Prevention, Control, and Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through its National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), is offering funding under the Prevention, Control, and Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms (PCMHAB) Program. This competitive funding opportunity aims to support research and technology development that addresses harmful algal blooms (HABs), which pose significant risks to public health, marine ecosystems, and coastal economies. NOAA has a long-standing mission to advance scientific understanding and provide actionable tools for environmental management, and this program builds on decades of federal investment in coastal and ocean science. The primary objective of this program is to develop, test, and transition technologies and strategies that can prevent, control, or mitigate HABs and their impacts. The program prioritizes two categories of projects: those involving promising technologies that require further feasibility testing, and those involving proven technologies that need large-scale field validation or adaptation for marine environments. Projects are expected to move toward commercialization and practical application, with an emphasis on real-world deployment scenarios and cost-effectiveness. Funding is anticipated at approximately 2.5 million dollars for the first year, supporting three to five projects. Applicants may request up to 500,000 dollars annually for up to three years under the first focal area, or up to 1,000,000 dollars annually for up to five years under the second focal area. Total funding caps are 1,500,000 dollars and 5,000,000 dollars respectively. Funding is contingent upon federal appropriations, and awards are typically structured as cooperative agreements, reflecting NOAA’s substantial involvement in project execution. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based entities such as institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, tribal entities, and for-profit organizations. Federal agencies may also apply under specific funding mechanisms. Foreign collaborators are permitted only through subawards to eligible U.S. entities. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity. The application process requires submission of a mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI) prior to a full proposal. LOIs must outline the proposed project, its relevance, methodology, and potential application scenario. Full applications must include detailed components such as a project description, data management plan, budget narrative, and supporting documentation. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov, and applicants must maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons prior to submission. Applications are evaluated through a competitive peer-review process based on criteria including relevance to program goals, scientific merit, qualifications of the research team, cost reasonableness, and outreach plans. NOAA emphasizes collaboration with stakeholders and may require the formation of a Management Transition Advisory Group to ensure practical application of research outcomes. Successful projects are expected to produce technologies ready for regulatory approval and commercial deployment. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes an LOI deadline of April 14, 2026, and a full application deadline of July 9, 2026. Award decisions are anticipated by April 2027, with project start dates beginning April 1, 2027. While this specific opportunity does not explicitly state recurrence, NOAA programs of this type are often periodically reissued.

Strong emphasis on commercialization pathways and real-world application; clearly define end users and management relevance; ensure alignment with focal area priorities; include robust data management and outreach plans