Frequently Asked Questions
What is CAMEO? What is CAMEO not?
CAMEO is an incipient program that will fund basic scientific research to advance our understanding of marine ecological systems using a comparative approach. The focus should be on managed populations or assemblages and studies will likely involve multiple species and multiple trophic levels. The rationale for the program is that by comparing different systems, we increase our understanding of general underlying principles.
The agencies do not want to recreate existing programs. For example, CAMEO is a basic science program and will not focus on explicit development or assessment of Decision Support Tools for management. Similarly, CAMEO will not duplicate existing programs and foci at NSF such as ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, ecology of infectious disease, and ocean ecology associated with biogeochemical cycles. Specific questions should be directed toward NOAA or NSF Program Officers. (See the 2009-10 Announcement of Opportunity, Section IA)
Are there any specific budget guidelines or limits for proposed projects?
There are no limits or recommendations concerning total budgets for proposed projects. Please keep in mind that there will be a maximum of $6M available for projects funded as a result of the 2009-10 AO. NSF and NOAA are interested in funding a number of awards, not just a few. “Moderate” size proposals are encouraged (on the order of $500K total) but this is not a requirement. It is best to scale the budget request to the work and questions proposed. Proper scaling to the science questions asked is more important than the bottom line.
Are there restrictions on foreign participation in this program?
CAMEO encourages international collaborations, but international partners are not eligible to receive funding, including travel funds. See the 2009-10 Announcement of Opportunity, Section IIIA.
Are there any geographic boundaries to CAMEO research?
CAMEO research can take place in marine and estuarine waters both nationally and internationally.
Can other federal agencies receive funding from CAMEO?
CAMEO encourages interagency collaborations, but partners from other federal agencies are strongly encouraged to bring resources to the project. We recommend calling the Program Officers to discuss the possibilities.
PLEASE NOTE: Before non-NOAA Federal applicants may be funded, they must
demonstrate that they have legal authority to receive funds from another Federal agency in excess of their appropriation. Because this announcement is not proposing to procure goods or services from the applicants, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. section 1535) is not an appropriate basis (See the 2009-10 Announcement of Opportunity, Section IIC).
Are NMFS collaborators required on each CAMEO proposal?
Collaborative partnerships between academic or private researchers and NMFS scientists are highly encouraged. It is the responsibility of the investigators to initiate these collaborations.
Which forms are required to be submitted with each CAMEO proposal?
All proposals submitted to grants.gov must contain:
As separate files:
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)
CD-511 form
Assurances for Non-construction programs (SF-424b)
As one pdf:
Project Description (see CAMEO Grant Proposal Guide for full description)
Budget forms – Annual and summary budget forms must be submitted for each
institution requesting funding
All other components outlined in the CAMEO Grant Proposal Guide
A Conflict of Interest Form must be emailed to Lora.Clarke@noaa.gov prior to the application deadline.
Please see the CAMEO Grant Proposal Guide for full application details.
Is the direct development of a Decision Support Tool required as part of a proposal?
The purpose of CAMEO is to strengthen the scientific basis for an ecosystem approach to stewardship of ocean and coastal living marine resources. The program supports fundamental research that elucidates factors influencing a variety of ecosystem processes. It is envisioned that this research will ultimately form a basis for forecasting and decision support tools. These tools, however, are not required to be developed within CAMEO research.
Is a comparative approach a necessary component of each CAMEO proposal?
Yes, comparative approaches are an essential component of CAMEO research because they are powerful tools for understanding the complexity of marine ecosystems. Studies of marine ecosystems are often difficult due to the size, dynamics, and complexity of the systems themselves, but comparative approaches allow for one to take advantage of “lessons learned” from other ecosystems to gain insight on ecosystem processes. These comparisons can include within-ecosystem comparisons (spatial and temporal changes), within-ecosystem-type comparisons (e.g., coral reefs or temperate continental shelves) and cross-ecosystem-type comparisons (e.g., coral reefs vs. temperate continental shelves, or terrestrial vs. marine).
The spatial scale of comparative analyses can range from ocean basins to local oceanic (e.g., seamounts, shelves) and coastal (e.g., bays and estuaries) features. The scale should be appropriate to the ecosystem properties being considered.
Does every proposal have to look at a system from nutrients to whales?
No. CAMEO is interested in deepening the understanding of marine ecosystems, but proposals do not have to include all ecosystem components. The scale should be appropriate to the ecosystem properties being considered.
What is the balance between analyzing existing and collecting new data? Is this expected to change over time?
Both are appropriate at any stage of CAMEO, but need to be well justified with respect to the questions being asked and the available data.
Should the cost of ship time be included in the proposal budget?
This depends on the type of institution the applicant is from and whether the applicant is requesting ship time through UNOLS or NOAA. Academic scientists requesting ship time through UNOLS should not include these costs in the CAMEO budget. Federal scientists (including NMFS) requesting ship time through UNOLS must include these costs. NMFS scientists requesting time on NOAA ships should not include these costs.
