In FY 2026, the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Office, in conjunction with the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP), is accepting applications to accelerate the transition of advanced coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes observing technologies to operations mode.
Donor Name: Department of Commerce
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/27/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The mission of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS ) is to produce, integrate, and communicate high quality ocean, coastal and Great Lakes information that meets the safety, economic, and stewardship needs of the Nation. The work of the U.S. IOOS Enterprise supports NOAA’s mission: to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, the ocean, and coasts; to share that knowledge and information with others; and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (ICOOS) Act of 2009 mandates the establishment of a national integrated system of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems coordinated at the federal level to benefit society. Reauthorized by the Coastal Ocean Observations and Research Act (COORA) of 2020, the system supports the public, national security, search and rescue, commerce, safety, environmental forecasting, food, energy, water quality, scientific, and resource management needs.
The U.S. IOOS Office is seeking to fund projects, subject to the availability of funds, which advance new or existing technology-based solutions that address long standing and emerging coastal observing, product development, and data management challenges. The projects will be focused on those technologies for which there are demonstrated operators or customers who commit to integrated, long term use of those technologies and open data sharing. A Transition Manager for the project should be identified and a Transition Plan will be a Year One deliverable.
This objective is accomplished by investing in the transition of emerging and promising marine and Great Lakes observing technological capabilities from the mid to latter phases of research into operational status.
Decision makers, businesses, managers, scientists, and communities at local, regional, and national levels all use IOOS information tailored to their needs to:
- Improve predictions of ocean and weather conditions and their effects on coastal communities and the nation
- Improve the safety and efficiency of maritime operations
- Improve national and homeland security
- More effectively mitigate, and increase resilience to, the effects of natural and anthropogenic hazards
- Reduce public health risks
- More effectively protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems
- Enable the sustained use of ocean and coastal resources
Priorities
Specific areas of interest under this funding opportunity include, but are not limited to:
- sensors for physical, biological, or chemical parameters, especially low-cost or accessible ocean technology (AOT) sensors
- use of cloud-based technologies and platforms and the use of AI for analysis and QA/QC
- use of novel autonomous vehicles/platforms
- Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) sensors and sensor platforms including deployment of sensors on new platforms 5. Environmental DNA (eDNA) samplers and systems to improve the efficiency of sample collection, e.g. using CTDs, onboard processing, and deployment of sensors on new platforms
- sensors for ocean acidification related measurements
- High Frequency Radar (HFR) use impact and metrics, development, and improvement 8. novel data management, analytics, and integration to improve service delivery to customers
Funding Information
In FY 2026 – 2029 it is estimated that up to $7.5 million will be available from the U.S. IOOS Office. Multiple awards are anticipated, subject to availability of funds, in amounts up to $400,000 per year for up to three years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible funding applicants for this competition are industry, institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and State, local and tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions and foreign governments may not be the primary recipient of awards under this announcement, but they are encouraged to partner with applicants when appropriate.
- If an applicant has a partner(s) who would receive funds, the lead grantee will be expected to use subcontracts or other appropriate mechanisms to provide funds to the partner(s). If a partner is a NOAA office or laboratory, the IOOS office will transfer funds internally.
- Funding will not be awarded to continue projects previously funded through the Ocean Technology Program.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
