Opportunity Information: Apply for OIA EIC 2026
Apply for OIA EIC 2026
- The Department of the Interior in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Energizing Insular Communities Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.875.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-18. (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 $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2026 Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), focused on strengthening energy security and reliability across the U.S. territories. The program is framed around a national interest goal: supporting domestically produced energy and protecting U.S. economic and national security interests, including military preparedness, by helping ensure dependable energy is available throughout every state and territory. In practical terms, OIA is looking for projects that make territorial energy systems less vulnerable to supply disruptions and price swings by reducing dependence on imported foreign fuels and by improving how local energy infrastructure performs day to day.
The grants are intended to support energy strategies and projects that lower electricity costs, increase energy efficiency, and improve the reliability and resilience of energy infrastructure. While the announcement is broad, the emphasis is clearly on tangible improvements to territorial energy systems, such as initiatives that cut fuel imports, modernize generation or grid assets, reduce system losses, improve operational performance, and deliver measurable efficiency gains. The overarching idea is to help islanded and remote grids become more stable and cost-effective while aligning with U.S. energy security priorities.
Eligibility is limited to organizations located in four U.S. territories: Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Within those locations, eligible applicant types include local government entities, utilities, semi-autonomous agencies, and institutions of higher education. Applicants must be able to comply with federal grant rules under 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards), which governs financial management, procurement standards, allowable costs, reporting, and audit requirements. One specific restriction is highlighted: under 2 CFR 200.444, OIA cannot provide funding to the Judicial or Legislative branches of local governments, meaning those branches are explicitly ineligible even if they are part of an otherwise eligible territorial government structure.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity title "FY 2026 Energizing Insular Communities Program" and funding opportunity number "OIA EIC 2026." The assistance listing (CFDA) number is 15.875, and the activity category is Energy. The application deadline listed is May 18, 2026. Individual awards can be as large as $15,000,000 (the award ceiling), and OIA anticipates making about 10 awards under this cycle, indicating a competitive process with a relatively limited number of funded projects. The opportunity was created on March 16, 2026, and the funding instrument type is a grant.
FY 2026 Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) Program - FAQs
1) What is the FY 2026 Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) Program?
The FY 2026 Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Insular Affairs (OIA). It is focused on strengthening energy security and reliability across U.S. territories by supporting projects that improve how territorial energy systems perform and reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions and fuel price swings.
2) Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs (OIA).
3) What is the main purpose or goal of the program?
The program is framed around a national interest goal: supporting domestically produced energy and protecting U.S. economic and national security interests, including military preparedness. In practical terms, the goal is to help ensure dependable energy is available throughout every state and territory by making territorial energy systems more stable, reliable, and less dependent on imported foreign fuels.
4) What types of outcomes is OIA looking for?
OIA is looking for tangible improvements to territorial energy systems, including outcomes such as lower electricity costs, increased energy efficiency, and improved reliability and resilience of energy infrastructure. The emphasis is on reducing dependence on imported fuels and improving day-to-day performance of local energy infrastructure.
5) What kinds of projects are emphasized under the EIC Program?
While the announcement is broad, it emphasizes initiatives that:
- Reduce dependence on imported foreign fuels
- Cut fuel imports
- Modernize generation or grid assets
- Reduce system losses
- Improve operational performance
- Deliver measurable energy efficiency gains
- Improve reliability and resilience of energy infrastructure
6) Where must an applicant be located to be eligible?
Eligibility is limited to organizations located in the following four U.S. territories:
- Guam
- American Samoa
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
7) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Within the eligible territories, the eligible applicant types include:
- Local government entities
- Utilities
- Semi-autonomous agencies
- Institutions of higher education
8) Are all parts of territorial governments eligible to receive funding?
No. A specific restriction is highlighted under federal grant rules: under 2 CFR 200.444, OIA cannot provide funding to the Judicial or Legislative branches of local governments. Those branches are explicitly ineligible even if they are part of an otherwise eligible territorial government structure.
9) What federal regulations must applicants be able to comply with?
Applicants must be able to comply with federal grant requirements under 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards). This includes rules governing financial management, procurement standards, allowable costs, reporting, and audit requirements.
10) What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
11) Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The EIC Program is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
12) What is the official funding opportunity title?
The official title is "FY 2026 Energizing Insular Communities Program."
13) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is OIA EIC 2026.
14) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 15.875.
15) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Energy.
16) What is the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is May 18, 2026.
17) What is the maximum award size?
Individual awards can be as large as $15,000,000 (the award ceiling).
18) How many awards does OIA expect to make?
OIA anticipates making about 10 awards under this cycle, which suggests the opportunity is competitive with a relatively limited number of funded projects.
19) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 16, 2026.
20) What is the program trying to reduce in territorial energy systems?
The program aims to reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions and price swings by lowering dependence on imported foreign fuels and improving the performance of local energy infrastructure.
21) How does the program connect to national security and military preparedness?
The program is explicitly tied to U.S. economic and national security interests, including military preparedness, by helping ensure that dependable energy is available throughout every state and territory and by supporting domestically produced energy.
22) Does the program focus more on planning or on tangible infrastructure and performance improvements?
Based on the description provided, the emphasis is on tangible improvements to territorial energy systems, such as reducing fuel imports, modernizing generation or grid assets, reducing losses, improving operations, and delivering measurable efficiency gains, with the broader objective of creating stable and cost-effective islanded and remote grids.
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