Special Edition

FY24 BIL NOFOs (Removal and Interception) are now live!

Dear Caribbean Community,

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce two Fiscal Year 2024 Notices of Funding Opportunity for both Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $28 million across two funding opportunities:

Fiscal Year 2024 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on October 27, 2023, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and an applicant webinar will be offered on September 12, 2023 at 3:00pm Eastern Time. 

The Marine Debris Removal funding opportunity prioritizes the development of large scale marine debris removal projects. These removal projects should focus on large marine debris, including abandoned and derelict vessels, derelict fishing gear, and other debris that is generally unable to be collected by hand. Applicants may submit letters of intent (LOI) from August 28 to October 27, 2023 for this opportunity.

Fiscal Year 2024 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on November 15, 2023, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and an applicant webinar will be offered on September 13, 2023 at 3:00pm Eastern Time. 

The second funding opportunity for Marine Debris Interception Technologies focuses on the installation, monitoring, and maintenance of proven marine debris interception technologies that will capture marine debris at or close to known marine debris sources or pathways. These proven technologies may include litter traps, shoreline removal technologies, booms, skimmers, conveyors, floating collection devices, and other technologies that do not require additional research and development. LOIs can be submitted for this opportunity from August 28 to November 15, 2023.

Priority for both opportunities will be placed on proposals that clearly demonstrate the beneficial impacts the project will have on NOAA trust resources and the surrounding coastal environment or community; incorporate marine debris prevention activities; and support the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion when writing their proposals and performing their work. 

These are two separate funding opportunities, and they have different application requirements. Applicants wishing to compete under both funding opportunities must submit separate applications for each. NOAA expects to fund awards from each competition depending on the merit of submitted proposals. Applicants who submit successful LOIs will be invited to submit a full proposal following the LOI review period. 

The Marine Debris Program will host an applicant webinar for each competition providing an overview of the process and materials required for submitting an LOI. The webinar schedule is as follows:

• Fiscal Year 2024 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on October 27, 2023, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. An applicant webinar will be offered on September 12, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Register for the webinar.

• Fiscal Year 2024 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on November 15, 2023, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. An applicant webinar will be offered on September 13, 2023 at 3:00pm Eastern Time. Register for the webinar. 

For more information on these grant opportunities, please visit the Removal and Interception Technologies opportunities on Grants.gov and the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s website.