Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS BIG 09
Apply for FWS BIG 09
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development environment natural resources other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Request for Proposals FY 2009" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.622 Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 13, 2008 and posted on Aug 13, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 31, 2008 Grant Proposals are due in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regional Office (Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program) by October 31, 2008, 500 PM local time of the Regional Offices location. Electronic proposals must be received by Grants.gov on or before October 31, 2008, 1159 pm local time of the Regional Offices location. Late grant proposals will not be considered. The announcement of awards is expected to be in January 2009.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $13,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments.
- Eligible applicants include any agency or agencies designated by the governor of a State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth, and territory. The designated agency is often times a State natural resource or fish and wildlife agency. Often, the designated agency is the State fish and wildlife agency or natural resource agency. State agencies can only apply for and receive Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) funds. However, BIG does encourage partnering with local governments, rivat marinas, and other entities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) Request for Proposals for FY 2009 is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.622 (Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act). The program is designed to improve recreational boating access and safety by funding the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure tie-up facilities that serve transient, nontrailerable recreational vessels. In practical terms, the program targets facilities used by larger recreational boats that typically stay in the water rather than being carried on trailers, and it focuses on short-term visiting boaters rather than long-term slip holders. A key condition is that any facility supported with BIG funds must provide public access, even if the facility is privately owned, meaning the public must be able to use the funded infrastructure under reasonable, nondiscriminatory terms.
Funding is intended to support on-the-ground infrastructure projects at marinas and similar boating access sites, covering improvements that help transient boaters safely dock and access shore-side amenities. The eligible scope includes constructing new tie-up facilities, renovating existing infrastructure, and maintaining eligible facilities. While the notice does not list specific project elements in the provided text, the emphasis on "tie up facilities" indicates the core deliverables are docking or mooring components and related features that directly support transient access for nontrailerable recreational vessels, consistent with the program's transportation and recreational boating purpose. The funding activity categories associated with the opportunity span community development, environment, natural resources, and transportation, reflecting how boating infrastructure can support local waterfront economies while also being managed within natural resource and public access frameworks.
Eligibility is limited to state-level applicants: only agencies designated by the governor of a State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and U.S. territories may apply and receive BIG funds. In most cases, that designated applicant is a state fish and wildlife agency or a state natural resource agency. Even though only state agencies can be direct applicants and grantees, the program explicitly encourages partnerships. States are expected to work with local governments, private marinas, and other entities to plan and deliver projects, which is important because many eligible tie-up facilities may be owned or operated locally or privately. The public access requirement still applies, so partnership arrangements typically need to ensure that the improvements supported by federal dollars remain accessible to transient recreational boaters.
For FY 2009, the opportunity anticipated approximately 50 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $13,000,000. The grant instrument type is a standard grant, and there is a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to provide non-federal contributions toward project costs as part of the proposal. The announcement was posted and created on August 13, 2008, with a final proposal deadline of October 31, 2008. Applications had to be received by the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office (Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program) by 5:00 PM local time, or submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM local time on the same date. The notice is clear that late proposals would not be considered, making timeliness a strict eligibility gate. Award announcements were expected in January 2009, and the opportunity was archived on December 31, 2008.
Applicants needing assistance or unable to access the full announcement electronically were directed to contact Steve Jose, Programs Branch Chief, at 703-358-1851. The notice also references an additional information link for more details about the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program, which would typically provide deeper guidance on eligible costs, project selection criteria, required application components, and match specifics beyond what is included in the summary posting.
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) FY 2009 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) FY 2009 opportunity?
The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) FY 2009 Request for Proposals is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.622 (Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act). It supports boating infrastructure improvements that enhance recreational boating access and safety.
2. What is the main purpose of the BIG program?
The program is designed to improve recreational boating access and safety by funding the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure tie-up facilities that serve transient, nontrailerable recreational vessels.
3. What types of boaters are targeted by this program?
The program targets transient (short-term visiting) recreational boaters using nontrailerable vessels, meaning larger recreational boats that typically remain in the water rather than being transported on trailers.
4. Does this program support long-term slip holders?
The focus is on short-term visiting boaters rather than long-term slip holders.
5. What kinds of projects does BIG funding support?
Funding is intended for on-the-ground infrastructure projects at marinas and similar boating access sites that improve how transient boaters safely tie up and access shore-side amenities. The eligible scope includes constructing new tie-up facilities, renovating existing infrastructure, and maintaining eligible facilities.
6. What is meant by "tie-up facilities" in this notice?
Based on the notice, "tie-up facilities" refers to docking or mooring components and related features that directly support transient access for nontrailerable recreational vessels.
7. Are projects required to provide public access?
Yes. A key condition is that any facility supported with BIG funds must provide public access. Even if a facility is privately owned, the public must be able to use the funded infrastructure under reasonable, nondiscriminatory terms.
8. Can privately owned marinas benefit from BIG-funded improvements?
Yes, but any infrastructure supported with BIG funds must provide public access under reasonable, nondiscriminatory terms, even if privately owned.
9. Who is eligible to apply for BIG FY 2009?
Eligibility is limited to state-level applicants: only agencies designated by the governor of a State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and U.S. territories may apply and receive BIG funds.
10. Which state agency typically applies?
In most cases, the designated applicant is a state fish and wildlife agency or a state natural resource agency.
11. Can local governments, marinas, or nonprofits apply directly?
No. Only the designated state-level agencies may apply and receive BIG funds. However, the program explicitly encourages partnerships, and states are expected to work with local governments, private marinas, and other entities to plan and deliver projects.
12. Are partnerships allowed or encouraged?
Yes. Partnerships are explicitly encouraged. States are expected to work with local governments, private marinas, and other entities to plan and deliver projects, particularly because eligible facilities may be owned or operated locally or privately.
13. If a state partners with a private marina, does the public access requirement still apply?
Yes. Partnership arrangements typically need to ensure that improvements supported by federal dollars remain accessible to transient recreational boaters under reasonable, nondiscriminatory terms.
14. What are the funding activity categories associated with this opportunity?
The funding activity categories span community development, environment, natural resources, and transportation.
15. How many awards were anticipated for FY 2009?
The opportunity anticipated approximately 50 awards.
16. What was the estimated total funding amount for FY 2009?
The estimated total funding level for FY 2009 was $13,000,000.
17. What type of grant instrument is used?
The grant instrument type is a standard grant.
18. Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. There is a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to provide non-federal contributions toward project costs as part of the proposal.
19. When was the FY 2009 BIG solicitation posted?
The announcement was posted and created on August 13, 2008.
20. What was the proposal deadline for FY 2009?
The final proposal deadline was October 31, 2008.
21. Where did proposals need to be submitted?
Applications had to be received by the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office (Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program) by the stated deadline, or submitted electronically through Grants.gov by the stated deadline.
22. What were the exact submission time cutoffs on the deadline date?
Applications had to be received by the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office by 5:00 PM local time, or submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM local time on October 31, 2008.
23. Are late proposals accepted?
No. The notice states that late proposals would not be considered, making timeliness a strict eligibility gate.
24. When were award announcements expected?
Award announcements were expected in January 2009.
25. When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on December 31, 2008.
26. Who can applicants contact for help or if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
Applicants were directed to contact Steve Jose, Programs Branch Chief, at 703-358-1851.
27. Is there a place to find more detailed program guidance beyond this summary?
Yes. The notice references an additional information link for more details about the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program, which would typically provide deeper guidance on eligible costs, project selection criteria, required application components, and match specifics beyond what is included in the summary posting.
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| Funding Opportunity |
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| CLEAN VESSEL GRANT PROGRAM Apply for FWS WSFR CVA 2009 Funding Number: FWS WSFR CVA 2009 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Community Development Environment Natural Resources Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Transportation Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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