Fish and Wildlife Service · Department of the Interior
F26AS00084 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes Tribes - Fiscal Year 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
In short: Fish and Wildlife Service expects to make 3 awards of $20,000 to $100,000. Anyone can apply.
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Dec 31, 2026 · 83 days left
The funder says: “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.All pre-proposals will be submitted via...” - Award size
- $20K – $100K
- Total available
- $300K · about 3 awards
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Anyone (unrestricted), and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Check the official notice for location limits
How this fits you
- Only tribes or Native American / Native Hawaiian organizations can apply
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
Using appropriations to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) anticipates providing grants to support development and/or implementation of Great Lakes Tribal Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans (Tribal AIS Plans). Therefore, a Tribal AIS Plan must be in place that supports the proposed work, or development of such a plan must be a part of the proposed work. All tribal grants will be awarded based on a competitive process for which only Great Lakes tribes or their designee are eligible.
Who can apply, from the official notice
We are seeking applications from tribal natural resource agencies/organizations in the Great Lakes Basin. However, a tribal agency may designate an entity (of any type) to apply for the award on their behalf.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/a95a0e27-22ad-4a6c-a4e5-7c1d80eb1485 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/b4d3fd1a-347e-4bf3-83ca-5dfc25099677
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 - Dec10
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Dec24
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Dec28
Submit
Suggested: submit a few days early. Agency portals can slow down near deadlines. - Dec31
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 Foa_Content_of_F26AS00084_final_050726.pdf (19 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
“Applicants must submit full proposal applications, for the approved funding amounts, via GrantSolutions.” 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 Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be registered in SAM.gov.” Open page 4
Grants.gov · p. 7
“For instructions on completing form fields, see the form instructions on the Grants.gov Forms Repository.” Open page 7
Login.gov · p. 11
“GrantSolutions requires users to log in through Login.gov.” Open page 11
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. 3
“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 3
Pre-proposal · p. 9
“Other Required Information SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES Address to Request Application Package All pre-proposals will be submitted via email to: fws3_fisheries_grants@fws.gov Following notification of funding amount:” Open page 9
Pre-proposal · p. 12
“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 12
Pre-proposal · p. 17
“This often results in changes to the amount of the award from what is requested, 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…” Open page 17
What to submit
Budget narrative / justification · p. 3
“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 3
Evaluation plan · p. 6
“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 6
Form SF-424 · p. 7
“Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Note:” Open page 7
Form SF-424A · p. 7
“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 7
Form SF-424C · p. 7
“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 7
Form SF-LLL · p. 7
“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 7
Length limits
Page limit (see quote): 25 pages max · p. 6
“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 6
Project Narratives: 25 pages max · p. 8
“Project Narratives may be NO MORE THAN 25 pages and based on past submissions are often far less.” Open page 8
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 4
“No Cost sharing or matching funds are not required to be eligible for this grant opportunity.” Open page 4
Dates in the notice
12/31/2026 · p. 10
“Submission Dates and Times Closing Date for Applications: 12/31/2026 Closing Date Explanation” Open page 10
Mistakes that get applications rejected (3)
Late or not validated: Late pre-proposals will not be accepted. · p. 12
“Late pre-proposals will not be accepted.” Open page 12
Late or not validated: Late applications will not be accepted. · p. 12
“Late applications will not be accepted.” Open page 12
Unresolved civil-rights or legal findings: We are prohibited from making an award if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible,... · p. 12
“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 12
Files from the official listing
The notice, forms and templates the agency attached. Some programs ask for a letter of intent or a form before the full application.
- Foa_Content_of_F26AS00084_final_050726.pdf (187 KB)
Foa_Content_of_F26AS00084 final 050726.pdf - Intra-Service_Sec_7_Consultation.docx (17 KB)
Intra-Service Sec 7 Consultation.docx - NEPA_Checklist_3-2185.pdf (72 KB)
NEPA Checklist 3-2185.pdf - NHPA_Section_106_Form.pdf (467 KB)
NHPA Section 106 Form.pdf
Who in Tennessee has won this program
1 award to Tennessee groups in 1 county since 2024. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | $1.1M spent that year | 2025 |
Source: 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. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | $336K spent that year | 2023 |
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | $40K spent that year | 2025 |
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | National Audubon Society, Inc | $89 spent that year | 2023 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
More from Fish and Wildlife Service
- F26AS00062: Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act FY 2026 · Due Oct 13, 2026 · 4 days left
- FY2026 Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States · Due Oct 24, 2026 · 15 days left
- F26AS00071 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants · Due Oct 30, 2026 · 21 days left
- F25AS00332 Highlands Conservation Act – Competitive Funding Round · Due Oct 31, 2026 · 22 days left
- F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act - Base Funding Round · Due Oct 31, 2026 · 22 days left
- F26AS00030 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program · Due Nov 20, 2026 · 42 days left
About the federal program
Great Lakes Restoration, also called “Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; Great Lakes Restoration Program”
Program number 15.662 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Project grant
How applications are judged
Program criteria are specified in the announcements of the individual financial assistance programs.
Match
Program requirements are specified in the announcements of the individual financial assistance programs. More information on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative programs is available at http://www.fws.gov/glri.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2025: Funded activities directly address the goals and objectives identified in the GLRI Action Plan IV (https://www.glri.us) and include restoration, protection and enhancement of coastal, terrestrial and wetland habitat for migratory birds and nearshore aquatic species; restoration of riverine habitats to improve aquatic habitat connectivity for fish and other aquatic organisms; prevention, early detection and control of invasive species such as invasive carp; restoration of native aquatic species, such as Lake Trout and Lake Sturgeon, to self-sustaining levels.
Fiscal year 2026: Projects anticipated to be funded include restoration, protection and enhancement of coastal, terrestrial and wetland habitat for migratory birds and nearshore aquatic species; restoration of riverine habitats to improve aquatic habitat connectivity for fish and other aquatic organisms; prevention, early detection and control of invasive species such as invasive carp; restoration of native aquatic species, such as Lake Trout and Lake Sturgeon, to self-sustaining levels