F26AS00105 National Fish Passage Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers the National Fish Passage Program, a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to partners working to restore fish passage and aquatic habitat connectivity. The program is delivered through Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program field offices nationwide. Its goal is to restore ecological connectivity in aquatic systems by reconnecting river and tidal processes so native fish and other aquatic organisms can access habitats needed throughout their life cycles. Projects are also intended to benefit communities through infrastructure improvements, expanded recreational opportunities, reduced flooding, improved public safety, and support for local economies. The funding opportunity identifies an estimated 15000000 in total program funding and approximately 100 awards. The National Fish Passage Program supports projects that improve fish passage, aquatic habitat connectivity, and infrastructure resiliency. Examples include obsolete or dangerous infrastructure removal, culvert replacement, floodplain restoration, installation of fishways, and other measures that fully or partially remove barriers or provide effective means for aquatic species to bypass them. Program assistance may include information on aquatic species habitat needs, barrier bypass methods, technical review of project designs, planning and prioritization assistance, and environmental compliance assistance. Of the 15000000 allocated to the program, 5000000 is designated for implementation of the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act, or FRIMA. FRIMA funds support fish screens, fish passage devices, and related features addressing fisheries impacts associated with irrigation water diversions in Pacific Ocean drainages in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, and California. Eligible applicants are unrestricted, subject to the additional eligibility provisions in the notice. The program develops projects collaboratively with partners including State and local agencies, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, other Federal agencies, private landowners, and other interested parties. Eligible projects must provide meaningful benefits for aquatic habitats and infrastructure resiliency. Projects that are part of Federal or State compensatory mitigation, including in-lieu fee programs and mitigation banks, are not eligible. Projects are also ineligible when fish passage is a condition imposed by an existing Federal or State regulatory program. Program funds may not be used to construct, operate, or maintain fish passage at facilities actively licensed or permitted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. General National Fish Passage Program projects do not require cost sharing, although leveraged partner support may receive preference. FRIMA funded projects, however, must provide a minimum 35 percent non-Federal match. Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance are required to contact local National Fish Passage Program staff before developing or submitting an application. Regional program staff evaluate project eligibility and merit, and applicants should not submit an application through GrantSolutions or Grants.gov until invited by program staff. The notice states that applications are accepted on a rolling basis and directs interested applicants to contact their local or regional coordinator for information about local deadlines. The published closing date is April 30, 2027, with electronically submitted applications due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Organizations generally must maintain SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity Identifier, although certain applicants requesting 200000 or less may qualify for simplified application procedures if all stated conditions are met. Technical Grants.gov assistance is available at 1-800-518-4726 or Support@grants.gov. The national program contact email is thomas_mccann@fws.gov. Required application materials include the SF-424 and Project Abstract Summary for all applicants, with additional forms depending on project characteristics. Non-construction projects require SF-424A, construction projects require SF-424C, qualifying real property requests require SF-429, and certain applicants conducting lobbying activities must submit SF-LLL. Research projects require the DOI Current and Pending Other Support and Biographical Sketch forms. The Project Narrative may contain no more than three pages of text plus two pages of maps or photographs and must address the project name and location, habitat conservation goals, benefiting species and habitats, conservation challenges, relationship to existing conservation plans, project sequencing and timeline, participating entities, project management responsibilities, post-project monitoring, measures of success, future maintenance, and high resolution before photographs. Applicants seeking FRIMA funding must identify that request and the amount of non-Federal match. A Budget Narrative must describe and justify costs, cost share, third-party contributions, pre-award costs, and indirect cost treatment. Applicants must also address conflicts of interest and overlap or duplication with other Federal proposals or awards. Local and regional program staff conduct merit review. Highly ranked projects demonstrate ecological benefits for Federal trust species, permanent or long-term fish passage benefits, use current scientific knowledge including Indigenous Knowledge and proven technology, demonstrate partner and community engagement, leverage partner resources, address established prioritization or management plans, consider watershed context, provide identifiable community benefits, improve aquatic ecosystem adaptation and community infrastructure resiliency, and align with stated program priorities involving infrastructure, public safety, and recreational fishing. Budgets are reviewed for mathematical accuracy, necessity, reasonableness, linkage to the project narrative, allowable costs, required approvals, correct indirect cost treatment, and applicable cost sharing. The agency also conducts eligibility, duplication, risk, financial management, past performance, staffing, compliance, and project complexity reviews before award. The anticipated project period extends from October 1, 2026 through May 1, 2031. Informal notification occurs before selected recipients are invited to submit through GrantSolutions, and formal Notices of Federal Award are issued electronically through GrantSolutions or email after the application is received, reviewed, and approved. Recipients should expect substantial Federal involvement in project planning, design, budget management, monitoring, project changes, performance tracking, and reporting. Post-award requirements generally include Federal Financial Reports, program performance reports, monitoring of award activities, notification of significant problems or delays, applicable conflict disclosures, real property reporting, integrity and performance reporting, and other required Federal disclosures. Infrastructure projects must comply with applicable requirements concerning American iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials.

Prioritize projects with demonstrable ecological benefits for Federal trust species and permanent long-term fish passage benefits. Use current scientific knowledge including Indigenous Knowledge and proven technology. Demonstrate partner and community engagement and leverage partner resources where possible. Connect the project to established prioritization or management plans and explain its watershed context. Identify specific community benefits such as recreation, reduced flood risk, improved public safety, economic benefits, and infrastructure resiliency. Coordinate with local program staff during project development and do not submit through GrantSolutions or Grants.gov until invited. Ensure the budget is mathematically correct, reasonable, necessary, allowable, clearly linked to the narrative, and uses indirect cost rates correctly.