The FY 2025 Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Grant Program, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), aims to support U.S. states, territories, and specific local government agencies in reducing water pollution from recreational boat sewage. Authorized by the Clean Vessel Act and funded through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, the CVA program provides funding for the construction, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout stations and waste disposal facilities to help prevent waste discharge into public waterways. By doing so, the program seeks to improve water quality in drinking supplies, river ecosystems, and recreational waters, while enhancing access to clean facilities for boaters.

The program expects to distribute up to $15 million, with individual award amounts typically ranging between $30,000 and $1.5 million. Coastal states may apply for a maximum of $3 million, whereas inland states are capped at $1.5 million. The anticipated award announcement date is June 18, 2025, with funding contingent on compliance and permitting efforts post-approval. Grants are issued as traditional financial assistance awards (G), and each state or designated agency is responsible for managing and maintaining facilities funded under the CVA. Each applicant must provide a 25% non-federal cost share unless exempt, such as the territories of American Samoa and Guam, among others.

Eligible applicants are the Governor-designated agencies of U.S. states and territories, as well as the District of Columbia’s Mayor-designated agency. Although states have the option to distribute subawards to local entities like private marinas or municipalities to meet boating needs, the primary applicants are limited to designated state-level agencies. Required applications must include key documents like the SF-424 form, project narrative, budget details, and a conflict of interest disclosure. To maintain eligibility, applicants must also complete registrations with SAM.gov and other federal systems.

Applications are due by November 25, 2024, and must be submitted through GrantSolutions or Grants.gov. States are encouraged to submit early to allow time for any necessary corrections. Applications will be evaluated based on specific criteria, such as the construction and renovation of pumpout stations, partnership efforts, innovative approaches, education components, and the potential impact on sensitive water areas. Scoring distinctions are made between coastal and inland states, with coastal applications potentially earning additional points for alignment with state plans under the CVA.

The review process includes eligibility checks, a scoring assessment based on application criteria, and final funding decisions made by the Service Director. Funding decisions prioritize applications that score highest under the criteria, though all states applying may receive a minimum level of funding. Compliance with federal standards, such as Buy America requirements, is mandatory for infrastructure projects, and recipients are responsible for adhering to reporting requirements, including financial, performance, and real property reports. Recipients must use the TRACS system to document performance, and significant updates or deviations in project progress must be reported to FWS.

For additional guidance, applicants can contact the FWS regional CI Office, and technical support is available for both the GrantSolutions and Grants.gov submission platforms.