Fish and Wildlife Service · Department of the Interior

F26AS00023 FY2026 Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program

Open · Opportunity F26AS00023 · Assistance Listing 15.683

Deadline: Due Nov 30, 2026 · 54 days left
Award size: Up to $150K
Total available: $2.4M · about 21 awards
Cost share / match ?: Required: you cover 25% of the total project in some cases · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply: Public college or university, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Special district (utility, fire, etc.), Private college or university, County government, State government, Other (see eligibility), City or town government, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Tribal government, Tribal organization
Where: Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Your share in dollars

If this rule applies to your request: for a $150,000 grant you'd put in about $50,000 of your own money or donated help, for a total project of about $200,000.

“Per sections 408(d) and (e) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the program provides for a maximum Federal award for each project of up to $150,000 and a minimum non-Federal cost share of 25 percent of total project costs.” — federal program listing 15.683

Based on this official rule. Some programs lower it for distressed counties or accept in-kind help. The notice has the exact rule.

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

Available in Blount County (nationwide program)
Requires a cost share / match

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

About this grant

The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program (Prescott program) provides financial assistance to eligible marine mammal stranding participants and stranding network collaborators to provide (A) the recovery, care, or treatment of sick, injured, or entangled marine mammals; (B) responses to marine mammal stranding events that require emergency assistance; (C) the collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded marine mammals for scientific research or assessments regarding marine mammal health; (D) facility operating costs that are directly related to activities described in (A), (B), or (C); and (E) development of stranding network capacity, including training for emergency response, where facilities do not exist or are sparse. Successful applications will be those aimed at helping support these actions. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Prescott Grant Program will provide support for response to the stranding of wild populations of species under the Department of the Interior’s management authority per section 3(12) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under this Funding Opportunity, FWS will recommend projects for funding based on how well and to what extent they support the species-specific priority activities, which are listed below under Species-Specific Funding Priorities. For the purposes of this program, priority is to be given to applications focusing on marine mammal strandings.

Eligibility (from the notice)

Eligible applicants must be a U.S. eligible marine mammal stranding participant or stranding network collaborator that is not an employee of the Department of the Interior or Department of Commerce. The term "eligible marine mammal stranding participant" means a person who is authorized by the FWS under MMPA section 104(c) for response to injured or distressed marine mammals or for scientific research regarding marine mammal health, or under MMPA section 112(c) to take marine mammals as described in MMPA section 109(h) in response to a stranding. Eligible entities also include Federal, state, or local government employees operating in the course of their official duties as indicated under MMPA section 109(h). Applicants may reach out to the FWS for technical assistance to clarify and/or document applicability of the exemption under MMPA section 109(h). For marine mammals that are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), eligibility includes authorization under ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) (except for polar bears as long as authorization has been provided under the MMPA), or exemptions to take prohibitions under 50 CFR 17.21 or 50 CFR 17.31. Applicants may be eligible without the MMPA or ESA authorizations detailed above depending on the nature of the project (see 1. f. below).Specifically, applicants must satisfy either #1 or #2 below1.A participant in a marine mammal stranding network (which is not an entity of a state, local, or eligible federal government employee) and in good standing. To be in good standing means:The applicant is authorized by the FWS under MMPA section 104(c) for response to injured or distressed marine mammals or for scientific research regarding marine mammal health, or under MMPA section 112(c) to take marine mammals as described in MMPA section 109(h) in response to stranded marine mammals (live or dead animal response). For marine mammals, other than polar bears, that are listed under the ESA, the applicant also has authorization under ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) or is otherwise exempt through 50 CFR 17.21 or 50 CFR 17.31.All the Principal Investigators associated with the Prescott Grant Program application who hold or have held authorizations under the MMPA and, if listed, the ESA have fulfilled all applicable requirements, including but not limited to, reports and publications and have fulfilled the terms of any enforcement...

Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

Oct7
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
Nov9
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters.
Nov23
Finish a complete draft for a final review
University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs
Nov28
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
Nov30
Deadline
From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.

Writing the need statement? Blount County facts with citations.

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the funding notice Foa_Content_of_F26AS00023_092926.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. The notice itself always controls.

Award size and project length

Award amounts here are for the whole project · p. 5

“You must provide a minimum cost share of 25 percent of total project costs (Federal share of project costs cannot exceed $150,000 and 75 percent of the total).” Open page 5
Project period: 3 years · p. 12

“In addition, activities covered under funding for a 3-year performance period may not be funded in any subsequent grant cycle prior to the end of the 3-year period of performance.” Open page 12

Registrations you need first

SAM.gov · p. 6

“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 6
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 6

“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 6
GrantSolutions · p. 6

“GRANTSOLUTIONS This program accepts applications through GrantSolutions.gov.” Open page 6
Grants.gov · p. 13

“For instructions on completing form fields, see the form instructions on the Grants.gov Forms Repository.” Open page 13
Login.gov · p. 19

“GrantSolutions requires users to log in through Login.gov.” Open page 19

New to these? SAM.gov registration can take weeks, so start early: grant-ready checklist.

What to submit

Form SF-424 · p. 13

“Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Note:” Open page 13
Form SF-424A · p. 13

“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 13
Form SF-424C · p. 13

“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 13
Form SF-LLL · p. 13

“Budget Information – Construction Programs Required for construction projects 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…” Open page 13
Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 14

“Provide a list of all personnel that will be involved in the project, identifying the Principal Investigator, Co-Investigators, Cooperators, and other personnel and their project duties and responsibilities, and a brief description or Curriculum Vitae (CV)…” Open page 14
Budget narrative / justification · p. 16

“Budget Narrative Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget.” Open page 16

Cost share or match

Cost share / match · p. 5

“Yes Section 408(f)(1) of the MMPA states that the “non-Federal share of a project conducted with funds awarded under the grant program under this section shall be not less than 25 percent of such project”.” Open page 5
Cost share / match · p. 5

“You must provide a minimum cost share of 25 percent of total project costs (Federal share of project costs cannot exceed $150,000 and 75 percent of the total).” Open page 5
Cost share / match · p. 6

“percent of $125,000 or $93,750 and your cost share would be $31,250 (25 percent of $125,000); similarly, if the proposed total budget for your project is $80,000, the government portion would be $60,000 and your 25 percent contribution would be $20,000.” Open page 6
Cost share / match · p. 6

“Cost share above 25 percent of the total costs may be considered; however, this obligation will be binding.” Open page 6

Dates in the notice

11/30/2026 · p. 18

“Submission Dates and Times Closing Date for Applications: 11/30/2026 Closing Date Explanation Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM., ET, on the listed application due date.” Open page 18
06/01/2027 · p. 23

“Anticipated Project Start Date: 06/01/2027 Anticipated Project End Date: 05/31/2030 The FWS intends to make award recommendations within 90 days of the closing date of this Funding Opportunity and obligate funds within 120 days.” Open page 23

Mistakes that get applications rejected

Could get your application rejected · p. 6

“Applications that do not comply with these cost-share requirements will not be considered for this funding cycle.” Open page 6
Could get your application rejected · p. 8

“New construction projects will not be considered; however, projects that involve construction for build-outs, alterations, upgrades, and renovations may be considered.” Open page 8
Could get your application rejected · p. 21

“A project may be disqualified if FWS staff determine the project cannot meet Federal requirements.” Open page 21
Could get your application rejected · p. 21

“Applicants that do not respond within two weeks with corrected materials will be disqualified.” Open page 21
Could get your application rejected · p. 21

“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 21
Could get your application rejected · p. 23

“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 23

About the program (15.683)

Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance

How applications are judged

Eligible Prescott Grant Program applicants must be a U.S. �eligible marine mammal stranding participant� that is not an employee of the Department of the Interior or Department of Commerce. The term �eligible marine mammal stranding participant� means a person who is authorized under MMPA section 104(c) for response to injured or distressed marine mammals or for scientific research regarding marine mammal health, or under MMPA section 112(c) to take marine mammals as described in MMPA section 109(h) in response to a stranding. To be eligible for Prescott Grants under this Funding Opportunity, such authorizations must have been issued by the FWS. Eligible entities also include Federal, state, or local government employees operating in the course of their official duties as indicated under MMPA section 109(h). Applicants may reach out to the FWS for technical assistance to clarify and/or document applicability of the exemption under MMPA section 109(h). For marine mammals that are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), eligibility includes authorization under ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) (except for polar bears as long as authorization has been provided under the MMPA), or exemptions to take prohibitions under 50 CFR 17.21 or 50 CFR 17.31.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Per sections 408(d) and (e) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the program provides for a maximum Federal award for each project of up to $150,000 and a minimum non-Federal cost share of 25 percent of total project costs. The agency may apply in-kind contributions (i.e., the fair market value of property and services) to the non-Federal share. Matching requirements are mandatory.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Program approved 11?projects to support the recovery, treatment, rehabilitation, and release of stranded marine mammals, as well as related scientific research and associated operational costs. Species benefitted under this program include manatees, sea otters, walruses, and polar bears.Fiscal Year2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that support the recovery, treatment, rehabilitation, and release of stranded marine mammals, as well as related scientific research and associated operational costs.

Program listing on SAM.gov

Something wrong with this listing? Tell us

Key facts