CALL FOR PRE-PROPOSALS

GULF OF MEXICO (GOM) REGIONAL NATURAL HAZARD AND
CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCY RESEARCH AND OUTREACH PROGRAM

Deadline:February 23, 2009, 4 p.m. EST -- NO EXTENSIONS


Priorities

To better address research questions indentified in the GOM Regional Research Plan and proposed actions in the GOM Alliance Action Plan II, the GOM Sea Grant programs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) GOM program, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and possibly other federal agencies are inviting pre-proposals for one- or two-year projects that address Natural Hazard and Climate Change Resiliency priorities listed below.

The over-arching goal of the initiative is to develop the information, tools, technologies, products, policies, or public decision processes that can be used by coastal communities to increase resilience to coastal hazards and sea level rise. The sponsors will fund regional projects focused on any of the following priorities:

  1. Develop and/or evaluate the effectiveness of innovative approaches to increase public understanding of risks associated with coastal hazards and sea level rise, and to modify their behavior accordingly.
  2. Develop new technologies, construction products, planning tools and guidelines, and/or model policies that can be used by local governments to increase resiliency to coastal hazards and sea level rise.
  3. Determine socioeconomic impacts of implementing different adaptation and resilience actions for comparison purposes and quantify the cost-benefits for communities and states to adopt different resilience strategies.
  4. Predict socioeconomic impacts of climate and sea level change on population dynamics, community infrastructure, short- and long-term community demographic shifts, social capital, and commerce centers for county and community planners and local governments.
  5. Design updated real-time storm surge models and products that include meteorological, land use and land cover, and improved boundary data to better predict impacts from storms at a scale that is relevant for local and regional decision making.
  6. Determine linkages between human actions (e.g., physical alterations to coasts, ground water depletion) and natural systems that can either increase or compromise ecological integrity and community resiliency to storm events and climate change.

 Award and Process

Federal funds for each selected project will not exceed $200,000 per year for two years. Non-federal matching funds at 50% of the federal amount are required, but may be slightly lower depending on the final list of project sponsors. Non-federal matching funds from agencies and/or stakeholders will be considered a plus.

Interdisciplinary projects are highly encouraged and projects must be regional in their scope. They must include investigators from states associated with at least two of the four GOM Sea Grant Programs (Florida, Mississippi/Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. Inclusion of investigators from Mexican universities is encouraged.

The knowledge gained from research is most valuable when it is effectively shared with end-users in a format that is easily understood and directly applicable for decision support. Successful applicants must incorporate the technical expertise, tools, and methods to answer the research question AND design an effective education, outreach, and/or extension plan that will lead to application of the research results. Principal investigators (PIs) are encouraged to work with end-users (agencies, the private sector, NGOs, etc.) in developing relevant proposals, and to contact their local GOM Sea Grant program for recommendations of Sea Grant Extension personnel who might be appropriate collaborators with regard to the education, outreach, and extension requirement.

The pre-proposal should be submitted to the Florida Sea Grant Program as a PDF file attached to an email message to jhw04@ufl.edu. An investigator may only participate in up to two regional proposals in any capacity (as a PI, co-PI or associate PI).  Pre-proposal will be distributed to the project sponsors who will collaborate with the GOM sponsors in conducting a review process and jointly deciding which investigators will be invited to submit full proposals.

Pre-proposals will be evaluated using the criteria listed below.  The review criteria includes the level of involvement of people and groups who will directly use the results of the project and how these groups are involved in the development and execution of the proposed work.

Review criteria for pre and full proposals include:

  1. Rationale (15%)--the degree to which the proposed activity addresses an important issue, problem, or opportunity related to reducing the risks to life, property, and the environment from coastal natural hazard events as defined in the regional priorities outlined above.
  2. Scientific or Professional Merit (40%)--the degree to which the activity is innovative and will advance the state of the science or discipline through rigorous use and extension of state-of-the-art methods.
  3. Expected Results, Applications and Benefits (20%)--the degree to which the completed project is expected to create new commercial opportunities, improve technological and economic efficiency, improve governmental and management decisions, and can be integrated into education and outreach programs. Results, applications, and benefits must be applicable throughout the GOM region.
  4. Users, Participants and Co-Sponsors (20%)--the degree to which users or potential users of the results of the proposed activity have been brought into the planning and funding of the activity, will be brought into the execution of the activity or will use the results. Incorporating support from local, state or federal agencies in real or in-kind funding will enhance the proposal. Funding from other federal agencies will be a plus, but cannot count toward the non-federal match requirement.
  5. Investigator Qualifications (5%)--the degree to which the investigators are qualified by education, training, and/or experience to execute the proposed activity consistent with stage of career development and record of productivity with previous Sea Grant funding (if applicable).

The PIs of pre-proposals receiving a positive review will be encouraged to participate in the full proposal process. By law, principal investigators of pre-proposals who are not encouraged to submit a full proposal are still eligible to do so. The guidelines for developing full proposals will be provided at the time PIs are contacted with the review results concerning their pre-proposal.

Timeline

  • February 23, 2009—Pre-proposals are due at Florida Sea Grant.
  • April 17, 2009—Principal investigators will be notified of the review process outcome relative to their Pre-proposals.
  • June 8, 2009—Full proposals are due.
  • August 28, 2009—Principal investigators will be notified of the review process outcome relative to full proposals.
  • September 13, 2009—Written response to proposal merit reviews, if requested, are due.
  • February 1, 2010—Projects begin.
  • January 31, 2012—Projects end.

Pre-Proposal Submission Information
Pre-Proposal guidelines and required forms:

Gulf of Mexico Regional Preproposal Guidelines

Biodata Form