United States Coast Guard · Department of Homeland Security

State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program

Open · Opportunity DHS-USCG-STATE-2027 · Assistance Listing 97.012

Deadline: Due Oct 30, 2026 · 23 days left
Award size: $400K – $12M
Cost share / match ?: Required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply: State government
Where: Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. The deadline is in 23 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

Available in Blount County (nationwide program)
Requires a cost share / match
Past Tennessee awards on file: 4

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

About this grant

This program is not open to the public. Eligibility is determined by federal statute. Applications can only be accepted from the designated state authority or agency.

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
Oct9
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters.
Oct23
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
Oct28
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
Oct30
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 FY27_State_RBS_NOFO_Draft_2026-09-10.pdf (29 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.

Registrations you need first

SAM.gov · p. 3

“If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now.” Open page 3
Grants.gov · p. 3

“If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now.” Open page 3
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 3

“This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).” Open page 3
Login.gov · p. 3

“Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.” Open page 3

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

Steps before the deadline

Pre-application · p. 13

“Pre-Application Requirements States must have an approved RBS program for enforcement, education, casualty reporting, and certificates of number, and a signed MOA with the Coast Guard.” Open page 13

What to submit

Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 6

“If applicable, subapplicants/subrecipients must submit short bios and resumes.” Open page 6
Form SF-424A · p. 13

“Completed via the Budget Tool or the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) a.” Open page 13
Form SF-424C · p. 13

“Budget Information – Construction Programs (SF-424C):” Open page 13
Memorandum of understanding (MOU) · p. 16

“States must have an approved RBS program for enforcement, education, casualty reporting, and certificates of number, and a signed Memorandum of Agreement with the Coast Guard.” Open page 16
Form SF-424 · p. 17

“If the program was not selected for review or no comments were made, this should be indicated in item 16 of the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424).” Open page 17
Audit or financial statements · p. 25

“Single Audit Reports A recipient expending $1,000,000 or more in federal awards (as defined by 2 C.F.R. § 200.1) during its fiscal year must undergo an audit.” Open page 25

Formatting rules

12-point font · p. 13

“Required Documents, Content, and Formatting Formatting All applications must be written in 12 pt.” Open page 13
1-inch margins · p. 13

“Times New Roman with one-inch margins.” Open page 13

Dates in the notice

10/30/2026 · p. 1

“Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Application due: 10/30/2026 11:59PM EDT State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program Assistance Listing Number: 97.012 Boating Safety Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity Number:” Open page 1
03/31/2027 · p. 5

“Usually no later than 03/31/2027.” Open page 5

Mistakes that get applications rejected

Could get your application rejected · p. 24

“Are presently excluded or disqualified; 2.” Open page 24

Who in Tennessee has won this program

4 awards to Tennessee recipients in 1 county since 2022 · 0 in Blount County. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee recipients
Recipient	Where	Amount	FY
Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee	Nashville, Davidson County	$2.5M	2025
Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee	Nashville, Davidson County	$2.3M	2026
Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee	Nashville, Davidson County	$2.2M	2023
Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee	Nashville, Davidson County	$2.1M	2024

Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.

About the program (97.012)

Boating Safety Financial Assistance — State RBS Program

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 46, Part 13104,Per 46 U.S.C. �13104 (b): The amount received by a State under this section in a fiscal year may be not more than one-half of the total cost incurred by that State in developing, carrying out, and financing that State�s recreational boating safety program in that fiscal year. All eligible, approved RBS expenditures may count towards the state share (unless those expenditures are already counted towards another federal grant) and should be reported. The total state share must be equal to, and can be greater than, the total federal share, but states are not required to match expenses item-for-item. The Coast Guard may reimburse a state for up to one-half of its total state expenditures pending the availability of federal funds. Once a state receives reimbursement, the funds no longer have a federal identity and can be spent per the state�s...

Examples of funded projects