The Department of Commerce, specifically the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is seeking proposals for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I program for the fiscal year 2024. The specific topic of the solicitation is "Water Availability, Quality, and Risk" (Topic 9.4).
The U.S. is facing emerging threats to economic and national security, as well as ecosystem and habitat health, due to competing demands for a limited and stressed water supply, aging water infrastructure, degrading water quality, population growth, and climate change.
The goal of this solicitation is to address these challenges by developing new observations, tools, and modeling approaches that leverage available data and technology. The research topics include, but are not limited to, helping communities prepare for and respond to drought and flooding, managing water quality risks in coastal environments, improving water forecasts in the face of climate change, increasing efficiencies in water usage in various sectors, and developing weather- and climate-related information relevant to food security needs.
The Phase I program provides funding for feasibility studies and proof-of-concept research. The project duration is typically six months, and funding specifics can be found on the grants.gov website. The application due date for this solicitation is December 20, 2023.