Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR WPO 2024 2007893
The FY2024 Weather Program Office Data Assimilation Consortium opportunity is a NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Weather Program Office (WPO) funding competition designed to significantly strengthen U.S. capability in data assimilation, the set of methods used to combine observations with numerical models to produce the best possible estimate of the current state of the atmosphere and ocean. NOAA is seeking collaborative, multi-institution proposals that can stand up a multi-university consortium focused on advancing data assimilation research and education while building a durable, long-term partnership among the consortium, NOAA, and the broader weather enterprise. The practical goal is to accelerate improvements in numerical weather prediction by advancing data assimilation methodology used with the Unified Forecast System (UFS), NOAA's community modeling framework intended to support research-to-operations transitions across weather timescales.
Funding for the competition is described as approximately $7 million total over a three-year period beginning in FY2024, with an award ceiling listed at $7,000,000 and an expectation of two awards. NOAA indicates it will use either grants or cooperative agreements as the funding instruments, which signals that selected projects may involve substantial NOAA involvement and ongoing coordination, especially given the consortium and partnership emphasis. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and aligns with agency work spanning science and technology research and development, environmental applications, and education, reflecting that the consortium is expected to do more than publish papers; it is also expected to develop workforce capacity and create lasting collaboration structures that support NOAA mission needs.
The call is explicitly framed within two major federal policy drivers. First, it aligns with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, specifically the section supporting oceanic and atmospheric research and forecasting for weather and climate, with an emphasis on accelerating advances in research, observing systems, modeling, forecasting, and assessments related to ocean and atmospheric processes affecting weather, coasts, oceans, and climate. Second, it aligns with the Weather Forecasting and Innovation Act of 2017, which encourages new and improved observing and forecasting applications, including improved analysis techniques. In other words, NOAA is positioning this consortium as a way to move faster on methodological and applied improvements that can translate into better forecasts and better use of the nation’s observational investments.
NOAA is particularly seeking projects that directly respond to the Data Assimilation priority areas identified in the NOAA Science Advisory Board Priorities for Weather Research (PWR) Report. Those areas include: (1) use and assimilation of existing observations, which generally means extracting more value from current satellite, radar, in situ, and other observation networks through better quality control, bias correction, and assimilation strategies; (2) advanced data assimilation methods, capabilities, and workforce, which points to next-generation algorithms, hybrid approaches, ensemble methods, coupling across Earth system components, scalable computing, and training the next cohort of specialists; and (3) observation gaps and the use and assimilation of new observations, which emphasizes identifying where current observations are insufficient and developing approaches to bring emerging sensors, novel data streams, or experimental measurements into operationally relevant assimilation systems. The repeated emphasis on UFS suggests that NOAA wants outcomes that are not isolated to bespoke models, but that can be demonstrated, shared, and potentially transitioned within a community framework used by NOAA and partners.
The opportunity also places a clear expectation on how proposers approach both proposal development and project execution. NOAA encourages applicants to align with NOAA core values, including diversity, inclusion, accessibility, civil rights, and scientific integrity. This is presented not as a side note, but as a meaningful part of how NOAA wants the consortium to operate, reflecting the view that a healthier and more inclusive research ecosystem improves creativity, productivity, and long-term vitality in the weather and water community. In practice, competitive proposals would likely describe concrete approaches to broadening participation, supporting early-career researchers and students, ensuring accessible collaboration and training structures, and maintaining strong scientific integrity and reproducibility in research outputs.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA, with CFDA listing 11.459. The funding opportunity number is NOAA OAR WPO 2024 2007893. The original posting date is July 26, 2023, with an original closing date of October 13, 2023. Eligibility is noted as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced as being provided in a separate eligibility text field in the full announcement. Overall, the program is best understood as a targeted investment in a coordinated academic-led consortium that can deliver sustained progress in data assimilation science and workforce development, while staying tightly connected to NOAA operational priorities and the UFS pathway for improving national forecast capability.Apply for NOAA OAR WPO 2024 2007893
- The Department of Commerce in the business and commerce, education, environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2024 Weather Program Office Data Assimilation Consortium" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.459.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 26, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 13, 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 $7,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY2024 Weather Program Office Data Assimilation Consortium (NOAA OAR WPO) - FAQs
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Weather Program Office (WPO) funding competition to establish and support a collaborative, multi-university data assimilation consortium. The intent is to significantly strengthen U.S. capability in data assimilation, meaning methods that combine observations with numerical models to produce the best estimate of the current state of the atmosphere and ocean.
2) What is NOAA trying to achieve through this consortium?
NOAA is aiming to create a durable, long-term partnership among the consortium, NOAA, and the broader weather enterprise. The practical outcome NOAA emphasizes is faster improvement in numerical weather prediction by advancing data assimilation methods, especially as used within the Unified Forecast System (UFS), NOAA's community modeling framework designed to support research-to-operations transitions across weather timescales.
3) What is data assimilation in the context of this program?
In this program, data assimilation refers to the set of methods used to merge observations (for example, satellite, radar, and in situ measurements) with numerical models to generate the best possible estimate of the current environmental state. That improved estimate is foundational to better model initialization and ultimately better forecasts.
4) How much funding is available and over what period?
The competition describes approximately $7 million total over a three-year period beginning in FY2024.
5) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as $7,000,000.
6) How many awards does NOAA expect to make?
NOAA indicates an expectation of two awards.
7) What funding instruments will NOAA use (grant or cooperative agreement)?
NOAA indicates it will use either grants or cooperative agreements. This suggests that selected projects may include substantial NOAA involvement and ongoing coordination, especially given the consortium and partnership emphasis described in the opportunity.
8) Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
9) Which NOAA organization is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA, specifically within NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Weather Program Office (WPO).
10) What is the focus area or topic category for this competition?
The work aligns with agency activities spanning science and technology research and development, environmental applications, and education. The consortium is expected to support research progress as well as workforce and partnership development.
11) What kinds of proposals is NOAA looking for?
NOAA is seeking collaborative, multi-institution proposals capable of standing up a multi-university consortium. The consortium is expected to advance data assimilation research and education and to build durable collaboration structures that tie closely to NOAA mission needs and the broader weather enterprise.
12) Why does NOAA emphasize the Unified Forecast System (UFS)?
The opportunity repeatedly emphasizes that advances should be demonstrated, shared, and potentially transitioned within the UFS, NOAA's community modeling framework. This indicates NOAA wants outcomes that are not isolated to bespoke models, but are connected to a widely used community pathway that supports research-to-operations transitions.
13) What are the priority research areas for data assimilation under this opportunity?
NOAA highlights Data Assimilation priority areas identified in the NOAA Science Advisory Board Priorities for Weather Research (PWR) Report, including:
- Use and assimilation of existing observations (extracting more value from current observing networks through better quality control, bias correction, and assimilation strategies)
- Advanced data assimilation methods, capabilities, and workforce (next-generation algorithms, hybrid/ensemble approaches, coupling across Earth system components, scalable computing, and training the next cohort of specialists)
- Observation gaps and the use and assimilation of new observations (identifying where current observations are insufficient and developing approaches to incorporate emerging sensors, novel data streams, or experimental measurements into operationally relevant systems)
14) Does NOAA want this work to be operationally relevant?
Yes. The opportunity frames the consortium as a way to accelerate improvements in numerical weather prediction and to support research-to-operations transitions, particularly through the UFS pathway. The focus on NOAA priorities and partnership structures also points to an expectation of operational relevance.
15) What federal policies does this opportunity align with?
The call is explicitly framed within two major federal policy drivers:
- Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (supporting oceanic and atmospheric research and forecasting for weather and climate, including advances in research, observing systems, modeling, forecasting, and assessments related to ocean and atmospheric processes affecting weather, coasts, oceans, and climate)
- Weather Forecasting and Innovation Act of 2017 (encouraging new and improved observing and forecasting applications, including improved analysis techniques)
16) Is education and workforce development part of the expected work?
Yes. NOAA describes the consortium as advancing data assimilation research and education while building workforce capacity. The opportunity also reflects that the consortium is expected to do more than publish papers by developing durable collaboration and training structures that support NOAA mission needs.
17) What values or cross-cutting expectations should applicants address?
NOAA encourages applicants to align with NOAA core values, including diversity, inclusion, accessibility, civil rights, and scientific integrity. In the context of a multi-university consortium, this points to expectations around inclusive participation, accessible collaboration and training structures, support for early-career researchers and students, and strong scientific integrity and reproducibility in research outputs.
18) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 11.459.
19) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is NOAA OAR WPO 2024 2007893.
20) When was the opportunity posted and when was it originally due?
The original posting date is July 26, 2023, and the original closing date is October 13, 2023.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is noted as "Others." The opportunity notes that additional eligibility details are provided in a separate eligibility text field in the full announcement.
22) What does the consortium model imply about collaboration?
The program is designed for multi-institution collaboration and a long-term partnership model. The language suggests NOAA is looking for organized, coordinated efforts that can persist beyond a single research project, including ongoing engagement with NOAA and connections to the broader weather enterprise.
23) What types of observational data are relevant to the stated priorities?
The opportunity references existing observations such as satellite, radar, in situ, and other observation networks, and it also emphasizes incorporating new observations from emerging sensors, novel data streams, or experimental measurements where relevant.
24) How should applicants think about "observation gaps" under this program?
As described, "observation gaps" refers to areas where current observations are insufficient. The opportunity emphasizes identifying those gaps and developing ways to use and assimilate new observations to improve operationally relevant assimilation systems.
25) What is the overall purpose of NOAA's investment here?
Overall, this is presented as a targeted investment in a coordinated academic-led consortium intended to deliver sustained progress in data assimilation science and workforce development, while staying tightly connected to NOAA operational priorities and the UFS pathway for improving national forecast capability.
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