Fish and Wildlife Service · Department of the Interior
F26AS00071 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Oct 30, 2026 · 22 days left
- Award size
- $10K – $26M
- Total available
- $26M · about 10 awards
- Match ?
- Required · Work out your budget and match
- Buildings & equipment
- Not allowed: the official notice rules out construction or equipment costs
- Who can apply
- State government
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Rhea County (nationwide program)
- Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 15
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/fd0674e9-3c83-4514-b382-8e0593b30f95 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/6aa6325b-0bfc-4991-b547-2ebff18d68ac
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
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About this grant
Established by Congress in fiscal year (FY) 1997, the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grant program was designed to reduce conflicts between the conservation of listed species and competing land uses on specific parcels of land associated with approved and permitted HCPs. Under this program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) provides matching grants to State agencies in support of land acquisition projects that will conserve species habitat in perpetuity through fee simple acquisition or the acquisition of permanent conservation easements. FWS considers the use of Federal acquisition dollars by States for habitat protection associated with HCPs to be an important and effective mechanism to promote species recovery, prevent extinction, and preclude the need to list species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the future. All land acquired through these grants complements, but does not replace, the mitigation, minimization, and/or monitoring commitments of the HCP. Thus, this work is additive to the conservation commitments entered into when HCPs are permitted and serves as a meaningful way to leverage non-Federal investment in species recovery and connect conservation lands across the landscape.
Who can apply, from the official notice
Only State and Territorial (hereafter, "State") agencies that have entered into a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA and have provided the information necessary for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of their cooperative agreement are eligible to apply for funding. While funding may only be awarded to States, groups such as counties or conservation organizations may work with a State agency that has a cooperative agreement on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee. To be considered for funding, the land proposed for acquisition must benefit at least one Federally listed included on an active section 10(a)(1)(B) permit. The specific parcel(s) of land proposed for acquisition with grant funds, or as non-Federal cost share, must be identified and sufficiently described to facilitate merit review based on the evaluation criteria listed in this Funding Opportunity. Parcels must be individually identified on the SF-429 and SF-429-B b in order to be eligible for funding but can be grouped and described for evaluation purposes at the property or transaction level. If specific properties are not yet identified, applicants may identify an area of land comprised of similar habitat type(s) and supporting a similar suite of species in which an estimated number of acres will be acquired. Applicants must include information on what procedure will be used to ensure that high-quality habitat is targeted for acquisition should funds be awarded.A property may not be submitted for funding consideration under both the HCP Land Acquisition Grant and Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Programs in the same fiscal year.Applications must include a statement of commitment to funding for, and implementation of, management of the habitat in perpetuity consistent with the conservation needs of the species.Projects must involve voluntary conservation efforts within the United States.An application cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent costs.Neither funding awarded through this opportunity, nor the associated non-Federal cost share, may be used to satisfy regulatory requirements of the ESA, including complying with a biological opinion under section 7, fulfilling Federal mitigation, minimization, and/or monitoring requirements of an HCP permitted under section 10, or any other Federal regulatory mitigation requirement (e.g., mitigation...
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct8
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Oct9
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Oct23
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Oct27
Submit
Suggested: submit a few days early. Agency portals can slow down near deadlines. - Oct30
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Rhea County facts with citations.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice Foa_Content_of_F26AS00071.pdf (24 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Registrations you need first (4)
GrantSolutions · p. 3
“This program requires the submission of applications online through GrantSolutions.gov as applicants will receive an acknowledgment of application receipt.” Open page 3
SAM.gov, Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 7
“GET READY TO APPLY Required System Registrations Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be registered in SAM.gov.” Open page 7
Grants.gov · p. 10
“For instructions on completing form fields, see the form instructions on the Grants.gov Forms Repository.” Open page 10
Login.gov · p. 15
“GrantSolutions requires users to log in through Login.gov.” Open page 15
The deadline is in 22 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Get-ready checklist
What to submit
Form SF-424 · p. 10
“Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Note:” Open page 10
Form SF-424C · p. 10
“For applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Representative’s signature (or electronic equivalent) on the Application for Federal Assistance form also represents their certification of the statements in Appendix A to 43 CFR…” Open page 10
Form SF-LLL · p. 10
“SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Required if requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds and the applicant has used or plans to use funds other than Federal appropriated funds for lobbying related to the proposed project.” Open page 10
Budget narrative / justification · p. 13
“Other Permits – list and provide the current status of any other required Federal permits Budget Narrative Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget.” Open page 13
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 6
“Yes In accordance with section 6(d) of the ESA, the minimum non-Federal cost share is 25 percent of the total project cost, i.e., the amount requested from the program plus the amount of non- Federal cost share.” Open page 6
Cost share / match · p. 6
“If a proposal involves the collaboration of two or more States, the minimum non-Federal cost share decreases to 10 percent of the total project cost.” Open page 6
Dates in the notice
10/30/2026 · p. 3
“Yes Closing Date Explanation 10/30/2026 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.” Open page 3
04/30/2027 · p. 22
“Anticipated Project Start Date: 04/30/2027 Anticipated Project End Date: 04/30/2030 FWS intends to make pre-award notifications prior to the close of the fiscal year and obligate funds within 120 days.” Open page 22
Mistakes that get applications rejected (5)
Could get your application rejected: Applications will be disqualified if reviewers cannot determine that applications meet this threshold. · p. 14
“Applications will be disqualified if reviewers cannot determine that applications meet this threshold.” Open page 14
Outside what the program funds: If an applicant fails to meet the requirements or objectives of the NOFO, or does not provide sufficient... · p. 16
“If an applicant fails to meet the requirements or objectives of the NOFO, or does not provide sufficient information for review, the applicant will be considered nonresponsive and eliminated from further review.” Open page 16
Could get your application rejected: A project may be disqualified if FWS staff determine the project cannot meet Federal requirements. · p. 16
“A project may be disqualified if FWS staff determine the project cannot meet Federal requirements.” Open page 16
Could get your application rejected: Applicants that do not respond within two weeks with corrected materials will be disqualified. · p. 16
“Applicants that do not respond within two weeks with corrected materials will be disqualified.” Open page 16
Unresolved civil-rights or legal findings: We are prohibited from making an award if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible,... · p. 17
“We are prohibited from making an award if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible, prohibited, restricted, or otherwise excluded from receiving or participating in an award, as their ineligibility condition applies to this program.” Open page 17
Who in Tennessee has won this program
12 awards to Tennessee groups in 2 counties since 2020 · 0 in Rhea County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | $1M | 2024 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $448K spent that year | 2025 |
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | $371K | 2022 |
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | $350K spent that year | 2025 |
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | $325K | 2024 |
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | $316K | 2021 |
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | $214K | 2022 |
| Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | $79K | 2023 |
| Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | $78K | 2021 |
| Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | $72K | 2024 |
| Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | $57K | 2022 |
| Department of Environment & Conservation Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | $52K | 2020 |
Source: USAspending.gov, Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 3 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Rhea County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | $13K spent that year | 2024 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources | $12K spent that year | 2025 |
| The University of the South | Sewanee, Franklin County | Tennessee Wildife Resource Agency | $12K spent that year | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
About the federal program
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund
Program number 15.615 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Project grant
How applications are judged
Applications are scored and ranked based on criteria, subfactors, and priorities published annually in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.
Match
This program�s matching requirements are mandatory. In accordance with section 6(d) of the ESA, the minimum non-Federal cost share is 25 percent of the total project cost. If an application involves the collaboration of two or more States, the minimum non-Federal cost share decreases to 10 percent of the total project cost.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2025: Program has selected but not yet funded over 150 projects to assist States and Territories in the implementation of their respective programs for the conservation of resident threatened and endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants. Selected projects include species and habitat conservation actions on non-Federal lands, including habitat acquisition, conservation planning, habitat restoration, status surveys, captive propagation, research, and public education and outreach.
Fiscal year 2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding an estimated 150 projects to assist States and Territories in the implementation of their respective programs for the conservation of resident threatened and endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants. Program expects to fund species and habitat conservation actions on non-Federal lands, including habitat acquisition, conservation planning, habitat restoration, status surveys, captive propagation, research, public education and outreach.