The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management (OCM) has announced the Coastal Zone Management Projects of Special Merit (PSM) funding opportunity for Fiscal Year 2025. This competitive program is intended to enhance state or territory coastal management programs (CMPs) by encouraging projects that align with national coastal priorities under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), specifically focusing on Coastal Hazards, Ocean and Great Lakes Resources, and Wetlands. Eligible CMPs can use this funding to develop innovative projects that further their approved enhancement area strategies. The program does not fund construction projects, and the projects must be consistent with the CMP’s existing Section 309 Assessment and Strategy.

The total anticipated funding for PSM in FY 2025 is approximately $1.5 million, with individual project awards ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. NOAA expects to fund 5 to 10 projects, depending on the availability of appropriations. The projects will be funded as cooperative agreements, which indicates NOAA's active involvement in managing the project activities. The award period is 18 months, starting in October 2025, with a potential extension of up to an additional 18 months if necessary.

Eligible applicants include state and territorial CMPs that have been approved by NOAA under the Coastal Zone Management Act and have an approved Section 309 Assessment and Strategy covering the 2021-2025 period. The designated lead agency for each CMP is eligible to apply, but only two applications per applicant will be accepted for consideration. Local governments and nonprofits may participate as partners, although the focus must remain on enhancing the state’s CMP. NOAA strongly encourages proposals to incorporate the principles of equity and inclusion, with particular attention to underserved communities and vulnerable populations impacted by coastal hazards and environmental changes.

Proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by January 17, 2025. The application must include a comprehensive project description, project work plan, budget justification, and other necessary federal forms. Applications must follow specific formatting requirements and should be limited to a 10-page narrative for the project description, excluding other required elements like budget forms and appendices. Applicants must also register with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons before applying, as the registration process can take 4 to 6 weeks. Failure to complete these registrations can disqualify an application.

The review process will include an initial administrative review to ensure completeness, followed by a merit-based evaluation involving at least three independent peer reviewers. Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria such as alignment with NOAA’s program priorities, technical and scientific merit, the qualifications of applicants, and budget appropriateness. Special attention will be given to projects that demonstrate strong public engagement, address issues related to equity and inclusion, and provide clear benefits to the management of coastal resources.

Award recipients are expected to submit performance and financial reports every six months, with a final report due 120 days after the project ends. They must also comply with data management requirements to ensure that environmental data collected during the project are accessible to the public, following NOAA's data sharing policies. Additionally, recipients must obtain all necessary federal, state, and local permits to carry out their proposed activities, and failure to do so may delay or prevent funding. For more information or specific questions, applicants are encouraged to contact the competition manager, Kate Swails, at the NOAA Office for Coastal Management.