The Climate Program Office (CPO) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced the Fiscal Year 2025 Climate Variability and Predictability (CVP) Program competition titled "Tropical Pacific Observing System Equatorial Pacific Experiment-Central (TEPEX-C) Field Campaign." This funding opportunity supports research aimed at enhancing the understanding of climate variability in the Tropical Pacific region to improve climate models, predictions, and processes. CPO’s mission includes providing actionable climate science to address societal challenges, supporting assessments such as the National Climate Assessment, and fostering climate adaptation, resilience, and mitigation efforts.

The program anticipates awarding a total of $3,000,000 for this competition. Projects are expected to last up to three years, with individual awards ranging from $525,000 to $750,000, though other amounts may be considered with justification. Awards will depend on Congressional appropriations and facility request schedules. The primary funding instrument is a grant; however, NOAA may issue a cooperative agreement for projects requiring significant NOAA involvement. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with NOAA scientists, OAR Laboratories, and Cooperative Institutes to strengthen their proposals.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-profits, commercial organizations, international organizations, and state, local, or federally recognized tribal governments. Federal agencies are not eligible for direct funding under this competition. There is no cost-share or matching requirement for this funding opportunity. All projects must align with the TEPEX-C objectives, contributing to an improved observational framework and understanding of equatorial Pacific processes and their role in global climate systems.

The application process involves two steps. Applicants are encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by October 1, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. While not mandatory, the LOI allows NOAA to provide feedback on the relevance of proposed projects. Full applications are due by January 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time through Grants.gov. Each application must include required federal forms, a project narrative, an abstract, a data-sharing plan, a statement of diversity and inclusion, and a detailed budget with justification. Applications involving co-applicants or sub-awardees must ensure consistent documentation across all submissions.

Proposals will undergo a rigorous two-stage review process. Stage one evaluates technical merit, applicant qualifications, and budget appropriateness, while stage two focuses on the project's importance, relevance, and applicability to NOAA's program goals. Final scores from both stages will determine proposal rankings. NOAA reserves the right to select proposals out of rank order based on factors such as geographic distribution, research priorities, and the balance of funds.

Successful applicants will be notified by the NOAA Grants Officer. Projects are expected to begin in September 2025, contingent upon funding availability. Award recipients must comply with NOAA's administrative and reporting requirements, including semi-annual performance and financial reports. Additionally, proposals must address data management and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility considerations. Further details, including program contacts and submission instructions, can be found on the NOAA Climate Program Office website.