The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) is seeking proposals for its Technical Assistance Program (TAP), which offers grant funding for short-term projects aimed at addressing the immediate needs of insular areas. The TAP program provides discretionary grant funding to tackle urgent economic, financial, government service, and capacity challenges in the insular areas.

Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Program 2026

Funding Opportunity Number: OIA-TAP-2026

BASIC INFORMATION

Announcement Type: Initial Funding Opportunity Number: OIA-TAP-2026 Assistance Listing Number(s): 15.875

Estimated Total Program Funding: $22,500,000 Expected Number of Awards: 40 Award Ceiling: $22,500,000 Award Floor: $0

Applicants may request funding in any amount; however, larger applications carry a higher risk of not being funded due to limited available funds and the anticipated number of applicants and priorities.

Cost Sharing Required? No

Closing Date Explanation: Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on May 18, 2026.

OMB Control Number:

Have Questions? For questions contact Jonathan_Dunn@ios.doi.gov. Applicants may also refer to the OIA website at https://www.doi.gov/oia/financial-assistance for the latest FAQs and any tips on applying for funding.

Executive Summary

The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) is seeking proposals for its Technical Assistance Program (TAP), which offers grant funding for short-term projects aimed at addressing the immediate needs of insular areas. The TAP program provides discretionary grant funding to tackle urgent economic, financial, government service, and capacity challenges in the insular areas.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility

Authorized under Public Law 96-597, Section 601, and subsequent amendments, OIA TAP funds are available to benefit the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the freely associated states which are the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau.

Eligible applicants include non-federal, local government entities and component units, hospitals, health centers, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations in the United States and its territories, as well as international entities whose proposed projects will benefit these insular areas and comply with 2 CFR 200.

Judicial and legislative branches of local governments are not eligible per 2 CFR 200.444.

Restrictions and Requirements for Non-U.S. Entities or Projects

• We do not fund countries supporting terrorism subject to U.S. sanctions.
• We do not fund countries under U.S. Treasury sanctions without licenses.
• You must get all required approvals for work outside the U.S. We are not responsible for your compliance with local rules.
• For projects over $500,000, you may need to comply with 2 CFR 175.105(b) before we make an award.

Cost Sharing Requirement

Cost Sharing Required? No

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations

Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration

Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be registered in SAM.gov. During the SAM.gov registration the entity will obtain their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

The SAM.gov registration process can take several months. If your organization is not already registered in SAM.gov, begin the registration process as soon as possible.

To register in SAM.gov, go to the SAM.gov website and use the available resources to complete registration.

• Financial assistance registrants must review and certify compliance with the SAM.gov “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications”.
• Already registered? You already have a Unique Entity ID. Before applying, check that your “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications” on SAM.gov is complete. Remember to renew your registration every year to keep it active while you have an award or application in progress. You can update your registration whenever you need, including during renewal.
• Need help? For additional information and contact information on the SAM.gov Help page.

This program may allow an applicant to apply while their SAM.gov registration is in progress, with prior approval. For more information, refer to the point of contact identified in the Basic Information section above.

GRANTS.GOV

This program accepts applications through Grants.gov so once you receive your UEI return to Grants.gov to register with Grants.gov. Please allow 30 days to register and set up a Workspace in Grants.gov. See Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

Refer to Attachment – Submission Instructions & Tips.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals

• The Technical Assistance Program (TAP) provides discretionary grant funding support to address urgent economic, financial, government service and capacity challenges in the insular areas, with a focus on unmet needs where other federal support is unavailable. Urgent and immediate needs identified by government leadership can be prioritized. Applicants must justify their requests by clearly defining the need or problem they aim to address and clearly outlining the proposed goals and outcomes needed to accomplish their aims.

Program Description

The Technical Assistance Program is versatile and can be used for various priority purposes, including, but not limited to:

• Audits and accountability
• Financial management
• Economic development
• Education, training, and capacity building
• Management and IT modernization
• Energy initiatives
• Natural and cultural resource management
• Youth and health programs
• Public safety
• Disaster planning and recovery

The Administration remains focused on ensuring that all insular area governments return to timely and quality audits. This focus also prioritizes audit timeliness for relevant component units and other entities receiving federal funding, especially if relevant to insular area audits or are required, by law, to be audited.

The Administration will prioritize projects that drive economic growth, ensure reliable and affordable energy, and strengthen national security and regional stability.

Application restrictions:

• TAP grants should not be allocated for routine operating expenses or large construction projects. Additionally, TAP grants should not cover routine office supplies and standard equipment upgrades, such as new computers, unless they are part of a larger initiative like new financial software, or necessary to enhance priorities such as Single Audit timeliness.
• The use of TAP grants for existing employee salaries or local government force accounts is prohibited; however, funding for temporary, external expertise or consulting services may be permitted if comprehensively detailed in the project narrative and budget and deemed critical for meeting urgent needs and priorities.
• TAP funding is not intended for the purchase of standard or routine government vehicles, but may be used for specialized vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, or other specialized equipment.
• Costs associated with training should be limited to building the capacity of permanent career staff. Grant funding should not, in general, be used to fund the training costs, including travel costs, of insular area political officials with limited terms or appointments.

Buy America Preferences for Infrastructure Projects

This program has Federal funding for infrastructure projects. Buy America preferences apply to Federal awards for infrastructure projects in the United States. Reference 2 CFR Part 184 - Buy America Preferences for Infrastructure Project for further guidance.

If your application contains components for which Build America, Buy America (BABA) does apply, please review and follow BABA regulations as applicable.

Legislative Authority

48 U.S. Code § 1469d. General technical assistance

Type of Award

Projects will be funded through G (Grant).

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Application Content and Format

Pre-Application Requirements

Prior to applying, applicants should review presidential actions found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ and DOI Secretary’s Orders found at: https://www.doi.gov/document-library/secretary-order. By applying in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity, the applicant certifies awareness and compliance with all currently effective and applicable executive orders and secretary’s orders, including but not limited to the Executive Order titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs as well as the Executive Order and Secretary’s order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring their proposed activities are consistent with the intent and requirements of these directives.

Application Documents

Applicants must submit the following forms with their application as specified below. Instructions for accessing and submitting application forms are provided in the Submission Instructions section of this document below. For instructions on completing form fields, see the form instructions on the Grants.gov Forms Repository.

| Form/Assurance/Certification | Submission Requirement

• SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs
  • Note: Applicants must fill out all pages of SF-424A, including the second page with the object class categories.
  • Only required for non-construction projects
• SF-424C, Budget Information – Construction Programs
  • Note: Applicants must fill out all pages of SF-424C, including the second page with the object class categories.
  • Only required for construction projects
• Project Abstract Summary, OMB No. 40400019
  • Must be only 1 page and include, in plain language:
    • Award purpose
    • Activities to be performed
    • Expected deliverables or outcomes
    • Intended beneficiaries
    • Subrecipient activities (if known at time of application)
  • Required from all applicants
• Include Latest Audit or Answer Financial Capacity Questions
  • Is your organization required by 2CFR200 to conduct an audit? If yes, provide the latest audit. If not, respond to the Financial Capacity Questions in the Budget Narrative section of this application. Audit timeliness or responses to financial questions, whichever is applicable to your entity, will be part of the TAP scoring process.
  • All applicants must review and respond to this requirement under the Budget Narrative.
• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
  • Note: This form, OMB Number: 4040-0013, is required if requesting more than $100,000 in federal funds and the applicant has or plans to use funds other than federally appropriated funds for lobbying related to the proposed project.
  • Only required if lobbying – see note for details

Project Narrative

Application Preparation: Applications must be prepared by and submitted by the entity that will receive the grant award. Under no circumstances should applications be prepared or submitted by a third party, such as an existing contractor or a potential contractor who would then subsequently be awarded the grant.

1. Narrative - Submit a project narrative in a standard Word document that is no longer than 10 pages. The project narrative must answer the who, what, why, where, when, and how of the proposed project and must also include the additional items listed below:

   • Project title and name of entity undertaking the project. Include any stakeholder coordination or involvement, if any.
   • Statement of Need – Describe the problem and explain how the proposed activities will achieve the goals. Summarize previous or ongoing relevant efforts either within or without your organization.
   • Describe and provide the location of the proposed project with address.
   • The narrative must describe the expected outputs and the potential outcomes for communities, the economy, and the environment.
   • Describe how the project supports the Administration’s priorities described in the Program Description section.
   • Project Goals and Objectives: Outline short- and long-term goals, including steps, timeline, and activities. Ensure objectives are specific, measurable, realistic, and attainable within the project period of performance.
   • Performance Metrics – Using quantifiable metrics, identify the ways your project will track and measure the expected outputs corresponding to social, economic, or environmental outcomes to be achieved. You must demonstrate measurable progress and how proposed activities will lead to successful completion of the project.
     • Each applicant must include at least one performance measure (output & outcome) that corresponds to the proposed project objective.
       • Example:
         • Output: Number of youth enrolled in after-school STEM tutoring program.
         • Outcome: Improvement in participating students' math proficiency scores.
     • If the grant is chosen for award, the applicant will include performance measures as part of the required Performance Progress Report narrative that is submitted through GrantSolutions.gov every 6 months. If activity is delayed or performance goals are not met, the grantee must submit a detailed explanation as to why.
   • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance Review – All OIA funded projects require a NEPA assessment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is contracted by OIA to assist in this process for awarded grants. Awardees may need to provide additional information to USACE before receiving an Authorization to Proceed. Grant managers will notify applicants once NEPA analysis is complete, and they are cleared to proceed. Please review the following questions if your proposed project is likely to have environmental impacts.
     • Will the proposed project impact the environment? If yes, provide full details. Skip the following questions if the proposed project will not have any environmental impact.
       • Describe any estimated digging, vegetation removal, marine or ground disturbance that might occur. If the project involves any disturbance, clearly describe the location, related staging areas, habitat, or other descriptions.
       • Detail any proposed chemical use, i.e. name of chemical, proposed locations of use (including size of area and description of area), amounts of chemical needed, and frequency of application.
       • Map(s) of proposed project location.
       • Photographs of the site and description of important features.
       • Any existing federal, state, or local permits, including initial application (if already completed).
       • For monitoring and evaluation information, include:
         • objectives
         • methods for data collection (performance monitoring, evaluation, and other reporting)
         • expected outcomes
         • any expected deliverables beyond required financial and performance reporting
   • Additional Statements to Include in the Project Narrative:
     • Any Factors that Affect Achieving Results? Identify any external or internal factors that could affect your project to achieve results and any associated mitigation strategies. If there are none, please include the following statement in the application narrative: “There are no external or internal factors that could affect achieving results.”
     • Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement – Is there any overlap between this federal application and any other federal application or federally-funded project? If no such overlap exists, please state in the narrative: “There are no overlaps or duplication between this application and any of our other federal applications or funded projects, including in regard to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel.”
     • Conflict of Interest – Please include in the narrative a statement affirming “There is no conflict of interest”, if applicable.

2. Grant Recipient - Provide the name, title, and address of person responsible for the grant and to whom the Grant Terms and Conditions will be sent, if the grant proposal is awarded. This is typically the head of the local government or organization.

3. Recipient Grant Manager - Provide the name, title, and contact details for the person who will be the day-to-day grant manager responsible for the project if it is awarded. Contact information should include the mailing address, phone number, and email address.

4. Letters of Support - Applicant may include letters of support from insular area leadership or relevant authorities who are familiar with the proposed project or challenges that grant funding is being requested to address. Letters of support, which can give an applicant extra points in the scoring process, should be uploaded to Grants.gov along with the application. Refer to the section on Merit Review for information on how applications are scored.

5. Signed and Dated Cover Letter - Applicant should include a cover letter, signed and dated by the Authorized Representative of the applying organization, along with the Narrative to Grants.gov attachments. The cover letter should be uploaded to Grants.gov and not mailed.

   • The cover letter and any letters of support may be addressed to: John Brewer Director Office of Insular Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240

Budget Narrative

Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget. The budget narrative must identify the following cost items: total estimated costs, non-Federal cost share, third-party contributions, and any pre-award costs. Total project cost is the sum of all allowable costs, including required and voluntary cost share and third-party contributions.

Budget items must be:

• Reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary
• Compliant with 2 CFR §200 Subpart E cost principles

Indirect Costs: Applicants must indicate in their budget narrative how they will charge indirect costs, including the rate to be applied:

• De Minimis Rate: If eligible, state if your organization is opting to use the de minimis rate of up to 15% of total modified direct costs. Entities that do not have a current Federal negotiated indirect cost rate (including provisional rate) may propose to use the de minimis rate. For more information, refer to 2 CFR 200.414(f).
• Negotiated Rate: State if you will negotiate with your cognizant agency. If your organization has previously negotiated a rate, attach a copy of the most recently negotiated rate agreement (active or expired).

Provide detailed budget information for the proposed projects and activities. Include a budget breakout chart, by category. Explain any ambiguous categories, like “Other”, in detail.

For projects over $500,000, include tier options with detailed descriptions to allow for selection of individual tiers when TAP funds are limited. Additionally, if submitting multiple projects under one grant application, list them in order of priority. For example:

Projects in Application listed in priority order Priority 1 - Project Name $ Amount requested Priority 2 - Project Name $ Amount requested Priority 3 - Project Name $ Amount requested

Applicable Directive – Ensure that all activities and costs charged to the grant comply fully with the applicable cost principles:

Indirect Cost Rates - If your entity intends to charge indirect cost rates, please provide a copy of your organization’s negotiated indirect cost rate agreement along with a detailed spreadsheet showing how final indirect costs were calculated including any variations from established rates and an itemized list of excluded costs. For details on negotiating indirect cost rates, contact the Interior Business Center at https://ibc.doi.gov/ICS/indirect-cost/insular-state/faqs.

SAM Exclusions - OIA will review SAM.gov for any active exclusions of applicants. Include additional information on exclusions, if any, in the budget narrative.

Audits – Audit timeliness and quality, when applicable, will be considered in the TAP scoring process. You must provide the latest audit conducted for your organization. If you are not required to do an audit per 2CFR200, or if you are a non-profit organization, then you must answer the following financial capacity questions.

Financial Capability Questions - Does your organization undergo an annual single audit or independent financial audit (Yes/No)? If Yes, answer questions 1 and 2. If No, answer questions 3, 4 and 5.

1. What was the last audit year completed by your organization? Was the audit uploaded to the federal audit clearinghouse? If so, please provide the EIN number and a copy of the audit summary page with findings.
2. Did your organization receive an unqualified opinion on this audit (Yes/No)? If No, did your organization receive a qualified, adverse, or disclaimer of opinion on the audit (Yes/No)?

If your organization has not had an audit completed recently, or never had an audit, please answer the remaining questions.

3. Does your organization have independent financial capabilities that can comply with the financial management and accounting requirements detailed in 2 CFR 200, including, but not limited to, policies and procedures in place that meet the financial management standards in 2 CFR §200.302 (Yes/No)?
4. Does your organization have a financial unit? If so, please describe the staffing and structure (such as the number of CPAs, utilization of accounting software etc.)
5. Has your organization received and managed federal grant funding before (Yes/No)? If Yes, please provide information from the last three years on the federal awarding agency you received funding from, a point of contact at the agency, and the amount of grant funding received.

Conflict of Interest and Unresolved Matters Disclosures: If any actual or potential conflict of interest exists related to this project at the time of application, the applicant must provide sufficient information to support a program determination of significance per 2 CFR 1402.112. Refer to 2 CFR 200.112 Conflict of Interest and 2 CFR 200.113.

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement: Applicants must state in their application if the activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel proposed in this application overlap with those in any other Federal proposal or award or not. If no overlap exists, include a statement to that effect. If any overlap exists, provide:

• Activities: Description any overlapping activities.
• Costs: Description of any overlapping costs.
• Time: Description of any overlapping key personnel time.
• A copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity.
• Details on when any overlapping proposal was submitted, to whom, and the expected date of the funding decision.

Other Required Information

Application Package Checklist

A complete application package should include:

• Required Forms from Table 1: Forms/Assurances/Certifications
  • SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance form
  • SF-424A Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (Or SF-424C)
  • SF-424B Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (Or SF-424D)
  • Project Abstract
• Complete Project Narrative
  • Detailed Narrative with Performance Metrics
  • NEPA Considerations
• Statements on 1) external or internal factors, 2) overlapping or duplication, 3) conflicts of interest
• Names of Grant Recipient and Grant Manager
• Letters of Support (optional)
• Cover Letter
• Complete Budget Narrative
  • Budget Narrative with Priorities listed, if applicable
  • Indirect Cost Rates Agreement, if any
  • Latest audit or answer financial capacity questions
• Remember to review the Funding Restriction Reminders
• Confirm that you are using the correct UEI on your application!

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package

All Proposals Must be Submitted via grants.gov - OIA permits alternative submissions only in exceptional cases with prior approval. Extensions may also be allowed in extenuating circumstances, with prior OIA approval.

Plan Early to Avoid Problems when Submitting Applications - Log in to Grants.gov well before the application deadline. Ensure you have access to submit for your entity. Inability to log in or lack of proper access on the deadline day does not qualify as an extenuating circumstance. Allow ample time to upload your application.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) - On the SF-424, be sure to use the UEI of the office through which funding will flow to your organization. For example, if you are part of a larger government entity and funds go through the Department of Finance/Treasury/etc., use that department’s UEI. Conversely, if your past grant funding previously flowed through your office, but a different office is now submitting the application for you, make sure they use your office’s UEI. This case may require you to submit future proposals from your own office.

Program Website Link: https://www.doi.gov/oia/financial-assistance

Submission Dates and Times

Closing Date for Applications: 05/18/2026

Closing Date Explanation: Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on May 18, 2026.

Submission Instructions

Apply Through Grants.gov

To apply through Grants.gov, please follow the instructions in the Quick Start Guide for Applicants. Before applying, ensure that at least one person at your organization is registered and has the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Only the AOR can submit the application. If you need more users, they must create their own Grants.gov account. Follow these steps below to apply:

• Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.
• Complete a Workspace: Invite participants to the workspace so you can collaborate on the application. Required applications forms are included in the Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Package and can be completed in the Workspace, unless noted otherwise in the Required Forms table above. Check for errors before submission.
• Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab
• Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The system generates a date and time stamp and sends it to the applicant’s AOR via email as proof of submission. Make sure your application passes the Grants.gov validation checks. Do not encrypt, zip, or password-protect any files. Only registered individuals in SAM as both a user and an AOR can submit applications. Please allow 30 days to register in Grants.gov.

Application System Technical Support: For Grants.gov technical registration and submission, downloading forms, and application packages, contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or by email at Support@grants.gov.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Eligibility Review

During the eligibility review, the application is checked for timely submission, completed packages (see Application Documents above) and alignment with the requirements of this announcement. The Federal agency may remove an application if it does not pass the eligibility review.

Refer to the ELIGIBILTY section for the Eligibility details.

If an applicant selected for funding hasn't finished their SAM.gov registration (see 2 CFR 25.200 and 2 CFR 25.110) when the federal agency is ready to make an award, we may decide that the applicant is ineligible for the award and choose to grant it to someone else. Please refer 2 CFR 25.205 for more information.

Prior to making an award, the DOI checks the anticipated recipient and their key project personnel against the current list of prohibited or restricted persons or entities in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Exclusions database. We are prohibited from making an award if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible, prohibited, restricted, or otherwise excluded from receiving or participating in an award, as their ineligibility condition applies to this program.

If removed from consideration for ineligibility, the Federal agency will notify the applicant in writing.

Merit Review

1. The Project Narrative is clear, detailed, with identifiable and measurable performance outcomes. Maximum Points: 20

   • 20: The project description is clear, with identifiable and measurable performance outcomes. The proposal identifies both external and internal factors that could impact achieving results. It includes strategies to mitigate these factors or indicates that no such factors are present.
   • 10: The project description and desired outcome are somewhat detailed, with performance measures partially identified. The proposal outlines external and internal factors that could impact achieving results, but it does not cover mitigation strategies for all identified factors.
   • 0: The project description is unclear and there are no performance measures identified. The proposal lacks mention of external and internal factors that could impact results.

2. The Project Budget is clear, allowable, and reasonable. Maximum Points: 20

   • 20: The project budget is comprehensive and well detailed with all budget items allowable, reasonable, and directly relevant to the project. The budget reflects competitive sourcing and reasonable cost comparisons. An Indirect Cost Rate agreement was included or the de minimis rate is chosen, along with the calculations.
   • 10: The project budget provides essential information; however, there are certain questions and potential inadequacies regarding its appropriateness, technical soundness, and application. An Indirect Cost Rate agreement was included or the de minimis rate is chosen, along with the calculations.
   • 0: The grant application budget provides only basic information. Some budget items may be inappropriate, with major concerns about technical soundness and applicability.

3. Reporting Compliance. Maximum Points: 15

   • 15: Recipient has a history of submitting clear, concise, and timely performance and financial reports.
   • 7: Recipient has asked for reporting extensions for performance and financial reports or has been periodically late in submitting these reports. OR Recipient has had no previous reporting requirement experience.
   • 0: Recipient is consistently late in submitting performance and financial reports. Recipient submits performance and financial reports that are vague and unclear.

4. The Project aligns with Administration, Congressional Priorities or Office of Insular Affairs TAP program goals. Maximum Points: 15

   • 15: The proposed project aligns with one or more of the Administration's, Congressional top priorities or meets an urgent, emergency need in an Insular Area.
   • 7: The proposed project aligns with two or more of the general TAP program goals or targets an unmet need of an insular area.
   • 0: The proposed project minimally aligns with one of the general TAP program goals.

5. Audit Timeliness or Financial Capacity. Maximum Points: 10

   • 10: The entity applying for funding has completed its latest required audit on time, in full compliance with the Single Audit Act and 2CFR200.500. OR The entity does not meet the audit requirement threshold or is a non-profit organization that has completed the Financial Capacity Questions.
   • 5: Entity has submitted latest required audit under the Single Audit Act and 2CFR200.500 that is no more than one year late. OR The entity does not meet the audit requirement threshold or is a non-profit organization that has completed the Financial Capacity Questions.
   • 0: Entity is more than one year late in submitting the latest required audit under the Single Audit Act and 2CFR200.500. OR The entity does not meet the audit requirement threshold or is a non-profit organization that did not complete the Financial Capacity Questions.

6. If the applicant is a previous OIA grantee, was their prior performance acceptable? Maximum Points: 10

   • 10: Recipient has met all objectives in previous award(s) and provided timely reporting on outcomes and performance measures. OR Recipient is on schedule to meet all objectives in current award(s) OR Recipient met most objectives in previous award(s) and the reason(s) for delay or non-performance was(were) unavoidable.
   • 5: Recipient has no previous awards, or recipient may have had issues with meeting objectives in current or past award(s) or in reporting on outcomes and performance measures but was responsive to OIA communications or request for information or action related to the issue(s). Issue(s) was(were) resolved. OR Recipient has no past or current award with the bureau.
   • 0: Recipient did not deliver expected outcomes on previous awards and is significantly behind schedule or failing to meet current requirements on current award(s) due to failures within recipient’s control to correct. OR Recipient significantly failed to comply with Grant Terms and Conditions. OR Recipient was not responsive to communications or requests for information or action related to the issues. OR Issues were never resolved.

7. The project has support and/or participation from major stakeholders and local government officials. Maximum Points: 5

   • 5: The proposal is in the top third of the Governor, President or designee’s list of priority projects. (A priority ranking will affect a score more than a letter of support from the ranker; e.g. if you only have one letter of support from the Governor but your proposal is ranked low by the Governor, the score we assign will be based on Governor’s priority listing.) OR The proposal includes at least three letters of support from key partners and supporters outside its own organization or agency and/or has known Congressional or Administration support (including such things as historical support by Congress and/or Administration).
   • 3: The proposal is in the middle third of the Governor or President’s list of priority projects. OR At least one letter of support has been submitted. OR Proposal demonstrates that there will be local government involvement in the project.
   • 0: The project appears to have little, if any, support. The proposal is in the bottom third of the Governor or President’s list of priority projects.

8. Active Exclusions. Maximum Points: 5

   • 5: The recipient has no Active or Inactive Exclusions in SAM.gov
   • 3: The recipient has Inactive Exclusions on SAM.gov, but OIA has prior positive experience with recipient and can mitigate risk by adding conditions to the award.
   • 0: The recipient has Active Exclusions in SAM.gov.

Review and Selection Process

This program reviews proposed budgets to ensure:

• figures are correct
• estimated costs are necessary and reasonable and clearly linked to project narratives
• avoid obviously unallowable costs
• identify costs requiring prior approval
• ensure indirect cost rates are applied correctly
• confirm cost sharing requirements are reflected in the budget.

This program reviews applications for potential overlap or duplication between the proposed project and any other funded or proposed project. Depending on the circumstances, DOI may choose to not make an award.

Prior to conducting the comprehensive merit review, an initial review will be performed to determine whether: (1) the applicant is eligible for an award; (2) the application is complete and all information required by the NOFO has been submitted; (3) all mandatory requirements of the NOFO are satisfied; (4) the proposed project is in compliance with all applicable executive and secretarial orders. If an applicant fails to meet the requirements or objectives of the NOFO, or does not provide sufficient information for review, the application will be rejected.

All complete applications are reviewed for potential overlap or duplication between the proposal project and any other funding or proposed project.

The OIA Grant Management Specialists will review, score, and evaluate all eligible applications based on the Scoring Table in the Merit Review section. Input from Insular Area leadership is also considered and part of the scoring process. Following review and scoring, the OIA provides final recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs and/or designated official who makes the final decision on grant awards.

This program reviews proposed budgets to ensure:

• figures are correct
• estimated costs are necessary and reasonable and clearly linked to project narratives
• avoid obviously unallowable costs
• identify costs requiring prior approval
• ensure indirect cost rates are applied correctly
• confirm cost sharing requirements are reflected in the budget.

This program reviews applications for potential overlap or duplication between the proposed project and any other funded or proposed project. Depending on the circumstances, DOI may choose not to make an award.

The Assistant Secretary may consider all or several of the following factors when making a final decision on which grant applications will be awarded:

1. Administration priorities (i.e. audit timeliness and quality)
2. Amount of funds available
3. Emergency Situations
4. Geographic distribution of funding

Funding applications will be evaluated based on the above criteria. To comply with 2 CFR 200 regulations, past performance will be considered in the selection process.

Decision Timeframe: Final decisions on funding of project proposals will be completed by September 30, 2026. Please note that once all final decisions have been made, applications that have not been selected for funding will receive automated denial notifications, transmitted via email to the applicant from Grant Solutions. For inquiries about your proposal, please reference the application number generated by grants.gov for your proposal and contact the OIA grant manager with the grant proposal, application number and insular area.

Scores for unsuccessful applications may be provided upon request, however, keep in mind that scores are not the only factor in the decision-making process. The TAP application process is extremely competitive for a limited pool of funding. Applicants who have been unsuccessful may reapply.

All applicants, especially first-time applicants, are encouraged to review Code of Federal Regulations Title 2, Part 200 (2 CFR 200), Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, to familiarize themselves with financial management requirements associated with managing federal grant funding. The Code may be viewed at this link: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200.

Risk Review

Prior to making an award, the applicant will be assessed for their level of risk per 2 CFR 200.206. This assessment includes the applicant's financial management capabilities, project delivery experience, staffing resources, past award performance, administration and reporting compliance records, and overall project complexity and potential for challenges. If an award will be made, special conditions may be applied to the award corresponding to the assessed risk. For awards over the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $350,000), a review of the applicant's eligibility and financial integrity information in the applicant's SAM.gov records will also be performed per 2 CFR 200.206.

AWARD NOTICES

Notices of Federal Award are sent electronically via GrantSolutions or e-mail. These notices outline the terms, conditions, and payment instructions per 2 CFR 200.211. The Notice of Federal Award signed by an authorized Grants Officer is the legal instrument obligating financial assistance to a recipient. Any other prior notice is not an authorization to begin work. If the program allows pre-award costs per 2 CFR 200.458, beginning performance before receiving a Notice of Federal Award is at the applicant’s own risk.

Anticipated Project Start Date: 10/01/2026 Anticipated Project End Date: 09/30/2030

Award Notices

• After an applicant’s proposal is selected for award, OIA will send the applicant a Notification of Award letter via email with an accompanying grant agreement package.
• All grant proposals submitted for funding consideration for FY2026 funding should either be chosen for award or rejected by September 30, 2026.

Award Instrument Information

• All successful grant proposals will be funded through a grant agreement that typically includes a Notification of Award letter signed by an Office of Insular Affairs official with notification of the assigned grant manager and a grant award document that includes the Grant Terms and Conditions.

Funding Restrictions

• All grant funding is contingent upon the availability and appropriation of funds by the United States Congress.
• Costs must be allowable in accordance with the applicable Federal cost principles referenced in 2 CFR 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles.
• All grantees must first receive an Authorization to Proceed (ATP) before beginning any work. Work related to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) can be approved to commence, with prior OIA grant manager approval.
• Once a grant has been awarded, any budget revisions or program modifications must obtain prior approval from the OIA grant manager.

Submission from Successful Applicants

• If selected for possible award, OIA reserves the right to request additional or clarifying information for any reason deemed necessary.
• The Office of Insular Affairs may choose to fund only a portion of the application.

Administration and National Policy Requirements

• Code of Federal Regulations – By accepting financial assistance, your organization agrees to abide by the applicable Federal regulations in the expenditure of Federal funds and performance under this program: 2 CFR Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Administration and National Policy Requirements

For award administration and national policy requirements, see the DOI General Terms and Conditions. Infrastructure projects require the use of American iron, steel, manufacture products, and construction materials per 2 CFR 184.

Grant Terms and Conditions with all reporting requirements and OIA-specific terms are provided with grant award documents for all new grants.

Geospatial Data

If you receive financial assistance from the Department of the Interior (DOI), recipient must follow these rules for geospatial data:

• Follow Federal Standards: All geospatial data you collect or create must meet the standards set by the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC) or the Department of the Interior. This is required by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, which is part of Public Law 115-254, specifically in Subtitle F (Geospatial Data), sections 751-759C (codified at 43 U.S.C. §§ 2801–2811).
• Include Metadata: Your Geographic Information Systems (GIS) files must include complete metadata. Metadata is information that describes the data, such as where it came from, how accurate it is, and how it should be used. This is to ensure that anyone using the data understands its context and quality.
• Check for Existing Data: Before you start collecting new geospatial data, you need to check GeoPlatform.gov. This is to see if there is already existing geospatial data from federal, state, local, or private sources that can meet your needs and is available for free. If such data is available, you should use it instead of gathering new data.

These rules help ensure that geospatial data is reliable, high-quality, and that resources are used efficiently.

Reporting

The recipient’s Notice of Award will detail all reporting requirements, including frequency, due dates, and instructions for requesting extensions. In general, but not limited to, recipients must:

• Submit Federal Financial reports and Program Performance reports.
• Use the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) form for financial reporting.
• Monitor award activities and report on program performance per 2 CFR 200.329.
• Promptly notify the awarding program in writing of any issues, delays, or conditions impairing award objectives per 2 CFR 200.329(e).
• Disclose any conflicts of interest related to their award that arise during the award period per 2 CFR 1402.112.
• Report on the status of real property acquired under the award in which the Federal government retains an interest per 2 CFR 200.330.
• Report all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award per 2 CFR 200.113.
• Report any matters related to recipient integrity and performance to SAM.gov per Appendix XII to 2 CFR 200.
• If the Federal share of the award is more than $100,000 and the recipient makes or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection to the award, disclose those activities using the Disclosure of Lobbying (SF-LLL) form per 43 CFR 18.100.
• Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) requires certain recipients to report information on executive compensation through SAM.gov and information on all sub-awards, subcontracts, and consortiums over $30,000 to the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS).

The standard grant reporting requirements are listed below:

• A Performance Progress Report (PPR) and a Federal Financial Report (FFR) will be due semi-annually for the periods beginning January 1 and ending June 30 and beginning July 1 and ending December 31, throughout the grant period of performance.
• The PPR and FFR reports are due within 30 days of the end of the period (i.e. January 30 and July 30). Final reports are due 120 days after the expiration or termination of the award.
• Every Performance Progress Report must include performance goals and performance measures on activities performed under the grants. If performance goals are not met, a detailed explanation of why they are not being met should be included in the report.

These standard reporting requirements will apply to all awards unless otherwise indicated in the Terms and Conditions section of the award. Additional requirements are assigned on a case-by-case basis and may also be found in the Terms and Conditions section of the award.

Other Information

1. Payments All OIA grant recipients are required to register in and receive payment through the U.S. Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), unless approved for a waiver by OIA. Alternatively, non-U.S. recipients receiving funds to a final destination bank outside the U.S. are required to receive payment through the U.S. Treasury’s International Treasury Services (ITS) System. Non-U.S. recipients receiving funds at a final destination bank in the U.S. are required to enter and maintain current banking details in their SAM.gov entity profile and receive payment through the Automated Clearing House network by electronic funds transfer (EFT). OIA will include recipient-specific instructions on how to request payment, including identification of any additional information required and where to submit payment requests, as applicable, in all Notices of Award.

2. Audits Per 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-federal entities spending $1,000,000 or more in federal awards must conduct a single or program-specific audit for that year. Those spending less than $1,000,000 are exempt from federal audits, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. Additionally, grantees may undergo site visits and audits by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and other federal officials.

   On September 23,