Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) - Slip-On Tanker Units

The Slip-On Tanker Units grant program is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), specifically through the Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) and the Interior Business Center's Acquisition Services Directorate. This funding opportunity arises in response to the growing frequency and severity of wildfires across the United States, driven by climate conditions such as drought and prolonged periods of increased temperature. These environmental factors have not only expanded the range and duration of wildfire seasons but also heightened the fire risk in areas previously considered low-risk. The grant program aligns with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which authorizes federal support to increase the resilience of lands affected by wildland fires and to better equip local responders. The primary objective of this grant is to provide local U.S. governments with financial assistance to acquire slip-on tanker units. These are specialized firefighting apparatuses that can be rapidly mounted on various vehicle types, converting them into functional fire engines for wildland firefighting operations. The program intends to establish or augment local fleets capable of rapid response, especially in communities with limited firefighting infrastructure. This initiative is being implemented as a pilot program under the authority granted by Public Law 117-58, Section 40803(c)(5), and targets small localities with populations under 50,000 that also face moderate to high wildfire risk as assessed through the national Wildfire Risk to Homes dataset. Eligibility for the program is strictly limited to U.S. local governments that provide fire protection and emergency services and meet both the population and wildfire risk criteria. Qualified entities must be registered in SAM.gov and have a valid Unique Entity ID reflecting their designation as a local government. The application requires detailed documentation, including a project narrative, budget narrative, and standard federal assistance forms (SF-424, SF-424A, Project Abstract Summary, and potentially SF-LLL). Applications may be submitted either by a single eligible entity or as a consolidated application representing multiple eligible entities. The program allows, but does not require, cost sharing or matching contributions from applicants. Funding awards will range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $249,000, with a total program funding ceiling of $20 million. The estimated number of awards is between 125 and 175, including up to 25 awards set aside specifically for consolidated applications. The evaluation process will assess technical specifications of proposed equipment, readiness of vehicles for installation, and the reasonableness of costs. Applications are judged acceptable or unacceptable and then prioritized based on wildfire risk score and geographic equity. Applications are due by 4:00 PM Central Time on March 23, 2026, and must be submitted via Grants.gov, GrantSolutions.gov, or email. A full registration process is required, including SAM.gov, ASAP.gov, and ID.ME account setup. Notifications of selection are expected by May 15, 2026, with award issuance occurring between May 15 and September 15, 2026. No pre-award costs may be incurred unless explicitly authorized. All reporting requirements—including financial and performance reports—will be detailed in the award agreement and must follow standard federal compliance regulations, including conflict of interest disclosures and reporting of lobbying activities.

Ensure technical compliance with Attachment 1 specifications; justify costs as market-aligned; confirm eligible vehicle readiness; highlight wildfire risk and population metrics.