FY 2027-2028 NESDIS Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

• Applicant types expanded from one generic category to a full list. The previous version offered only "Others" (see additional eligibility text). The updated version lists specific eligible types: state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and state-controlled higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofits (non-higher-ed), private higher education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and "Others." Commercial and small businesses are now explicitly named, which matters for a business-development reader because they can now confirm eligibility directly from the form rather than relying on the narrative text.

• Eligibility description text was essentially unchanged. The narrative still says eligibility depends on NOAA's statutory funding authority, that Federal organizations are out of scope, and that CESU projects are limited to non-federal partners of the listed regional programs. The only visible difference is that the CESU paragraph now runs directly after the prior paragraph without a separation, which is formatting, not substance.

• Agency contact email changed from Olga.Dixon@noaa.gov to nesdis.grants@noaa.gov. Inquiries about eligibility or submissions should now go to the NESDIS grants mailbox rather than a named program contact, so applicants should update any saved correspondence or templates.

• Purpose framing added to the description: The new text states this is a Broad Agency Announcement meant to encourage research, education, outreach, innovative projects, or sponsorships not covered by NOAA's competitive discretionary programs, and explicitly says it is not soliciting goods or services for NOAA's direct benefit.
• Funding contingency added: Activities are contingent on appropriations, and the notice states no funds have yet been appropriated for the activities described.
• No obligation to award: NOAA's review is limited to an initial administrative review, and publication does not commit NOAA to review beyond that, award any project, or obligate funds.
• Removed CESU program description: The prior description of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit network and its host-university structure no longer appears in the description or synopsis.
• Removed multi-office submission instruction: The requirement to notify Section VII contacts when the same application goes to more than one NOAA Line or Staff Office was dropped from the description and synopsis.
• Eligibility text unchanged in substance: The CESU restriction limiting eligibility to non-federal partners of eleven regional programs remains; only the paragraph spacing changed.

Why it matters: Applicants should treat this as a discretionary, unfunded BAA. There is no guaranteed award or confirmed money, so planning should account for possible non-award. The removal of the CESU background and multi-office coordination language means applicants lose those explicit instructions, though the CESU eligibility limit still applies.

New Grants.gov opportunity: FY 2027-2028 NESDIS Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)