NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration & Research (OER) is soliciting proposals for ocean exploration in waters under U.S. jurisdiction, including the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). OER is interested in projects that provide data and information that may inform ocean-related segments of the U.S. economy through mapping, characterization, and exploration of the deep seafloor and water column of the U.S. EEZ as well as marine cultural heritage in U.S. waters. OER is soliciting proposals for three themes:

OCEAN EXPLORATION

Ocean exploration to inform management, sustainable use, and conservation of marine resources in poorly explored deep ocean areas of the U.S. EEZ. Areas proposed for exploration and/or initial characterization must be at water depths of 200 m or more.

TECHNOLOGY

Application of new or novel use of existing ocean technologies or innovative methods that increase the scope and efficiency of acquiring ocean exploration data and improve usability of and access to ocean exploration data. Proposed technologies must be applicable to water depths of 200 m or greater, though testing in shallower water or lab-based testing will be supported. Technology testing may occur outside of U.S. waters.

MARINE ARCHAEOLOGY

Discovery and characterization of underwater cultural heritage to inform decisions on preservation and seabed use, and to identify sources of potential environmental impacts. Marine archaeology proposals can be conducted in any water depth within the U.S. EEZ.

Informational documents on this funding opportunity are accessible through the OER website.

For the purpose of this opportunity, costs for ship time and/or other ocean data collection platform support (remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, etc.) are considered rental costs and therefore are not included in Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC). The exception is for institutions with a federal negotiated Indirect Cost (IDC) Rate agreement that covers these charges.

Note: Ship time on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer will not be funded through this announcement.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing the availability of up to $15 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding. The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches, or private forest lands.

CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of:

•  Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches.
• Conservation technologies, practices, and systems.

Projects or activities under CIG must:

• Comply with all applicable Federal, Tribal, State, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project;
• Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability for success;
• Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field;
• Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption; and
• Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use.

Technologies and approaches that are eligible for funding in a project’s geographic area using an EQIP contract for an established conservation practice standard are ineligible for CIG funding, except where the use of those technologies and approaches demonstrates clear innovation.

Up to 10 percent of the total funds available for CIG in FY 2020 is set-aside for proposals from historically underserved producers, veteran farmers or ranchers, or community-based organizations comprised of or representing these entities.

A webinar for CIG applicants is scheduled for May 13, 2020 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time to address questions on this funding opportunity. Information on how to participate in the webinar is available at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig/.

All applications for this Program Announcement must specifically address at least one of the following Focus Areas and must be of clear scientific merit and direct relevance to military health. If the proposed research does not specifically address at least one of these Focus Areas, the Government will administratively withdraw the application. The FY20 PRMRP Focus Areas for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health are listed below.

Emerging Viral Diseases

• On demand identification, isolation, characterization and manufacturing of antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• Development of a wearable sensor that provides real-time diagnostics that can be used as a point of care for emerging viral diseases to predict illness before onset of symptoms. The diagnostic platform should be applicable to COVID-19. Virus-specific markers that can identify viruses at the genus level can be included, with an emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Surveillance and predictive modeling tools that leverage artificial intelligence approaches to predict outbreaks and epidemics and support strategies for mitigating the threat of COVID-19.
• Triage of care for COVID-19 patients requiring access to resource-intensive interventions.
• Research to understand novel molecular and biological mechanisms of COVID-19 health impacts (e.g., microbiome) and identification/validation of biochemical, physiological, or combined biomarkers for evaluating short- and long-term health impacts from COVID-19.
• Research to determine direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on military readiness and unit climate; interpersonal/family dynamics; behavioral and mental health issues such as depression, suicide, anxiety, and loneliness and other key risk factors such as substance abuse and risky health-related behaviors.

The aim of such research should be to inform, develop, and test potential behavioral countermeasures (e.g., knowledge and information products, preparedness training, support resources, self-care and team-care recommendations) to mitigate negative impacts and maximize Service member and family readiness/resilience to stressors related to pandemics and disasters.

Respiratory Health

• Research on the etiology and prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by host responses to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Development of improved methods for assessing and treating lung injury due to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Novel and/or innovative detection technologies or therapeutics to reduce the incidence and/or severity of ARDS and/or other lung injury secondary to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Development of biomarker metrics to associate the long-term health outcomes of virus-induced ARDS with degradation of physiological and physical performance.
• Ventilation and Extracorporeal Life Support approaches and technologies to support lung function or airway management in response to COVID-19 that increase survivability and/or minimize care provider burden or exposure.
• Pharmacological and biologic interventions for COVID-19 induced complications, including ARDS and related sequelae.
• Research on the short- and long-term health impacts of COVID-19 diagnosed Service members on readiness, deployability, fitness for duty (e.g., ability to complete the Army Combat Fitness Test), and operationally relevant respiratory challenges such as challenges in fixed-wing aviation, diving, and high-altitude ground operations. Research on the prevention of COVID-19 (and other respiratory pathogens) in aircraft, ships, and submarines, specifically focused on ventilation systems and ease of transport of airborne pathogens (i.e., risk characterizations).

Applicants should select the FY20 PRMRP Program Announcement most appropriate to the stage of the proposed research. Applications for an FY20 PRMRP Topic Area other than Emerging Viral Diseases and/orRespiratory Health should be submitted to one of the other FY20 PRMRP Program Announcements available at Grants.gov.

All applications for this Program Announcement must specifically address at least one of the following Focus Areas and must be of clear scientific merit and direct relevance to military health. If the proposed research does not specifically address at least one of these Focus Areas, the Government will administratively withdraw the application. The FY20 PRMRP Focus Areas for Emerging Viral Diseases and Respiratory Health are listed below.

Emerging Viral Diseases

• On demand identification, isolation, characterization and manufacturing of antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• Development of a wearable sensor that provides real-time diagnostics that can be used as a point of care for emerging viral diseases to predict illness before onset of symptoms. The diagnostic platform should be applicable to COVID-19. Virus-specific markers that can identify viruses at the genus level can be included, with an emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Surveillance and predictive modeling tools that leverage artificial intelligence approaches to predict outbreaks and epidemics and support strategies for mitigating the threat of COVID-19.
• Triage of care for COVID-19 patients requiring access to resource-intensive interventions.
• Research to understand novel molecular and biological mechanisms of COVID-19 health impacts (e.g., microbiome) and identification/validation of biochemical, physiological, or combined biomarkers for evaluating short- and long-term health impacts from COVID-19.
• Research to determine direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on military readiness and unit climate; interpersonal/family dynamics; behavioral and mental health issues such as depression, suicide, anxiety, and loneliness and other key risk factors such as substance abuse and risky health-related behaviors.

The aim of such research should be to inform, develop, and test potential behavioral countermeasures (e.g., knowledge and information products, preparedness training, support resources, self-care and team-care recommendations) to mitigate negative impacts and maximize Service member and family readiness/resilience to stressors related to pandemics and disasters.

Respiratory Health

• Research on the etiology and prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by host responses to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Development of improved methods for assessing and treating lung injury due to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Novel and/or innovative detection technologies or therapeutics to reduce the incidence and/or severity of ARDS and/or other lung injury secondary to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19.
• Development of biomarker metrics to associate the long-term health outcomes of virus-induced ARDS with degradation of physiological and physical performance.
• Ventilation and Extracorporeal Life Support approaches and technologies to support lung function or airway management in response to COVID-19 that increase survivability and/or minimize care provider burden or exposure.
• Pharmacological and biologic interventions for COVID-19 induced complications, including ARDS and related sequelae.
• Research on the short- and long-term health impacts of COVID-19 diagnosed Service members on readiness, deployability, fitness for duty (e.g., ability to complete the Army Combat Fitness Test), and operationally relevant respiratory challenges such as challenges in fixed-wing aviation, diving, and high-altitude ground operations. Research on the prevention of COVID-19 (and other respiratory pathogens) in aircraft, ships, and submarines, specifically focused on ventilation systems and ease of transport of airborne pathogens (i.e., risk characterizations).

Applicants should select the FY20 PRMRP Program Announcement most appropriate to the stage of the proposed research. Applications for an FY20 PRMRP Topic Area other than Emerging Viral Diseases and/orRespiratory Health should be submitted to one of the other FY20 PRMRP Program Announcements available at Grants.gov.

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to announce the availability of
supplemental funding for the organizations that were previously awarded funding under
Funding Strategy 1 of CDC-RFA-OT18-1802: Strengthening Public Health Systems and
Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health. The CDCRFA-OT18-1802 recipients are eligible to submit applications for new FY20 CIO Project Plans according to the Target Population Category (A, B, or C) and Target Population Description for which they received initial funding in FY18. The goal is to fund recipients that have the capability, expertise, resources, reach, and history of providing capacity building relevant to implementing this program’s key strategies, activities,
and outcomes.

The program strategies include strengthening the capacities of public health systems infrastructure; leadership and workforce; data and information systems; communication and information technology; partnerships; laws and policies; and programs and services. The capacity-building efforts of this program are expected to strengthen and optimize the public health system and services to improve and protect the nation’s health. This supplemental funding opportunity enables recipients to strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure; ensure a competent, current, and connected public health system; and improve delivery of essential services through capacity-building assistance (CBA).

CBA is defined as activities that strengthen and maintain the infrastructure and resources necessary to sustain or improve system, organizational, community, or individual processes and competencies. CBA is delivered through technical assistance, training, information sharing, technology transfer, materials development, or funding that enables organizations to serve customers better and operate in a comprehensive, responsive, and effective manner. Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the OSTLTS:

• Improve the capacity and performance of state, tribal, local and territorial public health agencies to more efficiently and effectively manage and deliver high quality programs and services to protect the public’s health.
• Develop and implement training to provide for competent, sustainable, and empowered public health workforce able to meet emerging and future health challenges.

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not be considered. For this purpose, research is defined here. Guidance on how CDC interprets the definition of research in the context of public health can be found here. (See section 45 CFR 46.102(d)).