The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), offers grants for developing and implementing Tribal Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans (Tribal AIS Plans). This program is exclusively available to tribal natural resource agencies in the Great Lakes Basin or their designees. The total funding available is $300,000, with individual awards ranging from $20,000 to $100,000. No cost-sharing is required. A Tribal AIS Plan must either be in place or included as part of the proposed work. Eligible activities should aim to prevent, detect, or control aquatic invasive species (AIS) and align with GLRI objectives.
The program supports initiatives that directly benefit the Great Lakes Basin, though activities may occur outside the basin if they significantly contribute to preventing AIS transfer. Examples include outreach, boat ramp inspections, and enforcement measures in high-traffic areas. Proposed projects focusing on invasive carp must be vetted through the Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee's established process. The aim is to fund projects with the most substantial impact on the Great Lakes' ecosystem health and sustainability.
Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and GrantSolutions.gov before applying. Pre-proposals, including a project narrative and budget narrative, must be submitted by email within 60 days of the NOFO posting. Full proposals are due within 60 days of funding notification and must be submitted through GrantSolutions. Applications must include details such as the project's title, justification, goals, activities, timetable, environmental compliance information, and evaluation plan. The project narrative is limited to 25 pages.
The evaluation process includes eligibility and merit reviews. Projects are assessed on criteria such as coordination, potential impact, sustainability, scientific basis, and the applicant's qualifications. Projects with the highest scores will be funded, and lower-ranked proposals may receive partial funding based on a tiered system. Budgets are reviewed for compliance with federal regulations and alignment with project objectives.
Successful applicants will be notified by the end of the calendar year, with projects commencing in October 2025 and concluding by September 2027. Award recipients must adhere to reporting requirements, including semi-annual updates on performance and financial expenditures, compliance with environmental regulations, and submission of deliverables in alignment with GLRI performance measures.
For further details, applicants can contact Nathan Evans at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional resources and guidance are available through Grants.gov and GrantSolutions, including application forms and submission instructions.
