Application Notes:

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 25, 2024.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov or home.grantsolutions.gov. The funding agency requests that applicants apply via home.grantsolutions.gov if they are able to do so.

Applications must include:

• SF 424
• Project abstract summary
• Project statement (10 pages max)
• SF 424A (if applicable)
• SF 424C (if applicable)
• Budget narrative
• Conflict of interest disclosure
• Uniform audit reporting statement
• Certification regarding lobbying (if applicable)
• SF LLL (if applicable)
• Overlap or duplication of effort statement
• Indirect cost statement

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration
• SPOC (state Single Point of Contact) notification

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam. Applicants in states participating in the SPOC program must contact the relevant SPOC listed in the SPOC file before applying.

Applicants requesting comments or assistance with their applications are encouraged to submit optional draft applications to the appropriate regional Office of Conservation Investment (CI) office listed on page 7 of the NOFA file at least four weeks prior to the application submission due date for possible feedback to improve the application.

If the funding agency receives applications requesting more funding than is available, applications will be evaluated according to criteria specific to applicant type, as detailed on pages 19-21 of the NOFA file.

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Notes:

In general, applicants must provide at least 25 percent of total allowable project costs via nonfederal cash and/or in-kind contributions; however, applicants located in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are exempt from the required match.

The required match may be met through contributions from a third party, such as a partner or subrecipient.

Applicants may attribute some or all of their allowable indirect costs as matching contributions.

Funding Notes:

An estimated $15 million is available to support an expected 34 awards through this program. Coastal states may apply for up to $1.5 million for coastal activities and up to $1.5 million for inland activities, for a total of up to $3 million. Inland states may apply for up to $1.5 million. There is no minimum award amount; however, awards typically range from $30,000 to $1.5 million, and the average award amount is approximately $500,000.

The funding agency will fully fund each eligible application requesting $50,000 or less. The amount of funding for applications requesting more than $50,000 will be determined based on the percentage of each application's total score compared to the total possible score, as detailed on page 22 of the NOFA file. No application will receive more than 10 percent of the total available funds, unless there are funds to meet all application requests.

Award announcements are expected to be made in May 2025.

The funding agency recommends a project period of no more than three years, with an extension of up to two years in unusual circumstances.

The funding agency encourages applicants to consider providing services for facilities funded through this program at no cost; however, applicants may charge a usage fee. In general, usage fees are limited to $5, unless the award recipient receives prior written approval from the funding agency. Usage fees must be used to defray operation and maintenance costs for the useful life of the facility.

Unallowable indirect costs may not be shifted to another federal award, unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

For inland states, funds may not be used for creating and/or revising state plans.

Funds may not be used for:

• Overlapping previous awards provided through this program
• Lobbying activities
• Activities that do not provide public benefits
• Law enforcement activities
• Construction/renovation of upland restroom facilities
• Construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of on-site sewage treatment plants, such as package treatment plants and septic systems, and municipal sewage treatment plants for primary and secondary treatment
• Law enforcement related to inspection or monitoring programs to ensure pumpouts installed through this program are in working order
• Boats used for the primary purpose as a residence

For FY 2025, a total of $17,767,742 was distributed via 30 awards ranging from $6,500 to $1.5 million through this program. For FY 2024, a total of $14,645,277 was distributed via 25 awards ranging from $28,609 to $1.5 million. For FY 2023, a total of $16,066,041 was distributed among 32 recipients. Refer to the Award file for details.

August 25, 2025
Information regarding awards through this program has been released and appended to the Award file. A sample of award recipients has been added to the Eligibility section, and a brief summary of the awards has been added to the Financial section.