Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00004
The National Outreach and Communication Program (NOCP) grant opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, focused on expanding and strengthening participation in sportfishing and boating across the United States. Created under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178), the program responds to long-term concerns about declining numbers of anglers and boaters. The Service is looking for proposals that can help carry out a coordinated national effort to reach new participants, re-engage lapsed participants, and better serve current anglers and boaters through targeted outreach, practical communication, and programmatic support.
At its core, the NOCP is built around five major goals. First, it aims to improve communication with anglers, boaters, and the broader public about where, how, and why to participate, including clear information on opportunities, destinations, and experiences. Second, it seeks to reduce barriers that keep people from getting involved, which can include access challenges, costs, lack of knowledge, limited nearby opportunities, or perceptions that the activities are hard to enter. Third, the program encourages the adoption of sound angling and boating practices nationwide, meaning efforts that reinforce ethical behavior, stewardship, compliance with rules, and approaches that protect fisheries and waterways. Fourth, it promotes conservation and responsible use of aquatic resources, tying recreation to long-term sustainability and public support for healthy waters and habitats. Fifth, it supports safety in both angling and boating, emphasizing behavior and practices that reduce risk and make participation safer and more welcoming for families and new users.
A defining feature of this opportunity is that it is connected to a national planning framework required by law. The Secretary of the Interior must develop and implement a national plan for the NOCP in cooperation and consultation with the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. The Council, in turn, developed the National Outreach and Communication Program Strategic Plan, which serves as the guiding blueprint for program priorities and implementation. In practice, applicants should expect that proposed projects need to align with the direction and goals set out in that Strategic Plan and contribute to a broader, coordinated national approach rather than isolated or purely local outreach.
Administratively, this opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00004 and is categorized under Education, Environment, and Natural Resources, with CFDA number 15.653. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates an active federal role during the period of performance, such as collaboration on planning, messaging, deliverables, or coordination. The opportunity is described as unrestricted in eligibility (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility details that may be provided in the full announcement’s eligibility section. The posting date was October 23, 2017, with an original closing date of November 23, 2017.
In terms of scale, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $59,000,000 and anticipates approximately five awards, signaling that this solicitation is designed to support a limited number of substantial efforts rather than many small grants. Overall, the NOCP opportunity is best understood as a national-level initiative aimed at boosting participation in fishing and boating while reinforcing conservation-minded, safe, and responsible recreation through modern outreach, strategic communication, and barrier-reduction efforts aligned with an established national strategic plan.Apply for F18AS00004
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Outreach and Communication Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.653.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 23, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 23, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $59,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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