Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR CIAO 2026 32786
Apply for NOAA OAR CIAO 2026 32786
- The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.432.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA) funding opportunity is a NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) competition to select a single host consortium to establish and operate a NOAA Cooperative Institute focused on the Northern Gulf of America. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which generally signals close scientific and programmatic collaboration with NOAA during the life of the institute. NOAA is looking for an eligible group of academic institutions, potentially supported by research affiliates, that can bring strong expertise aligned with NOAA priority areas and can advance the research directions laid out in the announcement. The intent is to create a durable, regionally grounded research partnership that strengthens NOAA mission outcomes through coordinated science, technology development, and related research and development activities.
Applications are structured in two phases, and the first phase is deliberately high level. Applicants submit only one overarching application, submitted by the lead institution on behalf of the consortium, proposing the establishment of CINGA. At this initial stage, NOAA is not asking for fully developed, detailed individual research projects. Instead, the application should articulate the institute-level vision and high level research themes (referenced in the announcement as being in Section I.B.) that can later serve as umbrellas for specific projects. After NOAA selects the host institution/consortium, the awardee will then be invited to submit additional, subsequent project proposals that are described as non-competitive and that must fit under the approved research themes. Those follow-on proposals will be reviewed for potential funding, and the host institution will continue submitting detailed project applications at different funding levels and periods of performance across the overall five-year institute award. In practical terms, NOAA is selecting a long-term institutional partner first, then funding specific work incrementally over time as projects are proposed, refined, and approved.
Eligibility is limited to non-Federal public and private non-profit universities, colleges, and research institutions that offer accredited, graduate-level degree-granting programs in NOAA-relevant sciences and that are within the Gulf of America region. A key nuance is that only the lead institution (the one where the cooperative institute will be established and that submits the application on behalf of the consortium) must meet the location requirement, which provides flexibility to include partner institutions outside the immediate region as consortium members if the lead is appropriately located. Federal agencies and federal personnel cannot receive federal funds under this competition, but federal scientists may still participate as collaborators in an uncompensated capacity, including as partners or co-Principal Investigators on later project proposals. Federal laboratories and offices may also contribute access to facilities, equipment, or specialized expertise, but they cannot be paid under this award for those contributions.
The administrative requirements are emphasized because they can easily derail an otherwise strong submission if left too late. To apply and to remain eligible to receive an award, applicant organizations must complete and maintain active registrations in three systems: SAM.gov (which also governs the Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI), Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. NOAA notes that the combined registration process can take 4 to 6 weeks, so organizations are expected to begin early and ensure everything is fully active before submitting the application. Because eRA Commons is part of the submission workflow, organizations must also set up key roles in that system, including at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account. NOAA also points applicants to federal training resources and NOAA guidance intended to reduce common submission errors and formatting issues.
From a funding and timeline perspective, this is a large, single-award opportunity. The opportunity number is NOAA-OAR-CIAO-2026-32786 (listed as NOAA OAR CIAO 2026 32786), the CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 11.432, and the activity category is natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development. NOAA expects to make one award, with an award ceiling listed at $100,000,000, reflecting the scale of an institute-style cooperative agreement that can encompass multiple projects over the five-year period. The original closing date for applications is May 18, 2026, and the opportunity was created on April 2, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA)
What is the CINGA funding opportunity?
The Cooperative Institute in the Northern Gulf of America (CINGA) is a NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) competition to select a single host consortium to establish and operate a NOAA Cooperative Institute focused on the Northern Gulf of America.
Which NOAA office is running this competition?
This opportunity is run by NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).
How many awards does NOAA expect to make?
NOAA expects to make one award under this opportunity.
What type of award will be made?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates close scientific and programmatic collaboration with NOAA during the life of the institute.
What is NOAA selecting in Phase 1?
In Phase 1, NOAA is selecting a long-term host institution/consortium to establish CINGA. The Phase 1 application is an overarching institute-level application submitted by the lead institution on behalf of the consortium.
Is Phase 1 asking for detailed research projects?
No. The first phase is deliberately high level, and NOAA is not asking for fully developed, detailed individual research projects at this stage.
What should the Phase 1 application focus on?
The Phase 1 application should articulate the institute-level vision and high level research themes (referenced as being in Section I.B. of the announcement) that can later serve as umbrellas for specific projects.
What happens after NOAA selects the host consortium?
After selection, the awardee will be invited to submit additional, subsequent project proposals. These follow-on proposals are described as non-competitive and must fit under the approved research themes.
Are follow-on project proposals automatically funded?
No. Follow-on proposals will be reviewed for potential funding. The host institution is expected to continue submitting detailed project applications at different funding levels and periods of performance across the overall five-year institute award.
How does the overall funding approach work over time?
NOAA is selecting a durable, long-term institutional partner first, then funding specific work incrementally over time as projects are proposed, refined, and approved under the institute's approved themes.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead institution?
Eligibility is limited to non-Federal public and private non-profit universities, colleges, and research institutions that (1) offer accredited, graduate-level degree-granting programs in NOAA-relevant sciences and (2) are within the Gulf of America region.
Does every consortium member have to be located in the Gulf of America region?
No. Only the lead institution (the applicant that submits the application on behalf of the consortium and where the cooperative institute will be established) must meet the location requirement. This provides flexibility to include partner institutions outside the immediate region as consortium members.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Based on the eligibility statement provided, eligible applicants are non-Federal public and private non-profit universities, colleges, and research institutions. For-profit entities are not identified as eligible applicants in the information provided.
Can Federal agencies receive funds under this award?
No. Federal agencies and federal personnel cannot receive federal funds under this competition.
Can Federal scientists participate in CINGA activities?
Yes. Federal scientists may participate as collaborators in an uncompensated capacity. The information provided notes they may participate as partners or co-Principal Investigators on later project proposals, but they cannot be paid with funds from this award.
Can Federal laboratories or NOAA offices contribute resources?
Yes. Federal laboratories and offices may contribute access to facilities, equipment, or specialized expertise, but they cannot be paid under this award for those contributions.
What systems must applicant organizations register in to apply?
Applicant organizations must complete and maintain active registrations in SAM.gov (including the Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI), Grants.gov, and eRA Commons.
How long can registrations take?
NOAA notes that the combined registration process can take 4 to 6 weeks, so organizations are expected to begin early and ensure registrations are active before submitting the application.
Why is eRA Commons specifically important for this opportunity?
Because eRA Commons is part of the submission workflow. Organizations must set up key roles in eRA Commons to support submission and participation.
Which eRA Commons roles are required?
Organizations must set up at least one Signing Official (SO) account and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account.
What is the opportunity number for this funding announcement?
The opportunity number is NOAA-OAR-CIAO-2026-32786 (also listed as NOAA OAR CIAO 2026 32786).
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 11.432.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is listed at $100,000,000, reflecting the scale of an institute-style cooperative agreement that can encompass multiple projects over the five-year period.
What is the period of performance for the institute?
The institute award is described as a five-year institute award, across which multiple projects may be proposed and funded at different funding levels and periods of performance.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date for applications is May 18, 2026.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 2, 2026.
What is NOAA trying to achieve through CINGA?
The intent is to create a durable, regionally grounded research partnership that strengthens NOAA mission outcomes through coordinated science, technology development, and related research and development activities, aligned with NOAA priority areas and the research directions described in the announcement.
Who submits the application for a consortium?
The lead institution submits a single overarching application on behalf of the consortium proposing the establishment of CINGA.
What kinds of organizations can be part of the consortium besides the eligible academic lead?
NOAA is looking for an eligible group of academic institutions, potentially supported by research affiliates. The lead must meet the eligibility requirements described, while partner institutions can include entities outside the immediate region as long as the lead institution meets the location requirement.
What risks could make an otherwise strong application ineligible or unsuccessful?
The information provided emphasizes that administrative requirements can derail a strong submission if left too late. Maintaining active registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons (including required roles such as SO and PD/PI in eRA Commons) is necessary to apply and remain eligible to receive an award.
Does NOAA provide resources to help reduce submission errors?
Yes. NOAA points applicants to federal training resources and NOAA guidance intended to reduce common submission errors and formatting issues.
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