Opportunity Information: Apply for M23AS00350
The grant opportunity titled "The Ecological Characterizations of Marine Minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf" (Funding Opportunity Number M23AS00350) is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) focused on environmental research tied to marine mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The work is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning BOEM expects to have substantial involvement in the project as it is carried out, rather than functioning strictly as a hands-off funder. The central goal is to improve scientific understanding of the ecological setting in offshore areas that may contain valuable marine mineral resources, with the practical purpose of informing responsible decision-making and reducing the risk of environmental harm if future exploration or development occurs.
A key scientific emphasis of the project is the study of hypersaline brine pools in the Gulf of Mexico. These are highly saline seafloor features with unusual chemistry and often distinctive biological communities, making them important natural laboratories for understanding how extreme environments function and how marine life adapts to chemical gradients, low oxygen conditions, and other stressors. Under this opportunity, BOEM will partner with the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) to explore these brine pools, collect measurements of water chemistry, and document associated ecological characteristics. The description indicates an integrated approach that connects physical and chemical characterization (what the water is like) with biological and ecological observation (what organisms live there, how communities are structured, and how the system functions).
The project also highlights the use of newer technology to collect information more efficiently and with less disturbance to sensitive habitats. Specifically, it references next-generation sensors and non-destructive spectroscopy techniques. In practice, that points toward modern in situ instruments that can measure chemical properties in real time and optical or spectroscopic tools that can identify materials or chemical signatures without requiring extensive sampling or destructive collection. The emphasis on non-destructive methods aligns with the broader intent to minimize environmental impact while still producing high-quality data that can support national resource understanding and management.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under the Environment funding activity area, with CFDA number 15.424. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The announcement lists an award ceiling of $600,000. The posting shows an original closing date of June 29, 2023, and a creation date of May 24, 2023. While the notice references partnering with USM, the eligibility language indicates the intended applicant type; in cooperative agreements like this, it is common for the funding agency to define a specific research partnership or capability set that fits the project requirements.
Overall, the opportunity is about building a clearer ecological baseline for marine mineral-related areas on the OCS, using advanced, lower-impact measurement techniques to characterize brine pool chemistry and ecology in the Gulf of Mexico. The value of the work is in producing defensible scientific information that helps the federal government understand offshore mineral resource contexts while supporting environmental stewardship and better-informed future planning.Apply for M23AS00350
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Ecological Characterizations of Marine Minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf" 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 2023-05-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-06-29. (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 $600,000.00 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 grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "The Ecological Characterizations of Marine Minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is M23AS00350.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
What type of award is being used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The work is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means BOEM expects substantial involvement in the project during execution, rather than acting strictly as a hands-off funder.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The central goal is to improve scientific understanding of the ecological setting in offshore areas that may contain valuable marine mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The practical aim is to inform responsible decision-making and reduce the risk of environmental harm if future exploration or development occurs.
What is the primary scientific focus area mentioned in the announcement?
A key emphasis is the study of hypersaline brine pools in the Gulf of Mexico, including measurements of water chemistry and documentation of associated ecological characteristics.
What are hypersaline brine pools, and why are they important to this opportunity?
Hypersaline brine pools are highly saline seafloor features with unusual chemistry and often distinctive biological communities. They are valuable natural laboratories for understanding extreme environments and how marine life adapts to chemical gradients, low oxygen conditions, and other stressors.
Where will the research take place?
The opportunity highlights work focused on hypersaline brine pools in the Gulf of Mexico, within offshore areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
How does this project connect to marine minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf?
The project is positioned as environmental research tied to marine mineral resources on the OCS. It aims to build a clearer ecological baseline in areas that may contain valuable marine mineral resources so that future planning and decisions can be better informed.
What kinds of data and observations are expected under this opportunity?
The description indicates an integrated approach that links physical and chemical characterization (for example, what the water is like) with biological and ecological observation (for example, what organisms live there, how communities are structured, and how the system functions).
What technologies or methods does the opportunity emphasize?
The project highlights the use of newer technology to collect information more efficiently and with less disturbance to sensitive habitats. It specifically references next-generation sensors and non-destructive spectroscopy techniques.
What does "non-destructive spectroscopy" mean in the context of this project?
In practice, it points toward optical or spectroscopic tools that can identify materials or chemical signatures without requiring extensive sampling or destructive collection, supporting data collection while minimizing harm to sensitive environments.
Why does the opportunity emphasize lower-impact or non-destructive methods?
The emphasis aligns with the intent to minimize environmental impact while still producing high-quality data that can support national resource understanding and management.
Who is BOEM planning to partner with for this work?
The opportunity indicates BOEM will partner with the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) to explore these brine pools, collect measurements of water chemistry, and document associated ecological characteristics.
What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under the Environment funding activity area.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.424.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The announcement lists an award ceiling of $600,000.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting shows a creation date of May 24, 2023, and an original closing date of June 29, 2023.
Is this opportunity intended to support baseline environmental science?
Yes. The opportunity is described as building a clearer ecological baseline for marine mineral-related areas on the OCS, particularly by characterizing brine pool chemistry and ecology in the Gulf of Mexico.
How does BOEM expect the results to be used?
The value of the work is described as producing defensible scientific information that helps the federal government understand offshore mineral resource contexts while supporting environmental stewardship and better-informed future planning.
Does the opportunity suggest BOEM will be actively involved during the project?
Yes. Because the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, BOEM anticipates substantial involvement as the project is carried out.
Does the announcement indicate a single institution or a broader applicant pool?
The notice references partnering with USM, while the eligibility language states the intended applicant type (public and state-controlled institutions of higher education). In cooperative agreements like this, it is common for an agency to define a specific research partnership or capability set that fits the project requirements.
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