Open · NOAA-NOS-OCM-2026-33239 · CFDA 11.420 · Discretionary
National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2026
Federal grant opportunity posted by DOC NOAA - ERA Production, cataloged on Grants.gov.
- $500K-$3M
- Award range
- Open
- Status
- 39d
- Days left
- 20
- Expected awards
The verdict
National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2026 is an open discretionary opportunity from DOC NOAA - ERA Production, offering $500,000 -- $3,000,000 across 20 expected awards. Applications close in 39 days.
- $500K-$3M
- award range
- Open
- 39 days left
- 20
- expected awards
- 11.420
- CFDA program
Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement - National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2026 - is cataloged under number NOAA-NOS-OCM-2026-33239 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 11.420, posted by DOC NOAA - ERA Production. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on July 17, 2026 and last updated on July 21, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a grant.
Award economics. The award range on file is $500,000 -- $3,000,000. The agency has projected $8.5 million in total estimated funding for this announcement. It expects to issue 20 awards. If the agency funds the expected 20 awards from the $8.5 million estimated pool, the average award works out to roughly $425,000. 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 September 18, 2026 - roughly 39 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
$500,000 -- $3,000,000
Close Date
September 18, 2026
Posted
July 17, 2026
Est. Total Funding
$8,500,000
Expected Awards
20
Instrument
Grant
Cost Sharing
Required
Description
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) consists of estuarine areas of the United States and its territories designated and managed for research and educational purposes (Reserve) as specified in 15 C.F.R. Part 921. By funding Reserve lead agencies and universities to conduct land acquisition and construction projects that support the NERRS mission, NOAA will strengthen protection of key land and water areas, enhance long-term protection of Reserve areas for research and education, and provide for facility and exhibit construction activities that meet the highest sustainable design standards possible. Each Reserve was designated to ensure its effectiveness as a conservation unit and as a site for long-term research and monitoring. In maintaining their effectiveness, the Reserves may find it necessary to expand their boundaries through strategically planned land acquisitions and/or to develop or enhance their reserve facilities, including their in-situ monitoring infrastructure, to meet the demands of research, monitoring, and education program objectives. NOAA anticipates approximately $8.5 million in Fiscal Year 2026 will be available to designated lead Reserve agencies or universities in coastal states. NOAA anticipates funding between 5-20 construction, acquisition, and/or planning & design projects. Project periods are expected to range from 12–36 months. Complex construction projects may request extended project periods, but the cumulative must not exceed 60 months. Final project selections are subject to availability of funds and negotiation with NOAA. Acquisition or construction projects have a $3,000,000 federal funding cap . Stand-alone planning and design projects have a $500,000 federal funding cap. At the discretion of NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, up to 10% of the Fiscal Year 2026 funds will be reserved for critical reserve vehicle or vessel needs. These funds will be awarded noncompetitively to stand-alone vehicle or vessel project applications that address a critical reserve need.
Eligibility
Grants.gov lists this opportunity under eligibility category code 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.
Agency Contact
For administrative and technical questions regarding the program and application process, please contact Matthew Chasse, Program Coordinator, via phone: 240-628-5417, or via email: contact Matt.Chasse@noaa.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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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| Sources | the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov |