Open · P26AS00146 · CFDA 15.916 · Discretionary
Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) – Recurring 5 Year Notice
Federal grant opportunity posted by National Park Service, cataloged on Grants.gov.
- $250K-$3M
- Award range
- Open
- Status
- 1573d
- Days left
- 10
- Expected awards
The verdict
Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) – Recurring 5 Year Notice is an open discretionary opportunity from National Park Service, offering $250,000 -- $3,000,000 across 10 expected awards. Applications close in 1573 days.
- $250K-$3M
- award range
- Open
- 1573 days left
- 10
- expected awards
- 15.916
- CFDA program
Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement - Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) – Recurring 5 Year Notice - is cataloged under number P26AS00146 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 15.916, posted by National Park Service. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on June 8, 2026 and last updated on June 10, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a grant.
Award economics. The award range on file is $250,000 -- $3,000,000. The agency has projected $9.0 million in total estimated funding for this announcement. It expects to issue 10 awards. If the agency funds the expected 10 awards from the $9.0 million estimated pool, the average award works out to roughly $900,000. Cost sharing or matching funds are required, meaning applicants must contribute a portion of the project budget from non-federal sources, factor this into your financial plan before drafting the proposal. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.
Deadline and action path. Applications close on November 30, 2030 - roughly 1573 days from today. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully, federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed, it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities. Before acting on the deadline or award figures above, verify them directly on the official Grants.gov listing, amendments can change dates and amounts after this page was last refreshed.
Award Range
$250,000 -- $3,000,000
Close Date
November 30, 2030
In accordance with the LWCF Act, non-Federal cost share in the amount of 50% or 1:1 ratio is required to be eligible for an award under this NOFO. Applicants are not required to have their cost-share secured at the time of their application to this NOFO, but they must provide documentation of their plan to secure matching funds. Applicants must secure their cost-share before finalizing a grant agreement with the NPS. This could be up to one year after selection through this NOFO. Applicants must document all cost share contributions in their final Budget Narrative. The eligible non-Federal contributions may include land donation or purchase, cash, in-kind contributions, or volunteer services, in line with federal award requirements (2 CFR § 200.306). Additionally, the following will be accepted as contributions for non-Federal share: Existing State or local government-owned lands not currently used for recreation may be used as part of the non-Federal matching share for acquisition grants. Property donated between a State and its subdivisions may be used as part of the non-Federal matching share. Per 54 U.S.C. 200305(f)(1), projects applying for a RARI grant can only include Congressionally designated Federal cost-share sources in their budgets. Other Federal sources, such as LWCF formula funds, are not permitted, even if all program cost share requirements are met. Projects including other federal funds within the proposed budget, unless they are serving as authorized cost share, will be eliminated from the competition without consideration. Exception for Non-Federal Requirement: Certain federal programs are authorized by their enabling legislation to be treated as non-federal match. For this notice, applicants can use federal Department of War Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program funds to meet LWCF's required cost-share, as specified in 2 CFR 200.306(b)(5). REPI funding may be used to "to satisfy any matching funds or cost- sharing requirement of any conservation or resilience program of any Federal agency notwithstanding any limitation of such program on the source of matching or cost-sharing funds" (10 U.S.C. 2684a). More information on DOW REPI funding can be found on the following REPI Program websites: REPI - Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program https://www.repi.mil/Buffer-Projects/Project-List/. https://www.repi.mil/Buffer-Projects/REPI-Challenge/ Exception for Insular Areas: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not need to provide 50% non-Federal cost share. These areas can receive full (100%) federal funding.
Posted
June 8, 2026
Est. Total Funding
$9,000,000
Expected Awards
10
Instrument
Grant
Cost Sharing
Required
Description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI), administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The purpose of the program is to: 1) provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and 2) promote or support compatible land uses and avoid incompatible development in areas in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to, a military installation or military airspace, and/or to maintain or enhance disaster resilience. RARI is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). State and Local Assistance Program. RARI funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments. RARI operates in partnership with the Department of War (DOW) and seeks to leverage funding across departments to benefit the general public and military communities. RARI is dollar for dollar match, meaning it covers up to 50% of all project costs and applicants are responsible for funding the remaining 50% of project costs. However, for RARI projects, DOW Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funds are allowable to meet the LWCF Act's cost-share requirement (10 U.S.C. 2684a). Therefore, 100% of project costs could be funded through these two federal programs. To be eligible, proposed projects must: Include a land acquisition component. Be in a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape. Have a Letter of Support from a Military Installation or Range commander.1 Additional LWCF requirements for the RARI program: Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds. Alignment with LWCF Law and Policy - As an LWCF program, RARI projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual. This includes meeting a priority need or goal identified in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Alignment with National Priorities – Projects must be responsive to Executive and National priorities, including those outlined in Executive Order 14313, "Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission" and Secretarial Order 3442, "Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior."
Eligibility
Grants.gov lists this opportunity under eligibility category codes 00, 25. These codes correspond to applicant types (state/local government, tribal organization, nonprofit, educational institution, individual, small business, etc.) defined in Grants.gov's own eligibility reference. See the current Grants.gov eligibility categories or check the official listing below for this opportunity's exact eligibility statement.
Official Listing on Grants.gov
View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.
Parent Grant Program
Outdoor Recreation — Acquisition, Development, Planning
U.S. Department of the Interior
Agency Contact
Matthew Russell RARI_Inquiries@nps.gov
Key Dates
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Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.
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| Sources | the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov |