DOC NOAA - ERA Production · Department of Commerce

National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2026/27

Open · Opportunity NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2027-33398 · Assistance Listing 11.452

Deadline: Due Jan 22, 2027 · 107 days left
Award size: $50K – $400K
Total available: $4.6M · about 30 awards
Cost share / match ?: Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply: County government, City or town government, Larger business, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), State government, Individuals, Tribal organization, Private college or university, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Small business, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Other (see eligibility), Public college or university, Tribal government
Where: Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
No cost share required

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

About this grant

This grant program provides competitive grants to non-Federal researchers working to benefit U.S. fishermen and fisheries, including aquaculture, through the development of improved fishing practices and innovative gear technologies. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended (MSA), 16 U.S.C. 1865, requires that NOAA’s conservation and management measures minimize bycatch to the extent practicable and established the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) to support the development of technological devices and other conservation engineering changes to minimize bycatch and reduce post-release mortality of non-target species in our nation’s fisheries. Bycatch reduction is a priority for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), as outlined in the NMFS National Bycatch Reduction Strategy (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/bycatch/national-bycatchreduction-strategy). Fisheries bycatch can contribute to overfishing, population declines for threatened and endangered species, and can result in commercial fishery closures. This Program seeks to support the development and testing of fishing gears and approaches that can be applied in commercial and recreational fisheries to reduce bycatch and post-release mortality and address the MSA requirements to minimize bycatch and habitat impacts.

Eligibility (from the notice)

Eligible applicants are individuals, institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and state, local, U.S. territorial, Alaska Native, and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or instrumentalities are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this notice. If an eligible applicant has questions regarding this funding opportunity, they should contact: Justin Pearce Office of Sustainable Fisheries 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-427-8521 NMFS.HQ.BREP@noaa.gov

Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
Jan1
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters.
Jan15
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft.
Jan20
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
Jan22
Deadline
From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the funding notice Foa_Content_of_NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2027-33398_2.pdf (28 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words; open the page to read it in context. The notice itself always controls.

Registrations you need first

Grants.gov · p. 2

“Submission Validation When you submit an application to this competition you will receive notification of submission validation from Grants.gov and eRA Commons.” Open page 2
eRA Commons · p. 2

“Submission Validation When you submit an application to this competition you will receive notification of submission validation from Grants.gov and eRA Commons.” Open page 2
SAM.gov · p. 3

“Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov).” Open page 3
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 3

“Applicant organizations and individuals must first register with SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).” Open page 3

New to these? SAM.gov registration can take weeks, so start early: grant-ready checklist.

Steps before the deadline

Pre-proposal · p. 7

“Address to Request Application Package No application package is required to submit a pre-proposal.” Open page 7
Pre-proposal · p. 7

“All pages must be single- (pre-proposal) or double- (full proposal) spaced, printed or typed in at least 12-point font, and printable on 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, with 1-inch margins.” Open page 7
Pre-proposal · p. 7

“Pre-proposals are required.” Open page 7
Pre-proposal · p. 12

“Submission Dates and Times Pre-proposals must be received via e-mail (to NMFS.HQ.BREP@noaa.gov) by 5:00 p.m.” Open page 12

What to submit

Budget narrative / justification · p. 8

“The full application includes required Federal forms, a Project Summary (one-page limit), Project Narrative (15-page limit), Appendices or Attachments (15-page limit, including a Data Management Plan of up to two pages), and Budget Narrative (no page limit).” Open page 8
Project abstract or summary · p. 8

“The full application includes required Federal forms, a Project Summary (one-page limit), Project Narrative (15-page limit), Appendices or Attachments (15-page limit, including a Data Management Plan of up to two pages), and Budget Narrative (no page limit).” Open page 8
Data management plan · p. 8

“The full application includes required Federal forms, a Project Summary (one-page limit), Project Narrative (15-page limit), Appendices or Attachments (15-page limit, including a Data Management Plan of up to two pages), and Budget Narrative (no page limit).” Open page 8
Form SF-424 · p. 8

“Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424).” Open page 8
Form SF-424A · p. 8

“Budget Information, Non-construction Programs (SF-424A).” Open page 8
Form SF-424B · p. 8

“Assurances, Non-construction Programs (SF424B).” Open page 8
Form CD511 · p. 8

“Certification Regarding Lobbying (CD511).” Open page 8
Letters of support or commitment · p. 8

“Appendices or attachments may be combined into a single file and include information such as resumes, and/or letters of support.” Open page 8
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 8

“Appendices or attachments may be combined into a single file and include information such as resumes, and/or letters of support.” Open page 8
Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 9

“The main body of the proposal should be a clear statement of the work to be undertaken and should include: specific objectives and performance measures for the period of the proposed work and the expected significance; relation to longer-term goals of the…” Open page 9
Environmental documentation · p. 12

“In addition to providing specific information that will serve as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be requested to assist NOAA in drafting an environmental assessment, if NOAA determines an assessment is required.” Open page 12

Length limits

Project Narrative: 15 pages max · p. 8

“The full application includes required Federal forms, a Project Summary (one-page limit), Project Narrative (15-page limit), Appendices or Attachments (15-page limit, including a Data Management Plan of up to two pages), and Budget Narrative (no page limit).” Open page 8
Attachments: 15 pages max · p. 8

“The full application includes required Federal forms, a Project Summary (one-page limit), Project Narrative (15-page limit), Appendices or Attachments (15-page limit, including a Data Management Plan of up to two pages), and Budget Narrative (no page limit).” Open page 8
15 pages max · p. 8

“Tables and visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and other pictorial presentations are included in the 15-page limit.” Open page 8
Data Management Plan: 15 pages max · p. 10

“(12) Data Management Plan (not included in the 15-page limitation; can be submitted as an appendix.)” Open page 10
NMFS: 15 pages max · p. 11

“Justin Pearce, 301-427-8521, NMFS.HQ.BREP@noaa.gov (13) Results from prior NOAA/NMFS support (not included in the 15-page limitation; can be submitted as an appendix.):” Open page 11
Data Management Plan: 2 pages max · p. 11

“Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Management Plan (up to 2 pages).” Open page 11

Formatting rules

12-point font, 1-inch margins · p. 7

“All pages must be single- (pre-proposal) or double- (full proposal) spaced, printed or typed in at least 12-point font, and printable on 8.5-inch x 11-inch paper, with 1-inch margins.” Open page 7
single-spaced · p. 7

“Each pre-proposal may not exceed two pages, single-spaced (though may be formatted using double spacing), using the format described above and should provide: 1.” Open page 7
12-point font, double-spaced · p. 8

“Proposal format should be in at least a 12-point font and double-spaced.” Open page 8
double-spaced · p. 8

“Therefore, the Project Narrative may not exceed 15 pages double-spaced.” Open page 8

How applications are scored (15 points listed)

Build your narrative outline from these criteria

Program Priorities: 5 points · p. 17

“Does the proposal address one of the species or fisheries specifically identified in the Program Priorities (5 points)?” Open page 17
Councils and, if applicable, marine mammal take reduction teams) and the public: 10 points · p. 17

“Does the project involve external communication with management and stakeholders/partners, and what is the the applicant’s plan to disseminate the results to user groups, including a description of the level of outreach that will be conducted (e.g.., email…” Open page 17

Cost share or match

Cost share / match · p. 6

“Cost Share or Matching Requirement Applicants may include cost sharing, but it is not required and is not part of the evaluation criteria for this program.” Open page 6

Dates in the notice

January 22, 2027 · p. 2

“Full proposals must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on January 22, 2027.” Open page 2

Mistakes that get applications rejected

Could get your application rejected · p. 3

“Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted.” Open page 3
Could get your application rejected · p. 7

“Late or incomplete pre-proposals, as well as those that deviate from content or format requirements will not be reviewed by NOAA.” Open page 7
Could get your application rejected · p. 14

“Regardless of the method of transmission of a paper application (i.e., mailed in or delivery services), applications received more than five business days after the deadline will not be reviewed or considered for funding.” Open page 14

About the program (11.452)

Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program

How applications are judged

Proposals may be selected from several sources, e.g., unsolicited proposals, Congressionally-mandated projects, applications received as a result of notices published in the Federal Register. Recipients and sub recipients are subject to all applicable Federal laws and Federal and Departmental policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements Uniform Guidance, Part 200, Subpart C,Public Law P.L. 95-405 (Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977),.n/aMatching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

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Key facts