Brown Treesnake Program 2025 funding announcement - updated July 2, 2025

The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), under the U.S. Department of the Interior, has announced the 2025 Brown Treesnake (BTS) Control Program grant opportunity, formally titled “OIA-BTS-2025-V2.” This program stems from the federal government’s commitment to protect the natural and economic environments of U.S. territories, specifically Guam and other Pacific jurisdictions, from the devastating impact of the invasive Brown Treesnake. OIA’s primary aim through this funding opportunity is to support activities that mitigate the environmental, economic, and infrastructure threats posed by the Brown Treesnake, a species introduced to Guam after World War II and known for causing widespread ecological devastation, including the loss of native bird and lizard populations and millions in economic losses due to power outages. The grant supports a range of activities, including interdiction programs to prevent the snake’s spread to other islands, landscape-scale suppression projects on Guam, early detection and rapid response initiatives, and public education efforts. Priority is given to operational interdiction efforts at air and seaports in Guam, CNMI, and Hawaii, development of cost-efficient tools for snake capture, and restoration of native bird species. The funding may also support new technologies for landscape-scale suppression, rapid response protocols in other Pacific jurisdictions, and coordination among stakeholder agencies. The estimated total program funding for FY2025 is $3,500,000, with an expected seven awards. While both the award ceiling and floor are officially listed as $0, this is likely a placeholder and requires verification, especially as applicants are advised to keep their budgets consistent with past years. Eligibility for this program is limited to members of the Brown Treesnake Technical Working Group, which includes representatives from the governments of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the State of Hawaii, and relevant federal agencies. Applications from entities not part of this working group will not be considered. All applicants must have a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov. Registrations should be completed early, as the process may take several months. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by 5:00 p.m. ET on August 15, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered unless pre-approved under extenuating circumstances. Applicants must prepare a complete package that includes the SF-424 form, a project narrative not exceeding 10 pages, a one-page abstract, budget narrative, performance measures, and required assurances. Additional documents include letters of support (optional but beneficial), audit summaries, conflict of interest disclosures, and a statement regarding overlap with other federal projects. Project narratives should clearly define the statement of need, project goals and objectives, stakeholder involvement, timeline, and performance measures. Indirect cost calculations and cost breakdowns must be justified and comply with 2 CFR 200 cost principles. The review process includes an eligibility screening followed by a merit review. Proposals are scored based on alignment with OIA priorities (up to 40 points), clarity and completeness of project narrative (up to 30 points), and the quality and transparency of the budget (up to 30 points). Proposals that lack required components may be deemed non-responsive. Additional considerations include geographic distribution of funding and potential emergency response needs. Final selection is made by the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs. Successful applicants will be notified through GrantSolutions and are expected to begin their projects around October 1, 2025, with a completion date of October 1, 2027. Awardees must follow all post-award requirements, including semi-annual financial and performance reports, adherence to federal audit standards, and compliance with national policy requirements. For questions about the BTS program, applicants may contact Hailey McCoy at Hailey_McCoy@ios.doi.gov. The grant opportunity reflects the federal government’s ongoing investment in protecting biodiversity and infrastructure in the Pacific region from the threats posed by invasive species.

Applicants are urged to begin registrations early and follow all formatting instructions carefully.