FY 2027-2028 NESDIS Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
🏛 DOC NOAA - ERA Production (DOC-DOCNOAAERA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions seeking to conduct research and projects related to NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, state and local governments, and Indian tribal governments. International and foreign organizations may also apply. For CESU-specific projects, eligible applicants must be non-federal partner institutions within designated CESU regional programs across the United States.
Federal agencies are not eligible to receive direct funding under this announcement. Eligibility also depends on the specific statutory authority supporting the proposed activity. Applicants submitting the same proposal to multiple NOAA offices should notify all relevant contacts to enable internal coordination.
Projects under this announcement support natural and cultural resource research and innovation aligned with NOAA's mission. The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) pathway specifically targets collaborative projects between federal agencies and university, tribal, nonprofit, and other non-federal partners.
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Program description
A description of NOAA Line and Staff Offices is found at https://www.noaa.gov/about/organization, and applicants may contact the Agency Contacts in Section VII. below for more information. If you submit the same application to more than one Line or Staff Office, mention this in your application and notify the relevant contacts in Section VII. so that NOAA may coordinate internally.
This notice also solicits proposals that are part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program. CESU is a U.S. federal partnership network that connects agencies with universities, tribes, nonprofits, and other partners to address natural and cultural resource challenges. Each CESU is structured as a working collaborative with participation from numerous federal and non-federal institutional partners. CESUs are based at host universities and focus on a particular bio-geographic region of the country.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational capacity/capability documentation
- Evidence of CESU partnership status (if applicable)
- Letters of support or commitment from partners
Program contact
- 👤 Elizabeth W Holmes Grants Management Specialist
- 📧 Olga.Dixon@noaa.gov
- 📞 301-485-6428
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 11.015 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$10,000,000
-
$5,256,268
-
$4,989,874
-
$1,656,410
-
$1,399,874
-
$783,171
-
$753,831
-
$749,999
-
$683,220
-
$649,814
Top States by Funding
- DC 5 awards $10.4M
- CA 7 awards $6.8M
- CO 4 awards $2.1M
- WA 3 awards $1.9M
- NY 1 awards $1.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 11.015). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $5,310,000 | |
| 2025 | $4,630,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $4,861,500 |
FAQ
Who can apply to this grant?
Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, state/local governments, and Indian tribal governments are eligible. International organizations may also apply. Federal agencies cannot apply directly.
What if I'm applying for a CESU-specific project?
Your organization must be a non-federal partner institution of one of the 11 designated CESU regional programs. Check the CESU membership list at https://www.nps.gov/nature/cesu.htm to confirm eligibility.
What happens if I submit the same proposal to multiple NOAA offices?
Mention this in your application and notify all relevant Agency Contacts. NOAA will coordinate internally to avoid duplicate funding.
What types of projects does this grant support?
Projects addressing natural and cultural resource challenges aligned with NESDIS priorities. CESU projects emphasize collaborative partnerships between federal and non-federal institutions.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is September 30, 2028. Check with specific NOAA offices for any rolling acceptance or early review dates.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact your relevant NOAA Line or Staff Office early to clarify which program your project aligns with before submitting.
- If submitting a CESU proposal, verify your organization's membership status at the official CESU website before investing application effort.
- Clearly articulate how your project addresses natural or cultural resource challenges and fits NESDIS priorities and mission.
- If submitting identical proposals to multiple NOAA offices, proactively disclose this and identify which office should lead to reduce confusion.
- Review the full BAA carefully for specific program requirements, budget guidelines, and any unique submission instructions beyond this overview.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications are rejected when organizations fail to verify CESU membership before applying for CESU-specific projects. Unclear alignment between proposed work and NESDIS priorities or statutory authorities leads to dismissal. Duplicate submissions to multiple offices without proper disclosure cause administrative delays and potential disqualification.
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