F26AS00083 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes States - Fiscal Year 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice F26AS00083_NOFO.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)

• Grants.gov · p. 3

  “This also populates the Grants.gov description.” Open page 3

• SAM.gov, Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 4

  “GET READY TO APPLY Required System Registrations Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration” Open page 4

• GrantSolutions · p. 5

  “The FWS standard is to require applicants to register and submit applications in GrantSolutions.” Open page 5

• Login.gov · p. 15

  “GrantSolutions requires users to log in through Login.gov.” Open page 15

Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist

Steps before the deadline

• Pre-proposal · p. 8

  “All pre-proposals (including Project Narrative, Budget Narrative) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time 60 days after this NOFO is posted to grants.gov.” Open page 8

• Pre-proposal · p. 16

  “For funding eligibility, pre-proposals must be received no later than 11:59 EST 60 days after this NOFO is posted to grants.gov by email.” Open page 16

• Pre-proposal · p. 22

  “therefore we will accept pre-proposals as described earlier in the NOFO by the submission deadline so that only the final submission (after ranking is completed and funding amounts are determined) will require an SF-424 and other application materials in…” Open page 22

What to submit

• Budget narrative / justification · p. 8

  “All pre-proposals (including Project Narrative, Budget Narrative) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time 60 days after this NOFO is posted to grants.gov.” Open page 8

• Evaluation plan · p. 9

  “o Required project monitoring and evaluation plan, or other means to assess project success; o Qualifications of key agencies and/or project personnel; and o Details on the project location.” Open page 9

• Form SF-424 · p. 9

  “Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Note:” Open page 9

• Form SF-424A · p. 9

  “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 9

• Form SF-424C · p. 9

  “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 9

• Form SF-LLL · p. 9

  “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 9

• Letters of support or commitment · p. 13

  “Other documentation may include curriculum vitae or other biographical information for key personnel, project location maps, any documentation to support an eligibility determination (e.g., proof of certain tax status, authorizing tribal resolution), third-…” Open page 13

• Resumes or bios of key staff · p. 13

  “Other documentation may include curriculum vitae or other biographical information for key personnel, project location maps, any documentation to support an eligibility determination (e.g., proof of certain tax status, authorizing tribal resolution), third-…” Open page 13

Length limits

• Character limit (see quote): 4,000 characters max · p. 5

  “This field is limited to 4,000 characters, including spaces and punctuation.” Open page 5

• Page limit (see quote): 25 pages max · p. 8

  “Additional documentation to complete these requirements is very helpful and varies some across USFWS regions, so reach out to the grant contact who will receive your final application package to determine the most useful documentation to provide [these…” Open page 8

• Project Narratives: 25 pages max · p. 11

  “Project Narratives may be NO MORE THAN 25 pages and based on past submissions are often far less.” Open page 11

Cost share or match

• Cost share / match · p. 4

  “Cost sharing not required by statute is strongly discourage for Tribal applicants.” Open page 4

Dates in the notice

• 12/31/2026 · p. 2

  “Closing Date for Applications: 12/31/2026*Date Field.” Open page 2

Mistakes that get applications rejected (6)

• Could get your application rejected: Refer or link to any other factors that would disqualify an applicant or application (e.g., Eligibility... · p. 4

  “Refer or link to any other factors that would disqualify an applicant or application (e.g., Eligibility Review criteria).” Open page 4

• Could get your application rejected: This field does not support non-ASCII characters (will be rejected by USASpending.gov). · p. 5

  “This field does not support non-ASCII characters (will be rejected by USASpending.gov).” Open page 5

• Could get your application rejected: List the program’s eligibility review criteria and any disqualifying factors to be reviewed. · p. 16

  “List the program’s eligibility review criteria and any disqualifying factors to be reviewed.” Open page 16

• Late or not validated: Late pre-proposals will not be accepted. · p. 16

  “Late pre-proposals will not be accepted.” Open page 16

• Late or not validated: Late applications will not be accepted. · p. 16

  “Late applications will not be accepted.” 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. 16

  “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” Open page 16