Now Open: Two Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Grant Opportunities for Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce its Fiscal Year 2024 Notices of Funding Opportunity for both Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These two funding opportunities include the availability up to $28 million across the competitions and allow NOAA to support impactful, large marine debris removal projects, as well as the installation of proven marine debris interception technologies, throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States.

The Fiscal Year 2024 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 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.

The second funding opportunity, Fiscal Year 2024 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, 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.