AK-19-02: Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) - 2022 | M22AS00297

Opportunity Information: Apply for M22AS00297

The grant opportunity AK-19-02: Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) - 2022 (Funding Opportunity Number M22AS00297) is a discretionary federal funding program offered by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to support targeted environmental research in Alaska. The program operates as a cooperative agreement, which generally means BOEM expects to have substantial involvement in shaping, overseeing, or coordinating aspects of the funded work, rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The underlying purpose is to strengthen the scientific knowledge base used for BOEM decision-making on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf, especially as it relates to potential offshore oil and gas leasing and other energy-related actions in the Alaska Region.

CMI itself is a long-running partnership that began in 1993. It is structured as a cooperative program between BOEM and the University of Alaska, with participation from the State of Alaska. The core mission is to update and expand understanding of environmental conditions, processes, and resources on or influenced by the outer continental shelf, and to anticipate future information needs tied to offshore development, environmental review, and operational planning. In practical terms, the program is meant to produce usable, decision-relevant data and analyses that can inform environmental assessments, risk evaluations, and management actions connected to offshore activities.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its cost-sharing model. BOEM indicated that, through the established cost-sharing arrangement, the CMI is expected to leverage additional scientific outputs and logistical capability at levels comparable to the BOEM contribution, referenced as up to $350,000 for fiscal year 2022 awards overall. At the project level, the listed award ceiling is $250,000. The recipient organization is required to provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match, meaning applicants must bring non-federal or otherwise allowable matching resources equal to the amount requested from BOEM. This structure is designed to stretch federal dollars by pairing them with university, state, or other partner support, and it often increases the scope of fieldwork and the robustness of results by combining funding streams and operational assets.

The program typically funds about five to seven new projects each year, reflecting a portfolio approach rather than a single large award. For this 2022 cycle, BOEM used a two-step process in which Letters of Intent were reviewed first, and then full proposals were requested from a specific list of research topics. The topics BOEM invited proposals for emphasize applied science and monitoring that can improve understanding of marine conditions and operational risks in Alaska waters. The listed areas include assessing vessel and environmental safety networks between the Beaufort and Bering Seas, framed as a response to transboundary challenges that require coordinated management, as well as satellite ocean color remote sensing of water mass dynamics in Cook Inlet. These themes signal BOEM interest in both operational safety and environmental intelligence, including cross-regional coordination and modern remote sensing approaches that can track changes in marine systems over time.

Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, aligning with the CMI model that centers on academic research capacity and partnerships. The opportunity is categorized under the Environment funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.421. Key administrative dates shown for this opportunity include a creation date of April 21, 2022, and an original closing date of May 23, 2022. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a focused, mission-driven research funding mechanism that uses matched funding and collaborative execution to generate Alaska-specific marine and coastal science products that can directly support BOEM planning and decision needs related to offshore energy and environmental stewardship.

• The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AK-19-02: Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) - 2022" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.421.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-04-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-05-23. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

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