Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR CIPO 2025 31269
The Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM) is a NOAA-led funding opportunity (NOAA OAR CIPO 2025 31269) designed to stand up a long-term Cooperative Institute focused on accelerating responsible aquaculture in the United States. NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), working in collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service, is seeking a host institution (or consortium of institutions) that can build sustained research, technology innovation, and education/outreach capacity aligned with NOAA priorities for the US aquaculture sector. The core aim is to advance NOAA research and development vision areas by improving aquaculture science and practice, supporting environmental stewardship, and strengthening coastal economies, while also contributing to national goals like reducing the seafood import deficit and implementing the NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan.
Structurally, this opportunity is set up as a cooperative agreement, meaning NOAA expects an ongoing collaborative relationship with the awardee rather than a simple pass-through grant. Applicants submit a single, overarching proposal to establish the institute and describe high-level research themes that future work would fall under, without proposing fully built-out project workplans at the initial stage. This initial, institute-establishment proposal is treated as a T1 award concept. After NOAA selects the host institution, only that recommended applicant is invited to submit a second, more detailed application describing specific projects under the approved themes, anticipated to be around $9,000,000. That follow-on, project-specific submission is identified as a T3 application. Over the five-year life of the institute, the host institution would continue submitting additional T3 project applications at varying funding levels, essentially building a portfolio of activities that fit within the institute framework and NOAA priorities.
The award is large and highly competitive: NOAA anticipates making one award, with an award ceiling listed at $300,000,000. The closing date for applications is 2025-09-05, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding with activity areas spanning natural resources as well as science, technology, and other research and development. All work supported under the institute must take place within the United States or US territories, including their respective waterways, which anchors the institute in domestic aquaculture needs, conditions, and regulatory environments.
Eligibility is limited to non-Federal public or private non-profit universities, colleges, and research institutions that offer accredited graduate-level degree programs in NOAA-related sciences. Federal agencies cannot receive funding under this competition, and federal personnel cannot be paid through it, but federal scientists may participate as unpaid partners or even as co-principal investigators. Federal laboratories and offices may also contribute expertise, facilities, and equipment, but they cannot be compensated with funds from this award for those resources, which keeps the financial support focused on the eligible non-federal host and its partners.
From an application readiness standpoint, NOAA emphasizes that administrative registrations are a gating requirement and can take substantial time. Applicants must complete and maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, and NOAA warns that the combined process can take 4 to 6 weeks. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov is required (if not already held) before eRA Commons registration, and eRA Commons accounts must include at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account to support submission. NOAA also points applicants to federal training modules and NOAA guidance resources aimed at reducing common submission errors and ensuring the application package is correctly formatted for eRA submission.
In practical terms, CIFARM is best understood as a five-year institute-building competition rather than a single research project grant. NOAA is looking for an institution or consortium capable of coordinating a national-scale aquaculture research and innovation agenda, then translating that agenda into a sequence of funded projects over time, with NOAA actively involved as a collaborative partner throughout.Apply for NOAA OAR CIPO 2025 31269
- The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.432.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-06-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is CIFARM?
The Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM) is a NOAA-led funding opportunity (NOAA OAR CIPO 2025 31269) to establish a long-term Cooperative Institute focused on accelerating responsible aquaculture in the United States.
Which NOAA offices are involved in this opportunity?
The opportunity is led by NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), working in collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
What is NOAA seeking to fund through CIFARM?
NOAA is seeking a host institution (or a consortium of institutions) that can build sustained capacity for research, technology innovation, and education/outreach aligned with NOAA priorities for the U.S. aquaculture sector.
What are the main goals of the CIFARM Cooperative Institute?
The core aim is to advance NOAA research and development vision areas by improving aquaculture science and practice, supporting environmental stewardship, strengthening coastal economies, and contributing to national goals such as reducing the seafood import deficit and implementing the NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan.
Is this a standard grant or something different?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means NOAA expects an ongoing, collaborative relationship with the awardee, rather than a simple pass-through grant where NOAA has limited involvement.
How many awards does NOAA expect to make?
NOAA anticipates making one award under this opportunity.
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $300,000,000.
What is the application deadline?
The closing date for applications is 2025-09-05.
What type of funding category is this opportunity?
This is categorized as discretionary funding.
What activity areas does CIFARM cover?
The activity areas span natural resources as well as science, technology, and other research and development.
Where must the work be performed?
All work supported under the institute must take place within the United States or U.S. territories, including their respective waterways.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to non-Federal public or private non-profit universities, colleges, and research institutions that offer accredited graduate-level degree programs in NOAA-related sciences.
Can a consortium apply, or does it need to be a single institution?
NOAA is seeking a host institution or a consortium of institutions. The application is described as a single, overarching proposal to establish the institute.
Are Federal agencies eligible to receive funding?
No. Federal agencies cannot receive funding under this competition.
Can federal personnel be paid using CIFARM funds?
No. Federal personnel cannot be paid through this award.
Can federal scientists participate in the institute in any way?
Yes. Federal scientists may participate as unpaid partners and may serve as co-principal investigators, but they cannot be compensated with funds from this award.
Can federal laboratories or federal offices contribute resources?
Yes. Federal laboratories and offices may contribute expertise, facilities, and equipment, but they cannot be compensated with funds from this award for those resources.
What is the basic application approach for CIFARM?
Applicants submit a single, overarching proposal to establish the institute and describe high-level research themes that future work would fall under. Applicants do not submit fully built-out project workplans at the initial stage.
What does "T1 award concept" mean in this opportunity?
The initial institute-establishment proposal is treated as a T1 award concept, focused on standing up the institute and outlining high-level research themes.
What happens after NOAA selects a host institution?
After NOAA selects the host institution, only the recommended applicant is invited to submit a second, more detailed application describing specific projects under the approved themes.
What does "T3 application" refer to?
The follow-on, project-specific submission is identified as a T3 application. It is more detailed than the initial institute-establishment proposal and describes specific projects under the approved themes.
How much funding is anticipated for the invited, project-specific submission?
The invited, project-specific submission is anticipated to be around $9,000,000.
Is CIFARM a one-time project grant, or does it support multiple projects over time?
CIFARM is best understood as a five-year institute-building competition. Over the five-year life of the institute, the host institution is expected to submit additional T3 project applications at varying funding levels, building a portfolio of activities that fit within the institute framework and NOAA priorities.
How long is the institute expected to operate under this award?
The opportunity is described as a five-year institute, with activities developing over that period through multiple project applications.
What does NOAA mean by an "ongoing collaborative relationship" under a cooperative agreement?
NOAA expects to be actively involved as a collaborative partner throughout the institute's activities, rather than simply issuing funds with minimal interaction.
What registrations are required to apply?
Applicants must complete and maintain active registrations in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons.
How long can the registration process take?
NOAA warns that the combined registration process can take 4 to 6 weeks.
Is a UEI required?
Yes. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov is required (if not already held), and it is needed before eRA Commons registration.
What eRA Commons accounts are required for submission?
eRA Commons accounts must include at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account to support submission.
Does NOAA provide any resources to help applicants avoid submission errors?
Yes. NOAA points applicants to federal training modules and NOAA guidance resources intended to reduce common submission errors and ensure the application package is correctly formatted for eRA submission.
What is the overall competitive landscape for CIFARM?
This is described as a large and highly competitive opportunity, with NOAA anticipating a single award.
What is the simplest way to think about CIFARM?
In practical terms, CIFARM is a national-scale, five-year institute-building effort. NOAA is looking for an institution or consortium capable of coordinating an aquaculture research and innovation agenda and translating it into a sequence of funded projects over time, with NOAA actively engaged as a partner.
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