Seabed Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization in the Pacific
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Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.
Executive Summary
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OPA) announces an open competition for a U.S. institution, company, or organization (see eligibility information in B.1) interested in submitting an application to conduct ocean mapping, seabed exploration, habitat and resource characterization, and data management and analysis in Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The funded activities will be done in cooperation and coordination with relevant PIC governments and stakeholders. This funding opportunity is one component of a broader U.S. Government (USG) initiative, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI), aimed at advancing seabed mapping and exploration in the Pacific. Together, these efforts will provide environmental baseline data, locate and characterize habitats and resources in PIC’s seabed within national jurisdiction, analyze impacts for ocean resource management, and build foreign national regulatory frameworks with high environmental and transparency standards favorable to competitive private sector investment.
This opportunity advances President Trump’s Executive Orders on critical minerals, including EO 14285 on Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, which directs U.S. government agencies to move expeditiously to support investment in deep sea science, mapping, and technology, strengthen partnerships with allies and industry, and ensure U.S. companies are well-positioned to support allies and partners interested in developing seabed minerals responsibly in areas within their national jurisdictions.