F26AS00084 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes Tribes - Fiscal Year 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes Tribes through funding provided under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The opportunity is designed to support the development and implementation of Tribal Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans within the Great Lakes Basin. The funding opportunity is administered under the authority of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act-Great Lakes and is intended to strengthen tribal capacity to prevent, detect, respond to, contain, and control aquatic invasive species that threaten Great Lakes ecosystems, fisheries, and connected waterways. The program specifically prioritizes activities that substantially benefit the Great Lakes Basin and support long-term environmental sustainability goals. The funding opportunity anticipates approximately $300,000 in total program funding with an expected three awards. Individual awards are expected to range from $20,000 to $100,000. Funding may support a broad range of aquatic invasive species management activities, including implementation of Tribal AIS Plans, early detection efforts, rapid response activities, containment measures, outreach efforts, boat ramp inspections, monitoring, law enforcement related to AIS prevention, and projects located outside the basin when they substantially contribute to preventing invasive species transfer into the Great Lakes. Development of a Tribal AIS Plan is also eligible when a tribe does not yet have an approved plan in place. Invasive carp projects are only eligible if they have already been reviewed through the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee action plan process. Eligibility is limited primarily to tribal natural resource agencies and organizations within the Great Lakes Basin. However, tribal agencies may designate another entity of any type to apply on their behalf. The opportunity therefore allows participation by designated nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, contractors, or other eligible entities when acting in coordination with a Great Lakes tribal agency. Cost sharing is not required for eligibility, though voluntary non-federal contributions may improve competitiveness during review. The notice states that all non-federal forms of cost share, including in-kind contributions, may be considered during merit review scoring. The application process uses a two-stage structure beginning with a required pre-proposal. Pre-proposals must include a project narrative and budget narrative and are submitted by email to fws3_fisheries_grants@fws.gov within 60 days after the funding opportunity is posted to Grants.gov. Following merit review and ranking, applicants are notified by email regarding approved funding levels. Applicants invited to continue must then submit full applications through GrantSolutions within 60 days of notification. Required application materials include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, budget forms, project abstract summary, project narrative, budget narrative, conflict of interest disclosures, overlap and duplication statements, and additional forms depending on construction or research activities. Project narratives are limited to 25 pages and must include measurable goals, work plans, environmental compliance information, monitoring and evaluation methods, qualifications of personnel, and detailed project timelines. Applications are reviewed first for eligibility and completeness and then evaluated using detailed merit review criteria. Review factors include the level of interagency coordination and collaboration, prevention and containment impact, early detection and rapid response value, reduction of established invasive species populations, sustainability of outcomes, scientific rigor, monitoring and evaluation quality, qualifications of project staff, expenditure rates on prior awards, and readiness to begin implementation. The program also reviews projects for duplication or overlap with other federally funded work. Projects are scored competitively and funding tiers may be adjusted based on ranking outcomes and available funding. The notice emphasizes that projects with strong scientific rationale, broad collaboration, measurable outcomes, and long-term impact will be more competitive. The anticipated project start date is October 1, 2026, with an anticipated end date of December 31, 2028. Awards are expected to be issued electronically through GrantSolutions or by email by the end of the current calendar year. Recipients will be required to submit semi-annual and final financial and performance reports through GrantSolutions and comply with federal reporting requirements, including Federal Financial Reports, performance reports, conflict disclosures, and GLRI EAGL2 performance measure reporting. Questions regarding the opportunity may be directed to Nathan Evans at nathan_evans@fws.gov or 612-286-4212. The opportunity is currently active with a published application closing date of December 31, 2026.

Projects with strong interagency collaboration, measurable ecological outcomes, scientifically defensible methods, detailed implementation timelines, and long-term sustainability benefits are likely to score more competitively during merit review.