Background
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) is the Regional Ocean Partnership in the Mid-Atlantic and includes the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Established in 2009 by the Governors of these states, MARCO works on shared issues that benefit from interstate collaboration and coordinated problem-solving. MARCO works to protect and improve the health of the Mid-Atlantic ocean and coastal ecosystems and economies through regional ocean planning, data sharing, and collaborative efforts around the following shared priorities:
- Coordinate the protection of important and unique marine habitats.
- Promote a regional approach to support the sustainable development of offshore renewable energy.
- Increase understanding of, and help coastal communities prepare for, climate change impacts.
- Support efforts that improve the region’s ocean and coastal water quality.
- Supporting actions that create a more sustainable and inclusive blue economy in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Being inclusive of a broader diversity of people and partners – including Tribal nations and underrepresented or under-resourced communities or interests.
For more details on MARCO’s priorities, please refer to our 2022-2024 Work Plan.
Project Overview
MARCO seeks qualified individuals or organizations to conduct regional research on preventing abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) in the Mid-Atlantic region. The research will support the Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Work Group and inform future work planning for the group. Specifically, MARCO seeks expertise in applying Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) principles to assess and address the barriers to behaviors that would prevent the abandonment of vessels.
Scope of Work
The research phase of this project will run from January 2025 to December 2025. MARCO may choose to extend the contract into 2026 for implementation of the recommendations. The selected consultant or team will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Develop and distribute barrier assessments to identify challenges preventing vessel owners, maritime industries, and coastal communities from proactively preventing vessel abandonment.
- Apply CBSM principles to understand behavioral, policy, emotional, and social barriers contributing to ADV issues.
- Gather qualitative and quantitative data from stakeholders – including vessel owners, marina operators, local governments, and community members – via surveys, interviews, or focus groups to understand their perceptions and motivations around vessel abandonment and prevention.
- Identify key barriers through data analysis, including financial, knowledge, policy, social, and emotional factors, that hinder proactive behavior in ADV prevention.
- Provide a synthesis report summarizing the findings and offering recommendations to overcome barriers.
- Attend virtual Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Work Group meetings (as needed) to present updates, share insights, and collaborate with the group.
- Attend an in-person Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit in late autumn 2025, which will likely be held in Rehoboth Beach, DE, to present findings.
- Coordinate regularly with MARCO staff to ensure project alignment with regional priorities and provide progress updates.
Qualifications & Requirements
MARCO seeks a consultant with the following qualifications:
- Experience in Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) and behavior change research, particularly in environmental or marine-related issues.
- Expertise in identifying and addressing behavioral and policy barriers in environmental management, particularly related to waste, marine debris, or ocean conservation.
- Knowledge of the Mid-Atlantic region’s coastal issues, including marine debris and abandoned vessels, as well as relevant local, state, and regional policies.
- Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to distill complex data into actionable recommendations.
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profits, local communities, and the private sector.
- Experience in designing and conducting community outreach, including surveys, focus groups, or interviews with various stakeholders.
Proposal Submission Instructions and Deadline
Interested parties should submit the following:
- Cover Letter: A brief introduction to your organization/team and your interest in the project.
- Experience & Qualifications: A summary of your relevant experience, particularly in CBSM, behavior change, marine debris prevention, or related fields. A list of personnel assigned to this project, including resumes for key personnel.
- Approach & Methodology: A description of your approach to identifying and addressing the behavioral and policy barriers to ADV prevention. Include the methods you will use for stakeholder engagement, data collection, and analysis.
- Timeline & Budget: A detailed project timeline, including key milestones and deliverables, and a budget breakdown that aligns with the project scope and objectives. This should include indirect and fringe rates, travel costs, and any other information or other direct costs deemed necessary to accomplish the desired outcomes.
Please submit your proposal to Avalon Bristow, MARCO Executive Director, at info@midatlanticocean.org by January 31, 2025. Include CBSM ADV PROPOSAL in the subject line.
Terms and Conditions
- Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and MARCO reserves the right to extend or reopen this call for proposals.
- References may be requested by MARCO.
- MARCO reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal at its discretion.
- All proposals must be valid for a period of 30 days after the submission deadline.
- The selected consultant will enter into a formal contract with CSSF on behalf of MARCO for the research phase (January 2025-December 2025), with the option to extend into 2026 for implementation based on results and funding availability.
Funding Acknowledgement:
This position is funded by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean via its fiscal sponsor, the Coastal States Stewardship Foundation, using Federal funds under award NA24NOSX473C0120-T1-01 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NOAA Office for Coastal Management or the U.S. Department of Commerce.