Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NWS NWSPO 2020 2006160
The Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) Program is a National Weather Service (NWS) funding opportunity designed to support applied research and development that directly improves day-to-day forecasting and warning operations. Run through the NWS Office of Science and Technology Integration within NOAA (U.S. Department of Commerce), CSTAR is built around the idea that the NWS warning and forecast mission is strengthened when operational forecasters work closely with outside experts, particularly researchers in universities and other academic settings. The program focuses on research that can move efficiently from the lab or literature into practical tools, methods, and services that forecasters can use, with an emphasis on outcomes that enhance forecast accuracy and the quality and timeliness of warnings for environmental hazards.
A defining feature of CSTAR is the collaborative structure: proposals are expected to connect academic expertise with operational forecasting needs, creating a bridge between basic/applied science and operational implementation. This is meant to be a cost-effective pathway for "research-to-operations" transition, where work is not only scientifically sound but also operationally relevant, testable in real forecasting contexts, and positioned for adoption by the NWS. The opportunity explicitly mentions engaging university researchers and students, signaling that workforce development and hands-on applied experience are also part of the program's value, alongside the technical improvements to forecasts and warnings.
This particular announcement is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement, indicating that NOAA/NWS anticipates an active partnership role during the project period rather than a hands-off grant relationship. The research topics to be proposed are not open-ended; they are tied to priorities identified by the NWS to support field forecasting operations. In other words, applicants should align their work with NWS-defined needs and practical operational challenges, rather than proposing purely exploratory research without a clear operational endpoint.
In terms of funding scale, the competition has approximately $600,000 total available, intended to support three to five new projects. The stated award ceiling is $150,000, and the agency anticipated up to five awards. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.468 and falls within the funding activity category of environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development. The funding opportunity number is NOAA NWS NWSPO 2020 2006160. The original posting dates indicate it was created on September 6, 2019, with an original closing date of November 20, 2019. Eligibility is noted as "Others" with further clarification referenced in the full announcement text, so applicants would need to confirm eligible institution types and any specific conditions in the eligibility section of the notice.
Overall, CSTAR is best understood as an applied, operations-focused R&D program: it funds collaborations that aim to turn meteorological and environmental science advances into practical forecasting improvements, with the NWS setting the priority topics and expecting close coordination between researchers and operational forecasters to maximize the chance of real-world adoption.Apply for NOAA NWS NWSPO 2020 2006160
- The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.468.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 06, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 20, 2019. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) Program - FAQs
What is the CSTAR Program?
The Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) Program is a National Weather Service (NWS) funding opportunity that supports applied research and development intended to directly improve day-to-day forecasting and warning operations.
Who runs CSTAR?
CSTAR is run through the NWS Office of Science and Technology Integration within NOAA (U.S. Department of Commerce).
What is the main goal of CSTAR-funded projects?
The program aims to move research efficiently from the lab or published literature into practical tools, methods, and services that NWS forecasters can use. The emphasis is on outcomes that improve forecast accuracy and the quality and timeliness of warnings for environmental hazards.
What makes CSTAR different from more general research grants?
CSTAR is operations-focused and built around "research-to-operations" transition. Projects are expected to be operationally relevant, testable in real forecasting contexts, and positioned for adoption by the NWS, rather than being purely exploratory research without a clear operational endpoint.
Does CSTAR require collaboration with NWS forecasters?
Yes. A defining feature of CSTAR is its collaborative structure. Proposals are expected to connect academic expertise with operational forecasting needs, strengthening the link between applied science and operational implementation.
Are university researchers expected to be involved?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly mentions engaging university researchers, and it highlights collaboration between operational forecasters and outside experts, particularly researchers in universities and other academic settings.
Can students be involved in CSTAR projects?
Yes. The announcement signals that involving university students is part of the program's value, supporting hands-on applied experience and workforce development alongside technical improvements to forecasts and warnings.
What type of award is CSTAR offering?
This announcement is a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that CSTAR is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement indicates NOAA/NWS anticipates having an active partnership role during the project period, rather than a purely hands-off relationship.
Are research topics open-ended?
No. The proposed research topics are tied to priorities identified by the NWS to support field forecasting operations. Applicants are expected to align proposals with NWS-defined needs and practical operational challenges.
How much funding is available through this competition?
Approximately $600,000 in total is available under this competition.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The funding is intended to support three to five new projects, and the agency anticipated up to five awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is $150,000.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.468.
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
It falls within the funding activity category of environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is NOAA NWS NWSPO 2020 2006160.
When was this opportunity originally posted and when did it close?
The original posting indicates it was created on September 6, 2019, with an original closing date of November 20, 2019.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is noted as "Others," with further clarification referenced in the full announcement text. Applicants would need to confirm eligible institution types and any specific conditions in the eligibility section of the official notice.
What kinds of outcomes are CSTAR projects expected to produce?
CSTAR projects are expected to produce practical improvements to forecasting and warning operations, such as tools, methods, or services that can be used by forecasters and that enhance forecast accuracy and the quality and timeliness of warnings for environmental hazards.
How should applicants think about "research-to-operations" in CSTAR?
Within CSTAR, "research-to-operations" means the work should be scientifically sound while also being operationally relevant, testable in real forecasting environments, and designed so it can transition into NWS practice.
Is CSTAR intended to be a cost-effective pathway for implementing research?
Yes. The program is described as a cost-effective pathway to transition research into operational forecasting and warning capabilities through close collaboration between researchers and operational forecasters.
Which agency mission does CSTAR support?
CSTAR supports the NWS warning and forecast mission by strengthening collaboration that improves operational forecasting and warning services.
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