The FY 2026 Ocean Technology Transition Program, administered by the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) within NOAA, supports the advancement of emerging technologies for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing, data management, and product development. The program aims to reduce the transition period from research to operational or commercial status for sensors, information technology, platform enhancements, and technology modernization efforts.

Overview

The U.S. IOOS Office is seeking to fund projects that address long-standing and emerging coastal observing, product development, and data management challenges. Funded projects will focus on technologies for which there are demonstrated operators or customers who commit to integrated, long-term use and open data sharing. A Transition Manager must be identified for each project, and a Transition Plan is required as a Year One deliverable. Funding will be targeted to technologies sufficiently mature for long-term operations and specifically supports activities needed to progress through transitional stages such as system integration, testing, validation, and verification.

Funding and Benefits

An estimated total of up to $7.5 million is available from the U.S. IOOS Office for this competition for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. Multiple awards are anticipated, subject to availability of funds, in amounts up to $400,000 per year for up to three years. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. Cost sharing or matching is not required.

• Total Program Funding: $7,500,000
• Maximum Award: $400,000 per year
• Minimum Award: $1
• Expected Number of Awards: 6
• Project Period: Up to three years

Proposals not funded in Fiscal Year 2026 may be considered for funding in Fiscal Year 2027 without a new competitive process.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include 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 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 Transition Program.

Research Areas and Activities

The program supports the transition of technologies in the following areas:

• Ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes sensors
• Information technology, including data management and data visualization
• Platform enhancement
• Technology modernization efforts

Earlier technical development is supported by separate programs such as the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators.

Deadline and Timeline

• Closing Date: July 30, 2026
• Posted Date: March 12, 2026
• Archive Date: August 14, 2026

Contact Information

For questions regarding this announcement, contact:

Jennifer Hinden
U.S. IOOS
Email: Jennifer.Hinden@noaa.gov

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. The opportunity number is NOAA-NOS-IOOS-2026-32698. Applicants should refer to the full announcement for complete application instructions.