On May 19, 2021, the award ceiling for the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI) increased from $94,071,537M to $150M to cover additional award activities through the award end date of June 30, 2024. The increase creates additional capacity for new research not known when the OECI award was proposed in FY19. The increase will allow for the expansion of existing projects, shifts in priorities for NOAA or the Nation, and newly proposed Congressionally funded work. More information about OECI can be found at web.uri.edu/oeci/.