Periodically SIMoN funds research and monitoring projects focused on sanctuary-oriented questions and in support of effective resource management. When such funds are available, we will post a request for proposals on this web page. However, in recent years our ability to fund projects has been eliminated. Each fiscal year brings new hope of additional funding, so check this page each winter for new opportunities.  

General Process for Submitting Pre-proposals
Before a full proposal is accepted for review, the SIMoN office must receive a pre-proposal of no more than five pages. Each pre-proposal must contain:

1. A summary of the type of work to be performed (including general sampling design and analyses);
2. The location(s) of the proposed work;
3. How the project will address the needs of the sanctuary and complement SIMoN goals;
4. A brief description of the qualifications of all personnel involved; and
5. A budget (including the amount of matching funds, if applicable).

All pre-proposals will first be circulated to SIMoN and sanctuary staff for review. Staff will be asked to assess the proposed activities based on scientific merit, feasibility, broader impacts of the work, and how well the project meets the needs of the sanctuary. Competitive funding requests must clearly address how they align with the sanctuary's priority management issues as outlined in the Draft Management Plan. In addition, the SIMoN Science Committee may be asked to evaluate all unsolicited pre-proposals before a decision is made regarding a request for a full proposal. If a full proposal is requested, additional proposal guidelines will be provided. Details on the submission deadlines for each of the pre-proposal categories are listed below.

Submit pre-proposals electronically (Word files only) to:
Steve Lonhart, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network (SIMoN)
Office: (831) 420-3661
Email: Steve.Lonhart@noaa.gov

Pre-proposal Categories

1. Unsolicited Pre-proposals
Each year we will accept 5-page pre-proposals for individual projects requesting funding <$10,000. Pre-proposals will be accepted prior to two deadlines: 5:00 PM on the first Friday of November and 5:00 PM on the first Friday of May.

2. Internal Sanctuary Pre-proposals
Internal sanctuary pre-proposals will be accepted at any time. Since ongoing sanctuary programs have already been identified as important to resource management, requests for funding from SIMoN to extend these efforts may be made solely with a pre-proposal. Pre-proposals for internal programs will be evaluated by the SIMoN Science Committee. The Committee will advise SIMoN staff on the value of extended funding. Funding for new internal efforts initiated by the sanctuary can also be considered for funding under SIMoN, but must comply with the guidelines listed above. SIMoN staff involved with these sanctuary pre-proposals must use external reviewers to prevent conflicts of interest.

3. Rapid Response Pre-proposals
Rapid response sanctuary pre-proposals will be accepted at anytime. Occasionally, unforeseen events or phenomena occur that can dramatically alter habitats, communities, populations, or human health. The ephemeral nature of these events also makes extraordinary changes difficult to study and funding has traditionally not been available for the comprehensive investigations on short notice. SIMoN has therefore been designed with the ability to quickly respond to unusual or dramatic changes to resources of the Sanctuary with efforts to determine causes and quantify impacts. Researchers or programs that identify extraordinary events or trends can apply for rapid response funding by contacting SIMoN and submitting a pre-proposal (described above). Conversely, if SIMoN identifies an unforeseen event, rapid RFPs can be released outside of the normal schedule at the discretion of SIMoN staff. When possible, pre-proposals will be reviewed during a Science Committee meeting session, however SIMoN staff have the authority to fund rapid response programs with the approval of the Sanctuary Superintendent. In the rare case that a dramatic event occurs requiring an immediate investigation, limited SIMoN funds can be released directly to Sanctuary staff or local contractors for an initial urgent response at the discretion of the Sanctuary Superintendent.

Indirect Rates

Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation Federal ID # 94-3225675

The Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation (MBSF) serves as a fiscal sponsor of SIMoN and is committed to ensuring that the maximum amount of our funding is spent directly on programs. The organization strives to maintain low levels of overhead, and insists on similar commitments from our program partners.

For grants, contracts and project awards in the SIMoN program and elsewhere, the MBSF has established the following policy related to indirect charges:

1) Solicited Proposals and Projects When a proposal or project has been solicited by the MBSF/SIMoN:
Proposal/Project Total Value $0-25,000 Above $25,000	Allowable Indirect Rates 0-10 % 0-15 %
2) Unsolicited Proposals and Projects When a proposal or project is submitted "unsolicited" to the MBSF/SIMoN, the Allowable Indirect Charges must be between 0 and 10% of the total contract value.

In instances where proposals have similar technical merit, preference will be given to the submission with the lowest indirect charge rate, and the highest percentage of program-specific expenses.

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to Dennis J. Long, Executive Director.