# Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/noaa-oar-cipo-2025-31269-cooperative-institute-fostering-aquaculture-research-and/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359283

> DOC NOAA - ERA Production offered grants of up to $300 million to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award worth $300 million in total. Applications closed on September 5, 2025.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | NOAA-OAR-CIPO-2025-31269 |
| Agency | DOC NOAA - ERA Production |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | September 5, 2025 |
| Award ceiling | $300 million |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | $300 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 11.432 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

The following entities are eligible to submit to this opportunity: Eligibility is limited to non-Federal public and private non-profit universities, colleges and research institutions that offer accredited graduate-level degree-granting programs in NOAA-related sciences. Federal agencies and their personnel are not permitted to receive federal funding under this competition; however, federal scientists and other employees can serve as uncompensated partners or co-Principal Investigators on applications. Federal labs and offices can also make available specialized expertise, facilities or equipment to applicants but cannot be compensated under this competition for their use. To be eligible to apply or receive an award, applicants must complete and maintain three registrations; SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. For each, the complete registration process can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants must begin this activity as soon as possible and well before the proposal due date. For more information on how to meet these registration and application submission requirements without errors, we advise all to carefully review relevant Applicant and Grantee Training modules: https://www.commerce.gov/ocio/programs/gems/applicant-and-grantee-training. Additionally, we advise that all carefully read ‘Additional Application Package Forms’ within the ‘Full Proposal Required Elements’ section below.

## What the grant funds

The NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) in collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service invites applications for the establishment of a Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM) that will: directly support NOAA’s Research and Development Vision Areas by advancing key goals in aquaculture, fostering innovation, promoting environmental stewardship, and building strong coastal economies; support the robust development of aquaculture in the United States to address the seafood import deficit and benefit the economy; and help the agency fulfill the tenets of the NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan. This Cooperative Institute (CI) will facilitate a long-term collaborative relationship between NOAA and the recipient within which broad-based research, technology innovation, and education and outreach capabilities that focus on NOAA's priorities for the US aquaculture sector can be developed and sustained. The CI may consist of one or more research institutions with expertise and capabilities in the NOAA priority areas that contribute to the areas of research described as research themes later in this announcement. Applicants to this Notice of Funding Opportunity will submit one overarching application that seeks to establish the CIFARM at an eligible institution or group of institutions. This application should speak to high level research themes (See I.B.) that future projects could fall under, but should not include detailed projects at this time. This overarching application will be identified as a T1 award. Following the selection of the CI host institution, the awardee will then be requested to submit an additional application for approximately $9,000,000 detailing the proposed projects that fall under the research themes. Not every applicant will be asked to submit this second application, only the institution recommended for funding. Once awarded, this second application will be identified as a T3. The host institution will continue to submit T3 detailed project applications at various funding levels throughout the life of the five year award. All projects must take place within the United States or territories or their respective waterways. Applicants must complete and maintain three registrations to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. These registrations include SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted.

## Questions people ask

### Is NOAA-OAR-CIPO-2025-31269 still open?

No. It closed on September 5, 2025.

### Who can apply for Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM)?

DOC NOAA - ERA Production accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Marketing (CIFARM)?

Closed September 5, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $300 million each. About $300 million in total for one award.

### Who has won National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Institutes grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The Regents of the University of Colorado, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Alabama. The program made 34 awards worth $1.5 billion in that time.