Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2022 2007159
The Fiscal Year 2022 NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program is a competitive federal funding opportunity administered by the Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Regional Office. It supports K-12 watershed education across Gulf of Mexico states by funding projects that deliver locally relevant, hands-on learning tied to the Gulf's environmental systems and the people, economies, and cultures connected to them. Awards are offered through grants and cooperative agreements, reflecting NOAA's expectation that funded work is not just implemented, but coordinated with strong program oversight and measurable education outcomes.
At the center of this opportunity is the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE), a structured, learner-centered approach that combines classroom learning with outdoor or field-based experiences. MWEEs are designed to move beyond one-time field trips by engaging students in investigating real local environmental issues, using practices from multiple disciplines, and applying what they learn to make informed decisions and take action. The program frames watershed education as something that connects the natural world to society, helping students understand how environmental conditions, community choices, and resource use interact, and how young people can contribute to healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable communities.
For FY22, NOAA Gulf of Mexico B-WET identifies four priority areas that proposals are expected to align with. The first priority is professional development for teachers focused on designing and delivering MWEEs, strengthening educator confidence and capability to run high-quality watershed learning experiences. The second priority supports exemplary programs that pair teacher professional development with direct MWEE implementation for students, essentially building educator capacity while also ensuring students benefit from authentic, on-the-ground learning. The third priority emphasizes systemic MWEE implementation, meaning projects that help integrate MWEEs more broadly and consistently across schools, districts, or networks rather than treating them as isolated events. The fourth priority focuses on capacity building for expanded statewide K-12 environmental literacy initiatives, supporting efforts that strengthen the infrastructure, partnerships, and coordination needed to scale environmental literacy work across an entire state or large region.
A major emphasis in this year’s announcement is expanding participation by marginalized communities in watershed education. NOAA signals strong interest in proposals that intentionally partner with organizations and institutions serving marginalized groups, especially minority communities, and that reduce barriers to participation. The program also acknowledges the ongoing disruption caused by COVID-19 to environmental education providers and school partnerships, and it encourages proposals that respond to immediate needs created by the pandemic while sustaining the institutions and programs that connect youth to meaningful outdoor learning. In addition, the announcement highlights climate change as a pressing environmental, economic, and social challenge and suggests that the MWEE framework can be used to build climate knowledge and competencies, helping students engage with climate solutions through locally grounded watershed investigations and actions.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity (Opportunity Number: NOAA NMFS SE 2022 2007159; CFDA: 11.008) with an anticipated award ceiling of $100,000 and an expected total of about seven awards. The notice was created on December 6, 2021, with an original closing date of February 18, 2022. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at strengthening environmental literacy and stewardship in the Gulf region by investing in durable educator capacity, high-quality student experiences, stronger cross-sector partnerships, and equitable access to watershed education.Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2022 2007159
- The Department of Commerce in the business and commerce, environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2022 NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.008.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 06, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 18, 2022. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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FAQs: FY 2022 NOAA Gulf of Mexico B-WET (Bay Watershed Education and Training) Program
What is the FY 2022 NOAA Gulf of Mexico B-WET Program?
The Fiscal Year 2022 NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program is a competitive federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Regional Office. It funds K-12 watershed education projects in Gulf of Mexico states, with an emphasis on locally relevant, hands-on learning tied to Gulf environmental systems and the people, economies, and cultures connected to them.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is designed to strengthen K-12 environmental literacy and stewardship in the Gulf region by investing in durable educator capacity, high-quality student learning experiences, strong cross-sector partnerships, and equitable access to watershed education.
Who administers this program?
The program is administered by the Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Regional Office.
What kinds of awards are available (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards may be made as grants and cooperative agreements. The use of cooperative agreements reflects NOAA's expectation of strong program oversight and coordination, along with measurable education outcomes.
What is a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE)?
A Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) is a structured, learner-centered approach that combines classroom learning with outdoor or field-based experiences. It is designed to go beyond a one-time field trip by engaging students in investigating real local environmental issues, using practices from multiple disciplines, and applying what they learn to make informed decisions and take action.
How does the program define watershed education?
The program frames watershed education as connecting the natural world to society, helping students understand how environmental conditions, community choices, and resource use interact, and how young people can contribute to healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable communities.
What are the FY22 priority areas applicants are expected to align with?
FY22 identifies four priority areas proposals are expected to align with:
- Priority 1: Professional development for teachers focused on designing and delivering MWEEs.
- Priority 2: Exemplary programs that combine teacher professional development with direct MWEE implementation for students.
- Priority 3: Systemic MWEE implementation (integrating MWEEs across schools, districts, or networks rather than isolated events).
- Priority 4: Capacity building for expanded statewide K-12 environmental literacy initiatives (infrastructure, partnerships, and coordination to scale work statewide or across a large region).
Is teacher professional development an allowable focus?
Yes. One of the core priorities (Priority 1) is professional development for teachers to strengthen their confidence and ability to design and deliver high-quality MWEEs.
Can proposals include both teacher training and student MWEE experiences?
Yes. Priority 2 specifically supports programs that pair teacher professional development with direct MWEE implementation for students, building educator capacity while ensuring students receive authentic, on-the-ground learning.
What does "systemic MWEE implementation" mean in this competition?
Systemic MWEE implementation (Priority 3) refers to projects that help integrate MWEEs more broadly and consistently across schools, districts, or networks, rather than treating MWEEs as isolated or one-time events.
What does "capacity building for statewide environmental literacy initiatives" mean?
Capacity building (Priority 4) emphasizes strengthening the infrastructure, partnerships, and coordination needed to expand K-12 environmental literacy initiatives across an entire state or large region.
Does NOAA emphasize equity and inclusion in this opportunity?
Yes. A major emphasis is expanding participation by marginalized communities in watershed education. NOAA signals strong interest in proposals that intentionally partner with organizations and institutions serving marginalized groups, especially minority communities, and that reduce barriers to participation.
How does the opportunity address COVID-19 impacts?
The announcement acknowledges ongoing disruption from COVID-19 to environmental education providers and school partnerships. It encourages proposals that respond to immediate pandemic-created needs while sustaining institutions and programs that connect youth to meaningful outdoor learning.
Is climate change an allowable or encouraged topic area within MWEE projects?
Yes. The announcement highlights climate change as a pressing environmental, economic, and social challenge and suggests the MWEE framework can build climate knowledge and competencies through locally grounded watershed investigations and actions.
What is the Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The Opportunity Number is NOAA NMFS SE 2022 2007159 and the CFDA number is 11.008.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. This is identified as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The anticipated award ceiling is $100,000.
How many awards does NOAA expect to make?
The opportunity states an expected total of about seven awards.
When was this notice created and what was the original closing date?
The notice was created on December 6, 2021, with an original closing date of February 18, 2022.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Is a 501(c)(3) designation required for nonprofit applicants?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are included in the eligible applicant types.
What geographic area does the program focus on?
The program supports K-12 watershed education across Gulf of Mexico states and emphasizes learning tied to the Gulf's environmental systems and the communities connected to them.
What kinds of education experiences does NOAA want to support?
The program prioritizes locally relevant, hands-on learning experiences aligned with the MWEE framework, including classroom learning paired with outdoor or field-based components, student investigation of real environmental issues, and opportunities for students to apply learning through decisions and actions.
What does NOAA mean by "measurable education outcomes"?
The opportunity notes NOAA's expectation for strong program oversight and measurable education outcomes, indicating that funded projects are expected to produce trackable results related to education goals (as described in the announcement), rather than being limited to one-off activities.
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