WEBVTT 00:00:22.180 --> 00:00:23.180 Hi, everyone. 00:00:23.180 --> 00:00:24.950 Thank you for joining the webinar today. 00:00:24.950 --> 00:00:31.440 Today, we'll be talking about our fiscal year 2023 NOAA Ocean Exploration Funding Opportunity. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:35.830 The webinar for today will be recorded, and the audience will remain muted throughout 00:00:35.830 --> 00:00:37.140 the webinar. 00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:41.390 We welcome you to ask questions in the question tab, and we will answer them live during the 00:00:41.390 --> 00:00:44.210 question and answer session at the end. 00:00:44.210 --> 00:00:50.850 For more information about our funding opportunity this year, please visit our website at oceanexplorer.NOAA.gov. 00:00:50.850 --> 00:00:55.870 We have details about this website in the chat on the goto webinar panel. 00:00:55.870 --> 00:01:02.730 We have also linked to the Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity 00:01:02.730 --> 00:01:05.170 within the handouts for this Webinar. 00:01:05.170 --> 00:01:10.100 We welcome you to download it, and you can also find it on our website, and on grants.gov. 00:01:10.100 --> 00:01:19.649 My name is Adrienne Copeland and I'm the Program Manager for this Funding Opportunity. 00:01:19.649 --> 00:01:25.390 And I have two people behind the scenes today, helping to make this webinar possible. 00:01:25.390 --> 00:01:30.890 Chrissy Ortiz is the Administrative Specialist for our grants program with NOAA Ocean Exploration, 00:01:30.890 --> 00:01:35.420 and at the end of this webinar, during the question and answer period, she will be reading 00:01:35.420 --> 00:01:37.430 your questions aloud for me to answer. 00:01:37.430 --> 00:01:42.100 We also have Ashley Marranzino, a benthic biologist for our office. 00:01:42.100 --> 00:01:47.350 She will be working to answer your questions as text within the question tab of the goto 00:01:47.350 --> 00:01:48.450 webinar panel. 00:01:48.450 --> 00:01:56.869 During the webinar today, we will give you an introduction to NOAA Ocean Exploration. 00:01:56.869 --> 00:02:03.470 We will discuss our fiscal year 2023 Ocean Exploration Funding Opportunity. 00:02:03.470 --> 00:02:11.210 Discuss the proposal requirements for this year's opportunity, as well as some proposal 00:02:11.210 --> 00:02:12.210 tips. 00:02:12.210 --> 00:02:15.200 Along the bottom of each of the slides, you'll see a running tab that will orient you with 00:02:15.200 --> 00:02:17.410 this agenda. 00:02:17.410 --> 00:02:25.100 So by leading the national efforts to explore our ocean and making ocean exploration more 00:02:25.100 --> 00:02:30.209 accessible, NOAA Ocean Exploration is filling gaps in our basic understanding of the U.S. 00:02:30.209 --> 00:02:32.230 deep waters and the seafloor. 00:02:32.230 --> 00:02:37.030 Providing critical deep ocean data, information, and awareness, needed to sustain and accelerate 00:02:37.030 --> 00:02:42.500 the economy, health, and security of our nation. 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:47.680 NOAA Ocean Exploration priorities are to explore the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:55.040 We focus on areas that are unexplored or under-explored within the U.S. EEZ and in water 200 meters 00:02:55.040 --> 00:03:00.960 and deeper, except when it comes to our maritime heritage priorities, which can happen in shallower 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:02.340 waters. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:10.169 Our main goal of our office is to make the data publicly accessible as soon as possible. 00:03:10.169 --> 00:03:14.330 Our priorities are informed by the National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring and Characterizing 00:03:14.330 --> 00:03:17.209 the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. 00:03:17.209 --> 00:03:23.400 This National Strategy, or NOMEC, defines ocean exploration as providing a multidisciplinary 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:29.340 first look at an unknown or poorly understood area of the seafloor, sub-bottom, and/or water 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:30.340 column. 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:33.549 An initial assessment of an area's physical, chemical and biological characteristics. 00:03:33.549 --> 00:03:40.220 You can see on the right here a schematic of that site exploration, it includes the 00:03:40.220 --> 00:03:45.090 water column, seafloor, and sub-seafloor, and looks at both the biology as well as the 00:03:45.090 --> 00:03:49.970 environment in that area. 00:03:49.970 --> 00:03:54.150 NOAA Ocean Exploration explores using a variety of different mechanisms. 00:03:54.150 --> 00:03:59.010 We have the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer imaged here at the top left, as well as the remotely 00:03:59.010 --> 00:04:04.810 operated vehicle Deep Discoverer, which you can see at the top right. 00:04:04.810 --> 00:04:14.370 Deep Discoverer can sample up to 6000 meters below the surface. 00:04:14.370 --> 00:04:18.620 And we also have other mechanisms, including the NOAA Broad Agency Announcement, cooperative 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:23.810 agreements, contracts, cross agency partnerships, as well as the annual funding opportunity, 00:04:23.810 --> 00:04:28.080 which I'm discussing today. 00:04:28.080 --> 00:04:34.400 As mentioned before, NOAA Ocean Exploration priorities are to explore unexplored or underexplored 00:04:34.400 --> 00:04:36.710 areas within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. 00:04:36.710 --> 00:04:41.979 This is a map of the U.S. EEZ boundaries that are highlighted by the yellow line. 00:04:41.979 --> 00:04:48.280 Within the boundaries, you can see the unmapped areas highlighted in red and pink. 00:04:48.280 --> 00:04:52.840 Light pink are the areas that are 200 meters and greater that are currently unmapped as 00:04:52.840 --> 00:04:54.760 of August, 2021. 00:04:54.760 --> 00:04:59.841 This map is included within our Frequently Asked Questions document on our website, and 00:04:59.841 --> 00:05:04.229 a GIS layer of this map are also provided, so you can download it and see where these 00:05:04.229 --> 00:05:09.770 areas are located. 00:05:09.770 --> 00:05:14.300 For our fiscal year 2023 opportunity, it is open to U.S. 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:20.139 based institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; U.S., territories, state, local, 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:24.860 and tribal governments, and federal agencies that possess the statutory authority to accept 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:28.020 funding for this type of work; as well as for-profit institutions. 00:05:28.020 --> 00:05:36.860 Federal PIs and coPIs should consult the NOPP requirements for this opportunity, which can 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:40.069 be found within the Notice of Funding Opportunity. 00:05:40.069 --> 00:05:43.810 The NOPP requirements include substantial participation 00:05:43.810 --> 00:05:49.169 of one or more federal agencies in addition to NOAA, and participation of at least one 00:05:49.169 --> 00:05:54.740 partner from academic, public, and/or private entities; this can include philanthropic organizations. 00:05:54.740 --> 00:06:03.319 For this year's opportunity, it's focused in waters under U.S. jurisdiction. 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:08.659 We anticipate approximately three million available to fund 4 to 10 awards. 00:06:08.659 --> 00:06:12.810 These awards can be for 1 to 2 year projects. 00:06:12.810 --> 00:06:19.060 And the funding request must range from 75,000 to 750,000. 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:24.969 Any proposals outside this range will be disqualified and not considered for funding. 00:06:24.969 --> 00:06:35.470 This year’s themes include ocean exploration and discovery, maritime heritage, and technology. 00:06:35.470 --> 00:06:39.749 I'm going to go into details on each of these themes. 00:06:39.749 --> 00:06:45.740 For ocean exploration and discovery, it includes exploration of unknown or poorly known ocean 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:52.509 areas, processes, and resources in water deeper than 200 meters. 00:06:52.509 --> 00:06:59.240 These priorities should reference the priorities listed within the National Strategy for Mapping, 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:03.290 Exploring, and Characterizing the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. 00:07:03.290 --> 00:07:07.650 For this year, we have a focus as well on the exploration for, and discovery of, microorganisms, 00:07:07.650 --> 00:07:12.910 sponges, corals, and other organisms in water deeper than 200 meters 00:07:12.910 --> 00:07:17.939 that may have biopharmaceutical or biotechnological potential. 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:22.159 For these proposals, they should reference the NOAA ‘omics strategy, and a link to 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:29.340 this strategy, as well as the National Strategy can be found within our Notice of Funding 00:07:29.340 --> 00:07:30.340 Opportunity. 00:07:30.340 --> 00:07:36.310 For the maritime heritage theme, it is exploration and discovery of significant maritime heritage 00:07:36.310 --> 00:07:41.620 resources that improve historical knowledge and informed decisions concerning preservation, 00:07:41.620 --> 00:07:44.240 management, and potential seafloor use. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:48.080 These can be conducted in any water depth. 00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:52.479 And for this year, the focus is on data and products that would benefit other academic 00:07:52.479 --> 00:08:00.999 and research management disciplines, and the use of autonomous or other innovative technologies. 00:08:00.999 --> 00:08:07.060 So the technology theme is the application of new or novel use of existing ocean technologies, 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:11.820 or innovative methods that could increase the scope and efficiency of acquiring ocean 00:08:11.820 --> 00:08:16.529 exploration data, and expanding availability and use. 00:08:16.529 --> 00:08:21.639 For this year, it must be focused on the development and testing of innovative sensors and systems 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:26.860 that could increase the capabilities of autonomous or remotely operated seagoing systems. 00:08:26.860 --> 00:08:34.990 For this year, the technology must be applicable to water depths greater than 200 meters, preferably 00:08:34.990 --> 00:08:36.729 full ocean depths. 00:08:36.729 --> 00:08:42.900 However, shallow water or lab based testing is acceptable. 00:08:42.900 --> 00:08:47.370 The technology must address at least one of the defined ocean exploration variables, as 00:08:47.370 --> 00:08:52.490 referenced in the “Exploration Variables Identified by NOAA Ocean Exploration” technical 00:08:52.490 --> 00:08:56.560 memorandum, and at least one NOAA science and technology focus area. 00:08:56.560 --> 00:09:02.870 The links to the technical memorandum and the technology focus areas can be found within 00:09:02.870 --> 00:09:05.329 our Notice of Funding Opportunity. 00:09:05.329 --> 00:09:08.290 A timeline for this year’s opportunity. 00:09:08.290 --> 00:09:16.430 Our Notice of Funding Opportunity was published 00:09:16.430 --> 00:09:17.970 March 25th. 00:09:17.970 --> 00:09:25.080 Our deadline for pre-proposal is May 24th at 4:59 pm eastern time. 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:30.149 The pre-proposal is a requirement in order to submit a full proposal. 00:09:30.149 --> 00:09:37.250 Our full proposal deadline is September 29th by 11:59 pm eastern time. 00:09:37.250 --> 00:09:43.380 And we anticipate award notifications for our principal investigators by April 2023. 00:09:43.380 --> 00:09:50.910 With a start date anticipated of September 2023. 00:09:50.910 --> 00:09:56.730 I did want to highlight here the key deadlines for both the pre-proposal and the full proposal 00:09:56.730 --> 00:09:58.980 and the time deadline for both of these. 00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:03.150 Please make sure when submitting the pre-proposal and full proposals that you meet those time 00:10:03.150 --> 00:10:04.150 deadlines. 00:10:04.150 --> 00:10:09.209 Even if you're a minute or two after the deadline, we unfortunately cannot accept the pre-proposal 00:10:09.209 --> 00:10:17.730 or the full proposal. 00:10:17.730 --> 00:10:22.190 All requirements for applying to our funding opportunity can be found within our website 00:10:22.190 --> 00:10:24.740 here (https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/welcome.html). 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:29.001 On our website, you'll find the Notice of Funding Opportunity, which includes the details 00:10:29.001 --> 00:10:31.519 and checklists for this opportunity. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:36.449 You'll find the cover sheet and instructions for how to complete this cover sheet, which 00:10:36.449 --> 00:10:41.019 is a required document for both the pre-proposal and full proposal. 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:45.259 You'll find guidance on budget tables and data management plans, the NEPA questionnaire, 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:48.920 which is also a requirement for our full proposal. 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:54.290 And our Frequently Asked Questions document, which we update regularly. 00:10:54.290 --> 00:10:56.980 We will be updating this document after the webinar today. 00:10:56.980 --> 00:11:06.320 So I encourage you to check the frequently asked questions throughout the process. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.120 The requirements for our pre-proposal. 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:16.440 So, in order to complete a pre-proposal, you must submit the Notice of Funding Opportunity 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:22.060 cover sheet in full, which is provided on our website, as well as the pre-proposal, 00:11:22.060 --> 00:11:29.730 which is a maximum of two pages. 00:11:29.730 --> 00:11:33.790 Like I said before, our pre-proposals are due May 24th by 4:59 pm eastern time, and 00:11:33.790 --> 00:11:38.970 they must be submitted via email to the email address listed here. 00:11:38.970 --> 00:11:42.220 Please give ample time for the emails to be received because, like I mentioned before, 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:49.449 if it is received after the 4:59 pm deadline, we unfortunately cannot accept it. 00:11:49.449 --> 00:11:54.000 The email subject line should be the last name of the principal investigator and then 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.060 say ocean exploration pre-proposal. 00:11:56.060 --> 00:12:03.480 The requirements for the full proposal, which are also listed within our Notice of Funding 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:09.690 Opportunity, include the funding opportunity cover sheet, which we asked you to update 00:12:09.690 --> 00:12:11.889 based on any changes to the full proposal. 00:12:11.889 --> 00:12:15.320 Again, this cover sheet is provided on our website. 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:22.440 We also ask for an executive summary, maximum of one page. 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:26.490 The project narrative, a maximum of 15 pages. 00:12:26.490 --> 00:12:31.910 The data and information sharing plan, a maximum of two pages. 00:12:31.910 --> 00:12:37.520 The outreach and education plan, maximum on one page, and the statement of diversity and 00:12:37.520 --> 00:12:44.970 inclusion, maximum of one page. 00:12:44.970 --> 00:12:50.100 You also have to include the previous significant results, a summary of the current funding 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:55.120 support for each principal investigator and co-principal investigator. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:13:02.279 A curriculum vitae, maximum two pages per each principal investigator. 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:04.700 Budget justification and budget tables. 00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:10.269 If applicable, the negotiated Indirect Cost Rate memo, and 00:13:10.269 --> 00:13:14.220 the NEPA questionnaire with questions 1 to 19 answered. 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:20.510 And, again, the NEPA questionnaire can be found on our website. 00:13:20.510 --> 00:13:25.610 And it's optional to provide any letters of support, which can include letters of shiptime 00:13:25.610 --> 00:13:28.699 or other letters of support for the project. 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:35.940 It is also optional to include suggested reviewers. 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:41.050 For non-federal principal investigators, these following forms are required to be submitted. 00:13:41.050 --> 00:13:51.450 And, as mentioned before, the full proposal is due September 29th at 11:59 pm eastern 00:13:51.450 --> 00:13:52.450 time. 00:13:52.450 --> 00:13:57.529 For the proposal, the individual documents are submitted through grants.gov, and for 00:13:57.529 --> 00:14:02.019 federal principal investigators, you submit your full proposal via email, to the email 00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:05.269 listed here. 00:14:05.269 --> 00:14:13.600 The requirements for the full proposal format include: formatted to print on 8.5 by 11 paper 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:17.209 with one inch margins, and 12 point font. 00:14:17.209 --> 00:14:21.649 PDF is the preferred format for this. 00:14:21.649 --> 00:14:27.110 We ask that each principal investigator's last name should be typed in the bottom right 00:14:27.110 --> 00:14:30.060 corner of each page. 00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:34.020 And all digital files should be named with the applicant's last name, and a descriptor 00:14:34.020 --> 00:14:36.200 indicating the file content. 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:40.940 Example, Jones Cover Sheet 2023. 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:48.560 Titles for the project must be no longer than 15 words and/or 100 characters. 00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:55.779 So the review process for this year includes: first the pre-proposal review. 00:14:55.779 --> 00:15:02.930 The pre-proposal review is a NOAA Ocean Exploration Internal Evaluation Panel. 00:15:02.930 --> 00:15:08.389 Where they review the relevance of your proposal to NOAA and NOAA Ocean Exploration missions 00:15:08.389 --> 00:15:10.440 and goals. 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:16.870 The science and technical merit of the pre-proposal and the qualifications and competencies of 00:15:16.870 --> 00:15:21.730 the applicants, including past performance on NOAA Ocean Exploration awards. 00:15:21.730 --> 00:15:28.360 Each pre-proposal will receive an encouraged or discouraged for submitting a full proposal. 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:36.850 PI that receive a discourage are still eligible to submit a full proposal. 00:15:36.850 --> 00:15:43.560 For the full proposal, it will go through both a mail review and a panel review. 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:48.870 For the email review, you'll have a minimum of three reviewers per each proposal, and 00:15:48.870 --> 00:15:51.990 for the panel review, there will also be a minimum of three reviewers. 00:15:51.990 --> 00:15:56.029 So, each proposal will have at least six reviews, per proposal. 00:15:56.029 --> 00:16:04.850 For the full proposal, the evaluation criterion 00:16:04.850 --> 00:16:09.019 are detailed throughout the Notice of Funding Opportunity, and I encourage you to read that, 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:11.990 as that will be the basis for the evaluation. 00:16:11.990 --> 00:16:18.899 The first component that the proposal will be reviewed on is the importance and relevance 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:24.079 and applicability of the proposed project to NOAA’s and NOAA Ocean Exploration’s 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:25.540 missions and goals. 00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:31.420 This criterion assesses whether there is intrinsic value in the proposed project, and a relevance 00:16:31.420 --> 00:16:35.019 to NOAA, federal, regional, state, tribal, and local activities. 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:40.129 For NOAA Ocean Exploration, the reviewers will evaluate the extent to which the proposed 00:16:40.129 --> 00:16:43.360 project is germane to NOAA’s mission goals. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:48.660 They will also evaluate the proposed project is exploration focused, 00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:52.660 focused on potential for making discoveries, versus research focus, focused on increasing 00:16:52.660 --> 00:16:55.500 knowledge concerning a particular topic. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:17:00.410 And three, the anticipated results could have significant downstream impact. 00:17:00.410 --> 00:17:08.570 The second review evaluation criterion, also worth 30%, is the science and technical merit. 00:17:08.570 --> 00:17:13.250 This criterion assesses whether the approach is technically sound and/or innovative, if 00:17:13.250 --> 00:17:18.150 the methods are appropriate, and whether there are clear project goals and objectives. 00:17:18.150 --> 00:17:22.520 For NOAA Ocean Exploration, the reviewers will evaluate the extent to which the proposed 00:17:22.520 --> 00:17:26.240 project, or the proposed approach, is scientifically 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.890 and technically feasible. 00:17:27.890 --> 00:17:29.150 The proposed project is innovative. 00:17:29.150 --> 00:17:35.770 The proposal includes clear goals and objectives, whether the methods are commensurate with 00:17:35.770 --> 00:17:40.600 the goals and objectives, whether the project is interdisciplinary, and whether the plans 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:45.230 for documentation, archiving, and sharing of data, multimedia, and sample of collections 00:17:45.230 --> 00:17:47.510 are adequately described. 00:17:47.510 --> 00:17:54.650 The third evaluation criterion are the overall qualifications of the applicant, which is 00:17:54.650 --> 00:17:57.580 worth 15% of the score. 00:17:57.580 --> 00:18:04.090 This criterion assesses whether the applicant's possess the necessary education, experience, 00:18:04.090 --> 00:18:07.900 training, facilities, and administrative resources to accomplish the project. 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:13.050 For NOAA Ocean Exploration, the reviewers will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants, 00:18:13.050 --> 00:18:17.640 including if they have the proper expertise to accomplish the proposed project, and the 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:22.420 strength breadth and depth of any proposed project partnerships, including with federal 00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:27.800 partners and how they conform to the National Oceanographic Partnership Program goals, which 00:18:27.800 --> 00:18:30.830 are provided within the Notice of Funding Opportunity. 00:18:30.830 --> 00:18:36.570 If the applicant has previously received NOAA Ocean Exploration funding, reviewers will 00:18:36.570 --> 00:18:39.690 also evaluate their award performance. 00:18:39.690 --> 00:18:49.020 The fourth evaluation criterion, which is worth also 15% is based on project costs. 00:18:49.020 --> 00:18:53.540 The criterion assesses the proposed budget to determine if it is realistic and commensurate 00:18:53.540 --> 00:18:57.150 with the proposed project needs and timeframe. 00:18:57.150 --> 00:19:02.260 And the strength of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program partnerships for federal 00:19:02.260 --> 00:19:03.710 applicants. 00:19:03.710 --> 00:19:11.110 The final evaluation criteria worth 10% is the outreach and education and diversity inclusion 00:19:11.110 --> 00:19:12.110 criterion. 00:19:12.110 --> 00:19:16.880 This criterion assesses whether the proposed project provides a focused and effective education 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:22.640 and outreach strategy in line with NOAA’s mission to protect the nation's natural resources, 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:28.190 and if it will provide an opportunity to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups. 00:19:28.190 --> 00:19:33.080 For NOAA Ocean Exploration, the reviewers will determine the extent to which the outreach 00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:38.200 and education plan is innovative and likely to be effective. 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:43.200 Whether the proposed project will provide opportunities to broaden participation of 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:48.160 underrepresented groups, whether the proposed project will provide opportunities for early 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:52.930 career researchers and students, and whether the proposed project budget includes funding 00:19:52.930 --> 00:19:56.960 to support the outreach and education plan that will target diverse future generations 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:59.520 of explorers. 00:19:59.520 --> 00:20:08.400 So now I'm going to talk through some of the tips for this year's funding opportunity. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:14.650 First, I encourage you all to please read the entire Notice of Funding Opportunity thoroughly. 00:20:14.650 --> 00:20:20.490 We've included a handout of that within the goto webinar for today, but you can also find 00:20:20.490 --> 00:20:23.640 the Notice of Funding Opportunity on our website. 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:28.350 Everything I'm mentioning today will be within that funding opportunity, so please make sure 00:20:28.350 --> 00:20:31.070 to read it thoroughly, multiple times. 00:20:31.070 --> 00:20:37.120 I also recommend that you read through the basis for our program priorities, which include 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:43.160 the NOAA science and technology priorities, as well as the NOMEC strategy and implementation 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:45.250 plan. 00:20:45.250 --> 00:20:50.220 Make sure to fill in all applicable fields on the cover sheet thoroughly and accurately, 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:53.970 and make sure to include a cover sheet for both the pre-proposal and full proposal. 00:20:53.970 --> 00:21:00.180 If a cover sheet is not included, we will unfortunately not be able to review that full 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:03.800 proposal or pre-proposal. 00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:10.570 Make sure that the cover sheet and proposal match including numbers throughout both documents. 00:21:10.570 --> 00:21:17.450 We also encourage that you look at the list of past grant funding recipients on our website, 00:21:17.450 --> 00:21:18.450 provided here. 00:21:18.450 --> 00:21:22.540 And it details projects that have been funded in the past, so you can get an idea of what 00:21:22.540 --> 00:21:23.570 type of work we funded. 00:21:23.570 --> 00:21:29.820 And I also encourage you all to reach out if you have any questions. 00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:34.560 Again, our email is listed here. 00:21:34.560 --> 00:21:42.140 So, from some tips for the data management plans, all data must be discoverable and accessible 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:45.062 to the public. 00:21:45.062 --> 00:21:50.530 The data must be in archive ready, machine-readable, open-source, nonproprietary formats, and, 00:21:50.530 --> 00:21:59.840 at a minimum, submitted to the National Centers for Environmental Information, if applicable. 00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:04.370 The data must be free of charge, or at cost of reproduction. 00:22:04.370 --> 00:22:10.540 The data must be submitted at the earliest of the publication of a manuscript, two years 00:22:10.540 --> 00:22:19.910 from the time the data was collected, or two years from the end of the award period. 00:22:19.910 --> 00:22:24.700 Some tips for the education and outreach and diversity and inclusion sections. 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:30.260 So, commitment to work with NOAA Ocean Exploration on web communication is necessary but not 00:22:30.260 --> 00:22:32.930 enough. 00:22:32.930 --> 00:22:37.450 Within the Notice of Funding Opportunity, diversity is defined as a collection of individual 00:22:37.450 --> 00:22:41.250 attributes that together help organizations achieve objectives. 00:22:41.250 --> 00:22:47.900 Inclusion is defined as a culture that connects each employee to the organization. 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:54.120 For this section, we encourage you to describe how the proposed activity broadens the participation 00:22:54.120 --> 00:23:00.280 of underrepresented groups. 00:23:00.280 --> 00:23:06.510 And some tips for the budget tables and justification section, make sure to provide as many details 00:23:06.510 --> 00:23:07.830 as you have. 00:23:07.830 --> 00:23:13.520 You need to include things like the basis for airfare, so cost comparisons, and per 00:23:13.520 --> 00:23:15.240 diem estimates. 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:21.890 If you're requesting funding for two years, the narrative must be divided into year one 00:23:21.890 --> 00:23:24.780 and year two sections. 00:23:24.780 --> 00:23:31.010 And each section must be clearly identified as year one and year two. 00:23:31.010 --> 00:23:36.930 And within the budget table, year one and year two need to be separated and include 00:23:36.930 --> 00:23:42.270 information for each object class, and then total for each column. 00:23:42.270 --> 00:23:48.030 And, again, I just encourage you to double check the cover sheet, executive summary, 00:23:48.030 --> 00:23:51.960 budget narrative, and all forms to make sure that they are consistent. 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:59.790 And that's all we have for the webinar today, and I open it up for questions. 00:23:59.790 --> 00:24:05.320 Adrienne, I think we have three questions so far. 00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:14.170 So the first one is, are NOAA contractors eligible if they are not a non-profit? 00:24:14.170 --> 00:24:15.510 Great question. 00:24:15.510 --> 00:24:25.600 Yes, NOAA contractors are eligible to submit a full and pre-proposal. 00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:32.150 And they would submit it via grants.gov, so they would need to make sure that their institution 00:24:32.150 --> 00:24:33.800 has an account with SAM. 00:24:33.800 --> 00:24:34.800 Thank you. 00:24:34.800 --> 00:24:53.610 The next question is: Will there be any feedback from NOAA on the pre-proposal prior to the 00:24:53.610 --> 00:24:55.600 full proposal deadline? 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:59.320 That's a great question. 00:24:59.320 --> 00:25:00.320 Yes. 00:25:00.320 --> 00:25:05.620 There will be feedback from NOAA on the pre-proposal prior to the full proposal deadline. 00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:09.790 Within the Notice of Funding Opportunity, you'll see that you'll get feedback prior 00:25:09.790 --> 00:25:16.600 to July 6th, on whether or not we encouraged or discouraged you to submit a full proposal. 00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:21.490 You'll receive a letter with that from us that will indicate why we've discouraged or 00:25:21.490 --> 00:25:23.520 encouraged your proposal. 00:25:23.520 --> 00:25:27.500 But I welcome you, once you've received feedback, if you have any questions to reach out to 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:42.040 me either via email, which is listed here, or via my phone number, which is also listed 00:25:42.040 --> 00:25:47.260 here. 00:25:47.260 --> 00:25:54.240 Do we have our next question? 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.500 Yes. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:26:03.550 Is this program separate from NOAA SBIR? 00:26:03.550 --> 00:26:10.380 So you asked if this program is separate from the NOAA SBIR, which is a Small Business Innovative 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.380 Research Program. 00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:12.380 Yes, it is. 00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:17.550 So NOAA also has the Small Business Innovative Research Program, which I would encourage 00:26:17.550 --> 00:26:22.400 folks that represent a small business to look for more information. 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:26.870 You can actually Google NOAA SBIR, and, and it will give you details about that program 00:26:26.870 --> 00:26:32.320 and the requirements, and yes it is separate from this program. 00:26:32.320 --> 00:26:43.400 Can a group submit more than one pre-proposal? 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:49.230 Yes, a group, and actually, the same PI, can submit more than one pre-proposal. 00:26:49.230 --> 00:26:55.540 Typically, though, a principal investigator does not submit more than one full proposal, 00:26:55.540 --> 00:26:57.631 but you are eligible to submit more than one pre-proposal. 00:26:57.631 --> 00:27:03.070 OK, thank you. 00:27:03.070 --> 00:27:15.790 Next question is with respect to microorganisms. 00:27:15.790 --> 00:27:34.280 Is NOAA focused on prokaryotes or would eukaryotes be a potential appropriate study system? 00:27:34.280 --> 00:27:35.380 Both would be appropriate. 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:38.390 So you could focus on prokaryotes or eukaryotes. 00:27:38.390 --> 00:27:43.260 But I do want to highlight that, this year, we have a special emphasis, when it comes 00:27:43.260 --> 00:27:50.030 to the microorganisms but that is technically not a requirement for the ocean exploration 00:27:50.030 --> 00:27:51.140 and discovery theme. 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:53.950 But we do encourage applicants to submit with that in mind. 00:27:53.950 --> 00:28:07.960 OK, and the next question is, what were the full proposal feedback, and expected start 00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.960 dates again? 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:12.730 Yeah, that's a great question. 00:28:12.730 --> 00:28:20.400 So, the full proposal deadline is September 29th by 11:59 pm eastern time, and that's 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:28.530 submitted either via grants.gov or via email if you are a federal principal investigator. 00:28:28.530 --> 00:28:33.961 We anticipate, so it will go through peer review over the winter time, and we anticipate 00:28:33.961 --> 00:28:41.120 letting principal investigators know by April 2023 whether or not their proposal was selected 00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:45.370 for funding, and the anticipated start date is September 2023. 00:28:45.370 --> 00:28:52.970 I do say all this, but we try really hard to get feedback and start dates sooner than 00:28:52.970 --> 00:28:53.970 that. 00:28:53.970 --> 00:28:59.700 This year, actually, for our fiscal year 2022, the start dates are actually July of 2022. 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:06.020 So, we're hoping come 2023, we'll have an earlier start date, as well, but we do have 00:29:06.020 --> 00:29:12.150 our principal investigators plan for a start date in September of 2023. 00:29:12.150 --> 00:29:13.320 Thank you. 00:29:13.320 --> 00:29:14.490 Another question. 00:29:14.490 --> 00:29:22.530 We'll work in the Great Lakes be considered in this program this year? 00:29:22.530 --> 00:29:23.530 Yes. 00:29:23.530 --> 00:29:27.280 Work in the Great Lakes can be considered this year. 00:29:27.280 --> 00:29:32.980 The only requirement for our themes is for it to be in waters under U.S. jurisdiction. 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:38.470 And for the ocean exploration and discovery theme it must be in waters 200 meters and 00:29:38.470 --> 00:29:39.470 deeper. 00:29:39.470 --> 00:29:41.970 For maritime heritage, it can be in waters shallower than 200 meters. 00:29:41.970 --> 00:29:48.050 And then for the technology theme again, the technology must be applicable to 200 meters 00:29:48.050 --> 00:29:52.720 and deeper with a preference for full ocean depths. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:56.980 But it can be tested in shallower waters, or lab based testing. 00:29:56.980 --> 00:30:01.700 Geographically, we are pretty open this year, aside from the requirement to be in waters 00:30:01.700 --> 00:30:03.710 under U.S. jurisdiction. 00:30:03.710 --> 00:30:06.720 Thank you. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:15.100 Next question: Does our budget affect our ability to be chosen? 00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:20.420 That's a really good question, and it really depends on the peer review process. 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:24.660 Like I mentioned before, the full proposal will go through external review by experts, 00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:30.100 and you'll have at least six reviewers, three that will be via email, and three will be 00:30:30.100 --> 00:30:32.929 a panel of experts. 00:30:32.929 --> 00:30:38.640 One of the evaluation criteria that the panelists will review comes down to project costs. 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:46.220 Like I mentioned, we have very specific things for them to look at when they look at your 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:47.220 project costs. 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:54.820 They're supposed to be reviewing things like whether the proposed budget is realistic and 00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:58.970 whether it commensurate with the proposed project needs and timeframe. 00:30:58.970 --> 00:31:05.120 So it really depends on if your budget is addressing those criterion, so it is, is it 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:10.810 realistic, is it commensurate and is it what would be needed to complete the project in 00:31:10.810 --> 00:31:12.710 the timeframe? 00:31:12.710 --> 00:31:15.560 Thank you, Adrienne. 00:31:15.560 --> 00:31:20.300 I don't see any more questions at this time. 00:31:20.300 --> 00:31:26.110 OK, I'll give it one more minute to see if anyone else has a question. 00:31:26.110 --> 00:31:31.770 If not, though, and if you have a question after this webinar, I, again, encourage you 00:31:31.770 --> 00:31:33.590 to please reach out via email. 00:31:33.590 --> 00:31:35.750 My email is provided here. 00:31:35.750 --> 00:31:42.760 You can also call me at the phone number listed here, again, that is 202-603-6844. 00:31:42.760 --> 00:31:54.390 Okay, I don't think any other questions came in, so I just wanted to thank you all for 00:31:54.390 --> 00:31:55.390 attending. 00:31:55.390 --> 00:31:58.270 I hope you all enjoyed the webinar today. 00:31:58.270 --> 00:32:05.280 Again, we will be providing a link to the recording of this webinar on our website, 00:32:05.280 --> 00:32:07.170 oceanexplorer.NOAA.gov. 00:32:07.170 --> 00:32:14.170 And I, again, encourage you to please check out our website for more information about 00:32:14.170 --> 00:32:18.940 this funding opportunity, as well as the frequently asked questions, which we'll be updating throughout 00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:24.780 the process, as well as the list of past awardees so you get an idea of the projects we've funded 00:32:24.780 --> 00:32:25.780 in the past. 00:32:25.780 --> 00:32:30.110 Again, thank you all for attending, and I hope you have a great rest of your week.