NOAA Offers to Match Your Ocean-Mapping Dollars
Published Date: 6/3/2026
Notice
Summary
NOAA is teaming up with non-Federal groups to map oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes by matching their funds for cool mapping projects. If you’re interested, get ready to apply by October 16, 2026, and join info sessions in August and September. This is a great chance to share costs, get expert help, and make waves in mapping with money moving in 2027 and work kicking off in 2028!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
NOAA will match most project costs
NOAA may match selected non-Federal partners for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes mapping projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2028. Subject to funding availability, NOAA will match up to 70 percent of a project's total cost, the partner must provide at least 30 percent, NOAA anticipates funding between two and five projects, and expects total cost up to $1,000,000 per project.
Who can apply and match rules
This opportunity is open to non-Federal entities including State and local governments, Tribal entities, universities and researchers, the private sector, NGOs, and philanthropic partners. Proposals must show the partner can provide at least 30 percent of project funds; in‑kind contributions do not count toward the required match, and use of other Federal agency funds for the match will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
NOAA will lead project execution and services
Selected partners will have NOAA lead project execution through NOAA's contracting vehicles; NOAA will manage survey planning, procure qualified survey contractors, perform data processing and quality assessment, and handle data stewardship and archival at the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Mapping data will be publicly accessible
All ocean and coastal data and related products from the Brennan Ocean Mapping Fund program will be made available to the public to the greatest extent allowed by law, with NOAA submitting data to the National Centers for Environmental Information for archiving and public access.
Application deadlines and format rules
Statements of interest or full proposals are due Friday, October 16, 2026, by 5 p.m. Eastern Time; an informational webinar is scheduled for August 13, 2026 (register by August 12, 2026) and virtual office hours on September 8, 2026 (register by September 3, 2026). Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF by the deadline, be no more than six pages, include specified content (executive summary, justification/need, and a budget confirming funds transfer capability before October 1, 2027), and follow formatting (12‑point Times New Roman, single spacing, 1‑inch margins) or they will be returned without review.
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