Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) - Recurring 5 Year Notice

Open Posted

Opportunity number
P26AS00146
Agency
Applications due
Award size
$250,000 to $3,000,000

Opportunity facts

Funding instrument
Grant
Category
  • Other
Eligible applicants
  • State Governments
Points of contact
Full announcement

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The National Park Service is soliciting applications for the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI), a recurring 5-year grant program providing up to 50 percent matching grants for outdoor recreation and land conservation projects near military installations, with an application deadline of November 30, 2030. Eligible applicants are restricted to state and territorial governments and their designated lead agencies; federally recognized Indian tribes, local units of government, and special purpose districts must apply as sub-recipients through their State or Territorial Lead Agency. Projects must include a mandatory land acquisition component, be located within an active REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape, and obtain a Letter of Support from a Military Installation or Range commander.

RARI requires a dollar-for-dollar cost share (50 percent non-federal match), with an exception allowing Department of War Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funds to satisfy the match requirement, enabling 100 percent federal funding through combined RARI and REPI resources. American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are eligible for 100 percent federal funding. Award amounts range from $250,000 to $3 million per project; approximately 10 awards are anticipated from an estimated program total of $9 million. The estimated period of performance is one to three years following selection notification.

Projects must maintain assisted sites exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity and align with state Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans (SCORPs) and LWCF Act requirements. Eligible project types include community parks, campgrounds, trails, water recreation facilities, and facility renovations, excluding indoor facilities and projects without public access components. Merit review evaluates applications on expanding outdoor recreation access, promoting compatible land use, aligning with community needs, leveraging resources, and demonstrating feasibility. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis; applicants are notified of selections within six months of submission. The assistance listing is CFDA 15.916.

Synopsis

2 versions

Update #2 · Latest ·

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI), administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The purpose of the program is to: 1) provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and 2) promote or support compatible land uses and avoid incompatible development in areas in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to, a military installation or military airspace, and/or to maintain or enhance disaster resilience. RARI is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). State and Local Assistance Program. RARI funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments. RARI operates in partnership with the Department of War (DOW) and seeks to leverage funding across departments to benefit the general public and military communities. RARI is dollar for dollar match, meaning it covers up to 50% of all project costs and applicants are responsible for funding the remaining 50% of project costs. However, for RARI projects, DOW Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funds are allowable to meet the LWCF Act's cost-share requirement (10 U.S.C. 2684a). Therefore, 100% of project costs could be funded through these two federal programs. To be eligible, proposed projects must: Include a land acquisition component. Be in a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape. Have a Letter of Support from a Military Installation or Range commander.1 Additional LWCF requirements for the RARI program: Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds. Alignment with LWCF Law and Policy - As an LWCF program, RARI projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual. This includes meeting a priority need or goal identified in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Alignment with National Priorities - Projects must be responsive to Executive and National priorities, including those outlined in Executive Order 14313, "Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission" and Secretarial Order 3442, "Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior."

Update #1 ·

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI), administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The purpose of the program is to: 1) provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and 2) promote or support compatible land uses and avoid incompatible development in areas in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to, a military installation or military airspace, and/or to maintain or enhance disaster resilience. RARI is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). State and Local Assistance Program. RARI funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments. RARI operates in partnership with the Department of War (DOW) and seeks to leverage funding across departments to benefit the general public and military communities. RARI is dollar for dollar match, meaning it covers up to 50% of all project costs and applicants are responsible for funding the remaining 50% of project costs. However, for RARI projects, DOW Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funds are allowable to meet the LWCF Act's cost-share requirement (10 U.S.C. 2684a). Therefore, 100% of project costs could be funded through these two federal programs. To be eligible, proposed projects must: Include a land acquisition component. Be in a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape. Have a Letter of Support from a Military Installation or Range commander.1 Additional LWCF requirements for the RARI program: Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds. Alignment with LWCF Law and Policy - As an LWCF program, RARI projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual. This includes meeting a priority need or goal identified in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Alignment with National Priorities - Projects must be responsive to Executive and National priorities, including those outlined in Executive Order 14313, "Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission" and Secretarial Order 3442, "Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior."

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants ☒ State governments ☒ Territorial governments The following entities are eligible to apply directly for funding through RARI: State and Territorial Lead Agencies, in each of the 50 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands About State and Territorial Lead Agencies - In accordance with the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act (54 U.S.C. 200305(a)), each state has a State Lead Agency designated by the state's Governor or by state legislation for the purposes of implementing LWCF. A State Lead Agency may submit applications on behalf of themselves or an eligible sub-recipient. The following entities are eligible sub-recipients and must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency: Other state agencies Federally recognized Indian tribes Local units of governments and special purpose districts (must be an entity created by a legislative authority vested sovereignty and with a stated mission that includes acquiring, developing, owning and managing recreation areas, and be able to demonstrate it can meet the perpetual protection requirement of the LWCF program) Additional Information on Eligibility Eligible Areas - Projects must serve an eligible area, defined as: an active REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or a Sentinel Landscape. Applicants can check whether their proposed project is in a REPI Partnership Opportunity Area and/or Sentinel Landscape via the REPI Interactive Map. Filter the Layer list to include "Military > REPI Partnership Opportunity Area" and "Sentinel Landscapes > Sentinel Landscapes"

Files

File Type Posted
Detailed Budget for LWCF Grants.xlsx XLSX spreadsheet
Detailed_Budget_for_LWCF_Grants_v3.xlsx XLSX spreadsheet
PKG00293237.pdf PDF
Detailed Budget for LWCF Grants.xlsx XLSX spreadsheet
RARI NOFO FAQ 060826.docx DOCX document
RARI NOFO_051326.docx DOCX document

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