Harmful Algal Bloom Innovation Challenge: Toxin Detection in Seafood | Apply Online

Harmful Algal Bloom Innovation Challenge: Toxin Detection in Seafood (NOAA) - FAQs

1) What is the Harmful Algal Bloom Innovation Challenge: Toxin Detection in Seafood?

It is a competitive NOAA grant opportunity run through the National Ocean Service (NOS) and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program. The challenge is designed to spur practical, cost-effective innovations that improve how harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins are detected in seafood.

2) What is NOAA trying to achieve with this funding opportunity?

The core goal is to move new toxin detection ideas toward real-world tools that protect seafood safety and public health, strengthen food security, and support the economic stability and global competitiveness of U.S. seafood industries and coastal communities. A major emphasis is reducing the financial and operational burden of ensuring seafood is safe, especially for communities and industries that depend on reliable harvesting, processing, and market access.

3) What types of projects are most aligned with this solicitation?

Projects focused on developing and advancing innovative, practical toxin detection approaches that can be deployed efficiently, run effectively, and produce results credible enough to inform decisions affecting consumer safety, closures, and industry operations. The solicitation emphasizes solutions that translate into usable tools in operational settings.

4) What does "point-of-use toxin detection technologies" mean in this opportunity?

"Point-of-use" refers to methods or devices that can be used close to where decisions are made, rather than requiring distant lab testing. Examples of settings mentioned include harvest sites, docks, aquaculture facilities, processing plants, and other operational environments where rapid screening could prevent unsafe products from entering the supply chain.

5) Where should the proposed detection technology be usable?

The opportunity emphasizes operational settings such as harvest sites, docks, aquaculture facilities, processing plants, and similar locations where quick, practical screening supports real-time decisions about seafood safety and market access.

6) Does the provided announcement specify which HAB toxins must be targeted?

The text provided does not list specific toxin targets. It frames the scope broadly as HAB-related toxins that contaminate seafood and create risks for consumers and disruptions for fisheries and aquaculture.

7) What type of award will NOAA make?

Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements. This typically indicates NOAA anticipates substantial involvement in the funded work (such as coordination, technical input, or collaboration), rather than a fully hands-off grant relationship.

8) How many projects does NOAA expect to fund?

NOAA anticipates supporting roughly two to five projects, contingent on federal appropriations.

9) What is the expected project period (duration)?

Projects can run from one to three years.

10) What is the expected funding level per project?

Budgets are expected to fall in the range of about $100,000 to $250,000 per year.

11) Is there an annual funding cap?

Yes. There is a strict cap of $250,000 in any single year.

12) Is there a total project funding cap?

Yes. The total project cap is $750,000 across all years.

13) What happens if an application requests more than $250,000 in any year?

Applications proposing more than $250,000 in any year may be rejected. Workplans, milestones, and budgets should be structured to stay within the annual ceiling.

14) Is funding guaranteed?

Funding is contingent on federal appropriations.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. institutions of higher education, non-profits, state and local governments, tribal government entities, U.S. territories, U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands institutions, and for-profit organizations.

16) Can federal entities apply?

Federal applicants (including NOAA) may also apply if they have legal authority to receive funds from another agency, with important role constraints and administrative requirements described in the opportunity.

17) Who can serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?

Principal Investigators must be employees of an eligible applicant organization. Proposals must be submitted through the eligible organization, not by an individual researcher.

18) Can an individual researcher apply directly?

No. The proposal must be submitted by an eligible organization, and the PI must be an employee of that organization.

19) Can foreign researchers apply?

Foreign researchers are not eligible to apply directly. They may participate through subawards or contracts under an eligible U.S. organization.

20) Can federal agency researchers be included as collaborators?

Yes. Applicants may include federal agency researchers as collaborators, either funded or unfunded.

21) If federal collaborators are funded, how should their support be handled in the application?

If federal collaborators are funded, their requested support should be documented in the application similarly to a subrecipient for review purposes, even if the actual transfer (if selected) is handled through intra- or inter-agency mechanisms.

22) Can NOAA NCCOS researchers participate?

NOAA NCCOS researchers can participate as collaborators through an eligible U.S. entity, but they cannot serve as the lead PI.

23) Can NOAA staff outside NCCOS serve as lead PI?

Other federal employees, including NOAA staff outside NCCOS, may serve as lead PI, but NOAA federal salaries will not be paid under the award.

24) What is the NOAA funding opportunity number for this solicitation?

NOAA NOS NCCOS 2026 32955.

25) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

CFDA 11.478.

26) When is the application due?

The original closing date for applications is May 14, 2026.

27) Is there an informational webinar for applicants?

Yes. An informational webinar is scheduled for March 24, 2026, from 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

28) Where can applicants find webinar details and additional background?

Additional details and background are posted on the NCCOS Funding Opportunities webpage.

29) What is the listed award ceiling?

The listed award ceiling in the source data is $250,000, which aligns with the annual cap described in the narrative.

30) What funding category does this opportunity fall under?

It is categorized as discretionary funding supporting environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development activities.