FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program Grant Opportunity
Summary
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is seeking applications for its FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program. The program aims to fund projects that transition ocean observing technologies from research to operational status, with up to $7.5 million available over three years.
What changed
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), under the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has released a Grant Opportunity for its FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program (OTT). This program seeks to fund projects that accelerate the transition of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing technologies, data management, and decision support products from research phases to operational or commercial use. The initiative targets technologies that are mature enough for long-term operations and requires applicants to demonstrate committed operators or customers and a clear transition plan. Funding is available for system integration, testing, validation, and verification activities.
Eligible applicants include industry, institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and state, local, and tribal governments. Federal agencies and foreign governments may partner but cannot be primary recipients. Up to $7.5 million is estimated to be available for multiple awards, with individual awards capped at $400,000 per year for up to three years. Proposals not funded in FY 2026 may be considered for FY 2027 funding without a new competitive process. The application deadline is not specified in this document, but interested parties should review the full announcement on Grants.gov for detailed requirements and submission instructions.
What to do next
- Review the FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program Grant Opportunity details on Grants.gov.
- Assess organizational capabilities and potential partnerships for transitioning ocean observing technologies.
- Develop and submit a proposal outlining technology maturity, operational transition plans, and customer commitments.
Source document (simplified)
FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program
Agency: DOC NOAA - ERA Production
Assistance Listings: 11.012 -- Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
Last Updated: March 12, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov
Description
Request for Applications Description: The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) is a national and regional partnership working to provide ocean, coastal and Great Lakes observations, data, tools, and forecasts to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect our environment. To increase observational and technical capabilities we need smart investments to innovate sensors, data management, decision support products, and other technical capabilities that will improve our ability to monitor and forecast environmental conditions with greater efficiency. The primary objective of IOOS’ Ocean Technology Transition Project (OTT) is to reduce the Research to Operations/Commercialization transition period for ocean observing, product development, and data management technologies for the ocean, coastal and Great Lakes. The term ‘Technologies’ includes: ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes sensors, information technology (data management, data visualization), platform enhancement, and technology modernization efforts.
This objective is accomplished by investing in the transition of emerging and promising marine and Great Lakes observing technological capabilities from the mid to latter phases of research into operational status. Earlier technical development is supported by programs such as the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators [https://ioos.noaa.gov/ioos-in-action/accelerators/].
The U.S. IOOS Office is seeking to fund projects, subject to the availability of funds, which advance new or existing technology-based solutions that address long standing and emerging coastal observing, product development, and data management challenges. The projects will be focused on those technologies for which there are demonstrated operators or customers who commit to integrated, long term use of those technologies and open data sharing. A Transition Manager for the project should be identified and a Transition Plan will be a Year One deliverable.
Funding will be targeted to technologies that are sufficiently mature for long term operations. This announcement specifically funds activities needed to progress these technologies through the transitional stages between research and full operations such as system integration, testing, validation, and verification. Funding will not be awarded to continue projects previously funded through the Ocean Technology Transition Program.
In FY 2026-2029, it is estimated that up to $7.5 million will be available from the U.S. IOOS Office for this competition. Multiple awards are anticipated, subject to availability of funds, in amounts up to $400,000 per year for up to three years. Proposals not funded in the current fiscal period (Fiscal Year 2026) may be considered for funding in the next fiscal period (Fiscal Year 2027) without NOAA repeating the competitive process outlined in this announcement.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Miscellaneous
- Other
Additional information
Eligible funding applicants for this competition are industry, institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and State, local and tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions and foreign governments may not be the primary recipient of awards under this announcement, but they are encouraged to partner with applicants when appropriate.
If an applicant has a partner(s) who would receive funds, the lead grantee will be expected to use subcontracts or other appropriate mechanisms to provide funds to the partner(s). If a partner is a NOAA office or laboratory, the IOOS office will transfer funds internally.
Funding will not be awarded to continue projects previously funded through the Ocean Technology Program.
Grantor contact information
Description
For questions regarding this announcement, contact: Jennifer Hinden, U.S. IOOS
Work
Documents
Download all
| File name | Description | Last updated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FoaContentofNOAA-NOS-IOOS-2026-326982_a.pdf | Full Announcement | Mar 12, 2026 10:01 PM UTC |
Link to additional information
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Closing: July 15, 2026
Application process
This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov
Award
$7,500,000
Program Funding
6
Expected awards
$1
Award Minimum
$400,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
NOAA-NOS-IOOS-2026-32698
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
No Funding instrument type:
Cooperative agreement
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
-- Category of Funding Activity:
Environment
Natural resources
Science technology and other research and development
Category Explanation:
--
History
Version:
1
Posted date:
March 12, 2026
Archive date:
August 14, 2026
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