Opportunity Information: Apply for F23AS00378
The funding opportunity F23AS00378 is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 15.622. It falls under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998, which created the Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Program (16 U.S.C. 777g-1) using money from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The program exists because recreational boating is widespread in the United States (about 11.8 million registered motorboats), and a significant subset of those boats (roughly 584,000) are 26 feet or longer and need reliable, safe places to stop while traveling. This particular notice is for BIG Tier 2 National grants, aimed at supporting larger-scale boating infrastructure investments.
At its core, the BIG program funds the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure that serves transient recreational vessels that are at least 26 feet long and used primarily for pleasure (including boats that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered for recreation). "Boating infrastructure" is interpreted broadly and can include the kinds of structures, equipment, accessories, and on-site services that make a facility workable and attractive for eligible visiting boaters. The term "transient" is specifically defined as vessels that are passing through or by a location and staying no more than 15 days, so the program is focused on short-term visiting boaters rather than long-term slips and permanent moorage.
Projects supported with BIG funds must provide public access, which is a key requirement, but the facilities themselves do not have to be publicly owned. In other words, a marina or harbor can be publicly or privately owned as long as the completed project benefits the public by accommodating eligible transient recreational vessels and meeting the access expectations tied to federal funding. The program is tied back to amendments and reauthorizations of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777), which is why the trust fund mechanism and the continuing authorization for this grant stream are emphasized in the notice.
Eligibility is narrow and is limited to state-level governmental applicants: the governor-designated state agencies in the 50 states, plus the designated agencies for the District of Columbia (mayor-designated), the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Individual marinas, local governments, nonprofits, and private entities generally cannot apply directly to this opportunity on their own; instead, they would typically need to work through their designated state agency if they want a project considered as part of a state application.
From the opportunity record provided, the grant instrument type is a grant, the activity category is Natural Resources, and the award ceiling is $1,500,000. The original closing date listed is 2022-09-22, and the notice record shows a creation date of 2022-06-15. The title references FY 2023, while the narrative text describes it as the NOFO for FY 2022 BIG Tier 2 National grants, which usually signals either a rollover/administrative labeling issue in the listing or that the posting includes language reused from the prior year notice. Applicants typically confirm the applicable fiscal year details and current deadlines directly with the agency contact or the relevant regional office.
For applicants who are unsure which entity in their jurisdiction is authorized to apply, the notice directs them to contact either the national contact listed in the NOFO or their Regional WSFR (Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration) Office. The listing includes regionally assigned contacts covering all states and territories (for example, separate contacts for Alaska; California and Nevada; and multi-state groupings across the Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast), which is intended to help eligible agencies confirm eligibility, interpret requirements like transient use and public access, and align proposed projects with program expectations before submitting an application.Apply for F23AS00378
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F23AS00378 - FY 2023 - Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act - BIG Tier 2" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.622.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-06-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-22. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Tier 2 National (F23AS00378) - FAQs
What is funding opportunity F23AS00378?
F23AS00378 is a discretionary grant funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 15.622. It is associated with the Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) Program and, in this notice, focuses on BIG Tier 2 National grants that support larger-scale boating infrastructure investments.
What law authorizes this grant program?
The BIG Program is authorized under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998, which created the Boating Infrastructure Grants Program (16 U.S.C. 777g-1). The program is connected to amendments and reauthorizations of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777).
How is the BIG program funded?
The program uses funds from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The notice emphasizes this trust-fund mechanism and the continuing authorization behind this grant stream.
What is the purpose of the BIG program?
The BIG program supports the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure that serves transient recreational vessels that are 26 feet or longer and used primarily for pleasure. The rationale highlighted in the notice is that recreational boating is widespread (about 11.8 million registered motorboats), and a substantial number of boats (roughly 584,000) are at least 26 feet long and need safe, reliable places to stop while traveling.
What does "BIG Tier 2 National" mean in this notice?
This particular notice is for BIG Tier 2 National grants and is described as being aimed at supporting larger-scale boating infrastructure investments.
What kinds of projects can BIG funds support?
BIG funds can support projects involving the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure for eligible visiting boaters. The notice indicates that "boating infrastructure" is interpreted broadly and may include structures, equipment, accessories, and on-site services that make a facility workable and attractive for eligible transient recreational vessels.
What vessels are eligible to be served by BIG-funded infrastructure?
Eligible vessels are transient recreational vessels that are at least 26 feet long and used primarily for pleasure. The notice also clarifies that this includes boats operated, leased, rented, or chartered for recreation.
What does "transient" mean for this program?
In this program, "transient" is specifically defined as vessels that are passing through or by a location and staying no more than 15 days. This means the program is focused on short-term visiting boaters rather than long-term slips or permanent moorage.
Does a BIG-funded project have to provide public access?
Yes. Projects supported with BIG funds must provide public access, and this is described as a key requirement of the program.
Do facilities have to be publicly owned to qualify?
No. The facilities do not have to be publicly owned. A marina or harbor may be publicly or privately owned as long as the completed project benefits the public by accommodating eligible transient recreational vessels and meeting public-access expectations associated with federal funding.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?
Eligibility is limited to governor-designated state agencies in the 50 states. It also includes designated agencies for the District of Columbia (mayor-designated), the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Can a marina, local government, nonprofit, or private entity apply directly?
Generally, no. The notice explains that individual marinas, local governments, nonprofits, and private entities typically cannot apply directly. Projects from these entities would usually need to be advanced through the designated state agency as part of a state application.
If my organization cannot apply directly, how can our project be considered?
Based on the notice, the usual path is to work through the designated state agency in your jurisdiction if you want a project considered as part of a state application.
What is the grant instrument type and activity category?
The instrument type listed is a grant, and the activity category is Natural Resources.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the opportunity record is $1,500,000.
What deadline is shown for this opportunity?
The opportunity record lists an original closing date of 2022-09-22.
When was this notice record created?
The record shows a creation date of 2022-06-15.
Why does the title reference FY 2023 while the narrative mentions FY 2022?
The title references FY 2023, while the narrative text describes it as the NOFO for FY 2022 BIG Tier 2 National grants. The notice suggests this could indicate an administrative labeling issue or that language from a prior-year notice was reused. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the applicable fiscal year details and current deadlines with the agency contact or the relevant regional office.
Who should applicants contact if they are unsure which agency is authorized to apply?
The notice directs applicants to contact either the national contact listed in the NOFO or their Regional WSFR (Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration) Office.
What is the purpose of the Regional WSFR contacts listed in the notice?
The listing includes regionally assigned contacts across states and territories (with examples such as separate contacts for Alaska; California and Nevada; and multi-state groupings across the Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast). Their role is to help eligible agencies confirm eligibility, interpret requirements like transient use and public access, and align proposed projects with program expectations before submitting an application.
Is this program focused on long-term moorage or permanent slips?
No. Because "transient" is defined as a stay of no more than 15 days, the program is focused on short-term visiting boaters rather than long-term slips and permanent moorage.
What types of boating activity does the program target?
The program targets recreational boating by vessels used primarily for pleasure, including boats that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered for recreation, as long as they meet the length and transient-use criteria described in the notice.
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