Alaska Coastal Marine Institute

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) provides major economic and energy benefits on a national and local level to the taxpayers, States and the Native American community. The BOEM oversees the exploration and development of oil, natural gas and other minerals and renewable energy alternatives on the Nation’s outer continental shelf. BOEM continues to look for better ways to serve the American people and to ensure that the Nation receives the best value for its resources now and into the future. The program not only supports decisions made within the Department of the Interior, but also provides coastal States and local governments with the information necessary to ensure that all stages of offshore energy and mineral activities are conducted in a manner to protect both the human and natural environments. Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) Section 1346 mandates the conduct of environmental and socioeconomic studies needed for the assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments which may be affected by oil and gas or other mineral development. OCSLA Section 1345 authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information, joint utilization of available expertise, formation of joint monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore. The purpose of the Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) program is to use highly qualified scientific expertise at local levels to collect and disseminate environmental information needed for OCS oil and gas and marine minerals decisions; address local and regional OCS-related environmental and resource issues of mutual interest; and strengthen the BOEM-State partnership in addressing OCS oil and gas and marine minerals information needs.

University of Alaska may make application for support by a named principal investigator. Non-UA scientists may participate in collaboration with a UA principal investigator.

Research scientists, Federal, State and local decision-makers, Native American Organizations, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the program.

This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Letters of intent responding to particular information needs/areas will be requested. From these, selected full proposals will be invited for mission-relevant research likely to provide needed information for OCS oil and gas resource management decisions. Proposals must include a full statement of work, estimated budget, and resumes. Applicants shall post their applications on Grants.gov. The standard SF-424 application forms required by 2 CFR Part 215.12, and the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation at 2 CFR 1402 must be used.

Awards are made based on a competitive peer review of proposals by a panel consisting of government scientists and research managers, and external reviewers, as appropriate. Criteria for judging proposals include mission relevance, technical merit, and the quality and appropriateness of the personnel including past performance and publication record, project management, logistics plan, safety management, permits, and interagency coordination, budget/matching funds, and where appropriate, minimization of impacts. Notification of an award is issued. It is anticipated that four
applications will be received, and three awards will be granted in FY 2021.

From 180 to 270 days.