Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS NGS 2023 2007815
The Geospatial Modeling Grant (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NOS NGS 2023 2007815) is a discretionary NOAA funding opportunity offered through the Department of Commerce, led by NOAA's National Ocean Service and its National Geodetic Survey. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect an ongoing, collaborative relationship with NOAA during the project period rather than a hands-off grant arrangement. The core aim is to fund work that modernizes and strengthens the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) while also pushing forward geodesy research and practical capability in the United States. In plain terms, the program is looking for projects that improve the foundation of how positions, heights, and geodetic measurements are defined and used across mapping, surveying, engineering, hazard planning, coastal applications, and other location-dependent work.
A central theme of the opportunity is advancing both the science and the applied tools that make NSRS data more useful and easier to work with. NOAA outlines several priority areas that proposals are expected to address. The first is research and development of new methods for defining the NSRS and expanding how it can be applied, which can include improved approaches to reference frames, datums, transformations, and real-world implementation practices. The second priority focuses on building and evaluating tools, models, and guidelines that help users access, analyze, and manipulate geodetic data, which could include software, workflows, modeling approaches, quality-control practices, and user guidance that lowers barriers for practitioners. The third priority is strengthening the underlying infrastructure that supports the NSRS, including geodetic control, coastal remote sensing data, survey measurements, and other physical datasets that feed into and validate the national reference system. The fourth priority centers on education, capacity building, and technology transfer, with an emphasis on developing the next generation of geodesy expertise and ensuring that new methods and tools actually make it into operational use. The fifth priority emphasizes coordination and partnerships, encouraging strong ties with local, state, and regional user communities such as state and local governments, universities, and the broader public sector so that funded work aligns with real needs and can be adopted widely.
NOAA also explicitly encourages applicants to incorporate student collaboration and education into proposed projects, signaling that proposals that blend research outputs with training, curriculum development, student research experiences, internships, or workforce development components may align especially well with program goals. Alongside this, the program promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion in both proposal design and project execution. The notice frames diversity as the mix of individual attributes that help organizations meet objectives, and inclusion as a workplace culture that connects each person to the organization. In practice, this encouragement suggests that applicants should consider thoughtful, credible approaches to broadening participation and creating supportive pathways into geospatial and geodetic work, as these efforts are viewed as contributing to innovation and long-term vitality in the field.
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based institutions of higher education and state, local, and Indian tribal governments, and the competition is open across all U.S. states and territories. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply under this notice. The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 11.400 and falls under broad activity categories including education, environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development. Funding is subject to the availability of funds. The posted award ceiling is $10,000,000, and NOAA anticipated making around 10 awards under this competition. The opportunity was created on February 22, 2023, with an original closing date of April 24, 2023.Apply for NOAA NOS NGS 2023 2007815
- The Department of Commerce in the education, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geospatial Modeling Grant" 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 Feb 22, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 24, 2023. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Geospatial Modeling Grant (NOAA NOS NGS 2023 2007815) FAQs
What is the Geospatial Modeling Grant?
The Geospatial Modeling Grant is a discretionary NOAA funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NOS NGS 2023 2007815) offered through the U.S. Department of Commerce and led by NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS).
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means awardees should plan for an ongoing, collaborative relationship with NOAA throughout the project period, rather than a fully hands-off grant arrangement.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The core aim is to fund work that modernizes and strengthens the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) while also advancing geodesy research and practical capability in the United States.
What is the NSRS in practical terms?
In practical terms, the NSRS is the foundational system that defines and supports how positions and heights are established and used. It underpins geodetic measurements used across mapping, surveying, engineering, hazard planning, coastal applications, and other location-dependent work.
What kinds of projects does NOAA want to fund?
NOAA is looking for projects that improve the scientific foundation and the applied tools that make NSRS data more useful and easier to work with, including methods, tools, models, guidelines, data/infrastructure, education, and partnerships that support NSRS modernization and adoption.
What are the priority areas for proposals?
NOAA lists several priority areas proposals are expected to address:
- Research and development of new methods for defining the NSRS and expanding its application (including reference frames, datums, transformations, and implementation practices).
- Building and evaluating tools, models, and guidelines to help users access, analyze, and manipulate geodetic data (including software, workflows, modeling approaches, quality-control practices, and user guidance).
- Strengthening infrastructure that supports the NSRS (including geodetic control, coastal remote sensing data, survey measurements, and other physical datasets that feed into and validate the NSRS).
- Education, capacity building, and technology transfer to develop geodesy expertise and move new methods and tools into operational use.
- Coordination and partnerships with local, state, and regional user communities (such as governments, universities, and the broader public sector) to align funded work with real needs and encourage wide adoption.
Does NOAA expect projects to include tool development or user-focused deliverables?
Yes. A central theme is advancing applied tools and guidance that make NSRS data easier to access and use. Examples mentioned include software, workflows, modeling approaches, quality-control practices, and user guidance that lowers barriers for practitioners.
Does this opportunity support infrastructure or data-related work?
Yes. One priority area focuses on strengthening the underlying infrastructure that supports the NSRS, including geodetic control, coastal remote sensing data, survey measurements, and other physical datasets used to feed into and validate the national reference system.
Is education or workforce development relevant to this grant?
Yes. NOAA includes education, capacity building, and technology transfer as a priority area, with emphasis on developing the next generation of geodesy expertise and ensuring new methods and tools make it into operational use.
Are student collaborations encouraged?
Yes. NOAA explicitly encourages applicants to incorporate student collaboration and education into proposed projects. Proposals that blend research outputs with training, curriculum development, student research experiences, internships, or workforce development components may align especially well with the program goals.
Does the program mention diversity and inclusion?
Yes. The opportunity promotes the principles of diversity and inclusion in proposal design and project execution. The notice frames diversity as a mix of individual attributes that help organizations meet objectives, and inclusion as a workplace culture that connects each person to the organization.
How should applicants interpret the diversity and inclusion encouragement?
Based on the notice language, applicants are encouraged to consider thoughtful, credible approaches to broadening participation and creating supportive pathways into geospatial and geodetic work, as these efforts are viewed as contributing to innovation and long-term vitality in the field.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based institutions of higher education and state, local, and Indian tribal governments.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
No. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply under this notice.
Is the competition limited to certain states or regions?
No. The competition is open across all U.S. states and territories.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 11.400.
What activity categories does this grant fall under?
The notice describes broad activity categories including education, environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development.
How much funding is available per award?
The posted award ceiling is $10,000,000.
How many awards did NOAA anticipate making?
NOAA anticipated making around 10 awards under this competition.
Is funding guaranteed?
No. Funding is subject to the availability of funds.
When was this opportunity posted, and what was the original deadline?
The opportunity was created on February 22, 2023, with an original closing date of April 24, 2023.
Which NOAA offices lead this opportunity?
The opportunity is led by NOAA's National Ocean Service and its National Geodetic Survey.
What kinds of end users or application areas does NOAA reference?
The notice references broad application areas that rely on accurate positions, heights, and geodetic measurements, including mapping, surveying, engineering, hazard planning, coastal applications, and other location-dependent work.
Does the opportunity encourage partnerships?
Yes. One priority area emphasizes coordination and partnerships, encouraging strong ties with local, state, and regional user communities such as state and local governments, universities, and the broader public sector to support alignment with real needs and wide adoption.
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