Species Recovery Grants to States (Section 6 Program)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through its National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), administers the Species Recovery Grants to States Program under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This federal funding opportunity is designed to support state-led conservation and recovery efforts for marine and anadromous species that are listed as endangered or threatened, as well as candidate, proposed, and recently delisted species. NOAA’s mission emphasizes cooperative federalism, recognizing that states play a critical role in managing species that inhabit state waters during parts of their life cycles. Through this program, NOAA provides financial assistance in the form of grants or cooperative agreements to strengthen state conservation programs and improve species recovery outcomes. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to enable states to develop and implement conservation initiatives that directly contribute to the recovery of ESA-listed species. Eligible projects may include management actions, scientific research, monitoring activities, and public education or outreach efforts. Proposals are expected to align with priority actions identified in ESA Recovery Plans or Recovery Outlines and demonstrate measurable conservation benefits. Management-focused proposals that directly mitigate threats to species or habitats are given the highest priority, while research and outreach projects must clearly show their contribution to recovery objectives to remain competitive. Funding under this program is available for projects lasting up to three years, with annual funding typically reaching up to 250,000 dollars per project. Although there is no strict minimum award amount, funding levels depend on congressional appropriations and agency discretion. Applicants must include a non-federal cost share, generally 25 percent for single-state proposals and 10 percent for multi-state collaborations, unless specific exemptions apply. Allowable costs follow federal regulations and may include personnel, equipment, research activities, outreach materials, and data management, but cannot be used for regulatory compliance activities or certain excluded project types such as Pacific salmonid recovery or marine mammal stranding response. Eligibility is limited to state agencies that have entered into, or will enter into within 30 days of the application deadline, a cooperative agreement with NMFS under Section 6(c) of the ESA. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply, although collaboration with NOAA staff is permitted under specific conditions. Projects must focus on species under NMFS jurisdiction and cannot overlap with other NOAA funding programs targeting similar activities. Applications must clearly demonstrate technical feasibility, alignment with program priorities, and the applicant’s capacity to execute the proposed work. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components such as the SF-424 forms, a project description, budget narrative, and a Data Management Plan. The project description is limited to 15 pages and must detail objectives, methods, expected outcomes, outreach strategies, and environmental considerations. Applicants must also ensure compliance with federal registration requirements, including SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Proposals are evaluated based on importance to species recovery, technical merit, applicant qualifications, cost effectiveness, outreach quality, and data management planning. Applications for this opportunity must be submitted by June 20, 2026, with a recommendation to submit at least two business days in advance to allow for validation. Projects are expected to begin no earlier than July 1, 2026, and award decisions are anticipated in summer 2026, contingent upon funding availability. NOAA conducts a multi-step review process including eligibility screening, merit review by technical panels, and final selection by agency leadership. Successful applicants enter into grant or cooperative agreement arrangements, depending on the level of federal involvement in project activities. For questions or technical assistance, applicants may contact the program’s Federal Program Officer, Heather Austin, at NOAA. Additional details, including full application instructions and requirements, are provided in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity document. This document outlines all procedural, administrative, and compliance requirements necessary for successful participation in the program.