FY 2027 – 2029 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
🏛 DOC NOAA - ERA Production (DOC-DOCNOAAERA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 21, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations conducting oceanic and atmospheric research through NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) program. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, state and local governments, Indian Tribal governments, and international organizations. Funding depends on NOAA's statutory authority for the proposed activity; Federal organizations are not eligible unless funding authority exists through interagency agreement. For CESU projects specifically, applicants must be non-federal partner institutions within designated regional CESU programs (California, Chesapeake Watershed, Great Lakes Northern Forests, Great Plains, Gulf Coast, Hawaii & Pacific Islands, North and West Alaska, North Atlantic Coast, Pacific Northwest, Piedmont & South Atlantic Coast, or South Florida & Caribbean).
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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 nonfederal institutional partners. CESUs are based at host universities and focused on a particular biogeographic region of the country.
Submission Validation
When you submit an application to this competition you will receive notification of submission validation from Grants.gov and eRA Commons. Only validated applications are sent to NOAA to review. To ensure successful submission of an application, we strongly recommend that you submit a final and complete application at least two business days prior to the submission deadline.
In addition to the Grants.gov automated notification messages, once an electronic application is accepted in eRA Commons, you will receive an automated notification from eRA Commons that the completed application was received and that an application number will be assigned. If there are errors in the application, eRA Commons will send an automated email notification(s) of any errors or warnings identified by eRA Commons. You must resolve all eRA Commons errors prior to the application due date in order for the application to be processed.
You should save and print the proof of submission messages from both Grants.gov and eRA Commons. If you do not receive an acceptance message from both Grants.gov and eRA Commons, you should follow up with the eRA Helpdesk at 1-866-504-9552 and the agency contact listed in Section VII to confirm NOAA’s receipt of the complete submission. See Section IV(G) for detailed instructions on submission validation requirements.
Registration Requirements
NOTE: We strongly encourage all prospective applicants to begin the required registration as early as possible. Completing the required registration can take six weeks or longer. Submission due dates will not be extended because of registration delays. Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted. Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov). Applicant organizations and individuals must first register with SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). After you obtain your UEI, you can complete your Grants.gov and eRA Commons registrations concurrently. See Section IV(G) for detailed instructions on registration requirements. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Agency Contacts listed in this NOFO for submission instructions.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SAM.gov registration with Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
- eRA Commons account registration
- Grants.gov registration
- Project narrative/proposal
- Budget and budget justification
- Proof of submission from both Grants.gov and eRA Commons
Program contact
- 👤 Elizabeth W Holmes Grants Management Specialist
- 📧 oar.hq.grants@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 for this grant?
Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, state/local governments, tribal governments, and international organizations are eligible. Federal organizations cannot apply unless a specific funding authority exists.
Is there a cost-sharing requirement?
No. This grant does not require cost-sharing or matching funds from applicants.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is September 30, 2029. Submit applications at least two business days early to allow time for validation in Grants.gov and eRA Commons.
What if I want to submit the same application to multiple NOAA offices?
You may submit to multiple offices, but mention this in your application and notify the relevant contacts so NOAA can coordinate internally.
Are there specific research areas this grant supports?
Yes, but research topics vary by NOAA program. Contact the Agency Contacts listed in Section VII of the full announcement for details on current priorities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Register early with SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Registration can take six weeks or longer. Do not wait until the deadline.
- Submit your complete application at least two business days before the deadline to allow validation time in both Grants.gov and eRA Commons.
- Save and print proof of submission messages from both systems. Follow up with eRA Helpdesk (1-866-504-9552) if you don't receive acceptance confirmation.
- For CESU projects, verify your organization is a member of an eligible regional CESU program before applying. Check https://www.nps.gov/nature/cesu.htm to confirm membership.
- Resolve all eRA Commons errors before the due date. Late or incomplete applications will be rejected and not considered for funding.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting late or incomplete applications due to underestimating registration and validation time. Neglecting to resolve eRA Commons errors before the deadline. Applying through CESU without confirming organizational membership in an eligible regional program.
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