Opportunity ID: 362480
General Information
| Funding Opportunity Number | F25AS00379 |
| Funding Opportunity Title | F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act – Base Funding Round |
| Agency | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Document Type | synopsis |
| Version | 1 |
| Opportunity Category | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation | Not specified |
| Funding Instrument Type | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity | Natural Resources |
| Category Explanation | Not specified |
| Expected Number of Awards | 4 |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement | Yes |
| Posted Date | May 19, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Last Updated Date | May 19, 2026 03:46:40 PM EDT |
| Original Closing Date | Oct 31, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Original Closing Date Notes | Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Current Closing Date | Oct 31, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Current Closing Date Notes | Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Estimated Synopsis Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Application Due Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Award Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Project Start Date | Not specified |
| Archive Date | Not specified |
| Estimated Total Program Funding | 9,173,450 |
| Award Ceiling | 2,293,362 |
| Award Floor | 25,000 |
Assistance Listings
- 15.667 — Highlands Conservation
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants | State governments |
Only the Lead State Agency (or Agencies) as determined by the Governor of each Highlands State may be the applicant for funding under the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program. If the Governor assigns multiple Lead Agencies, those Agencies must coordinate on funding requests prior to submission and ensure no more than the maximum allowable amount is requested through this funding opportunity. All or part of the funds received by the Lead State Agency may be subawarded to a County or Municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another State Conservation Agency.The current Lead State Agencies are:Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Contact Matt Starr: matthew.starr@ct.govNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Contact Lynn Kovach: lynn.kovach@parks.ny.govNew Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Contact Liz Ward: elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.govPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Contact Dan Pierce: danipierce@pa.govIn FY 2026, $9,173,450 in Base funding is available for grants to Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Each State may request up to $2,293,362 in Base funding. The earliest anticipated project start date is January 1, 2026. Project periods will be no longer than 4 years from the date the grantee is notified of an award. Period of performance extensions may be considered under extenuating circumstances. If the funds are unspent when a grant closes and the HCA grant program is still actively funded, unspent funds will be returned to the program to be redistributed through the next Competitive Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity. If each of the four eligible States does not request the full $2,293,362 available, remaining funds will be distributed through either the concurrent or the next Competitive Grant Round Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Description
The Highlands Conservation Act Program (HCA) is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the protection of land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. HCA grants support land conservation projects in which a State, County, or Municipal entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to conserve resources of high conservation value.Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals for up to 50% of the total cost of land conservation projects in the Highlands Region.Funding appropriated under the HCA is typically divided into two separate categories – Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants may submit requests for the Base Funding Round in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Competitive Funds. A project may not be proposed for funding in both funding opportunities.More information on the HCA program is available at www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant
Additional Information
| Contact | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Contact Information | Shelley DiBona Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov |
| Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov | |
| Email Description | Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov |
| Phone | 22041-3803 |
Additional information
Version History
| Id | 362480 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Opportunity number | F25AS00379 |
| Opportunity title | F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act – Base Funding Round |
| Owning agency code | DOI-FWS |
| Opportunity category / Category | D |
| Opportunity category / Description | Discretionary |
| Synopsis / Opportunity id | 362480 |
| Synopsis / Version | 1 |
| Synopsis / Agency code | DOI-FWS |
| Synopsis / Agency name | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Synopsis / Agency phone | 22041-3803 |
| Synopsis / Agency address desc | Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Code | FWS |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Seed | DOI-FWS |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency name | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Agency code | DOI-FWS |
| Synopsis / Agency details / Top agency code | DOI |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Code | DOI |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Seed | DOI |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Agency name | Department of the Interior |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Agency code | DOI |
| Synopsis / Top agency details / Top agency code | DOI |
| Synopsis / Agency contact phone | 22041-3803 |
| Synopsis / Agency contact name | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Synopsis / Agency contact desc | Shelley DiBona Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email | Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov |
| Synopsis / Agency contact email desc | Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov |
| Synopsis / Synopsis desc | The Highlands Conservation Act Program (HCA) is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in the protection of land and natural resources in the Highlands Region. HCA grants support land conservation projects in which a State, County, or Municipal entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to conserve resources of high conservation value.Governors of the four Highlands States may submit proposals for up to 50% of the total cost of land conservation projects in the Highlands Region.Funding appropriated under the HCA is typically divided into two separate categories – Base and Competitive. Eligible applicants may submit requests for the Base Funding Round in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. A separate Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted for Competitive Funds. A project may not be proposed for funding in both funding opportunities.More information on the HCA program is available at www.fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act-grant |
| Synopsis / Response date | Oct 31, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Response date desc | Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Synopsis / Posting date | May 19, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Synopsis / Cost sharing | Yes |
| Synopsis / Number of awards | 4 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding | 9173450 |
| Synopsis / Estimated funding formatted | 9,173,450 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling | 2293362 |
| Synopsis / Award ceiling formatted | 2,293,362 |
| Synopsis / Award floor | 25000 |
| Synopsis / Award floor formatted | 25,000 |
| Synopsis / Applicant eligibility desc | Only the Lead State Agency (or Agencies) as determined by the Governor of each Highlands State may be the applicant for funding under the Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program. If the Governor assigns multiple Lead Agencies, those Agencies must coordinate on funding requests prior to submission and ensure no more than the maximum allowable amount is requested through this funding opportunity. All or part of the funds received by the Lead State Agency may be subawarded to a County or Municipality within the Highlands Region, or to another State Conservation Agency.The current Lead State Agencies are:Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Contact Matt Starr: matthew.starr@ct.govNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Contact Lynn Kovach: lynn.kovach@parks.ny.govNew Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. Contact Liz Ward: elizabeth.ward@highlands.nj.govPennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Contact Dan Pierce: danipierce@pa.govIn FY 2026, $9,173,450 in Base funding is available for grants to Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Each State may request up to $2,293,362 in Base funding. The earliest anticipated project start date is January 1, 2026. Project periods will be no longer than 4 years from the date the grantee is notified of an award. Period of performance extensions may be considered under extenuating circumstances. If the funds are unspent when a grant closes and the HCA grant program is still actively funded, unspent funds will be returned to the program to be redistributed through the next Competitive Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity. If each of the four eligible States does not request the full $2,293,362 available, remaining funds will be distributed through either the concurrent or the next Competitive Grant Round Notice of Funding Opportunity. |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp | May 19, 2026 03:47:41 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Created date | May 19, 2026 03:46:40 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Last updated date | May 19, 2026 03:46:40 PM EDT |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Id | 00 |
| Synopsis / Applicant types 1 / Description | State governments |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Id | G |
| Synopsis / Funding instruments 1 / Description | Grant |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Id | NR |
| Synopsis / Funding activity categories 1 / Description | Natural Resources |
| Synopsis / Response date str | 2026-10-31-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Posting date str | 2026-05-19-00-00-00 |
| Synopsis / Create time stamp str | 2026-05-19-15-47-41 |
| Agency details / Code | FWS |
| Agency details / Seed | DOI-FWS |
| Agency details / Agency name | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Agency details / Agency code | DOI-FWS |
| Agency details / Top agency code | DOI |
| Top agency details / Code | DOI |
| Top agency details / Seed | DOI |
| Top agency details / Agency name | Department of the Interior |
| Top agency details / Agency code | DOI |
| Top agency details / Top agency code | DOI |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Id | 79805 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Opportunity id | 362480 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Folder type | Full Announcement |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Folder name | Full Announcement |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Zip lob size | 119952 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Created date | May 19, 2026 03:47:40 PM EDT |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Last updated date | May 19, 2026 03:47:41 PM EDT |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Id | 352266 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Opportunity id | 362480 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Mime type | application/pdf |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / File name | 5.19.2026 Foa_Content_of_F25AS00379.pdf |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / File description | 5.19.2026 Foa_Content_of_F25AS00379.pdf |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / File lob size | 149614 |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Created date | May 19, 2026 03:47:41 PM EDT |
| Synopsis attachment folders 1 / Synopsis attachments 1 / Synopsis att folder id | 79805 |
| Synopsis document urls | Not specified |
| Syn att change comments | Not specified |
| Cfdas 1 / Id | 433479 |
| Cfdas 1 / Opportunity id | 362480 |
| Cfdas 1 / Cfda number | 15.667 |
| Cfdas 1 / Program title | Highlands Conservation |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Id | 292854 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Topportunity id | 362480 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Family id | 15 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Dialect | XFDL2.2 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opportunity number | F25AS00379 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opportunity title | F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act – Base Funding Round |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Cfda number | 15.667 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opening date | 2026-05-19 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Closing date | 2026-10-31 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Owning agency code | DOI-FWS |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Code | FWS |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Seed | DOI-FWS |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Agency name | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Agency code | DOI-FWS |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Agency details / Top agency code | DOI |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Code | DOI |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Seed | DOI |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Agency name | Department of the Interior |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Agency code | DOI |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Top agency details / Top agency code | DOI |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Program title | Highlands Conservation |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Contact info | Shelley DiBona |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Competition id | F25AS00379 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Competition title | F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act – Base Funding Round |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Electronic required | Y |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Expected application count | 4 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Expected application size | 0 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Open to applicant type | 1 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Is multi project | N |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Extension | |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Mimetype | application/pdf |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Last update | May 19, 2026 03:47:28 PM EDT |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Workspace compatible flag | Y |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Package id | PKG00292854 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Opening date str | 2026-05-19-00-00-00 |
| Opportunity pkgs 1 / Closing date str | 2026-10-31-00-00-00 |
| Closed opportunity pkgs | Not specified |
| Original due date | Oct 31, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT |
| Original due date desc | Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Synopsis modified fields | Not specified |
| Forecast modified fields | Not specified |
| Error messages | Not specified |
| Syn post date in past | Yes |
| Doc type | synopsis |
| Forecast hist count | 0 |
| Synopsis hist count | 0 |
| Assist compatible | No |
| Assist url | Not specified |
| Related opps | Not specified |
| Ost | POSTED |
Related Documents
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | Shelley DiBona Shelley_DiBona@ios.doi.gov |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.667 | F25AS00379 | F25AS00379 Highlands Conservation Act – Base Funding Round | PKG00292854 | 2026-05-19 | 2026-10-31 | View |
