Opportunity Information: Apply for M20AS00218
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) grant opportunity titled "Microfossil Assemblage Analysis in Support of the Mississippi Offshore Sediment Resources Inventory" is a targeted, non-competitive funding announcement intended to support scientific analysis that helps Mississippi and the broader Gulf Coast plan coastal restoration projects more effectively. The core idea is to use microfossil assemblage analysis (the study of tiny fossil remains found in sediment, such as foraminifera and other microfossils) to better characterize offshore sediment deposits, particularly sand resources that can serve as construction material for restoration efforts like beach nourishment, barrier island reinforcement, marsh creation, and other coastal resilience projects. By improving understanding of where suitable sands are located and what their geological characteristics indicate, the project strengthens the sediment resource inventory that planners rely on to design practical, sustainable restoration work.
The opportunity emphasizes downstream public benefits rather than basic research for its own sake. The information generated is intended to give Gulf Coast restoration planners clearer insight into what "building material" is available offshore, which indirectly supports infrastructure protection, housing stability, local economic development, and community planning. In practical terms, knowing the location, quality, and depositional history of offshore sands can reduce uncertainty and delays in restoration design, lower project risk, and improve coordination across agencies. BOEM frames the resulting inventory as a long-term planning asset, helping communities and ecosystems by enabling better decisions over time about where and how to source sediment without causing undue environmental harm or running into avoidable permitting and logistics problems.
A key point in the announcement is that this is not an open solicitation. It is a program announcement describing a specific project that BOEM intends to undertake and may award to the University of Alabama, provided an acceptable proposal is received. That structure matters because it signals a pre-identified partner and a defined project scope, rather than a broad competition among applicants. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which is used when the federal agency expects substantial involvement in the project. Here, BOEM scientists are expected to participate in various aspects of study development and/or conduct, meaning the work will be more collaborative and guided than a typical grant where the recipient operates largely independently.
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and the project requires that a staff member of the applying organization serve as the Principal Investigator. Although the announcement is directed at a specific intended recipient, it also notes that cooperative research partnerships are encouraged, including collaborations with state agencies, public universities, and non-profits in affected states. This reflects how coastal sediment planning usually works in practice: data products are most useful when they align with state coastal programs, federal restoration initiatives, and regional priorities, so cross-institutional coordination is treated as a feature rather than an afterthought.
The funding details provided indicate the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and falls under the environment activity area (CFDA 15.424). The funding opportunity number is M20AS00218, with an original closing date of 2020-09-16. The award ceiling is $50,000. While the announcement does not spell out the exact deliverables in the text provided, the stated purpose makes it clear that the expected output is scientific information products that can be used by state and local resource managers to improve consultations, project planning, and decision-making for both locally and federally funded coastal restoration projects. The intended beneficiaries explicitly include other federal agencies, the State of Mississippi, local governments, and local communities, primarily through better planning, clearer coordination, and improved access to usable sediment resource information.
Cost sharing or matching contributions are described as strongly encouraged, whether provided as cash or in-kind support such as salary, equipment, or a combination. At the same time, the announcement lays out important restrictions that applicants must follow. Matching contributions cannot include the value associated with collection costs for samples that were previously collected, and matching claims for instruments and equipment must be prorated to reflect the period of project use relative to the equipment's full lifecycle. If ship time is part of the match, the documentation must provide a fair assessment of costs relevant to the project. Finally, matching funds cannot come from other federal funding sources, and BOEM points applicants to the federal rules at 2 CFR 200.306 for additional guidance.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a small, focused cooperative research award designed to produce applied geoscience data that directly supports Mississippi offshore sediment resource planning. By leveraging microfossil analysis to refine understanding of offshore deposits, BOEM aims to strengthen the evidence base that coastal managers use to select, justify, and implement restoration projects, with broad public benefits tied to resilience, sustainability, and better long-term coastal planning.Apply for M20AS00218
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Microfossil Assemblage Analysis in Support of the Mississippi Offshore Sediment Resources Inventory" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.424.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-09-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this BOEM funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Microfossil Assemblage Analysis in Support of the Mississippi Offshore Sediment Resources Inventory."
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is M20AS00218.
What is the CFDA program number and activity area?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.424 and is categorized in the environment activity area.
Is this an open competition?
No. The announcement is described as a targeted, non-competitive program announcement for a specific project that BOEM intends to undertake.
Who is the intended recipient?
BOEM indicates it may award the cooperative agreement to the University of Alabama, provided an acceptable proposal is received.
What type of award instrument will be used?
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement is used when the federal agency expects substantial involvement in the project. In this opportunity, BOEM scientists are expected to participate in various aspects of study development and/or conduct, so the work is collaborative and agency-guided rather than fully independent.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project supports scientific analysis to improve characterization of Mississippi offshore sediment deposits, especially sand resources that can be used as construction material for coastal restoration projects.
What is microfossil assemblage analysis in this context?
Microfossil assemblage analysis is the study of tiny fossil remains found in sediment (including foraminifera and other microfossils) to help interpret and characterize sediment deposits and their geological history.
How does microfossil analysis help coastal restoration planning?
By improving understanding of where suitable offshore sands are located and what their depositional and geological characteristics indicate, the work strengthens the sediment resources inventory that planners use to design coastal restoration projects more effectively.
What kinds of restoration projects could benefit from the results?
The information is intended to support planning for projects such as beach nourishment, barrier island reinforcement, marsh creation, and other coastal resilience and restoration efforts that require suitable sediment material.
Is this opportunity aimed at basic research or applied outcomes?
It emphasizes downstream public benefits and applied information products rather than basic research for its own sake.
What public benefits does BOEM associate with this work?
BOEM frames the benefits as improved long-term planning for sediment sourcing that can indirectly support infrastructure protection, housing stability, local economic development, and community planning by reducing uncertainty and improving coordination for restoration project design.
What decision-making improvements are expected from the project?
The improved sediment inventory is intended to reduce uncertainty and delays in restoration design, lower project risk, and support coordination across agencies by providing clearer insight into offshore sediment availability and characteristics.
Who can apply (eligibility)?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Are there requirements for the Principal Investigator (PI)?
Yes. The project requires that a staff member of the applying organization serve as the Principal Investigator.
Are partnerships or collaborations allowed or encouraged?
Yes. Cooperative research partnerships are encouraged, including collaborations with state agencies, public universities, and non-profits in affected states.
Who are the intended beneficiaries of the project outputs?
The intended beneficiaries include other federal agencies, the State of Mississippi, local governments, and local communities, primarily through improved planning, coordination, consultations, and access to usable sediment resource information.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $50,000.
How is the funding categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2020-09-16.
Are specific deliverables listed in the provided description?
The provided text does not spell out specific deliverables. However, the stated purpose indicates the expected outputs are scientific information products usable by state and local resource managers to support consultations, planning, and decision-making for coastal restoration projects.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
The description states that cost sharing or matching contributions are strongly encouraged.
What forms of match are mentioned as acceptable in principle?
Match may be provided as cash or in-kind support such as salary, equipment, or a combination, subject to the restrictions described.
Can matching include the value of sample collection costs for samples collected in the past?
No. Matching contributions cannot include the value associated with collection costs for samples that were previously collected.
How should instruments and equipment be treated if used as match?
Matching claims for instruments and equipment must be prorated to reflect the period of project use relative to the equipment's full lifecycle.
If ship time is proposed as match, what documentation is expected?
If ship time is part of the match, documentation must provide a fair assessment of costs relevant to the project.
Can matching funds come from other federal sources?
No. Matching funds cannot come from other federal funding sources.
Where are applicants directed for federal cost sharing/matching rules?
BOEM points applicants to 2 CFR 200.306 for additional guidance on cost sharing and matching.
Why does BOEM emphasize sediment inventories as a long-term planning asset?
Because better information about offshore sediment location, quality, and depositional history can support better decisions over time about where and how to source sediment while reducing the likelihood of undue environmental harm and avoidable permitting or logistics problems.
What geographic area is the project focused on?
The project focuses on Mississippi offshore sediment resources and is framed as supporting Mississippi and the broader Gulf Coast restoration planning context.
Does BOEM indicate how it will be involved during the project?
Yes. BOEM indicates substantial involvement through participation by BOEM scientists in aspects of study development and/or conduct.
What is the overall size and character of this award as described?
It is described as a small, focused cooperative research award intended to produce applied geoscience data that directly supports Mississippi offshore sediment resource planning.
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