2026 Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program

The 2026 Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program, identified by solicitation number NOAA-NMFS-AK-2026-33268, is a funding opportunity initiated by NOAA Fisheries under the U.S. Department of Commerce to advance marine workforce development, seafood safety, technological innovation in fishing, and sustainable seafood supply chains within Alaska. Projects must be conducted entirely within the state and align with Executive Order 14276, focusing on marine science, aquaculture, maritime operations, consumer education on sustainability, and community-based fishery management grounded in local knowledge. The funding instrument is a grant or cooperative agreement, not a procurement contract, with applications accepted through Grants.gov at three separate deadlines: June 22, 2026, May 3, 2027, and May 1, 2028. Each award provides between $15,000 and $75,000, with a total program allocation of $600,000, and performance periods lasting one to two years, starting no earlier than September 1, 2026. Applicants must submit a complete package through Grants.gov including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and CD-511 forms, along with a 5-page project narrative, 2-page budget narrative, 1-page abstract, and up to 10 pages of combined attachments such as abbreviated CVs, letters of collaboration, and permit documentation—all in a single, flattened PDF under 100 MB and 50 characters in filename. Proposals undergo a competitive, weighted evaluation totaling 100 points across five criteria: importance and relevance (25 points), technical merit (25 points), overall qualifications of personnel (25 points), outreach and education impact (15 points), and budget reasonableness (10 points). Awards are determined through a trade-off process favoring technical excellence over lowest cost, with consideration given to geographic balance and program priorities. Recipients must hold active registrations in SAM.gov and eRA Commons, comply with 2 CFR Part 200, adhere to NOAA’s scientific integrity policies, and submit semi-annual reports via eRA. Pre-award costs are allowable up to 90 days before the project start date but assumed at the applicant’s risk, and unallowable expenses include fundraising, profit, and unrelated travel