Proposal Submission Guidance for Applicants
Applying for federal funding can be a complex process. We hope the information below helps you prepare a strong proposal and prepare for the requirements you will need to meet if you are successful. Many of these documents are referenced in our Federal Funding Opportunities (Requests for Proposals) posted on Grants.gov.
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is your place to find and apply for federal grants. This is a government-wide website for grantees to find and apply to federal grant opportunities. All open NOAA Marine Debris Program grants are advertised on Grants.gov. NOAA does not administer the Grants.gov system. We can provide assistance in the application process however any technical issues or questions should be addressed to the Grants.gov Helpdesk staff at
- Grants.gov
Search, apply, and track your grant applications here. - Grants.gov Organization Registration Checklist
The checklist provides registration guidance for Grants.gov. Registration is a one-time process, and is required before the Authorized Representative(s) of an organization can submit a grant application electronically through the Grants.gov system. The registration process can take several weeks depending on your organization. Problems or issues related to Grants.gov registration may prevent the timely submission of an application, as such please plan accordingly and register early. - Track My Application
This page allows you to track and check the status of your application. Please note that once your application is validated by Grants.gov, it is sent over to NOAA for review and this process tracker will not show further updates.
NOTE: All applicants MUST follow the guidance on file naming conventions. To avoid submission issues, please follow the guidance provided in the Applicant FAQs. File attachment names longer than approximately 50 characters can cause problems processing packages. Please limit file attachment names. Also, do not use any special characters (example: &, ¿, *, %, /, #, -); this includes periods (.) and spacing followed by a dash in the file. For word separation, use underscore (example: Attached_File.pdf) in naming the attachments. Please note that if these guidelines are not followed, your application may be rejected.
SAM.gov
The System for Award Management is a consolidation of all government-wide acquisition and award support systems. Registration with the SAM.gov system is required in order to be eligible to submit via Grants.gov, and to be a recipient of federal funds (see link below). We recommend that as soon as you are sure you are going to apply for a NOAA grant, you begin your organization’s registration process in SAM.gov, as it may take several weeks to complete. Problems or issues related to SAM.gov registration may prevent the timely submission of an application, as such please plan accordingly and register early.
- Quick Start Guide for New Grantee Registration
Search, apply, and track your grant applications here.
FY22 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Applicant Webinar Resources
- FY22 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) Grant Applicant Webinar
- Grant Applicant Webinar Slides
- Grant Applicant Webinar Questions and Answers
NOFO Guidance:
The NOAA Marine Debris Program has compiled the following guidelines for applicants applying to the FY22 Marine Debris Removal grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
- FY22 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Notice of Funding Opportunity Guidance Document
- FY22 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Evaluation Criteria Table
Application Guidance and Templates:
Samples of common documents required in grant applications, including guidance on putting together a thorough budget. A well-thought out and well-presented budget is critical to communicating the activities and goals of your project. We encourage you to utilize the below information in crafting your proposal budget.
- Budget Narrative Guidance
- SF424A How-to-Guide
- Grant Applicant Cost-sharing Guidance
- Community Engagement for Removal Projects Guidance
- Letter of Support/Commitment Guidance
- FY22 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Priority 1 Project Narrative Template
- FY22 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Priority 2 Project Narrative Template
Data Management:
As part of the application process to the NOAA Marine Debris Program, applicants are required to develop (and submit with their application) a Data Management Plan that describes how the public can access data generated by NOAA-funded activities.
Marine Debris Prevention Guidance:
The NOAA Marine Debris Program has compiled the following guidelines to keep in mind when developing behavior change/Marine Debris Prevention Grant proposals:
Terms and Conditions:
Below are examples of some of the Terms and Conditions that must be adhered to in order to receive federal financial assistance from NOAA Marine Debris Program. Please note these are provided as examples and the terms and conditions placed on a NOAA award may differ from those indicated here.
