Science and Technology Projects Related to Coal Mining and Reclamation; Applied Science Projects | S22AS00002

Opportunity Information: Apply for S22AS00002

The Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity for applied science projects focused on coal mining and post-mining land reclamation. The main goal is to fund practical, demonstrable science and technology improvements that directly support OSMRE's mission and help solve real-world challenges tied to implementing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). In other words, the program is aimed less at purely theoretical research and more at applied work that can be tested, shown to work, and used by regulators, industry, or other stakeholders to improve mining practices and reclamation outcomes.

Awards are expected to be made primarily through cooperative agreements, which typically means OSMRE anticipates being substantially involved during the project rather than serving only as a funder. If another federal agency is involved, the award may instead be structured as an Interagency Agreement. Applicants can request up to $200,000 per project, and OSMRE anticipates making about eight awards under this opportunity. Projects are designed to be relatively short and outcomes-oriented: each award period must align with the proposed work plan but cannot exceed two years from the date of award.

The program allows for no-cost (non-funded) time extensions, but only when they are truly necessary to finish the approved work and only when delays are outside the Principal Investigator's control. Extensions are not meant to accommodate avoidable project management issues; they are reserved for legitimate obstacles that prevent timely completion despite reasonable planning and effort.

A key requirement is that proposals must address OSMRE's specified list of eligible issues included in the full solicitation materials. Submissions that do not clearly tie the proposed work to that defined list will not be accepted. The solicitation also provides instructions for proposal preparation and explains how proposals will be reviewed, which implies applicants should closely follow the formatting, content, and eligibility guidance and ensure the technical approach is framed in terms of the agency's stated needs.

Eligibility is broad and includes state and county governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than universities), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other entities as described in the solicitation's additional eligibility information. The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.255 and is categorized under science and technology and other research and development. The funding opportunity number is S22AS00002. The solicitation was created July 20, 2022, with an original application deadline of September 20, 2022, and electronically submitted applications were required to be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.

• The Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Science and Technology Projects Related to Coal Mining and Reclamation; Applied Science Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.255.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 20, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 20, 2022 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 500 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for S22AS00002

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