Office of Insular Affairs Opens $6.01 Million for OIA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding Projects
Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM (EST), October 30, 2024.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is accepting applications)
Opportunity: OIA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding
Overview and Eligible Uses: The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Public Law 117-58, supports Department of the Interior initiatives for American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For Fiscal Year 2024, the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) is requesting proposals for four activities aligned with the Department’s Ecosystem Restoration Program Guiding Principles. These projects aim to enhance the health and resilience of island and coastal ecosystems in the U.S. Territories while benefiting underserved or disadvantaged communities.
Activity A: Invasive Species - OIA will fund the prevention, detection, and eradication of invasive species in the US Territories. This includes:
Pre- and at-border policies to prevent entry
Early detection at ports
Post-border detection and response
High-priority projects like research facilities, cargo inspection, emergency response, training, and biosecurity plan development
Activity B: Revegetate Mined Lands - OIA will fund the restoration of native vegetation and mitigation of environmental hazards from sand, coral, and gravel mines on Federal and non-Federal land. Projects may include:
Restoring disturbed landscapes or shorelines
Mitigating hazards from mining activities
Protecting and improving coastal and coral ecosystems
Activity C: Native Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration - OIA will support a national revegetation effort, including the National Seed Strategy (NSS), to repair damaged lands and restore ecosystem services. Projects should:
Implement a “ridge to reef” watershed management approach
Protect, manage, and restore wetland, mangrove, and coral reef ecosystems
Restore ecosystem services like food, medicine, tourism, and erosion control
Propagate native seeds and replant disturbed areas
Activity D: Advancing the National Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) Framework; Early Detection Surveillance for Asset Protection - OIA will fund early detection surveillance for high-priority invasive species not yet affecting the islands. Projects should:
Apply strategic approaches for detecting invasive species
Conduct targeted or broad-spectrum surveillance
Use methods like horizon scans, molecular methods (e.g., environmental DNA), detector dogs, citizen science, and remote monitoring systems
Amount: $6,009,607 will be awarded with 10 awards for the 4 different activity categories:
Activity A: Invasive Species - $1,650,602
Activity B: Revegetate Mined Lands - $2,048,569
Activity C: Native Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration - $1,910,436
Activity D: Early Detection Surveillance for Asset Protection Surveillance Assets - $400,000 ($100,000 per territory)
Award Type: Grant
Eligible Applicants:
Non-federal entities such as local government agencies (including local hospitals/health centers and utilities) in Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Institutions of higher education in Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Non-profit organizations whose mission directly benefits the insular areas listed above in accordance with regulations contained in 2 CFR 200.
Key Dates: Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM (EST), October 30, 2024.
Key Links:
For a full list of currently available grant programs under the Infrastructure Law and other helpful tools, take a look at our Helpful Resources page.
This tracker will continue to send updates when new funding opportunities are announced.