Foa_Content_of_NOAA-NOS-IOOS-2025-30552.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

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Table of Contents

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Executive Summary Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description Mandated IOOS Subsystem Elements

II. Award Information III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information VI. Award Administration Information VII. Agency Contacts VIII. Other Information

Executive Summary Federal Agency Name NOS Integrated Ocean Observations System (IOOS)

Funding Opportunity Title FY 2026 Implementation of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS�)

Announcement Type Competitive

Funding Opportunity Number

NOAA-NOS-IOOS-2025-30552

Assistance Listing Number(s) 11.012

Dates Full proposals must be received no later than 11:59 PM (EDT) (60 days after Publish date).

Funding Opportunity Description The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service (NOS) U.S.

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Office is requesting proposals for 5-year awards supporting coordinated regional efforts that advance the Nation’s understanding and decision-making of its coastal ocean and Great Lakes through integrated observations, data provision and management, modeling, and engagement. The U.S. IOOS is a national and regional partnership working to produce, integrate, and communicate high quality ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes data that meets the safety, economic, and stewardship needs of the nation. Information regarding this Announcement, including additional background information, is available on the U.S. IOOS website (https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/funding-opportunities/ra-base-nofo/).

https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/funding-opportunities/ra-base-nofo/ https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/funding-opportunities/ra-base-nofo/

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Funding is subject to availability and will be adjusted based on annual appropriations. NOAA anticipates making multiple awards for up to approximately $5,000,000 per award per year, for up to five years.

Proposals may be for less than $5,000,000 per year and should include direct and indirect costs.

Final recommendations for funding under this Announcement are anticipated to be made in June 2026.

Proposals funded under this Announcement will have an anticipated start date of September 1, 2026 and anticipated end date of August 31, 2031.

Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Program Objective The mission of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS�) is to produce, integrate, and communicate high quality ocean, coastal and Great Lakes information that meets the safety, economic, and stewardship needs of the Nation. The work of the U.S. IOOS supports NOAA’s mission: to understand and predict conditions in the ocean, coasts, and atmosphere; to share that knowledge and information with others; and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (ICOOS) Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11, Title XII, §12301; 33 USC 3601-3610) mandates the establishment of a national integrated system of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems coordinated at the federal level to benefit society.

Reauthorized by the Coastal Ocean Observations and Research Act (COORA) of 2020 (P.L. 116-271), the system supports public, national security, search and rescue, commerce, safety, forecasting, food, energy, water quality, scientific, and resource management needs.

Decision makers, businesses, managers, scientists, and communities at local, regional, and national levels all use U.S. IOOS information tailored to their needs to:

• Improve predictions of ocean and weather conditions and their effects on coastal communities and the nation

• Improve the safety and efficiency of maritime operations

• More effectively mitigate the effects of natural and anthropogenic hazards

• Improve national and homeland security

• Reduce public health risks

• More effectively protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems

• Enable the sustained use of ocean and coastal resources

The U.S. IOOS is intended to represent the full scale of partners who contribute to, or benefit from, the integrated ocean observing system. To achieve this purpose, U.S. IOOS comprises public-private sector partnerships at national, regional, and local levels. These partnerships work together to collect and integrate observations, develop numerical predictions, and synthesize information into decision-support tools. Any entity contributing toward solutions or implementation of U.S. IOOS is welcome as a part of the Enterprise. This includes global to local participants in ocean observing, data management, and prediction from federal, academic, non-profit, and private firms or organizations.

As a central component of the U.S. IOOS, the U.S. IOOS Office serves to oversee the national coordination and integration of regional efforts by implementing policies, protocols, standards, and federal assistance funding opportunities. By leveraging regional partnerships that coordinate ocean observing activities, the U.S. IOOS footprint spans the Nation’s coasts.

U.S. IOOS regional partners are responsible for operating the Regional Coastal Observing Systems, through the management of the Governance and Management, Observing, Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC), Modeling and Analysis, and Engagement sub-systems.

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Through this funding announcement, NOAA seeks to continue sustained management, operation, and development of the national network of Regional Coastal Observing Systems. This announcement requests proposals for five-year awards that build on the past 25 years of progress toward the implementation and enhancement of Regional Coastal Observing Systems.

Definitions

Cooperative Agreement - A legal instrument of financial assistance that is similar to a grant, but used when substantial involvement between the federal agency and the recipient is anticipated when carrying out the activities contemplated by the award. This means that the recipient can expect substantial agency collaboration, participation, or intervention in project performance.

Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) - The information technology (IT) infrastructure and procedures enabling interoperable marine and Great Lakes environmental data and metadata transmission from a data provider to a data/services customer, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), DMAC-compliant data products for end users, catalogs of discoverable observation data and systems made widely available and useful to users, and long-term preservation of data and information.

Engagement - The process of identifying and understanding intermediate- and end-user priorities, requirements, and feedback; training users on how to use U.S. IOOS data and products based on their needs; and developing a U.S. IOOS-relevant workforce.

Governance and Management - The collection of activities and functions supporting the U.S. IOOS on policy, planning, guidance, resources, processes, tools, and infrastructure.

Modeling and Analysis - U.S. IOOS-provided data, data products, and models derived from U.S. IOOS data, and services used by U.S. IOOS users and customers. Intermediate users synthesize those data, products, models, and services into reports, alerts, outputs, or other tailored products.

Observations - The collection of marine and Great Lakes environmental measurements (especially the 34 U.S. IOOS core variables) to understand and predict environmental behaviors and roles in Earth systems.

Project - A planned unit of activity or undertaking included in the proposal to address a particular issue or need. One project may involve numerous partners, span across multiple subawards, or involve work in different geographic locations, as long as all activities within that project are working toward addressing the same need. There may be several distinct projects within the proposal. In the proposal, each project shall be numbered with a numbering system that would enable projects to be distinctly tracked in documentation over the lifetime of the award if the proposal is selected for funding.

Regional Association (RA) - an organization that coordinates at a regional level with the goal of engaging the private and public sectors in designing, operating, and improving regional ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems in order to ensure the provision of data and information that satisfy the needs of user groups from the respective region.

Regional Coastal Observing System (RCOS) - A federally certified end-to-end network of observations, data management and delivery, data analysis and modeling, engagement, and governance and management that links the needs of users to observations of coastal marine, estuarine, and Great Lakes environments on regional scales while adhering to national standards. The RCOS consists of the infrastructure and expertise required for each of these subsystems. It also includes oversight, evaluation, and evolution mechanisms that ensure the sustained and routine flow of data and information to end users and the infusion of new technologies and approaches.

B. Program Priorities

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U.S. IOOS is an integrated, sustained and operational ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing system, comprising a network of 11 Regional Coastal Observing Systems, each managed by a Regional Association (RA). These RAs work within their respective regions to contribute data and products to the national system in coordination with stakeholders and federal and industry partners. Through this funding opportunity, awarded U.S. IOOS regional partners shall continue conducting activities that support regional priorities while advancing regional contributions to national goals. In particular, NOAA is interested in projects that provide timely and tailored information and data integration to support the priorities of public mission agencies at national, regional, state, local, and tribal levels.

This funding announcement invites five-year proposals to continue the implementation and enhancement of a sustained Regional Coastal Observing System (RCOS) for each of the following 11 IOOS regions. The First IOOS Development Plan (Ocean.US 2006) defines the geographic extent of a Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System as including the nation's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Great Lakes, and estuaries to the head of tide. NOAA intends to make 11 awards, one in each geographic region, and expects each successful awardee to serve as a Regional Association responsible for operating and maintaining a certified RCOS (https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/governance-and-management/certification-extending-reach-regional-data/).

• Northeast Atlantic - coastal waters from the Canadian Maritime Provinces to the New York Bight

• Mid-Atlantic - the ocean and estuaries between Cape Hatteras and Cape Cod

• Southeast Atlantic - the ocean and estuaries from North Carolina through the west coast of

Florida

• Gulf of America - “the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba” (Executive Order 14172) and its estuaries

• Caribbean - Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the island of Navassa

• Great Lakes - Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and interconnecting waterways

• Southern California - the Southern California Bight

• Central and Northern California - from Point Conception north to the California-Oregon border

• Pacific Northwest - primarily Washington and Oregon

• Alaska

• Pacific Islands - the State of Hawai‘i, the territories of Guam and American Samoa, the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands (Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Johnston, Kingman, Midway, Palmyra, and Wake), and possibly other Pacific islands

Proposals should describe the approach and benefits of integration and implementation at the geographic scale of the U.S. IOOS regions described above (i.e., not at a smaller, sub-regional geographic scale). Proposals should build on the efforts of existing RAs and demonstrate how the proposing organization will manage and operate the RCOS as an RA. Furthermore, proposals should describe how the proposed activities leverage or build on substantial existing U.S. IOOS and RA investments (e.g., prior RCOS base- and supplementally funded activities and infrastructure). NOAA encourages applicants to leverage and find efficiencies by including integrated pan-regional and national activities and objectives that further the greater U.S. IOOS, such as establishing or sustaining national observing networks, integrating and maintaining national data assembly centers, convening observing communities of practice, developing and sharing new products and services by working with stakeholders, and evaluating observing technologies.

Applicants should address how they will integrate each of the following subsystem elements, which are described in further detail below, and how each element contributes to an end-to-end system delivering stakeholder-driven products and services to end users.

1. Governance and Management

2. Observing

3. Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/governance-and-management/certification-extending-reach-regional-data/ https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/governance-and-management/certification-extending-reach-regional-data/

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4. Modeling and Analysis

5. Engagement

Importantly, proposals should clearly demonstrate the applications and benefits of the proposed activities to society at the local, regional, and national levels. Proposals should clearly identify what intermediate and end users will be engaged and the societal needs that the activities will address.

Successful applicants will be required to report on progress and performance over the life of the award and participate in meetings as directed by the U.S. IOOS Office (including the semi-annual U.S. IOOS Meeting, the annual National DMAC Meeting, and any other meetings related to the core subsystem elements).

Mandated IOOS Subsystem Elements

1. Governance and Management

Governance refers to the representation of regional stakeholder interests. It is the organizational body that directs and oversees management to ensure the regional system achieves desired outcomes.

Management refers to the group of people whom the governing body authorizes to achieve results and the actions the group takes to do so. Because the coastal component of U.S. IOOS comprises a national network of regional systems, the regional governance and management bodies shall be responsive to national direction provided by the U.S. IOOS Office.

The Governance and Management subsystem supports an RA and U.S. IOOS in terms of guidance, resources, processes, tools, and infrastructure. Governance and management are executed through a variety of functions, including councils and boards, financial management, policies, plans and operations, human resources, acquisitions and grants, marketing and outreach, and IT support. As the subsystem that underpins the entire RCOS and any pan-regional or national integration efforts, the applicant should ensure adequate resources are devoted to maintain successful business functions and an effective Governance and Management team.

An RA’s governance and management functions should improve the Nation’s capability to measure, track, explain, and predict events related directly or indirectly to environmental conditions and phenomena in the ocean, coasts, Great Lakes, and atmosphere. These functions should also promote regional to national scale innovation and system improvements. Proper governance and management also ensures the RCOS represents the interests of, and includes the active participation of, the variety of data providers and user groups in the region.

2. Observing

The Observing subsystem monitors environmental and ecological conditions and trends in the coastal ocean and Great Lakes. These observation data are critical for understanding oceanic and atmospheric conditions and phenomena and are essential for predicting events and changes that may threaten the Nation’s economy, safety and security, and public health. Observing is implemented through data collection, asset lifecycle management, and subsystem management. This subsystem serves as the source of RA-provided data and is the backbone of the U.S. IOOS national network of regional observing systems.

Proposals should describe how the observing subsystem supports regional and national priorities as a part of the RCOS and demonstrate the connection of this subsystem with DMAC, modeling and analysis, and the delivery of products and services to meet identified user needs. Data collection efforts should prioritize societal and user needs as well as the 34 core U.S. IOOS variables (https://iooc.us/task-teams/bio/ioos-core-variables). Applicants are encouraged to provide details about ongoing and planned intra-regional, inter-regional, and national collaboration on observing activities.

Observing systems may consist of multiple platforms and sensors, including but not limited to:

underwater and surface systems or vehicles, high-frequency radar, animal-borne sensors, satellites (remote sensing), buoys, fixed shore stations, bottom-mounted sensors, floats, and ships.

https://iooc.us/task-teams/bio/ioos-core-variables https://iooc.us/task-teams/bio/ioos-core-variables

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Proposals should describe plans for sustaining the operation and maintenance of existing assets and for enhancements to the observing system based on user-driven need. Deployment costs, both initial and annual requirements for operations and maintenance, of new and existing observing assets should be included by asset class. Additionally, proposals should describe the strategy for balancing changes in regional priorities with the need to maintain established data sets, for which the long-term record may be the primary value.

A number of guiding documents have been written by the ocean observing community. Proposals should discuss how their regional observing subsystem activities will be designed and implemented in a way that is consistent with these and other national frameworks. Applicants should be familiar with documents outlining national plans and strategies related to specific data types and observing technologies.

Proposals should describe how their work contributes to these national efforts and is consistent with the guidance in the following documents:

• These documents describe the goals and the tenets of the U.S. IOOS:

o The First U.S. IOOS Development Plan https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/ioos_devplan.pdf o U.S. IOOS Summit Report https://iooc.us/sites/default/files/2022-11/U.S.-IOOS-Summit-

Report_Final_8.29.13.pdf

• Framework for Ocean Observing http://www.oceanobs09.net/foo/FOO_Report.pdf

• OceanObs’19 Living Action Plan http://www.oceanobs19.net/living-action-plan/ o OceanObs ‘19 Community White Papers https://oceanobs19.net/outcomes/community-white-papers

• Quality Assurance of Real Time Ocean Data (QARTOD) manuals https://ioos.noaa.gov/project/qartod/

• Guidance for NOAA Commercial Data Buys https://nosc-prod.woc.noaa.gov/public_docs/Guidance_for_NOAA_Commercial_Data_Buys-v1-final.pdf

• A National Operational Wave Observation Plan https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2018/01/wave_plan_final_03122009.pdf

• National Strategy for a Sustained Network of Coastal Moorings https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2018/01/NationalStrategyforSustainedNetworkofCoastalMoori ngs_FINAL.pdf

• National Coastal Ecosystem Moorings Workshop https://www.act-us.info/Download/Workshops/2018/Ecosystem_Mooring_Workshop_Report.pdf

• The National Surface Current Mapping Plan (2015 update) https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/national_surface_current_planMay2015.pdf

• A Network Gaps Analysis for the National Water Level Observation Network – Updated Edition https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/Technical_Memorandum_NOS_COOPS_0048_Up dt.pdf

• Gap Analysis of the Great Lakes Component of the National Water Level Observation Network

(NWLON)

https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/NOAA_Technical_Report_NOS_COOPS_074.pdf

• The 2024 Underwater Glider User Group Workshop Report https://underwatergliders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_UG2GliderWorkshop_report.pdf

• Toward a U.S. IOOS® Underwater Glider Network Plan https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/glider_network_whitepaper_final.pdf

• Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring of Ocean Acidification (2023) https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StrategicPlanforFederalResearchandMonitoringofOceanAcidification.

pdf https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/ioos_devplan.pdf https://iooc.us/sites/default/files/2022-11/U.S.-IOOS-Summit-Report_Final_8.29.13.pdf https://iooc.us/sites/default/files/2022-11/U.S.-IOOS-Summit-Report_Final_8.29.13.pdf http://www.oceanobs09.net/foo/FOO_Report.pdf http://www.oceanobs19.net/living-action-plan/ https://oceanobs19.net/outcomes/community-white-papers https://oceanobs19.net/outcomes/community-white-papers https://ioos.noaa.gov/project/qartod/ https://nosc-prod.woc.noaa.gov/public_docs/Guidance_for_NOAA_Commercial_Data_Buys-v1-final.pdf https://nosc-prod.woc.noaa.gov/public_docs/Guidance_for_NOAA_Commercial_Data_Buys-v1-final.pdf https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2018/01/wave_plan_final_03122009.pdf https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2018/01/NationalStrategyforSustainedNetworkofCoastalMoorings_FINAL.pdf https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2018/01/NationalStrategyforSustainedNetworkofCoastalMoorings_FINAL.pdf https://www.act-us.info/Download/Workshops/2018/Ecosystem_Mooring_Workshop_Report.pdf https://www.act-us.info/Download/Workshops/2018/Ecosystem_Mooring_Workshop_Report.pdf https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/national_surface_current_planMay2015.pdf https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/Technical_Memorandum_NOS_COOPS_0048_Updt.pdf https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/Technical_Memorandum_NOS_COOPS_0048_Updt.pdf https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/NOAA_Technical_Report_NOS_COOPS_074.pdf https://underwatergliders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_UG2GliderWorkshop_report.pdf https://underwatergliders.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_UG2GliderWorkshop_report.pdf https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/glider_network_whitepaper_final.pdf https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StrategicPlanforFederalResearchandMonitoringofOceanAcidification.pdf https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StrategicPlanforFederalResearchandMonitoringofOceanAcidification.pdf https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/StrategicPlanforFederalResearchandMonitoringofOceanAcidification.pdf

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• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Acidification Research Plan: 2020-2029 https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ResearchPlan2020-2029_comp.pdf

• The National Ocean Council’s Biological Integration and Observation Task Team report http://www.iooc.us/wp-content/uploads/biological_and_ecosystem_observations_within_united_states_waters2.pdf

• Attaining an Operational Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (BON) Synthesis Report https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/BON_SynthesisReport.pdf

• Toward a National Animal Telemetry Observing Network (ATN) for our Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/noaa_tm_nmfs_swfsc_482.pdf

• Framework for the National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network https://cdn.coastalscience.noaa.gov/page-attachments/news/NHABON_Framewk_WkshpReport_12-18-20_Final.pdf

• Implementation Strategy for a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network (NHABON) https://ioosassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NHABON_StrategyDocWeb_FEB21.pdf

3. Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC)

A key premise of the U.S. IOOS is that information, regardless of its method of collection, is a public resource; therefore, one of the primary goals of the Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) subsystem is to enable the public to discover, access, and understand ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes information. DMAC ensures effective handling of U.S. IOOS oceanographic data, delivery to end users, and connections to Federal and community models and other downstream uses.

DMAC provides the hardware, software, and policy framework to ingest and manage ocean observations and other derived information, as described in Subsystem 2. Observing. Management of these data types covers all lifecycle steps from initial observation of raw data, to ingestion into the cyberinfrastructure, quality control, public dissemination, product generation, and long-term storage and archiving. In addition, DMAC supports analyses and syntheses of various information streams into value-added information products.

DMAC systems must also be capable of operating or otherwise supporting and disseminating outputs from numerical simulations of the ocean yielding hindcasts, nowcasts, or forecasts of ocean conditions, as described in Subsystem 4. Modeling and Analysis.

In order to meet these requirements to manage ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes information through its entire lifecycle, DMAC systems are expected to comprise the following components: information technology, data managers, standard processes and procedures, and governance policies.

Applicants should describe their approach to operating a U.S. IOOS Regional Data Assembly Center (DAC) that both effectively implements these DMAC subsystem goals and meets data management requirements for their regions. Additionally, they should describe their policies and procedures to ensure regional data that are suitable for inclusion in a U.S. IOOS national DAC (e.g. profiling gliders, high-frequency radar data) are submitted on a routine basis to the relevant national DAC either by the RA or partner/operator, following IOOS guidance published at https://ioos.github.io and elsewhere.

Further, proposals should describe how the applicant plans to specifically address the U.S. IOOS DMAC Data Standards & Requirements guidelines: https://ioos.noaa.gov/data/data-standards, in operating a Regional DAC:

• Open Data Sharing

• Data Publishing

• Provision of Data to the Global Telecommunications System (GTS)

• Storage and Archiving

• Catalog Registration

• Data Management Planning and Cyberinfrastructure https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ResearchPlan2020-2029_comp.pdf https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ResearchPlan2020-2029_comp.pdf http://www.iooc.us/wp-content/uploads/biological_and_ecosystem_observations_within_united_states_waters2.pdf http://www.iooc.us/wp-content/uploads/biological_and_ecosystem_observations_within_united_states_waters2.pdf https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/BON_SynthesisReport.pdf https://cdn.ioos.noaa.gov/media/2017/12/noaa_tm_nmfs_swfsc_482.pdf https://cdn.coastalscience.noaa.gov/page-attachments/news/NHABON_Framewk_WkshpReport_12-18-20_Final.pdf https://cdn.coastalscience.noaa.gov/page-attachments/news/NHABON_Framewk_WkshpReport_12-18-20_Final.pdf https://ioosassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NHABON_StrategyDocWeb_FEB21.pdf https://ioos.github.io https://ioos.noaa.gov/data/data-standards/

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DMAC systems must also adhere to the following NOAA guidance and policies pertaining to data management and information technology:

• NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 212-15B: Management of NOAA Data and Information; NOAA Data Management Handbook https://www.noaa.gov/organization/administration/nao-212-15-management-of-environmental-data-and-information

• NAO 201-118: Software Governance and Public Release Policy https://www.noaa.gov/administration/nao-201-118-software-governance-and-public-release-policy

• 2020 NOAA Artificial Intelligence Strategy https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2020-AI-Strategy.pdf

Additional Requirements & Guidance:

In addition to addressing each of the above requirements in their DMAC system implementation plans, proposals should also:

• Describe the applicant’s commitment to allot staff and financial resources to attend the DMAC Annual Meeting and participate in DMAC code sprints or related national DMAC activities that require regional expertise and input.

o Proposals must identify resources that will be applied to national DMAC operations and advancements, including how they will participate in the operations, maintenance, and evolution of the national DMAC, and support coordination of U.S. IOOS efforts with other ocean observing organizations, groups, and networks.

• Describe how emerging technologies will interface or integrate into DMAC systems where practical and appropriate. These might include:

o Cloud computing o Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML), publishing regional data for consumption by AI/ML models o Support for interactive computing and analysis platforms or user communities (e.g.

JupyterHub/Pangeo) o Edge computing and the Internet of Things o Transition from legacy technologies (& applications) o Pan-regional interoperability

• Describe plans, if any, to increase efficiencies and share infrastructure, expertise, and technology between regions. Inter-regional collaboration is strongly encouraged on all aspects of DMAC planning and implementation in order to maximize the efficiency of DMAC funding across the entire U.S. IOOS Enterprise. It is not assumed that each region must operate a completely separate and distinct infrastructure. Applicants should prioritize pursuing opportunities to share or pool resources between regions where feasible.

• Describe the applicant’s ability and approach to serve as data stewards for local and regional partners, regardless of funding relationships. Applicants should prioritize managing data and information generated by the project partners, however, they should similarly provide the capability to manage data that exists within their region but may be collected or funded by organizations other than the U.S. IOOS.

4. Modeling and Analysis https://www.noaa.gov/organization/administration/nao-212-15-management-of-environmental-data-and-information https://www.noaa.gov/organization/administration/nao-212-15-management-of-environmental-data-and-information https://www.noaa.gov/administration/nao-201-118-software-governance-and-public-release-policy https://www.noaa.gov/administration/nao-201-118-software-governance-and-public-release-policy https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2020-AI-Strategy.pdf https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2020-AI-Strategy.pdf

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Models enhance our understanding of ocean and coastal phenomena over various timescales and enable prediction of conditions and events. They provide essential assistance to operational oceanography, which is the routine and sustained provision of oceanographic information needed for decision-making purposes. Numerical modeling enables the simulation of past, present, and future ocean conditions and, when combined with sustained in situ and remote observations, provide synthesized information products that leverage the strengths of both models and observations. Integrating data assimilation techniques into numerical models can inform the design of the observing system and provide information on the efficacy of the observing system to meet its intended purpose.

U.S. IOOS regional models integrate cross-disciplinary, cross-platform data from a variety of partners to improve predictions of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes phenomena. RA modeling efforts can support maritime commerce and safety, ecological forecasting, water levels, and more by enhancing the NOS modeling network and serving as an important link between NOAA, federal partners, and regional stakeholders.

In accordance with the Administration’s priorities, NOAA calls for proposals which support a plan for evaluating consolidation of modeling systems within and across geographical regions covered by the RAs. This need for consolidation particularly applies to prediction systems based on the core operational forecast models used by NOS (e.g., Advanced Circulation Model (ADCIRC), Semi-implicit Cross-scale Hydroscience Integrated System (SCHISM), Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS), and Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM)). Applicants should propose work that aligns with the NOS Modeling Implementation Plan (in particular, see Sections 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 of the NOS Modeling Implementation Plan linked below).

In addition to describing how numerical modeling is integrated into a comprehensive strategy for deriving and delivering information to support regional and national stakeholders, proposals should describe both a down-select process among models as well as the combining of systems across certain regions consistent with Fig. 3 in Section 3.2.2 of the NOS Modeling Implementation Plan.

Federal agencies provide global and regional predictions that can be factored into RCOS plans for an integrated system. Applicants should consider several guiding documents when developing their proposal. Proposals should describe how the project’s ongoing and planned modeling systems address these strategic guidelines and interface with federal modeling systems, including emerging federal collaborations, to advance earth system modeling and unified forecast system development. The documents are:

• Wilkin, J., et al. (2017) Advancing coastal ocean modelling, analysis, and prediction for the US Integrated Ocean Observing System. Journal of Operational Oceanography.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1755876X.2017.1322026

• American Meteorological Society Statement on the Future of Ecological Forecasting https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-ams/ams-statements/statements-of-the-ams-in-force/the-future-of-ecological-forecasting/

• NOS Modeling Strategy https://cdn.oceanservice.noaa.gov/oceanserviceprod/tools/coastal-predictions/NOS-Modeling-Strategy-2023.pdf

• NOS Modeling Implementation Plan https://cdn.oceanservice.noaa.gov/oceanserviceprod/tools/coastal-predictions/NOS-Modeling- Implementation-2024.pdf

• A Strategic Vision for NOAA’s Ecological Forecasting Roadmap http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecoforecasting/noaa-ecoforecasting-roadmap.pdf

• Advanced Circulation Model (ADCIRC):

o https://adcirc.org/ o https://wiki.adcirc.org/Main_Page o https://github.com/adcirc

• Semi-implicit Cross-scale Hydroscience Integrated System (SCHISM) http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1755876X.2017.1322026 https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-ams/ams-statements/statements-of-the-ams-in-force/the-future-of-ecological-forecasting/ https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-ams/ams-statements/statements-of-the-ams-in-force/the-future-of-ecological-forecasting/ https://cdn.oceanservice.noaa.gov/oceanserviceprod/tools/coastal-predictions/NOS-Modeling-Strategy-2023.pdf https://cdn.oceanservice.noaa.gov/oceanserviceprod/tools/coastal-predictions/NOS-Modeling-Strategy-2023.pdf https://cdn.oceanservice.noaa.gov/oceanserviceprod/tools/coastal-predictions/NOS-Modeling-Implementation-2024.pdf https://cdn.oceanservice.noaa.gov/oceanserviceprod/tools/coastal-predictions/NOS-Modeling-Implementation-2024.pdf http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecoforecasting/noaa-ecoforecasting-roadmap.pdf https://adcirc.org/ https://wiki.adcirc.org/Main_Page https://github.com/adcirc

NOAA NOFO Page 10 of 26 o https://ccrm.vims.edu/schismweb/ o https://github.com/schism-dev/schism

• Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) o https://www.myroms.org/ o https://github.com/myroms/roms

• Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) o Chen, C. et al.(2006) An Unstructured-Grid Finite-Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM)

System https://tos.org/oceanography/assets/docs/19-1_chen.pdf o https://www.fvcom.org/ o https://github.com/FVCOM-GitHub/FVCOM

The U.S. IOOS Office also leads the Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT, https://ioos.noaa.gov/project/comt/), which funds targeted research and development to accelerate the transition of scientific and technical advances from the coastal and ocean modeling research community to improve identified operational ocean products and services. The COMT is a conduit between Federal operational and external research communities that facilitates the sharing of numerical models, observations, and software tools. COMT projects are designed to assess the performance of existing models, create new model code and tools, inform and train users, and build a repository of evaluation data sets to expand and improve the modeling capabilities of operational partners and the broader coastal and ocean modeling community. Applicants should be cognizant of COMT projects and describe any relationships or intersections between their proposed activities and COMT projects. Proposals may address any barriers that limit the access of modeling system enhancements by operational systems.

5. Engagement

Regional Associations build strong relationships with local, regional, and national stakeholders and end users to identify their needs and understand how and why they use information. Through a methodological and iterative approach, RAs engage users in creating tailored data products and services that are fit for purpose and easy to use. Applicant should consider the following guiding documents in developing plans for the engagement subsystem:

• A Model of Service Delivery for the NOAA Water Initiative -https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/A-Model-of-Service-Delivery-for-the-NOAA- Water-Initiative_FINAL.pdf

• Iwamoto, M.M., et al. (2019) Meeting Regional, Coastal and Ocean User Needs With Tailored Data Products: A Stakeholder-Driven Process. Frontiers in Marine Science.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00290

Proposals should address how the applicant will engage in stakeholder outreach and engagement region-wide, support delivery of products to identified users, receive feedback from users regarding their needs, further modify products based on that input, and evaluate the success of funded activities. Proposals should identify engagement priorities, the types of groups the applicants expect to contact, and the relevance of regional U.S. IOOS products and tools to those target groups. Additionally, proposals should note how communication with various audiences will occur, as different groups require tailored engagement methods. Applicants should consider collaboration with existing ocean- and coastal-related programs in the region that can serve as force multipliers because they are centralized conduits for efficient and effective engagement, have well developed networks of users to communicate system needs, and/or coordinate workforce development (e.g., National Marine Sanctuaries, National Estuarine Research Reserves, Sea Grant, maritime professional associations).

C. Program Authority The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (ICOOS) Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11, Title XII, §12301), as amended by the Coordinated Ocean Observation and Research Act (COORA) of 2020 (P.L.

116-271), codified at 33 U.S.C. 3601-3610.

https://ccrm.vims.edu/schismweb/ https://github.com/schism-dev/schism https://www.myroms.org/ https://github.com/myroms/roms https://tos.org/oceanography/assets/docs/19-1_chen.pdf https://www.fvcom.org/ https://github.com/FVCOM-GitHub/FVCOM https://ioos.noaa.gov/project/comt/ https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/A-Model-of-Service-Delivery-for-the-NOAA-Water-Initiative_FINAL.pdf https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/A-Model-of-Service-Delivery-for-the-NOAA-Water-Initiative_FINAL.pdf https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00290

NOAA NOFO Page 11 of 26

II. Award Information A. Funding Availability Maximum estimated funding for each award is approximately $5,000,000 per year, subject to availability of funds, for up to 5 years. The number of awards anticipated to be given is 11. Funding for each year of the award is contingent upon availability of funds from annual appropriations and the satisfactory performance of the recipient and is at the sole discretion of NOAA.

B. Project/Award Period The full proposal must cover an award period of no greater than 60 months, or 5 years, starting September 1, 2026.

C. Type of Funding Instrument NOAA will make awards using competitive cooperative agreements.

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Eligible funding applicants for this competition are institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and state, local and tribal governments.

Federal agencies or institutions and foreign governments may not be the primary recipient of awards under this announcement, but they may partner with applicants when appropriate.

If an applicant has a partner who would receive funds, the lead grantee will be expected to use a subcontract or other appropriate mechanism to provide funds to the partner. If a partner is a NOAA office or laboratory, the U.S. IOOS Office will transfer funds internally. If the proposal includes a federal agency outside of NOAA, the applicant must plan its own mechanism to fund that partner. The U.S. IOOS Office will not transfer funds to any other agencies on behalf of an awardee.

Applicants should note that paying for transportation, travel, or other expenses for any federal employee are not allowable costs. This includes federal employees who may serve as board members on applicant governance structures.

B. Cost Share or Matching Requirement None

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility None

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request Application Package Application packages are available online as part of the NOFO announcement on grants.gov and final applications will only be accepted via submission through www.grants.gov. Applications will need to pass eRA minimum requirements in order to be accepted. Please verify all attachments meet the requirements outlined on the National Institute of Health's Grants and Funding website https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/format-and-write/format-attachments.htm.

B. Content and Form of Application The application must include the following 15 elements, with the exception of the Letters of Support and the SF-LLL (only if applicable), to meet minimum requirements. Each element should be uploaded as a separate file and numbered corresponding to the order below. You must follow the instructions for each of the following specific components. All required documents must be submitted with the proposal.

External documents linked within proposal materials will not be accepted for review as part of the proposal package.

http://www.grants.gov https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/format-and-write/format-attachments.htm

NOAA NOFO Page 12 of 26

1. Standard Form (SF-424) - “Application for Federal Assistance” Format Requirements: none

Guidance: This form is required to indicate the total amount of funding proposed for the institution for the whole period of performance. This form is to be the cover page for the original proposal and is the first required form in the Grants.gov proposal package. The form can be downloaded at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family. If funding will be directed to NOAA partners, the SF-424 must show the total amount less what would go to the NOAA partner.

2. Title Page

Format Requirements: Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 1 page maximum

Guidance: Include proposal title, complete contact information for the Principal Investigator and Financial Representative, proposed period of performance, and total funds requested. If funds are to be transferred to a NOAA partner as a holdback, state the amount to the NOAA partner on the cover.

3. Abstract

Format Requirements: Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 5 sentences maximum

Guidance: Provide a very brief, high-level summary of the proposal in 3-5 sentences. The abstract should be written using plain language for a broad, non-technical audience and highlight the main goal of the proposed work and societal impacts.

4. Proposal Summary

Format Requirements: Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 2 pages maximum

Guidance: Provide a summary of the proposed work. The summary should be prepared using plain language to be readable to a broad audience and contain the following sections:

a) Proposal Name/Title

b) Primary Contact (name, address, telephone, e-mail)

c) Primary Recipient Institution

d) Other Investigators (name, affiliated institution or agency)

e) Proposal Summary including objectives and intended benefits

f) Partners

5. Proposal Narrative and Milestones Schedule

Format Requirements: Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 20 pages maximum

Guidance: All proposal narratives must include the following sections and should be clear and concise, focusing on the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the proposed work, including the description of the proposed scope of work. There may be several distinct projects within the proposal. In this element, each distinct project shall be numbered with a numbering system that would enable projects to be individually tracked in documentation over the lifetime of the award if the proposal is selected for funding. This section should include the following, by project where practical:

a) Goals and Objectives. Describe the specific goals and objectives to be achieved. Recipients will be required to submit regular progress reports in which progress against these goals and objectives will be reported.

b) Background. Provide sufficient background information for proposal reviewers to assess independently the significance of the proposed work. Summarize the problem to be addressed and the status of ongoing efforts to address the identified needs.

https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family

NOAA NOFO Page 13 of 26

c) Audience. Identify specific users of the results of each project, outline the process for how they will be engaged for input in project development, describe how they will use the results, and identify any training that will be needed for users to make full use of the results.

d) Approach. Provide a work plan that: identifies specific tasks to be accomplished; explains the technical approach (including quality assurance and any innovations) needed to accomplish the tasks; identifies partner roles and contributions, including resources; and identifies potential obstacles to successful completion of the goals and objectives. Describe how end users are involved in the planning and design process. Describe how the work achieves efficiencies and how it will complement any other U.S. IOOS funding received. If work is being carried out through a sub-award or contract, that work should be included in the Proposal Narrative. If the project includes federal partners, clearly identify their roles, responsibilities, and contributions.

e) Benefits. Identify, with a high degree of specificity, the users of the products or information derived from the work and the benefits that will be achieved for those users, as well as society as a whole. Document how valid user needs and user requirements are guiding the proposed work.

Describe how the technologies or information from the projects will be delivered to those users, and any special considerations or requirements for ensuring or improving the delivery of the technology or information.

f) Milestones Schedule. Organized by project, display timelines for major tasks, target milestones (or project phases) for important intermediate and final products including key accomplishments and outcomes. Milestones should be aligned with the goals and objectives of each project.

6. Data Management Plan

Format Requirements: Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 2 pages maximum

Guidance: Proposals must provide a detailed Data Management Plan that describes how metadata and data collected will be disseminated to the broader community, and plans for longer term archiving of these data. PIs that propose to collaborate with data centers or networks, including federal data centers or networks, are advised to obtain letters of commitment that affirm the collaboration. Where possible, all PIs are strongly encouraged to use existing data centers and data portals to archive and disseminate their data. Costs associated with use of data centers, or data archiving, should be included in the application budget. See Sec. VI. for data reporting requirements under Data Sharing Plan.

7. References Cited

Format Requirements: Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, no page limit

Guidance: Each reference should include the names of all authors in the same sequence they appear in the publications, the article title, the journal or book title, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication. While there is no established page limitation, this section should include bibliographic citations only and should not be used to provide parenthetical information outside of the Proposal Narrative.

8. Resumes

Format Requirements: Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 3 pages maximum, per person

Guidance: Provide resumes for the Principal Investigator of the proposal and other key personnel critical to the success of the proposed work. Ensure that resumes address qualifications relevant to conducting the proposed work.

9. Letters of Support (not required)

Format Requirements: Single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, 2 pages maximum, per letter

NOAA NOFO Page 14 of 26

Guidance: Letters from unfunded collaborators, verifying their contribution to the project, or letters of support may also be included, but are not required.

10. SF-424A - Budget Form

Format Requirements: none

Guidance: The SF-424A identifies the budget for each fiscal…