Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS NCCOS 2026 32934
This NOAA opportunity, run through the National Ocean Service (NOS) and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program, is seeking proposals that help communities use natural infrastructure to reduce coastal flooding and storm impacts. The focus is on generating up-to-date, practical information, tools, and products that make it easier to plan, finance, and implement nature-based approaches to flood protection, such as living shorelines, wetlands, dunes, reefs, and other systems that can lessen wave energy and surge while providing additional environmental benefits.
Projects must align with at least one of three focal areas. The first is public-private partnerships, meaning proposals should explore or demonstrate ways government, industry, NGOs, and other partners can share roles, costs, and benefits to move natural infrastructure projects from concept to on-the-ground implementation. The second is innovative insurance products, which points to efforts that connect risk reduction from natural infrastructure to insurance pricing, underwriting, incentives, or new coverage structures, with the goal of making resilience investments more financially viable and scalable. The third is improved sediment management, which includes better strategies for sourcing, moving, and placing sediment to sustain or restore protective natural features (for example, marsh nourishment, beneficial use of dredged material, or regional sediment planning that supports long-term shoreline stability).
A core expectation is that proposals will be built around research teams that include regional users and decision-makers, not just academic or technical experts. NOAA is emphasizing usable outcomes that can be applied efficiently and cost-effectively across sectors, helping states and local governments strengthen long-term preparedness for flooding and storms. In other words, the program is designed to bridge the common gap between research and implementation by requiring early and meaningful engagement with the people who will actually use the results in planning, permitting, financing, or operating coastal protection efforts.
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, indicating NOAA expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination, technical input, or collaborative development of deliverables). Awards are contingent on federal appropriations. If funding is available, NOAA anticipates supporting roughly one to six projects, each lasting up to four years. Budgets are described as up to about $500,000 per year per project, with a total project cap of $2,000,000.
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and interested applicants are encouraged to follow the opportunity on Grants.gov to receive any amendments or updates. Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, tribal governments, U.S. territories, U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands institutions, and for-profit organizations. Federal entities (including NOAA) may apply if they have legal authority to receive funds from another federal agency. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.478, with the funding opportunity number NOAA NOS NCCOS 2026 32934, and a stated closing date of February 12, 2027.Apply for NOAA NOS NCCOS 2026 32934
- The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing coastal flood protection through public-private partnerships, innovative insurance products, and improved sediment management." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.478.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-02-12.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this NOAA funding opportunity about?
This opportunity (run through NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program) seeks proposals that help communities use natural infrastructure to reduce coastal flooding and storm impacts. The emphasis is on producing practical, up-to-date information, tools, and products that make it easier to plan, finance, and implement nature-based flood protection.
What kinds of natural infrastructure does the opportunity focus on?
The opportunity highlights nature-based approaches that can lessen wave energy and storm surge while also providing environmental benefits. Examples mentioned include living shorelines, wetlands, dunes, reefs, and other natural or nature-based systems used for coastal protection.
What is the overall goal of the program?
The program is designed to bridge the gap between research and real-world implementation by requiring early and meaningful engagement with the people who will use the results. NOAA is prioritizing usable outcomes that can be applied efficiently and cost-effectively across sectors to strengthen long-term preparedness for coastal flooding and storms.
Do proposals have to fit specific topic areas?
Yes. Projects must align with at least one of three focal areas described in the opportunity.
What are the three focal areas?
The three focal areas are: (1) public-private partnerships, (2) innovative insurance products, and (3) improved sediment management.
What does the program mean by "public-private partnerships"?
In this context, public-private partnerships are proposals that explore or demonstrate how government, industry, NGOs, and other partners can share roles, costs, and benefits to move natural infrastructure projects from concept to on-the-ground implementation.
What does "innovative insurance products" mean in this opportunity?
This focal area points to efforts that connect risk reduction from natural infrastructure to insurance pricing, underwriting, incentives, or new coverage structures. The stated intent is to make resilience investments more financially viable and scalable.
What does "improved sediment management" mean in this opportunity?
Improved sediment management includes strategies for sourcing, moving, and placing sediment to sustain or restore protective natural features. Examples mentioned include marsh nourishment, beneficial use of dredged material, and regional sediment planning that supports long-term shoreline stability.
Is this opportunity mainly for research, or for implementation?
It is structured to connect research to implementation. NOAA emphasizes practical deliverables (information, tools, and products) that can be used by decision-makers involved in planning, permitting, financing, or operating coastal protection efforts.
Are partnerships with end users required?
A core expectation is that proposals will be built around research teams that include regional users and decision-makers, not only academic or technical experts. The opportunity stresses early and meaningful engagement with the people who will apply the results.
Who are considered "regional users and decision-makers" in this opportunity?
Based on the description, these are the people and organizations who will use the project results in real-world settings, such as in planning, permitting, financing, or operating coastal protection and flood resilience efforts.
What type of award will NOAA use for selected projects?
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, which indicates NOAA expects substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination, technical input, or collaborative development of deliverables).
What does "cooperative agreement" imply for project management?
The opportunity states that NOAA anticipates substantial involvement during the project period. Examples given include coordination, technical input, or collaborative development of project deliverables.
How many projects does NOAA expect to fund?
If funding is available, NOAA anticipates supporting roughly one to six projects.
How long can projects last?
The anticipated project period is up to four years.
What is the expected funding level per project?
Budgets are described as up to about $500,000 per year per project, with a total project cap of $2,000,000.
Is funding guaranteed?
No. Awards are described as contingent on federal appropriations.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, tribal governments, U.S. territories, U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands institutions, and for-profit organizations.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations are explicitly listed as eligible.
Can federal entities apply?
Federal entities (including NOAA) may apply if they have legal authority to receive funds from another federal agency.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
How can applicants stay informed about updates or amendments?
Interested applicants are encouraged to follow the opportunity on Grants.gov to receive amendments or updates.
What is the closing date for applications?
The stated closing date is February 12, 2027.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is NOAA NOS NCCOS 2026 32934.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.478.
Which NOAA offices or programs are running this opportunity?
The opportunity is run through NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program.
What types of outputs does NOAA want from funded projects?
NOAA emphasizes up-to-date, practical information, tools, and products that make it easier to plan, finance, and implement natural infrastructure for flood protection, with an emphasis on outcomes that can be applied efficiently and cost-effectively across sectors.
What outcomes is NOAA trying to support for states and local governments?
The opportunity states that the program aims to help states and local governments strengthen long-term preparedness for flooding and storms by providing usable outcomes that can be applied across sectors.
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