FY 2026 - 2028 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), National Ocean Service

The FY 2026 - 2028 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the National Ocean Service, solicitation number NOAA-NOS-MB-2027-33927, seeks proposals for extramural research, education, outreach, innovative projects, or sponsorships that align with NOAA mission areas. This solicitation specifically targets activities not covered by competitive discretionary programs and includes proposals within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program, which partners federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and tribes. Selected applicants will enter into either a grant or a cooperative agreement. While the award ceiling is listed as 100 and an expected 10 awards are anticipated, funding is contingent upon the availability of appropriations. The response deadline is October 1, 2028, with awards typically issued three to six months after a full application is received. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and must include a signed SF-424, a one-page title page, a one-page project synopsis, a project description limited to 15 pages, and a data management plan of up to two pages. Additional requirements include CVs for key personnel, a budget justification, and specific responses to the NEPA Environmental Compliance Questionnaire. Applicants must maintain active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier. Proposals are evaluated on a 100-point scale based on mission relevance, technical merit, applicant qualifications, project cost, and outreach strategies. Awardees are required to submit semi-annual financial and performance reports through eRA and must comply with the Build American, Buy American Act for infrastructure-related materials.