CCW NOAA Coastal Climate Resilience Program Builder Funding Opportunity Now Open

Career Connect Washington (CCW) and the Employment Security Department (ESD) are announcing a new Program Builder funding RFP to support career connected learning programs that help build Washington a climate resilient workforce.

Through RFP 2026-02: CCW NOAA Coastal Climate Resilience Program Builder, ESD is seeking qualified organizations and partnerships to develop, expand, or enhance career-connected learning programs that prepare students, young adults, workers, and communities for careers connected to coastal resilience, climate adaptation, and related workforce needs.

This funding is part of Washington’s NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge award. The Washington State Department of Ecology is the prime recipient of the NOAA award, and ESD, as the grant administrator for CCW, is carrying out the workforce pathway development portion through this Program Builder funding opportunity.

Given the current funding environment for education and workforce programs, we understand that new program development opportunities are limited. This is currently the only Program Builder opportunity planned for the biennium. It is specifically focused on coastal resilience needs through Washington’s NOAA CRRC award. Please share it with organizations and partnerships that may be well-positioned to develop high-quality programs aligned with this purpose.

Selected Program Builders will support program development aligned with a primary CCW program type:

  • Career Explore
  • Career Prep
  • Career Launch

Projects may include activities such as partnership development, curriculum or training design, employer engagement, work-based learning design, participant access planning, pathway mapping, endorsement-readiness, and sustainability planning. Proposed projects should connect coastal resilience workforce needs with education, training, employer, workforce, Tribal, community, labor, regional, and sector partners.

ESD anticipates making approximately $1 million available through this RFP, with multiple awards expected. Award amounts are roughly anticipated to range from $100,000 to $200,000 per contract, depending on available funding, proposed scope, budget reasonableness, and final contract negotiation. Awards are not expected to exceed $250,000 per contract.

Key dates:

  • RFP posted: August 14, 2026
  • Virtual Bidders Conference: September 2, 2026, 2:00–3:30 p.m. Pacific Time
  • Mandatory Notice of Intent to Bid due: September 29, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
  • Full proposals due: October 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time

A Notice of Intent to Bid is required in order to submit a full proposal. The Notice of Intent is non-binding and will not be scored, but bidders may not submit a full proposal unless a timely Notice of Intent has been submitted and accepted by ESD.

The full RFP, appendices, and any amendments or Q&A documents are available through the Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS) system. Bidders are responsible for downloading the complete solicitation package from WEBS and reviewing all requirements.

CCW partners and stakeholders are encouraged to share this opportunity broadly with organizations that may be positioned to help build durable, high-quality career-connected learning pathways connected to Washington’s coastal climate resilience needs.