Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS CVA 11
Apply for FWS CVA 11
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.616 Clean Vessel Act Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 23, 2010 and posted on Aug 12, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 3, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA) is a federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that helps state governments improve water quality by addressing a very practical problem in recreational boating: sewage disposal from boats with onboard toilets and holding tanks, commonly referred to as Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs). With roughly 13 million registered recreational boats in the United States and more than 70 million people taking part in activities like fishing, cruising, and watersports each year, the program focuses on reducing the likelihood that untreated or improperly managed boat sewage ends up in public waterways. The basic idea is straightforward: provide boaters with accessible, reliable pumpout and dump station options so sewage can be disposed of safely and legally, rather than being discharged into lakes, rivers, coastal waters, and other sensitive ecosystems.
CVA is described as a "user pay, user benefit" program. Its funding comes from excise taxes associated with recreational boating and sport fishing, including motorboat fuel and sport fishing equipment purchases. Those revenues are deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, and about two percent of that trust fund is set aside each fiscal year for Clean Vessel Act grants. For the funding cycle described in the announcement, the program anticipated awarding about $12.8 million total across an estimated 30 awards, with an award ceiling of $1.5 million and no specified award floor. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the environment activity area, and eligibility is limited to state governments.
The program’s funded projects typically support the installation and improvement of pumpout and dump station infrastructure, which is often located at marinas or other boating access sites on navigable waters. A key feature of the program is that it requires cost sharing or matching, meaning federal dollars are intended to be paired with state, local, and/or private contributions. That matching structure is meant to stretch the impact of the federal investment and encourage long-term local commitment to operating and maintaining the facilities. Beyond the hardware, the program also emphasizes boater awareness and outreach, since the presence of facilities alone does not solve the problem unless boaters know where they are and understand why using them matters.
The environmental and public benefits cited in the announcement are broad and concrete. By diverting sewage away from water bodies, CVA-funded infrastructure helps protect public drinking water supplies, supports healthier river and coastal ecosystems, and reduces contamination risks for shellfish beds and other aquatic resources. It also improves the overall boating experience by making sewage disposal more convenient and predictable, which is especially important in high-use recreational areas where inadequate facilities can become a persistent pollution source. Since the program began, it has funded more than 4,000 pumpouts and dump stations nationwide, and the combined effect of these installations has been the diversion of millions of gallons of sewage from U.S. waters each year.
The notice also highlights that CVA works because it is supported by a network of partners, including state agencies, private marinas, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, the States Organization for Boating Access, environmental organizations, and the boating public. These groups play an ongoing role not just in building facilities but in keeping them functional, promoting their use, and reinforcing the shared responsibility of protecting waterways. The program’s public-facing message captures its intent in plain language: "Keep Our Water Clean - Use Pumpouts."
For reference, the announcement lists the opportunity number as FWS CVA 11, with CFDA number 15.616 (Clean Vessel Act Program). The posted date was August 12, 2010, and the closing date for applications was December 3, 2010 (the listing is archived as of January 2, 2011). A program contact was provided for applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement: Christy Vigfusson, Biologist (Grants), phone 703-358-1748.
Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA) - FAQs
What is the Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA)?
The Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA) is a federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It helps improve water quality by supporting projects that address sewage disposal from recreational boats that have onboard toilets and holding tanks (Marine Sanitation Devices, or MSDs).
What problem is CVA designed to solve?
CVA focuses on reducing the chance that untreated or improperly managed boat sewage ends up in public waterways. The program’s practical approach is to make safe, legal disposal easier by expanding access to pumpout and dump station options.
Who runs the CVA grant program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Who is eligible to apply for CVA grants?
Eligibility is limited to state governments.
What types of projects does CVA typically fund?
Funded projects typically support the installation and improvement of pumpout and dump station infrastructure for recreational boat sewage disposal. These facilities are often located at marinas or other boating access sites on navigable waters. The program also emphasizes boater awareness and outreach so people know where facilities are and why using them matters.
What are pumpouts and dump stations in the context of CVA?
In this program, pumpouts and dump stations are facilities that allow boaters to dispose of sewage from onboard toilets and holding tanks safely and legally, rather than discharging it into lakes, rivers, coastal waters, or other waterways.
Why does CVA include outreach and boater awareness?
The program notes that infrastructure alone is not enough. Facilities have to be known and used to make a difference, so CVA emphasizes outreach that helps boaters locate pumpouts and understand the importance of proper sewage disposal.
How is the CVA program funded?
CVA is described as a "user pay, user benefit" program. Funding comes from excise taxes tied to recreational boating and sport fishing, including taxes on motorboat fuel and sport fishing equipment purchases. Those revenues go into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
How much of the trust fund is used for CVA grants?
About two percent of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund is set aside each fiscal year for Clean Vessel Act grants.
How much funding was anticipated for the cycle described in the announcement?
For the funding cycle described, the program anticipated awarding about $12.8 million total across an estimated 30 awards.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling listed in the announcement is $1.5 million.
Is there a minimum (floor) award amount?
No specified award floor is listed in the announcement.
Is this a discretionary or non-discretionary grant opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant.
What activity area does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under the environment activity area.
Does CVA require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. CVA requires cost sharing or matching, meaning federal grant dollars are intended to be paired with state, local, and/or private contributions.
Why does the program require matching funds?
The matching structure is intended to stretch the impact of federal investment and encourage long-term local commitment to operating and maintaining pumpout and dump station facilities.
What environmental and public benefits are associated with CVA-funded projects?
By diverting sewage away from water bodies, CVA-funded infrastructure helps protect public drinking water supplies, supports healthier river and coastal ecosystems, and reduces contamination risks for shellfish beds and other aquatic resources. It can also improve the boating experience by making sewage disposal more convenient and predictable, especially in high-use recreational areas.
How large is the recreational boating audience that CVA is concerned with?
The announcement cites roughly 13 million registered recreational boats in the United States and more than 70 million people participating in activities like fishing, cruising, and watersports each year.
How many facilities has CVA funded historically?
Since the program began, it has funded more than 4,000 pumpouts and dump stations nationwide.
What impact have these installations had?
The combined effect of these installations is described as the diversion of millions of gallons of sewage from U.S. waters each year.
Who are the partners involved in making CVA work?
The notice describes a network of partners that includes state agencies, private marinas, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, the States Organization for Boating Access, environmental organizations, and the boating public. These groups help build facilities, keep them functional, promote their use, and reinforce shared responsibility for protecting waterways.
What is the program’s public message or slogan?
The public-facing message highlighted in the notice is: "Keep Our Water Clean - Use Pumpouts."
What is the opportunity number for this announcement?
The opportunity number listed is FWS CVA 11.
What is the CFDA number for the Clean Vessel Act Program?
The CFDA number provided is 15.616 (Clean Vessel Act Program).
When was this grant opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posted date was August 12, 2010, and the closing date for applications was December 3, 2010. The listing is noted as archived as of January 2, 2011.
Who is the program contact listed in the announcement?
The contact listed for applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement is Christy Vigfusson, Biologist (Grants), at 703-358-1748.
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