Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program

The Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program, solicited under P26AS00021, provides federal financial assistance to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and state, local, and tribal governments to preserve, interpret, and protect historic sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. Authorized under Public Law 109-441 and amended by Public Law 111-88, the program has a total funding cap of $38 million across its lifetime, with projects required to benefit one or more of the ten designated War Relocation Authority sites—Gila River, Granada, Heart Mountain, Jerome, Manzanar, Minidoka, Poston, Rohwer, Topaz, and Tule Lake—or other locations deemed historically significant by the Secretary of the Interior. Applications must demonstrate a clear project need, a feasible and well-designed methodology, significant impact on public understanding, long-term sustainability, and strong community support, evaluated through a merit-based review system totaling 60 points. The program does not award on a lowest-price basis but through a holistic trade-off assessment that considers geographic equity, representation, and program goals. The solicitation is open for applications through Grants.gov with a deadline of June 15, 2026, and anticipated project performance beginning in August 2026 and ending in December 2028. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and hold a Unique Entity Identifier, and must submit required forms including the SF-424, SF-424A or C, SF-LLL, and proof of organizational status, along with a project narrative not exceeding nine pages. Funding recipients must comply with 2 CFR Part 200, including cost principles, financial reporting via SF-425, and single audit requirements for expenditures over $1 million annually. All geospatial data produced must meet FGDC standards, and domestic procurement of American-made materials is required for infrastructure-related work. Awards will be administered by the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior, with payments processed through ASAP or ITS and project oversight tied to the physical location of the confinement site. Additional compliance obligations include disclosure of lobbying, overlap with other federal awards, conflicts of interest, and exclusion status screening, with noncompliance leading to disqualification or termination of funding.