diff --git a/app/adapters/node-request.ts b/app/adapters/node-request.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..32f1d140bc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/adapters/node-request.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// app/adapters/user-message.js
+import { inject as service } from '@ember/service';
+import config from 'ember-osf-web/config/environment';
+const { OSF: { apiUrl } } = config;
+import OsfAdapter from './osf-adapter';
+
+export default class NodeRequestAdapter extends OsfAdapter {
+    @service session;
+
+    urlForCreateRecord(modelName, snapshot) {
+        const nodeId = snapshot.record.target;
+        return `${apiUrl}/v2/nodes/${nodeId}/request/`;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/adapters/user-message.ts b/app/adapters/user-message.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a92b865c714
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/adapters/user-message.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// app/adapters/user-message.js
+import { inject as service } from '@ember/service';
+import config from 'ember-osf-web/config/environment';
+const { OSF: { apiUrl } } = config;
+import OsfAdapter from './osf-adapter';
+
+export default class UserMessageAdapter extends OsfAdapter {
+    @service session;
+    urlForCreateRecord(modelName, snapshot) {
+        const userId = snapshot.record.user;
+        return `${apiUrl}/v2/users/${userId}/messages/`;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/component.ts b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/component.ts
index 629c23e4dbd..db50069d454 100644
--- a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/component.ts
+++ b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/component.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@ import InstitutionModel from 'ember-osf-web/models/institution';
 import { SuggestedFilterOperators } from 'ember-osf-web/models/related-property-path';
 import SearchResultModel from 'ember-osf-web/models/search-result';
 import { Filter } from 'osf-components/components/search-page/component';
+import { waitFor } from '@ember/test-waiters';
+import { task } from 'ember-concurrency';
+import Toast from 'ember-toastr/services/toast';
+import { inject as service } from '@ember/service';
+import Intl from 'ember-intl/services/intl';
+import Store from '@ember-data/store';
+import CurrentUser from 'ember-osf-web/services/current-user';
+
 
 interface Column {
     name: string;
@@ -46,8 +54,16 @@ export default class InstitutionalObjectList extends Component<InstitutionalObje
     @tracked projectRequestModalShown = false;
     @tracked activeTab = 'request-access'; // Default tab
     @tracked messageText = '';
-    @tracked cc = false;
+    @tracked bcc_sender = false;
     @tracked replyTo = false;
+    @tracked selectedUserId = '';
+    @tracked selectedNodeId = '';
+    @tracked showSendMessagePrompt = false;
+    @service toast!: Toast;
+    @service intl!: Intl;
+    @service store!: Store;
+    @service currentUser!: CurrentUser;
+
 
     get queryOptions() {
         const options = {
@@ -98,49 +114,31 @@ export default class InstitutionalObjectList extends Component<InstitutionalObje
         }
     }
 
-
     @action
-    openProjectRequestModal() {
+    openProjectRequestModal(contributor: any) {
+        this.selectedUserId = contributor.user_id;
+        this.selectedNodeId = contributor.node_id;
         this.projectRequestModalShown = true;
     }
 
     @action
-    closeProjectRequestModal() {
-        this.projectRequestModalShown = false;
-    }
-
-    @action
-    toggleProjectRequestModal() {
-        this.projectRequestModalShown = !this.projectRequestModalShown;
-        if (!this.projectRequestModalShown) {
-            this.messageText = ''; // Reset message text on close
-        }
-    }
-
-    @action
-    toggleCc() {
-        this.cc = !this.cc;
-    }
-
-    @action
-    toggleReplyTo() {
-        this.replyTo = !this.replyTo;
-    }
+    handleBackToSendMessage() {
+        this.activeTab = 'send-message';
+        this.showSendMessagePrompt = false;
+        setTimeout(() => {
+            this.projectRequestModalShown = true; // Reopen the main modal
+        }, 200);
 
-    @action
-    updateMessageText(event: Event) {
-        this.messageText = (event.target as HTMLTextAreaElement).value;
     }
 
     @action
-    toggleMessageModal() {
-        this.messageModalShown = !this.messageModalShown;
+    closeSendMessagePrompt() {
+        this.showSendMessagePrompt = false; // Hide confirmation modal without reopening
     }
 
     @action
-    sendMessage() {
-        console.log('Message sent:', this.messageText);
-        this.toggleMessageModal(); // Close modal after sending
+    toggleProjectRequestModal() {
+        this.projectRequestModalShown = !this.projectRequestModalShown;
     }
 
 
@@ -176,17 +174,73 @@ export default class InstitutionalObjectList extends Component<InstitutionalObje
     }
 
     @action
-    setActiveTab(tabName) {
+    setActiveTab(tabName: string) {
         this.activeTab = tabName;
     }
 
 
     @action
     resetFields() {
-        this.messageText = '';
         this.selectedPermission = 'read';
-        this.cc = false;
+        this.bcc_sender = false;
         this.replyTo = false;
     }
 
+    @task
+    @waitFor
+    async handleSend() {
+        try {
+            if (this.activeTab === 'send-message') {
+                await this._sendUserMessage();
+            } else if (this.activeTab === 'request-access') {
+                await this._sendNodeRequest();
+            }
+
+            this.toast.success(
+                this.intl.t('institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.message_sent_success'),
+            );
+            this.resetFields();
+        } catch (error) {
+            const errorDetail = error?.errors?.[0]?.detail || '';
+
+            // Check for the specific error where access requests are disabled
+            if (error.status === 400 && errorDetail.includes('does not have Access Requests enabled')) {
+                setTimeout(() => {
+                    this.showSendMessagePrompt = true; //  timeout to allow the other to exit
+                }, 200);
+            } else {
+                this.toast.error(
+                    this.intl.t('institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.message_sent_failed'),
+                );
+            }
+        } finally {
+            this.projectRequestModalShown = false; // Close the main modal
+        }
+    }
+
+    async _sendUserMessage() {
+        const userMessage = this.store.createRecord('user-message', {
+            messageText: this.messageText.trim(),
+            messageType: 'institutional_request',
+            bcc_sender: this.bcc_sender,
+            replyTo: this.replyTo,
+            institution: this.args.institution,
+            user: this.selectedUserId,
+        });
+        await userMessage.save();
+    }
+
+    async _sendNodeRequest() {
+        const nodeRequest = this.store.createRecord('node-request', {
+            comment: this.messageText.trim(),
+            requestType: 'institutional_access',
+            requestedPermission: this.selectedPermission,
+            bcc_sender: this.bcc_sender,
+            replyTo: this.replyTo,
+            institution: this.args.institution,
+            message_recipent: this.selectedUserId,
+            target: this.selectedNodeId,
+        });
+        await nodeRequest.save();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/component.ts b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/component.ts
index 1c0a69f484b..3e66109559e 100644
--- a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/component.ts
+++ b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/component.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 import Component from '@glimmer/component';
 import { inject as service } from '@ember/service';
 import Intl from 'ember-intl/services/intl';
+import { action } from '@ember/object';
+import { getOsfmapObjects, getSingleOsfmapValue, hasOsfmapValue } from 'ember-osf-web/packages/osfmap/jsonld';
 
 import InstitutionModel from 'ember-osf-web/models/institution';
 import SearchResultModel from 'ember-osf-web/models/search-result';
 import { AttributionRoleIris } from 'ember-osf-web/models/index-card';
-import { getOsfmapObjects, getSingleOsfmapValue, hasOsfmapValue } from 'ember-osf-web/packages/osfmap/jsonld';
 
 interface ContributorsFieldArgs {
     searchResult: SearchResultModel;
     institution: InstitutionModel;
+    projectRequestModal: (contributor: any) => void;
 }
 
 const roleIriToTranslationKey: Record<AttributionRoleIris, string> = {
@@ -18,20 +20,20 @@ const roleIriToTranslationKey: Record<AttributionRoleIris, string> = {
     [AttributionRoleIris.Read]: 'general.permissions.read',
 };
 
-
 export default class InstitutionalObjectListContributorsField extends Component<ContributorsFieldArgs> {
     @service intl!: Intl;
 
-    // Return two contributors affiliated with the institution given with highest permission levels
     get topInstitutionAffiliatedContributors() {
         const { searchResult, institution } = this.args;
-        const {resourceMetadata} = searchResult;
+        const { resourceMetadata } = searchResult;
+
         const attributions: any[] = getOsfmapObjects(resourceMetadata, ['qualifiedAttribution']);
         const contributors = getOsfmapObjects(resourceMetadata, ['creator']);
         const institutionIris = institution.iris;
 
-        const affiliatedAttributions = attributions
-            .filter((attribution: any) => hasInstitutionAffiliation(contributors, attribution, institutionIris));
+        const affiliatedAttributions = attributions.filter((attribution: any) =>
+            hasInstitutionAffiliation(contributors, attribution, institutionIris));
+
         const adminAttributions = affiliatedAttributions.filter(
             attribution => hasOsfmapValue(attribution, ['hadRole'], AttributionRoleIris.Admin),
         );
@@ -47,32 +49,40 @@ export default class InstitutionalObjectListContributorsField extends Component<
         return prioritizedAttributions.slice(0, 2).map(attribution => {
             const contributor = getContributorById(contributors, getSingleOsfmapValue(attribution, ['agent']));
             const roleIri: AttributionRoleIris = getSingleOsfmapValue(attribution, ['hadRole']);
+
+            const regex = /([^?#]+)$/; // Regex to extract the final part after the last slash
+            const contributorId = contributor?.['@id']?.match(regex)?.[1] || '';
+
             return {
-                name: getSingleOsfmapValue(contributor,['name']),
+                name: getSingleOsfmapValue(contributor, ['name']) || 'Unknown Contributor',
+                user_id: contributorId,
+                node_id: searchResult.indexCard.get('osfGuid'),
                 url: getSingleOsfmapValue(contributor, ['identifier']),
                 permissionLevel: this.intl.t(roleIriToTranslationKey[roleIri]),
             };
         });
     }
+
+    @action
+    handleOpenModal(contributor: any) {
+        this.args.projectRequestModal(contributor);
+    }
 }
 
 function hasInstitutionAffiliation(contributors: any[], attribution: any, institutionIris: string[]) {
     const attributedContributor = getContributorById(contributors, getSingleOsfmapValue(attribution, ['agent']));
 
-    if (!attributedContributor.affiliation) {
+    if (!attributedContributor?.affiliation) {
         return false;
     }
 
-    return attributedContributor.affiliation.some(
-        (affiliation: any) => {
-            if (affiliation.identifier) {
-                return affiliation.identifier.some(
-                    (affiliationIdentifier: any) => institutionIris.includes(affiliationIdentifier['@value']),
-                );
-            }
-            return institutionIris.includes(affiliation['@id']);
-        },
-    );
+    return attributedContributor.affiliation.some((affiliation: any) => {
+        if (affiliation.identifier) {
+            return affiliation.identifier.some((affiliationIdentifier: any) =>
+                institutionIris.includes(affiliationIdentifier['@value']));
+        }
+        return institutionIris.includes(affiliation['@id']);
+    });
 }
 
 function getContributorById(contributors: any[], contributorId: string) {
diff --git a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/styles.scss b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/styles.scss
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..da8d8a88a6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/styles.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+
+.icon-message {
+    opacity: 0;
+    color: $color-text-blue-dark;
+    background-color: inherit !important;
+    border: 0 !important;
+    box-shadow: 0 !important;
+}
+
+.icon-message:hover {
+    opacity: 1;
+    background-color: inherit !important;
+}
+
diff --git a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/template.hbs b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/template.hbs
index 992e6be26a3..e2968eed90a 100644
--- a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/template.hbs
+++ b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/contributors-field/template.hbs
@@ -7,6 +7,13 @@
         </OsfLink>
         {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.table-items.permission-level' permissionLevel=contributor.permissionLevel}}
     </div>
+    <Button
+        local-class='icon-message'
+        aria-label={{t 'institutions.dashboard.request_project_message_modal.open_aira_label'}}
+        {{on 'click' (fn this.handleOpenModal contributor)}}
+    >
+        <FaIcon @icon='comment' />
+    </Button>
 {{else}}
     <div>
         {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.table-items.no-contributors'}}
diff --git a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/styles.scss b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/styles.scss
index 395963da65c..3a3ebc194c7 100644
--- a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/styles.scss
+++ b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/styles.scss
@@ -129,19 +129,6 @@
     padding-left: 10px;
 }
 
-.icon-message {
-    opacity: 0;
-    color: $color-text-blue-dark;
-    background-color: inherit !important;
-    border: 0 !important;
-    box-shadow: 0 !important;
-}
-
-.icon-message:hover {
-    opacity: 1;
-    background-color: inherit !important;
-}
-
 .message-textarea {
     min-width: 450px;
     min-height: 280px;
@@ -188,7 +175,7 @@
     text-align: center;
     cursor: pointer;
     background: #f9f9f9;
-    border: none;
+    border: 0;
     border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;
 
     &.active {
diff --git a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/template.hbs b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/template.hbs
index 60cc9fd994e..e000211e640 100644
--- a/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/template.hbs
+++ b/app/institutions/dashboard/-components/object-list/template.hbs
@@ -164,14 +164,8 @@ as |list|>
                                                     <Institutions::Dashboard::-Components::ObjectList::ContributorsField
                                                         @searchResult={{result}}
                                                         @institution={{@institution}}
+                                                        @projectRequestModal={{this.openProjectRequestModal}}
                                                     />
-                                                    <Button
-                                                        local-class='icon-message'
-                                                        aria-label={{t 'institutions.dashboard.request_project_message_modal.open_aira_label'}}
-                                                        {{on 'click' (fn this.openProjectRequestModal result.id)}}
-                                                    >
-                                                        <FaIcon @icon='comment' />
-                                                    </Button>
                                                 {{else}}
                                                     {{call (fn column.getValue result)}}
                                                 {{/if}}
@@ -269,62 +263,59 @@ as |list|>
         {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.title'}}
     </dialog.heading>
     <dialog.main>
-        <div local-class="tab-container">
-            <button
-                local-class="tab-button {{if (eq this.activeTab 'request-access') 'active'}}"
-                {{on "click" (fn this.setActiveTab "request-access")}}
+        <div local-class='tab-container'>
+            <Button
+                local-class='tab-button {{if (eq this.activeTab 'request-access') 'active'}}'
+                {{on 'click' (fn this.setActiveTab 'request-access')}}
             >
                 {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.tabs.request_access'}}
-            </button>
-            <button
-                local-class="tab-button {{if (eq this.activeTab 'send-message') 'active'}}"
-                {{on "click" (fn this.setActiveTab "send-message")}}
+            </Button>
+            <Button
+                local-class='tab-button {{if (eq this.activeTab 'send-message') 'active'}}'
+                {{on 'click' (fn this.setActiveTab 'send-message')}}
             >
                 {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.tabs.send_message'}}
-            </button>
+            </Button>
         </div>
 
-        {{#if (eq this.activeTab "request-access")}}
-            <div local-class="tab-pane">
+        {{#if (eq this.activeTab 'request-access')}}
+            <div local-class='tab-pane'>
                 <p local-class='message-label'>
                     {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.request_label'}}
                 </p>
                 <div local-class='radiobox-container'>
                     <label local-class='radiobox-item'>
-                        <input
-                            type='radio'
-                            name='permission'
-                            value='admin'
-                            checked={{eq this.selectedPermission 'admin'}}
-                            {{on 'change' this.updateSelectedPermission}}
+                        <Input
+                            @type='radio'
+                            @name='permission'
+                            @value='admin'
+                            @checked={{eq this.selectedPermission 'admin'}}
                         />
                         {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.admin_permission_label'}}
                     </label>
                     <label local-class='radiobox-item'>
-                        <input
-                            type='radio'
-                            name='permission'
-                            value='write'
-                            checked={{eq this.selectedPermission 'write'}}
-                            {{on 'change' this.updateSelectedPermission}}
+                        <Input
+                            @type='radio'
+                            @name='permission'
+                            @value='write'
+                            @checked={{eq this.selectedPermission 'write'}}
                         />
                         {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.write_permission_label'}}
                     </label>
                     <Textarea
-                        id='message-text'
                         local-class='message-textarea'
                         @value={{this.messageText}}
                     />
                     <p local-class='message-label'>
-                        {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.closing_message_label' adminName='CHANGEME'}}
+                        {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.closing_message_label' htmlSafe=true adminName=this.currentUser.user.fullName}}
                     </p>
                     <div local-class='checkbox-container'>
                         <label local-class='checkbox-item'>
-                            <input type='checkbox' checked={{this.cc}} {{on 'change' this.toggleCc}} />
+                            <Input @type='checkbox' @checked={{this.bcc_sender}} />
                             {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.cc_label'}}
                         </label>
                         <label local-class='checkbox-item'>
-                            <input type='checkbox' checked={{this.replyTo}} {{on 'change' this.toggleReplyTo}} />
+                            <Input @type='checkbox' @checked={{this.replyTo}} />
                             {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.reply_to_label'}}
                         </label>
                     </div>
@@ -332,26 +323,25 @@ as |list|>
             </div>
         {{/if}}
 
-        {{#if (eq this.activeTab "send-message")}}
-            <div local-class="tab-pane">
+        {{#if (eq this.activeTab 'send-message')}}
+            <div local-class='tab-pane'>
                 <p local-class='message-label'>
                     {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.opening_message_label'}}
                 </p>
                 <Textarea
-                    id='message-text'
                     local-class='message-textarea'
                     @value={{this.messageText}}
                 />
                 <p local-class='message-label'>
-                    {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.closing_message_label' adminName='CHANGEME'}}
+                    {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.closing_message_label' htmlSafe=true adminName=this.currentUser.user.fullName}}
                 </p>
                 <div local-class='checkbox-container'>
                     <label local-class='checkbox-item'>
-                        <input type='checkbox' checked={{this.cc}} {{on 'change' this.toggleCc}} />
+                        <Input @type='checkbox' @checked={{this.bcc_sender}} />
                         {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.cc_label'}}
                     </label>
                     <label local-class='checkbox-item'>
-                        <input type='checkbox' checked={{this.replyTo}} {{on 'change' this.toggleReplyTo}} />
+                        <Input @type='checkbox' @checked={{this.replyTo}} />
                         {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.reply_to_label'}}
                     </label>
                 </div>
@@ -368,9 +358,32 @@ as |list|>
         <Button
             @type='primary'
             @disabled={{not this.messageText.trim}}
-            {{on 'click' (queue (perform this.sendMessage) dialog.close)}}
+            {{on 'click' (queue (perform this.handleSend) dialog.close)}}
         >
             {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.send'}}
         </Button>
     </dialog.footer>
 </OsfDialog>
+<OsfDialog
+    @isOpen={{this.showSendMessagePrompt}}
+    @onClose={{this.closeSendMessagePrompt}}
+    local-class='confirmation-prompt'
+    as |dialog|
+>
+    <dialog.heading>
+        {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.send_message_prompt.title'}}
+    </dialog.heading>
+    <dialog.main>
+        <p local-class='confirmation-message'>
+            {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.send_message_prompt.message'}}
+        </p>
+    </dialog.main>
+    <dialog.footer>
+        <Button
+            @type='primary'
+            {{on 'click' this.handleBackToSendMessage}}
+        >
+            {{t 'institutions.dashboard.object-list.request-project-message-modal.send_message_prompt.back'}}
+        </Button>
+    </dialog.footer>
+</OsfDialog>
diff --git a/app/models/node-request.ts b/app/models/node-request.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9f213a8235b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/node-request.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// app/models/node-request.js
+import Model, { attr, belongsTo } from '@ember-data/model';
+
+export default class NodeRequestModel extends Model {
+  @attr('string') comment;
+  @attr('string') request_type;
+  @attr('boolean') bcc_sender;
+  @attr('boolean') replyTo;
+  @belongsTo('institution') institution;
+  @belongsTo('user') message_recipent;
+  @belongsTo('node') node;
+
+}
diff --git a/app/models/user-message.ts b/app/models/user-message.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9e66b3fa8fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/user-message.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// app/models/user-message.js
+import Model, { attr, belongsTo } from '@ember-data/model';
+
+export enum MessageTypeChoices {
+    InstitutionalRequest = 'institutional_request',
+}
+
+
+export default class UserMessageModel extends Model {
+  @attr('string') messageText;
+  @attr('string') messageType: MessageTypeChoices;
+  @attr('boolean') bcc_sender;
+  @attr('boolean') replyTo;
+  @belongsTo('institution') institution;
+}
diff --git a/config/environment.js b/config/environment.js
index 864e31cea9a..56f12bae31a 100644
--- a/config/environment.js
+++ b/config/environment.js
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ const {
     KEEN_CONFIG: keenConfig,
     LINT_ON_BUILD: lintOnBuild = false,
     WATER_BUTLER_ENABLED = true,
-    MIRAGE_ENABLED = true,
+    MIRAGE_ENABLED = false,
     MIRAGE_SCENARIOS = [
         'cedar',
         'collections',
diff --git a/translations/en-us.yml b/translations/en-us.yml
index e53f0d08d4d..cdf20cd3471 100644
--- a/translations/en-us.yml
+++ b/translations/en-us.yml
@@ -903,7 +903,10 @@ institutions:
               send: 'Send'
               cc_label: 'CC sender'
               reply_to_label: 'Allow reply to sender address'
-
+              send_message_prompt:
+                title: "Can't Request Access"
+                message: "This user has their request access feature turned off.<br> Reach out to the user via the User tab by pressing the 'Back' button below."
+                back: "Back"
             table-headers:
                 title: Title
                 link: Link