Harmful Algal Bloom Research Grant Program

The Harmful Algal Bloom Research Grant Program is administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to support statewide research efforts addressing harmful algal blooms (HABs) across New York State. The program is designed to advance the research priorities identified in the DEC HAB Roadmap and the DEC HABs Research Guide, with the broader goal of improving understanding of bloom formation, identifying controllable causes, and developing mitigation and prevention strategies that reduce impacts to public health, recreation, and aquatic ecosystems. DEC describes its HAB management strategy as multifaceted and research-driven, incorporating monitoring, data publication, outreach, reporting, and collaborative scientific investigation. Through this funding opportunity, the department seeks to expand research capacity by supporting partnerships among governmental entities, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and tribal organizations. The 2026 funding opportunity, identified as HAB 2026, provides a total of $2,500,000 in available funding through a competitive reimbursement grant process. Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to align with one or more designated research focus areas, including Prevention and Mitigation, Causes of HABs, Monitoring and Modeling, and Communication, Engagement, and Outreach. Applicants are encouraged to propose applied research initiatives that improve scientific understanding of harmful algal blooms while also generating practical management approaches for New York waterbodies. The program emphasizes collaboration and evidence-based strategies that can inform DEC policy and environmental management activities throughout the state. Although the solicitation does not specify a minimum or maximum award amount per project, applicants should develop budgets that are proportionate to the scope of work and aligned with program objectives. Eligible applicants include governmental entities such as counties, cities, towns, villages, municipal corporations, soil and water conservation districts, and recognized tribal nations with reservations wholly or partly within New York State. The program also permits applications from eligible nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education dedicated to education and research. Community-based organizations may participate through partnerships with eligible nonprofit fiscal sponsors. For-profit academic institutions are specifically excluded from eligibility. The solicitation identifies the opportunity as statewide in scope, meaning applicants throughout New York State may apply provided they satisfy all organizational and geographic eligibility requirements outlined in the official grant guidelines. Applicants are advised to review the HAB Research Grant Program Guidelines and Instructions available through the New York State Financial System Vendor Portal for additional eligibility definitions and compliance requirements. The grant program requires a mandatory non-federal match contribution equal to 10 percent of the requested award amount for all projects and research focus areas. This matching requirement applies universally across applications and must be documented within the proposal budget. Funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis, requiring recipients to incur and document eligible expenses before reimbursement is issued by the state. The anticipated initial contract length for awarded projects is 44 months, allowing sufficient time for scientific research, fieldwork, analysis, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination of findings. Applicants should ensure proposed workplans, staffing structures, and budgets are designed to support long-term implementation over the multi-year project period. Applications must be submitted electronically through the New York State SFS Grants Management System. Prospective applicants are instructed to access the SFS Vendor Portal Homepage, search for grant opportunities using the event identifier “HAB 2026,” and complete all submission requirements through the online system. DEC recommends using the Google Chrome browser when accessing the portal because other browsers may generate system errors. The application period remains open through September 15, 2026, with applications due no later than 3:00 PM Eastern Time. The solicitation does not require a letter of intent or pre-application submission. However, DEC has scheduled an application workshop on May 27, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM to provide additional guidance to interested applicants. Questions regarding the opportunity will be accepted until the close of business on August 14, 2026, and responses will be posted publicly in the Grants Management System on August 28, 2026. Applicants should expect to provide detailed project narratives, budgets, supporting certifications, and all required attachments identified within the official guidelines and instructions. Supporting documents referenced by DEC include Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification forms, Executive Order No. 16 Certification forms, and Gender-Based Violence and Workplace Certification documentation. The solicitation also references environmental justice and disadvantaged community mapping resources that may support project planning or application preparation. Applications are expected to demonstrate scientific merit, alignment with HAB research priorities, feasibility, and the capacity of the applicant organization to complete the proposed work successfully within the performance period. The anticipated award date for successful applicants is October 31, 2026. Program contacts include Brian Duffy at HABsGrant@dec.ny.gov and telephone number (518) 402-8179 for general program and application questions. Technical support related to the New York State SFS Grants Management System is available through the NYS SFS Grants Management Helpdesk at helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov, toll-free phone number 877-737-4185, or direct number 518-457-7737. Applicants are instructed to include “DEC Harmful Algal Bloom Research Grant Program” in the subject line of correspondence related to the funding opportunity. The HAB Research Grant Program appears to be a recurring initiative connected to New York State’s ongoing harmful algal bloom management strategy and statewide environmental protection objectives.

Align proposals closely with the DEC HAB Roadmap and HAB Research Guide priorities. Emphasize applied research outcomes, scientific merit, practical mitigation strategies, and clear implementation feasibility. Demonstrate organizational capacity to complete long-term environmental research projects within the 44-month performance period.