The Climate Program Office FY2025 Climate Variability and Predictability Program TEPEX-C Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is issued by NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. This funding opportunity invites proposals that contribute to advancing scientific understanding of climate variability and predictability, particularly through the Tropical Pacific Observing System Equatorial Pacific Experiment-Central Field Campaign. The program is part of NOAA’s broader mission to improve climate models, provide actionable climate science, and address critical societal challenges related to climate change.

A total of 3,000,000 dollars is anticipated for this competition, with individual three-year awards ranging between 525,000 dollars and 750,000 dollars, depending on project scope and justification. Funding may extend into Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 depending on appropriations. Proposed projects must align with NOAA's climate research goals and focus on enhancing the process-level understanding of the equatorial Pacific climate system. This research supports improved observations, modeling, and analysis of climate variability, with an emphasis on strengthening NOAA's capacity to anticipate and address climate-driven challenges.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, commercial entities, international organizations, and state, local, or federally recognized tribal governments. Federal agencies are not eligible for funding under this NOFO. Cost sharing or matching is not required. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, and organizations must maintain an active registration in SAM.gov and provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier. Letters of Intent are strongly encouraged but not mandatory and must be submitted by October 1, 2024, with full proposals due by January 17, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Applicants must adhere to specific guidelines when preparing proposals, including a project narrative of up to 25 pages for multi-investigator projects, an abstract, data or information sharing plan, and a statement of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Budgets must be detailed and realistic, reflecting all direct and indirect costs. Projects should emphasize collaborative research approaches, including partnerships with NOAA laboratories and Cooperative Institutes, where applicable.

Applications will be evaluated through a two-stage peer review process based on four primary criteria: technical and scientific merit, overall qualifications of applicants, relevance to program goals, and budget justification. NOAA places a strong emphasis on outreach, education, and broader societal impacts, including promoting diversity and accessibility in climate research.

Successful applicants will receive official notification of awards during spring 2025, with anticipated project start dates around September 1, 2025. Recipients are required to comply with all reporting requirements, including semi-annual financial and technical reports. Data collected or created under NOAA grants must be made publicly accessible in accordance with NOAA’s data sharing policies. Additional compliance measures, including adherence to anti-harassment policies and scientific integrity standards, will be enforced throughout the performance period.

For further questions, applicants can contact NOAA representatives listed in the NOFO or refer to the Climate Program Office website. Detailed information, including program priorities and application guidelines, can be accessed through Grants.gov.