F26AS00071 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grant program under section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. Established by Congress in fiscal year 1997, the program is intended to reduce conflicts between conservation of listed species and competing land uses on parcels associated with approved and permitted Habitat Conservation Plans. The program provides competitive matching grants to eligible State agencies for habitat acquisition that promotes species recovery, prevents extinction, reduces threats to at-risk species, and supports conservation of ecosystems on which covered species depend. The estimated total program funding is $26,000,000, with approximately 10 awards expected. The stated award range is $10,000 to $26,000,000. Funding supports acquisition of species habitat in perpetuity through fee simple acquisition or permanent conservation easements. Acquired land must complement rather than replace mitigation, minimization, or monitoring commitments required under an HCP. Eligible projects may support single-species or multiple-species HCPs, and at least 10 percent of available funding will support acquisition associated with single-species HCPs. Land proposed for acquisition must benefit at least one federally listed species included on an active section 10(a)(1)(B) permit. Candidate and at-risk species included on the permit may also benefit. Projects must involve voluntary conservation efforts within the United States. Funding and associated non-Federal cost share cannot satisfy ESA regulatory requirements, Federal mitigation requirements, or other Federal regulatory mitigation obligations. FWS Full-Time Equivalent costs are prohibited, and applications cannot be submitted solely for administrative costs. Only State and Territorial agencies that have entered into a cooperative agreement with FWS pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA and supplied information required for annual renewal or reconfirmation of that agreement may apply. Counties, conservation organizations, and similar organizations may participate through an eligible State agency as subgrantees but cannot receive the award directly. Proposed parcels funded by the grant or used as non-Federal cost share must be sufficiently identified and described for merit review. If individual properties have not yet been identified, an applicant may describe an area containing similar habitat and species and explain the procedure that will ensure acquisition of high-quality habitat. Applications must commit to funding and implementing habitat management in perpetuity. A property cannot be submitted to both the HCP Land Acquisition Grant and Recovery Land Acquisition Grant programs in the same fiscal year. Cost sharing is mandatory. The normal minimum non-Federal share is 25 percent of total project cost. For projects involving collaboration by two or more States, the minimum non-Federal share is reduced to 10 percent of total project cost. The required match is waived for grants awarded to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Allowable non-Federal share may consist of cash or in-kind contributions, including real property, consistent with applicable Federal requirements. Applicants providing more than the required minimum non-Federal share can receive additional merit-review consideration. Generally, reimbursable expenses must be incurred and budgeted during the period of performance. Certain necessary pre-award costs may be requested but are allowable only if an award is made, the costs otherwise would have been allowable, and the awarding agency provides written approval. Applications require the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and Project Abstract Summary. Depending on the project and funding request, applicants may also need the SF-424C, SF-429 Cover Page and Attachment B, and SF-LLL. The project narrative must address the project title, participating entities and subrecipients, statement of need, purpose, objectives, methods and approach, anticipated outcomes and expected benefits, timetable, project location and maps, and information supporting environmental compliance review. Applicants must identify relevant HCP and incidental take permit information, benefiting species, acquisition properties or areas, acreage, ownership interest, title holder, management entity, occupancy and restoration status, conservation benefits, project readiness, due diligence, negotiations, and habitat connectivity. A detailed budget narrative must justify costs, identify total estimated costs, non-Federal cost share, third-party contributions and pre-award costs, address indirect costs, and explain whether partial funding is practicable. Conflict-of-interest and overlap or duplication disclosures are also required where applicable. Applications must be submitted online through GrantSolutions.gov by October 30, 2026, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applicants must have the required SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity Identifier and must register their organization and required users in GrantSolutions. GrantSolutions users log in through Login.gov and locate the opportunity by its title and funding opportunity number, F26AS00071. Applications undergo an initial eligibility and completeness review followed by national merit review. Scoring addresses federally listed species benefited, candidate and at-risk species benefited, contribution to conservation, ecosystem functionality, habitat connectivity, threat of conversion, readiness to proceed, voluntary non-Federal cost share, and Regional Director discretion. Reviewers score independently, scores are averaged, and applications are ranked nationally. Selection may also consider national and regional priorities, partial-funding capability, available funding, geographic distribution, cost effectiveness, duplication, prior performance, and partnerships. The anticipated project period is April 30, 2027 through April 30, 2030, and the maximum initial period of performance is three years. FWS intends to provide pre-award notifications before the close of the fiscal year and obligate funds within 120 days. A one-time extension of up to 12 months may be requested with justification in eligible circumstances, although projects receiving additional consideration for readiness are not eligible for period-of-performance extensions or parcel amendments. Recipients generally must submit Federal Financial Reports and Program Performance Reports and comply with real-property, integrity, performance, and other applicable Federal reporting requirements. Applicants are directed to the appropriate FWS Regional coordinator for program questions. The Grants.gov synopsis separately identifies Kelly Niland at Kelly_Niland@fws.gov for difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically.

Coordinate with the appropriate FWS Regional contact before substantial project or application work. Clearly address every eligibility and merit criterion because reviewers will not consider outside information and missing or unclear information will lower scores. Identify species benefits for every proposed property, document habitat occupancy and restoration needs, provide maps demonstrating connectivity, explain threats of conversion, and demonstrate project readiness through due diligence and current negotiations. Ensure the budget is realistic, necessary, reasonable, cost-effective, and clearly linked to the narrative. Clearly identify all grant-funded and cost-share properties because both are evaluated. Greater than minimum non-Federal cost share can earn additional consideration. Verify application completeness before submission through GrantSolutions.