Alaska Coastal Marine Institute
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.421
- Agency
-
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 71 $15,306,450 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- (ALASKA CMI)
- Assistance type
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 14-1917-0-1-302
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) funds cooperative research on Alaska's outer continental shelf marine environments through the Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CFDA 15.421), with the most recent grant award issued September 23, 2025.
The program funds scientific research addressing long-term effects of offshore oil and gas development, marine minerals, and renewable energy projects in Alaska's marine regions. Representative recent awards include passive acoustic monitoring for cetaceans in Lower Cook Inlet ($35,980), ice-impact studies on tidal transport ($298,668), and satellite ocean color remote sensing of Cook Inlet water mass dynamics ($426,980). Other funded work spans subsurface current characterization, Arctic fish species delineation, sea ice microbial communities, whale migration tracking, benthic habitat mapping, and kelp restoration. Conference attendance for dissemination of project results is allowable; capitalization is not.
The program distributes 71 awards entirely as Cooperative Agreements. BOEM provides $10.1 million across 38 awards; the Department of Interior Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement funds 33 awards totaling $5.2 million. Combined federal obligation is $15.3 million against total obligated (federal plus non-federal share) of $19.9 million, indicating mandatory recipient cost-sharing at approximately one-quarter of total project value.
Award activity has declined substantially. The program made four awards per year in 2021, then dropped to two per year in 2022, one in 2023, one in 2024, and two in 2025. Recent awards range from $35,980 to $298,668 for individual research projects, with administrative awards of $134,000 per year. The program dates to 2004 and remains active.
Two cooperative agreement opportunities closed recently: AK-25-03b, Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Cetaceans in Lower Cook Inlet (due August 22, 2025, now closed) restricted to University of Washington; and AK-25-01, Alaska Coastal Marine Institute Administrative Award (due July 31, 2025, now closed). Applicants must be University of Alaska units or collaborative teams with a University of Alaska principal investigator. All proposals undergo competitive peer review by panels of government and external scientists using mission relevance, technical merit, personnel qualifications, project management, safety, permits, budget, and cost-sharing as criteria. Awards require matching funds at least dollar-for-dollar from recipients. Notification follows 180 to 270 days after submission.
Objective and description
- Objective
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) provides major economic and energy benefits on a national and local level to the taxpayers, States and the Native American community. The BOEM oversees the exploration and development of oil, natural gas a
- Description
The Environmental Studies Program allocates funding for cooperative research through the AK CMI program, subject to the availability of funds. The University of Alaska (AK) invites proposals that are reviewed by a Technical Steering Committee including the University, State of Alaska, and BOEM to fund individual awards. Applications must be for scientific research projects, which are within the BOEM's area of responsibility. The majority of funds are used to support research that will enhance understanding of long-term effects of oil and gas, marine minerals, and renewable energy projects. Funds can also be used for attendance at national conferences for the dissemination of project results. Funds are not normally used for capitalization.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
University of Alaska may make application for support by a named principal investigator. Non-UA scientists may participate in collaboration with a UA principal investigator.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Research scientists, Federal, State and local decision-makers, Native American Organizations, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the program.
- Credentials and documentation
Evidence of the applicant's qualifications for performance of the proposed research including past professional publications, resumes, and lists of past projects must be provided.
- Uses of assistance
The Environmental Studies Program allocates up to $1,000,000 per year for cooperative research through the AK CMI program, subject to the availability of funds. The University of Alaska (AK) invites proposals that are reviewed by a Technical Steering Committee including the University, State of Alaska, and BOEM to fund individual awards. Applications must be for scientific research projects, which are within the BOEM's area of responsibility. The majority of funds are used to support research that will enhance understanding of long-term effects of oil and gas, marine minerals, and renewable energy projects. Funds can also be used for attendance at national conferences for the dissemination of project results. Funds are not normally used for capitalization.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Cooperative agreements will normally be awarded for 1 to 5 years, with funding awarded incrementally as availability of funds, with approximately 15 percent to be provided in the final year of performance.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Limited discussions regarding funding availability and program interest are permitted. Environmental Impact Statements are not required for these projects.
- Application procedure
This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Letters of intent responding to particular information needs/areas will be requested. From these, selected full proposals will be invited for mission-relevant research likely to provide needed information for OCS oil and gas resource management decisions. Proposals must include a full statement of work, estimated budget, and resumes. Applicants shall post their applications on Grants.gov. The standard SF-424 application forms required by 2 CFR Part 215.12, and the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation at 2 CFR 1402 must be used.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Panels of BOEM and non-BOEM scientists (government, public, and private sector as appropriate), review and evaluate proposals. Criteria for judging proposals include mission relevance, technical merit, and the quality and appropriateness of the personnel including past performance and publication record, project management, logistics plan, safety management, permits, and interagency coordination, budget/matching funds, and where appropriate, minimization of impacts.
- Award procedure
Awards are made based on a competitive peer review of proposals by a panel consisting of government scientists and research managers, and external reviewers, as appropriate. Criteria for judging proposals include mission relevance, technical merit, and the quality and appropriateness of the personnel including past performance and publication record, project management, logistics plan, safety management, permits, and interagency coordination, budget/matching funds, and where appropriate, minimization of impacts. Notification of an award is issued. It is anticipated that four applications will be received, and three awards will be granted in FY 2021.
- Time to approval or disapproval
From 180 to 270 days.
Grant opportunities
Show all 11
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 71 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of Alaska Fairbanks | $14,466,905 | 95% |
| 2 | University Of Alaska Anchorage | $307,213 | 2% |
| 3 | University Of Washington | $35,980 | <1% |
3 of 4 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $99,840 |
| FY2024 | $150,138 |
| FY2023 | $89,976 |
| FY2022 | $301,808 |
| FY2021 | $591,230 |
| FY2020 | $1,102,656 |
| FY2019 | $789,153 |
| FY2018 | -$166,619 |
| FY2017 | $828,133 |
| FY2016 | $504,048 |
| FY2015 | $1,842,632 |
| FY2014 | $2,215,076 |
| FY2013 | $2,838,663 |
| FY2012 | $2,462,317 |
| FY2011 | $807,166 |
| FY2010 | $271,340 |
| FY2009 | $700,079 |
| FY2008 | $1,742 |
Show all 18
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.421?
Assistance Listing 15.421 is Alaska Coastal Marine Institute, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Alaska Coastal Marine Institute?
Its CFDA number is 15.421: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.421 awarded?
71 grant awards under 15.421 have obligated $15,306,450 in federal funds to 4 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.421?
The recipients obligated the most under Alaska Coastal Marine Institute are University Of Alaska Fairbanks ($14,466,905), University Of Alaska Anchorage ($307,213) and University Of Washington ($35,980).
How much did 15.421 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.421 obligated $99,840 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.421?
No opportunity listed under 15.421 is open now. The latest, AK-25-03b, Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Cetaceans in Lower Cook Inlet, was posted on July 22, 2025.
On GovTribe
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