Opportunity Information: Apply for F26AS00030
Apply for F26AS00030
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F26AS00030 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.615.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $14,162,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
F26AS00030, the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program, is a discretionary grant run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under CFDA 15.615 that helps States protect habitat needed to recover federally listed species. First offered in FY 2001, the program is designed to strengthen State-Federal collaboration by using grant dollars to help acquire high-priority conservation lands identified in FWS-approved recovery planning documents. The acquisitions can be completed either through fee simple purchase (full ownership) or through conservation easements, with the central goal of permanently securing habitat where habitat loss is a recognized threat and habitat protection is a stated recovery priority.
Eligibility is limited to State and Territorial agencies that already have an ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement in place and have provided the required information for annual renewal (reconfirmation) of that agreement. Although only States can receive awards directly, other partners such as counties, land trusts, and conservation organizations can participate as subgrantees by working through an eligible State agency. All projects must be voluntary conservation efforts located within the United States, and proposals must clearly tie the acquisition to at least one listed species most recent FWS-approved recovery plan or recovery outline.
A key requirement is that the application must identify the specific parcel or parcels proposed for acquisition, whether the parcel is being purchased with federal grant funds or being used as part of the non-federal cost share. Parcels must be individually identified and described in enough detail to allow reviewers to evaluate the proposal against the funding opportunitys merit criteria, although multiple parcels may be grouped for discussion at a broader property or transaction level. Applicants also must commit to managing the acquired land in perpetuity in a way that aligns with the conservation needs of the target species, and the application must show that there will be long-term funding and implementation capacity for that ongoing stewardship.
The program includes several important limitations meant to keep it focused on proactive recovery rather than compliance. Applicants cannot submit the same property for consideration under both this Recovery Land Acquisition program and the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grant Program within the same fiscal year. In addition, neither the federal award nor the required non-federal cost share may be used to satisfy regulatory obligations under the Endangered Species Act or other federal permitting regimes. That means the money cannot be used to meet Section 7 biological opinion requirements, to cover mitigation/minimization/monitoring commitments in an HCP under Section 10, or to fulfill other federal mitigation requirements such as those associated with Clean Water Act permits. Applications also cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FWS staffing) costs.
From an administrative and budgeting perspective, States may cover their administrative costs themselves or include appropriate administrative costs within the application, consistent with federal cost principles and requirements, but they cannot apply for funding solely to pay administrative expenses. In general, costs are reimbursable only if they are incurred and budgeted during the approved period of performance, which begins on the effective date set when the grant is awarded. However, a State may request approval to reimburse certain necessary pre-award costs that are incurred before the grant is approved, as long as those costs are allowable under federal rules, are clearly justified in the application, are only reimbursed if an award is ultimately made, and receive written approval from the awarding agency consistent with 2 CFR 200.458.
For this specific opportunity listing, the administering agency is the Fish and Wildlife Service, the eligible applicant type is State governments, and the opportunity category is discretionary. The posting indicates an expected 15 awards, with an award ceiling of $14,162,000. The opportunity was created on 2026-09-14 and has an original closing date of 2026-11-20.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is grant opportunity F26AS00030?
F26AS00030 is the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program. It is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under CFDA 15.615. The program helps States protect habitat needed to recover federally listed species by supporting acquisition of high-priority conservation lands identified in FWS-approved recovery planning documents.
What is the main purpose of the Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program?
The central purpose is to permanently secure habitat where habitat loss is a recognized threat and habitat protection is a stated recovery priority. The program is designed to strengthen State-Federal collaboration by using grant dollars to help acquire high-priority conservation lands tied to recovery plans or recovery outlines for listed species.
When was this program first offered?
The Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program was first offered in FY 2001.
Who administers this funding opportunity?
The administering agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant.
Who is eligible to apply directly for an award?
Eligibility is limited to State and Territorial agencies that already have an ESA Section 6(c) cooperative agreement in place and have provided the required information for annual renewal (reconfirmation) of that agreement. The listing also identifies the eligible applicant type as State governments.
Can counties, land trusts, or conservation organizations apply directly?
No. Only States can receive awards directly. However, other partners (such as counties, land trusts, and conservation organizations) may participate as subgrantees by working through an eligible State agency.
Where must funded projects be located?
All projects must be voluntary conservation efforts located within the United States.
What kinds of land acquisition are supported?
Acquisitions may be completed through fee simple purchase (full ownership) or through conservation easements. In either case, the intent is permanent habitat protection aligned with recovery priorities.
Do proposals have to connect the acquisition to a listed species?
Yes. Proposals must clearly tie the acquisition to at least one listed species most recent FWS-approved recovery plan or recovery outline.
Do applicants need to identify the exact parcel(s) they plan to acquire?
Yes. The application must identify the specific parcel or parcels proposed for acquisition, including whether each parcel is being purchased with federal grant funds or is being used as part of the non-federal cost share.
How detailed does the parcel information need to be?
Parcels must be individually identified and described in enough detail for reviewers to evaluate the proposal against the funding opportunity's merit criteria. Multiple parcels may be grouped for discussion at a broader property or transaction level, but the underlying parcels still must be specifically identified.
Is long-term management required after acquisition?
Yes. Applicants must commit to managing the acquired land in perpetuity in a manner aligned with the conservation needs of the target species.
Do applicants have to show they can fund and carry out long-term stewardship?
Yes. The application must show that there will be long-term funding and implementation capacity for ongoing stewardship and management consistent with the species conservation needs.
Can the same property be submitted to multiple FWS land acquisition programs in the same year?
No. Applicants cannot submit the same property for consideration under both this Recovery Land Acquisition program and the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grant Program within the same fiscal year.
Can grant funds (or the required non-federal cost share) be used to meet regulatory obligations?
No. Neither the federal award nor the required non-federal cost share may be used to satisfy regulatory obligations under the Endangered Species Act or other federal permitting regimes.
Are Section 7 biological opinion requirements an allowable use of funds?
No. The funds cannot be used to meet Section 7 biological opinion requirements.
Can funds be used for mitigation, minimization, or monitoring commitments in a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)?
No. Funds cannot be used to cover mitigation/minimization/monitoring commitments in an HCP under ESA Section 10.
Can funds be used to fulfill mitigation requirements tied to Clean Water Act permits?
No. The program does not allow the federal award or the required non-federal cost share to be used to fulfill other federal mitigation requirements, including those associated with Clean Water Act permits.
Are FWS staffing costs allowable in an application?
No. Applications cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FWS staffing) costs.
Can a State include administrative costs in the budget?
Yes. States may cover administrative costs themselves or include appropriate administrative costs within the application, consistent with federal cost principles and requirements.
Can an applicant apply for funding only to cover administrative expenses?
No. Applicants cannot apply for funding solely to pay administrative expenses.
When does the period of performance begin for reimbursable costs?
In general, costs are reimbursable only if they are incurred and budgeted during the approved period of performance, which begins on the effective date set when the grant is awarded.
Are pre-award costs ever reimbursable?
Potentially, yes. A State may request approval to reimburse certain necessary pre-award costs incurred before the grant is approved, but only if the costs are allowable under federal rules, clearly justified in the application, reimbursed only if an award is ultimately made, and receive written approval from the awarding agency consistent with 2 CFR 200.458.
How many awards are expected under this opportunity listing?
The posting indicates an expected 15 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $14,162,000.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity was created on 2026-09-14. The original closing date is 2026-11-20.
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