Opportunity Information: Apply for F26AS00071
F26AS00071, the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grants, is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) (CFDA 15.615) that helps States permanently protect important habitat tied to approved, permitted Habitat Conservation Plans. Created by Congress in FY 1997, the program is meant to reduce the real-world tension that often shows up between protecting federally listed species and ongoing land uses by funding land acquisitions on specific parcels that matter for conservation outcomes. The core idea is straightforward: FWS provides matching funds so State agencies can buy land in fee simple or secure permanent conservation easements, keeping the habitat conserved in perpetuity and supporting long-term species recovery, extinction prevention, and, where possible, reducing future listing needs under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
A key point in how the program is framed is that these acquisitions are additive. The land purchased through this grant is intended to complement, not replace, the mitigation, minimization, and monitoring requirements already baked into an HCP and its associated ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit. In other words, this funding is not a way to meet existing regulatory obligations; it is extra conservation that strengthens outcomes and helps connect habitat across the landscape by leveraging non-Federal investment alongside Federal dollars.
Eligibility is limited to State and Territorial agencies that have an active cooperative agreement with FWS under ESA section 6(c) and that have provided what is needed for annual renewal (reconfirmation) of that agreement. While only States can receive awards directly, other entities like counties, local governments, and conservation organizations can participate by partnering with an eligible State agency and operating as subgrantees on mutually beneficial conservation work. Projects must be voluntary conservation efforts within the United States, and the land being acquired must benefit at least one federally listed species that is covered by an active section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
On the application side, FWS expects applicants to be specific and transparent about what will be acquired. The parcels proposed for acquisition, whether paid for with grant funds or offered as non-Federal cost share, must be identified and described well enough to support merit review under the opportunity’s evaluation criteria. Parcels must be individually listed on required real property forms (SF-429 and SF-429-B) to be eligible, though applicants can still describe and analyze them in groups at the property or transaction level for narrative and review purposes. If exact properties are not yet identified, the State can propose an acquisition focus area made up of similar habitat types supporting a similar suite of species, along with an estimate of acres to be acquired, but the application must explain the procedure that will be used to ensure the State targets high-quality habitat if funding is awarded.
Several restrictions are emphasized. A property cannot be submitted for consideration under both this HCP Land Acquisition program and the Recovery Land Acquisition Grant program in the same fiscal year. Applications must include a clear commitment to fund and implement habitat management in perpetuity in a way that matches the species’ conservation needs. Budgets cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs. Just as important, neither the Federal award nor the required non-Federal match can be used to satisfy regulatory requirements, including ESA section 7 biological opinion compliance, HCP mitigation/minimization/monitoring obligations under section 10, or any other Federal mitigation requirement (for example, mitigation tied to Clean Water Act permits). Administrative costs are allowed only in line with Federal requirements and must be part of a broader project budget; applications cannot be submitted solely to cover administrative expenses, and States may also choose to cover administrative costs themselves.
Funding and timing details in the posted opportunity indicate an award ceiling of $26,000,000, with an expected 10 awards. The application closing date listed is 2026-10-30, and the opportunity was created on 2026-08-24. Reimbursement is generally limited to costs incurred and budgeted during the official period of performance, which begins on the effective date set when the grant is approved. However, the program allows for possible reimbursement of certain pre-award costs when they are necessary for the proposed timeline, are otherwise allowable, and are approved in writing by the awarding agency consistent with 2 CFR 200.458.Apply for F26AS00071
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F26AS00071 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.615.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $26,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is grant opportunity F26AS00071?
F26AS00071 is the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grants program. It is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under CFDA 15.615.
What is the purpose of the HCP Land Acquisition Grants program?
The program provides matching funds to help States permanently protect important habitat associated with approved, permitted Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). The goal is to support long-term conservation outcomes for federally listed species by funding land acquisitions that conserve habitat in perpetuity and contribute to species recovery, extinction prevention, and, where possible, reduced future listing needs under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
How does the program achieve habitat protection?
Funds can be used by eligible State agencies to acquire land in fee simple or to secure permanent conservation easements. These mechanisms are intended to keep habitat conserved in perpetuity.
Who administers this program?
The program is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
When was this program created?
Congress created the program in FY 1997.
Who is eligible to apply as the direct applicant?
Eligibility is limited to State and Territorial agencies that (1) have an active cooperative agreement with FWS under ESA section 6(c) and (2) have provided what is needed for annual renewal (reconfirmation) of that agreement.
Can counties, local governments, or conservation organizations apply directly?
No. Only eligible State and Territorial agencies can receive awards directly. However, other entities (such as counties, local governments, and conservation organizations) may participate by partnering with an eligible State agency and serving as subgrantees.
Where must projects take place?
Projects must be voluntary conservation efforts located within the United States.
What species must benefit from the land acquisition?
The land being acquired must benefit at least one federally listed species that is covered by an active ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
Is this funding intended to replace HCP mitigation or other regulatory obligations?
No. A core requirement is that acquisitions funded through this program are additive. They are meant to complement, not replace, the mitigation, minimization, and monitoring requirements already required by an HCP and its associated ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
Can the Federal award or the non-Federal match be used to satisfy regulatory requirements?
No. Neither the Federal award nor the required non-Federal match can be used to satisfy regulatory requirements, including ESA section 7 biological opinion compliance, HCP mitigation/minimization/monitoring obligations under section 10, or other Federal mitigation requirements (such as mitigation tied to Clean Water Act permits).
What types of acquisition interests are allowed?
The opportunity describes acquiring land in fee simple or securing permanent conservation easements, with the intent that conserved habitat is protected in perpetuity.
Do applicants need to identify specific parcels in the application?
Yes. FWS expects applicants to be specific and transparent about what will be acquired. Parcels proposed for acquisition (whether funded by the grant or provided as non-Federal cost share) must be identified and described in enough detail to support merit review under the evaluation criteria.
What forms are required for listing parcels?
Parcels must be individually listed on the required real property forms SF-429 and SF-429-B to be eligible.
Can parcels be described in groups for the narrative?
Yes. While parcels must be individually listed on SF-429 and SF-429-B, applicants may still describe and analyze them in groups at the property or transaction level for narrative and review purposes.
What if exact properties are not identified at the time of application?
If exact properties are not yet identified, the State may propose an acquisition focus area consisting of similar habitat types that support a similar suite of species, along with an estimate of acres to be acquired. The application must also explain the procedure that will be used to ensure the State targets high-quality habitat if funding is awarded.
Can the same property be submitted to multiple FWS land acquisition programs in the same fiscal year?
No. A property cannot be submitted for consideration under both this HCP Land Acquisition program and the Recovery Land Acquisition Grant program in the same fiscal year.
Is long-term habitat management required after acquisition?
Yes. Applications must include a clear commitment to fund and implement habitat management in perpetuity in a manner that aligns with the conservation needs of the species.
Are FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs allowed in the budget?
No. Budgets cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs.
Are administrative costs allowed?
Administrative costs are allowed only in accordance with Federal requirements and must be included as part of a broader project budget. Applications cannot be submitted solely to cover administrative expenses, and States may choose to cover administrative costs themselves.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted opportunity indicates an award ceiling of $26,000,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates that approximately 10 awards are expected.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date listed for this opportunity is 2026-10-30.
When was this opportunity posted/created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-08-24.
When does the period of performance start for reimbursement purposes?
Reimbursement is generally limited to costs incurred and budgeted during the official period of performance, which begins on the effective date established when the grant is approved.
Are pre-award costs ever reimbursable?
Possible reimbursement of certain pre-award costs may be allowed when those costs are necessary to meet the proposed timeline, are otherwise allowable, and are approved in writing by the awarding agency consistent with 2 CFR 200.458.
Is this a matching grant?
Yes. The program is described as providing matching funds to leverage non-Federal investment alongside Federal dollars for permanent habitat protection tied to approved, permitted HCPs.
What is the program trying to address in practice?
As described in the opportunity, the program is intended to reduce practical tension between protecting federally listed species and ongoing land uses by funding acquisition of specific parcels that matter for conservation outcomes, while strengthening landscape connectivity through additional conservation beyond required HCP measures.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Previous opportunity: Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for F26AS00071
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "F26AS00071", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.