diff --git a/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/__main__.py b/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/__main__.py
index 1d369f3c..230951c7 100644
--- a/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/__main__.py
+++ b/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/__main__.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 import yaml
 from os import chdir
 from pathlib import Path
-from ngen.cal.configuration import General
+from ngen.cal.configuration import General, Model
+from ngen.cal.ngen import Ngen
 from ngen.cal.search import dds, dds_set, pso_search
 from ngen.cal.strategy import Algorithm
 from ngen.cal.agent import Agent
@@ -42,6 +43,13 @@ def main(general: General, model_conf: Mapping[str, Any]):
         import numpy as np
         np.random.seed(general.random_seed)
 
+    # model scope plugins setup in constructor
+    model = Model(model=model_conf)
+
+    # NOTE: if support for new models is added, this will need to be modified
+    assert isinstance(model.model, Ngen), f"ngen.cal.ngen.Ngen expected, got {type(model.model)}"
+    model_inner = model.model.unwrap()
+
     plugins = cast(List[Union[Callable, ModuleType]], general.plugins)
     plugin_manager = setup_plugin_manager(plugins)
 
@@ -57,8 +65,13 @@ def main(general: General, model_conf: Mapping[str, Any]):
     into a single variable vector and calibrating a set of heterogenous formultions...
     """
     start_iteration = 0
-    #Initialize the starting agent
-    agent = Agent(model_conf, general.workdir, general.log, general.restart, general.strategy.parameters)
+
+    # Initialize the starting agent
+    agent = Agent(model, general.workdir, general.log, general.restart, general.strategy.parameters)
+
+    # Agent mutates the model config, so `ngen_cal_model_configure` is called afterwards
+    model_inner._plugin_manager.hook.ngen_cal_model_configure(config=model_inner)
+
     if general.strategy.algorithm == Algorithm.dds:
         func = dds_set #FIXME what about explicit/dds
         start_iteration = general.start_iteration
diff --git a/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/_hookspec.py b/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/_hookspec.py
index ef1e5bf6..dbda5d88 100644
--- a/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/_hookspec.py
+++ b/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/_hookspec.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     from hypy.nexus import Nexus
 
     from ngen.cal.configuration import General
+    from ngen.cal.model import ModelExec
     from ngen.cal.meta import JobMeta
 
 hookspec = pluggy.HookspecMarker(PROJECT_SLUG)
@@ -51,6 +52,19 @@ def ngen_cal_finish(exception: Exception | None) -> None:
 
 
 class ModelHooks:
+    @hookspec
+    def ngen_cal_model_configure(self, config: ModelExec) -> None:
+        """
+        Called before calibration begins.
+        This allow plugins to perform initial configuration.
+
+        Plugins' configuration data should be provided using the
+        `plugins_settings` field in the `model` section of an `ngen.cal`
+        configuration file.
+        By convention, the name of the plugin should be used as top level key in
+        the `plugin_settings` dictionary.
+        """
+
     @hookspec(firstresult=True)
     def ngen_cal_model_observations(
         self,
diff --git a/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/agent.py b/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/agent.py
index 4f124c8d..6979094a 100644
--- a/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/agent.py
+++ b/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/agent.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from ngen.cal.meta import JobMeta
-from ngen.cal.configuration import Model
+from ngen.cal.configuration import Model, NoModel
 from ngen.cal.utils import pushd
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
@@ -59,9 +59,14 @@ def best_params(self) -> str:
 
 class Agent(BaseAgent):
 
-    def __init__(self, model_conf, workdir: Path, log: bool=False, restart: bool=False, parameters: Mapping[str, Any] | None = {}):
+    def __init__(self, model: Model, workdir: Path, log: bool=False, restart: bool=False, parameters: Mapping[str, Any] | None = {}):
         self._workdir = workdir
         self._job = None
+        assert not isinstance(model.model, NoModel), "invariant"
+        # NOTE: if support for new models is added, support for other model
+        # type variants will be required
+        ngen_model = model.model.unwrap()
+        self._model = model
         if restart:
             # find prior ngen workdirs
             # FIXME if a user starts with an independent calibration strategy
@@ -72,17 +77,15 @@ def __init__(self, model_conf, workdir: Path, log: bool=False, restart: bool=Fal
             # 0 correctly since not all basin params can be loaded.
             # There are probably some similar issues with explicit and independent, since they have
             # similar data semantics
-            workdirs = list(Path.glob(workdir, model_conf['type']+"_*_worker"))
+            workdirs = list(Path.glob(workdir, ngen_model.type+"_*_worker"))
             if len(workdirs) > 1:
                 print("More than one existing workdir, cannot restart")
             elif len(workdirs) == 1:
-                self._job = JobMeta(model_conf['type'], workdir, workdirs[0], log=log)
+                self._job = JobMeta(ngen_model.type, workdir, workdirs[0], log=log)
 
         if self._job is None:
-            self._job = JobMeta(model_conf['type'], workdir, log=log)
-        resolved_binary = Path(model_conf['binary']).resolve()
-        model_conf['workdir'] = self.job.workdir
-        self._model = Model(model=model_conf, binary=resolved_binary)
+            self._job = JobMeta(ngen_model.type, workdir, log=log)
+        ngen_model.workdir = self.job.workdir
         self._model.model.resolve_paths(self.job.workdir)
 
         self._params = parameters
@@ -117,4 +120,4 @@ def duplicate(self) -> Agent:
         data = self.model.__root__.copy(deep=True)
         #return a new agent, which has a unique Model instance
         #and its own Job/workspace
-        return Agent(data.dict(by_alias=True), self._workdir)
+        return Agent(data, self._workdir)
diff --git a/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/ngen.py b/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/ngen.py
index 27c7db13..bf2e1ea3 100644
--- a/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/ngen.py
+++ b/python/ngen_cal/src/ngen/cal/ngen.py
@@ -595,6 +595,11 @@ def get_binary(self) -> str:
         return self.__root__.get_binary()
     def update_config(self, *args, **kwargs):
         return self.__root__.update_config(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def unwrap(self) -> NgenBase:
+        """convenience method that returns the underlying __root__ instance"""
+        return self.__root__
+
     #proxy methods for model
     @property
     def adjustables(self):
diff --git a/python/ngen_cal/tests/conftest.py b/python/ngen_cal/tests/conftest.py
index 64881ce9..678b1cf8 100644
--- a/python/ngen_cal/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/python/ngen_cal/tests/conftest.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import json
 import pandas as pd # type: ignore
 import geopandas as gpd # type: ignore
-from ngen.cal.configuration import General
+from ngen.cal.configuration import General, Model
 from ngen.cal.ngen import Ngen
 from ngen.cal.meta import JobMeta
 from ngen.cal.calibration_cathment import CalibrationCatchment
@@ -104,9 +104,10 @@ def meta(ngen_config, general_config, mocker) -> Generator[JobMeta, None, None]:
     yield m
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def agent(ngen_config, general_config) -> Generator['Agent', None, None]:
-    a = Agent(ngen_config.__root__.dict(), general_config.workdir, general_config.log)
-    yield a
+def agent(ngen_config, general_config) -> Agent:
+    model = Model(model=ngen_config)
+    a = Agent(model, general_config.workdir, general_config.log)
+    return a
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def eval(ngen_config) -> Generator[EvaluationOptions, None, None]:
diff --git a/python/ngen_cal/tests/test_plugin_system.py b/python/ngen_cal/tests/test_plugin_system.py
index b76e9baf..36401b2e 100644
--- a/python/ngen_cal/tests/test_plugin_system.py
+++ b/python/ngen_cal/tests/test_plugin_system.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
     from hypy.nexus import Nexus
 
     from ngen.cal.configuration import General
+    from ngen.cal.model import ModelExec
+    from pathlib import Path
 
 
 def test_setup_plugin_manager():
@@ -74,6 +76,10 @@ def ngen_cal_start(self) -> None:
     def ngen_cal_finish(self) -> None:
         """Called after exiting the calibration loop."""
 
+    @hookimpl
+    def ngen_cal_model_configure(self, config: ModelExec) -> None:
+        """Test model model configure plugin"""
+
     @hookimpl
     def ngen_cal_model_output(self) -> None:
         """Test model output plugin"""