Opportunity Information: Apply for VA NCA VCGP 2026
Apply for VA NCA VCGP 2026
- The VA National Cemetery Administration in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Veterans Cemetery Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 64.203.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-01. (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 $60,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Veterans Cemetery Grants opportunity (VA NCA VCGP 2026, CFDA 64.203) is a discretionary grant program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration. It is soliciting FY 2026 pre-applications for projects that VA expects to place on its FY 2027 priority list. The core purpose is to expand burial options and improve the quality of veteran cemetery facilities by funding capital development projects for state, territorial, tribal, and certain county veterans cemeteries, ultimately increasing access for veterans and eligible family members.
Eligible applicants are states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments (specifically for projects on trust land owned by, or held in trust for, the tribal organization), and counties that meet the eligibility requirements in 38 U.S.C. 2408. Funded cemeteries must be owned and operated by the eligible public entity. A key operational requirement is that the cemetery is run solely for the interment of veterans (as defined in 38 CFR 39.2) and their eligible family members (see 38 CFR 39.10). The notice also highlights a relatively new legal authority allowing grantee cemeteries to inter certain individuals described in 38 U.S.C. 2408(i)(2) who are not eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, with additional details referenced on VA NCA policy notices.
Grant funds are limited to establishment, expansion, or improvement of veterans cemeteries, and VA may cover up to 100 percent of the development cost for an approved project. However, there are notable restrictions: VA cannot pay for land acquisition, and it can only provide operating equipment in the specific context of establishing new cemeteries. In addition, any cemetery developed with these funds must follow VA-prescribed standards and guidelines for site selection, planning, and construction, meaning applicants should be prepared to design and build to federal program specifications rather than local norms alone.
The program places heavy emphasis on domestic sourcing compliance through the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). Recipients must certify that grant-funded projects will follow BABAA domestic content procurement preferences. Practically, this means iron, steel, and construction materials used in VA-funded projects must be produced or manufactured in the United States, and manufactured products must be produced in the U.S., with a component cost test stating that the cost of U.S. components must exceed 65 percent of the total component cost. Applicants should anticipate the need for strong procurement controls, contractor flow-down clauses, and documentation practices to demonstrate compliance.
The announcement also underscores heightened federal oversight requirements tied to Executive Order 14332, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking. Beyond the published evaluation criteria, VA states it has discretion to remove applications from consideration if it determines an applicant does not clearly advance the President's or VA's priorities. It further states VA will not fund activities that (1) use racial preference as eligibility criteria, (2) promote gender ideology, (3) promote or facilitate violations of immigration laws, or (4) constitute waste, fraud, or abuse. It also warns that VA will not tolerate recipient conduct it characterizes as moral turpitude, scandalous behavior, or actions that bring the recipient, the project, or VA into public disrepute. In plain terms, applicants should treat compliance, governance, and reputational risk as central parts of their application strategy and project management approach.
From a program impact perspective, VA frames VCGP as a long-running national infrastructure effort. Since 1980, the program has awarded 525 grants totaling more than $1.187 billion, supporting 124 veterans cemeteries across 47 states, 14 tribes, and three U.S. territories (Guam, Saipan, and Puerto Rico). VA notes that in 2025, grant-funded cemeteries accounted for 43,705 interments of veterans and eligible family members, described as more than 25 percent of annual interments across national, state, territorial, and tribal cemeteries combined. The description also points to recent and upcoming cemetery openings, including new cemeteries in New York (Finger Lakes) and Nebraska (Grand Island), and a planned opening in Lubbock, Texas in March 2026, emphasizing the program's role in reaching previously unserved veteran populations.
Administratively, the grant supports capital development, but the long-term responsibility for administration, operation, and maintenance rests entirely with the state, territory, tribal government, or eligible county operating the cemetery. Separately from the construction grant program, VA notes that as part of veterans burial benefits it may provide a plot allowance of up to $1,002 for certain eligible veterans, which is related to burial benefits rather than project construction funding.
Key logistics included in the listing are an application deadline of July 1, 2026, an expected number of awards of about 30, and an award ceiling listed at $60,000,000. Applicants considering this opportunity should be prepared to submit a pre-application aligned to VA cemetery development standards, demonstrate clear veteran access benefits, show readiness to comply with BABAA sourcing rules, and present a strong compliance posture consistent with the Executive Order-based oversight language in the announcement.
Veterans Cemetery Grants (VA NCA VCGP 2026, CFDA 64.203) - FAQs
What is the Veterans Cemetery Grants opportunity (VA NCA VCGP 2026)?
The Veterans Cemetery Grants opportunity (VA NCA VCGP 2026, CFDA 64.203) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA). It is soliciting FY 2026 pre-applications for projects VA expects to place on its FY 2027 priority list.
What is the purpose of this grant program?
The purpose is to expand burial options and improve the quality of veteran cemetery facilities by funding capital development projects for state, territorial, tribal, and certain county veterans cemeteries. The goal is to increase access for veterans and eligible family members.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments (for projects on trust land owned by, or held in trust for, the tribal organization), and counties that meet eligibility requirements in 38 U.S.C. 2408.
Are counties eligible applicants?
Yes. Counties may be eligible if they meet the eligibility requirements in 38 U.S.C. 2408.
Are tribal governments eligible applicants, and are there location restrictions?
Yes, federally recognized tribal governments are eligible, specifically for projects located on trust land owned by, or held in trust for, the tribal organization.
Does the cemetery have to be publicly owned and operated?
Yes. Funded cemeteries must be owned and operated by the eligible public entity (state, territory, tribal government, or eligible county).
Who can be interred in a cemetery funded through this program?
A key operational requirement is that the cemetery is run solely for the interment of veterans (as defined in 38 CFR 39.2) and their eligible family members (see 38 CFR 39.10).
Can grantee cemeteries inter individuals who are not eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery?
The notice highlights a legal authority allowing grantee cemeteries to inter certain individuals described in 38 U.S.C. 2408(i)(2) who are not eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, with additional details referenced on VA NCA policy notices.
What types of projects can grant funds be used for?
Grant funds are limited to the establishment, expansion, or improvement of veterans cemeteries, and are intended for capital development projects.
Can the VA fund up to 100% of project costs?
Yes. VA may cover up to 100 percent of the development cost for an approved project.
Can grant funds be used to buy land?
No. VA cannot pay for land acquisition under this program.
Can grant funds be used to purchase operating equipment?
Only in a limited situation. VA can provide operating equipment only in the specific context of establishing new cemeteries.
Do projects have to follow VA design and construction standards?
Yes. Any cemetery developed with these funds must follow VA-prescribed standards and guidelines for site selection, planning, and construction. Applicants should expect to design and build to federal program specifications rather than relying only on local norms.
What is BABAA and why does it matter for this grant?
The program emphasizes compliance with the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). Recipients must certify that grant-funded projects will follow BABAA domestic content procurement preferences.
What domestic sourcing rules apply under BABAA for this program?
Projects must use iron, steel, and construction materials produced or manufactured in the United States. Manufactured products must be produced in the U.S., and a component cost test applies: the cost of U.S. components must exceed 65 percent of the total component cost.
What kinds of procurement and documentation practices should applicants expect under BABAA?
Applicants should anticipate the need for strong procurement controls, contractor flow-down clauses, and documentation practices to demonstrate BABAA compliance.
What is the federal oversight language mentioned in the notice?
The announcement underscores heightened federal oversight requirements tied to Executive Order 14332, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.
Can the VA remove an application from consideration even if it meets published evaluation criteria?
Yes. Beyond the published evaluation criteria, VA states it has discretion to remove applications from consideration if it determines an applicant does not clearly advance the President's or VA's priorities.
What activities does VA say it will not fund under this opportunity?
VA states it will not fund activities that (1) use racial preference as eligibility criteria, (2) promote gender ideology, (3) promote or facilitate violations of immigration laws, or (4) constitute waste, fraud, or abuse.
What reputational or conduct expectations are described for recipients?
The notice warns that VA will not tolerate recipient conduct it characterizes as moral turpitude, scandalous behavior, or actions that bring the recipient, the project, or VA into public disrepute. Applicants are encouraged to treat compliance, governance, and reputational risk as central to application and project management.
What is the long-term responsibility of the grantee after construction?
While the grant supports capital development, the long-term responsibility for administration, operation, and maintenance rests entirely with the state, territory, tribal government, or eligible county operating the cemetery.
Is the VA plot allowance part of this construction grant?
No. Separately from the construction grant program, VA notes that it may provide a plot allowance of up to $1,002 for certain eligible veterans as part of veterans burial benefits. This is related to burial benefits rather than project construction funding.
What is the application deadline?
The listed application deadline is July 1, 2026.
How many awards does VA expect to make?
The expected number of awards is about 30.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed at $60,000,000.
What time period is this solicitation targeting (FY 2026 vs FY 2027)?
This is an FY 2026 solicitation for pre-applications for projects that VA expects to place on its FY 2027 priority list.
What should applicants be prepared to demonstrate in a pre-application?
Based on the notice, applicants should be prepared to submit a pre-application aligned to VA cemetery development standards, demonstrate clear veteran access benefits, show readiness to comply with BABAA sourcing rules, and present a strong compliance posture consistent with the Executive Order-based oversight language.
How does VA describe the scale and impact of the VCGP program?
VA describes VCGP as a long-running national infrastructure effort. Since 1980, the program has awarded 525 grants totaling more than $1.187 billion, supporting 124 veterans cemeteries across 47 states, 14 tribes, and three U.S. territories (Guam, Saipan, and Puerto Rico).
How many interments were attributed to grant-funded cemeteries in 2025?
VA notes that in 2025, grant-funded cemeteries accounted for 43,705 interments of veterans and eligible family members, described as more than 25 percent of annual interments across national, state, territorial, and tribal cemeteries combined.
Are any recent or upcoming cemetery openings mentioned?
Yes. The description references new cemeteries in New York (Finger Lakes) and Nebraska (Grand Island), and a planned opening in Lubbock, Texas in March 2026, as examples of the program reaching previously unserved veteran populations.
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