F26AS00008_FY 2026 - Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act - Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Tier 1

DOI-FWS F26AS00008
Posted: Aug 28, 2025 12:00:00 AM EDT
Closes: 10/27/2025

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding
$4,000,000
Award Ceiling
$300,000
Cost sharing or matching is required for this grant.

Description

The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program (16 United States Code (U.S.C.) 777g-1) provides cost-sharing awards to eligible agencies of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The purpose of the program is to maintain, renovate, and construct new boating facilities and associated boater amenities for transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered primarily for pleasure. Transient vessels are recreational vessels staying no more than 15 days at a facility. These facilities must provide public access and may be publicly or privately owned. Eligible activities may include but are not limited to: Boat slips, piers, mooring buoys, dinghy or courtesy docks, day docks, and gangwaysFuel stations, restrooms, showers, utilities, laundry facilities, and similar amenitiesLighting, communications, buoys, beacons, signals, markers, signs, and security featuresAdministration, coordination, and monitoring for any one or more BIG Tier 1 or Tier 2 awards.Complete information on other eligible and ineligible activities and the requirements for participation in the program can be found in the BIG Program regulations (50 CFR 86). Review these regulations and this announcement carefully before applying for a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 BIG Tier 1 award. The maximum Federal portion of a Tier 1 award is $300,000. The recipient agency, a subrecipient, and/or another third party must provide at least 25 percent of the total project cost in non-federal cost sharing or match.For more information on the BIG Program, visit the Service's Boating Infrastructure Home Page.

Synopsis

The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program (16 United States Code (U.S.C.) 777g-1) provides cost-sharing awards to eligible agencies of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The purpose of the program is to maintain, renovate, and construct new boating facilities and associated boater amenities for transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered primarily for pleasure. Transient vessels are recreational vessels staying no more than 15 days at a facility. These facilities must provide public access and may be publicly or privately owned. Eligible activities may include but are not limited to: Boat slips, piers, mooring buoys, dinghy or courtesy docks, day docks, and gangwaysFuel stations, restrooms, showers, utilities, laundry facilities, and similar amenitiesLighting, communications, buoys, beacons, signals, markers, signs, and security featuresAdministration, coordination, and monitoring for any one or more BIG Tier 1 or Tier 2 awards.Complete information on other eligible and ineligible activities and the requirements for participation in the program can be found in the BIG Program regulations (50 CFR 86). Review these regulations and this announcement carefully before applying for a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 BIG Tier 1 award. The maximum Federal portion of a Tier 1 award is $300,000. The recipient agency, a subrecipient, and/or another third party must provide at least 25 percent of the total project cost in non-federal cost sharing or match.For more information on the BIG Program, visit the Service's Boating Infrastructure Home Page.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:
State governments
Eligible applicants are the governor-designated agencies of the United States, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and the mayor-designated agency of the District of Columbia. You may not apply directly if you are not one of these entities. If you are uncertain of your eligibility, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see Regional Office of Conservation Investment Contacts above).

Funding Activity Categories

Natural Resources

CFDA Numbers

  • 15.622 - Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act

Contact Information

Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Contact: Fish and Wildlife Service
Phone: 22041-3803
Paul Van Ryzin
paul_vanryzin@fws.gov

Additional Information

Document Type: synopsis
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Version: 1
Last Updated: Aug 28, 2025 11:16:46 AM EDT

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