diff --git a/dev/ci/cases/pr/C96mx025_S2S.yaml b/dev/ci/cases/pr/C96mx025_S2S.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..04510e59ce6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev/ci/cases/pr/C96mx025_S2S.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+experiment:
+  net: sfs
+  mode: forecast-only
+  idate: 1994050100
+  edate: 1994050100
+  pslot: {{ 'pslot' | getenv }}
+  app: S2S
+  resdetatmos: 96
+  resensatmos: 96
+  resdetocean: 0.25 
+  start: 'cold'
+  nens: 2
+  comroot: {{ 'RUNTESTS' | getenv }}/COMROOT
+  expdir: {{ 'RUNTESTS' | getenv }}/EXPDIR
+  icsdir: {{ 'ICSDIR_ROOT' | getenv }}/C96mx025/20251217
+  yaml: {{ HOMEgfs }}/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_CPC_defaults.yaml
+
+skip_ci_on_hosts:
+  - gaeac5
+  - awsepicglobalworkflow
+
+workflow:
+  engine: rocoto
+  rocoto:
+    maxtries: 2
+    cyclethrottle: 3
+    taskthrottle: 25
+    verbosity: 2
diff --git a/dev/ci/cases/yamls/gefs_defaults_ci.yaml b/dev/ci/cases/yamls/gefs_defaults_ci.yaml
index d90c858b1ec..5919e9ad4e8 100644
--- a/dev/ci/cases/yamls/gefs_defaults_ci.yaml
+++ b/dev/ci/cases/yamls/gefs_defaults_ci.yaml
@@ -8,5 +8,4 @@ base:
   DO_BUFRSND: "NO"
   DO_GEMPAK: "NO"
   DO_AWIPS: "NO"
-ocn:
   MOM6_INTERP_ICS: "NO"
diff --git a/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_CPC_defaults.yaml b/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_CPC_defaults.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f977aa6c0ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_CPC_defaults.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+defaults:
+  !INC {{ HOMEgfs }}/dev/parm/config/sfs/yaml/defaults.yaml
+base:
+  FHMAX_GFS: 144
+  FCST_BREAKPOINTS: "48,96"
+  USE_OCN_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "YES"
+  USE_ATM_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "YES"
+  MOM6_INTERP_ICS: "YES"
+nsst:
+  NST_SPINUP: 1
diff --git a/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_defaults.yaml b/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_defaults.yaml
index c59676a9069..9251f55fb55 100644
--- a/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_defaults.yaml
+++ b/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_defaults.yaml
@@ -5,5 +5,4 @@ base:
   FCST_BREAKPOINTS: "48,96"
   USE_OCN_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "YES"
   USE_ATM_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "YES"
-ocn:
   MOM6_INTERP_ICS: "YES"
diff --git a/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_full.yaml b/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_full.yaml
index a2c21e4b621..9426dd42e78 100644
--- a/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_full.yaml
+++ b/dev/ci/cases/yamls/sfs_full.yaml
@@ -5,5 +5,4 @@ base:
   FCST_BREAKPOINTS: ""
   USE_OCN_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "YES"
   USE_ATM_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "YES"
-ocn:
   MOM6_INTERP_ICS: "YES"
diff --git a/dev/ci/gitlab-ci-hosts.yml b/dev/ci/gitlab-ci-hosts.yml
index 5511b16fd49..222776f96ea 100644
--- a/dev/ci/gitlab-ci-hosts.yml
+++ b/dev/ci/gitlab-ci-hosts.yml
@@ -22,19 +22,19 @@
 
 # Template matrices for case lists
 .hera_cases_matrix: &hera_cases
-  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C48mx500_3DVarAOWCDA", "C48mx500_hybAOWCDA", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48_hybatmsnowDA", "C96C48_hybatmsoilDA", "C96C48_ufsgsi_hybatmDA", "C96C48_ufs_hybatmDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96_gcafs_cycled", "C96_gcafs_cycled_noDA", "C96mx100_S2S"]
+  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C48mx500_3DVarAOWCDA", "C48mx500_hybAOWCDA", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48_hybatmsnowDA", "C96C48_hybatmsoilDA", "C96C48_ufsgsi_hybatmDA", "C96C48_ufs_hybatmDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96_gcafs_cycled", "C96_gcafs_cycled_noDA", "C96mx100_S2S", "C96mx025_S2S"]
 
 .gaeac6_cases_matrix: &gaeac6_cases
-  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C48mx500_3DVarAOWCDA", "C48mx500_hybAOWCDA", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48_hybatmsnowDA", "C96C48_hybatmsoilDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96_gcafs_cycled", "C96_gcafs_cycled_noDA", "C96mx100_S2S"]
+  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C48mx500_3DVarAOWCDA", "C48mx500_hybAOWCDA", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48_hybatmsnowDA", "C96C48_hybatmsoilDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96_gcafs_cycled", "C96_gcafs_cycled_noDA", "C96mx100_S2S", "C96mx025_S2S"]
 
 .orion_cases_matrix: &orion_cases
-  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96mx100_S2S", "C96_gcafs_cycled"]
+  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96mx100_S2S", "C96_gcafs_cycled", "C96mx025_S2S"]
 
 .hercules_cases_matrix: &hercules_cases
-  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C48mx500_3DVarAOWCDA", "C48mx500_hybAOWCDA", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96mx100_S2S", "C96_gcafs_cycled"]
+  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C48mx500_3DVarAOWCDA", "C48mx500_hybAOWCDA", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96mx100_S2S", "C96_gcafs_cycled", "C96mx025_S2S"]
 
 .ursa_cases_matrix: &ursa_cases
-  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C48mx500_3DVarAOWCDA", "C48mx500_hybAOWCDA", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48_hybatmsnowDA", "C96C48_hybatmsoilDA", "C96C48_ufsgsi_hybatmDA", "C96C48_ufs_hybatmDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96mx100_S2S"]
+  - caseName: ["C48_ATM", "C48_S2SW", "C48_S2SWA_gefs", "C48mx500_3DVarAOWCDA", "C48mx500_hybAOWCDA", "C96C48_hybatmDA", "C96C48_hybatmsnowDA", "C96C48_hybatmsoilDA", "C96C48_ufsgsi_hybatmDA", "C96C48_ufs_hybatmDA", "C96C48mx500_S2SW_cyc_gfs", "C96_atm3DVar", "C96mx100_S2S", "C96mx025_S2S"]
 
 # Host: Hera - Standard Cases
 setup_experiments-hera:
diff --git a/dev/parm/config/gefs/config.base.j2 b/dev/parm/config/gefs/config.base.j2
index a44ca83d6aa..e6be151924f 100644
--- a/dev/parm/config/gefs/config.base.j2
+++ b/dev/parm/config/gefs/config.base.j2
@@ -326,4 +326,7 @@ export CLIENT_GLOBUS_UUID="{{ CLIENT_GLOBUS_UUID }}"
 # Number of regional collectives to create soundings for
 export NUM_SND_COLLECTIVES=${NUM_SND_COLLECTIVES:-9}
 
+# MOM6 IC setting needed for forecast and stage ics
+export MOM6_INTERP_ICS="{{ MOM6_INTERP_ICS }}"
+
 echo "END: config.base"
diff --git a/dev/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs b/dev/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
index 33c06d70d0a..09b0ba2ef0e 100644
--- a/dev/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
+++ b/dev/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ if [[ "${skip_mom6}" == "false" ]]; then
       FRUNOFF="runoff.daitren.clim.${NX_GLB}x${NY_GLB}.v20180328.nc"
       CHLCLIM="seawifs-clim-1997-2010.${NX_GLB}x${NY_GLB}.v20180328.nc"
       MOM6_RIVER_RUNOFF='True'
-      MOM6_RESTART_SETTING="r"
+      MOM6_RESTART_SETTING=${MOM6_RESTART_SETTING:-'r'}
       eps_imesh="1.0e-1"
       case ${RUN} in
         gfs|gefs|sfs)
diff --git a/dev/parm/config/gefs/yaml/defaults.yaml b/dev/parm/config/gefs/yaml/defaults.yaml
index b302a8bf30b..fe16b97100e 100644
--- a/dev/parm/config/gefs/yaml/defaults.yaml
+++ b/dev/parm/config/gefs/yaml/defaults.yaml
@@ -21,14 +21,13 @@ base:
   USE_OCN_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "NO"
   USE_ATM_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "NO"
   DO_TEST_MODE: "NO"
+  MOM6_INTERP_ICS: "NO"
 fcst:
   CHECK_LAND_RESTART_OROG: "YES"
   reforecast: "NO"
   FHZERO: 6
   TYPE: "nh"
   MONO: "non-mono"
-ocn:
-  MOM6_INTERP_ICS: "NO"
 nsst:
   NST_SPINUP: 0
 # config.aero has just a system-specific path to add.
diff --git a/dev/parm/config/gfs/config.ocn.j2 b/dev/parm/config/gfs/config.ocn.j2
index b9669be2c8a..91eb3c973a4 100644
--- a/dev/parm/config/gfs/config.ocn.j2
+++ b/dev/parm/config/gfs/config.ocn.j2
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ else
   export ODA_INCUPD_NHOURS="3.0"
 fi
 
-MOM6_INTERP_ICS="{{ MOM6_INTERP_ICS }}"
-if [[ "${MOM6_INTERP_ICS}" == "YES" ]]; then
+if [[ "${MOM6_INTERP_ICS:-NO}" == "YES" ]]; then
     export MOM6_RESTART_SETTING='n'
     export MOM6_WARMSTART_FILE="MOM.res.nc"
     export MOM6_INIT_FROM_Z='False'
diff --git a/dev/parm/config/sfs/config.base.j2 b/dev/parm/config/sfs/config.base.j2
index 860f892ce15..3103f6deb37 100644
--- a/dev/parm/config/sfs/config.base.j2
+++ b/dev/parm/config/sfs/config.base.j2
@@ -322,4 +322,7 @@ export ARCHCOM_TO="{{ ARCHCOM_TO }}"    # Valid options are hpss, globus_hpss, a
 # Number of regional collectives to create soundings for
 export NUM_SND_COLLECTIVES=${NUM_SND_COLLECTIVES:-9}
 
+# MOM6 IC setting needed for forecast and stage ics
+export MOM6_INTERP_ICS="{{ MOM6_INTERP_ICS }}"
+
 echo "END: config.base"
diff --git a/dev/parm/config/sfs/config.efcs b/dev/parm/config/sfs/config.efcs
index 2f8662dac9e..95830046778 100644
--- a/dev/parm/config/sfs/config.efcs
+++ b/dev/parm/config/sfs/config.efcs
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ source "${EXPDIR}/config.ufs" ${string}
 source "${EXPDIR}/config.resources" efcs
 
 # Stochastic physics parameters (only for ensemble forecasts)
-if [[ "${CASE}" == "C96" ]] ; then
-    export DO_SKEB="NO" # SKEB turned off for C96
+if [[ "${TYPE}" == "hydro" ]] ; then
+    export DO_SKEB="NO" # SKEB turned off for hydrostatic runs due to bug in FV3
     export SKEB=-999.
 else
     export DO_SKEB="YES" # SKEB turned on for all other resolutions
diff --git a/dev/parm/config/sfs/yaml/defaults.yaml b/dev/parm/config/sfs/yaml/defaults.yaml
index 305183fdf88..ebfe070d61a 100644
--- a/dev/parm/config/sfs/yaml/defaults.yaml
+++ b/dev/parm/config/sfs/yaml/defaults.yaml
@@ -21,14 +21,13 @@ base:
   USE_OCN_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "NO"
   USE_ATM_ENS_PERTURB_FILES: "NO"
   DO_TEST_MODE: "NO"
+  MOM6_INTERP_ICS: "NO"
 fcst:
   CHECK_LAND_RESTART_OROG: "YES"
   reforecast: "YES"
   FHZERO: 24
   TYPE: "hydro"
   MONO: "mono"
-ocn:
-  MOM6_INTERP_ICS: "NO"
 nsst:
   NST_SPINUP: 0
 # config.aero has just a system-specific path to add.
diff --git a/parm/stage/ocean.yaml.j2 b/parm/stage/ocean.yaml.j2
index 5916e69aff7..aeca4439df7 100644
--- a/parm/stage/ocean.yaml.j2
+++ b/parm/stage/ocean.yaml.j2
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ ocean:
         - "{{ COMOUT_OCEAN_RESTART_PREV }}"
     link_req:
         - ["{{ ICSDIR }}/{{ COMOUT_OCEAN_RESTART_PREV | relpath(ROTDIR) }}/{{ m_prefix }}.MOM.res.nc", "{{ COMOUT_OCEAN_RESTART_PREV }}"]
-        {% if OCNRES == "025" %}
+        {% if OCNRES == "025" and not MOM6_INTERP_ICS %}
         {% for nn in range(1, 4) %}
         - ["{{ ICSDIR }}/{{ COMOUT_OCEAN_RESTART_PREV | relpath(ROTDIR) }}/{{ m_prefix }}.MOM.res_{{ nn }}.nc", "{{ COMOUT_OCEAN_RESTART_PREV }}"]
         {% endfor %}
diff --git a/ush/python/pygfs/task/stage_ic.py b/ush/python/pygfs/task/stage_ic.py
index 873d4346593..f660fb7096d 100644
--- a/ush/python/pygfs/task/stage_ic.py
+++ b/ush/python/pygfs/task/stage_ic.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def _copy_base_config(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
             'ROTDIR', 'ICSDIR', 'STAGE_IC_YAML_TMPL', 'DO_JEDIATMVAR',
             'OCNRES', 'waveGRD', 'ntiles', 'DOIAU', 'ATMINC_GRID',
             'DO_JEDIOCNVAR', 'DO_STARTMEM_FROM_JEDIICE',
-            'DO_WAVE', 'DO_OCN', 'DO_ICE', 'DO_NEST', 'DO_CA', 'DO_AERO_ANL',
+            'DO_WAVE', 'DO_OCN', 'DO_ICE', 'DO_NEST', 'DO_CA', 'DO_AERO_ANL', 'MOM6_INTERP_ICS',
             'USE_ATM_ENS_PERTURB_FILES', 'USE_OCN_ENS_PERTURB_FILES', 'DO_GSISOILDA', 'DO_LAND_IAU'
         ]