Joint Hydrographic Center 2020 | NOAA NOS OCS 2020 2006385

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS OCS 2020 2006385

The "Joint Hydrographic Center 2020" opportunity was a NOAA-led competitive funding notice from the U.S. Department of Commerce that sought proposals to establish and run a single Joint Hydrographic Center through a cooperative agreement. The core aim was to partner with one institution of higher education to operate and maintain a center focused on hydrography and coastal/ocean mapping, in line with federal mandates that emphasize improving how the United States maps and understands its marine and coastal waters. Because it is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, the award was designed for substantial involvement by NOAA in guiding priorities, coordinating activities, and ensuring the center's work directly supports NOAA mission needs.

This opportunity was authorized under two key laws: the Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act and the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act. In practical terms, those authorities support a national approach to ocean and coastal mapping, stronger integration of mapping data and services, and improvements in hydrographic capabilities that underpin navigation safety, commerce, emergency response, coastal resilience, and resource management. The announcement also explicitly tied the center's work to the November 2019 Presidential Memorandum on ocean mapping, which elevated the national priority of mapping, exploring, and characterizing the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The emphasis on the EEZ signals that the center's activities were expected to contribute to better baseline knowledge of offshore areas that are vast, under-mapped, and increasingly important for economic development, national security, and environmental stewardship.

NOAA intended to make one award (ExpectedAwards: 1), with a very large maximum funding level (AwardCeiling: $38,500,000), indicating a flagship, multi-year center-scale effort rather than a small research project. The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding within the Environment, Natural Resources, and Science and Technology / Research and Development activity area, and it fell under CFDA 11.400 (a NOAA financial assistance program code used for related coastal and ocean activities). The funding opportunity number was NOAA NOS OCS 2020 2006385, and the notice was posted March 26, 2020 with an original closing date of May 21, 2020.

Eligibility was aimed broadly but centered on an institution of higher learning, as the solicitation specifically called for partnering with such an entity to host and operate the Joint Hydrographic Center. The listing shows "Others (see text field...)" for eligible applicants, which typically means the detailed eligibility rules were provided in the full announcement, but the main intent was clear: NOAA wanted a university-based (or university-led) center capable of sustaining specialized hydrographic operations, research, workforce development, and coordination functions at a national level.

From a programmatic standpoint, proposals were expected to advance the purposes of the underlying Acts and the Presidential direction by addressing the program priorities laid out in the announcement. While the notice summary does not enumerate those priorities, it makes clear that applications needed to be responsive to NOAA's defined needs for hydrographic and ocean mapping outcomes, not just general academic research. In other words, the center was expected to be an operationally relevant hub that helps expand mapping coverage, improve data quality and integration, develop and transition new methods and technologies, and strengthen the national capacity to map and characterize U.S. waters, especially within the EEZ, in ways that support economic, security, and environmental interests.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Joint Hydrographic Center 2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.400.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 26, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2020. (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 $38,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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