Mid-Atlantic SAND Expansion of Mid-Atlantic OCS Sand Supply and Demand Assessment | M23AS00346

Opportunity Information: Apply for M23AS00346

The Mid-Atlantic SAND Expansion of Mid-Atlantic OCS Sand Supply and Demand Assessment is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) focused on improving how the Mid-Atlantic region plans for, tracks, and forecasts offshore sand and gravel needs. The core purpose is to strengthen BOEMs ability to anticipate where and when Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) sand resources will be needed, how much is likely to be required, and whether the available offshore sediment resources can meet that need over time. This matters because Mid-Atlantic coastal communities, public lands, critical infrastructure, and coastal habitats are tightly connected and increasingly exposed to climate-driven impacts such as sea level rise, stronger storms, shoreline erosion, and chronic flooding. Offshore sand is a key material used in coastal storm risk management and beach nourishment projects, so better forecasting directly supports long-term coastal resilience planning.

The work is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning BOEM expects substantial involvement and collaboration during the project rather than a hands-off grant. BOEM is cooperating with the Delaware Geological Survey (DGS), a unit of the University of Delaware, and the funded effort would build on forecasting tools already developed with DGS. The intent is to expand BOEMs ongoing Mid-Atlantic sediment demand and supply evaluation using those tools so BOEM can more clearly identify regional sand supply gaps under multiple time-based scenarios relevant to climate change adaptation. In practical terms, the project is about producing decision-ready insights that show where demand is projected to outpace accessible supply, how those gaps change over decades, and what that implies for future data collection and resource management.

A major deliverable theme is helping BOEM make smarter, more strategic investments in offshore data acquisition. By identifying likely shortfalls and areas of uncertainty, BOEM can prioritize where to conduct future surveys and resource characterization to confirm sand availability and quality. The opportunity also explicitly ties this planning need to the reality that the Mid-Atlantic is a region with concentrated offshore wind energy development and associated infrastructure, including transmission lines. Because both offshore wind development and sand resource use occur offshore, BOEM is emphasizing the need to prioritize and de-conflict sand resource areas, essentially reducing spatial conflicts by improving the information base used in planning and siting decisions.

This project also supports broader national and policy goals. It is meant to advance the National Offshore Sand Inventory, which is the federal effort to compile and maintain usable information about offshore sediment resources. It also aligns with coastal resilience priorities referenced in Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, particularly sections 211 and 214, which emphasize protecting and restoring vulnerable coastlines and strengthening resilience to climate impacts. The opportunity reflects BOEMs expectation that OCS sand resources will be needed for at least the next 50 years, so the assessment is framed as a long-horizon planning tool rather than a short-term snapshot.

Data management and sharing are central features. Datasets generated or refined under this work are expected to be housed in the Marine Minerals Information System and shared with state resource agencies, federal partners, and other stakeholders. That emphasis on shared data is meant to improve coordination among organizations involved in coastal projects, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others responsible for managing public assets and infrastructure in the coastal zone.

Administratively, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number M23AS00346 under CFDA 15.424, with an environment-related activity category. Eligible applicants are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with the cooperative relationship described with the University of Delaware and its Delaware Geological Survey unit. The original closing date was 2023-08-07, the opportunity was created on 2023-07-06, and the listed award ceiling is $300,000. Overall, the grant is aimed at producing improved forecasting and decision support for offshore sand supply and coastal sand demand in the Mid-Atlantic, with direct benefits for climate adaptation planning, coastal resilience investments, and offshore spatial planning in an increasingly busy offshore environment.

• The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mid-Atlantic SAND Expansion of Mid-Atlantic OCS Sand Supply and Demand Assessment" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.424.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-07-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-08-07. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for M23AS00346

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