Ocean Exploration
Active
- Assistance listing
- 11.011
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- 123 $149,707,448 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 13-1450-0-1-306
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research funds deep-ocean exploration across seafloor mapping, water-column characterization, technological innovation, and underwater archaeology, under Assistance Listing 11.011, with the most recent grant award issued September 1, 2024.
Grant activity remains robust. The program has awarded 123 grants since 2010 with $149.7 million in combined federal obligation; the most recent award was made approximately two years ago. Annual award volume has declined modestly over the past five years (2020: 5 awards; 2021: 11; 2022: 11; 2023: 8; 2024: 4 as of the data snapshot), reflecting the funding cycle. The portfolio is heavily weighted toward Cooperative Agreements (89 awards, 72 percent) with a smaller Project Grant component (34 awards, 28 percent). NOAA is the sole funder across all 123 awards.
Funded projects typically characterize unknown deep-ocean biodiversity and habitats, develop autonomous systems and machine-learning methods for seafloor and water-column exploration, conduct underwater archaeological surveys of shipwrecks and submerged cultural sites, and advance novel sensing technologies for deep-water deployment. Recent awards illustrate the scope: characterization of deep-pelagic crustacean diversity off Southern California using environmental DNA and laboratory analysis ($1.485 million); comprehensive assessment of mesophotic coral fish assemblages off Puerto Rico using advanced diving and video imaging ($1.34 million); development of machine-learning-based automated detection of deep-sea sediment meiofauna ($1.397 million); and ocean exploration education programming through national marine sanctuaries ($3.44 million).
Typical individual award magnitudes range from $100 thousand to $3.4 million, with a median in the low-to-mid hundreds of thousands. The non-federal cost-share is minimal; combined total obligation of $152 million against federal obligation of $149.7 million reflects negligible matching.
The FY 2025 Ocean Exploration funding opportunity (NOAA-OAR-OER-2025-25557) was posted April 2, 2024, with application deadline October 10, 2024. Solicitation targets two themes—Ocean Exploration (seafloor and water-column characterization in waters deeper than 200 meters or tropical mesophotic environments) and Maritime Heritage (underwater archaeology at any depth)—with emphasis on uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and environmental DNA methods. Proposals need not be restricted to U.S. waters but must demonstrate national benefit and align with NOAA's Ocean Exploration Strategic Plan. Assistance is available for one to two years based on funding availability; pre-proposal review takes 90 to 180 days.
Objective and description
- Objective
To explore the Earth's largely unknown oceans in all their dimensions for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge, using state of the art technologies in evolutionary and revolutionary ways within Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (O
- Description
NOAA Ocean Exploration is soliciting proposals for ocean exploration-related projects under two themes: Ocean Exploration and Maritime Heritage. By supporting exploration (i.e., examining unknown or poorly understood areas of the seafloor, sub-bottom, or water column through initial assessments of the physical, chemical, geological, biological, archaeological, or other characteristics), NOAA Ocean Exploration seeks to advance our basic understanding of the unknown ocean. All proposed projects must support priorities in the NOAA Ocean Exploration Strategic Plan (a link to the Strategic Plan will be provided when available) and should also consider the Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (https://oeab.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/NOMEC_OEC_Priorities_Report.pdf). Proposed projects are not restricted to waters under U.S. jurisdiction, but proposals should address how projects will provide national benefit.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
As stated in NOAA special announcements or applicable reports in support of NOAA's mission.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Organizations and individuals with interests in support of managing effectively the Nation's ocean exploration resources.
- Uses of assistance
Cooperative agreements and grants may be used for research and development, education and training, and advisory services. They may also be used for operational systems as they relate to specific programs. Specific restrictions, other than those mandated for grants and cooperative agreements are evaluated on an individual program basis.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Assistance is available one to two years based on availability of funding. Restrictions are contained in the DOC Grants and Cooperative Agreements Manual.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Proposals are subject to office evaluations, technical reviews, administrative reviews, and external reviews, if applicable, taking into consideration primarily scientific merit and application to the goals of NOAA and the Office of Oceans and Atmospheric Research and NOAA Ocean Exploration.
- Award procedure
Proposals are subject to office evaluations, technical reviews, administrative reviews, and external reviews, if applicable, taking into consideration primarily scientific merit and application to the goals of NOAA and the Office of Oceans and Atmospheric Research and NOAA Ocean Exploration.
- Time to approval or disapproval
The range varies from 90 to 180 days from the time of proposal submission to NOAA.
- Renewals
Renewals are conducted by negotiation with the NOAA and the Office of Oceans and Atmospheric Research and NOAA Ocean Exploration and subject to availability of funds.
Grant opportunities
Show all 11
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 123 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Global Foundation For Ocean Exploration, Inc. | $49,704,104 | 33% |
| 2 | Ocean Exploration Trust, Inc. | $34,858,426 | 23% |
| 3 | National Marine Sanctuary Foundation | $10,589,466 | 7% |
| 4 | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | $5,836,456 | 4% |
| 5 | University Of California San Diego | $5,318,555 | 4% |
| 6 | University Of Alaska Fairbanks | $4,629,457 | 3% |
| 7 | University Of Washington | $3,751,708 | 3% |
| 8 | University Corporation For Atmospheric Research | $2,294,299 | 2% |
| 9 | Regents Of The University Of Michigan | $2,225,364 | 1% |
| 10 | University Of Rhode Island | $2,078,972 | 1% |
10 of 60 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $300,000 |
| FY2025 | $1,100,000 |
| FY2024 | $6,412,734 |
| FY2023 | $10,584,914 |
| FY2022 | $21,246,672 |
| FY2021 | $9,733,346 |
| FY2020 | $9,792,266 |
| FY2019 | $22,472,163 |
| FY2018 | $21,288,514 |
| FY2017 | $18,099,201 |
| FY2016 | $13,841,620 |
| FY2015 | $9,537,066 |
| FY2014 | $5,243,238 |
| FY2013 | $130,605 |
| FY2012 | $8,114,866 |
| FY2011 | $4,257,231 |
| FY2010 | $1,177,180 |
Show all 17
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.011?
Assistance Listing 11.011 is Ocean Exploration, a federal grant program run by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce).
What is the CFDA number for Ocean Exploration?
Its CFDA number is 11.011: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 11.011 awarded?
123 grant awards under 11.011 have obligated $149,707,448 in federal funds to 60 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 11.011?
The recipients obligated the most under Ocean Exploration are The Global Foundation For Ocean Exploration, Inc. ($49,704,104), Ocean Exploration Trust, Inc. ($34,858,426) and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation ($10,589,466).
How much did 11.011 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 11.011 obligated $1,100,000 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 11.011?
No opportunity listed under 11.011 is open now. The latest, Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Opportunity, was posted on April 2, 2024.
On GovTribe
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