The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act established a fund (known as the S-K fund) used by the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development projects addressing aspects of U.S. fisheries, including, but not limited to, harvesting, processing, marketing, and associated business infrastructures (seesection IV, F; Funding Restrictions). Under this authority, grants and cooperative agreements are made on a competitive basis (subject to availability of funding) to assist in carrying out projects to expand domestic and foreign markets related to U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries. The term “U.S. fisheries” refers to any marine fishery (including the Great Lakes) that encompasses commercial, recreational, charter, subsistence, wild capture, and aquaculture that is, or may be, engaged in by citizens or nationals of the United States or other eligible applicants. The objective of the S-K Research and Development Program, referred to throughout this document as the S-K Competitive Grant Program, is to promote U.S. fisheries by assisting the fishing community to address marketing and research needs. The term “fishing community” means harvesters, marketers, growers, processors, recreational fishermen, charter fishermen, fishermen, and persons providing them with goods and services. Proposals submitted to this competition must address at least one of the following priorities: Promotion, and Marketing; Development, Infrastructure and Capacity Building; Science or Technology that Enhances Sustainable U.S. Fisheries. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) includes information on application requirements and criteria for proposals requesting a maximum of $500,000 in Federal funding for up to a two-year period. Matching funds are not required, nor will they be considered during the evaluation process. Awards are anticipated to start no earlier than September 1, 2025.
NOTE: No awards will be funded under this current NOFO. Pre-Proposal submissions under this NOFO are eligible to submit a full proposal under a separate Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2025-26868, which will post in Grants.gov on September 26, 2024.
NEW REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:
❏ All applicants must complete and maintain three registrations: Sam.gov, Grants.Gov, and eRA Commons.
❏ The registration process for all three systems can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants should begin activity as soon as possible.
SUBMISSION CHECKLIST FOR ERA REQUIREMENTS
Below is a submission checklist for eRA Requirements. This is not an exhaustive list of everything you need for a successful application. All items below should be checked before you submit your application in Grants.gov.
❏ SAM.gov Registration and approved UEI
❏ eRA Commons Registration
❏ Grants.gov Registration
❏ PD/PI Account Created
❏ PD/PI Commons ID entered exactly on Box 4 on the SF-424
❏ UEI entered exactly on Box 8c. of the SF-424
❏ Congressional District formatted correctly (ex. VA-001)
❏ All PDFs flattened
❏ File sizes are less than 100 MB
❏ File page sizes are 8 1⁄2” x 11”
❏ File names are shorter than 50 characters (including spaces)
❏ File names do not include invalid characters (&, diacritical marks)
If you have any questions, please reach out to the eRA HelpDesk or the Agency Contact listed in your NOFO.
2. You represent an entity that is a corporation, partnership, association, or other non Federal entity, non-profit or otherwise (including Indian tribes), if such entity is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended (46 U.S.C. app. 802); or
3. You are a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, or the States of Micronesia."