Opportunity Information: Apply for M21AS00382
AK-21-01, titled "Winter Ringed Seal Density within Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas Project Areas" (Funding Opportunity Number M21AS00382), is a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) discretionary cooperative agreement focused on improving what is known about ringed seals during the winter and spring in Alaska's nearshore Beaufort Sea. The central aim is to collect practical, decision-ready information on ringed seal distribution, density, and habitat use within the landfast ice zone adjacent to BOEM's Beaufort Sea Planning Area, the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and other existing North Slope oil and gas fields. In plain terms, the project is meant to map where seals are, how many are using specific areas, and what parts of the ice environment they rely on at the same time and places where industrial activity occurs, so that better avoidance and mitigation strategies can be developed.
The work described emphasizes winter ecology, when ringed seals depend heavily on landfast ice features such as breathing holes and subnivean lairs (snow-covered shelters on the ice used for resting and pupping). One major objective is to analyze how ringed seals use nearshore ice by locating and documenting wintering seals and the status of their structures, specifically to support strategies that reduce conflict where important seal habitat overlaps with oil and gas operations. Another objective is to apply and test novel survey technologies that can expand survey reach and improve detection of seals and their ice structures, with the broader purpose of strengthening understanding of seal movements and habitat use when standard field methods may be limited by weather, darkness, logistics, or safety constraints.
A key scientific deliverable envisioned in the announcement is a clearer picture of adult ringed seal movement patterns across winter and spring, with special attention to detecting use of subnivean lairs in landfast ice in the region bounded by NPR-A, ANWR, and BOEM's Beaufort Sea Planning Area. Alongside movement, the project also calls for documenting habitat-use areas and local foraging behavior, including classifying where foraging occurs and evaluating whether oil and gas development activities function as movement barriers that could limit seals' access to prey. The announcement also explicitly asks for an evaluation component that compares the efficiency of proposed new survey approaches against existing methods used to detect seals, breathing holes, and lairs, which signals BOEM's interest not only in biological results but also in determining which monitoring tools are most effective for future management and industry planning needs.
Administratively, this opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning BOEM anticipates substantial federal involvement during the project rather than a fully hands-off grant. The activity category is listed as Environment under CFDA 15.423. The opportunity was created on 2021-03-29 and had an original closing date of 2021-06-14. The award ceiling is $500,000, and the announcement describes the effort as a specific project BOEM intends to undertake, with awards contingent on receipt of an acceptable proposal.
Eligibility is targeted to organizations that can credibly conduct Arctic marine mammal research. Eligible applicants include the State of Alaska, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education in Alaska, other higher education institutions outside Alaska, and the North Slope Borough. The announcement requires that the applying organization provide a Principal Investigator who is a staff member of that organization. It also encourages cooperative research arrangements among state agencies, public universities, and non-profits in affected states, reflecting the reality that Arctic field programs often require partnerships to share logistics, local knowledge, and specialized technical capacity.
Cost sharing is not framed as strictly mandatory in the text provided, but it is described as "very strongly encouraged" and may be provided as cash or allowable in-kind support such as salary or equipment. There are clear constraints: the match cannot include value tied to the collection costs for samples that were collected previously, equipment match should be prorated to the portion of its useful life devoted to the project, and matching funds cannot come from other federal sources. Applicants are directed to 2 CFR 200.306 for the federal standards governing cost sharing and matching. For official questions, the notice instructs applicants to contact only the "Program Announcement and Cooperative Agreement Administration" point of contact identified in the opportunity's Section D.Apply for M21AS00382
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AK-21-01: Winter Ringed Seal Density within Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas Project Areas" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.423.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-06-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and identifier of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is AK-21-01, titled "Winter Ringed Seal Density within Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas Project Areas." The Funding Opportunity Number is M21AS00382.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
What type of funding mechanism is this?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement. That means BOEM expects substantial federal involvement in the project (as opposed to a more hands-off grant).
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to improve what is known about ringed seals during the winter and spring in Alaska's nearshore Beaufort Sea by collecting practical, decision-ready information on seal distribution, density, and habitat use in the landfast ice zone where industrial activity occurs. In plain terms: map where seals are, how many are in specific areas, and what ice habitats they rely on, so avoidance and mitigation strategies can be improved.
What geographic area does the work focus on?
The focus is the nearshore Beaufort Sea landfast ice zone adjacent to BOEM's Beaufort Sea Planning Area, the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and other existing North Slope oil and gas fields. The announcement also highlights the region bounded by NPR-A, ANWR, and BOEM's Beaufort Sea Planning Area.
What species and season are emphasized?
The work emphasizes winter and spring ecology of ringed seals, particularly when they depend heavily on landfast ice.
What specific ice features or structures are important in this project?
The announcement emphasizes landfast ice features such as breathing holes and subnivean lairs (snow-covered shelters on the ice used for resting and pupping). A major objective is locating and documenting wintering seals and the status of their structures.
What are the key research questions or information needs BOEM is trying to address?
Based on the announcement, BOEM is seeking clearer information on: (1) ringed seal distribution and density in nearshore winter habitat, (2) habitat use within landfast ice, including use of subnivean lairs, (3) adult movement patterns across winter and spring, (4) habitat-use areas and local foraging behavior (including classifying where foraging occurs), and (5) whether oil and gas development activities act as movement barriers that could limit access to prey.
What are the major objectives described in the opportunity?
Major objectives include: locating and documenting wintering seals and the status of their breathing holes and lairs; applying and testing novel survey technologies to improve detection and expand survey reach; producing a clearer picture of adult movement patterns across winter and spring (with attention to lair use); documenting habitat-use and local foraging behavior; evaluating whether development activities function as movement barriers; and comparing the efficiency of new survey approaches against existing methods.
Why does the announcement emphasize "decision-ready" information?
The project is framed around producing practical outputs that can be used to develop better avoidance and mitigation strategies where important seal habitat overlaps with oil and gas operations.
Does the opportunity call for testing new monitoring or survey technologies?
Yes. A specific objective is to apply and test novel survey technologies that can expand survey reach and improve detection of seals and their ice structures, especially when standard field methods are limited by weather, darkness, logistics, or safety constraints.
Is there an evaluation component related to the survey methods?
Yes. The announcement explicitly asks for an evaluation that compares the efficiency of proposed new survey approaches against existing methods used to detect seals, breathing holes, and lairs.
What scientific deliverable is highlighted as key?
A key deliverable envisioned is a clearer picture of adult ringed seal movement patterns across winter and spring, with special attention to detecting use of subnivean lairs in landfast ice within the highlighted Beaufort Sea region.
How does the project relate to oil and gas activities?
The project is specifically aimed at understanding seal distribution, density, and habitat use in the same times and places where industrial activity occurs, so that conflicts can be reduced and mitigation/avoidance strategies can be better designed. It also includes evaluating whether development activities act as movement barriers.
What is the CFDA number and activity category?
The activity category is Environment under CFDA 15.423.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $500,000.
When was the opportunity created, and what was the closing date?
The opportunity was created on 2021-03-29 and had an original closing date of 2021-06-14.
Is an award guaranteed if an organization applies?
No. The announcement describes this as a specific project BOEM intends to undertake, and awards are contingent on receipt of an acceptable proposal.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include: the State of Alaska; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education in Alaska; other higher education institutions outside Alaska; and the North Slope Borough.
What kinds of applicants does BOEM appear to be targeting?
The eligibility and description indicate BOEM is targeting organizations that can credibly conduct Arctic marine mammal research, especially those able to operate in the nearshore Beaufort Sea winter environment.
Does the applying organization need to name a Principal Investigator (PI)?
Yes. The announcement requires the applying organization to provide a Principal Investigator who is a staff member of that organization.
Are partnerships or cooperative research arrangements encouraged?
Yes. The announcement encourages cooperative research arrangements among state agencies, public universities, and non-profits in affected states to support the logistical and technical realities of Arctic field programs.
Is cost sharing required?
Cost sharing is not presented as strictly mandatory in the provided text, but it is described as "very strongly encouraged."
What forms of cost share are allowed?
Cost share may be provided as cash or as allowable in-kind support such as salary or equipment, consistent with federal standards.
Are there restrictions on what can count as match?
Yes. The match cannot include value tied to the collection costs for samples collected previously. Equipment used as match should be prorated to the portion of its useful life devoted to the project. Matching funds also cannot come from other federal sources.
What federal regulation is referenced for cost sharing and matching standards?
Applicants are directed to 2 CFR 200.306 for federal standards governing cost sharing and matching.
Who should applicants contact with official questions?
The notice instructs applicants to contact only the "Program Announcement and Cooperative Agreement Administration" point of contact identified in the opportunity's Section D.
Why does the opportunity use a cooperative agreement instead of a standard grant?
Because BOEM anticipates substantial federal involvement during the project, which is a defining feature of a cooperative agreement.
What practical management outcome is BOEM trying to support?
The stated intent is to support strategies that reduce conflict where important ringed seal habitat overlaps with oil and gas operations, including better avoidance and mitigation planning informed by distribution, density, movement, and habitat-use data.
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