Fisheries and Offshore Wind Interactions RFP - 2024
Now Accepting Proposals
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
The Northeast Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center is seeking proposals to improve understanding of fishing community interactions with offshore wind development in the U.S. Northeast from the New York Bight through the Gulf of Maine.
Through this Request for Proposals (RFP), the NESGC and NEFSC are continuing to advance a regional approach and seek to enhance existing and catalyze new human dimensions research in the Northeast that will:
Further understanding of the interactions between fisheries and offshore wind development, including connections to fishing community resilience and economies;
Build actionable science that bridges research, fishing community, and management needs;
Build capacity for ongoing collaborative, inter- and transdisciplinary human dimensions research.
The focus is on advancing needed social, cultural, historical, and economic research to inform communities, developers, and other decision-makers with an emphasis on research that is conducted “with and by” affected communities and not “on and for.” Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches from across the social sciences and humanities are encouraged.
IMPORTANT DATES
All proposals must be submitted through NH Sea Grant’s online portal, eSeaGrant.
Letters of Intent are due February 15, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. ET
Full Proposals are due April 1, 2024 by 5:00 p.m. ET
INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR
Hosted virtually on January 24, 2024 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Webinar will include an RFP overview, Q&A session, and application portal tips
RESEARCH AREAS
Proposals that address one or more of the topical research areas below are encouraged. However, proposals are not limited to the topical examples as long as the research addresses identified RFP goals. Topical research area examples include, but are not limited to:
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1.1 Apply collaborative and/or regional social, cultural, historical, and economic research approaches and methods (e.g., structured surveys, case studies, predictive models) to identify, characterize, and find solutions to fishing community needs, concerns, opportunities and/or priorities when considering all aspects of offshore wind development, including but not limited to site selection, site characterization/ monitoring, construction, operations and maintenance (O&M), and decommissioning.
1.2 Develop and test fisheries specific applications of theoretical approaches to engagement, public participation, and trust in the context of fisheries science and management and OWD interactions with fisheries and fishing communities.
1.3 Develop and test approaches to increase capacity of fishing communities to engage in the development of community benefits agreements, compensatory mitigation, and other related programs as they pertain to fishing communities, including approaches to monitor and evaluate effectiveness in the future.
1.4 Develop new approaches to multi-criteria design, layout, and operational optimization of offshore wind facilities that account for social and human factors, with consideration of adaptive approaches for co-location, including access to fishing grounds.
1.5 Collaboratively develop tools to assist fishing communities to integrate local needs (e.g., infrastructure, business expansion, workforce development, and community engagement) with offshore wind planning and development.
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2.1 Characterize the potential benefits (positive), effects (neutral), and burdens (negative) of OWD on fisheries and fishing communities.
2.2 Develop protocols to measure benefits of and impacts on food and energy production at multiple scales, e.g., direct and opportunity, market and non-market, social and cultural.
2.3 Advance understanding of theories of justice, power dynamics, social well-being as they pertain to OWD interactions with fisheries and fishing communities.
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3.1 Develop and test frameworks for long-term monitoring of socio-cultural and socioeconomic data collection to inform multiple management pathways (longitudinal data needs) related to OWD interactions with fisheries and fishing communities.
3.2 Develop protocols for and evaluate changes in response to OWD, including, but not limited to changes to fishery operations, shoreside support services, port activity, employment, social demographics, etc.
ELIGIBILITY
This research competition is open to applicants at any public, private, or higher education institution (including non-profits and industry associations) or tribal, municipal or state government entity, in the United States and its territories who are eligible to submit a proposal according to their home institution guidelines. Project teams do not need to be based in the Northeast but must include at least one Co-PI from one of six states of the NESGC (i.e. NY, CT, MA, NH, ME, RI). International (non-U.S.) partner organizations may receive federal funding as a subcontract. Refer to the full RFP for complete eligibility details.
LETTERS OF INTENT & PROPOSALS
Successful research proposals will undertake collaborative, inter- or transdisciplinary, and/or innovative approaches with results that will be applicable and useful to affected parties and users throughout the Northeast region. Offshore wind development and fisheries interactions is an issue of regional importance, and research approaches that incorporate and address specific regional aspects and applicability of the topic are encouraged.
Interested parties are invited at this time to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Northeast Sea Grant Consortium. LOIs be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 15, 2024 via NH Sea Grant’s online portal, eSeaGrant. Late or incomplete LOIs will not be considered, and full proposals will only be reviewed if an LOI has been submitted. Full proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 1, 2024.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The National Sea Grant College Program, Northeast Sea Grant Consortium, and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center champion diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility by recruiting, retaining, and preparing a diverse workforce, and proactively engaging and serving the diverse populations of coastal communities. As part of this request for proposals, applicants should carefully consider how their proposals address the goals outlined in the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy and the National Sea Grant College Program Strategic Plan, including but not limited to efforts to connect with diverse populations in project design and implementation, or to recruit and engage with students, fellows, and research team members from rural areas, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, or individuals from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds that have inhibited their ability to pursue a career in STEM.
DURATION AND FUNDING
Approximately $1 million will be available to support projects during the funding period September 1, 2024 and ending no later than August 31, 2027.
Budget requests may not exceed $400,000 in federal funds throughout the duration of the project (up to three years). Proposals requesting lower levels of support are strongly encouraged and will receive full consideration.
A 25% non-federal match is required for all proposals.
CONTACT
If you have any questions regarding proposal preparation, budgets or submission, please contact a member of the NH Sea Grant staff listed below:
Steve Jones
Research Program Coordinator
Stephen.Jones@unh.edu
Lindsey Williams
Research and Extension Integration Lead
Lindsey.Williams@unh.edu
Katy Bland
Extension and Regional Coordination Lead
Katy@neracoos.org