Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS IOOS 2026 32698
Apply for NOAA NOS IOOS 2026 32698
- The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.012.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-15. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program is a NOAA-led funding opportunity run through the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), aimed at speeding up the move from late-stage research to real-world, sustained operations or commercialization for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing technologies. IOOS is a national and regional partnership that supports the collection and delivery of observations, data, tools, and forecasts that help protect lives and property, strengthen the coastal economy, and improve environmental stewardship. This program is focused on practical, near-to-operations investments that improve how environmental conditions are monitored and forecast, especially through smarter sensors, better data systems, upgraded platforms, and modernized technology workflows.
The core purpose of the Ocean Technology Transition (OTT) effort is to shorten the "research to operations/commercialization" timeline. In other words, it is not designed to fund early invention or basic R&D; it is designed to help technologies that are already fairly mature clear the last hurdles needed for dependable, long-term deployment and use. The opportunity defines "technologies" broadly to include ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes sensors; information technology such as data management, data visualization, and related software; platform enhancements; and modernization efforts that increase reliability, efficiency, interoperability, or usability. Earlier-stage development work is expected to be supported by other avenues (the notice points to NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators as an example), while this competition concentrates on the transition phase.
Projects supported under this announcement are expected to tackle long-standing or emerging challenges in coastal observing, product development, and data management by advancing new or existing technology-based solutions. A key expectation is that the proposed technology has clear, demonstrated demand and a credible path to adoption: applicants should be able to point to real operators or customers who are prepared to integrate and use the technology over the long term, and who agree to open data sharing. The program also requires planning and ownership for the transition process itself. Applicants are expected to name a Transition Manager, and a formal Transition Plan is required as a Year One deliverable, signaling that NOAA wants proposals to lay out a concrete route from prototype or limited demonstration to validated, supported operations.
The types of activities NOAA intends to fund are the practical steps that commonly slow down or derail technology adoption after research milestones have been achieved. The announcement highlights system integration, testing, validation, and verification as examples of the work it wants to support. This points to proposals that can show readiness and realism: integrating with existing observing networks, proving performance under operational conditions, confirming data quality and reliability, and demonstrating that the technology can be maintained, supported, and used routinely rather than only in a research setting.
There are also notable limitations. This funding is not meant to extend or continue projects that were previously supported through the Ocean Technology Transition Program (the notice repeats this restriction). That means applicants should be prepared to show that the proposed effort is not simply a continuation of a prior OTT-funded award, even if it builds on related concepts. The emphasis is on advancing sufficiently mature technologies into sustained operations, not maintaining momentum on already-funded transition work.
Funding is planned across FY 2026 through FY 2029, with NOAA estimating up to $7.5 million available for the competition over that period, subject to appropriations and availability. NOAA anticipates making multiple awards, with an award ceiling of up to $400,000 per year for up to three years per project. The opportunity lists an expected number of awards of about six, though final numbers depend on funding and proposal quality. A notable feature is that proposals not selected in FY 2026 may still be considered in FY 2027 without NOAA rerunning the full competitive process described in the announcement, which can matter for applicants planning resubmissions or updates.
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies NOAA expects an active level of involvement during the project (for example, coordination on milestones, transition planning, integration with IOOS practices, or alignment with open data expectations). The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under CFDA 11.012. The agency is the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, with the IOOS Office identified in the materials.
Eligibility is broad and includes industry, colleges and universities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments. Federal agencies or federal institutions, as well as foreign governments, cannot serve as the primary recipient, but they are encouraged to partner when appropriate. If partners will receive funds, the lead awardee is expected to pass funding through subawards, subcontracts, or similar arrangements; if the partner is a NOAA office or laboratory, the IOOS Office would handle the transfer internally. This structure encourages collaboration while keeping the prime recipient within eligible non-federal or non-foreign entities.
The application deadline listed is July 15, 2026. The opportunity number is NOAA NOS IOOS 2026 32698, and the funding opportunity title is FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program. Overall, the program is best understood as a bridge fund for ocean and Great Lakes observing technologies that are past the discovery phase and now need the engineering, validation, integration, and customer/operator commitments required to become dependable, openly shared, long-term capabilities within the broader observing ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program (NOAA IOOS)
What is the FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition (OTT) Program?
The FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program is a NOAA-led funding opportunity run through the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). It is designed to speed up the move from late-stage research into real-world, sustained operations or commercialization for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing technologies.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to shorten the timeline from "research to operations/commercialization." The program focuses on practical transition work that helps mature technologies clear the final hurdles needed for dependable, long-term deployment, routine use, and/or commercialization.
Is this program intended for early-stage research and development?
No. The announcement emphasizes that the OTT effort is not designed to fund early invention or basic R&D. It targets technologies that are already fairly mature and need integration, testing, validation, and operational readiness work to become sustained capabilities.
What types of technologies are included under this program?
The opportunity defines "technologies" broadly. Examples include ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes sensors; information technology such as data management and data visualization and related software; platform enhancements; and modernization efforts that improve reliability, efficiency, interoperability, or usability.
What kinds of activities does NOAA expect to fund?
NOAA intends to fund practical transition steps that commonly slow down adoption after research milestones are achieved. The announcement highlights system integration, testing, validation, and verification, particularly work that proves performance under operational conditions and supports routine, dependable use rather than research-only demonstrations.
What does "near-to-operations" mean in this context?
It refers to investments that are close to being operational and are aimed at improving how environmental conditions are monitored and forecast. The focus is on practical upgrades such as smarter sensors, better data systems, improved platforms, and modernized workflows that can transition into sustained use.
What expectations are there around demand and adoption?
Projects are expected to show clear, demonstrated demand and a credible path to adoption. Applicants should be able to identify real operators or customers prepared to integrate and use the technology over the long term, and who agree to open data sharing.
Does the program require open data sharing?
Yes. A key expectation described in the opportunity is that operators or customers prepared to adopt the technology agree to open data sharing.
What is a Transition Manager, and is one required?
Applicants are expected to name a Transition Manager. This role is tied to planning and ownership of the transition process from prototype or limited demonstration to validated, supported operations and long-term use.
Is a Transition Plan required?
Yes. A formal Transition Plan is required as a Year One deliverable. The intent is for proposals to present a concrete, realistic route to operational validation, sustained support, and adoption.
Can OTT funding be used to continue a previously OTT-funded project?
No. The announcement explicitly states that this funding is not meant to extend or continue projects previously supported through the Ocean Technology Transition Program. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate the proposed effort is not simply a continuation of a prior OTT award.
What geographic areas and environments are in scope for supported technologies?
The program is aimed at ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing technologies and related systems that support environmental monitoring and forecasting.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
NOAA estimates up to $7.5 million may be available for the competition across FY 2026 through FY 2029, subject to appropriations and availability.
What is the maximum award size?
The award ceiling is up to $400,000 per year for up to three years per project.
How many awards does NOAA expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expected number of awards of about six, though the final number depends on available funding and proposal quality.
What is the project period supported by this opportunity?
Individual projects may be funded for up to three years, with the broader program planning funding across FY 2026 through FY 2029 (subject to appropriations and availability).
What is the funding mechanism for awards?
Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements. This typically implies NOAA will have an active level of involvement during the project, such as coordination on milestones, transition planning, integration with IOOS practices, and alignment with open data expectations.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The agency is the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The IOOS Office is identified in the opportunity materials.
What is IOOS, and how does it relate to this program?
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a national and regional partnership that supports the collection and delivery of observations, data, tools, and forecasts. The OTT Program is run through IOOS and supports technology transitions that strengthen environmental monitoring and forecasting in the observing ecosystem.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.012.
Who is eligible to apply as the primary recipient?
Eligibility is broad and includes industry, colleges and universities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments.
Are federal agencies eligible to be the primary recipient?
No. Federal agencies or federal institutions cannot serve as the primary recipient, but they are encouraged to partner when appropriate.
Are foreign governments eligible to be the primary recipient?
No. Foreign governments cannot serve as the primary recipient under this opportunity.
Can federal entities or NOAA labs participate in projects at all?
Yes. While federal agencies and federal institutions cannot be the primary recipient, they are encouraged to partner when appropriate. If a partner is a NOAA office or laboratory, the IOOS Office would handle the transfer internally, as described in the opportunity.
How should funds be shared with project partners?
If partners will receive funds, the lead awardee is expected to pass funding through subawards, subcontracts, or similar arrangements. The opportunity also notes a different internal transfer approach if the partner is a NOAA office or laboratory.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is July 15, 2026.
What is the funding opportunity number and title?
The opportunity number is NOAA NOS IOOS 2026 32698, and the funding opportunity title is FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program.
If a proposal is not selected in FY 2026, can it still be considered later?
Yes. The opportunity notes that proposals not selected in FY 2026 may still be considered in FY 2027 without NOAA rerunning the full competitive process described in the announcement.
How does this program relate to other NOAA support for earlier-stage technology development?
The announcement indicates that earlier-stage development work is expected to be supported through other avenues, and it points to NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators as an example. This OTT competition concentrates specifically on the transition phase into operations or commercialization.
What kinds of outcomes is NOAA looking for from funded projects?
The program is aimed at getting technology-based solutions into validated, supported use. That includes demonstrating operational performance, data quality and reliability, integration with existing observing networks, and evidence that the technology can be maintained and used routinely with open data sharing.
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