NOAA will award up to a total of $56 million, appropriated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58), for projects that remove marine debris to benefit marine and Great Lakes habitats and communities. This competition focuses on two priorities: removing large marine debris or using proven interception technologies to capture marine debris throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States.

The first priority will support partnerships for the development of large scale and high-value marine debris removal programs. These programs 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. The second priority of this competition focuses on implementation of proven marine debris interception technologies in coastal riverine, shoreline, estuarine, and urban environments where trash, plastics, and other persistent, reaccumulating macro-debris can be captured and removed. 

These two priorities will be reviewed as separate, parallel tracks under this funding opportunity, and they have different application requirements. NOAA expects to fund a small number of awards, depending on the merit of submitted proposals.

The NOAA MDP encourages applicants and awardees to support the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion when writing their proposals and performing their work. 

Proposals are due on Grants.gov on September 30, 2022, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and an applicant webinar will be hosted on July 14, 2022, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Access the webinar through Adobe Connect at https://noaaorr.adobeconnect.com/mdp-applicant-webinar/ or by phone at +1 (855) 656-7559, conference room number: 855 656 7559. Advance registration is not required.

For more information on this grant opportunity, please visit Grants.gov and the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s website.

For more information, please contact grants.marinedebris@noaa.gov.