NATIVE Act Tribal Tourism Cooperative Agreement

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, within the U.S. Department of the Interior, is offering funding through the NATIVE Act Tribal Tourism Cooperative Agreement. This opportunity is administered by the Office of Indian Economic Development and is designed to support the implementation of the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act of 2016. The program reflects a federal commitment to strengthening tribal economies by expanding cultural heritage tourism opportunities and enhancing coordination across federal agencies. It is rooted in collaboration between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce and emphasizes culturally respectful tourism development that honors Native traditions and values. The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement is to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to Tribal Tourism Grant Program applicants and Office of Native Hawaiian Relations participants. Rather than directly funding tourism projects, the awardee will act as a facilitator and technical assistance provider. This includes identifying gaps in tourism readiness, delivering tailored support such as planning and strategy development, and coordinating federal resources to strengthen tribal tourism ecosystems. Activities must focus on advising, coaching, and strategic planning rather than direct implementation of tourism operations. Funding under this opportunity totals 1500000 dollars, with a single award expected at the full amount. The award will initially support a one-year budget period, with the potential for continuation funding for up to four additional years, resulting in a maximum five-year period of performance. Funds must be used strictly for allowable technical assistance activities and may not be used for construction, legal fees, general administrative operations unrelated to the project, or direct tourism implementation. Cost sharing is not required, which lowers barriers to participation for eligible entities. Eligibility is limited to a defined set of entities including federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants must demonstrate strong experience working with tribal communities, managing federal grants, and coordinating multi-entity initiatives. The program places particular emphasis on cultural competence, federal coordination experience, and the ability to deliver scalable technical assistance to approximately sixty participating entities nationwide. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and require completion of several federal forms, including the SF-424, SF-424A, and project narrative documents. Applicants must also be registered in SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. The application package must include a detailed project narrative, budget justification, project abstract, and supporting documentation such as key personnel qualifications and partnership descriptions. The narrative must clearly address organizational capacity, technical assistance delivery models, coordination strategies, and performance measurement plans. The evaluation process includes eligibility screening followed by a merit review based on four criteria: organizational capacity and experience, technical assistance approach, coordination and communication strategy, and deliverables with financial management. Applications are scored on a 100-point scale, and reviewers assess feasibility, alignment with program goals, and non-duplication of efforts. The final award decision is made by the Office of Indian Economic Development leadership based on review scores and additional considerations such as past performance and project alignment. The application deadline is August 28, 2026, with submissions due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The anticipated project start date is September 25, 2026, and the project may continue through September 30, 2031, if continuation funding is approved. Programmatic inquiries can be directed to Dennis Wilson, and application process questions to Jo Ann Metcalfe.

Focus on demonstrating federal coordination experience, strong technical assistance model, and clear non-duplication of efforts aligned with existing programs