AK-25-01, Alaska Coastal Marine Institute Administrative Award

The Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) Administrative Award for FY 2025-2026 is a funding opportunity offered by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The CMI was established through a long-standing partnership between BOEM and the University of Alaska to foster collaborative research that supports informed decision-making concerning offshore energy resources along Alaska’s coast. BOEM is responsible for overseeing the exploration and development of the nation’s offshore energy resources, and the CMI plays a key role in aligning state and federal scientific research priorities in this domain. The primary goal of this award is to provide administrative operations and support to the Alaska CMI program, ensuring seamless coordination between researchers at the University of Alaska and BOEM personnel. Specific objectives include managing funding cycles, coordinating and scheduling strategic meetings, monitoring expenditures, ensuring reports meet formatting and accessibility standards, and organizing annual presentations of CMI program studies. The scope of the work includes ensuring 508 compliance for final reports and facilitating timely distribution of deliverables in line with BOEM's guidelines. Funding for this cooperative agreement totals between $65,000 and $67,000, with a single award anticipated. The program requires a 1:1 non-federal cost share. Funding may be used to cover administrative tasks such as staff support, oversight of reporting standards, and coordination with BOEM scientists, who are expected to have substantial involvement in the funded project. Allowable expenses must align with 2 CFR §200 Subpart E cost principles and may include direct and indirect costs as detailed in the budget narrative. All submitted data must conform to specified geospatial and metadata standards, including proper formatting for federal data repositories and public dissemination. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and state governments. However, this is not a competitive or open solicitation; it is intended for specifically identified institutions such as the University of Alaska to continue administrative support for existing research activities. Research personnel must be from the applying institution, with collaborative efforts between state agencies and other stakeholders encouraged. All proposals are subject to eligibility, merit, and risk reviews, with evaluation criteria focused on scientific quality, methodology, team qualifications, budget justification, and dissemination plans. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 PM ET on July 29, 2025. Registrants must first secure a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov, a process that can take several weeks. Submission requires completion of standard federal forms including SF-424, SF-424A, a project narrative, budget narrative, and other specified documentation such as biosketches and conflict of interest statements. The anticipated start date for the funded project is August 21, 2025, with an end date of September 21, 2026. All project deliverables must adhere to BOEM’s reporting and data handling requirements, including submission to national repositories and compliance with applicable federal regulations. For questions about this funding opportunity, applicants are advised to contact the designated Contracting Officer, Deja Bracey, via email at Deja.Bracey@bsee.gov. The FOA provides comprehensive guidance on submission procedures, evaluation processes, and administrative expectations during and after the award period. Interested institutions are strongly encouraged to prepare all documents well in advance of the deadline and review all federal compliance requirements to ensure successful application and execution.

Submit early through Grants.gov. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Ensure all federal certifications and attachments are complete before deadline.