RESTORE Act Direct Component - Non-Construction Activities | GR RDC 22 001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the RESTORE Act Direct Component - Non-Construction Activities grant opportunity.

2) What are the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number listed for this notice?

The Funding Opportunity Number is GR RDC 22 001, and the CFDA number is 21.015.

3) Which federal agency runs this program?

The program is run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the RESTORE Act Program.

4) What fund provides the money for this program?

Funding draws from the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund.

5) Where does the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund money come from?

The Trust Fund is financed by 80 percent of certain civil penalties paid after July 6, 2012 under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Those funds are deposited and invested to support long-term recovery and resilience across the Gulf Coast.

6) Is this a formula program or a discretionary grant program?

This notice describes a discretionary grant program.

7) Which part of the RESTORE Act does this notice apply to?

This notice applies only to the RESTORE Act "Direct Component."

8) What types of projects does this particular notice cover?

This notice is limited to eligible non-construction activities. It is intended for work that does not involve building or installing facilities or acquiring real property.

9) Are construction projects or real property acquisition allowed under this notice?

No. This notice is for non-construction activities only and does not cover construction and/or acquisition of real property. Applicants interested in construction and/or real property acquisition are directed to a separate funding opportunity announcement that specifically covers construction and real property acquisition.

10) Can a non-construction project be connected to another federally funded project?

Yes. The announcement explicitly allows non-construction projects that may be tied to, or support, another federally funded project, whether or not there is a non-federal cost share involved in that other project.

11) Does this funding support planning activities?

Yes. The notice covers planning assistance needed to prepare the Multiyear Implementation Plan (often called the Multiyear Plan), which is a required planning document under the RESTORE Act describing how a recipient will use Direct Component funds over time.

12) What is the Multiyear Implementation Plan (Multiyear Plan) in this context?

It is a required planning document under the RESTORE Act that lays out how a recipient will use Direct Component funds over time. This notice indicates that planning assistance to prepare that plan is covered.

13) What kinds of environmental and coastal activities are described as authorized uses?

Authorized environmental and coastal uses described include restoring and protecting natural resources and ecosystems (including fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands), mitigating damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources, and implementing a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring.

14) What kinds of economic or community recovery activities are described as authorized uses?

Authorized economic and community recovery uses described include workforce development and job creation, improvements to or on state parks in coastal areas affected by the spill, infrastructure projects that benefit the economy or ecological resources (including port infrastructure), and coastal flood protection and related infrastructure.

15) Are administrative costs mentioned as an eligible use?

Yes. The notice states that funds may support administrative costs.

16) Does the notice mention tourism-related activities as eligible?

Yes. The notice includes promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast region, including recreational fishing.

17) Does the notice mention seafood promotion as eligible?

Yes. The notice includes promotion of consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast region.

18) Is there a geographic requirement for where activities must take place?

Yes. A key geographic rule in the notice is that activities in categories 1 through 7 must be carried out in the Gulf Coast region, reinforcing that the program is intended to directly benefit areas impacted by the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

19) Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

Eligibility includes state governments and county governments. The listing also indicates "others" as eligible depending on additional eligibility guidance referenced in the full notice.

20) What type of funding instrument is used?

The instrument type is a grant.

21) What funding activity areas does this opportunity cover?

The funding activity areas span environment and natural resources as well as employment, labor, and training.

22) When was this notice created?

The notice was created on July 1, 2022.

23) What was the original application deadline listed?

The original application deadline listed was August 31, 2022.

24) What is the award ceiling shown for this opportunity?

The award ceiling shown is $110,099,450.

25) How many awards did Treasury anticipate making under this opportunity?

Treasury anticipated making 2 awards.

26) What does the combination of a high ceiling and a small number of anticipated awards suggest?

Based on the notice, it indicates awards could be large and concentrated, consistent with multi-year, multi-activity plans or major programmatic initiatives that fit within the non-construction scope of this announcement.

27) What should applicants do if they want to fund construction or acquire real property?

Treasury directs applicants seeking activities involving construction and/or acquisition of real property to a separate funding opportunity announcement specifically covering construction and real property acquisition.