Prevention, Control, and Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms Program | Apply Online

PCMHAB (NOAA NCCOS) Grant Opportunity: Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the PCMHAB Program?

The Prevention, Control, and Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms (PCMHAB) Program is a competitive NOAA funding opportunity administered through the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program. It supports work focused on harmful algal blooms (HABs), specifically projects that can help prevent blooms, control blooms after they occur, or reduce the harms they cause.

2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The core aim is to move beyond basic HAB research and fund projects that develop, rigorously test, and transition practical technologies and strategies. NOAA is emphasizing real-world readiness, including evidence about whether an approach works, how well it performs, what risks or tradeoffs it carries, and what responsible deployment would require.

3) What types of impacts is NOAA trying to address?

This opportunity targets approaches that reduce HAB-related damages to ecosystems, public health, fisheries, and coastal economies.

4) Is this opportunity focused on basic research or applied testing?

This solicitation is focused on applied work and comprehensive testing. The emphasis is on generating strong evidence from well-designed testing that supports eventual deployment or broader adoption, rather than purely conceptual or early-stage basic research.

5) What are the priority areas for this particular announcement?

NOAA is prioritizing projects that conduct comprehensive testing of HAB control technologies within one of two focal areas: Focal Area 1 (promising technologies needing feasibility testing) and Focal Area 2 (proven or transferable technologies needing large-scale or operational-scale validation).

6) What is Focal Area 1?

Focal Area 1 targets promising HAB control technologies that still need additional testing to demonstrate feasibility. These are approaches that appear potentially effective but require careful, structured evaluation to show they can work reliably and safely under relevant conditions.

7) What is Focal Area 2?

Focal Area 2 focuses on technologies that are already considered proven but still need large-scale field testing to validate performance at operational scales. It also includes technologies approved for related problems (for example, freshwater HABs or oil spill response) that might be transferable to marine HAB control.

8) What does NOAA mean by "comprehensive testing" and "real-world readiness"?

Based on the solicitation description, NOAA is looking for rigorous testing that produces evidence about effectiveness, performance, risks, and tradeoffs, along with what it would take to deploy the approach responsibly. The goal is to determine whether a control approach truly works and how it might be transitioned toward use in real-world settings.

9) How much funding does NOAA expect to make available?

Funding depends on federal appropriations, but NOAA anticipates about $2.5 million will be available to support the first year of approximately three to five projects.

10) How many awards does NOAA expect to make?

NOAA anticipates funding roughly three to five projects in the first year, depending on appropriations and final selections.

11) What is the maximum budget for Focal Area 1?

For Focal Area 1, applicants may request up to $500,000 per year for up to three years.

12) What is the maximum budget for Focal Area 2?

For Focal Area 2, applicants may request up to $1,000,000 per year for up to five years.

13) Are the annual budget caps flexible?

No. NOAA notes it may reject proposals that exceed the annual cap for the relevant focal area in any project year. The stated limits function as firm ceilings rather than flexible guidelines.

14) What is the maximum project length under each focal area?

Focal Area 1 projects may be funded for up to three years. Focal Area 2 projects may be funded for up to five years.

15) What type of award will be made?

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement.

16) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates NOAA expects to have substantial involvement during the period of performance. The opportunity description notes this could include coordination, technical input, or oversight consistent with the cooperative agreement model.

17) Who is eligible to apply?

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

18) Can federal entities apply?

Yes. Federal applicants (including NOAA) may apply as long as there is legal authority for the federal entity to receive funds from another agency.

19) Does the principal investigator (PI) need to be employed by the applicant organization?

Yes. The PI must be an employee of an eligible entity, and the application must be submitted through that organization.

20) Can foreign researchers apply directly?

No. Foreign researchers are not eligible to apply directly under this opportunity.

21) Can foreign researchers participate in a funded project at all?

Yes. Foreign researchers may participate through subawards or contracts issued by an eligible U.S. applicant.

22) Can federal agency researchers be included as collaborators?

Yes. Federal agency researchers may be included as collaborators, either funded or unfunded.

23) If federal collaborators are funded, how should their budget be presented?

If federal agency researchers are funded, the proposal should present their funding request with the same level of documentation used for subrecipients for review purposes. The solicitation notes the actual mechanism is generally an intra- or inter-agency transfer if selected.

24) Can NOAA NCCOS researchers serve as the lead PI?

No. NOAA NCCOS researchers may participate as collaborators through an eligible U.S. entity but cannot serve as the lead PI.

25) Can NOAA federal salaries be paid under these awards?

No. The opportunity description states NOAA federal salaries will not be paid under these awards.

26) Can federal employees outside NCCOS serve as lead PI?

Yes. Federal employees outside NCCOS may serve as lead PI, consistent with applicable authorities.

27) When is the informational webinar?

An informational webinar is scheduled for March 26, 2026, from 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

28) Where will webinar details and materials be posted?

Details and supporting materials are hosted on the NCCOS PCMHAB webpage.

29) What is the application deadline?

The closing date for this opportunity is May 14, 2026.

30) What agency is offering this funding?

This is a Department of Commerce discretionary funding opportunity offered by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), run through NCCOS (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science) under the Competitive Research Program.

31) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is NOAA NOS NCCOS 2026 33016.

32) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity falls under CFDA 11.478.

33) What award ceiling is listed for this opportunity?

The listing includes an award ceiling of $1,000,000, which aligns with the annual cap described for Focal Area 2.

34) Is funding guaranteed?

No. The opportunity notes that funding is dependent on federal appropriations.

35) What is NOAA looking for in terms of outcomes?

NOAA is looking for strong evidence from well-designed testing that supports eventual deployment or broader adoption of HAB control technologies and strategies, including clear understanding of performance and potential risks or tradeoffs.