Division of Ocean Sciences

The National Science Foundation Division of Ocean Sciences, a civilian sub-agency within NSF, funds research in oceanography, marine biology, ocean chemistry, and related disciplines through federal grants and selective contracts totaling $2.47 billion obligated across 2,607 grant awards and $781.2 million across 34 contract awards since 2000. The Division operates as a grant-making entity first — contract activity has been minimal and dormant since 2020, while grant funding remains the dominant transacting mechanism.

On the grant side, the Division obligated $2.47 billion in federal dollars across 2,607 awards between 2000 and early 2027. Recent grant activity shows 306 awards in 2023, 250 in 2024, 232 in 2025, 118 in 2026, and 2 year-to-date in 2027. Grant recipients are moderately concentrated: the top five recipients account for 28% of recent awards by count and 21% by federal dollars. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution dominates, holding 133 awards and $252.7 million federal dollars obligated over the last five years. University of California San Diego ($94.1 million), University of Washington ($58.6 million), The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York ($55.1 million), and University of Alaska Fairbanks ($52.9 million) follow. Across 269 distinct recipients, the award portfolio is fragmented beyond the top tier. Grant assistance is structured almost entirely as Project Grants (2,532 awards, 97%) with a small share of Cooperative Agreements (75 awards, 3%).

On the contract side, the Division has awarded 34 contracts totaling $781.2 million potential value across 23 distinct primes since 2003, with all dollars obligated. The most recent recorded award closed on January 17, 2020 — contract activity has ceased in the recorded history over the last six years nine months. Awards per year in the final years of activity were sporadic: 4 in 2012, 1 in 2013, 1 in 2014, 2 in 2018, and 1 in 2020. Set-asides are minimal; 74% of contract awards were issued with no set-aside designation, 24% carried small-business set-asides, and 3% were issued as 8(a) sole source.

No recent contract opportunities are recorded against the Division. Grant opportunities remain active; prospective recipients should monitor NSF's GRANTS.GOV presence for Division of Ocean Sciences research solicitations aligned with the funding profile outlined above.

The Division of Ocean Sciences supports research, infrastructure, and education to advance understanding of all aspects of the global oceans and ocean basins, including their interactions with people and the integrated Earth system. These activities provide knowledge critical to addressing many of our nation's most pressing challenges involving earth processes. OCE supports and promotes collaboration and facilitates development of a diverse scientific and educational community, including international efforts. The Division works with the U.S. ocean sciences academic community to direct funding towards advancing the frontiers of knowledge, developing the next generation of researchers, and enhancing the public's understanding of ocean sciences. The Division represents this community in the Federal context, coordinates with other Federal agencies and with international partners on research funding and infrastructure management, and participates in development of policy through national and international forums and programs.