Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria Operational Support

The State of New York Department of Parks is soliciting applications for the Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and Aquaria Operational Support (ZBGA OS) Grant Program for fiscal year 2026. This eligibility-based grant program provides funding to qualified organizations to maintain and operate facilities that preserve permanent collections of natural specimens while delivering comprehensive educational programming to the public. Eligible applicants include local governments and not-for-profit organizations that meet established criteria. The procurement seeks to support the operational needs of zoos, botanical gardens, and aquaria through stable, annual funding over a three-year agreement period running from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2029, with the initial funding period commencing in State Fiscal Year 2026-27. Applicants will be evaluated based on the administrative and fiscal strength of their organizations, the quality and appropriate care of their collections, and the demonstrated level of service and engagement with the public. The application deadline is July 17, 2026, and interested parties should visit the ZBGA OS website at https://parks.ny.gov/grants/zoos-botanical-gardens-aquaria-operational-support-grant-program for detailed application instructions and requirements.

The program is structured as an eligibility-based grant opportunity, which restricts applications to qualifying local governments and not-for-profit organizations that meet specific criteria established by the State of New York. The announcement indicates that information regarding any business enterprises that have been awarded identical or substantially similar procurement contracts within the past five years is available on the program website. However, no specific incumbent vendors, current contractors, or technology integration requirements are detailed in the posted materials. No specific award values or budget ranges are disclosed in the opportunity announcement; interested applicants should consult the complete program guidelines and application materials on the state's grants website for information regarding available funding levels and budget parameters.