Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Gulf of America Region - Program Technical Advisor

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), under the U.S. Department of the Interior, is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity for a Program Technical Advisor to serve in its Gulf of America Region. BSEE is a federal agency tasked with ensuring safe and environmentally responsible offshore energy production. This grant reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to advancing offshore oil and gas operational readiness and inter-agency coordination across the Gulf of America. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to provide the BSEE Gulf of America Regional Director with specialized technical advisory services. The selected Program Technical Advisor will offer critical support in several key domains: enhancing offshore well preparedness, improving emergency response capability, and supporting unified command operations. Additional responsibilities include decommissioning planning, well and reservoir analysis, and the development of a semi-annual rig forecast specific to the Gulf of America region. These functions are central to BSEE’s mission to mitigate risks associated with offshore drilling and to ensure environmental and human safety. The opportunity falls under the “Science and Technology and other Research and Development” category and will be funded through a cooperative agreement totaling $99,892. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants. This funding is structured as a single award, with the award ceiling and floor closely aligned, indicating the anticipated scope and budget for the technical services requested. Given the specificity and technical nature of the work, the recipient will be expected to possess substantial experience in offshore oil and gas production, exploration, and industry operations. Eligible applicants include both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, excluding institutions of higher education. This highlights BSEE's aim to engage with organizations that can offer specialized, real-world expertise in offshore energy systems without the academic research constraints that might accompany university-led proposals. The selection criteria, while not elaborated in full, will likely hinge on the applicant’s demonstrated industry knowledge and experience, capacity for regional coordination, and technical advisory capabilities. The application period for this funding opportunity is extremely brief, opening and closing on February 18, 2026. This narrow window reflects the urgent timeline associated with the tasks defined in the agreement and suggests that applicants should be well-prepared and able to mobilize quickly. The grant was announced on February 17, 2026, with an archive date of February 21, 2026, reinforcing the need for swift action. No additional pre-application requirements, such as letters of intent or concept papers, are noted. To apply or seek further information, interested organizations are directed to contact Najma Shaikh at [email protected]. No separate URL for detailed documentation or PDF guidance is provided in the synopsis, so applicants may need to consult Grants.gov directly for application package access. The performance timeline and post-award deliverables are not explicitly defined, but the scope implies near-immediate activation and involvement in the Gulf of America Region’s strategic offshore planning initiatives.