Ocean Exploration
CFDA 11.011 · Federal Grants & Funding
Total Funding
$37.0M
Awards
27
Recipients
20
States
15
Last Updated
Mar 19, 2026
Yearly Funding Trend
| Fiscal Year | Obligations | Awards | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $34.5M | 21 | |
| 2025 | $2.4M | 6 | -92.9% |
Award Type Mix
| Type | Obligations | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | 0 |
Top 27 Awards under CFDA 11.011
Largest individual obligations for Ocean Exploration.
| Award | Recipient | Awarding Agency | Place | FY | Obligation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASST_NON_NA20OAR0110479_013 GFOE IS PROPOSING TO FURTHER THE GOALS, AND IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCIES OF THE NATIONAL OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM. WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH NOAA OER, WE WILL CONDUCT OCEAN EXPLORA… | THE GLOBAL FOUNDATION FOR OCEAN EXPLORATION, INC Connecticut | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | REDDING, CT-04 | 2024 | $22,679,538 |
ASST_NON_NA24OARX011C0001_013 PURPOSE: THROUGH THE LENS OF AMERICA'S MOST PREEMINENT MARINE PROTECTED AREAS-NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES AND MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENTS-THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION WI… | NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION Maryland | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | SILVER SPRING, MD-08 | 2024 | $1,060,000 |
ASST_NON_NA19OAR0110408_013 THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CREATE A SIMULATED ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT RAPID DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE AUTONOMY SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE EPIC-DAUG PR… | WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION Massachusetts | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | WOODS HOLE, MA-09 | 2024 | $999,953 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110487_013 PURPOSE: THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ENHANCE THE REALISM OF GLOBAL OCEAN AND SEA ICE SIMULATIONS BY IMPLEMENTING A VERSION OF THE MODULAR OCEAN MODEL VERSION 6 (MOM6) AND SEA ICE SIMUL… | OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY Oregon | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | CORVALLIS, OR-04 | 2024 | $884,196 |
ASST_NON_NA23OAR0110316_013 RESEARCHERS AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY PROPOSE AN EXPEDITION ON THE R/V F.G. WALTON SMITH TO EXPLORE MARINE HABITATS SURROUNDING PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WITH T… | FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY Florida | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | FORT PIERCE, FL-18 | 2024 | $750,000 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110189_013 THIS PROJECT PROPOSES FUNDING TO UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS FOR AN 8-DAY EXPEDITION IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 ON BOARD THE RESEARCH VESSEL SIKULIAQ TO ASSESS PELAGIC ANIMAL DIVERS… | UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS Alaska | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | FAIRBANKS, AK-00 | 2024 | $749,981 |
ASST_NON_NA23OAR0110318_013 THE TEAM PROPOSES TO DEVELOP A NEAR REAL-TIME, OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (OTEC) POWERED, DIRECTIONAL PROFILING FLOAT THAT IS DESIGNED FOR PERSISTENT, LONG-ENDURANCE, DEEP-WA… | INTEGRAL CONSULTING INC. Colorado | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | SEATTLE, WA-07 | 2024 | $749,787 |
ASST_NON_NA24OARX011C0004_013 PURPOSE: RESEARCHERS PROPOSE TO CHARACTERIZE THE FAUNAL DIVERSITY OF THREE DEEP-PELAGIC CRUSTACEAN GROUPS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE WATER COLUMN FROM ~200 M TO 2,500 M DEEP WITHIN THE… | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO California | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | LA JOLLA, CA-50 | 2024 | $742,677 |
ASST_NON_NA23OAR0110521_013 IN ORDER TO FULLY EXPLORE OUR OCEAN AND DISCOVER THE LIFE THAT LIVES THERE, WE NEED TO SCALE UP OUR OBSERVATIONAL CAPABILITIES BOTH IN TIME AND SPACE. THE OCEAN REPRESENTS THE LAR… | MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM RESEARCH INSTITUTE California | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | MOSS LANDING, CA-19 | 2025 | $715,490 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110190_013 WITH ALASKA HAVING THE LARGEST COASTLINE BUT ALEUTIAN WATERS BEING ONE OF THE LEAST UNDERSTOOD AREAS IN THE ENTIRE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OF THE UNITED STATES, THIS ISLAND CHAIN… | EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY North Carolina | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | GREENVILLE, NC-03 | 2024 | $707,330 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110191_013 TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF METHANE AS SIMULTANEOUSLY A POTENT GREENHOUSE GAS IN A WARMING OCEAN, A NATURAL ENERGY SOURCE FOR THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM, AND A POTENTIAL RESOURCE… | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Washington | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | SEATTLE, WA-07 | 2024 | $702,622 |
ASST_NON_NA19OAR0110302_013 THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO EXPLORE MARINE HABITATS WITH THE GOAL OF IDENTIFYING MARINE ORGANISMS THAT CONTAIN NOVEL BIOACTIVE NATURAL PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE TRANSLAT… | FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY Florida | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | BOCA RATON, FL-23 | 2024 | $693,118 |
ASST_NON_NA24OARX011C0002_013 PURPOSE: THE SCIENCE TEAM PLANS TO FILL CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE GAPS ABOUT MESOPHOTIC CORAL ECOSYSTEMS (MCES) AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT. IT WILL BE THE FIRST… | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI Florida | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | KEY BISCAYNE, FL-27 | 2024 | $669,934 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110192_013 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PROPOSE TO DEVELOP UNDERWATER ACOUSTIC TECHNIQUES USING AN AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE (AUV) AND COORDINATED MULTIBEAM SONARS TO… | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Washington | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | SEATTLE, WA-07 | 2024 | $643,573 |
ASST_NON_NA23OAR0110520_013 THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BORDERLAND (SCB) HOSTS DEEP-WATER MINERAL DEPOSITS INCLUDING PHOSPHORITES, FEMN CRUSTS, AND RARE EARTH ELEMENTS SUCH AS YTTRIUM THAT ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AS… | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO California | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | LA JOLLA, CA-50 | 2024 | $563,355 |
ASST_NON_NA23OAR0110317_013 THIS PROJECT PROPOSES USING TWO AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES FOR EXPLORATION OF HYDROCARBON SEEPS, DEEP-WATER CORALS, AND MINERAL RESOURCES ALONG THE ALASKAN/ALEUTIAN EXCLUSIVE… | WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION Massachusetts | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | WOODS HOLE, MA-09 | 2025 | $506,899 |
ASST_NON_NA21OAR0110200_013 WITH SITES THAT PREDATE KNOWN TERRESTRIAL SITES IN THE REGION, THE AREA WITHIN THE NEARSHORE PALEO-SUWANNEE RIVER CHANNEL, OFF FLORIDA?S GULF OF MEXICO COAST, HAS HIGH ARCHAEOLOGI… | UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Florida | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | GAINESVILLE, FL-03 | 2025 | $460,455 |
ASST_NON_NA23OAR0110314_013 THE AUTHORS PROPOSE A STREAMLINED, FULLY AUTONOMOUS METHOD OF LOCALIZING SEAFLOOR FLUID FLOW SITES USING AN AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE (AUV). CURRENT METHODS REQUIRE MULTIPLE,… | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Washington | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | SEATTLE, WA-07 | 2025 | $416,081 |
ASST_NON_NA24OARX011C0003_013 PURPOSE: THE PROJECT TEAM PROPOSES TO DEVELOP ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY TO ADVANCE THE UNDERSTANDING OF MEIOFAUNAL COMMUNITIES IN THE DEEP SEA. A TRANSFORMATIVE METHOD… | FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Florida | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | TALLAHASSEE, FL-02 | 2024 | $415,613 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110662_013 THE RECIPIENT OF THIS FUNDING IS SHIPS OF EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY RESEARCH, INC. THE RESEARCH TEAM OF THIS PROJECT WILL CONDUCT A FOCUSED EXAMINATION OF THE DEEP-WATER AREAS AFF… | SHIPS OF EXPLORATION & DISCOVERY RESEARCH New Mexico | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | SANTA FE, NM-03 | 2024 | $397,763 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110624_013 THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO DEMONSTRATE THE SCIENTIFIC APPLICABILITY OF A NOVEL LOW-COST RESEARCH PLATFORM FOR DEEPWATER ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DEVELOPING MACHINE-LEAR… | CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Pennsylvania | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | PITTSBURGH, PA-12 | 2024 | $374,145 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110193_013 SEAFLOOR GAS SEEPS ARE BOTH A SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE AND THREAT. GIVEN THAT MANUAL VISUAL INTERPRETATION OF WATER COLUMN SONAR IMAGERY IS COSTLY, TIME-CONSUMING, AND I… | MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY Mississippi | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS-03 | 2024 | $258,314 |
ASST_NON_NA23OAR0110593_013 THE OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO ADVANCE MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL DNA (EDNA) TECHNOLOGY FOR MONITORING OCEAN LIFE. THIS PROPOSAL HAS TWO RESEARCH COMPONENTS: 1) BENCHMARK… | ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY New York | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NEW YORK, NY-12 | 2025 | $256,089 |
ASST_NON_NA19OAR0110304_013 HISTORICAL RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT NO LESS THAN 40 SHIPWRECKS LAY OFF THE ENTRANCE SHOALS TO PORT ROYAL SOUND, SOUTH CAROLINA. KNOWN SHIPWRECKS INCLUDE: THE FRENCH CORSAIR, LE PRIN… | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | COLUMBIA, SC-06 | 2024 | $214,534 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110618_013 PURPOSE: ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY RESEARCH TOPIC TO REBUILD DEPLETED FISH STOCKS TO MAINTAIN PRODUCTIVE FISHERIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS PROJE… | REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Michigan | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | ANN ARBOR, MI-06 | 2024 | $162,498 |
ASST_NON_NA23OAR0110315_013 THE AUTHOR PROPOSES A PROJECT THAT UTILIZES EXISTING OPEN-SOURCE DATA AND PRIOR FIELD EXPEDITIONS IN NOAA THUNDER BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY (TBNMS) TO DEVELOP AN AUTONOMOUS GE… | REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Michigan | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | ANN ARBOR, MI-06 | 2024 | $121,607 |
ASST_NON_NA22OAR0110484_013 DESPITE THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, THE ECONOMY, AND OUR FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN, MIDTROPHIC-LEVEL ANIMALS LIKE ZOOPLANKTON AND SMALL FISH , WHICH ARE BOTH PREDATORS AND P… | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Washington | Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | SEATTLE, WA-07 | 2025 | $82,185 |
Top 27 awards shown, ranked by obligated amount. Dates reflect performance period; last-modified dates match USAspending.gov. Complete listings include all transaction history going back to FY2024.
Spending by State
| State | Funding | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $22.7M | 1 |
| Florida | $3.0M | 5 |
| Washington | $2.6M | 5 |
| California | $2.0M | 3 |
| Massachusetts | $1.5M | 2 |
| Maryland | $1.1M | 1 |
| Oregon | $884K | 1 |
| Alaska | $750K | 1 |
| North Carolina | $707K | 1 |
| New Mexico | $398K | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | $374K | 1 |
| Michigan | $284K | 2 |
| Mississippi | $258K | 1 |
| New York | $256K | 1 |
| South Carolina | $215K | 1 |
Top Recipients
| Recipient | Total | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| THE GLOBAL FOUNDATION FOR OCEAN EXPLORATION, INCCT | $22.7M | 1 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONWA | $1.8M | 4 |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTIONMA | $1.5M | 2 |
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITYFL | $1.4M | 2 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGOCA | $1.3M | 2 |
| NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATIONMD | $1.1M | 1 |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITYOR | $884K | 1 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKSAK | $750K | 1 |
| INTEGRAL CONSULTING INC.CO | $750K | 1 |
| MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM RESEARCH INSTITUTECA | $715K | 1 |
| EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITYNC | $707K | 1 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMIFL | $670K | 1 |
| UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDAFL | $460K | 1 |
| FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITYFL | $416K | 1 |
| SHIPS OF EXPLORATION & DISCOVERY RESEARCHNM | $398K | 1 |
| CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITYPA | $374K | 1 |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANMI | $284K | 2 |
| MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITYMS | $258K | 1 |
| ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITYNY | $256K | 1 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINASC | $215K | 1 |
Agencies Administering This Program
Department of Commerce$37.0M
Source: USAspending.gov · All Programs