Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS NCCOS 2023 2007719
The Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Technical Assistance opportunity is a NOAA grant solicitation run through the National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), and the Competitive Research Program (CRP). ESLR is the current name for a program previously called the Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise (EESLR), shortened in 2020. At its core, this opportunity is about helping coastal communities and managers make better, more defensible decisions about sea level rise, flooding, and climate-driven change by applying established modeling tools to real planning and project needs.
The program emphasizes multidisciplinary work that links physical and biological coastal processes, using integrated models that can test multiple sea level rise and inundation scenarios alongside different management choices. The intent is practical: produce usable information that shows where coasts are vulnerable, where they are resilient, and how different actions (restoration, land management, development constraints, protective infrastructure, or policy shifts) might perform over time. A key detail is that NOAA is not primarily looking to fund brand-new model development here. The solicitation stresses the use of "mature" modeling approaches, meaning the model capability already exists and can deliver what is being requested without major advancement work or extensive new data collection.
A major expected outcome is to support coastal decision makers in building stronger applications to other implementation-focused funding programs, especially the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) and FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. In other words, this NOAA funding is positioned as technical assistance that helps communities and practitioners evaluate and compare the performance of natural infrastructure (like wetlands, dunes, living shorelines) and conventional flood mitigation projects (like floodwalls or drainage improvements), as well as potential policy changes, so they can move forward with better-designed, better-justified projects and planning efforts that are competitive for larger construction or implementation grants elsewhere.
Funding is contingent on FY 2023 appropriations. NOAA anticipated at least $250,000 total being available for the first year across all awards, with 1 to 2 projects funded. Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 to $250,000 per year, with a firm expectation that annual budgets over $250,000 could be rejected. Projects are intended to be relatively short and targeted, not exceeding two years or $500,000 total. The anticipated project start date listed was September 1, 2023, though the announcement notes that a later start in a future fiscal year could occur depending on appropriations.
The opportunity is a discretionary funding announcement under CFDA (now commonly referred to through Assistance Listings) 11.478, and awards may be made as cooperative agreements or other funding instruments. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and local governments; federally recognized tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. This wide eligibility is consistent with the technical assistance nature of the work, where teams often combine modeling expertise, applied science capacity, and local implementation knowledge.
NOAA also signals an expectation that applicants will reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in both proposal design and project execution. The announcement frames diversity as including demographic, experiential, and cognitive diversity; equity as consistent and systematic fair treatment, particularly for underserved communities; and inclusion as creating respectful, collaborative environments with equal access and a sense of belonging. While not presented as a separate funding category, the emphasis indicates that NOAA values projects and partnerships that broaden participation and improve the relevance and accessibility of coastal resilience planning.
On process and submission requirements, applicants were required to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by email to nccos.grant.awards@noaa.gov, and NOAA stated that full proposals would not be considered if an LOI was not submitted by the LOI deadline. Full proposals were to be submitted through Grants.gov, and applicants were encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for any amendments to the announcement. The funding opportunity is identified as "Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Technical Assistance" with opportunity number NOAA NOS NCCOS 2023 2007719, created December 22, 2022, with an original closing date of March 15, 2023, and an award ceiling of $250,000 per year.Apply for NOAA NOS NCCOS 2023 2007719
- The Department of Commerce in the environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Technical Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.478.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 22, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 2023. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Technical Assistance (NOAA)
What is the Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Technical Assistance opportunity?
ESLR is a NOAA grant solicitation focused on providing technical assistance that helps coastal communities and coastal managers make more defensible decisions about sea level rise, flooding, and climate-driven change. The emphasis is on applying established (mature) modeling tools to real planning and project needs.
Which NOAA offices run this opportunity?
The solicitation is run through NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS), the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), and the Competitive Research Program (CRP).
Is ESLR the same program as Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise (EESLR)?
Yes. ESLR is the current name for a program previously called the Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise (EESLR). The program name was shortened in 2020.
What is the core purpose of the program?
The program is intended to generate usable, decision-relevant information about coastal vulnerability and resilience under sea level rise and inundation. It supports practical comparisons of different management options over time so decision makers can better justify and design projects and plans.
What kinds of work does the solicitation emphasize?
The solicitation emphasizes multidisciplinary work that links physical and biological coastal processes and uses integrated models to test multiple sea level rise and inundation scenarios alongside different management choices.
What types of questions or decisions is this funding meant to support?
It is designed to help evaluate where coasts are vulnerable versus resilient, and how different actions might perform over time, including restoration, land management, development constraints, protective infrastructure, and policy shifts.
Does NOAA want applicants to create brand-new models under this opportunity?
No. A key point in the solicitation is that NOAA is not primarily looking to fund major new model development. The focus is on applying "mature" modeling approaches that already exist and can deliver the requested outputs without major advancement work.
What does "mature modeling approaches" mean in this context?
It means the model capability already exists and can be used to produce the needed information without significant new development or extensive new data collection.
How is this opportunity positioned relative to implementation or construction funding?
This NOAA funding is positioned as technical assistance that strengthens project and planning concepts so coastal decision makers can pursue larger implementation-focused funding opportunities later.
Which follow-on funding programs are specifically mentioned as targets for stronger applications?
The solicitation highlights the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) and FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program as key implementation-focused programs that ESLR-supported work can help applicants compete for.
What kinds of solutions can be evaluated with this technical assistance?
The program is framed to support evaluation and comparison of natural infrastructure (such as wetlands, dunes, and living shorelines), conventional flood mitigation projects (such as floodwalls or drainage improvements), and potential policy changes.
What is the total amount of funding NOAA anticipated for the first year?
NOAA anticipated at least $250,000 total being available for the first year across all awards.
How many projects were expected to be funded?
The opportunity anticipated funding 1 to 2 projects.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 to $250,000 per year.
Is there a maximum annual budget allowed?
Yes. The solicitation included a firm expectation that annual budgets over $250,000 could be rejected.
How long can projects last under this opportunity?
Projects are intended to be relatively short and targeted, not exceeding two years.
What is the maximum total project budget across all years?
Projects were not intended to exceed $500,000 total.
Is the funding guaranteed?
No. Funding is contingent on FY 2023 appropriations.
What was the anticipated project start date?
The anticipated project start date listed was September 1, 2023.
Could the start date change?
Yes. The announcement notes a later start in a future fiscal year could occur depending on appropriations.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is under CFDA (Assistance Listings) 11.478.
What type of award instrument might NOAA use?
Awards may be made as cooperative agreements or other funding instruments.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; federally recognized tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Does the solicitation include expectations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)?
Yes. NOAA signals an expectation that applicants reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in proposal design and project execution.
How does the announcement describe diversity, equity, and inclusion?
The announcement frames diversity as including demographic, experiential, and cognitive diversity; equity as consistent and systematic fair treatment (particularly for underserved communities); and inclusion as creating respectful, collaborative environments with equal access and a sense of belonging.
Is DEI described as a separate funding category?
No. It is not presented as a separate funding category, but the emphasis indicates NOAA values projects and partnerships that broaden participation and improve the relevance and accessibility of coastal resilience planning.
Was a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Yes. Applicants were required to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by email.
Where was the LOI submitted?
The LOI was to be emailed to nccos.grant.awards@noaa.gov.
What happens if an applicant does not submit an LOI?
NOAA stated that full proposals would not be considered if an LOI was not submitted by the LOI deadline.
How were full proposals submitted?
Full proposals were to be submitted through Grants.gov.
Should applicants watch for updates or changes to the opportunity?
Yes. Applicants were encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for any amendments to the announcement.
What is the official opportunity title and number?
The opportunity is identified as "Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Technical Assistance" with opportunity number NOAA NOS NCCOS 2023 2007719.
When was this opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on December 22, 2022, and the original closing date was March 15, 2023.
What is the listed award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $250,000 per year.
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