The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is offering funding under its 2025 “Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal” initiative (Funding Opportunity No. NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2025-29044) to support fish passage and restoration projects that benefit tribal communities. This grant program, authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), is aimed at enhancing fish populations critical to Native American culture, rebuilding fisheries, supporting endangered species recovery, and improving watershed and ecosystem health. The focus is on removing barriers such as dams and culverts, enabling the free movement of native migratory fish species, including those in the Great Lakes and other coastal habitats.

Eligible applicants are federally recognized Indian tribes and organizations representing Indian tribes through formal legal agreements, including tribal commissions, consortia, and conservation districts. Tribal partners may apply in collaboration with non-profit organizations, academic institutions, or state and local governments, though only tribes or their representative entities can submit applications directly. Selected projects must demonstrate measurable benefits for migratory fish, emphasize climate resilience, support tribal capacity for fish passage management, and align with broader NOAA conservation and fishery management goals.

Funding awards will range from $500,000 to $4 million per project, with a maximum funding cap of $6 million for projects demonstrating high ecological impact and readiness. NOAA anticipates making multiple awards totaling up to $20 million, with typical project durations of two to three years. Projects can include a range of activities such as planning, engineering, permitting, fish passage restoration, and capacity-building initiatives for tribal management. Funding does not require a cost-share but encourages applicants to leverage additional non-federal resources to demonstrate community support.

The application requires several components, including federal forms SF-424, SF-424A, and related certifications. Proposals must include a detailed project summary, budget narrative, and supplemental materials. Applications are expected to follow specific formatting guidelines and to be organized into three PDF files: a project narrative, budget details, and additional materials (e.g., maps, letters of support, design documents). Applicants should ensure proposals reflect NOAA’s priorities, including benefits to fish populations, resilience to climate hazards, tribal cultural significance, and capacity-building impacts. Proposals are evaluated on importance, technical merit, applicant qualifications, project costs, and community support.

Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by February 27, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Applicants must complete registrations on SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, with registration processes that may take up to six weeks. NOAA emphasizes that proposals must meet all formatting and content requirements and encourages early registration to avoid submission delays. For additional guidance, applicants may contact NOAA’s program staff before submission.