OIA Maintenance Assistance Program 2026

The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers the Maintenance Assistance Program (MAP) to support infrastructure sustainability and resilience across U.S. insular areas. These areas include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The program is authorized under federal law to provide technical and financial assistance that strengthens institutional capacity and prolongs the useful life of critical infrastructure assets. The primary purpose of the MAP program is to improve and institutionalize infrastructure maintenance practices while also supporting essential repairs. The program emphasizes extending infrastructure life cycles, improving operational reliability, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Priority is given to projects that promote economic growth, enhance energy reliability and affordability, and contribute to national security and regional stability. Funding is intended not for new construction, but for strengthening maintenance systems and addressing critical repair needs. Allowable uses of funds include training programs, professional certifications, hiring temporary technical or management expertise, acquisition of specialized equipment and tools, development or enhancement of maintenance systems, and execution of essential infrastructure repairs. However, the program restricts funding for new construction, salaries of existing staff, routine operational expenses, food or meals, and vehicles primarily used for transporting personnel. Infrastructure-related awards are subject to Buy America requirements where applicable. Eligible applicants include non-federal local government entities, hospitals, health centers, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations operating within the United States and its territories, as well as international entities whose projects directly benefit the eligible insular areas. Judicial and legislative branches of local governments are explicitly excluded. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers to entry for eligible organizations. Applicants must comply with federal administrative and cost principles outlined in 2 CFR 200. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and require prior registration in SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier. Required application components include standard federal forms such as SF-424, budget forms, a one-page project abstract, a detailed project narrative, and a comprehensive budget narrative. The narrative must address project goals, need, methodology, performance metrics, and alignment with program priorities. Additional elements include audit documentation or financial capacity responses, optional letters of support, and compliance statements regarding overlap, conflicts of interest, and external risk factors. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is May 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications undergo a multi-step review process including eligibility screening, merit-based evaluation, and risk assessment. Evaluation criteria include clarity of project design, budget justification, reporting history, alignment with priorities, audit compliance, prior performance, stakeholder support, and SAM.gov exclusions status. Final funding decisions are expected by September 30, 2026, with project periods anticipated to run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2030. For questions regarding the program, applicants may contact Jonathan Dunn via email at [email protected]. Additional guidance and updates are available on the Office of Insular Affairs website.

Ensure clear measurable outcomes; align with economic growth and energy priorities; provide strong budget justification; include audit compliance; demonstrate stakeholder support