Opportunity Information: Apply for OIA CRNR2023

The OIA Coral Reef and Natural Resources Program 2023 is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA). Its main purpose is to provide financial support for practical projects that manage and protect coral reef ecosystems and strengthen broader natural resource stewardship in the U.S. insular areas, with a specific emphasis that also includes efforts to prevent, control, or respond to invasive species. In other words, the funding is aimed at on-the-ground conservation and management work that helps island communities safeguard reef health and the natural systems that reefs depend on, while also addressing the ecological and economic harm caused by invasive plants, animals, or pathogens.

The program is open to non-federal applicants located in, or directly serving, the eligible insular areas. Eligible applicants include local government agencies (and the announcement explicitly notes that this can include local hospitals or health centers and utilities), as well as institutions of higher education. The geographic eligibility covers Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, along with the freely associated states that participate in OIA programs: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Non-profit organizations may also apply if their mission and proposed work directly benefit these insular areas and they meet the applicable federal grant requirements. A key limitation is that, under 2 CFR 200.444, OIA cannot provide funding to the judicial branch of local governments, so courts or judiciary entities within local governments are not eligible recipients even if other parts of the same government may be.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is categorized as an environmental funding activity and uses a standard grant instrument. The opportunity number is OIA CRNR2023 and it is listed under CFDA 15.875 (a federal assistance listing associated with Department of the Interior insular area programs). The notice indicates an award ceiling of $300,000, meaning individual awards are not expected to exceed that amount. The original application closing date was March 24, 2023, and the opportunity record was created on October 3, 2022. While the summary does not spell out project examples, the stated scope makes clear the program is intended to fund management and protection actions for coral reefs and related natural resources, as well as invasive species work, in ways that produce direct benefits for the eligible island jurisdictions.

Applications are expected to follow the federal grants management rules referenced in the announcement, including the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Part 200, and applicants are directed to consult the Application Package Checklist in the official announcement for required components and compliance items. This matters because eligibility and allowability rules (including restrictions on certain types of costs and the judicial-branch prohibition) can affect whether an application is considered complete and fundable, even if the proposed project is otherwise aligned with coral reef protection or invasive species objectives.

  • The Department of the Interior in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OIA Coral Reef and Natural Resources Program 2023" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.875.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2022-10-03.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-03-24. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
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OIA Coral Reef and Natural Resources Program 2023 (OIA CRNR2023) - FAQs

1) What is the OIA Coral Reef and Natural Resources Program 2023?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA). The program provides financial support for practical, on-the-ground projects that manage and protect coral reef ecosystems and strengthen broader natural resource stewardship in the U.S. insular areas, with an emphasis that also includes preventing, controlling, or responding to invasive species.

2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The goal is to support conservation and management work that helps island communities safeguard coral reef health and the natural systems reefs depend on, while also addressing the ecological and economic harm caused by invasive plants, animals, or pathogens.

3) Is this a discretionary grant or a formula grant?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity.

4) Which federal agency runs this program?

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA).

5) What kinds of projects are meant to be funded?

The scope is focused on practical projects that protect and manage coral reef ecosystems and related natural resources in eligible insular areas. The scope specifically emphasizes efforts to prevent, control, or respond to invasive species as part of broader natural resource stewardship.

6) Does the program include invasive species work?

Yes. The opportunity specifically includes efforts to prevent, control, or respond to invasive species, and it frames invasive species as a source of ecological and economic harm that the funded work should help address.

7) Who is eligible to apply?

The program is open to non-federal applicants that are located in, or directly serve, the eligible insular areas. Eligible applicant types include local government agencies (and the announcement explicitly notes this can include local hospitals or health centers and utilities) and institutions of higher education. Non-profit organizations may also be eligible if their mission and proposed work directly benefit the eligible insular areas and they meet applicable federal grant requirements.

8) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

No. Eligibility is described as limited to non-federal applicants located in, or directly serving, the eligible insular areas.

9) Are local government agencies eligible?

Yes. Local government agencies are identified as eligible applicants.

10) Can local hospitals, health centers, or utilities apply?

Yes. The announcement explicitly notes that local government agencies may include local hospitals or health centers and utilities.

11) Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

12) Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Nonprofit organizations may apply if their mission and proposed work directly benefit the eligible insular areas and they meet applicable federal grant requirements.

13) Are courts or judiciary entities eligible if they are part of a local government?

No. A key limitation is that, under 2 CFR 200.444, OIA cannot provide funding to the judicial branch of local governments. This means courts or judiciary entities within local governments are not eligible recipients, even if other parts of the same government may be eligible.

14) What geographic areas are eligible?

The eligible insular areas listed are Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The opportunity also includes the freely associated states that participate in OIA programs: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

15) Do applicants need to be physically located in an eligible area?

Applicants must be located in, or directly serve, the eligible insular areas. Nonprofits, in particular, are described as eligible when their mission and proposed work directly benefit the eligible insular areas and they meet federal requirements.

16) What is the opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity number is OIA CRNR2023.

17) What is the CFDA or Assistance Listing number for this program?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.875, associated with Department of the Interior insular area programs.

18) What type of funding activity is this categorized under?

It is categorized as an environmental funding activity.

19) What type of award instrument is used?

The opportunity uses a standard grant instrument.

20) What is the maximum expected award size?

The notice indicates an award ceiling of $300,000, meaning individual awards are not expected to exceed $300,000.

21) When was the application deadline?

The original application closing date was March 24, 2023.

22) When was the opportunity record created?

The opportunity record was created on October 3, 2022.

23) Does the summary provide specific project examples?

No. The summary does not spell out specific project examples, but it makes clear that projects should produce direct benefits for eligible island jurisdictions through coral reef and natural resource protection and invasive species-related work.

24) What federal rules govern the application and grant management requirements?

Applications are expected to follow federal grants management rules referenced in the announcement, including the Uniform Guidance in 2 CFR Part 200.

25) Are there specific restrictions that could affect eligibility or funding decisions?

Yes. The information highlights that eligibility and allowability rules can affect whether an application is considered complete and fundable. It specifically calls out the judicial-branch prohibition under 2 CFR 200.444 as one such restriction.

26) What should applicants use to make sure their application is complete?

Applicants are directed to consult the Application Package Checklist in the official announcement for required components and compliance items.

27) What does it mean that this program focuses on "practical projects"?

Based on the description provided, "practical projects" refers to on-the-ground conservation and management work intended to directly manage and protect coral reefs and related natural resources, including active efforts that address invasive species impacts in eligible island jurisdictions.

28) Do proposed projects need to directly benefit the eligible insular areas?

Yes. The scope and eligibility language emphasize that projects should produce direct benefits for the eligible island jurisdictions, and nonprofit eligibility is tied to having a mission and proposed work that directly benefits these areas.

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