F26AS00084 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes Tribes - Fiscal Year 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting grants under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to support Great Lakes tribes or their designees in developing or implementing Tribal Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans. Only eligible tribes may apply through a competitive process, with projects required to directly address prevention, early detection, rapid response, containment, or reduction of invasive aquatic species in the Great Lakes Basin, with emphasis on high-risk areas such as interbasin connections. Proposals must be scientifically sound, clearly organized, and include measurable outcomes aligned with GLRI performance metrics. The anticipated project period runs from October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, with funding awarded in tiers based on merit—highest-ranked projects receive 100% of requested amounts, second-tier recipients get 80%, and third-tier receive 60%. Applications must be submitted in two phases: an initial pre-proposal via email and a full proposal via Grants.gov’s GrantSolutions portal, adhering to a 25-page limit on the Project Narrative. Required forms include SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL (if federal share exceeds $100,000), and documentation for compliance with NEPA, ESA, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and hold a Unique Entity Identifier, with key personnel subject to exclusions screening. This is structured as a cooperative agreement with substantial federal involvement, requiring prior coordination with FWS and strict adherence to 2 CFR 200 cost principles. Budgets must include reasonable, allowable, and allocable costs, with indirect costs capped at 15% de minimis unless a negotiated rate is provided. Environmental and cultural compliance documentation is excluded from the page limit but mandatory for award consideration. Payment and administration are governed by the Notice of Federal Award, with financial reporting submitted via SF-425 through GrantSolutions. No specific contract value is provided, and no FAR clauses or packaging requirements are specified as this is a federal grant opportunity rather than a procurement contract.