The FY 2024–2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is a federal funding opportunity designed to support special projects, innovative research, education, and outreach programs aligned with NOAA Fisheries' mission and strategic goals. This opportunity encourages submission of proposals for activities that are not addressed through NOAA Fisheries' existing competitive discretionary programs. Funding is contingent on availability and has not yet been appropriated. Applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis until September 30, 2026.

The purpose of this BAA is to fund initiatives that address key NOAA Fisheries strategic goals, including sustainable fisheries management, recovery of protected species, and enhancing marine and coastal ecosystems. Strategic priorities are outlined in the NOAA Fisheries 2022–2025 Strategic Plan. These include managing fish stocks for optimal yield, mitigating habitat changes, advancing fishery management science, combating illegal fishing, recovering endangered marine species, utilizing innovative technologies, and protecting critical habitats.

This BAA provides funding through either grants or cooperative agreements, depending on NOAA's level of involvement in the proposed project. While there is no predetermined amount of funding, awards are expected to start between three to six months after receipt of the application, generally for one year, with start and end dates falling on the first and last days of a month, respectively. Matching funds are not required unless specifically mandated under the statutory authority used to fund the project.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, individuals, and state, local, and tribal governments. Federal entities are excluded unless through interagency agreements. The BAA outlines detailed application submission requirements, including a project description, signed forms, budget narrative, resumes for key personnel, and, where applicable, a data management plan and indirect cost documentation. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the relevance and importance of the proposed work, scientific and technical merit, qualifications, budget appropriateness, and education and outreach efforts. Reviewers will use a 100-point scale to assess proposals based on these criteria. Awards are anticipated to be announced within six months of application submission. Due to fiscal year timelines, applicants are advised to submit by March 31 of each fiscal year to ensure award processing within that year.

The main point of contact for this opportunity is Jeffrey Kulnis, reachable at jeffrey.kulnis@noaa.gov or (301) 427-8771. Applications must comply with federal requirements, including those under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Uniform Administrative Requirements, and data sharing mandates. Reporting requirements include semi-annual performance and financial reports. Additionally, awardees must comply with NOAA’s standards on harassment prevention, scientific integrity, and use of American-made materials for infrastructure projects.