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The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the BOEM is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity through the University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) to units within the University of Alaska system that have the ability to conduct research in topics that serve the public interest of safe and environmentally sound energy production and meet the goals of the BOEM. The general types of studies that may be funded include scientific studies for better understanding marine, coastal or human environments affected or potentially affected by offshore oil and gas or other mineral exploration and extraction on the outer continental shelf (OCS); modeling studies of environmental, social, economic, or cultural processes related to OCS oil and gas activities in order to improve scientific predictive capabilities; experimental scientific studies for better understanding of environmental processes, or the causes and effects of OCS activities; projects which design or establish mechanisms or protocols for sharing data or information regarding marine or coastal resources, or human activities to support prudent management of oil, gas and marine mineral resources; and synthesis studies of scientific environmental or socioeconomic information relevant to the OCS oil and gas program. The most relevant geographic areas are potential OCS oil and gas lease areas off Alaska, including the Beaufort Sea, the Chukchi Sea, Cook Inlet, and the northern Gulf of Alaska. Following the submission of letters of intent (LOI) from the University of Alaska, the BOEM, in discussion with representatives from the State of Alaska, have selected the LOI topics listed below for development of full proposals.

The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity through the University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) to units within the University of Alaska system that have the ability to conduct research in topics that serve the public interest of safe and environmentally sound energy production and meet the goals of the BOEM. The general types of studies that may be funded include scientific studies for better understanding marine, coastal or human environments affected or potentially affected by offshore oil and gas or other mineral exploration and extraction on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); modeling studies of environmental, social, economic, or cultural processes related to OCS oil and gas activities in order to improve scientific predictive capabilities; experimental scientific studies for better understanding of environmental processes, or the causes and effects of OCS activities; projects which design or establish mechanisms or protocols for sharing data or information regarding marine or coastal resources, or human activities to support prudent management of oil, gas and marine mineral resources; and synthesis studies of scientific environmental or socioeconomic information relevant to the OCS oil and gas program. The most relevant geographic areas are potential OCS oil and gas lease areas off Alaska, including the Beaufort Sea and Cook Inlet. Projects in other areas of the Alaska Region may be considered if applicable to CMI priorities. Following the submission of letters of intent (LOI) from the University of Alaska, the BOEM, in discussion with representatives from the State of Alaska, have selected the LOI topics listed below for development of full proposals. This request is not a guarantee of funding.

The Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement for the study BOEM-MARINe (Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network) to provide continued long-term monitoring of rocky intertidal habitats and species adjacent to OCS oil and gas operations in the Pacific Region. The purpose of this study is to provide the basis for evaluating cumulative impacts to the shoreline from OCS activities, especially accidental oil spills, and will be used to provide a base-line to assess dampening of waves from potential offshore wave facilities. Detecting impacts to a resource requires monitoring and the rocky intertidal areas established by the MARINe represent over 20 years of continuous monitoring adjacent to OCS facilities off southern California. This announcement is specifically to announce intent to undertake the project: BOEM-MARINe, that is open to the University of California, Santa Cruz, via the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. The award will be a cooperative agreement. This involves substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in various aspects of study development and/or study conduct. The award is premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal. This is not an open solicitation for proposals.

The Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) offers postdoctoral research fellowships to provide opportunities for scientists early in their careers to work within and across traditional disciplinary lines, develop partnerships, and avail themselves of unique resources, sites and facilities. The fellowship program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential, and provide them with experience that will establish them in positions of leadership in the scientific community. During tenure, fellows will affiliate with an appropriate research institution(s) and conduct research on topics supported by OCE. The OCE fellowship program has two tracks: 1) Track 1 (Broadening Participation) and 2) Track 2 (International). Fellowships are awards to individuals, not organizations, and are administered by the fellows.

OCE is seeking written expressions of interest regarding new financial and/or managerial models that would provide the marine seismic capabilities to meet the expected needs of academic research scientists. The expressions of interest may be oriented towards but not limited to one or more of the examples presented below, may or may not involve to varying degrees R/V Langseth, and should be cognizant of potential environmental compliance issues. Additionally, the expressions of interest should reflect that OCE anticipates spending an average of ~$8M per year for ship support and ~$2M for technical support, funding permitting, supporting seismic infrastructure that can achieve the scientific goals currently met by the capabilities provided by R/V Langseth.

OCE is seeking written expressions of interest regarding new financial and/or managerial models that would provide the marine seismic capabilities to meet the expected needs of academic research scientists. The expressions of interest may be oriented towards but not limited to one or more of the examples presented below, may or may not involve to varying degrees R/V Langseth, and should be cognizant of potential environmental compliance issues. Additionally, the expressions of interest should reflect that OCE anticipates spending an average of ~$8M per year for ship support and ~$2M for technical support, funding permitting, supporting seismic infrastructure that can achieve the scientific goals currently met by the capabilities provided by R/V Langseth.

The Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) offers postdoctoral research fellowships to provide opportunities for scientists early in their careers to work within and across traditional disciplinary lines, develop partnerships, and avail themselves of unique resources, sites and facilities. The fellowship program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential, and provide them with experience that will establish them in positions of leadership in the scientific community. During tenure, fellows will affiliate with an appropriate research institution(s) and conduct research on topics supported by OCE. The OCE fellowship program has two tracks: 1) Traick 1 (Broadening Participation) and 2) Track 2 (International). Fellowships are awards to individuals, not organizations, and are administered by the fellows.

The Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement for the study of Landfast Ice Climatology within the Arctic OCS, covering the areas of the Beaufort, Chukchi and possibly Bering seas. This study will examine the changes in landfast ice extent and stability over time and the physical forces driving these changes. This study will also investigate how the changing state of landfast ice conditions impact the oil and gas industry and the coastal communities at present and into the future. Field experiments that document the thermodynamic growth and decay of landfast ice will support validation of results from coupled ice-ocean circulation models used to support trajectory analyses for Oil Spill Risk Analysis (OSRA). This announcement is specifically to announce intent to undertake the project: Landfast Ice Climatology within the Arctic Alaska OCS Region, that is open to the University of Alaska Fairbanks via the Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. The award will be a cooperative agreement. This involves substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in various aspects of study development and/or study conduct. The award is premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal. This is not an open solicitation for proposals.

The Biological Oceanography Program supports research in marine ecology broadly defined: relationships among aquatic organisms and their interactions with the environments of the oceans or Great Lakes. Projects submitted to the program for consideration are often interdisciplinary efforts that may include participation by other OCE Programs. 

The Biological Oceanography Program supports research in marine ecology broadly defined: relationships among aquatic organisms and their interactions with the environments of the oceans or Great Lakes. Projects submitted to the program for consideration are often interdisciplinary efforts that may include participation by other OCE Programs.

Research proposals should address questions in one of two broad ecosystems: Arid/semi-arid ecosystems: The Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) anticipates support and management of one (1) new site with a focus on arid or semi-arid ecosystems. The location of the research site for proposals submitted to develop a new arid/semi-arid ecosystem LTER must be within the United States, including its territories and protectorates.  Ocean/coastal ocean ecosystems: The Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) anticipates support and management of two (2) new sites that focus on ocean or coastal ocean ecosystems; defined as ecological systems from the shoreline outward on continental shelves and including the Laurentian Great Lakes, Congressionally defined as interior oceans. Preference will be given to proposals developing a new ocean/coastal ocean ecosystem LTER site located within the United States, including its territories and protectorates, but other locations are not precluded.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) through the Marine Minerals Program (MMP) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to conduct research to serve the public interest in offshore sand resources, coastal restoration, coastal resiliency, and to meet the MMP and Gulf States¿ goal of a Gulf-wide Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) sediment inventory. The overall goal of this cooperative agreement is to work with Gulf States to recover legacy geological and geophysical data that will ultimately provide for development of an offshore sediment resources inventory. One of the primary objectives is to coordinate with all 5 Gulf States and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to develop a Gulf-Wide Sediment Inventory program for funding under a future opportunity such as the RESTORE Act Funded Priorities List. This funding is available to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). This is not an open solicitation for proposals. The OCSLA (43 USC 1345)authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information, joint utilization of available expertise, formation of joint monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore. All awards are premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) through the Marine Minerals Program (MMP) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to conduct research to serve the public interest in offshore sand resources, coastal restoration, and coastal resiliency. The overall goal of this study is to collaborate on the development of a feasibility study investigating the viability of recovering economically valuable hard minerals from offshore sand deposits during beach nourishment dredging operations. Although the study will focus on known sand deposits in federal water offshore of the Delmarva Peninsula, methodologies and conclusions should be generally applicable to all nearshore Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) hard minerals. This Program Announcement describes a cooperative agreement that may be awarded to the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy (DMME). This is not an open solicitation for proposals. The OCSLA (43 USC 1345)authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information, joint utilization of available expertise, formation of joint monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore. All awards are premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal.

The Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement for the study Understanding Biological Connectivity Among Offshore Structures and Natural Reefs to test hypotheses on biological connectivity among artificial and natural habitats using genetic markers.This award will utilize genetic analyses to test hypotheses of connectivity and understand how connectivity may influence non-indigenous species (NIS).The total anticipated amount of available funding is approximately $800,000 subject to the availability of funds. The anticipated period of performance will be from fiscal year (FY) 2019 through FY 2024. BOEM anticipates making one cooperative agreement award in FY 2019 for one proposal submitted under this Program Announcement. Work performance under these awards must start before October 1, 2019, and the proposed work must be completed no later than 48 months from the start date.This announcement is specifically to announce intent to undertake the following project(s): Understanding Biological Connectivity Among Offshore Structures and Natural Reefs Open to: University of California, Santa Barbara No other proposals are requested at this time. The award will be a cooperative agreement (see Eligibility Information below). This involves substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in various aspects of study development and/or study conduct.

The Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement to evaluate implications of findings from a model wave energy project for feasibility studies in other coastal regions of Alaska, including extensions onto the OCS. The study will integrate and extend offshore environmental feasibility studies to fully assess the economic viability of wave energy projects in the remote coastal community of Yakutat, Alaska, and to support a State of Alaska effort to complete the feasibility studies initiated and funded by the Alaska Energy Authority and the City and Borough of Yakutat. The demonstration project will support meeting environmental regulatory requirements and thereby evaluate the implications for projects in other waters of coastal Alaska. The mission of BOEM is to manage the exploration and development of the nation's offshore resources in a way that appropriately balances economic development, energy independence and environmental protection through oil and gas leases, and renewable energy development. The decision-making behind the management of the nation's offshore resources is supported through environmental reviews and associated studies. The Program Announcement describes the specific project that may be awarded to the universities or eligible groups identified. All awards are premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal. This is not an open solicitation for proposals.

The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement to complete studies on the movements of low trophic level feeding elasmobranchs, such as Manta birostis.The purpose of this study is to understand movements, site fidelity and behavioral ecology of understudied highly migratory species, such as M. birostris, and the associated risk of interaction with BOEM permitted activities.Innovative methods will be used including, but not limited to: autonomous sensor platforms and improved animal bourne telemetry techniques which can relay data from neighboring animals, and/or which leverage the target species as mobile oceanographic platforms.Under the Use of Cooperative Agreements authority (43 U.S.C. §1457b), to enter into cooperative agreements with a state or political subdivision (including any agency thereof), or any not-for-profit organization.The general goals of this project is to understand movement drivers and site residency and fidelity of M. birostis, as it relates to sand shoals, particularly in the Canaveral Shoals, Florida Atlantic Coast region.Specifically, the objectives of this study are to understand the movement ecology of M. birostis in the US OCS and the impact fine scale behavior has on the risk of interaction with marine mineral activities, especially preventative trawling.

The Environmental Studies Program (ESP) of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement to complete a demonstration project on Integrating DNA Profiles, Genomics and Photo-Identification data. The objective of this study is to improve the current computation capabilities for integrating DNA profiles with photo-identification records for assessment and long-term monitoring of marine mammal populations, to provide a standardized database architecture, with associated tools for primary analyses and visualization of individual genetic and genomic profiles as well as spatial-temporal records. An important component of this objective is to develop "community standards" that can be applied across multiple species, as well as multiple investigators, and that promotes data sharing and archiving. Continuation of the development of previously funded work on GeneGIS towards the development of a Web-based, collaborative collection could form a model for similar developments with other species of interest to BOEM. Section 1346 of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA) mandates the conduct of environmental and socioeconomic studies needed for the assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments which may be affected by oil and gas or other mineral development. OCSLA Section 1345 authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information, joint utilization of available expertise, and formation of joint monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore. This is not an open solicitation for proposals. The Program Announcement describes the specific project that may be awarded to a qualified organization within the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Alaska Office is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to the North Slope Borough, Department of Wildlife Management to assemble scientific information and facilitate the use of Indigenous Knowledge to develop a publication to support BOEM¿s analysis of potential biological impacts from OCS activities to bowhead whales, as well as sociocultural effects related to the subsistence harvest of the whales by Alaska Native hunters. The mission of BOEM is to manage the exploration and development of the nation¿s offshore resources in a way that appropriately balances economic development, energy independence and environmental protection through oil and gas leases, renewable energy, and minerals development. The Bowhead Whale Book will provide a consolidated source of information to support more accurate science-based decisions inside and outside the Bureau.

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary office) is seeking proposals under the Pacific Northwest B-WET Program (http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/ocean_literacy/bwet.html). The Pacific Northwest B-WET Program is a competitive, environmental education, grants program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. Funded projects provide Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for students, related professional development for teachers, and help to support regional education and environmental priorities in the Pacific Northwest. This Federal funding opportunity meets NOAA's Vision of healthy ocean ecosystems (http://www.noaa.gov/our-mission-and-vision ), helping to ensure that ocean, estuarine, and related ecosystems and the species that inhabit them are vibrant and sustainable in the face of challenges.