diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 07ba5f9556..535b3d085a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -684,6 +684,21 @@ intel:   # BUILDTARGET Intel oneAPI Fortran, C, and C++ compiler suite
 CPPINCLUDES =
 FCINCLUDES =
 LIBS =
+MPAS_PREFIX ?= $(CURDIR)
+MPAS_LIBDIR ?= $(MPAS_PREFIX)/lib
+MPAS_MODDIR ?= $(MPAS_PREFIX)/mod
+
+NUOPC  ?= false
+ifneq ($(filter on ON 1 TRUE,$(NUOPC)),)
+  override NUOPC := true
+endif
+ifeq ($(NUOPC), true)
+  MPAS_ESMF = external
+  override CPPFLAGS += -DMPAS_NO_ESMF_INIT
+  NUOPC_MESSAGE="MPAS was built with NUOPC cap libraries."
+else
+  NUOPC_MESSAGE="MPAS was built without NUOPC cap libraries."
+endif
 
 export MPAS_ESMF ?= embedded
 ifeq "$(MPAS_ESMF)" "external"
@@ -1537,6 +1552,8 @@ SCOTCH_MESSAGE = "MPAS was NOT linked with the Scotch graph partitioning library
 endif
 
 mpas_main: $(MAIN_DEPS)
+	if [ ! -d $(MPAS_LIBDIR) ]; then mkdir $(MPAS_LIBDIR); fi
+	if [ ! -d $(MPAS_MODDIR) ]; then mkdir $(MPAS_MODDIR); fi
 	cd src; $(MAKE) FC="$(FC)" \
                  CC="$(CC)" \
                  CXX="$(CXX)" \
@@ -1558,7 +1575,11 @@ mpas_main: $(MAIN_DEPS)
                  AUTOCLEAN_DEPS="$(AUTOCLEAN_DEPS)" \
                  GEN_F90="$(GEN_F90)" \
                  NAMELIST_SUFFIX="$(NAMELIST_SUFFIX)" \
-                 EXE_NAME="$(EXE_NAME)"
+                 EXE_NAME="$(EXE_NAME)" \
+                 MPAS_PREFIX="$(MPAS_PREFIX)" \
+                 MPAS_LIBDIR="$(MPAS_LIBDIR)" \
+                 MPAS_MODDIR="$(MPAS_MODDIR)" \
+                 NUOPC="$(NUOPC)"
 
 	if [ -e src/$(EXE_NAME) ]; then mv src/$(EXE_NAME) .; fi
 	( cd src/core_$(CORE); $(MAKE) ROOT_DIR="$(PWD)" post_build )
@@ -1582,14 +1603,17 @@ endif
 	@echo $(TIMER_MESSAGE)
 	@echo $(IO_MESSAGE)
 	@echo $(ESMF_MESSAGE)
+	@echo $(NUOPC_MESSAGE)
 	@echo "*******************************************************************************"
 clean:
-	cd src; $(MAKE) clean RM="$(RM)" CORE="$(CORE)" AUTOCLEAN="$(AUTOCLEAN)"
+	cd src; $(MAKE) clean RM="$(RM)" CORE="$(CORE)" AUTOCLEAN="$(AUTOCLEAN)" NUOPC="$(NUOPC)"
 	$(RM) $(EXE_NAME)
 	$(RM) namelist.$(NAMELIST_SUFFIX).defaults
 	$(RM) streams.$(NAMELIST_SUFFIX).defaults
 	if [ -f .build_opts.framework ]; then $(RM) .build_opts.framework; fi
 	if [ -f .build_opts.$(CORE) ]; then $(RM) .build_opts.$(CORE); fi
+	if [ -d $(MPAS_LIBDIR) ]; then $(RM) -r $(MPAS_LIBDIR); fi
+	if [ -d $(MPAS_MODDIR) ]; then $(RM) -r $(MPAS_MODDIR); fi
 
 core_error:
 	@echo ""
@@ -1641,6 +1665,7 @@ errmsg:
 	@echo "    MPAS_ESMF=opt  - Selects the ESMF library to be used for MPAS. Options are:"
 	@echo "                     MPAS_ESMF=embedded - Use the embedded ESMF timekeeping library (default)"
 	@echo "                     MPAS_ESMF=external - Use an external ESMF library, determined by ESMFMKFILE"
+	@echo "    NUOPC=true - builds NUOPC library (libmpas_nuopc.a) and installs to lib/ with mod files to mod/. Default is false."
 	@echo ""
 	@echo "Ensure that NETCDF, PNETCDF, PIO, and PAPI (if USE_PAPI=true) are environment variables"
 	@echo "that point to the absolute paths for the libraries."
diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index c06a592d95..b308016762 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@ include Makefile.in.$(ESM)
 
 else
 
-all: mpas
+BUILD_ALL = mpas
+ifeq "$(NUOPC)" "true"
+BUILD_ALL = nuopc_lib
+endif
+
+all: $(BUILD_ALL)
 
 mpas: $(AUTOCLEAN_DEPS) externals frame ops dycore drver
 	$(LINKER) $(LDFLAGS) -o $(EXE_NAME) driver/*.o -L. -ldycore -lops -lframework $(LIBS) $(MPAS_ESMF_INC) $(MPAS_ESMF_LIB)
@@ -35,8 +40,30 @@ dycore: $(AUTOCLEAN_DEPS) build_tools externals frame ops
 	( cd core_$(CORE); $(MAKE) CPPFLAGS="$(CPPFLAGS)" CPPINCLUDES="$(CPPINCLUDES)" all ) 
 	ln -sf core_$(CORE)/libdycore.a libdycore.a
 
+nuopc_lib: $(AUTOCLEAN_DEPS) externals frame ops dycore drver
+	cp framework/*.mod $(MPAS_MODDIR)/.
+	( cd core_$(CORE); $(MAKE) CPPFLAGS="$(CPPFLAGS)" CPPINCLUDES="$(CPPINCLUDES)" FFLAGS="$(FFLAGS)" FCINCLUDES="$(FCINCLUDES)" nuopc )
+	ar rcs $(MPAS_LIBDIR)/libmpas_nuopc.a \
+		core_$(CORE)/nuopc/*.o \
+		core_$(CORE)/libphys/*.o \
+		core_$(CORE)/*.o \
+		core_$(CORE)/diagnostics/*.o \
+		core_$(CORE)/libchem/*.o \
+		core_$(CORE)/dynamics/*.o \
+		driver/*.o \
+		framework/*.o \
+		operators/*.o \
+		external/ezxml/*.o \
+		external/SMIOL/*.o
+	ranlib $(MPAS_LIBDIR)/libmpas_nuopc.a
+	cp core_$(CORE)/nuopc/*.mod $(MPAS_MODDIR)/.
 
-clean: clean_shared clean_core
+CLEAN_ALL = clean_shared clean_core
+ifeq "$(NUOPC)" "true"
+CLEAN_ALL += clean_nuopc
+endif
+
+clean: $(CLEAN_ALL)
 
 clean_core:
 ifeq "$(AUTOCLEAN)" "true"
@@ -64,3 +91,12 @@ endif
 	( cd framework; $(MAKE) clean )
 	( cd operators; $(MAKE) clean )
 	( cd driver; $(MAKE) clean )
+
+clean_nuopc:
+	$(info )
+	$(info *********************************************************************************************)
+	$(info The NUOPC library will be cleaned.)
+	$(info *********************************************************************************************)
+	$(info )
+	$(RM) $(MPAS_LIBDIR)/libmpas_nuopc.a
+	$(RM) $(MPAS_MODDIR)/*.mod
diff --git a/src/core_atmosphere/Makefile b/src/core_atmosphere/Makefile
index bb2bd2c2e7..fc95a4da8e 100644
--- a/src/core_atmosphere/Makefile
+++ b/src/core_atmosphere/Makefile
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ utilities: $(PHYSCORE)
 atmcore: $(PHYSCORE) dycore diagcore $(OBJS)
 	ar -ru libdycore.a $(OBJS) dynamics/*.o $(PHYS_OBJS) $(CHEM_OBJS) diagnostics/*.o
 
+nuopc: $(PHYSCORE) dycore diagcore $(OBJS)
+	( cd nuopc; $(MAKE) all )
+
 mpas_atm_core_interface.o: mpas_atm_core.o
 
 mpas_atm_core.o: dycore diagcore mpas_atm_threading.o mpas_atm_halos.o
@@ -81,6 +84,7 @@ clean:
 	( cd dynamics; $(MAKE) clean )
 	( cd diagnostics; $(MAKE) clean )
 	( cd utils; $(MAKE) clean )
+	( cd nuopc; $(MAKE) clean )
 	( cd ../..; rm -f *TBL )
 	( cd ../..; rm -f *DATA* )
 	$(RM) -r libphys
diff --git a/src/core_atmosphere/nuopc/Makefile b/src/core_atmosphere/nuopc/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5bdb0547d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core_atmosphere/nuopc/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+.SUFFIXES: .F90 .o
+
+OBJS = mpas_nuopc_atm.o
+
+all: $(OBJS)
+
+clean:
+	$(RM) *.o *.mod
+	@# Certain systems with intel compilers generate *.i files
+	@# This removes them during the clean process
+	$(RM) *.i
+
+%.o: %.F90
+	$(RM) $@ $*.mod
+	$(FC) $(CPPFLAGS) $(PHYSICS) $(FFLAGS) -c $< -o $@ $(CPPINCLUDES) $(FCINCLUDES) $(MPAS_ESMF_INC)
+
diff --git a/src/core_atmosphere/nuopc/mpas_nuopc_atm.F90 b/src/core_atmosphere/nuopc/mpas_nuopc_atm.F90
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..494e079152
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core_atmosphere/nuopc/mpas_nuopc_atm.F90
@@ -0,0 +1,229 @@
+#define ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc) if (ESMF_LogFoundError( \
+        rcToCheck=rc, \
+        msg=ESMF_LOGERR_PASSTHRU, \
+        line=__LINE__, \
+        file=__FILE__) \
+    ) return
+
+module mpas_nuopc_atm
+  !> MPAS NUOPC Cap for Atmosphere
+
+  use ESMF
+  use NUOPC
+  use NUOPC_Model, &
+    modelSS => SetServices
+
+  implicit none
+
+  private
+
+  public SetVM, SetServices
+
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  contains
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  subroutine SetServices(model, rc)
+    !> Register model entry points:
+    !>   Advertise: advertise import and export fields
+    !>   Realize: realize connected fields
+    !>   SetClock: initialize model clock
+    !>   DataInitialize: initialize data in import and export states
+    !>   Advance: advance model by a single time step
+    !>   Finalize: finalize model and cleanup memory
+
+    ! arguments
+    type(ESMF_GridComp)  :: model
+    integer, intent(out) :: rc
+
+    rc = ESMF_SUCCESS
+
+    ! derive from NUOPC_Model
+    call NUOPC_CompDerive(model, modelSS, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+    ! specialize model entry points
+    call NUOPC_CompSpecialize(model, specLabel=label_Advertise, &
+      specRoutine=Advertise, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+    call NUOPC_CompSpecialize(model, specLabel=label_RealizeProvided, &
+      specRoutine=Realize, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+    call NUOPC_CompSpecialize(model, specLabel=label_SetClock, &
+      specRoutine=SetClock, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+    call NUOPC_CompSpecialize(model, specLabel=label_DataInitialize, &
+      specRoutine=DataInitialize, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+    call NUOPC_CompSpecialize(model, specLabel=label_Advance, &
+      specRoutine=Advance, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+    call NUOPC_CompSpecialize(model, specLabel=label_Finalize, &
+      specRoutine=Finalize, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+  end subroutine SetServices
+
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  subroutine Advertise(model, rc)
+    !> Advertise available export fields and desired import fields
+
+    ! arguments
+    type(ESMF_GridComp)  :: model
+    integer, intent(out) :: rc
+
+    ! local variables
+    type(ESMF_State) :: importState, exportState
+
+    rc = ESMF_SUCCESS
+
+    call NUOPC_ModelGet(model, importState=importState, &
+      exportState=exportState, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+    call ESMF_LogWrite(logmsgFlag=ESMF_LOGMSG_ERROR, &
+      msg="MPAS NUOPC ATM - Advertise has not been implemented", &
+      line=__LINE__, &
+      file=__FILE__)
+
+  end subroutine Advertise
+
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  subroutine Realize(model, rc)
+    !> Check field connections and realize connected fields
+
+    ! arguments
+    type(ESMF_GridComp)  :: model
+    integer, intent(out) :: rc
+
+    ! local variables
+    type(ESMF_State) :: importState, exportState
+
+    rc = ESMF_SUCCESS
+
+    call NUOPC_ModelGet(model, importState=importState, &
+      exportState=exportState, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+    call ESMF_LogWrite(logmsgFlag=ESMF_LOGMSG_ERROR, &
+      msg="MPAS NUOPC ATM - Realize has not been implemented", &
+      line=__LINE__, &
+      file=__FILE__)
+
+  end subroutine Realize
+
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  subroutine SetClock(model, rc)
+    !> Adjust model clock and time step during initialization
+
+    ! arguments
+    type(ESMF_GridComp)  :: model
+    integer, intent(out) :: rc
+
+    ! local variables
+    type(ESMF_Clock) :: clock
+    type(ESMF_State) :: importState, exportState
+
+    rc = ESMF_SUCCESS
+
+    call NUOPC_ModelGet(model, modelClock=clock, &
+      importState=importState, &
+      exportState=exportState, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+    call ESMF_LogWrite(logmsgFlag=ESMF_LOGMSG_ERROR, &
+      msg="MPAS NUOPC ATM - SetClock has not been implemented", &
+      line=__LINE__, &
+      file=__FILE__)
+
+  end subroutine SetClock
+
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  subroutine DataInitialize(model, rc)
+    !> Initialize data in import and export states
+
+    ! arguments
+    type(ESMF_GridComp)  :: model
+    integer, intent(out) :: rc
+
+    ! local variables
+    type(ESMF_Clock) :: clock
+    type(ESMF_State) :: importState, exportState
+
+    rc = ESMF_SUCCESS
+
+    call NUOPC_ModelGet(model, modelClock=clock, &
+      importState=importState, &
+      exportState=exportState, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+    call NUOPC_CompAttributeSet(model, &
+      name="InitializeDataComplete", value="true", rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+    call ESMF_LogWrite(logmsgFlag=ESMF_LOGMSG_ERROR, &
+      msg="MPAS NUOPC ATM - DataInitialize has not been implemented", &
+      line=__LINE__, &
+      file=__FILE__)
+
+  end subroutine DataInitialize
+
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  subroutine Advance(model, rc)
+    !> Advance model by a single time step
+
+    ! arguments
+    type(ESMF_GridComp)  :: model
+    integer, intent(out) :: rc
+
+    ! local variables
+    type(ESMF_Clock) :: clock
+    type(ESMF_State) :: importState, exportState
+
+    rc = ESMF_SUCCESS
+
+    call NUOPC_ModelGet(model, modelClock=clock, &
+      importState=importState, &
+      exportState=exportState, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+    call ESMF_LogWrite(logmsgFlag=ESMF_LOGMSG_ERROR, &
+      msg="MPAS NUOPC ATM - Advance has not been implemented", &
+      line=__LINE__, &
+      file=__FILE__)
+
+  end subroutine Advance
+
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  subroutine Finalize(model, rc)
+    !> Finalize model and cleanup memory allocations
+
+    ! arguments
+    type(ESMF_GridComp)  :: model
+    integer, intent(out) :: rc
+
+    ! local variables
+    type(ESMF_State)            :: importState, exportState
+
+    rc = ESMF_SUCCESS
+
+    call NUOPC_ModelGet(model, importState=importState, &
+      exportState=exportState, rc=rc)
+    ESMF_ERR_RETURN(rc)
+
+    call ESMF_LogWrite(logmsgFlag=ESMF_LOGMSG_ERROR, &
+      msg="MPAS NUOPC ATM - Finalize has not been implemented", &
+      line=__LINE__, &
+      file=__FILE__)
+
+  end subroutine Finalize
+
+  !-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+end module mpas_nuopc_atm
diff --git a/src/core_init_atmosphere/Makefile b/src/core_init_atmosphere/Makefile
index 3057a4cc07..28cff7e1aa 100644
--- a/src/core_init_atmosphere/Makefile
+++ b/src/core_init_atmosphere/Makefile
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ core_input_gen:
 	( cd default_inputs; $(NL_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml namelist.init_atmosphere in_defaults=true )
 	( cd default_inputs; $(ST_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml streams.init_atmosphere stream_list.init_atmosphere. listed )
 
+nuopc:
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo "NUOPC build does not exist for the init_atmosphere core. Quitting."
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo ""
+	exit 1
+
 gen_includes:
 	$(CPP) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CPPINCLUDES) Registry.xml > Registry_processed.xml
 	(if [ ! -d inc ]; then mkdir -p inc; fi) # To generate *.inc files
diff --git a/src/core_landice/Makefile b/src/core_landice/Makefile
index 572112f291..daaa465f2b 100644
--- a/src/core_landice/Makefile
+++ b/src/core_landice/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ core_input_gen:
 core_reg:
 	$(CPP) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CPPINCLUDES) Registry.xml > Registry_processed.xml
 
+nuopc:
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo "NUOPC build does not exist for the landice core. Quitting."
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo ""
+	exit 1
+
 gen_includes:
 	$(CPP) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CPPINCLUDES) Registry.xml > Registry_processed.xml
 	(if [ ! -d inc ]; then mkdir -p inc; fi) # To generate *.inc files
diff --git a/src/core_ocean/Makefile b/src/core_ocean/Makefile
index 6108b90395..503880d3ab 100644
--- a/src/core_ocean/Makefile
+++ b/src/core_ocean/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ core_input_gen:
 	(cd default_inputs; $(ST_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml streams.ocean.analysis stream_list.ocean.analysis. mutable mode=analysis )
 	(cd default_inputs; $(ST_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml streams.ocean.init stream_list.ocean.init. mutable mode=init )
 
+nuopc:
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo "NUOPC build does not exist for the ocean core. Quitting."
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo ""
+	exit 1
+
 gen_includes:
 	$(CPP) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CPPINCLUDES) Registry.xml > Registry_processed.xml
 	(if [ ! -d inc ]; then mkdir -p inc; fi) # To generate *.inc files
diff --git a/src/core_seaice/Makefile b/src/core_seaice/Makefile
index 798ad2a573..b210287742 100644
--- a/src/core_seaice/Makefile
+++ b/src/core_seaice/Makefile
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ core_input_gen:
 	(cd default_inputs; $(NL_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml namelist.seaice )
 	(cd default_inputs; $(ST_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml streams.seaice stream_list.seaice. listed )
 
+nuopc:
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo "NUOPC build does not exist for the seaice core. Quitting."
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo ""
+	exit 1
+
 post_build:
 	if [ ! -e $(ROOT_DIR)/default_inputs ]; then mkdir $(ROOT_DIR)/default_inputs; fi
 	cp default_inputs/* $(ROOT_DIR)/default_inputs/.
diff --git a/src/core_sw/Makefile b/src/core_sw/Makefile
index 038ca62bfe..8be9850f5e 100644
--- a/src/core_sw/Makefile
+++ b/src/core_sw/Makefile
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@ core_input_gen:
 	(cd default_inputs; $(NL_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml namelist.sw )
 	(cd default_inputs; $(ST_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml streams.sw stream_list.sw. listed )
 
+nuopc:
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo "NUOPC build does not exist for the sw core. Quitting."
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo ""
+	exit 1
+
 gen_includes:
 	$(CPP) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CPPINCLUDES) Registry.xml > Registry_processed.xml
 	(if [ ! -d inc ]; then mkdir -p inc; fi) # To generate *.inc files
diff --git a/src/core_test/Makefile b/src/core_test/Makefile
index ab90084721..d89678378e 100644
--- a/src/core_test/Makefile
+++ b/src/core_test/Makefile
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ core_input_gen:
 	(cd default_inputs; $(NL_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml namelist.test )
 	(cd default_inputs; $(ST_GEN) ../Registry_processed.xml streams.test stream_list.test. listed )
 
+nuopc:
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo "NUOPC build does not exist for the test core. Quitting."
+	@echo "************ ERROR ************"
+	@echo ""
+	exit 1
+
 gen_includes:
 	$(CPP) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CPPINCLUDES) Registry.xml > Registry_processed.xml
 	(if [ ! -d inc ]; then mkdir -p inc; fi) # To generate *.inc files