United States Coast Guard · Department of Homeland Security
State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program
In short: United States Coast Guard expects to make 55 awards of $400,000 to $12 million. Open to state government.
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Oct 30, 2026 · 21 days left
- Award size
- $400K – $12M
- Match ?
- Required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- State government
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 5
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.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/865eec16-db46-4cfe-b9c6-dbbb3a07af32 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/826ffa53-d834-4142-b501-8fdaf97184e3
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct9
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. - 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 My grants and your private calendar.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official 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.
Registrations you need first (3)
SAM.gov, 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
The deadline is in 21 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Get-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 (1)
Unresolved civil-rights or legal findings: Are presently excluded or disqualified; 2. · p. 24
“Are presently excluded or disqualified; 2.” Open page 24
Who in Tennessee has won this program
5 awards to Tennessee groups in 1 county since 2022. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | $2.5M | 2025 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $2.4M spent that year | 2025 |
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | $2.3M | 2026 |
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | $2.2M | 2023 |
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency | Nashville, Davidson County | $2.1M | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov; Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
More from United States Coast Guard
- National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program · Next round: about Jun 5 – Jul 7, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
About the federal program
Boating Safety Financial Assistance, also called “State RBS Program”
Program number 97.012 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard · Formula grant (amounts set by a formula), project grant
Match
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 discretion.