Opportunity Information: Apply for F24AS00387
The FY 2024 Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Tier 2 National grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F24AS00387) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under CFDA 15.622. It is rooted in the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178), which created the BIG Program in statute (16 U.S.C. 777g-1) and amended the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777). The program continues through later reauthorizations that allow funds from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund to be used for these purposes. The underlying need is substantial: recreational boating is widespread in the U.S., with roughly 11 million registered motorized recreational vessels, and about 596,000 of those vessels are 26 feet or longer, which is the key size threshold for eligibility in this program.
At its core, this NOFO is designed to fund the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure that supports transient recreational vessels that are at least 26 feet long and are used primarily for pleasure (including vessels that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered for pleasure). In BIG program terms, "boating infrastructure" is interpreted broadly and can include the structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable for a facility to accommodate eligible vessels. A central concept is "transient" use: a transient vessel is generally one that is passing through or by a location and stays no more than 15 days. Because the program is oriented toward travel and temporary stays, projects are expected to support facilities that serve boaters who are not permanent tenants at that location.
Projects funded through BIG must provide public access. Importantly, the facilities improved or developed with BIG funds do not have to be publicly owned; they may be publicly or privately owned as long as the public access requirement is met and the project otherwise complies with program rules. This makes the program relevant to a wide range of marinas and boating destinations, but it also means that the flow of funds is structured through state-level government applicants rather than direct applications from local governments, nonprofits, or private marina operators.
Eligibility to apply is limited to specific governmental entities: the Governor-designated state agencies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia (through the Mayor-designated agency), the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In other words, the applicant must be the designated state or territorial agency; other organizations cannot apply directly to this national Tier 2 competition. Organizations interested in developing marina or boating-access improvements typically need to work through their state agency partner to be considered under the state submission.
Key administrative details included in the listing are that the funding instrument is a grant, the activity area is Natural Resources, and the original closing date for applications was 2023-09-20 (with the opportunity created on 2023-06-15). The listed award ceiling is $1,500,000. The notice also emphasizes points of contact through FWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Regional Offices, with region-specific staff identified for areas such as Alaska; California and Nevada; the Pacific Islands and territories; and multiple multi-state regions across the Midwest, South, Northeast, and Mountain/Plains states. These regional contacts are provided for eligibility questions and coordination, which is especially relevant given the requirement that only designated state or territorial agencies may submit applications.Apply for F24AS00387
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F24AS00387 - FY 2024 - Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act - BIG Tier 2" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.622.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-20. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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FY 2024 Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Tier 2 National (F24AS00387) - FAQs
What is the FY 2024 Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Tier 2 National opportunity?
It is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under CFDA 15.622. The specific national competition referenced is the FY 2024 BIG Tier 2 National grant opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number F24AS00387.
Which federal agency administers this grant program?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers the program, with support and coordination through FWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Regional Offices.
What is the legal authority for the BIG Program?
The BIG Program was created by the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) and is established in statute at 16 U.S.C. 777g-1. It also amended the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777). The program continues through later reauthorizations that allow funds from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund to be used for BIG purposes.
What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to fund the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure that supports transient recreational vessels that are at least 26 feet long and used primarily for pleasure (including vessels operated, leased, rented, or chartered for pleasure).
What types of projects does BIG fund?
Projects may include construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure that helps accommodate eligible transient recreational vessels (26 feet or longer) at boating facilities.
What does "boating infrastructure" mean under this program?
In BIG program terms, boating infrastructure is interpreted broadly and may include the structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable for a facility to accommodate eligible vessels.
What vessels are considered eligible under this program?
Eligible vessels are transient recreational vessels that are at least 26 feet long and used primarily for pleasure. The description notes that this includes pleasure vessels that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered for pleasure.
Why is 26 feet an important threshold?
The program is focused on serving recreational vessels that are 26 feet long or longer. The listing highlights that roughly 596,000 registered motorized recreational vessels in the U.S. meet or exceed this 26-foot threshold.
What does "transient" mean for BIG-funded facilities?
A transient vessel is generally one that is passing through or by a location and stays no more than 15 days. Projects are expected to support facilities that serve boaters who are not permanent tenants at that location.
Do BIG-funded projects need to provide public access?
Yes. Projects funded through BIG must provide public access.
Do the facilities have to be publicly owned to receive BIG-funded improvements?
No. The facilities improved or developed with BIG funds do not have to be publicly owned. They may be publicly or privately owned as long as the public access requirement is met and the project otherwise complies with program rules.
Who is eligible to apply to the Tier 2 National competition?
Eligibility to apply is limited to the Governor-designated state agencies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia (through the Mayor-designated agency), the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Can a marina, local government, nonprofit, or private business apply directly to this opportunity?
No. For this national Tier 2 competition, only the designated state or territorial agency may submit the application. Other organizations typically need to work through their state agency partner to be considered under the state submission.
If my organization cannot apply directly, how can we pursue a project under BIG?
Organizations interested in developing marina or boating-access improvements generally need to coordinate with (and work through) their Governor-designated state agency or territorial agency, since that entity is the eligible applicant for the Tier 2 National competition.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity area for this opportunity?
The activity area is Natural Resources.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $1,500,000.
What are the key dates provided for this opportunity?
The opportunity was created on 2023-06-15. The original closing date for applications was 2023-09-20.
What is CFDA 15.622 in relation to this opportunity?
CFDA 15.622 is the program listing identifier associated with the Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) program under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Where do questions or coordination requests go?
The notice emphasizes points of contact through FWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Regional Offices. Region-specific staff are identified for areas including Alaska; California and Nevada; the Pacific Islands and territories; and multiple multi-state regions across the Midwest, South, Northeast, and Mountain/Plains states.
Why are regional WSFR contacts important for this program?
Regional WSFR contacts are relevant for eligibility questions and coordination, particularly because only designated state or territorial agencies may submit applications and applicants may need region-specific guidance and coordination.
Why does this program focus on boating infrastructure for transient boaters?
The program is oriented toward travel and temporary stays. The listing explains that recreational boating is widespread in the U.S. (roughly 11 million registered motorized recreational vessels), and BIG targets infrastructure that supports eligible larger recreational vessels that travel and stay temporarily (generally no more than 15 days).
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