Advancing coastal flood protection through public-private partnerships, innovative insurance products, and improved sediment management.
🏛 DOC NOAA - ERA Production (DOC-DOCNOAAERA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research teams advancing coastal flood protection through natural infrastructure. Eligible applicants include U.S. colleges and universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal entities, U.S. Territories, and Pacific Islands institutions. For-profit organizations and federal agencies with legal authority may also apply. Projects must address public-private partnerships, innovative insurance products, or improved sediment management. Funding supports multidisciplinary teams that engage regional users for practical implementation.
Geographic scope is national, with focus on coastal areas. Projects must demonstrate coordination with states and localities. Up to four-year funding period available per project.
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Program description
The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program (CRP) [formerly Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)/Coastal Ocean Program (COP)], is soliciting proposals for projects that will support state-of-the-art information and products to advance the use of natural infrastructure for coastal flood protection through one or more of the following focal areas: public-private partnerships, innovative insurance products, or improved sediment management. This short-term investment supports research teams that include regional users to ensure practical, efficient, and cost-effective cross-sector implementation that advances long-term flood and storm preparedness capacity that is led by states and localities. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Federal appropriations. If funds are available for this program, one to six projects are expected to be supported for up to four years in duration, with an approximate annual budget for each project up to $500,000, not to exceed $2,000,000 per project. — Electronic Access: Proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov. Sign up to receive any potential amendments to this Announcement via Grants.gov.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Completed SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative/proposal (addressing one or more focal areas)
- Budget and budget justification
- Organizational capability statement
- Letters of support from state/local government and/or private partners
- Resumes or CVs of key personnel
- DUNS number and SAM.gov registration proof
Program contact
- 👤 Nicola R Bell Grantor
- 📧 Trevor.Meckley@noaa.gov
- 📞 301-628-1328
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 11.478 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$7,500,000
-
$4,999,505
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$4,724,894
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$4,234,590
-
$4,080,753
-
$3,875,244
-
$3,027,705
-
$2,957,340
-
$2,820,965
-
$2,663,785
Top States by Funding
- FL 10 awards $16.7M
- MA 9 awards $15.5M
- VA 10 awards $13.9M
- CA 8 awards $13.0M
- MD 3 awards $9.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 11.478). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $22,500,000 | |
| 2025 | $14,797,594 | |
| 2026 est. | $20,592,149 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
U.S. universities, nonprofits, state/local governments, tribal entities, and for-profits are eligible. Federal agencies may apply if they have legal authority to receive funds from another agency.
What are the three main funding focus areas?
Public-private partnerships for coastal protection. Innovative insurance products for flood risk. Improved sediment management strategies.
How long is the project period?
Projects can last up to four years. Annual budgets reach approximately $500,000, with a total project cap of $2,000,000.
When is the application deadline?
The fixed deadline is February 12, 2027. Proposals must be submitted through Grants.gov.
How competitive is this funding?
NOAA expects to fund one to six projects from this round. Competitiveness is high due to limited awards and broad applicant pool.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Form a multidisciplinary team that includes researchers, state/local partners, and end-users. NOAA prioritizes cross-sector collaboration for real-world impact.
- Emphasize practical implementation and cost-effectiveness. Avoid purely theoretical research disconnected from state and locality needs.
- If proposing public-private partnerships, identify specific private sector partners early. Letters of support strengthen your application.
- Connect your work to long-term flood and storm preparedness goals. Show how your project builds regional capacity beyond the funding period.
- Budget carefully around the annual $500,000 cap and $2,000,000 project maximum. Justify multi-year timelines with clear milestones and deliverables.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing research without clear state or local government partnerships. NOAA expects practical products teams can implement immediately. Underestimating the complexity of public-private partnerships or insurance product development. These require more coordination time than traditional research. Failing to demonstrate how natural infrastructure provides cost-effective flood protection compared to gray infrastructure alternatives.
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