NT-23-11: Substrate-Borne Vibroacoustic Disturbances from Offshore Wind Construction: Measurements, Physical Characteristics, and Propagation | M23AS00332

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is NT-23-11 (Funding Opportunity Number M23AS00332)?

NT-23-11 (Funding Opportunity Number M23AS00332) is a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) cooperative agreement funding opportunity focused on understanding substrate-borne vibroacoustic disturbances generated by offshore wind construction and operations.

2) What is the main scientific focus of this funding opportunity?

The core focus is to directly measure and characterize mechanical waves and particle motion that travel through the seabed (substrate-borne signals), particularly in real-world scenarios such as offshore wind pile driving. The opportunity emphasizes seabed-coupled vibrations rather than only underwater noise in the water column.

3) What problem or knowledge gap is BOEM trying to address?

While underwater noise impacts have been studied for years, BOEM highlights that comparatively little is known about vibrations that couple into the seabed and propagate through sediment layers. These substrate-borne disturbances are widely recognized as a potentially important stressor for benthic and seafloor-associated organisms, but the physics, propagation pathways, and attenuation in real settings are not well quantified.

4) What kinds of offshore wind activities are motivating this research?

The description points to offshore wind construction and operations, with pile driving specifically referenced as an example activity that can generate seabed-coupled mechanical waves and particle motion.

5) What types of measurements does BOEM want the project to collect?

BOEM is seeking direct measurements of substrate-borne vibroacoustic disturbances, including mechanical waves and particle motion traveling through the seabed. The intent is to characterize what the signals look like under real offshore wind conditions, including how energy and frequency content vary, how signals change with distance from the source, and how transmission depends on local geology and sediment layering.

6) Is this opportunity only about sound in the water column?

No. A central theme is that the project should focus on seabed-coupled vibrations (substrate-borne vibroacoustics), not solely water-column underwater noise.

7) What deliverables or outcomes are implied by the opportunity description?

The opportunity implies a measurement-based understanding of propagation pathways and attenuation so the field can move from general concern to quantifiable expectations about where and when impacts might occur. BOEM is looking for science that supports defensible predictions of impact zones around construction and operational activities using real measurements and validated models.

8) What does BOEM mean by "impact zones" in this context?

Based on the description, impact zones refer to predicted areas around construction or operational activities where substrate-borne vibroacoustic disturbances may be present at meaningful levels, informed by measured signals and validated propagation models (including distance-dependent changes and attenuation).

9) How important is modeling versus descriptive field observations?

The opportunity signals that BOEM values approaches that translate measured signals into prediction tools. It points toward developing source characterizations and propagation modeling methods, rather than stopping at descriptive observations alone.

10) What methodological topics does BOEM expect the study to address?

A major emphasis is on methodology: exploring and comparing data collection approaches and identifying appropriate geoacoustic sensors for capturing substrate-borne vibroacoustic signals at different ranges and at different depths within sediment. This includes sensor performance under offshore conditions, effective deployment configurations, and collecting signals suitable for interpretation and model development.

11) Does the opportunity specify what kinds of sensors should be used?

The description does not prescribe a single sensor type. Instead, it expects the project to explore, compare, and identify the most appropriate geoacoustic sensors and deployment configurations for different ranges and sediment depths, and to determine which perform best under offshore conditions.

12) Is this research limited to offshore wind projects only?

No. Although offshore wind is the motivating use case, BOEM explicitly notes that results should be broadly applicable to other seabed-coupled marine industrial activities.

13) What other marine industrial activities are mentioned as relevant use cases?

Examples listed include marine energy converter construction and operations, subsea drilling and dredging, offshore structure removal (decommissioning), and deep-sea mining.

14) What types of outputs might support broad applicability across activities and sites?

Based on BOEMs framing, outputs that generalize across settings could include sensor recommendations, standardized measurement strategies, and transferable propagation or impact modeling approaches that regulators and practitioners can apply beyond a single project site.

15) What funding mechanism is being used?

This is a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement. That means BOEM expects substantial involvement and coordination during the project, rather than a more hands-off grant structure.

16) What is the activity category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The activity category is Environment under CFDA 15.423.

17) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $1,500,000.

18) How many awards does BOEM expect to make?

The posting indicated an expected single award.

19) When was the opportunity created and when was the application closing date?

The opportunity was created on 2023-06-08, and the original application closing date was 2023-08-08.

20) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited primarily to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and the project is competed through specific Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs).

21) Which CESUs are included for competition under this opportunity?

The CESUs listed are: North Atlantic Coast, Pacific Northwest, Gulf Coast, Californian, Chesapeake Watershed, and Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast.

22) Is there a requirement regarding the Principal Investigator (PI)?

Yes. A staff member of the applying organization must serve as the Principal Investigator, and this is stated as an explicit requirement.

23) Are partnerships encouraged?

Yes. Partnerships are encouraged, especially cooperative research involving state agencies, public universities, and nonprofits in affected states.

24) Can federal entities be partners on the project?

Yes. Federal entities may participate as partners, but tasks they perform and the associated budget must be provided separately by the federal partner.

25) How should partner tasks and budgets be handled in the proposal?

Federal partner tasks and budgets must be provided separately by the federal partner. Non-federal partner tasks and budgets are expected to be included within the main applicants proposal.