Due Date: Full proposals are due October 21, 2010 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

Description:

NOAA’s Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (NOAA/CSCOR), in
partnership with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Office
of Ocean Exploration and Research (NOAA/OER), National Marine Fisheries
Service Southeast Regional Office, and Gulf of Mexico Regional
Collaboration Team, is soliciting proposals for a project under the
Regional Ecosystem Prediction Program of up to 5 years in duration to
conduct research to improve the understanding of population connectivity
of key species between the southernmost portion of Pulley Ridge on the
West Florida continental shelf and downstream to the coral ecosystems of
the Florida Keys. Coral ecosystems upstream of Pulley Ridge can be
considered if directly relevant to population connectivity or to provide
context to the overall study. This information will be used to improve
the ability of Gulf of Mexico resource managers to proactively develop
strategies to manage and protect poorly understood mesophotic coral
ecosystems, including coastal and marine spatial planning and the siting
of marine protected areas and marine protected area networks for shallow
and mesophotic coral ecosystems.

One project is expected to be supported for up to 5 years, with an
annual budget up to $1,000,000. At no additional cost, up to 15 days per
year for two years of time using the MolaMola/ /AUV will be provided by
the NOAA/OER National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.

Additionally, NOAA/CSCOR has partnered once again with NOAA/OER to
provide their expertise in administering appropriate technologies for
field-based research to support your proposal such as advanced technical
diving, autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles..
Operational costs for conducting the research must be included in the
proposal.

The full funding opportunity and information on how to apply can be
found on grants.gov by clicking on this link
<http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=J1SvMJPTps28MQr3PWjlh3twCqmpN855Y1MLvydXJBjPJyyZVCQp%211680187280?oppId=56034&mode=VIEW>
or by searching for CFDA #11.478.

For more information, please contact Kimberly Puglise, NOAA/CSCOR,
301-713-3338 x140 or kimberly.puglise@noaa.gov
<mailto:kimberly.puglise@noaa.gov>.

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Kimberly Puglise
Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
NOAA’s National Ocean Service
1305 East-West Highway, N/SCI2
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 713-3338 x140
(301) 713-4044 (Fax)