NOAA Fisheries Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) FY 2024–2026
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Up to $1.6M est. total
NOAA fisheries research & outreach BAA
Rolling BAA from NOAA Fisheries for research, education, outreach, and innovative projects aligned with NMFS's strategic mission. Covers fisheries science, marine ecosystems, sustainable aquaculture, protected species, and coastal resilience. For-profit organizations including small businesses are explicitly eligible. Awards take the form of grants or cooperative agreements depending on the degree of NOAA involvement.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $1,600,000
- Realistic amount
- Typical individual awards under NOAA BAAs range from $50,000–$500,000 depending on project scope and available appropria…
- Deadline
- Rolling — BAA open through September 30, 2026 (11:59 PM EDT)
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Organization or individual capable of executing a research, education, outreach, or innovative project aligned with NOAA Fisheries strategic plan and mission goals
- Eligible entity types: institutions of higher education, nonprofits (501(c)(3) and other), commercial/for-profit organizations, state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, individuals, and international organizations
- Proposed project must tie to one of the NOAA Fisheries mission goal areas described in Section I.B. of the full announcement
- Active SAM.gov registration with a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) required prior to award
- No specific revenue, employee count, or age minimums — project merit determines eligibility
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Personnel salaries and fringe benefits for researchers, scientists, and project staff
- Field research equipment and instrumentation
- Laboratory supplies and materials
- Data collection, processing, and analysis costs
- Travel to research sites, conferences, or partner institutions
- Subcontracts to qualified partners (universities, research organizations)
- Outreach and education materials and activities
- Indirect/overhead costs at your organization's negotiated rate
Ineligible expenses
- Construction or renovation of facilities
- Projects with no clear alignment to NOAA Fisheries mission goals
- Commercial fishing operations or purely commercial activities
- Projects previously funded under another NOAA competitive discretionary program for the same scope
- Entertainment, lobbying, or advocacy activities
- International activities that are the primary purpose (international orgs allowed as partners)
How to apply
-
1
Review BAA and mission alignment
Download the full BAA document from Grants.gov (NOAA-NMFS-FHQ-2024-27611) and identify which NMFS mission goal area your project addresses. Review Section I.B. for the mission framework.
~3 hrs
-
2
Verify SAM.gov registration
Ensure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration with a current UEI. If not registered, allow 10–14 business days for processing.
~2 hrs
-
3
Prepare project narrative and budget
Draft a project narrative explaining the research objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and alignment with NOAA Fisheries strategic priorities. Prepare a detailed budget with justification using SF-424A or SF-424C form.
~30 hrs
-
4
Complete SF-424 application package
Assemble the full application package including SF-424, project narrative, budget, and any required attachments via Grants.gov. Follow the submission requirements in Section IV of the BAA.
~6 hrs
-
5
Submit via Grants.gov and await NMFS review
Submit electronically through Grants.gov before 11:59 PM EDT on your target submission date (or September 30, 2026 at latest). NOAA conducts initial administrative review then merit review by NMFS scientists.
~2 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 114110, 114210, 541712, 611310
NOAA BAAs are underutilized by for-profit organizations — commercial aquaculture tech, fisheries data analytics, and marine monitoring hardware companies are actively sought. Section I.B. mission alignment is treated as pass/fail at administrative review; lead with the NMFS strategic goal verbatim in your abstract. If your project benefits from NOAA data access or lab collaboration, request a cooperative agreement (vs grant) explicitly.
Deadline & timing
Applications accepted on a rolling basis from BAA publication date through September 30, 2026. NOAA reserves the right to decline reviewing any application beyond initial administrative review, and funds are subject to appropriations availability.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.