This funding competition invites applications that propose to identify, track, understand, or predict trends and variability in the Gulf of Mexico’s living coastal and marine resources and the processes driving them. Applicants must propose work that addresses this priority in one or more of these areas of emphasis: 1) exploring trends in multiple species, 2) investigating the link between weather or climate and trends, and 3) examining the relationship between trends and economic activity.

Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education; non-profit institutions; local, state, and tribal governments; for-profit organizations; and U.S. territories and federal agencies that possess the statutory authority to accept funding for this type of work. The lead applicant must be from a U.S.-based entity. Applicants from federal agencies are required to have a co-investigator from at least one non-NOAA entity and it is strongly encouraged that the co-investigator(s) be from a non-federal eligible entity.

NOAA is making approximately $15 million available now through this competition to fund approximately six projects for five years. An additional $15 million will be available for five year non-competitive renewals for high performing projects (full announcement). Applications are due October 29, 2018.