F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act Competitive Funding Round

The Highlands Conservation Act Competitive Funding Round is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior, to support land conservation efforts across a specific multi-state region in the northeastern United States. This program is grounded in federal legislation originally enacted in 2004 and amended over time to strengthen conservation outcomes. The initiative focuses on preserving environmentally significant landscapes within the Highlands Region, which spans portions of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. This region is recognized for its ecological importance, including its role in supporting biodiversity, protecting drinking water supplies, and offering recreational opportunities to millions of residents and visitors. The primary purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance for land acquisition projects that protect natural resources of high conservation value. Eligible projects must involve the acquisition of land or interests in land, such as conservation easements, from willing sellers. These acquisitions must support broader conservation goals, including safeguarding wildlife habitat, maintaining agricultural and forest lands, enhancing outdoor recreation access, and preserving culturally significant resources. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, requiring applicants to demonstrate how proposed land acquisitions will deliver quantifiable public benefits. Funding is structured as a competitive grant with a total estimated program funding of 3,850,000 dollars and an expected four awards. Applicants may request up to 50 percent of total project costs, as the program requires a non-federal cost share of at least 50 percent. Funds can be used for land acquisition costs and certain associated transaction expenses such as appraisals, surveys, title work, environmental assessments, and administrative costs, with a cap of up to five percent for administrative expenses. Pre-award costs may be allowable but are incurred at the applicant’s risk and require justification. Eligibility is restricted to state governments, specifically designated Lead State Conservation Agencies in the four eligible states. These agencies are appointed by their respective governors and may coordinate internally if multiple agencies are designated. While only these lead agencies may apply directly, they are permitted to subaward funds to counties, municipalities, or other conservation entities within the Highlands Region. The program imposes strict geographic eligibility requirements, limiting projects to designated Highlands areas or approved expansion zones. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov or GrantSolutions and includes a comprehensive set of forms and narrative components. Required materials include standard federal forms such as the SF-424 and budget forms, as well as a detailed project narrative outlining need, purpose, objectives, expected benefits, approach, location, stakeholder coordination, and organizational capacity. Applicants must also provide a budget narrative with detailed cost breakdowns and demonstrate compliance with federal regulations and executive orders. Registration in SAM.gov and acquisition of a Unique Entity Identifier are mandatory prerequisites for submission. Applications are evaluated through a multi-stage review process that includes eligibility screening, merit review, and risk assessment. The merit review process uses a detailed scoring system across multiple resource categories, including wildlife, water, forest and agriculture, recreation, and cultural resources. Additional points may be awarded for alignment with federal priorities and strategic objectives. Final award decisions are made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on panel recommendations and program priorities. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is October 31, 2026, with submissions required by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Awards are anticipated to be announced around January 2026, with project performance expected to begin on January 1, 2027, and extend through December 31, 2032. Funded projects must complete land acquisition activities within four years of award issuance. For questions, applicants may contact Shelley DiBona via email or phone as listed in the funding notice.

Emphasize measurable conservation outcomes tied to scoring categories; clearly demonstrate high conservation value resources; align proposal with DOI strategic priorities and provide strong mapping and narrative justification