F24AS00176 Refuge System Enhancement/ Infrastructure 2024 | F24AS00176

Opportunity Information: Apply for F24AS00176

F24AS00176 Refuge System Enhancement/ Infrastructure 2024 is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that supports partnership-driven projects on National Wildlife Refuge System lands and at refuge field stations. The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which generally means FWS expects to have substantial involvement during the project (for example, coordinating on workplans, compliance needs, or implementation). The overall purpose is to strengthen stewardship of refuge resources and to improve or sustain refuge infrastructure so that refuges can better protect wildlife habitat while also serving visitors and local communities.

At its core, this grant sits under FWS's National Infrastructure Partnerships initiative. The initiative is designed to encourage refuge stations to work hand-in-hand with outside partners such as nonprofit organizations, other land management entities, and state and tribal partners. Funded projects are expected to do one or both of the following: (1) promote stewardship of Refuge System resources through habitat maintenance, restoration, and improvement, and/or (2) support the operation and maintenance of the Refuge System by constructing, operating, maintaining, or improving refuge facilities and services. In practical terms, this can include work that improves habitat conditions and resilience, as well as repairs and upgrades that address real infrastructure needs on refuges, including proactive maintenance and the broader maintenance backlog.

The program is also framed as a way to bring communities more directly into refuge improvements and outdoor recreation. A major goal is to enable local communities to play a more active role in increasing wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation opportunities on refuge lands and waters. Proposals are expected to be focused and deliberate about how partnerships will help FWS tackle infrastructure repair and improvement needs while also enhancing habitat. The visitor experience is explicitly part of the target outcomes, meaning projects that make refuges more usable, accessible, and engaging for the public (while still protecting resources) align well with the stated intent.

FWS highlights several priority areas that projects can help advance, positioning this initiative as a catalyst for broader outcomes. Those priorities include economic and conservation enhancement, career training and mentoring opportunities for youth and adults, equity and inclusion in conservation and recreation, climate and wildlife resilience, and community health. Successful projects, as described in the announcement summary, are those that clearly connect proposed work at FWS sites to one or more of these priorities while delivering tangible refuge benefits such as improved habitat, better facilities, stronger visitor services, and meaningful community engagement around wildlife-dependent recreation.

Eligibility is broad, covering many public and nonprofit entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with 501(c)(3) status and those without 501(c)(3) status (as specified). The announcement also notes that certain other organizations may participate if they have an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FWS, including 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(5) nonprofits such as labor unions, neighborhood associations, or other eligible organizations, including those that reach or represent potentially underserved communities. Beyond organizational type, applicants are expected to have solid internal controls: financial policies and procedures that reflect generally accepted accounting principles, and risk management policies that reflect industry standards and are proactive and thorough.

A key cost requirement is a match: applicants must contribute at least 50 percent of the total project costs. That match can be cash or qualified third-party in-kind contributions. The in-kind language is relatively flexible as long as contributions are reasonable project expenses, and examples include donated labor, materials, supplies, or equipment loans. This match requirement is central to project planning because it affects partnership structure, budgeting, and how responsibilities are shared among the applicant and any supporting organizations.

From the published opportunity data, the agency is the Fish and Wildlife Service and the assistance listing (CFDA) number is 15.654, with a funding activity category of Natural Resources. The opportunity number is F24AS00176 and the title is Refuge System Enhancement/ Infrastructure 2024. The original closing date listed is July 12, 2024. The award ceiling shown in the source data is $50,000,000. The summary does not specify the expected number of awards (it is left blank), so applicants typically need to consult the full announcement for details on anticipated award counts, typical award sizes, period of performance, and any refuge- or region-specific priorities.

Overall, this funding opportunity is aimed at well-structured partnerships that can bring significant non-federal cost share to the table and deliver on-the-ground habitat and infrastructure results at national wildlife refuges. Strong applications will usually be those that tie a specific, actionable refuge need (maintenance, repair, visitor facility improvements, habitat restoration, or similar) to measurable benefits for wildlife and for people, while also demonstrating credible project management, sound fiscal and risk controls, and a clear plan for meeting the 50 percent match requirement through cash and/or documented in-kind support.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F24AS00176 Refuge System Enhancement/ Infrastructure 2024" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for F24AS00176

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: