CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 1

RESTORE Act

Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program

U.S Department of the Treasury

Office of Gulf Coast Restoration

Modified Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: GR-RCE-23-001 (Grants.gov Opportunity listing # GR-RCE-24-001)

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 21.015

Key Dates:

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as long as funds are available in an Applicant’s 

allocation. This funding opportunity announcement, which originally was to close on October 31, 

2023, has been extended to October 31, 2024. This funding opportunity announcement will either 

be further extended, or a new funding opportunity announcement may be posted in 2024 as 

determined necessary by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 2

CONTENTS

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION..............................................................................3

A. Legislative Authority...................................................................................................................3

B. Purpose and Priorities................................................................................................................3

PART II. Federal Award Information.................................................................................................4

A. Total Funding Availability ...........................................................................................................4

B. Award Amount ...........................................................................................................................4

C. Anticipated Award Date .............................................................................................................4

D. Period of Performance ...............................................................................................................4

E. Funding Instrument Type ...........................................................................................................4

PART III. Eligibility Information..........................................................................................................4

A. Eligible Applicants.......................................................................................................................4

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement.....................................................................................5

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility ............................................................................................5

PART IV. Application Preparation and Submission Information .......................................................5

A. Application Package....................................................................................................................5

B. Content and Form of Application...............................................................................................6

C. Unique Entity ID (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) ..........................................8

D. Submission Dates and Times......................................................................................................9

E. Intergovernmental Review.........................................................................................................9

F. Funding Restrictions...................................................................................................................9

G. Other Submission Requirements..............................................................................................10

PART V. Application Review Information .......................................................................................10

A. Evaluation Criteria ....................................................................................................................10

B. Review and Selection Process..................................................................................................10

C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates.........................................................................11

D. Review of Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System Information 

(FAPIIS) Data ....................................................................................................................................11

E. Appeals.....................................................................................................................................11

PART VI. Award Administration Information...................................................................................11

A. Award Notices ..........................................................................................................................11

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements ..................................................................12

C. Reporting ..................................................................................................................................12

PART VII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts..................................................................................13
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 3

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

Under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived 

Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), Pub. L. No. 112-141, § 1602, 

126 Stat. 588 (2012), the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (Trust Fund) was established in 

the Treasury of the United States. Eighty percent of the civil penalties paid after July 6, 

2012, under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in connection with the Deepwater 

Horizon oil spill will be deposited into the Trust Fund and invested. The RESTORE Act created 

five components (grant programs) through which funds will be disbursed, two of which are 

administered by Treasury’s Office of Gulf Coast Restoration.

B. Purpose and Priorities

Treasury is publishing multiple funding opportunity notices for its RESTORE Act grant

programs. This announcement applies only to the Centers of Excellence Research Grants 

Program.

Trust Fund amounts are available to establish one or more Centers of Excellence through 

competitive subawards to nongovernmental entities and consortia in the Gulf Coast Region, 

including institutions of higher education. Funds may be used to establish Centers of 

Excellence, and by those Centers of Excellence for science, technology, and monitoring in 

one or more of the following disciplines as described in the RESTORE Act and Treasury’s 

implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.704: 

1) Coastal and deltaic sustainability, restoration, and protection, including solutions 

and technology that allow citizens to live in a safe and sustainable manner in a 

coastal delta in the Gulf Coast Region.

2) Coastal fisheries and wildlife ecosystem research and monitoring in the Gulf Coast 

Region.

3) Offshore energy development, including research and technology to improve the 

sustainable and safe development of energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico.

4) Sustainable and resilient growth, economic and commercial development in the Gulf

Coast Region.

5) Comprehensive observation, monitoring, and mapping of the Gulf of Mexico.

Eligible applicants issuing subawards to Center(s) of Excellence must establish and 

implement a program to monitor compliance with its subaward agreements.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 4

PART II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

A. Total Funding Availability

The total funding available for eligible activities under the Centers of Excellence Research 

Grants Program is dependent upon amounts in the Trust Fund. The amounts available will 

depend on the Trust Fund balance, any adjustments due to sequestration, pursuant to 

section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as 

amended, and any adjustments due to obligations and disbursements through grants 

awarded to eligible recipients. 

B. Award Amount

Each of five eligible applicants may apply for its share of funds, described in Treasury’s 

implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.702 as a percentage of the amounts available from 

the Trust Fund are for grants under the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program. An 

eligible applicant may apply for up to 100 percent of its current available allocation. 

Treasury will notify eligible applicants when any revisions have been made to the allocation

tables, which include the amounts currently available and posted on Treasury’s RESTORE 

Act website.

C. Anticipated Award Date

Treasury anticipates awarding a grant award within 120 calendars days after receipt of a 

complete and compliant application.

D. Period of Performance

Eligible applicants may submit one or more applications. Applications should be submitted 

at least 120 calendar days before the requested start date of the award.

E. Funding Instrument Type

Awards will be made as grants to eligible applicants. 

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are specified by the RESTORE Act and Treasury’s implementing 

regulations at 31 CFR 34.702. Only the following entities may apply for funding under this 

announcement:

1) The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council or such administrative agent as it may 

designate
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 5

2) The Florida Institute of Oceanography

3) The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board of Louisiana, through the 

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana (pursuant to 31 CFR 

34.702)

4) The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality

5) The Office of the Governor of the State of Texas, or an appointee of the Office of the

Governor

Only the above-named entities are eligible applicants who may apply for funding. Treasury 

does not make grants under the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program directly to 

other entities or individuals. Interested third parties may contact their state entity listed 

above to learn more about how the eligible applicants select their Centers of Excellence.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

No cost sharing or matching is required. 

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

Each applicant must complete an Operational Self-Assessment and must update the 

Operational Self-Assessment annually by June 30. Annual Operational Self-Assessments 

must be reviewed and accepted by Treasury before funds may be awarded for an 

application under this announcement. The required format and fillable form for the 

Operational Self-Assessment, as well as instructions for completing it, may be found under 

Quick Links – Resources on Treasury’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence website.

PART IV. APPLICATION PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Application Package

Treasury uses the Treasury RESTORE Grants Management System (the RGMS) to manage 

the application submission process, and application packages will only be made available 

only through the Treasury RGMS portal (https:/portal.treasury.gov/RGMS). Only eligible 

applicants, as defined in Part III, and their designated contractors as appropriate will be able 

to register with the RGMS. Eligible applicants must register with the RGMS and log in using 

their login.gov credentials in order to access the RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence 

Research Grants Program application package available under the RESTORE Act.

When beginning an application in RGMS, eligible applicants should be sure to select the 

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence application package because this package has the 

correct instructions, forms, and required attachments for this program.

If you are an eligible applicant and require further information, need assistance with the 

RGMS account registration process, or if you do not have Internet access, contact Treasury 
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 6

using the contact information provided below in Part VII Federal Awarding Agency 

Contacts.

Information also is available on Treasury’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence website.

B. Content and Form of Application

All applications under this FOA must be completed and submitted using the RESTORE Act 

Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program application package provided by the RGMS 

portal. An application must be submitted by the Applicant’s Authorized Senior Official, or an 

individual designated as an Authorized Senior Official, who can legally bind the organization 

or entity, and who has oversight for the administration and use of the funds in question, 

and this individual must have an Authorizing Official user role in the RGMS.

The application package will include the required standard forms and specific 

documentation required by Treasury. All standard forms are available electronically in the 

RGMS. Applicants must complete all forms in the RGMS application package, and the 

Applicant’s Authorizing Official must sign the certifications electronically.

Information that is not part of a standard form or a Treasury template included in the 

application package can be provided as part of a separate file attachment that the applicant 

can upload into the application package in the RGMS.

Any files uploaded into the RGMS application package must contain a valid file format 

extension in the filename. Any file submitted as part of the RGMS application package that 

is not in a PDF file format or in another format otherwise specified in this FOA will not be 

accepted for processing and will be excluded from the application during the review 

process. The RGMS platform accepts the following file types: PDFs, Microsoft files (word, 

Excel, PowerPoint) and image files (GIF, JPEG, or PNG). Scanned copies should not be 

submitted through the RGMS unless the applicant confirms the clarity of the documents. All 

documents that do not conform to the above will be excluded from the application during 

the review process.

Completion of the following forms in the RGMS is required:

1) Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance.

2) Form SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-construction Programs.

3) RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Applicant Certifications signed by an Authorized 

Senior Official.

4) SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. See 31 CFR Part 21 and the RESTORE Act 

Direct Component Applicant Certifications, Section E – Certification Regarding 

Lobbying. If applicable, the SF-LLL must be signed via DocuSign by an Authorized 

Senior Official.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 7

5) RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Research Grant Program Application Narrative --

The information is required unless it is not applicable to the project, program, or 

activity. Applicants should review the detailed instructions/directions in the form, 

the requirements specified in this funding opportunity announcement, and any 

Treasury guidance for a complete list and explanation of the requirements.

Centers of Excellence Narrative Form Sections:

General Information. Identify which scenario applies to this application.

Section A. Existing Centers of Excellence. See Question A.1 on the Narrative Form 

in the application package for specific requirements.

Section B. New/Additional Center(s) of Excellence. See Questions B.1 – B.2 on the 

Narrative Form in the application package for specific requirements. 

Section C. Recipient Information. See Question C.1 on the Narrative Form in the 

application package for specific requirements.

Section D. Center of Excellence Information. See Questions D.1 – D.5 on the 

Narrative Form in the application package for specific requirements.

Section E. Program Details. See Question E.1 on the Narrative Form in the 

application package for specific requirements. Provide a scope of work that includes 

specific tasks, milestones, and related timeframes for the entire project period. This 

should include the applicant’s administrative and oversight tasks and the Center(s)’ 

science, technology, and monitoring tasks in the selected eligible discipline(s). The 

budget justification should relate each budget category listed in the SF-424A to the 

specific tasks identified in the proposed scope of work. The budget justification 

should provide specific justification for all budget categories that apply, including an 

explanation of the necessity, allowability, reasonableness, and allocability of 

proposed costs. Review the Budget Justification Guidance on the RGMS / Treasury’s 

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Resources webpage for further details regarding 

the specific budget categories and guidance for how to complete a budget 

justification.

6) RESTORE Act Environmental Compliance Form. If specific research efforts have been 

identified at the time of application, then the applicant must identify the 

environmental laws that may apply to those efforts and the environmental 

documents that may be required.

7) RESTORE Act Application Milestones and Performance Measures Form – The 

applicant must identify and list the milestones and performance measures that will 

be used to track progress on completing the award scope of work and demonstrate 

project or program outcomes.

8) Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI Narrative Form. See the Title VI Narrative Form in the 

application package for specific requirements. Treasury will accept a Title VI 

compliance form recently prepared and submitted (within one calendar year) to 

another Federal agency. If any information required by Treasury is not included in 

the other agency’s Title VI compliance form, the missing information must be 
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 8

submitted with the application for the Title VI Narrative to be considered a complete 

response. If any item listed in the Title VI Narrative is not relevant to the project for 

which federal financial assistance is requested, the information should be marked as 

“not applicable.” Applicants may refer to the Treasury LEP Guidance when preparing 

their plan for providing language assistance to persons with limited English 

proficiency.

The following item may be required to be submitted with the application package:

9) A current federally approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or 

election to use the de minimis rate, if indirect costs are included in the budget. See 

Question 19 on the Narrative Form in the application package for specific 

requirements and review the Budget Justification Guidance on the RGMS and/or 

posted on Treasury’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Resources webpage for 

further details.

More information on application policies and requirements is available on Treasury’s 

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Grant Program website.

C. Unique Entity ID (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

1) All applicants must have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) generated in SAM.gov. This UEI 

should be entered in the block with the applicant's name and address on the cover 

page of the application, block 8c on the Form SF 424, Application for Federal 

Assistance. The name and address in the application should be exactly as given for 

the UEI. Applicants should obtain their UEI immediately to ensure all registration 

steps are completed prior to submitting an application.

2) All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). 

Registering for an account via the SAM.gov website is a separate process from 

submitting an application to Treasury. After your entity is successfully registered in 

SAM.gov, your UEI will be automatically generated and viewable in the SAM.gov 

workspace. Applicants are encouraged to register early. Applicants must maintain an 

active registration with SAM at all times, prior to submitting an application, and 

throughout the entire period of performance of an award. Applicants are required 

to renew their registration with SAM annually. Failure to renew a SAM registration 

prior to application submission may prevent an applicant from being eligible to 

receive a grant under the Direct Component program. Certifications in SAM.gov 

have now replaced the SF-424B Assurances as part of the application. Applicants 

must successfully register with SAM prior to registering in the Federal Funding 

Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) at 

https://www.fsrs.gov as a prime awardee user. Prime recipients must maintain a 

current registration in SAM.gov, and may enter into subawards and contracts only 

with entities that have a UEI from SAM. Organizations must report executive 

compensation as part of their registration profile in SAM.gov by the end of the 

month following the month in which an award is made, and annually thereafter 
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 9

based on the reporting requirements of the FFATA of 2006, Pub. L. No. 109-282, as 

amended by the Government Funding Transparency Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-

252, § 6202, 122 Stat. 2387 (2008), and as amended by the Digital Accountability 

and Transparency Act (DATA Act) of 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-101, and implemented by 

2 CFR Part 170. 

3) Treasury cannot make a grant to an applicant who has not obtained a UEI and does 

not maintain an active registration with SAM. See 2 CFR Part 25.

D. Submission Dates and Times

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as long as funds are available in an 

applicant’s allocation. Applications should be submitted at least 120 calendar days before 

the requested start date of the award. This funding opportunity announcement will either 

be further extended, or a new funding opportunity announcement may be posted in 2024 

as determined necessary by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

E. Intergovernmental Review

Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372,

"Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Please check box “C” on item 19 of the 

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance because Review by State under Executive Order 

12372 does not apply.

F. Funding Restrictions

4) Pursuant to the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.458, Treasury will not allow 

reimbursement of costs incurred before an award is made unless an applicant 

demonstrates that the costs were incurred directly pursuant to the negotiation and 

in anticipation of the award, and that the costs were necessary for the efficient and 

timely performance of the scope of work. Such costs are allowable only to the 

extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the award,

and only with Treasury's written approval. All costs incurred before the Federal

awarding agency makes the Federal award are at the recipient’s risk. Any pre-award 

costs should be requested as part of an application under this funding opportunity 

announcement. The applicant must clearly describe the proposed pre-award costs in 

the scope of work and budget justification and provide a compelling justification as 

to why Treasury should approve them. Applicants considering including pre-award 

costs in an application should contact Treasury as soon as possible to discuss them.

5) Proposal costs of the current accounting period normally should be treated as 

indirect costs per 2 CFR § 200.460. Applications including proposal costs as direct 

costs should provide a detailed justification as to the appropriateness of charging 

the proposal costs directly to the prospective award.

6) As noted in the RESTORE Act Standard Terms and Conditions and Program-Specific 

Terms and Conditions on Treasury’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Resources
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 10

webpage, the following costs are unallowable unless approved in writing by 

Treasury:

a) Construction, including the alteration, repair, or rehabilitation of existing 

structures. Facilities costs are allowable as indirect costs in a federally approved 

negotiated indirect cost rate.

b) Acquisition of land or interests in land.

G. Other Submission Requirements

All applications must be submitted via the RGMS platform, and applications can only be 

submitted by an Authorized Senior Official who is either (a) the Applicant’s highest official, 

or (b) an individual that has been designated by the Applicant’s highest official, in writing, as 

an Authorized Senior Official for the purposes of submitting application to Treasury’s Office 

of Gulf Coast Restoration. In either case, the individual submitting the application on behalf 

of the Applicant in RGMS must have an Authorizing Official RGMS user role. The individual 

acting in the Authorizing Official role in the RGMS will be prompted to sign the SF-424, SFLLL, certifications, and other documents requiring a signature via DocuSign, and it is this 

individual’s signature that will display in all signature blocks. 

For questions regarding the applicability of specific RESTORE requirements and/or technical 

assistance regarding how to answer particular application questions, Applicants should 

contact their assigned Awards Program Analyst at Treasury.

For questions regarding system access or navigation, or to report bugs in the RGMS, 

applicants should contact the RGMS Help Desk at RGMShelpdesk@treasury.gov.

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Evaluation Criteria

This is a noncompetitive grant opportunity. Each application will be evaluated for 

completeness and conformance with the RESTORE Act, Treasury’s implementing regulations

at 31 CFR Part 34, and the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200. Treasury also will evaluate 

each applicant’s ability to administer an award successfully, using information sources such 

as the Operational Self-Assessment, audits under the Single Audit Act, and OMB-designated 

repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information.

B. Review and Selection Process

Treasury will perform an initial eligibility review of applications as they are submitted. 

Treasury also will assess each application for completeness and compliance with the 

RESTORE Act, Treasury’s implementing regulations, 31 CFR Part 34, applicable federal 

statutes, regulations and grant policies. Applications will be selected for funding if they fulfill 

all application requirements and funding is available in the applicant’s Trust Fund allocation.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 11

C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Successful applications will be announced and awarded on a rolling basis as they are 

reviewed, depending on the complexity of the proposed activity.

D. Review of Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System Information 

(FAPIIS) Data

Treasury, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than 

the Simplified Acquisition Threshold currently set at $250,000, is required to review and 

consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and 

performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS). See 41 USC § 2313(e)(2)(A). 

Each applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and 

performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself 

that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated 

integrity and performance system accessible through SAM. Treasury will consider any 

comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity 

and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business 

ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk 

posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR § 200.206. 

E. Appeals

If an application for a grant under the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program is not 

approved, the applicant may appeal Treasury’s disapproval of the application. For more 

information on the appeal process, please contact the Treasury’s Office of Gulf Coast 

Restoration at restoreact@treasury.gov. 

PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices

Treasury will notify applicants of application determinations via email, either directly from 

Treasury or via email notifications issued through the RGMS. Treasury will provide 

successful applicants with a Notice of Award. Applicants must formally accept the award

within 30 days, via the RGMS, in order for the award to become legally binding. Awards 

must be accepted by the Authorizing Official enrolled in the RGMS.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 12

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 

Awards under this announcement are subject to the RESTORE Act, Treasury implementing 

regulations at 31 CFR Part 34, the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200, other applicable 

executive orders, federal statutes, regulations, and program policies. This is a nonexhaustive list. The RESTORE Act Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions and 

Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for awards under this announcement are posted on 

Treasury’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Resources webpage.

1) Lobbying Restrictions at 31 CFR Part 21.

2) Government-wide Debarment and Suspension Requirements at 31 CFR Part 19.

3) Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace at 31 CFR Part 20.

4) Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act and its implementing

regulations at 2 CFR Part 170.

5) Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200 and any Treasury regulations implementing 

these requirements.

6) Award Term for Trafficking in Persons at 2 CFR Part 175.

7) Treasury’s Title IX regulations at 31 CFR Part 28.

8) Treasury’s Title VI regulations at 31 CFR Part 22.

9) Treasury’s Age Discrimination regulations at 31 CFR Part 23.

Special award conditions may be applied to an award under this announcement.

C. Reporting

Applicants who receive awards will be required to file the SF-425 Federal Financial Report.

Performance reporting also is required via the SF-PPR, the RESTORE Act Status of 

Performance Report, and the RESTORE Act Milestones Report. Recipients that use award 

funds to purchase equipment and/or supplies must file an SF-428 Tangible Personal 

Property Report, SF-424B Final Report, and SF-428-C Disposition Request/Report when 

required, as specified in the RESTORE Act Financial Assistance Standard Terms and 

Conditions and Program-Specific Terms and Conditions. The RESTORE Act Status of 

Performance Report and the RESTORE Act Milestones Report may be found on Treasury’s 

RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Resources webpage. All financial and performance 

reports must be filed semi-annually via the RGMS during the grant award’s period of 

performance, unless a special award condition specifies more frequent reporting or if 

Treasury otherwise revises the program reporting requirements and specifies a different 

reporting interval. The Operational Self-Assessment form must be updated annually.
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE | Page 13

PART VII. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For questions regarding this announcement, please contact the Office of Gulf Coast 

Restoration at restoreact@treasury.gov.

Information is also available at Treasury’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Research 

Grants Program website.