Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2018 2005385
The 2018 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA that funds environmental education efforts in key coastal watershed regions of California. The program is designed to strengthen and expand high-quality watershed education by supporting established programs that are already working well, helping launch new and innovative education approaches, and building long-term capacity through partnerships and professional development. Its geographic focus covers the full watersheds associated with the San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, and the Santa Barbara Channel, which means projects are expected to connect learning to the local watershed systems that ultimately influence these coastal and estuarine environments.
At the center of this funding opportunity is the requirement that funded projects deliver Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for students and provide related professional development opportunities for teachers. MWEEs are structured learning experiences that go beyond a one-time field trip by intentionally linking hands-on outdoor or field-based investigation with classroom instruction and reflection. In practice, this typically means students participate in real-world watershed or coastal science activities (such as data collection, observation, or stewardship work) and then connect what they saw and measured back to standards-aligned classroom learning. NOAA emphasizes that these experiences should integrate field components with classroom activities and instruction tied to NOAA-related science content, reinforcing the agency’s mission areas such as ocean and coastal science, ecosystems, and environmental monitoring.
The award is offered as either a grant or a cooperative agreement, reflecting that some projects may involve closer coordination with NOAA depending on the scope and design. It is categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity within the broader fields of environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development. The program is associated with CFDA number 11.429, and it anticipates making around 20 awards, with an award ceiling of $60,000 per project. The original application window opened with a posting date of October 11, 2017, and an original closing date of December 20, 2017, indicating a relatively standard federal proposal timeline of roughly two months for applicants to prepare and submit materials.
Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others,” with the expectation that applicants consult the additional eligibility language in the full announcement for the exact categories allowed. In general terms, the opportunity is aimed at organizations capable of delivering strong environmental education programming and teacher support at scale, often including education nonprofits, school districts, county offices of education, universities, museums, aquariums, nature centers, watershed organizations, and other community-based entities, as long as they meet the specific eligibility rules stated in the full notice.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as NOAA’s targeted investment in watershed literacy and place-based coastal science learning in California. Competitive proposals are likely to be those that present a clear and well-structured MWEE model, show strong alignment between outdoor learning and classroom instruction, include substantive teacher professional development, and demonstrate credible partnerships that help sustain programming across the San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, or Santa Barbara Channel watershed regions. FundingOpportunityNumber: NOAA NOS ONMS 2018 2005385; FundingOpportunityTitle: 2018 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program; Agency: Department of Commerce (NOAA); Award ceiling: $60,000; Expected awards: 20; Closing date (original): December 20, 2017.Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2018 2005385
- The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2018 NOAA California 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): 11.429.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 11, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 20, 2017. (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 $60,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 2018 NOAA California B-WET Program
What is the 2018 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program?
The 2018 NOAA California B-WET Program is a competitive federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA that supports environmental education in key coastal watershed regions of California. It focuses on strengthening and expanding high-quality watershed education for students and building capacity through partnerships and teacher professional development.
Which federal agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the Department of Commerce through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
What is the official funding opportunity number and title?
Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA NOS ONMS 2018 2005385
Funding Opportunity Title: 2018 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is designed to strengthen and expand high-quality watershed education by supporting established programs that are already working well, helping launch new and innovative education approaches, and building long-term capacity through partnerships and professional development.
What types of projects does the program support?
The program supports environmental education efforts that connect learning to local coastal watershed systems in California, with an emphasis on delivering student learning experiences and teacher professional development that align with NOAA-related science content and mission areas.
What are Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs)?
MWEEs are structured learning experiences for students that go beyond a one-time field trip. They intentionally link hands-on outdoor or field-based investigation with classroom instruction and reflection, so students can connect real-world watershed or coastal science activities back to standards-aligned learning.
Are MWEEs required for funded projects?
Yes. A central requirement of this opportunity is that funded projects deliver Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for students.
Does the program require teacher professional development?
Yes. Funded projects are expected to provide related professional development opportunities for teachers in addition to delivering MWEEs for students.
What kinds of student activities are included in a typical MWEE?
Based on the description provided, MWEEs typically include real-world watershed or coastal science activities such as data collection, observation, or stewardship work, paired with classroom learning and reflection that ties the field experience to instruction.
How should field-based learning connect to classroom instruction?
NOAA emphasizes that field components should be integrated with classroom activities and instruction tied to NOAA-related science content. In practice, this means students participate in hands-on investigation outdoors or in the field and then connect what they observed and measured back to classroom learning.
What geographic areas are eligible for projects under this program?
The geographic focus covers the full watersheds associated with the San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, and the Santa Barbara Channel. Projects are expected to connect learning to local watershed systems that influence these coastal and estuarine environments.
What does it mean that the program focuses on the "full watersheds" of these regions?
It means the focus is not limited to the shoreline. Projects can be tied to watershed systems that ultimately drain to and affect San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, or the Santa Barbara Channel, reflecting how inland watershed processes influence coastal and estuarine environments.
What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awardees may receive funding as either a grant or a cooperative agreement. This reflects that some projects may involve closer coordination with NOAA depending on the project scope and design.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement in this context?
The opportunity notes that a cooperative agreement may be used when a project involves closer coordination with NOAA. The specific level of NOAA involvement would depend on the scope and design of the proposed project.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $60,000 per project.
How many awards does NOAA expect to make?
NOAA anticipates making around 20 awards under this opportunity.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA number 11.429.
What is the application timeline for this opportunity?
The original posting date was October 11, 2017, and the original closing date was December 20, 2017. This reflects an application window of roughly two months from posting to deadline.
When was the original application deadline?
The original closing date listed for this opportunity was December 20, 2017.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," and applicants are expected to consult additional eligibility language in the full announcement for exact categories. The opportunity is generally aimed at organizations capable of delivering strong environmental education programming and teacher support at scale.
What types of organizations are commonly positioned to apply, based on the description?
The description suggests that potential applicants may include education nonprofits, school districts, county offices of education, universities, museums, aquariums, nature centers, watershed organizations, and other community-based entities, as long as they meet the specific eligibility requirements stated in the full notice.
What fields or categories does this opportunity fall under?
This is described as a discretionary funding opportunity within the broader fields of environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.
What does NOAA emphasize in competitive proposals?
Competitive proposals are likely to present a clear and well-structured MWEE model, show strong alignment between outdoor learning and classroom instruction, include substantive teacher professional development, and demonstrate credible partnerships that help sustain programming within the targeted watershed regions.
How should projects align with NOAA priorities?
The program emphasizes instruction tied to NOAA-related science content and reinforces NOAA mission areas such as ocean and coastal science, ecosystems, and environmental monitoring.
Can the program fund improvements to existing education programs as well as new approaches?
Yes. The program description indicates it supports established programs that are already working well and also helps launch new and innovative education approaches.
Why are partnerships mentioned as important?
Partnerships are highlighted as a way to build long-term capacity and sustain programming. Proposals that demonstrate credible partnerships are described as likely to be more competitive.
Is this opportunity specifically focused on California?
Yes. The geographic focus is specific to California coastal watershed regions connected to the San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, and the Santa Barbara Channel.
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