Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS NCBO 2018 2005490
The Fiscal Year 2018 Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program is a NOAA competitive grant opportunity designed to strengthen K-12 environmental literacy and stewardship across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program supports projects that deliver locally relevant, hands-on learning through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). These MWEEs are structured learning sequences that blend classroom instruction with outdoor field work, guiding students through defining a real environmental issue, conducting field experiences, analyzing and synthesizing what they find, drawing conclusions, and then completing an action project that connects learning to stewardship. The overall purpose is to build student understanding of the Chesapeake Bay system and their local watersheds, including rivers, upland streams, and surrounding natural habitats, while encouraging long-term care for these resources.
This funding announcement is especially focused on expanding NOAA B-WET into school districts that have not previously received B-WET funding for systemic programs. In other words, while past B-WET recipients may still apply, applications are expected to be most competitive when they directly address the priority of reaching new school districts and growing access to these watershed-based learning experiences. A key geographic eligibility condition also applies at the district level: only school districts with more than 25 percent of their land area within the Chesapeake Bay watershed are eligible under the stated program priorities, which effectively targets funds to communities most directly connected to the Bay and its tributaries.
The opportunity is offered by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically through the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which typically means NOAA expects an active partnership role during the project period (for example, coordination, technical input, or shared implementation responsibilities) rather than a hands-off pass-through grant relationship. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding and is associated with CFDA 11.457. The funding activity areas include environment, natural resources, science and technology, research and development, and related categories.
Eligible applicants span a wide range of organizations that can deliver education and community-based programming. These include K-12 public and independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher education, community-based and nonprofit organizations, state and local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments. For-profit organizations, foreign organizations, and foreign public entities cannot apply as the lead applicant, but they are allowed to participate as partners under an eligible lead organization. Federal agencies also cannot receive federal assistance under this announcement, but they may participate as project partners, which can be helpful when a project benefits from federal scientific expertise, site access, or coordination with federal land or water programs.
NOAA also highlights an explicit interest in broadening participation among institutions and communities that have historically been underrepresented in federal funding. The agency notes a strong commitment to engaging historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and organizations that work in underserved areas, and it encourages proposals that involve these entities. This emphasis signals that proposals demonstrating inclusive partnerships, equitable access to outdoor learning, and meaningful benefits for underserved districts and communities align well with the program direction.
Key administrative details for this specific announcement include the funding opportunity title "Fiscal Year 2018 Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training Program" and funding opportunity number "NOAA NMFS NCBO 2018 2005490." The original closing date was March 9, 2018, and the listed award ceiling was $150,000. The announcement was created on December 22, 2017.Apply for NOAA NMFS NCBO 2018 2005490
- The Department of Commerce in the business and commerce, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2018 Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.457.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-03-09. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Fiscal Year 2018 Chesapeake Bay B-WET Program (NOAA) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Fiscal Year 2018 Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program, a NOAA competitive grant opportunity intended to strengthen K-12 environmental literacy and stewardship across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
2) What is the overall purpose of the Chesapeake Bay B-WET Program?
The program aims to build student understanding of the Chesapeake Bay system and their local watersheds (including rivers, upland streams, and surrounding natural habitats) while encouraging long-term care and stewardship of these resources.
3) What types of projects does the program support?
The program supports projects that deliver locally relevant, hands-on learning through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). Projects are intended to connect classroom learning with outdoor field experiences and stewardship-focused action.
4) What is an MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience)?
An MWEE is a structured learning sequence that blends classroom instruction with outdoor field work. Students typically: (1) define a real environmental issue, (2) conduct field experiences, (3) analyze and synthesize what they find, (4) draw conclusions, and (5) complete an action project that connects learning to stewardship.
5) Is this opportunity focused on K-12 education specifically?
Yes. The opportunity is designed to strengthen K-12 environmental literacy and stewardship across the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with projects built around K-12 learning experiences such as MWEEs.
6) What geographic area does this opportunity target?
The program targets the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including local watersheds connected to the Bay and its tributaries.
7) Are there district-level geographic eligibility requirements?
Yes, under the stated program priorities only school districts with more than 25 percent of their land area within the Chesapeake Bay watershed are eligible, which focuses funds on communities most directly connected to the Bay and its tributaries.
8) What is NOAA prioritizing in this announcement?
This announcement is especially focused on expanding NOAA B-WET into school districts that have not previously received B-WET funding for systemic programs. Applications are expected to be most competitive when they directly address this priority of reaching new school districts and expanding access to watershed-based learning experiences.
9) Can past B-WET recipients apply?
Yes. Past B-WET recipients may still apply, but proposals are expected to be most competitive when they directly address the priority of reaching new school districts and growing access.
10) Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office.
11) What type of federal award is expected?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which generally indicates NOAA expects an active partnership role during the project period (for example, coordination, technical input, or shared implementation responsibilities) rather than a fully hands-off grant relationship.
12) Is this considered discretionary funding?
Yes. The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding.
13) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 11.457.
14) What funding activity areas are associated with this announcement?
The funding activity areas include environment, natural resources, science and technology, research and development, and related categories.
15) Who is eligible to apply as a lead applicant?
Eligible applicants include K-12 public and independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher education, community-based and nonprofit organizations, state and local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments.
16) Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
No. For-profit organizations cannot apply as the lead applicant under this announcement. However, they may participate as partners under an eligible lead organization.
17) Are foreign organizations or foreign public entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign organizations and foreign public entities cannot apply as the lead applicant. They may participate as partners under an eligible lead organization.
18) Can federal agencies apply for or receive funding under this announcement?
No. Federal agencies cannot receive federal assistance under this announcement. However, they may participate as project partners, for example by contributing scientific expertise, site access, or coordination with federal land or water programs.
19) Does NOAA encourage partnerships with specific types of institutions or communities?
Yes. NOAA explicitly highlights an interest in broadening participation among institutions and communities that have historically been underrepresented in federal funding.
20) Which underrepresented institutions are specifically mentioned?
NOAA notes a strong commitment to engaging historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), and organizations that work in underserved areas.
21) What proposal elements align with the program's emphasis on broadening participation?
Based on the announcement language, proposals that demonstrate inclusive partnerships, equitable access to outdoor learning, and meaningful benefits for underserved districts and communities align well with the program direction.
22) What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The title is "Fiscal Year 2018 Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training Program" and the funding opportunity number is "NOAA NMFS NCBO 2018 2005490."
23) What is the award ceiling for this announcement?
The listed award ceiling is $150,000.
24) What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was March 9, 2018.
25) When was this funding announcement created?
The announcement was created on December 22, 2017.
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