FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program

The Ocean Technology Transition Program (OTT), administered by the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Office within the National Ocean Service (NOS) of NOAA, is a federal funding initiative aimed at bridging the gap between research and operational deployment of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing technologies. This program supports the national mission of IOOS to deliver reliable ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes data and tools to stakeholders across the public and private sectors. By accelerating the transition of innovative technologies from development to sustained use, OTT contributes to NOAA's broader mission to predict environmental changes and conserve marine ecosystems. The primary goal of this funding opportunity is to support advanced observing systems and technologies—including sensors, data management tools, autonomous platforms, and artificial intelligence-driven analysis methods—that are mature enough for operational integration. Eligible projects must target technologies at Readiness Levels 5 through 7, aiming to elevate them to Level 8, defined as full operational deployment. The program is particularly focused on solutions that are already supported by operational users or customers who are committed to their long-term integration and open data sharing. Applicants can request up to $400,000 per year for up to three years. The total anticipated funding available for FY 2026 to FY 2029 is $7.5 million, subject to availability. Funding will not be awarded for continuing projects previously funded under OTT. The program will support system integration, testing, validation, and other transition activities necessary to move technology toward sustained operations. Projects are required to include both a Scientific Principal Investigator and a Transition Principal Investigator, each responsible for key components of the technology development and operational transition processes. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, tribal, state, and local governments. Federal agencies and foreign entities are not eligible as primary applicants, but may participate as partners. The program mandates collaboration with an IOOS Regional Association (RA), and letters of support from the RAs are required. Proposals must demonstrate strong engagement from operators and end-users and include a Transition Plan as a Year One deliverable. Applications must also include a data management plan, a technical report outlining a regional-scale system, and plans for stakeholder feedback and commercialization potential. A Letter of Intent (LOI) is strongly recommended and must be submitted via a designated Google Form by April 27, 2026. The final application deadline is July 15, 2026, and applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. The expected start date for selected projects is January 1, 2027. The application package must include a full suite of documents such as SF-424, project narrative, abstract, budget forms, resumes, and environmental compliance documentation. Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed. Applications will be evaluated based on relevance to NOAA and IOOS goals, technical merit, team qualifications, budget justification, and outreach strategies. A panel of reviewers will score proposals, and final funding decisions will consider reviewer input as well as strategic distribution of funds and applicant performance history. For questions, applicants may contact Jennifer Hinden at the IOOS Office via [email protected]. The full FOA is accessible via Grants.gov or the NOAA IOOS website.

Applicants should clearly identify readiness level, ensure early end-user engagement, and partner with an IOOS Regional Association with a formal Letter of Support.