Seabed Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization in the Pacific

Closed Posted

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Opportunity number
DFOP0019432
Agency
Applications due
Award size
$2,000,000 to $7,000,000

Opportunity facts

Funding instrument
Cooperative Agreement
Category
  • Environment
Eligible applicants
  • Higher Education Inst. (Private)
Points of contact

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is soliciting cooperative agreement applications for seabed mapping, exploration, habitat and resource characterization, and data management in Pacific Island Countries, with an application due date of August 14, 2026.

Eligible applicants are U.S.-based for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and not-for-profit organizations with a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration. Each UEI holder may submit one application as a prime applicant, though organizations may serve as sub-awardees on unlimited proposals.

The total available funding is $7 million distributed across 1–3 awards, with individual award ceilings ranging from $2 million to $7 million. The project performance period runs September 30, 2026 through March 30, 2031 (54 months maximum). Work is performed in priority Pacific Island Countries including Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Tonga, targeting continental shelf depths from less than 200 meters in near-shore areas to more than 5,000 meters.

Applicants must demonstrate prior seabed mapping or deep-sea exploration experience in the Central or Western Pacific, capacity to process and deliver high-quality data promptly, and established or developable partnerships with local stakeholders. Program objectives include generating scientific data for Pacific Island Country governments' mineral development decisions, characterizing seabed resources, conducting environmental studies, building local government capacity for resource management, and establishing U.S. private sector partnerships.

Merit evaluation uses a 100-point scale across program quality and feasibility (30 points), organizational capacity (20 points), program planning (15 points), budget justification (10 points), monitoring and evaluation plan (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). Applications are submitted via Grants.gov or MyGrants and must include SF-424 forms, a one-page summary, a 15-page proposal, detailed itemized budget with justification narrative, key personnel CVs, and partner letters of support.

The funding opportunity is assigned to CFDA 19.017, Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs, and funded through FY25 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act.

Synopsis

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OPA) announces an open competition for a U.S. institution, company, or organization (see eligibility information in B.1) interested in submitting an application to conduct ocean mapping, seabed exploration, habitat and resource characterization, and data management and analysis in Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

Files

File Type Posted
FAQ1 1.pdf PDF
Monitoring Indicator Tracker Template (4).xlsx XLSX spreadsheet
Budget Template FY26 with MTDC Calculation_Final (1).xlsx XLSX spreadsheet
Logic Model Template (1).docx DOCX document
Timeline Template (3).xlsx XLSX spreadsheet
Notice of Funding Opportunity - Seabed Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization in the Pacific (1).docx DOCX document

Posting history

Listing Posted Applications due
Opportunity Latest
Opportunity This listing
Opportunity Original

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