the federal funding opportunity announcement.

Step 3: Post Award Management

Accepting a grant places a huge fiduciary responsibility on a recipient. The following training materials, links and resources are intended to provide some general guidance on grants administration. However, recipients are required to know the terms and conditions applicable to their particular grant. Communicate specific questions and concerns to the federal program officer and grants management specialist listed in the award document.

 

Grants Management Webinar (pdf, 150kB) - Information about the lifecycle of a grant from funding announcement through closeout in an effort to clarify expectations and highlight pitfalls to avoid throughout the process.

Federal Financial Report (SF-425) ) - The FFR, Standard Form (SF) 425 was designed to replace the Financial Status Report (SF269) and the Federal Cash Transactions Report (SF272) with one comprehensive financial reporting form. Guidance on how to use the SF425 is coming soon to the Federal Financial Reports training link in Grants Online.

Source: http://www.ago.noaa.gov/ago/grants/forms.cfm

IOOS Guidance on Performance Progress Reports

Performance progress reports ("progress reports") are necessary to provide U.S.IOOS with information and data regarding the extent to which grant recipients have met their program goals and objectives. Progress reports also allow the program office to anticipate upcoming administrative actions.
IOOS Guidance on Performance Progress Reports, Aug 23, 2012 (pdf)

Links to Grants References and Resources

2 CFR Part 215 (A-110) - Uniform Administrative Requirements (Higher Education, Non-Profits) – Governs the requirements placed on awarding agencies and the grantee with regard to the successful management of federal funds pre-award, post-award and during the close out process: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/circulars/a110/2cfr215-0.pdf

2 CFR Part 230 (A-122) - Cost Principles for Non-Profits -  Establishes the rules for determining what costs are allowable for grants, contracts and other agreements with non-profits: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/fedreg/2005/083105_a122.pdf

2 CFR Parts 220 (A-21) - Cost Principles for Institutions of Higher Education -  Establishes the rules for determining what costs are allowable for grants, contracts and other agreements with colleges and universities: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/fedreg/2005/083105_a21.pdf

Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP) - A mechanism for recipients to draw-down federal funds: http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/grantsonline/Documents/
ASAP_Enrollment_and_Certification.pdf

Circular A-133 - Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations – Sets forth standards for obtaining consistency and uniformity in the administration of grants: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/circulars/a133/a133.pdf

DOC Terms & Conditions - Terms and conditions associated with every grant under DOC: http://oam.eas.commerce.gov/docs/GRANTS/DOC%20STCsMAR08Rev.pdf 

Equipment Disposition - Information and instructions when equipment was purchased with federal funds for the project ( Refer to 2 CFR 215.34(g): http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/circulars/a110/2cfr215-0.pdf

Glossary/Acronyms - Contained within the Grants manual providing a list of commonly used terms and acronyms: http://oam.eas.commerce.gov/docs/Ch3%20Glossary%20%5brevised%20June%202007%5d.pdf

Grants Online Training - Provides a common understanding of the framework for the administration of grants and cooperative agreements within which DOC staff and responsible recipient officials must operate: http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/grantsonline/gol_training.html 

NOAA Administrative Standard Award Conditions - Award conditions associated with every NOAA grant (Updated October 2010): funding_noaa_admin_condtnsoct 2010.pdf