The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting applications for F26AS00030, Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Program. The program supports acquisition of specific parcels of land, through fee-simple purchase or conservation easement, when the acquisition advances a current FWS-approved recovery plan or recovery outline for an ESA-listed species.
Application Deadline
November 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications must be submitted through GrantSolutions.gov.
Funding
FWS estimates $14,162,000 in total program funding and approximately 15 awards. The listed award floor is $10,000 and the listed award ceiling is $14,162,000.
Eligibility
Prime eligibility is limited to State and Territorial agencies that maintain a qualifying cooperative agreement with FWS under section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act and have completed the required annual reconfirmation. Counties and conservation organizations may participate with an eligible State agency as subgrantees but cannot receive the prime award directly.
Projects must support at least one listed species whose most recent FWS-approved recovery planning document identifies habitat loss as a threat and habitat protection as a priority recovery action. The specific parcel or parcels must be identified, and applicants must commit to funding and implementing management of the acquired land in perpetuity consistent with species conservation needs.
Cost Share
A non-Federal cost share is required. The minimum is 25 percent of total project cost for a single-State proposal and 10 percent for a project involving collaboration by two or more States. The statutory match is waived for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Cash and qualifying in-kind contributions, including real property, may be used consistent with federal rules.
Submission Requirements
Applicants must maintain active SAM.gov registration and a UEI and must register in GrantSolutions. Required federal forms include SF-424, with additional construction, real-property, lobbying, budget, and supporting documents as applicable under the NOFO. Applicants should coordinate with the appropriate FWS regional contact before investing significant time or funds in an application.
Atlas Fit
This is a state-led conservation and land-acquisition opportunity. Organization-specific execution should be routed to applicable state pathways for agencies with active ESA section 6(c) agreements and qualifying acquisition projects. Counties and conservation organizations may be viable subgrantee partners through an eligible State. Dr. Miltie is not an eligible direct prime. Because the program requires non-Federal match except where a statutory waiver applies, no Dr. Miltie direct-vendor path should be advanced without Marc approval or a definitive waiver.