OIA Brown Treesnake Program 2026

The OIA Brown Treesnake Program is administered by the Office of Insular Affairs within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The program is designed to address the ecological, economic, and infrastructure threats posed by the invasive brown treesnake population on Guam. This species has caused significant damage to native ecosystems, disrupted electrical infrastructure, and created ongoing risks of spreading to other U.S. jurisdictions. The Office of Insular Affairs provides discretionary grant funding through this program to support coordinated efforts among federal agencies, territorial governments, and technical experts working to mitigate and ultimately eradicate the species. The primary purpose of the program is to prevent the migration of the brown treesnake from Guam to other regions, suppress and control existing populations on Guam, and support the restoration of native ecosystems. Additional goals include reducing power outages caused by snake interference with infrastructure and advancing long-term eradication capabilities. The program prioritizes projects that contribute to economic growth, energy reliability, national security, and regional stability. Funding is directed toward both operational activities and research or technological innovation that supports these outcomes. Funding under this opportunity supports two major categories of work: interdiction and landscape-scale suppression. Interdiction activities include preventing snake spread through cargo inspection at ports and rapid response efforts in high-risk areas such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, and Freely Associated States. Landscape-scale suppression includes development and deployment of new technologies such as drones or artificial intelligence tools, as well as operational planning for large-scale control measures that support ecological restoration. Infrastructure-related activities must comply with federal Buy America requirements where applicable. Eligibility for this program is restricted to members and active participants of the Brown Treesnake Technical Working Group. This includes representatives from the governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as relevant federal agencies and affiliated entities. All applicants must comply with federal regulations under 2 CFR 200 and must be registered in SAM.gov with an active Unique Entity Identifier prior to submission, although limited exceptions may apply with prior approval. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components. Applicants must submit standard federal forms such as the SF-424 and budget forms, along with a project abstract and a detailed project narrative not exceeding ten pages. The narrative must address project goals, implementation strategies, performance metrics, and alignment with program priorities. Additional required elements include financial documentation or audit information, statements regarding conflicts of interest and duplication of effort, and potentially letters of support and a signed cover letter. Environmental compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act must also be addressed. Applications are reviewed through a multi-stage process that includes eligibility screening, merit-based scoring, and risk assessment. Evaluation criteria focus on alignment with program priorities, clarity and completeness of the project narrative, and the strength and justification of the proposed budget. Projects related to interdiction and rapid response receive the highest priority scoring. Final funding decisions are made by the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, with consideration given to geographic distribution, funding availability, and past performance. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is May 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Award decisions are expected by September 30, 2026, with project performance anticipated to begin on October 1, 2026 and continue through September 30, 2029. Reporting requirements include semi-annual financial and performance reports. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact Hailey McCoy via email at [email protected].

Align projects strongly with interdiction or suppression priorities; ensure clear measurable performance metrics; provide detailed and justified budget; include environmental compliance details early