Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund

The Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund (AKSSF), administered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), is currently accepting proposals under its 2025 Call for Proposals. This funding opportunity is supported through Alaska’s Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) allocations from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It aims to fund projects that align with the state’s priorities for salmon conservation and subsistence-related initiatives. Funding is anticipated to be available starting March 1, 2026, with expenditures permitted through November 30, 2028. Eligible projects must address objectives found in the 2025 AKSSF objectives document and fall under one of the designated categories: Habitat, Monitoring and Assessment, or Habitat Resiliency Assessment. Specific emphasis is placed on projects benefiting salmon populations used for subsistence. At least $2.5 million is expected to be available, with allocations including $1.5 million for habitat projects in subsistence areas and $1 million for monitoring subsistence salmon populations. An additional $800,000 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will prioritize large-scale, regionally significant habitat restoration projects that offer measurable and lasting climate resilience. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as nonprofits, universities, tribal and government organizations, commercial enterprises, and individuals, provided they are not debarred from federal funding. All applicants must possess a federal UEI obtained via registration at SAM.gov. Federal agencies must include documentation of their authority to receive PCSRF funds. A required 35% nonfederal match must be documented and cannot be back-loaded, and third-party contributors must complete a match contributor form. Applications must be submitted through the AKSSF proposal submission portal by 12:00 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time on July 2, 2025. Optional administrative pre-reviews are available for proposals submitted by June 12, 2025, to ensure basic compliance with submission requirements. Required documents include the Proposal Form, Statement of Work, Budget Spreadsheet, Applicant Certification Form, and other supplemental forms based on applicant type. Evaluation will follow the 2025 AKSSF Scoring Guide, assessing project merits such as relevance, technical methodology, benefits, and budget justification. Indirect costs can be included based on federal rate approvals or a 10% de minimis rate. Federal agencies and organizations receiving more than $35 million in federal funds must follow special indirect cost guidelines. For support, applicants can contact Debbie Maas at debbie.maas@alaska.gov or 907-465-6134. A webinar to explain the application process is available on May 20, 2025, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Participation is encouraged to understand project selection and avoid common application mistakes.