Ocean and Coastal Mapping Center 2026

The Ocean and Coastal Mapping Center grant opportunity is a competitive funding program issued by the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS), specifically the Office of Coast Survey (OCS). This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), designated as NOAA-NOS-OCS-2025-30563, is intended to establish a single cooperative agreement with a U.S. institution of higher education to operate a hydrographic center of excellence for a period of five years. The award is authorized under the Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act and the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, both of which enable NOAA to support joint centers with academic institutions. These centers are expected to serve as national hubs for technological advancement and workforce development in ocean and coastal mapping. The grant program is designed to significantly enhance NOAA’s hydrographic, cartographic, and coastal ocean modeling capabilities. The selected institution will be expected to support innovation in the integration of sensor technologies, automated data processing, scalable cloud-based infrastructure, and advanced modeling systems that improve marine navigation and disaster mitigation. The program also places a strong emphasis on interoperability of data using S-100 standards and the development of tools to convert, visualize, and engage with this hydrographic data format. In addition to research and technical priorities, the institution will develop and deliver educational programs and short courses to support workforce training and ongoing professional development in the field of hydrography. The cooperative agreement includes key operational expectations such as providing suitable onsite facilities to co-locate up to 14 NOAA employees, including a NOAA Co-Director, and designating a university Co-Director. Facilities must include research space, educational infrastructure, IT systems, and access to outfitted vessels and waterfront facilities suitable for NOAA and academic vessel operations. The funding provided is approximately $8.5 million total over five years, with an estimated $1.6 million available annually, contingent on Congressional appropriations and satisfactory performance. Applications are limited to U.S.-based institutions of higher education. There is no cost share or matching requirement, although applicant resource commitments will be considered during review. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, with the full registration process taking up to six weeks. Submissions must be completed via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 11, 2026. NOAA recommends submitting at least three business days early to ensure proper validation and processing through both Grants.gov and eRA Commons systems. A successful application package must include multiple forms such as the SF-424 R&R Form, budget narratives, CVs for key personnel, and a data management plan. The project narrative must not exceed 70 pages and should address project objectives, methods, personnel, anticipated outcomes, and timelines. Environmental compliance and adherence to Buy America provisions are also required. Evaluation criteria include alignment with program goals (30 points), technical merit (20 points), qualifications (25 points), budget justification (15 points), and outreach and education efforts (10 points). Applicants can expect award decisions after a thorough administrative and merit review process. Final awards are subject to availability of funding, and project start dates should be no earlier than October 1, 2026. The designated contact for inquiries is Teresa Fleisher at the NOAA Office of Coast Survey ([email protected]). Recipients must comply with NOAA’s data sharing policies, harassment prevention standards, and integrity in scientific practices throughout the grant lifecycle.

Highlight innovation and operational transition; align educational and technical goals with NOAA mission priorities.