Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM)

The Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM) is a funding opportunity offered through the Cooperative Institutes Administrative Office (CIAO) of NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). This initiative is a collaborative effort with the National Marine Fisheries Service and aims to establish a Cooperative Institute that advances aquaculture science and policy in the United States. The CIFARM seeks to support NOAA's strategic objectives, including reducing seafood import deficits, fostering innovation in aquaculture technologies, and supporting economic and environmental sustainability. This competitive opportunity will lead to the selection of a host institution or consortium, which will enter into a long-term cooperative agreement with NOAA for up to five years, with potential for renewal. The initial proposal (T1) should focus on high-level research themes without detailing individual projects. The awarded institution will later submit a second, project-specific application (T3) for approximately $9 million to initiate projects under the approved research themes. These T3 applications will continue throughout the life of the CI. The total federal funding ceiling for the five-year period is $300 million. Pre-award costs up to 90 days prior to the start date may be authorized, and no matching funds are required. Eligible applicants must be non-Federal, public or private nonprofit universities, colleges, or research institutions with accredited graduate-level programs in NOAA-related sciences. Proposals may be submitted by single institutions or consortia, though consortia must be led by an eligible academic institution. Institutions must be registered with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons before applying. The application package must be submitted via Grants.gov and validated by eRA Commons by 11:59 p.m. EST on September 5, 2025. The earliest project start date is April 1, 2026. The CIFARM will focus on five primary research themes: marine aquaculture demonstration, aquaculture engineering and technology development, environmental observation and management, risk assessment and management, and seafood markets. Cross-cutting goals include education and outreach to raise public awareness and stakeholder engagement. An ocean test bed or a consortium of such test beds is a required component of the proposal. Applications must include 18 elements, such as a project abstract, research plan, budget justifications, data sharing plans, and NEPA compliance documents. Applications will be evaluated by an independent peer review panel and scored based on relevance to program goals, technical merit, qualifications of the applicants, cost realism, and outreach plans. The selection process includes consideration of geographical distribution, program priorities, and applicant performance history. For further information or questions regarding the funding opportunity, applicants may contact the NOAA Cooperative Institutes Administrative Office via email at cipo.oar@noaa.gov or by phone at (301) 734-1181. Applicants are encouraged to visit NOAA’s website for additional resources including FAQs and webinar schedules related to this opportunity.

Begin SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov registrations early (may take 4–6 weeks) Do not include PII Ensure PDFs meet eRA size and naming requirements Submit early to avoid system validation errors