Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Recurring Notice 5 Year

The Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program is administered by the National Park Service within the U.S. Department of the Interior. Congress established the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1965 to create recreational opportunities and strengthen the health and vitality of the American people. The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, initiated in 2014 as a complement to the traditional LWCF state formula grant program, provides competitive funding for projects that acquire land and water for public outdoor recreation or develop new and renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities. Congress further codified ORLP and expanded eligibility through the EXPLORE Act. ORLP funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments. Projects must be located in a Qualifying Area. This includes an urban area with a population of at least 25,000 according to the most recent census, two or more adjacent urban areas with a combined population of at least 25,000, or an area administered by a federally recognized Indian Tribe or an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian community organization. Eligible direct applicants include State and Territorial Lead Agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native communities or organizations, and Native Hawaiian communities or organizations. Political subdivisions of states or territories, including cities, counties, and special purpose districts that manage open space, are eligible subrecipients and must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency. Urban Indian organizations are also eligible subrecipients and may apply through a State or Territorial Lead Agency or Tribal Government. Eligible projects may acquire lands, wetlands, and waters for public outdoor recreation, including new areas or additions to parks, forests, wildlife management areas, beaches, trails, waterways, and physical connections among recreation areas. Development projects may establish or improve outdoor recreation facilities and necessary support facilities, and projects may combine acquisition and development. ORLP funds cannot be used for acquisition support costs such as appraisals or title work, facilities supporting semi-professional or professional athletics, indoor recreation centers or facilities primarily serving non-outdoor purposes, or acquisition that completely restricts access to specified persons. Administrative expenses may not exceed 7 percent of ORLP grant funds. Assisted property must remain available for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity, and infrastructure projects are subject to applicable Buy America requirements. The National Park Service anticipates approximately $50 million to $120 million in total program funding annually, subject to funds made available by Congress, with approximately 20 to 45 awards per calendar year. Individual awards are expected to range from $300,000 to $15,000,000. A 50 percent non-Federal cost share, equivalent to a 1:1 match, is generally required. Eligible contributions may include land donation or purchase, cash, in-kind contributions, and volunteer services consistent with Federal requirements. Applicants do not have to secure the match when applying but must document a plan for securing it and must secure the required cost share before finalizing the grant agreement. American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are exempt from the 50 percent non-Federal cost-share requirement and may receive 100 percent Federal funding. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by an eligible applicant. Applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity Identifier, register with Grants.gov, establish the appropriate Grants.gov Workspace, and ensure that an Authorized Organization Representative submits the application. Required application materials include the SF-424 and applicable SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-424C, and SF-424D forms; Project Abstract Summary; Project Narrative; Budget Narrative; applicable indirect rate agreement; Project Timeline; project site maps and renderings; letters of commitment for secured or potential cost share; Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement; applicable SF-LLL and conflict disclosures; and a Uniform Audit Reporting Statement. The Project Narrative is limited to 10 pages and addresses project data, the project and site overview, population and low-income information when applicable, and responses to the five merit review criteria. Applications first undergo an eligibility and responsiveness review and then a comprehensive merit review by reviewers with relevant expertise. The five merit criteria are Increasing Access to Outdoor Recreation Opportunities, Alignment with Community Needs, Leveraging Resources in Support of Recreation, Promoting Conservation and Ecological Benefits, and Project Feasibility. Each criterion is scored on a five-point scale. Selection also considers geographic distribution, distribution across program objectives, the range of project types, sizes, and partners, and lower relative administrative costs. Applicants should demonstrate meaningful recreation access, community engagement, partnerships and leveraged resources, conservation and ecological benefits, a feasible budget and project plan, and the ability to maintain the assisted property for public outdoor recreation over the long term. Applications are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 1 annually, with stated deadlines of November 1, 2026, November 1, 2027, November 1, 2028, November 1, 2029, and November 1, 2030. Late applications submitted before the final announced deadline are considered for review at the next submission due date. Selected applicants have one year after notification to finalize a grant agreement with the National Park Service, including required environmental, historic preservation, ownership, boundary, appraisal, and program-specific documentation as applicable. The anticipated project start date is one year from selection notification, and fully awarded projects generally take one to three years from the project start date to complete. Program questions may be directed to ORLP_Inquiries@nps.gov. Grants.gov technical support is available at Support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726.

Structure the Project Narrative around each of the five merit criteria and directly substantiate recreation access, community needs and engagement, leveraged partnerships, conservation benefits, and project feasibility. Demonstrate a clear and reasonable budget and a credible plan for the required 1:1 match. Keep administrative costs low because they are capped at 7 percent and lower relative administrative costs are a selection consideration. Ensure the ORLP-funded scope creates a viable recreation opportunity even if it is part of a larger project. Provide measurable outputs and outcomes, document qualifying-area and low-income information when applicable, and submit through Grants.gov well before the deadline.