FY2026 - Historic Preservation Fund- Annual Tribal Historic Preservation Office Grants

The Historic Preservation Fund Tribal Historic Preservation Office Grants program is administered by the National Park Service within the U.S. Department of the Interior. This funding opportunity provides annual formula-based grants to federally recognized Tribal Historic Preservation Offices that have formally assumed responsibilities from State Historic Preservation Offices under the National Historic Preservation Act. The program is rooted in federal legislation designed to protect, preserve, and manage historic and cultural resources across tribal lands, and it operates under statutory authorities that define both eligible activities and administrative requirements. The primary purpose of this funding is to support Tribal Historic Preservation Offices in carrying out responsibilities related to the identification, evaluation, and protection of historic properties. These responsibilities may include surveying and inventorying cultural resources, planning preservation activities, providing technical assistance, conducting compliance reviews for federal undertakings, and supporting educational initiatives. Additional allowable activities include nominating properties to the National Register of Historic Places, administering preservation tax incentives, working with Certified Local Governments, and performing physical preservation work. All funded activities must align with the standards and guidelines issued by the Secretary of the Interior for archaeology and historic preservation. Funding is distributed based on a federally approved apportionment formula rather than a competitive review process. A portion of the total appropriation is divided equally among eligible Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, while the remainder is allocated based on the geographic area of tribal lands. Awards must be used strictly within allowable program areas, and administrative and indirect costs are capped at 25 percent of total project costs. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this program, which lowers barriers to participation for eligible tribal governments. Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments that have signed Memoranda of Agreement with the National Park Service to assume State Historic Preservation Office duties on tribal lands. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission and must maintain active registrations throughout the application and award process. Required application materials include standard federal forms such as SF-424 and SF-424A, along with a project narrative detailing planned activities and a budget narrative explaining cost allocations and compliance with federal cost principles. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by the specified deadline, and only authorized organizational representatives may submit final applications. The review process includes eligibility screening, verification of required documentation, and evaluation of budget accuracy and alignment with program requirements. Because this is a formula grant program, funding decisions are based on statutory allocation formulas rather than merit-based competition, although compliance with all requirements is still mandatory. Awards are expected to support project activities over a defined performance period, with anticipated start and end dates spanning approximately two years. Recipients must adhere to post-award requirements including financial and performance reporting, compliance with federal regulations, and coordination with the National Park Service for required consultations under historic preservation laws. The program is issued annually, and eligible tribal governments are expected to participate on a recurring basis to sustain ongoing preservation activities within their jurisdictions.

Ensure alignment with NHPA program areas; keep administrative costs under 25 percent; provide clear and detailed workplan and budget justification