Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Cooperative Institutes Administration Office (CIAO), has announced a competitive funding opportunity to establish the Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA). This institute will support interdisciplinary research that addresses NOAA’s mission, especially in areas critical to the Northern Gulf, including climate adaptation, coastal resilience, and ecosystem-based management. NOAA supports the creation of Cooperative Institutes (CIs) to promote long-term partnerships with academic institutions that possess significant capabilities in NOAA-related sciences. These institutes engage in collaborative research and education, fostering innovations aligned with NOAA’s strategic goals. CINGA is expected to function as a consortium of academic institutions, led by a single accredited degree-granting institution located in the Gulf of America region. The selected lead institution will submit one overarching application to establish the CI. After selection, the awardee will propose additional, non-competitive project applications throughout the five-year cooperative agreement. The initial award period is five years with the possibility of renewal for an additional five years, contingent upon performance review in year four. The maximum funding available over the first term is $100 million, with actual annual funding determined by the quality and scope of approved projects. The institute's research must align with four high-level themes: technology-based solutions to environmental variability; coastal hazards; ecosystem management; and data management supporting a data-driven economy. Specific areas of focus include climate impacts, sea-level rise adaptation, fisheries management, and the development of AI-enabled forecasting systems. Applicants are also encouraged to integrate social sciences, emphasizing risk communication, legal frameworks, economics, and collaboration with various stakeholders including NOAA, local governments, and community organizations. Eligible applicants must be non-Federal, non-profit universities or research institutions offering graduate programs in NOAA-related sciences. The lead institution must be located within the Gulf of America region. Matching funds are not required but may be proposed voluntarily. A complete application must include 23 specified components such as a strategic plan, data management plan, business plan, and outreach plan. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and validated via eRA Commons. Evaluation criteria include strategic alignment with NOAA’s mission, technical merit, organizational capacity, and proposed education and outreach plans. Proposals will be reviewed and scored by a panel of experts before final selection by NOAA’s selecting official. The application deadline is February 2, 2026, with a proposed start date of October 1, 2026. The opportunity is recurring, and the next anticipated cycle is expected in early 2027 if NOAA maintains a regular 5-year CI competition schedule.

Ensure full alignment with NOAA CI Handbook and strategic goals; follow submission formatting rules strictly to avoid rejection; highlight educational and outreach engagement.