The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced the funding opportunity titled 2024 Carryover Earmark - NESDIS under the Department of Commerce. This grant is specifically intended for the University of Southern Mississippi, as stated in the eligibility requirements. The funding instrument for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which typically involves substantial involvement between the federal awarding agency and the recipient in carrying out the project. The grant falls under the category of community development, aligning with NOAA's mission of understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, as well as conserving and managing marine ecosystems.

The primary purpose of this grant is to establish a Data Assembly Hub for Uncrewed Systems. This initiative should align with NOAA's goals of supporting the understanding of environmental changes, sharing relevant information, and fostering the conservation and management of coastal and marine resources. The project is expected to contribute to NOAA’s broader mission by advancing the use of uncrewed systems in data collection and analysis, which can significantly improve monitoring and predictive capabilities for climate and oceanic changes.

The estimated award ceiling for this funding opportunity is $5,000,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, and the grant does not specify an award floor. While the exact number of awards expected is not provided, it is clear that this funding is tailored for the University of Southern Mississippi. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to begin necessary registrations early, as completing registrations with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons can take six weeks or longer.

Eligible applicants must complete registrations in multiple federal systems, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov. Once the UEI is obtained, applicants can proceed with concurrent registrations on Grants.gov and eRA Commons. Detailed instructions for these processes are available in Section IV(G) of the full funding announcement. Individuals who lack internet access are instructed to contact the agency's Federal Program Officer for submission guidance.

The submission deadline for applications is February 28, 2025, with the opportunity having been posted on December 16, 2024. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by this closing date. The agency has set an archive date for March 30, 2025, marking the period when the opportunity will no longer be available for review.

For further information or assistance, applicants can contact Nikonda Surrett, the Federal Program Officer, at 828-271-4200. The grant provides a significant opportunity for the University of Southern Mississippi to advance its role in environmental monitoring and research through uncrewed systems while supporting NOAA’s critical mission areas.