NOAA Offers Millions to Help Map America’s Waters
Published Date: 6/17/2025
Notice
Summary
NOAA is teaming up with non-Federal groups to map oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes by sharing project costs—NOAA covers 70%, partners cover 30%, up to $1 million per project. If you’re interested, join the August webinar, submit your proposal by October 10, 2025, and get ready to dive into mapping work starting in 2027. This is a cool chance to get funding and expert help for ocean and coastal mapping projects!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
NOAA will match most project costs
If you are a non-Federal partner, NOAA will provide up to 70% of total project costs and you must provide at least 30% of the funds. NOAA anticipates funding between two and five projects and generally limits total project costs to up to $1,000,000 per project (NOAA would provide up to $700,000 on a $1,000,000 project).
Who can apply and match fund rules
This opportunity is open to non-Federal entities such as State and local governments, Tribal entities, universities, researchers, the private sector, NGOs, and philanthropic partners. Proposals must show the partner can provide at least 30% of project costs; coalitions can combine funds, other Federal agency funds will be considered case-by-case and only as authorized by law, and in-kind contributions do not count toward the required match.
Strict proposal format and eligibility rules
Proposals must be submitted by email in PDF by October 10, 2025, must not exceed six pages, and must include specified components (title/summary/partners; justification and survey description; budget confirming partner funds can be transferred before October 1, 2026). Proposals that fail to meet formatting or content rules will be returned without review and not considered.
NOAA provides contracting and data services
Selected partners receive NOAA support for survey contracting, project management, data processing and quality assessment, and data archiving at the National Centers for Environmental Information. All project data and related products will be made available to the public to the greatest extent allowed by law.
Key application and project deadlines
Important dates: informational webinar on August 14, 2025; virtual office hours on September 19, 2025; proposals due October 10, 2025 by 5 p.m. ET; NOAA plans decisions in December 2025 and draft agreements by end of January 2026. Partner matching funds must be transferred to NOAA between June and September 2026 and received before October 1, 2026, and task orders will be issued January–September 2027.
How proposals are scored
Proposals are evaluated and ranked using point-weighted criteria: project justification (30 points), statement of need (10 points), specified partner match (20 points), project costs (15 points), and project feasibility and flexibility (25 points). The program team may contact proposers during review to ask questions and provide feedback.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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