OIA Coral Reef Initiative and Natural Resources (CRNR) Program 2026

The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers the Coral Reef and Natural Resources Initiative, a federal grant program designed to support environmental protection and sustainable development in U.S. insular areas. These areas include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The program operates under statutory authority provided by 48 U.S. Code 1469d and is intended to provide technical and financial assistance to strengthen ecological resilience and economic stability in these regions. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to protect, restore, and sustainably manage coral reef ecosystems and other critical natural resources. The initiative emphasizes activities that improve food security, support local economies such as tourism and fisheries, protect shorelines and infrastructure, and restore native ecosystems. In addition, the program supports efforts to combat invasive species through prevention, rapid response, eradication, and long-term management strategies. Projects may also include watershed management, coral disease mitigation, ecosystem monitoring, and restoration of vegetation impacted by environmental degradation. Funding under this program is flexible in scope, allowing applicants to request varying amounts based on project needs, though total available funding is limited. There is no cost-sharing requirement, and projects are funded through grant agreements. While applicants may request funding in any amount, proposals requesting larger amounts may face increased competition due to the limited total funding pool and expected number of awards. Allowable uses of funds include environmental restoration, infrastructure protection related to ecosystems, invasive species control, and other natural resource management activities that align with program goals. Compliance with federal cost principles under 2 CFR 200 is required. Eligibility for this program includes a wide range of entities such as non-federal local government agencies, component units, hospitals, health centers, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and certain international entities, provided that proposed projects directly benefit eligible insular areas. However, judicial and legislative branches of local governments are excluded. Applicants must also comply with federal regulations and ensure their projects align with applicable executive orders and federal policies. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applicants are required to register in SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier before applying. The application package includes standard federal forms such as SF-424 and SF-424A or SF-424C, a project abstract, a detailed narrative limited to ten pages, a budget narrative, and supporting documentation such as audits or financial capacity information. The narrative must clearly describe the project’s goals, objectives, timeline, performance metrics, and anticipated outcomes. Additional elements include NEPA compliance considerations, conflict of interest statements, and optional letters of support. The application deadline is June 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications undergo a multi-stage review process including eligibility screening, merit review, and risk assessment. Evaluation criteria include clarity of project design, budget justification, alignment with program priorities, reporting compliance history, and stakeholder support. Final funding decisions are expected by September 30, 2026, with an anticipated project start date of October 1, 2026, and a period of performance extending through September 30, 2030. For inquiries, applicants may contact the program via email at Jonathan_Dunn@ios.doi.gov.

Clearly define measurable outcomes; align project with program priorities; provide detailed and justified budget; include stakeholder support; ensure compliance with federal requirements