NOAA RESTORE Science Program FFO-2025: Long-term Trends | NOAA NOS RESTORE 2025 26020

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS RESTORE 2025 26020

NOAA is inviting proposals under the RESTORE Science Program (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NOS RESTORE 2025 26020) to support long-term, collaborative research focused on the Gulf of Mexico. The central goal is to fund partnerships that can identify, track, understand, and in some cases predict long-term trends and variability in the Gulf's natural resources, along with the abiotic and biotic drivers behind those changes. The program is looking for projects that are not just academic exercises, but are built around real coordination among researchers, resource managers, and other stakeholders who use science to inform practical decisions in the region.

Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means NOAA expects an active level of involvement in the funded work compared to a standard grant. Projects are planned for five years in duration, and NOAA is also offering the possibility of an additional five-year, non-competitive renewal for projects that perform strongly. That renewal funding is described as potentially totaling about 21 million across renewals, but it is specifically tied to high performance and is not competed in the same way as the initial awards.

The competition is expected to support around six projects, with total initial funding estimated at roughly 17.5 million spread across five years, contingent on the availability of funds from the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. Individual project budgets are expected to fall between about 1 million and 4 million total over the five-year period, which works out to an average range of about 200,000 to 800,000 per year. NOAA anticipates making final funding recommendations around June 2025, and projects selected under this announcement are expected to start on October 1, 2025.

Eligibility is fairly broad. Applications may come from U.S.-based institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, local/state/tribal government entities, U.S. territories, and federal agencies that have the statutory authority to accept this type of funding. The lead applicant must be a U.S.-based entity. Investigators do not have to be employed by a Gulf-state institution, but NOAA strongly encourages teams that are not Gulf-based to partner with eligible entities located in the five Gulf of Mexico states (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas) to ensure the work stays connected to regional capacity and on-the-ground needs. Foreign researchers can be involved, but only through a subaward or contract issued by an eligible U.S. entity, and program funds cannot be spent in Cuba.

In terms of allowable costs, NOAA notes that award funds may cover expenses such as travel, equipment, supplies, and contractual personnel costs associated with the proposed research. At the same time, the funding opportunity makes clear that these funds cannot be used to hire or pay the salaries of permanent federal employees, which is a common restriction in federal grantmaking and important for budgeting and staffing plans.

Proposals must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, and additional materials such as background information and webinars are available through the RESTORE Science Program website. The listed original closing date for the opportunity is August 22, 2024, so applicants need to pay close attention to the official notice and any amendments or updated deadlines posted through the program page and Grants.gov.

Finally, NOAA emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion as an expected value in both proposal development and project execution, framing it as a way to strengthen the creativity and effectiveness of the broader research and management community and to support more robust natural resource decision-making. NOAA and the Department of Commerce also explicitly encourage participation by women and minority investigators and highlight a commitment to expanding involvement from institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and organizations working in underserved areas.

• The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOAA RESTORE Science Program FFO-2025: Long-term Trends" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.451.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for NOAA NOS RESTORE 2025 26020

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