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Shell Marine Habitat Program - Gulf of Mexico

Request for Proposal

Background

The Shell Marine Habitat Program (SMHP) is a partnership between Shell Oil Company, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).  The purpose of the partnership is to support protection and restoration activities that benefit marine and coastal habitats and living resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Funding may be provided to projects that benefit marine habitat as well as broader coastal conservation and restoration objectives and may be focused in areas where Shell has facilities.   

Funding Availability

Approximately $650,000 annually.

Geographic Scope

The Gulf of Mexico coast including: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (from the Western panhandle through Tampa Bay).

Eligible Applicants
Government agencies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions are eligible for funding. 

Grant Size

Typical grant awards will range from $50,000 - $200,000, and requests within this range are encouraged.

Funding Priorities

Projects will be considered under SMHP that:

• Restore marine, estuarine, and coastal habitats. Examples include:
  • Oyster reef restoration and protection;
  • Salt marsh, seagrass, and barrier island restoration or enhancement;
  • Coastal prairie, wetland, or forest restoration or protection;
  • Riparian buffer enhancement and riverine riparian restoration;
  • Erosion protection and hydrologic restoration.
• Provide benefit for special status species as identified by state or federal agencies (particularly shorebirds, migratory birds, native fisheries, shellfish and sea turtles) through habitat restoration/protection and improved stewardship. Projects should result in measurable benefits to the species through sustaining or enhancing their recovery.

      Examples include:

• Restoration, monitoring, and protection of shorebird habitat;
• Oyster habitat restoration;
• Sea turtle nest monitoring and dune restoration;
• Projects that reduce bycatch of species of concern by helping fisheries become sustainable through voluntary incentives.   

• Develop community stewardship through hands-on participation/volunteerism and/or innovative education and outreach associated with the project.
  • Examples: Vegetation plantings, pre- and post-project monitoring, outreach at public events, workshops and technical assistance for landowners.

Criteria for Competitive Proposals

Preference will be given to projects that include:

1) Measurable conservation outcomes linked to project activities (i.e. restore 100 acres of salt marsh; increase species population by 10%);

2) Activities consistent with the goals of NFWF’s Oyster , Sea Turtle, and American Oystercatcher Initiatives and/or established state, regional, and federal resource conservation plans;

3) Restoration/protection of habitats/species in or adjacent to protected areas;

4) Specific provisions for long-term maintenance, management and protection, as appropriate;

5) Education, training, and public outreach components linked to on-the-ground restoration restoration/protection activities to enhance the community benefits of the project.

Monitoring  

Projects are encouraged to include pre- and post- project monitoring as part of the project plan.  For monitoring guidance, see NOAA’s monitoring planner.

Application Information

Technical Assistance

Applicants for restoration funds are strongly encouraged to contact NOAA technical advisors to discuss their restoration projects before submitting proposals, and to incorporate technical assistance into your projects as appropriate. See technical assistance for contact information.

Time Period for Project Completion

Projects should be completed within one year to 24 months upon receipt of the grant agreement. Project start and end dates should include the period during which all proposed work is accomplished, all requested funds are spent, and all matching funds are spent. We understand a grant may only cover one part of a project which has multiple parts. However, the part of the project you are applying for must be completed in that time period.

A recipient may choose to back-date the start date of their project up to one year prior to the pre-proposal deadline.

If the funding request is only for a phase of a larger project, please place the portion of the project that is the subject of the funding request in context with the larger project by stating the goals, outcomes, and timelines for both the funding request portion and the larger project overall (and the extent to which the funding request will help achieve the overall project goals).

Match

Grant awards require a minimum 1:1 match of cash or contributed goods and services (in-kind) and a match of over 2:1 is encouraged.  The ratio of matching funds offered by the applicant is one criterion considered during the review process.  

To be eligible, matching contributions must be:

• Raised and dedicated specifically towards the project;
• Voluntary in nature (mitigation, restitution, or other permit or court-ordered settlements are ineligible for use as match); and
• The cost of recent land acquisitions may also qualify as match for a project involving work at that site. Applicants may also include an easement put on the land, if this occurs during the award period.

Please note, waiver of university indirect and/or general administrative overhead costs are not eligible for match. If you are having trouble developing match, or have questions about forms of eligible match, please contact Suzanne Sessine with questions.

Permit Requirements

It is important that you provide sufficient documentation that, if appropriate, demonstrates you are pursuing, expect to receive or have received all necessary permits and clearances for your project to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, and any other Federal, State, or local regulations or ordinances.

Restrictions

Grant funds cannot be used for political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying or litigation activities or to support projects resulting from legally mandated mitigation projects.  The Foundation cannot provide funds for general administrative overhead or indirect expenses.  

Special Instructions

• If you have received a grant previously under the SMHP, please summarize briefly within the application your progress as a result of that grant.  If the proposal builds off an existing project, describe how the new work is discrete and differs from the original project (e.g., justify the need for additional funding).
• All proposals should describe a plan for project implementation, including a timeline, partnerships, and how the project will be sustained over the long term if additional funding will be required (from other sources, or if you intend to reapply to SHMP).

Submission Content for Habitat Restoration, Protection and Management Projects In addition to the items described above, when preparing the proposal narrative for habitat projects, please make sure to address the following in detail where appropriate in the application:

• Background information that establishes that the habitat to be restored exists or existed at the site, the extent to which the site is currently degraded,  and the degrading factors and how those factors will be addressed through the project;
• Estimated extent of area to be restored/protected (i.e., acreage, square footage, or river miles);
• List of applicable permits, estimated timeframe for permit processing (i.e., 1 year from submission date), and status (i.e., in preparation, submitted or approved);
• Maps and, if available, photographs of the site. Maps should identify the project area;
• If available, please provide for construction projects a scaled plan view and elevations; and
• Details on long-term maintenance and monitoring of the project.

Additional information requested for projects targeting species conservation/recovery:

• Background information that establishes the current status and population goals for recovery of species as listed in appropriate recovery and management plans;
• Specific priority actions listed in the plans that will be implemented through the project;
• Measurable outcomes predicted for the project (increase in # of individuals, % increase in population, etc.) and the extent to which this reaches recovery goals for the species.

Deadlines and Application Link

Please Note: Starting in 2009 there will be only one funding cycle per year.

Preproposal deadline:  April 1 annually.  Only electronic preproposals submitted through the on-line application system will be considered. 

Upon receipt and evaluation of the pre-proposal, the Foundation will invite successful applicants to submit a full proposal. If invited for a full proposal, applicants will be required to solicit peer-review of their proposal by up to five qualified and objective reviewers. The Foundation also retains the right to require additional peer-review of proposals by external experts.

Full proposal deadline:  June 1 annually.  Following a review of about five months, final decisions will be made.  

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