F25AS00283 2025 State and Interstate Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan Grant Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under the Department of the Interior, has released the Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State and Interstate Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan Grant Program (F25AS00283). This grant supports the implementation of Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plans that have been approved by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF). The program aims to assist States, Territories, and eligible Indian tribes—when partnered with States or Territories in an interstate organization—to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species. The effort is part of a broader national strategy to mitigate the environmental, economic, and public health risks associated with invasive aquatic species. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to support ANS Management Plan activities that prevent new introductions, manage existing invasive species, and foster coordination among state and interstate programs. The grant encourages recipients to include early detection and rapid response (EDRR) components in their project planning, aligning with national aquatic invasive species goals. While not mandatory, applicants are also encouraged to integrate projects that align with America’s 250th birthday (American250) celebrations. The program requires that recipients provide a 25% cost share and limits administrative costs to a maximum of 5% of total project costs. Applicants must be from one of the 47 currently approved ANS Management Plan entities listed in the NOFO. These include state agencies from across the United States, including regions like the Lake Champlain Basin, Lake Tahoe, and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Only those entities with an approved management plan from the ANSTF are eligible. Applications from individuals or organizations not listed as eligible applicants will not be considered. The application process consists of two stages: first, a pre-proposal submitted outside of the GrantSolutions system; second, a full proposal submitted within the GrantSolutions system after pre-approval is granted. Pre-proposals are due by September 4, 2025, and the final full proposal must be submitted by December 15, 2025. Application requirements include a 3-page pre-proposal with a program narrative, budget table, and budget narrative outlining proposed ANS activities and alignment with the existing management plan. Pre-proposals are reviewed at the national level without a formal merit review process, as the merit is assumed from the prior approval of the ANS plan. Upon pre-approval, applicants are invited to submit a full application through GrantSolutions, which includes forms such as SF-424, SF-424A, SF-429 (if applicable), SF-LLL, and supporting documents like a project abstract, detailed project narrative, and a full budget with justifications. SAM.gov and GrantSolutions registration are mandatory steps before submission. Evaluation of proposals focuses on alignment with existing ANS Management Plan goals, progression from prior year proposals, and accurate acknowledgment of the cost share and administrative cost limits. Proposals must also comply with federal conflict of interest and duplication of effort requirements. Awards are expected to begin on January 1, 2026, and end by September 30, 2027. Recipients must comply with all federal reporting requirements, including financial and performance reports, disclosure of lobbying activities, and conflict of interest reporting. General inquiries should be directed to Donald MacLean, Program Lead for the Aquatic Invasive Species Program at don_maclean@fws.gov. For technical application assistance or questions specific to a state’s ANS Management Plan, applicants are advised to consult their Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator. Technical support for GrantSolutions is available through help@grantsolutions.gov or 1-866-577-0771. This opportunity represents an annual funding cycle, and applications are accepted once per year under the NOFO timeline.

Pre-proposals must clearly acknowledge the cost share and admin cost restrictions; budgets should show line-by-line calculations; application involves two-stage process.