Support Local Capacity with Counties to Enhance Military Readiness

The Department of Defense (DoD), through the Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate, has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) for a cooperative agreement designed to support local capacity with counties to enhance military readiness. This opportunity is funded by the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program, which is managed under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense. The REPI Program promotes innovative partnerships between the Military Services and conservation organizations to protect critical landscapes and ensure the military's ability to train and test on non-DoD lands. This specific agreement will be executed solely with the National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACoRF) through a non-competitive, sole-source award due to their unique capability to meet the government’s requirements. The objective of this funding opportunity is to develop and maintain a long-term partnership between the DoD and county governments across the United States. The primary aims are to identify county leaders who coordinate with military installations, promote mutual understanding through discussions and educational engagements, and foster information exchange to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of land use practices that support military resilience. Deliverables under this agreement include building and maintaining a Military Communities Network directory, producing communication resources like newsletters and web content, organizing virtual discussion groups, and coordinating up to ten educational sessions and joint convenings during the agreement period. Eligible activities will center on improving land management and water resource practices around military installations, thereby reducing risks of incompatible development that could impede military operations. NACoRF will also be responsible for hosting virtual and in-person events, curating county-level insights, and sharing best practices related to land use and conservation. These activities are designed to support ongoing and future REPI and Sentinel Landscapes Partnership efforts. The partnership aims to help counties understand and engage with DoD priorities while leveraging public and private resources to safeguard key lands. This funding opportunity is exclusively open to the National Association of Counties Research Foundation; no other entities are eligible to apply. The total federal funding available under this cooperative agreement is $1,350,000. Budgets are subject to a 15% indirect cost cap, and cost-sharing or matching is not explicitly required under the current terms. All funding must adhere to strict federal guidelines outlined in various sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (e.g., 2 CFR 200), and certain types of equipment purchases—particularly those related to telecommunications from restricted vendors—are prohibited. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov using standard forms such as the SF-424 and the Project Narrative Attachment. The project narrative must not exceed ten pages and must include a project abstract, plan, timeline, personnel, sub-award details, and cost breakdowns. Supporting documentation must be provided in PDF format and be unclassified. Although a cover letter is optional, it does not count toward the page limit. All necessary registrations, including SAM and Grants.gov, must be completed before application submission, and applicants should allow at least 21 days for setup if they are not already registered. The submission and review process will include assessments based on 32 CFR 22.415 and consideration of public benefit. Evaluations and awards will be made on a rolling basis, and the final award decision rests with the WHS/AD Grants Officer. Notifications of award will be delivered by email, and only the Grants Officer is authorized to obligate federal funds. Reporting requirements include quarterly financial and performance reporting submitted via email to the government’s designated technical point of contact.

Applications must be submitted in PDF and unclassified format. Follow formatting and registration requirements carefully.