THIS PROJECT REQUEST IS IN RESPONSE TO THE NOAA BAA TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND INNOVATIVE PROJECTS, OR SPONSORSHIPS THAT ARE NOT ADDRESSED THROUGH NOAAS COMPETITIVE DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS. THIS REQUEST DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE NOAAS LONG-TERM MISSION GOAL #3: HEALTHY OCEANS AS WELL AS LONG-TERM MISSION GOAL #4: RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES. THIS REQUEST ALSO ADDRESSES NOAA RESTORE SCIENCE PROGRAMS GOAL TO SUPPORT THE SCIENCE AND COORDINATION NECESSARY FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE GULF ECOSYSTEM. THE GULF OF AMERICA CONFERENCE (AKA GULFCON) IS A COMBINATION OF THREE MAJOR CONFERENCES THAT HAPPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS IN THE GULF REGION: THE ANNUAL GULF ALLIANCE ALL HANDS MEETING, THE ANNUAL GULF OF [AMERICA] OIL SPILL AND ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE MEETING, AND THE STATE OF THE GULF SUMMIT HOSTED TRIENNIALLY BY HARTE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. BY COMBINING ALL THREE, GULFCON ENCOURAGES RESEARCHERS TO CONSIDER THE APPLICATION OF THEIR RESULTS TO PRACTICAL USE AND ENCOURAGES NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGERS TO PARTNER WITH THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY TO SOLVE EVOLVING ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES. LOOKING ACROSS A BROAD RANGE OF DISCIPLINES, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT OIL SPILLS, THEIR IMPACTS, AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IS THAT SCIENCE AND RESEARCH CAN ADVANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND IMPROVE HOW WE APPROACH RESTORATION. THE 2026 GULFCON IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES AND WILL INCLUDE OVER 1,000 PEOPLE, ENCOMPASSING STATE AND FEDERAL NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGERS, SCIENTISTS, AND GOVERNMENTAL LEADERS AS WELL AS SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. THE COMBINED CONFERENCE WILL HAVE KEY FEATURES SUCH AS ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EXHIBITS.