Special Oceanic and Atmospheric Projects
Active
- Assistance listing
- 11.460
- Agency
-
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
- Grant awards
- 349 $263,251,544 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Disaster Relief Act of 2019
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- 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 Oceanic and Atmospheric Research funds research strengthening hurricane, flood, and wildfire forecast modeling through advanced technologies and data integration under CFDA 11.460 (Special Oceanic and Atmospheric Projects), with the most recent grant award dated October 1, 2020.
Program activity has been intermittent in recent years. The portfolio spans 349 awards since 2001, but award cadence is uneven: the five-year period from 2012 to 2020 shows single awards in 2012, 2015, and 2017, then a sharp spike to 31 awards in 2020. No grant awards have been disbursed since October 2020, indicating a six-year hiatus in disbursement activity.
The program funds concrete operational and research activities: underwater glider deployments for hurricane intensity forecasting; machine-learning emulators to accelerate wildfire smoke and air-quality prediction; satellite data assimilation to improve flood inundation mapping and monitoring; ocean data collection via drifters and buoys to capture wave height, temperature, and pressure; and development of modeling frameworks such as the Hurricane Analysis and Forecasting System (HAFS) and the Unified Forecast System (UFS). Recent awards demonstrate primary focus on hurricane and wildfire forecast improvement, with secondary emphasis on flood forecasting capabilities.
Assistance consists predominantly of Project Grants (85 percent of awards) with a smaller share of Cooperative Agreements (15 percent). NOAA is the sole funding agency across all 349 awards and all $263.3 million in combined federal obligations. Recipients contributed an additional $60 million in non-federal cost-share, bringing total obligated dollars to $323.3 million.
Recent awards ranged from $27 thousand to $1.44 million. Representative 2020 awards include a $1.44 million cooperative agreement for satellite flood inundation products and national water model advancement; a $799 thousand award for ocean data assimilation and coupling to improve hurricane forecasting; and a $699 thousand cooperative agreement deploying mid-Atlantic gliders for hurricane intensity support. Earlier awards included a $6.8 million 2013 cooperative agreement for telepresence-enabled exploration of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, indicating the program's historical scope extended beyond forecast modeling to ocean exploration.
No grant opportunities are currently open or have been posted recently in this source. The program description indicates awards are made by negotiation with OAR subject to fund availability, with 90–180 days from proposal submission to decision. Given the six-year gap in disbursement activity and absence of recent solicitations, the program's current active pursuit status is unclear; any organization interested in this work should contact NOAA/OAR directly to determine whether the program remains under active competition.
Objective and description
- Objective
To strengthen the communication and improve the impact of hurricane, flood, and wildfire forecast modeling through the use of state of the art and emerging research and technologies within the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Se
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 oceanic and atmospheric resources.
- Credentials and documentation
Proposals with statements of work and estimated budgets. Costs will be determined in accordance with applicable OMB Circulars.
- 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
In accordance with the applicable NOAA Report or special NOAA announcement and in accordance with FARB approvals.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
See contact person
- Application procedure
Submit an electronic application to Grants.gov APPLY for financial assistance (SF 424) with statement of work to be performed and proposed amount. This program is subject to the requirements of OMB Circular No. A-110 and 15 CFR Part 24, "Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments," as applicable.
- 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.
- Award procedure
Awards will be made on the basis of proposal evaluations, technical reviews, administrative reviews, and external reviews, if applicable.
- Time to approval or disapproval
From 90 to 180 days from the time of proposal submission to NOAA/OAR.
- Renewals
By negotiation with the OAR and subject to availability of funds.
- Appeals
None anticipated.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 349 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sea Research Foundation, Inc. | $14,499,457 | 6% |
| 2 | University Of Alaska Fairbanks | $7,841,178 | 3% |
| 3 | Ocean Exploration Trust, Inc. | $6,800,000 | 3% |
| 4 | The University Of Alabama In Huntsville | $4,025,676 | 2% |
| 5 | University System Of New Hampshire | $2,884,719 | 1% |
| 6 | The Regents Of The University Of Colorado | $2,299,528 | 1% |
| 7 | University Of Maryland, College Park | $2,136,029 | 1% |
| 8 | University Of Rhode Island | $2,004,609 | 1% |
| 9 | Rutgers, The State University | $1,726,189 | 1% |
| 10 | West Virginia University Research Corporation | $1,705,243 | 1% |
10 of 68 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2023 | -$1,286 |
| FY2020 | $10,091,181 |
| FY2017 | $50,000 |
| FY2015 | $987,043 |
| FY2014 | $3,547,595 |
| FY2013 | $4,625,549 |
| FY2012 | $4,035,334 |
| FY2011 | $4,550,089 |
| FY2010 | $5,422,491 |
| FY2009 | $16,961,685 |
| FY2008 | $11,485,564 |
| FY2007 | $8,675,902 |
| FY2006 | $43,001,855 |
| FY2005 | $49,190,642 |
| FY2004 | $60,381,367 |
| FY2003 | $17,386,900 |
| FY2002 | $18,749,533 |
| FY2001 | $8,166,100 |
Show all 18
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 11.460?
Assistance Listing 11.460 is Special Oceanic and Atmospheric Projects, a federal grant program run by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce).
What is the CFDA number for Special Oceanic and Atmospheric Projects?
Its CFDA number is 11.460: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 11.460 awarded?
349 grant awards under 11.460 have obligated $263,251,544 in federal funds to 68 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 11.460?
The recipients obligated the most under Special Oceanic and Atmospheric Projects are Sea Research Foundation, Inc. ($14,499,457), University Of Alaska Fairbanks ($7,841,178) and Ocean Exploration Trust, Inc. ($6,800,000).
On GovTribe
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