Ocean Acidification Coastal Research: Uniting Investigations and Shipboard Experiments (OA CRUISE) | NOAA OAR OAP 2024 2008006

OA CRUISE (Ocean Acidification Coastal Research: Uniting Investigations and Shipboard Experiments) - FAQs

1) What is the OA CRUISE funding opportunity?

OA CRUISE is a NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) funding call that supports targeted additions to planned and ongoing coastal ocean acidification research cruises in the United States. The intent is to strengthen what these repeated cruises can measure and test by adding ocean acidification observations and shipboard experiments that advance NOAA OAP strategic science goals and produce regionally useful information.

2) Is OA CRUISE meant to fund brand-new, stand-alone research expeditions?

No. The opportunity is designed to fund project teams that can "ride along" with, or otherwise integrate into, existing and repeated NOAA-supported oceanographic cruises across U.S. Coastal Large Marine Ecosystems. The focus is on adding capabilities to cruises that are already planned or underway, rather than proposing a separate expedition from scratch.

3) What does it mean to "ride along" or integrate with an existing cruise?

In this program, integration means your project adds targeted sensors, sampling, experiments, or expertise to an already scheduled NOAA-supported coastal research cruise. Proposals are expected to clearly explain how the proposed activities will fit into the cruise's existing work and how they will complement the cruise's core measurements.

4) What types of activities is the program looking to fund?

The program emphasizes added-value ocean acidification observations and shipboard experiments. Examples described at a high level include enhanced measurements, complementary biological or biogeochemical sampling, and shipboard experimental work that helps explain mechanisms and impacts (not just documenting conditions).

5) What are the "Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3" activities mentioned in the opportunity?

The opportunity references NOAA's OA Cruise Science Priority Guidance and emphasizes Level 2 and Level 3 activities. In the description provided: Level 1 refers to the core measurements and baseline observing NOAA is already committed to on these cruises. Level 2 and Level 3 refer to additional layers of effort that add value, such as enhanced measurements and shipboard experiments that improve understanding of drivers, mechanisms, and impacts.

6) Why does the opportunity emphasize Level 2 and Level 3 activities?

The goal is to move beyond baseline monitoring alone. By adding enhanced observations and experimental work, the cruises can better address NOAA OAP strategic science goals and deliver more management-relevant and regionally useful insights about coastal acidification drivers, exposure patterns, and biological responses.

7) How should applicants connect their work to the core measurements already happening on these cruises?

Applicants are expected to explain clearly how their proposed add-ons will integrate with the Level 1 core data collection and how the combined effort improves the scientific and management relevance of the cruise program in a given region.

8) What is a major review emphasis for proposals under this opportunity?

A major review emphasis is regional relevance and program fit. Proposals should demonstrate how the cruise-based observations and experiments align with NOAA priorities and address outcomes that matter for specific coastal systems, resource management questions, and stakeholders.

9) What NOAA planning document should proposals align with?

Proposals should show how the proposed cruise-based observations and experiments will help address objectives in the NOAA Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Research Plan 2020-2029, with attention to regionally meaningful outcomes.

10) What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to support?

The program is oriented toward building a more complete picture of coastal acidification drivers, exposure patterns, and biological responses in different U.S. coastal settings. It also seeks to improve comparability over time and across regions by leveraging consistent, repeatable cruise platforms.

11) Who is offering and administering this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce, administered by NOAA (specifically within the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program).

12) What is the funding instrument for awards under this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

13) What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is NOAA OAR OAP 2024 2008006.

14) What is the CFDA (assistance listing) number?

The CFDA (assistance listing) number is 11.017.

15) How many awards does NOAA anticipate making?

NOAA anticipated making about 15 awards.

16) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) per project?

The award ceiling is $500,000 per project.

17) When was the notice created and what was the original closing date?

The notice was created June 21, 2023, and the original closing date was September 18, 2023.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." Additional eligibility details are provided in the full announcement text, so applicants should consult the official notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the exact list of eligible organization types and any restrictions.

19) What geographic focus does this opportunity target?

The opportunity focuses on the United States and is tied to NOAA-supported coastal cruises across U.S. Coastal Large Marine Ecosystems, with an emphasis on generating regionally useful information.

20) What is the core strategy behind OA CRUISE?

OA CRUISE leverages existing NOAA-supported ship time and observing infrastructure. By funding teams to bring additional sensors, sampling, experiments, and expertise onto repeated coastal cruises, the program aims to expand ocean acidification science capabilities without needing to fund entirely separate expeditions.