National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program Grant Cycle 2025 | NOAA NWS NWSPO 2025 30488

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) Grant Cycle 2025 - FAQs

What is the NTHMP Grant Cycle 2025?

The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) Grant Cycle 2025 is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) through NOAA, specifically NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS). It continues a congressionally funded grant program in place since federal fiscal year 2008 to strengthen tsunami readiness in the United States through preparedness, mitigation, and technical hazard work.

What is the goal of this funding opportunity?

The goal is to support end-to-end tsunami risk reduction. In practical terms, the program aims to help communities and responsible agencies better understand tsunami risk, plan for tsunami events, reduce impacts, and coordinate more effectively with tsunami warning and emergency management systems.

Which federal agency is running this grant program?

The issuing agency is the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA. The notice specifies NOAA's National Weather Service as the NOAA component associated with the program, and lists the issuing agency as DOC NOAA - ERA Production.

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

How is this opportunity categorized?

It is labeled as "science and technology and other research and development."

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 11.467.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is NOAA NWS NWSPO 2025 30488.

How many awards does NOAA expect to make?

NOAA expects to make about 11 awards under this cycle.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $4,000,000.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2025-08-05.

What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date is 2025-08-16.

How much time is there between posting and the deadline?

Based on the dates provided (created 2025-08-05 and closing 2025-08-16), the window between posting and the original deadline is short. This suggests applicants may need to be ready to submit quickly or have projects already prepared for funding consideration.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is shaped by the authorizing legislation and the NTHMP governance structure. Historically, eligibility was limited to agencies and organizations that are members of the NTHMP Coordinating Committee (as defined in the NTHMP Rules of Procedure). A 2017 legislative update expanded access so that financial support can also reach local governments and Indian tribes.

Are states, territories, and state universities eligible?

Yes, states, territories, and state universities are eligible when they have representatives serving on the NTHMP Coordinating Committee, as described in the notice.

Can eligible recipients pass funding to other entities?

Yes. Eligible recipients (such as states, territories, and state universities with Coordinating Committee representation) can pass funding along through sub-awards to local governments and quasi-government agencies. This is described as an important pathway for getting resources to on-the-ground implementers involved in tsunami readiness.

What types of entities are mentioned as potential sub-award recipients?

The notice specifically mentions local governments and quasi-government agencies as potential sub-award recipients. Examples noted include municipal emergency management offices and port authorities, along with other public or quasi-public entities involved in tsunami readiness.

Are Indian tribes eligible to apply directly?

Yes. Tribes with land within a tsunami inundation zone are explicitly eligible to participate directly in the NOAA/NWS Financial Assistance for Tsunami Activities Grant Program. This means they do not necessarily need to rely on a state pass-through to apply.

What kinds of projects and activities does the grant support?

The grant is designed to support end-to-end tsunami risk reduction. Activities typically include improving evacuation planning and community preparedness, enhancing mitigation strategies to reduce loss of life and property, producing or updating tsunami inundation maps, running modeling efforts to refine hazard and impact estimates, and strengthening coordination among warning centers, emergency managers, and other partners responsible for public alerts and protective actions.

Does the program support both technical work and community preparedness?

Yes. The description emphasizes practical work in preparedness and mitigation as well as technical work such as mapping, modeling, and improved coordination of tsunami warning activities. The mix of mapping/modeling and warning coordination indicates support for both the technical backbone of tsunami hazard assessment and the operational relationships needed for effective public response.

What does "end-to-end tsunami risk reduction" mean in this context?

In the context provided, it means supporting the full chain of tsunami readiness and response: understanding tsunami risk (through mapping and modeling), planning and preparedness (such as evacuation planning), mitigation to reduce impacts, and coordination with warning centers and emergency management partners to turn warnings into timely protective actions.

Why is coordination among warning centers and emergency managers highlighted?

The notice suggests that strengthening coordination among warning centers, emergency managers, and other partners is important so that forecasts and warnings can be translated into effective public alerts and protective actions.

How long has Congress funded this program?

The program continues an effort that Congress has funded since federal fiscal year 2008.