Act Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program
🏛 U.S. Dept. of Treasury RESTORE Act Program
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 28, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for nongovernmental entities and consortia, including institutions of higher education, in the Gulf Coast Region.
Eligible organizations establish Centers of Excellence to conduct research in coastal restoration, fisheries, offshore energy, economic development, or Gulf monitoring.
Activities include science, technology, and monitoring related to the five priority disciplines. Applicants must monitor compliance with subaward agreements.
Awards range from $5.7 million to $14.5 million for competitive subawards through Treasury's RESTORE Act program.
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Program description
Treasury is publishing multiple funding opportunity notices for its RESTORE Act grant programs. This announcement applies only to the Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program.Trust Fund amounts are available to establish one or more Centers of Excellence through competitive subawards to nongovernmental entities and consortia in the Gulf Coast Region, including institutions of higher education. Funds may be used to establish Centers of Excellence, and by those Centers of Excellence for science, technology, and monitoring in one or more of the following disciplines as described in the RESTORE Act and Treasury’s implementing regulations at 31 CFR 34.704: 1) Coastal and deltaic sustainability, restoration, and protection, including solutions and technology that allow citizens to live in a safe and sustainable manner in a coastal delta in the Gulf Coast Region. 2) Coastal fisheries and wildlife ecosystem research and monitoring in the Gulf Coast Region. 3) Offshore energy development, including research and technology to improve the sustainable and safe development of energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico. 4) Sustainable and resilient growth, economic and commercial development in the Gulf Coast Region. 5) Comprehensive observation, monitoring, and mapping of the Gulf of Mexico.Eligible applicants issuing subawards to Center(s) of Excellence must establish and implement a program to monitor compliance with its subaward agreements.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Application form (Treasury-specific format)
- Project narrative describing Center of Excellence establishment and research plan
- Budget and budget narrative
- Institutional capacity documentation
- Compliance monitoring plan
- Partner letters (if consortium)
- Federal tax documentation
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. Dept. of Treasury RESTORE Act Program
- 📧 restoreact@treasury.gov
- 📞 202-622-7340
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 21.015 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$122,112,519
-
$36,743,260
-
$31,594,591
-
$30,683,840
-
$28,860,138
-
$28,679,743
-
$23,690,667
-
$21,708,150
-
$16,521,059
-
$16,489,982
Top States by Funding
- MS 37 awards $200.5M
- LA 14 awards $194.5M
- AL 15 awards $190.9M
- TX 5 awards $123.6M
- FL 40 awards $118.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Nongovernmental entities and consortia, including higher education institutions in the Gulf Coast Region. You must establish or operate a Center of Excellence.
What research areas are supported?
Coastal restoration, fisheries and wildlife monitoring, offshore energy development, sustainable economic growth, and Gulf of Mexico observation and mapping.
What is the deadline?
October 31, 2027. This is a fixed deadline with no rolling acceptance.
How much funding is available?
Individual awards range from $5.7 million to $14.5 million per subaward.
Do I need to provide matching funds?
No. Cost sharing is not required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate strong capacity to establish and operate a functional Center of Excellence with governance and compliance systems.
- Align your research proposal with one or more of the five priority disciplines outlined in the RESTORE Act.
- Include partnerships with other institutions if applying as a consortium to strengthen capabilities.
- Develop a detailed compliance monitoring program for any subawards you will issue.
- Show how your Center will contribute to Gulf Coast resilience and sustainability goals long-term.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying from outside the Gulf Coast Region or as an entity ineligible under RESTORE Act requirements. Proposing research outside the five approved disciplines. Failing to demonstrate institutional capacity to establish and manage a Center of Excellence and compliance systems.
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