Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00215
The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) Tier 2 - National is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, designed to improve facilities that serve larger recreational boats traveling away from their home ports. The program exists because recreational boating is widespread in the United States (about 12 million registered boats), and a meaningful share of that fleet is made up of larger vessels (roughly 560,000 boats that are 26 feet or longer) that need appropriate transient moorage and related amenities when traveling. BIG was created under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178), codified at 16 U.S.C. 777g-1, and it operates as an amendment and extension of the broader Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act framework (16 U.S.C. 777). Funding is supported through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, and subsequent reauthorizations have continued the program and its allowable uses.
At its core, this opportunity funds the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure facilities that accommodate transient recreational vessels that are at least 26 feet long and used primarily for pleasure (including boats that may be operated, leased, rented, or chartered for recreational purposes). The term "boating infrastructure" is defined broadly to include the structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable for a facility to serve eligible vessels. That can cover a range of marina and harbor improvements aimed at making it practical and safe for larger transient boats to stop, dock, and access basic services while traveling.
A key concept in this grant is the focus on transient use. For BIG purposes, transient vessels are those that are passing through or by a location and staying up to 15 days. Projects funded through BIG must provide public access, which means the improved facilities cannot be restricted to private, members-only use. However, the facilities themselves may be publicly owned or privately owned, as long as the public access requirement is met.
Eligibility for this Tier 2 - National competition is limited to state-level applicants: the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (collectively referred to as "States" in the notice). In practice, that means applications are submitted by state governments (often through the state agency that administers boating or fish and wildlife programs), even though the actual on-the-ground projects may involve public or private marina operators and local partners.
This particular notice covers the FY 2018 BIG Tier 2 National grants and was posted under Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00215 on Grants.gov. The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.622 and is categorized under areas such as community development, environment, and natural resources. The application closing date listed for this notice was September 11, 2017, with timing set to allow review before a federal financial system blackout period. The program anticipated making around 10 awards, with a maximum award size (ceiling) of $1,500,000 per award.
Finally, it is worth noting the structure of the BIG program referenced in the notice: Tier 2 National grants are competed under this NOFO, while Tier 1 State grants are handled under a separate Grants.gov announcement (FY 2018 Tier 1 listed as F17AS00214) that may be published on a different schedule. This distinction matters for applicants because Tier 2 is the national competition described here, whereas Tier 1 is administered through a separate process and notice.Apply for F17AS00215
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (Tier 2 - National)" 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 May 18, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 11, 2017 This due date allows applications to be received and evaluated prior to the FBMS blackout period. It is 117 days after the estimated posting date.. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) Tier 2 - National (FY 2018) FAQs
What is the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) Tier 2 - National?
The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) Tier 2 - National is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It supports projects that improve facilities serving larger recreational boats that travel away from their home ports.
Why does the BIG program exist?
The program exists because recreational boating is widespread in the United States (about 12 million registered boats), and a substantial number of vessels are 26 feet or longer (roughly 560,000). These larger boats often need appropriate transient moorage and related amenities when traveling.
What types of boats are the facilities intended to serve?
Funded facilities are intended to accommodate transient recreational vessels that are at least 26 feet long and used primarily for pleasure. This includes boats that may be operated, leased, rented, or chartered for recreational purposes.
What does "transient" mean for this grant program?
For BIG purposes, transient vessels are those passing through or by a location and staying up to 15 days.
What kinds of projects can BIG Tier 2 - National fund?
This opportunity funds the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure facilities that accommodate eligible transient recreational vessels (26 feet or longer). The improvements are generally aimed at making it practical and safe for larger transient boats to stop, dock, and access basic services while traveling.
What is considered "boating infrastructure" under this program?
"Boating infrastructure" is defined broadly to include the structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable for a facility to serve eligible vessels.
Is public access required for projects funded through BIG?
Yes. Projects funded through BIG must provide public access. The improved facilities cannot be restricted to private or members-only use.
Can facilities be privately owned and still be eligible?
Yes. Facilities may be publicly owned or privately owned, as long as the public access requirement is met.
Who is eligible to apply for BIG Tier 2 - National?
Eligibility for this Tier 2 - National competition is limited to state-level applicants: the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (referred to as "States" in the notice).
Can a marina, local government, or other local partner apply directly?
Under the notice, applications are submitted by state governments. The actual on-the-ground projects may involve public or private marina operators and local partners, but the applicant for Tier 2 - National is the state-level entity.
Which federal agency runs this grant opportunity?
The grant opportunity is run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the legal authority for the BIG program?
BIG was created under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178), codified at 16 U.S.C. 777g-1, and operates as an amendment and extension of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act framework (16 U.S.C. 777).
How is the program funded?
Funding is supported through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, and subsequent reauthorizations have continued the program and its allowable uses.
What fiscal year and competition does this notice cover?
This notice covers the FY 2018 BIG Tier 2 National grants.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The notice was posted under Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00215 on Grants.gov.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.622.
What broad categories does this grant fall under?
The notice describes the opportunity as being categorized under areas such as community development, environment, and natural resources.
What was the application closing date listed for this notice?
The application closing date listed was September 11, 2017.
How many awards were anticipated under this notice?
The program anticipated making around 10 awards under this notice.
What is the maximum award size (ceiling) for this competition?
The maximum award size (ceiling) described in the notice is $1,500,000 per award.
How does Tier 2 - National differ from Tier 1 - State in the BIG program?
Tier 2 - National grants are competed under this national Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Tier 1 - State grants are handled under a separate Grants.gov announcement and process. The FY 2018 Tier 1 listing referenced is Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00214.
Where would an applicant find the Tier 1 - State notice referenced?
The notice indicates Tier 1 - State grants are posted as a separate Grants.gov announcement (FY 2018 Tier 1 referenced as F17AS00214) and may be published on a different schedule than Tier 2.
What is the main purpose of the improvements funded by this program?
The main purpose is to improve boating facilities so larger transient recreational vessels can safely stop, dock, and access amenities and services while traveling away from their home ports.
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