Competition Description

The Minnesota Sea Grant College Program (MNSG) requests proposals for the MNSG 2026-2028 biennial research competition. Through this competition, MNSG seeks to fund research that serves Minnesota’s coastal communities and sustains Minnesota’s coastal resources. Projects should be based in Minnesota and support one or more goals, actions, and/or outcomes in the MNSG 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. 

MNSG anticipates providing $800,000 to fund four to six research projects for two years at a maximum of $100,000 per year. Projects are expected to run from February 1, 2026, to January 31, 2028, and should be based in Minnesota. 

Proposals should clearly articulate the benefit(s) to the communities MNSG seeks to serve, which include state, county, and municipal governments, businesses, industry, policymakers, youth, educators, the public, community organizations, agencies, cities, and resource managers. 

See Competition Priorities for details about priority topics for this competition. 

Proposals for research not related to these priorities but aligned with the MNSG 2024-2027 Strategic Plan will also be considered. Applicants are encouraged to review the review criteria at the beginning of the proposal process.

Timeline

December 5, 2024, 11 a.m. CT: Informational webinar 1 
January 7, 2025, 1 p.m. CT: Informational webinar 2
January 31, 2025, 12 p.m. CT: Preproposals due via eSeaGrant

Mid-February, 2025: Preproposal feedback from Minnesota Sea Grant
February. 26, 2025 11 a.m. CT: Investigator outreach workshop (virtual)

April 21, 2025, 5 p.m. CT: Full proposals due via eSeaGrant
August 2025: Investigators notified of award status
February 1, 2026: Projects begin*
January 31, 2028: Projects conclude

*Award of funds is contingent upon approval by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Grants Management Division and congressional approval of program funding. Funds are often not approved by the February 1 start date, which may lead to delays in project timelines.

Eligibility

Researchers based in Minnesota and who are not federal employees are invited to apply. Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) encourages collaborations that include scientists from colleges and universities; state, federal, tribal, and private agencies; and industry and nongovernmental organizations. Sea Grant and federal employees may be part of the project team, but their salaries cannot be included in the budget. 

MNSG is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with diverse backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives, and ways of thinking. MNSG encourages applicants of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship, job classifications, veteran status, and socioeconomic statuses to apply for this competitive research opportunity.

Outreach

Extending research beyond the field and laboratory is key to the Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) mission. Researchers are strongly encouraged to work with outreach, extension, and/or education professionals, and communicators to develop and execute their Outreach and Information Transfer plans (see the Application section). PIs interested in working with one or more MNSG staff members should attend the outreach workshop and contact MNSG staff as soon as possible to discuss their interest, ability, and availability to collaborate on your proposal. Collaboration with MNSG extension staff on outreach components should occur prior to March 14, 2025. To identify MNSG extension staff with expertise in one or more of the four MNSG focus areas, go to the Competition Priorities section of this RFP where each staff member and a link to their directory listing is listed. MNSG staff are not required to collaborate with investigators. 

Outreach Workshop 

MNSG will host an outreach workshop for prospective investigators on February 26, 2025 at 11 a.m. CT (registration). This workshop will introduce prospective investigators to MNSG staff and provide opportunities to discuss best practices for outreach and collaboration opportunities.

Funding

Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) anticipates funding three to five research projects. Project funding has three (3) components: 

1. MNSG Funding 
   1. Research teams may request up to $200,000 in direct MNSG funds to support research efforts. In each project year, research teams may request a maximum of $100,000. 
2. Match Funding 
   1. For each budget year, research teams must provide a 25% non-federal match for all requested MNSG funds (4:1). 
      1. Example: A project requesting $50,000 in MNSG funds would require $12,500 in matching funds. 
         1. Water Resources Center (WRC) stormwater matching funds. For proposals addressing and supporting the Minnesota Urban Stormwater Research Program Research Needs & Priorities (2024-2025, the University of Minnesota WRC may be able to provide the required 25% non-federal match. Project teams interested in these funds should email John Bilotta before submission of the preproposal to determine if a proposal is eligible and any terms of match support. 
3. Required Student Support 
   1. All projects must budget at least 40% of project funds (match and MNSG funds) for graduate student or undergraduate student support, classified as student salary, fringe, or graduate student tuition. 
      1. Example: A project requesting $200,000 in MNSG funds and providing $50,000 in matching funds would require $100,000 to be dedicated to student salary, fringe, or graduate student tuition. 
4. Indirect Costs 
   1. Non-University of Minnesota Proposals: For researchers not affiliated with the University of Minnesota, indirect costs should be included in the requested MNSG funding using your organization’s federally negotiated indirect cost rate. Additionally, teams should estimate unrecovered indirect costs associated with Match Funding. Unrecovered indirect costs should not be counted as match. 
      1. Example: If a non-U of M research team requested $200,000 and provided $50,000 in match of IDC eligible costs with an IDC rate of 35%, the $200,000 should include indirect costs and $17,500 ($50,000*0.35) in unrecovered indirect costs should be reported. 
   2. University of Minnesota Teams: University of Minnesota based teams should report unrecovered indirect costs (IDC) corresponding to MNSG funds and match funding. To estimate unrecovered IDC, University of Minnesota-based researchers should use the “On Campus: Other Sponsored Activities” IDC rate of 35% when calculating unrecovered indirect costs. 
      1. Example: If a U of M research team requested $200,000 and provided $50,000 in match of IDC eligible costs, the proposal should report $87,500 ($250,000*0.35) in unrecovered indirect costs. Additional Funding Guidance Non-Minnesota Costs While small subawards outside Minnesota may be allowed, the majority of funds should go to entities in Minnesota

Minnesota and Wisconsin Sea Grant College Programs also invite proposals from collaborative interstate teams to submit proposals to a special joint RFP. Information about the joint Minnesota and Wisconsin opportunity can be found in the Minnesota and Wisconsin Sea Grant 2026-2028 Joint Request for Proposals document.

The competition priorities and topics below reflect needs identified during MNSG 2024-2027 strategic planning and RFP development process. Proposals for research not related to these priorities but aligned with the MNSG 2024-2027 Strategic Plan may also be considered for funding. Priorities are organized by the four MNSG focus areas.

Resilient Communities and Economies (RCE)

MNSG outreach contacts: Madison Rodman, Kelsey Prihoda, Hilarie Sorensen, Maggie Karschnia, John Bilotta 

Prepared Communities 

1. Analyze historical trends of Lake Superior storms and build predictive models to assess current and likely risks to onshore infrastructure and habitat. 
2. Evaluate the economic benefits of shoreline best management practices to promote resilient lakeshore and coastal communities. 
3. Identify gaps in recreational access to help Lake Superior North Shore communities prioritize investments that foster inclusive and sustainable tourism. 
4. Evaluate barriers and approaches to ensuring underserved communities have equitable access to coastal resources and recreational opportunities. 
5. Assess the net value of key coastal industries, such as the cruise ship industry and fishing activities, to guide sustainable development that maximizes benefits while mitigating environmental impacts. 

Ecosystem Services 

1. Quantify net ecosystem service shifts due to invasive species expansion, wild rice restoration or loss, current or future dredging practices, or watershed connectivity improvement (e.g., dam removal, fish passage improvement). 
2. Quantify the improvement of ecosystem services and economic impacts to local communities resulting from St. Louis River Area of Concern remediation and restoration efforts. 

Sustainable Ports 

1. Conduct a case study on current and potential beneficial uses of dredge material to support sustainable management practices in the Port of Duluth-Superior. 
2. Assess community knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of dredging operations and maintenance to improve dredge material management in the Port of Duluth-Superior. 
3. Develop novel technologies and strategies to increase the sustainability of Great Lakes shipping by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, or invasive species spread. 
4. Assess the socioeconomic vulnerability of lakeshore communities in Minnesota to oil spills. 
5. Identify the perception of risk associated with multiple modes of transportation and hazardous material cargo types throughout Minnesota. 

Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (SFA)

MNSG outreach contacts: Amy Schrank, Don Schreiner, Kieran Smith.

Fish Consumption and Markets 

1. Compare contaminant levels in farm-raised and wild-caught fishes in the Midwest and Great Lakes region to help consumers make informed choices. 
2. Identify new markets or year-round preservation and sale strategies for Cisco. 

Fisheries Management 

1. Quantify changes in angler behavior and/or fish populations resulting from the introduction of novel fishing technologies, such as forward-looking sonar, to support recreational fishery management. 
2. Catalog or model fish habitat in lakes and/or streams to determine what habitat types (for example cold water refugia) are most important for restoration and/or conservation for culturally and recreationally important species such as Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Lake Whitefish, and Walleye. 
3. Research the basic life histories, habitat use and reproductive biology of non-game fishes in Minnesota. 
4. Evaluate the potential for remote sensing technologies, such as hydroacoustics and sonar, to enhance fishery management and ecosystem monitoring. 

Aquaculture 

1. Develop a tool aquaculture farmers can use to self-assess farm sustainability (economic, environmental, and social) to help farmers make improvements and increase efficiencies in their systems. 
2. Assist aquaculture producers in developing effective methods for quantification and survival assessment of larval fish, eggs, zooplankton, and algae. 
3. Develop effective methods for the collection and culture of live larval feeds and/or the use of dry feeds to enhance survival and increase production of larval fish in aquaculture systems. 
4. Design and test vaccination strategies to improve disease management in freshwater aquaculture and increase fish health and survival. 
5. Develop and refine aquaculture techniques for the propagation of culturally, economically, or ecologically important species such as Walleye, Brook Trout, Yellow Perch, Lake Whitefish, Cisco, and/or shrimp. 
6. Develop and optimize pondside embryo incubation and larval rearing systems for improved aquaculture. 

Healthy Coastal Ecosystems (HCE) 

Outreach contacts: Hilarie Sorensen, Maggie Karschnia, John Bilotta, Amy Schrank. 

Climate Change Impacts 

1. Investigate the potential impact of climate change on winter ecological dynamics in Lake Superior to enhance understanding of potential ecosystem and fisheries changes. 
2. Analyze and forecast the interaction of current and future stressors, including climate change, invasive species, population growth, recreational use, and other anthropogenic stressors, to guide habitat management and planning on Minnesota's Lake Superior shoreline. 

Habitat Management and Restoration 

1. Design and implement innovative techniques and management practices to support the effective restoration and management of wild rice, offering state and tribal resource managers practical tools for success. 
2. Design and assess strategies or technologies for reducing goose herbivory of wild rice that are cost-effective and effective at scales needed to support wild rice restoration. 
3. Assess the best, most effective, and novel approaches to protecting Minnesota waters from aquatic invasive species (AIS), and offer Lake Superior coastal communities and resource managers actionable recommendations for reducing AIS spread. 
4. Assess the habitat effects of shoreline hardening and associated loss of drainage/seepage areas and coastal rock pools along the north shore of Lake Superior. Quantify the significance of these microecosystems for macroinvertebrates and nearshore fish habitat. 
5. Conduct an integrated analysis of the ecological, social, and economic impacts of wakeboat activity on Minnesota's inland lakes. Through the integration of ecological science, social dynamics, and economic considerations, explore new and understudied aspects of wakeboating, including the effects on lake ecosystems and lake-based community use. 
6. Model and validate sediment movement in the St. Louis River to improve port and riparian zone management that includes identifying sources and sinks for sediment in the estuary. 
7. Analyze and summarize fish habitat and movement data to guide the timing and placement of in-water work in the St. Louis River to minimize disruption to fishery health and maintain accessible data for future use. 

Pollution Reduction 

1. Analyze the efficacy and effectiveness of urban stormwater management practices to prevent, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of stormwater runoff including pollutants, temperature, runoff rate and volume to water resources (lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and groundwater) and habitats. (See WRC Matching Funds) 
2. Develop best approaches for operation and maintenance of frequently used urban stormwater practices in Minnesota so that practices meet design standards and help achieve clean water goals to prevent, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of stormwater runoff (pollutants, temperature, rate and volume) to water resources (lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and groundwater) and habitats. (See WRC Matching Funds) 
3. Develop or assess novel, scalable approaches for mitigating mercury and other persistent contaminants in Lake Superior. 
4. Analyze how effective smart salting practices, including training and education programs and/or alternative winter road management methods, are in reducing road salt applications and the subsequent impact of these practices to prevent, minimize, and mitigate the impact to water resources in coastal communities. (See WRC Matching Funds) 
5. Conduct research, measured demonstrations, and assemble case studies on improvements in soil and turf health, reduction in soil compaction, and increase infiltration on urban development and redevelopment sites at a residential- and community- scale as methods of pollution prevention and nonpoint pollution source reduction. (See WRC Matching Funds) 

Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development (ELWD) 

Outreach contacts: Heidi Ferris, Hilarie Sorensen, Kelsey Prihoda, Maggie Karschnia. 

Positive Behavior Change 

1. Analyze the potential for and efficacy of nonregulatory community and residential-scale pollution reduction approaches to improve the water quality of impaired waterbodies. 
2. Assess approaches, such as policy incentives and educational programs, to enhance the adoption of shoreline habitat best practices and improve water quality. 
3. Assess the effectiveness of methods for decreasing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and other chemical pollutants in residential stormwater and wastewater that support wastewater managers in mitigating residential pollution sources. 

Workforce Development 

1. Assess current and future labor force needs in climate adaptation fields, such as green infrastructure, to support coastal communities in implementing and maintaining climate adaptation strategies. 
2. Identify and evaluate social and economic opportunities in Minnesota coastal communities that can be enhanced through targeted workforce development initiatives.

Submission 

All preproposals and full proposals must be submitted through Minnesota Sea Grant’s (MNSG) eSeaGrant. Please see the eSeaGrant proposal submission instructions for more information.

Preproposal 

To be eligible for funding, investigators must submit preproposals before the preproposal deadline. Preproposals must include the following components: 

• Principal Investigator (PI) information, including curriculum vitae (CVs) of all PIs and Co-principal Investigators (Co-PIs) (< 2 pages each). 
• Project Title 
• Project abstract (< 200 words). 
• Preproposal narrative (< 2 pages with the following sections): 
  • Importance and relevance: Justify the project's importance. Explicitly describe why it is relevant to this RFP and/or the goals, actions, or outcomes in the MNSG 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. 
  • Objectives and project plan: Overview of the project's objectives and how they will be achieved. 
  • Anticipated results: Detail the anticipated results of this project and which specific MNSG stakeholders would benefit from the results. 
  • Outreach and information transfer plan: Detail the anticipated outreach approach, including target audiences and any specific outreach professionals you plan to work with. Plans should strive to evaluate increases in environmental literacy, changes in attitudes, and/or behavior change as a result of project activities. 
  • Works cited (not counted in page limit). 
• Partners: Anticipated and likely collaborators, such as other universities, industries, and/or state and/or tribal agencies. 
• Preproposal budget overview: 
  • Estimated MNSG funding request and associated matching funds by year. 
• Three suggested peer reviewers from outside of Minnesota and Wisconsin. (Peer review occurs at the full proposal stage) 

Full Proposal 

All investigators who submit a preproposal are eligible to submit a full proposal. To be eligible for review, the following components must be submitted by the full proposal deadline. 

• PI and Co-PI contact information and affiliations 
• PI and Co-PI CVs or resumes (< 2 pages each) 
• Project abstract (< 200 words) 
• Project Cover Page (PDF) 
  • PI names and institutional affiliations 
  • Project title 
  • Abstract 
  • Funding requested (MNSG Funds, Match funds) 
  • Estimated unrecovered indirect costs 
• Full proposal narrative (12 pages maximum, PDF): 
• Title 
  • Importance and relevance: Justify the project's importance. Explicitly describe why it is relevant to this RFP and/or the goals, actions, or outcomes in the MNSG 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. 
  • Objectives and project plan: Detail the project's objectives and explicitly explain how the objectives will be achieved, including methods. 
  • Anticipated results: Detail the anticipated results of this project and which specific communities MNSG serves would benefit from and/or apply the results. 
  • Outreach and information transfer plan: Detail the anticipated outreach and information transfer approach. Include target audiences and any specific outreach professionals you plan to work with. Plans should strive to evaluate increases in environmental literacy, changes in attitudes, and/or behavior change as a result of project activities. 
  • Societal impact: Describe how this proposal will benefit society, specifically detailing any diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and/or accessibility efforts. 
  • Project timeline: Detail when key project activities and outputs would occur within the two-year project period. Project extensions will only be granted under major unforeseen circumstances. 
  • Works cited (not counted in page limit). 
• Letters of support (optional, PDF). 
• Partners: Collaborators, such as other universities, industries, state agencies, and/or tribal agencies. 
• PI and Co-PI Current and Pending Support Form (template). 
• 90-4 Budget Form (template): 
  • See Funding for additional information about the budget requirements. 
• Budget Justification Form 
  • Investigators should review the example justification and create a copy of the template. 
  • All funds must be justified and allowable by NOAA’s Grants Management Division (see guidance). 
• Data Management Plan (template). 
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Questionnaire (see template, guidance, fieldwork example, lab work example, socioeconomics example). 
• Administrative Approval: (Non-UMN projects only) 
  • Documentation of approval from an entity at the PI’s institution authorized to approve extramural grant applications. 
• Voluntary demographics web form, which will be sent to all named collaborators after proposal submission.

Preproposal 

Preproposals will be reviewed by at least two relevant Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) staff. Staff will rate preproposals on a scale from “does not meet expectations (1/10)” to “adequately meets expectations (5/10)” to “exceeds expectations (10/10)” for each of the following review criteria: 

• How aligned is this work with the MNSG 2024-2027 Strategic Plan? (33%) 
• How likely are the project results and activities to enhance, be incorporated into, or benefit current or future MNSG extension activities? (33%) 
• What is the potential for results to be applied by the people and communities MNSG serves? (33%) 

All reviewers will also be asked to provide qualitative comments to answer the following question: 

• What improvements would you recommend to investigators so the proposal better aligns with MNSG’s strategic plan, MNSG’s extension activities, and the needs of the communities we seek to serve? 

After review, investigators who score greater than 50% will be encouraged to submit full proposals, and those who score less than 50% will be discouraged from submitting a full proposal. Qualitative feedback will also be shared with investigators. All investigators who submit a preproposal are eligible to submit a full proposal regardless of encouraged/discouraged status. 

Full Proposal 

Full proposals will be reviewed in a four-stage process: 1. peer review, 2. technical panel review, 3. relevancy panel, and 4. final selection. 

1. Peer Review 

   Full proposals will be reviewed by at least three reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers will be from outside of Minnesota and attest to having no conflicts of interest. Reviewers will provide qualitative comments on the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal. Peer reviews will also rate the proposal on a scale from “does not meet expectations (1/10)” to “adequately meets expectations (5/10)” to “exceeds expectations (10/10)” for the following review criteria:

   1.  Importance and relevance (25%): How important is the proposed work? How well does the proposal support RFP priorities and/or goals, actions, or outcomes in the Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) 2024-2027 Strategic Plan? 
   2. Feasibility and approach (25%): How likely is it that the project team will be able to achieve the objectives considering the proposed project plan, methods, and budget? Are the methods and budget appropriate given the objectives? 
   3. Applied nature (10%): How likely are the results of this project to be applied by the people and organizations MNSG serves? Do the authors identify specific communities MNSG serves who would benefit from and/or apply the results? 
   4. Outreach and extension (10%): How likely is the outreach and information transfer plan to advance environmental literacy or to cause positive behavior change? Does the plan describe target audiences? How well does the project team partner with outreach or extension professionals? 
   5. Societal impact (10%): How could the proposed project positively impact society, specifically considering diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and/or accessibility? 
   6. Qualifications of the research team (10%): How well do the research team’s qualifications align with the proposed work, considering their career stages? 
   7. Partnerships (10%): How well does the research team leverage partnerships to increase the impact of the project? 

2. Technical Panel 

   After peer review, a technical review panel will be convened. The panel will synthesize peer reviews for each proposal and provide a total proposal rating based on all criteria detailed in the peer review section. The panel will rate the proposal on a scale from “does not meet expectations (1/10)” to “adequately meets expectations (5/10)” to “exceeds expectations (10/10).” The panel may provide suggestions for proposal improvement. The panel will rate each proposal as fundable or unfundable based on a holistic assessment of the proposal in the context of the review criteria. Those rated as unfundable will be ineligible for funding. If a large number of proposals are rated as fundable, the lowest-rated proposals may not be advanced to the relevancy panel. 

3. Advisory Board Relevancy Review 

   Proposals advanced by the technical review panel will be reviewed for relevance by the Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) advisory board. Investigative teams may be asked to provide additional material to support the relevancy review. The advisory board will review non-technical summaries and rate the relevancy of each proposal in the context of the MNSG 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, this RFP, and the communities MNSG serves. The MNSG advisory board will rate each proposal on a scale from “does not meet expectations (1/10)” to “adequately meets expectations (5/10)” to “exceeds expectations (10/10)” for relevancy using the following criteria. 

   1. Rate the relevancy of this proposal in the context of the MNSG 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, this RFP, and the communities MNSG serves. 

4. Final Selection 

   The Minnesota Sea Grant (MNSG) leadership team will select proposals for funding from those that passed technical and relevancy review panels. Final selection will account for all reviews and rankings, availability of funding, prior award performance of applicants, balance across institutions, balance across focus areas, applicant diversity, and programmatic needs, objectives, and priorities.

Minnesota Sea Grant aims to facilitate a competitive process free from conflict of interest as defined by the NOAA Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy and National Sea Grant College Program Competition Policy. Per the NOAA policy, the term "conflict of interest" means any financial or other interest which conflicts with the service of the individual in the review because it (1) could significantly impair the individual's objectivity or (2) could create an unfair competitive advantage for any person or organization. All MNSG staff reviewers, peer reviewers, and panel reviewers must provide signed statements certifying that they do not have a conflict of interest with the applications they are reviewing. 

Minnesota Sea Grant staff maintain active collaborative relationships across Minnesota and beyond. To avoid an actual or an appearance of conflict of interest when a potential significant conflict of interest is identified, MNSG staff members will recuse themselves from the review process and another member of Sea Grant Staff will be designated to complete any associated review responsibilities. For example, a staff member would recuse themselves: 

• If in the past five years any member of an investigative team has collaborated with a MNSG staff member on a project where any of the following received salary support: 
  • The MNSG staff member. 
  • A student supervised by the MNSG staff member. 
• If any member of an investigative team is or was an advisor or advisee of a MNSG staff member in a formal graduate education setting. 
• If any member of an investigative team has or had a significant personal relationship (e.g., sibling, spouse, etc.) with a MNSG staff member.

Questions about this competition and questions about budgets and funding should be directed to Minnesota Sea Grant Research and Fellowship Coordinator, Alexander Frie, afrie@umn.edu, 218-726-8714.

This work is supported by the Minnesota Sea Grant College Program using federal and/or matching funds under award NA24OARX417C0033-T1-01 from the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, or the U.S. Department of Commerce.