DOC NOAA - ERA Production · Department of Commerce

SEFSC Bluefin Tuna Research Program

Open · Opportunity NOAA-NMFS-SE-2027-33642 · Assistance Listing 11.058

Deadline: Due Dec 31, 2026 · 85 days left
Award size: $25K – $300K
Total available: $600K · about 5 awards
Cost share / match ?: Not required
Who can apply: City or town government, Tribal organization, Tribal government, Other (see eligibility), Special district (utility, fire, etc.), Private college or university, Individuals, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Small business, Larger business, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), State government, Public college or university, County government
Where: Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
No cost share required

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

About this grant

The objective of the program is to provide a basis for advancing science-based fisheries management for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Such advancement will depend upon improvements in understanding of the fisheries, total abundance, and biology of bluefin tuna, especially regarding the effects of mixing and movement between the eastern and western Atlantic populations. Contracting Parties to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), of which the US is one, and other partners have embarked upon a multi-year research program on bluefin tuna as a step toward improving ICCAT's science-based management of Bluefin fisheries. Research sponsored under this funding opportunity represents a contribution to this partnership. Proposals that demonstrate collaborations with the ICCAT Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Research Program and other ICCAT partners are strongly encouraged.

Eligibility (from the notice)

Eligible applicants may be institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, individuals, and state, local, and Indian Tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible. Foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and international organizations are excluded for purposes of this solicitation since the objective of the BTRP is to optimize research and development benefits from U.S. marine fishery resources.

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
Dec10
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters.
Dec24
Finish a complete draft for a final review
University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs
Dec29
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
Dec31
Deadline
From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the funding notice Foa_Content_of_NOAA-NMFS-SE-2027-33642_1.pdf (20 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words; open the page to read it in context. The notice itself always controls.

Registrations you need first

SAM.gov · p. 2

“Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov).” Open page 2
Grants.gov · p. 2

“Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov).” Open page 2
eRA Commons · p. 2

“Applicant organizations and individuals must register for three different Federal systems prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov (SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov).” Open page 2
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 2

“Applicant organizations and individuals must first register with SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).” Open page 2

New to these? SAM.gov registration can take weeks, so start early: grant-ready checklist.

What to submit

Form SF-424 · p. 6

“Signatures (electronic or ink) must match the name printed in the “Authorized Representative” section of the SF-424 Block 21.” Open page 6
Form CD-511 · p. 6

“Standard Form 424 - Application for Federal Assistance Standard Form 424A - Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs Standard Form 424B - Assurances - Non-Construction Programs Standard Form 424C - Budget Information - Construction Programs Standard…” Open page 6
Data management plan · p. 7

“Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Management Plan.” Open page 7
Budget narrative / justification · p. 7

“All applications must have a detailed budget narrative explaining and justifying the Federal and non-Federal expenditures as listed on the SF-424A budget forms.” Open page 7
Form SF-424A · p. 7

“All applications must have a detailed budget narrative explaining and justifying the Federal and non-Federal expenditures as listed on the SF-424A budget forms.” Open page 7
Form SF-424B · p. 7

“Assurances, Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B); and Certifications Regarding Lobbying (CD-511).” Open page 7
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 12

“Does the proposal include resumes of the Principal Investigator(s)?” Open page 12
Environmental documentation · p. 15

“In addition to providing specific information that will serve as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be requested to assist NOAA in drafting an environmental assessment, if NOAA determines an assessment is required.” Open page 15

Length limits

Project Synopsis: 1 page max · p. 7

“Project Synopsis (1-page limit):” Open page 7
Project Description: 6 pages max · p. 7

“Project Description (6-page limit):” Open page 7
Resumes: 2 pages max · p. 7

“Resumes (2 pages maximum for each major participant). h.” Open page 7
Data Management Plan: 2 pages max · p. 7

“Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement must include a Data Management Plan (up to 2 pages).” Open page 7

Formatting rules

12-point font, 1-inch margins, single-spaced · p. 6

“All pages must be no less than single-spaced printed or typed, in at least 12-point font, and printable on 8.5-inch x 11- inch paper, with 1-inch margins.” Open page 6

Dates in the notice

December 31, 2026 · p. 8

“Submission Dates and Times Applications must be submitted by https://www.Grants.gov, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on December 31, 2026.” Open page 8

Mistakes that get applications rejected

Could get your application rejected · p. 2

“Submissions received after the due date will be considered late and will not be accepted.” Open page 2
Could get your application rejected · p. 6

“Applications that are not complete on the closing date of this announcement will not be reviewed.” Open page 6
Could get your application rejected · p. 6

“Paper applications without inked signatures on their forms will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.” Open page 6
Could get your application rejected · p. 6

“An incomplete application or one that does not follow the format requirements will not be reviewed and will be withdrawn from the competition.” Open page 6
Could get your application rejected · p. 6

“If any of these are not included the proposal will not be considered and will be withdrawn from the competition):” Open page 6
Could get your application rejected · p. 8

“Applications received later than five calendar days following the closing date will not be accepted.” Open page 8
Could get your application rejected · p. 8

“Therefore, applications will not be accepted for construction projects.” Open page 8

About the program (11.058)

Bluefin Tuna Research Program — Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements Uniform Guidance, Part 200, Subpart C,Public Law P.L. 95-405 (Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977),.n/aMatching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects