The National Weather Service Program Office (NWSPO), a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced the FY 2024–2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) under funding opportunity number NOAA-NWS-2024-28059. This initiative supports special projects and programs aligned with NWS's strategic mission, including weather, water, and climate data, forecasts, and warnings. Each NOAA Line Office has its own BAA, and applicants must choose the one that best fits their project. This funding opportunity does not support previously funded NWS projects and is not for procurement of goods or services.

The BAA serves to stimulate innovative research, education, outreach, and sponsorship activities that enhance NOAA’s objectives, including adaptively managing fisheries, safeguarding protected marine species, and strengthening organizational diversity, equity, inclusion, and mission performance. Projects must align with one or more of NOAA’s strategic goals: promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, protecting endangered marine species, and building a diverse, equitable workforce. Specific priorities include combating illegal fishing, assessing climate change impacts on marine life, expanding habitat conservation efforts, and applying advanced technologies to marine research.

The opportunity is open to a broad array of applicants, including institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial and international organizations, individuals, and government entities at the state, local, and Tribal levels. Federal organizations are not eligible unless pursuing an interagency agreement with NOAA. There is no required cost share unless the statutory authority for the specific project mandates it. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, referencing the Notice of Funding Opportunity number NOAA-NWS-2024-28059.

Applications must include a completed and signed SF-424, project synopsis and description, budget and justification, resumes of key personnel, and other standard forms. The project description should not exceed 15 pages, and the total application package must meet specific formatting and documentation requirements. Additional requirements may include an environmental compliance review (NEPA), a data management plan, and documentation of indirect cost rates if applicable.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through 11:59:59 PM EDT on September 30, 2026, and funding decisions are typically made within three to six months of submission. Proposals submitted after March 31, 2025, may not be awarded in fiscal year 2025, and those submitted after March 31, 2026, may not be awarded in fiscal year 2026. Funding is contingent upon congressional appropriations, and publication of this announcement does not guarantee funding for any specific project.

Evaluation of applications is based on five main criteria: relevance to NOAA mission goals, technical and scientific merit, applicant qualifications, cost realism, and education and outreach strategy. Each application will be reviewed individually, not comparatively, and may be considered for funding in subsequent years if not awarded in the current fiscal year. The primary contact for this opportunity is Jennifer Peisach, who can be reached at Jennifer.Peisach@noaa.gov.