Army National Guard Army Compatible Use Buffer Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 12.021
- Agency
-
Department of the Army
Department of Defense
- Grant awards
- 6 $11,730,523 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program
- Assistance type
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury accounts
-
- 21-2065-0-1-051
- 97-0100-0-0-000
- 21-2020-0-0-000
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Army National Guard Readiness Center funds cooperative agreements under the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program (CFDA 12.021) to protect military training and testing capabilities through compatible land conservation near National Guard installations, with the most recent awards disbursed on June 1, 2026.
The program supports cost-sharing partnerships with states, political subdivisions, and private conservation entities to acquire land interests and implement natural resource management activities on private and non-DoD lands adjacent to installations and ranges. Awards fund the acquisition of parcels within approved buffer areas established in coordination with specific installations, with recent funding supporting projects at Camp Butner (North Carolina), Camp Guernsey (Wyoming), Fort Pickett (Virginia), Camp Blanding (Florida), Orchard Combat Training Center (Idaho), and Camp Dodge (Iowa). Recipients must demonstrate 25 percent minimum cost share and readiness to close land sales, with a goal of 18-month project completion. The program requires pre-application coordination with the applicable National Guard installation to determine buffer area extent and eligible parcels.
All six awards in the portfolio are Cooperative Agreements. The Department of the Army National Guard Readiness Center is the sole funding source, obligating $11.7 million in federal dollars across the awards, with recipients contributing $3 million in non-federal cost share for a total portfolio commitment of $14.7 million. Award magnitudes range from approximately $1.6 million to $4.8 million. Recent activity has accelerated: one award in 2023, one in 2025, and four in 2026 (the most recent on June 1, 2026).
The program requires recipients to coordinate pre-award with installations, maintain cost and expenditure records for ten years following cooperative agreement closeout, and complete legal review prior to execution. No open grant opportunities are currently posted. Organizations may resubmit proposals if initially not selected or explore becoming sub-recipients through direct installation contact.
Objective and description
- Objective
The Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program provides assistance awards to eligible entity that is either a State or political subdivision of a State or a private entity that has as its stated principal organizational purpose or goal the conservatio
- Description
The ACUB purpose is to protect the military's capability to train and test for the current and future mission requirements. ACUB methods are to support cost-sharing partnerships that protect and sustain compatible land uses, natural resource management activities, and nature-based climate resilience projects on private and non-DoD lands near installations and ranges, in order to preserve and enhance the military's ability to use the existing facilities for testing, training, and operations.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Eligible entities are States or political subdivision of a State or a private entity that has as its stated principal organizational purpose or goal the conservation, restoration, or preservation of land and natural resources in order to address the use or development of real property in the vicinity of Army National Guard installations.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Military and local communities as it protects installations from encroachment of non-compatible use in their vicinity. It can create public lands for recreational use for the public and protect wetlands and other habitats.
- Uses of assistance
The Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program provides assistance awards to eligible entity that is either a State or political subdivision of a State or a private entity that has as its stated principal organizational purpose or goal the conservation, restoration, or preservation of land and natural resources in order to address the use or development of real property in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to Army National Guard installations- (1) limiting any development or use of the property that would be incompatible with the mission of the installation; (2) preserving habitat on the property in a manner that- (A) is compatible with environmental requirements; and (B) may eliminate or relieve current or anticipated environmental restrictions that would or might otherwise restrict, impede, or otherwise interfere, whether directly or indirectly, with current or anticipated military training, testing, or operations on the installation; (3) maintaining or improving military installation resilience; or (4) protecting Clear Zone Areas from use or encroachment that is incompatible with the mission of the installation.
- Use restrictions
The Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program provides assistance awards to eligible entity that is either a State or political subdivision of a State or a private entity that has as its stated principal organizational purpose or goal the conservation, restoration, or preservation of land and natural resources in order to address the use or development of real property in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to Army National Guard installations- (1) limiting any development or use of the property that would be incompatible with the mission of the installation; (2) preserving habitat on the property in a manner that- (A) is compatible with environmental requirements; and (B) may eliminate or relieve current or anticipated environmental restrictions that would or might otherwise restrict, impede, or otherwise interfere, whether directly or indirectly, with current or anticipated military training, testing, or operations on the installation; (3) maintaining or improving military installation resilience; or (4) protecting Clear Zone Areas from use or encroachment that is incompatible with the mission of the installation.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Funds must be obligated during the year in which they are appropriated and can be liquidated for up to five years following.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Prior to application, recipient must coordinate with the applicable National Guard installation for the determination of extent of the approved buffer area.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Determinations are made based on how much cost share the recipient is offering, how many willing sellers there are that are ready to close, likelihood that incompatible development could occur, and the recipient's ability to execute on the sale. Goal is 18 months or less and a minimum 25% cost share.
- Award procedure
Organizations referred to the Program Manager who meet the selection criteria will submit their proposal and budget to the Program Managers. Program Managers either accept the proposal and budget request or negotiate it. Once budget is final, Cooperative Agreement for the work is created and executed by the Grants Officer.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Once approved, due to the nature of the work, the cooperative agreement (including all of the necessary documentation which the installation and program manager will work with the recipient to complete) must receive a legal review prior execution.
- Renewals
Extension procedures are addressed in the General Terms and Conditions of each individual cooperative agreement award.
- Appeals
Recipients are welcome to work with the instillations to rework their proposals if not initially selected. If not selected initially it may be possible to become a sub-recipient by contacting the installation.
Grant awards
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land Trust Of The Treasure Valley | $3,813,310 | 33% |
| 2 | Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation | $3,235,765 | 28% |
| 3 | North Florida Land Trust, Inc. | $1,899,448 | 16% |
| 4 | Polk County | $1,490,000 | 13% |
| 5 | Triangle Land Conservancy | $1,292,000 | 11% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $8,717,213 |
| FY2025 | $1,523,310 |
| FY2024 | $200,000 |
| FY2023 | $1,290,000 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 12.021?
Assistance Listing 12.021 is Army National Guard Army Compatible Use Buffer Program, a federal grant program run by Department of the Army (Department of Defense).
What is the CFDA number for Army National Guard Army Compatible Use Buffer Program?
Its CFDA number is 12.021: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 12.021 awarded?
6 grant awards under 12.021 have obligated $11,730,523 in federal funds to 5 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 12.021?
The recipients obligated the most under Army National Guard Army Compatible Use Buffer Program are Land Trust Of The Treasure Valley ($3,813,310), Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation ($3,235,765) and North Florida Land Trust, Inc. ($1,899,448).
How much did 12.021 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 12.021 obligated $1,523,310 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
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