Boating Safety Financial Assistance
Active
- Assistance listing
- 97.012
- Agency
-
Coast Guard
Department of Homeland Security
- Grant awards
- 1,693 $2,350,824,901 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- State RBS Program
- Assistance types
-
- Formula Grant
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 70-8149-0-7-403
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The U.S. Coast Guard awards formula grants and cooperative agreements under the Boating Safety Financial Assistance program (CFDA 97.012) to support state and national recreational boating safety efforts, with the most recent grant awards issued on October 1, 2025.
The program funds state and national boating safety initiatives including public education, training, enforcement, marine casualty investigation, waterway markers and aids to navigation, search and rescue operations, vessel numbering and titling programs, and acquisition or repair of public boating access sites and safety facilities. The Coast Guard awards predominantly through formula grants (68 percent of 1,693 total awards) with a smaller share of cooperative agreements and project grants. Since 2001, the program has obligated $2.35 billion in federal funding across all recipients, with a combined federal and non-federal total of $2.57 billion. Recent awards range from roughly $773 thousand to $12 million per recipient. The portfolio reflects consistent annual activity, declining slightly from 86 awards in 2021 to 56 in 2025, though awards have continued regularly through October 2025.
Eligible applicants are severely restricted: designated state authorities and agencies represent the vast majority of awards, while 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with national scope and demonstrated ability to provide boating safety services nationwide may also apply. The program explicitly states it is not open to the public.
A state-focused grant opportunity (DHS-USCG-STATE-2027) for designated state authorities posted on September 10, 2026, with an October 30, 2026 due date. Cooperative agreements funded under that solicitation support multi-year periods of performance (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028 for the most recent awards). An earlier state opportunity (DHS-USCG-STATE-2026) closed on March 13, 2026. The program also periodically opens to 501(c)(3) nonprofits; the most recent nonprofit opportunity (DHS-USCG-NONPROFIT-2024) closed on March 20, 2024. State applicants dominate the award volume and dollar share; nonprofit participation appears smaller and episodic.
Objective and description
- Objective
The mission of the National RBS Program is to ensure the public has a safe, secure, and enjoyable recreational boating experience by implementing programs designed to minimize the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage while cooperating w
- Description
The U.S. Coast Guard awards cooperative agreements to designated state agencies to support recreational boating safety efforts. This program is not open to the public.
Eligibility
- Uses of assistance
Award funds shall be used to support annually approved recreational boating safety activities.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
The Notice of Funding Opportunity is open for a minimum of 60 days. The period of performance is one year. Extensions are not permitted.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
If a state has selected the RBS program for review under Executive Order 12372, the state review process must be followed. A 60-day comment period is provided by Executive Order 12372. Any comments must accompany the application. If the program was not selected for review or no comments were made, this should be indicated in item 16 of the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424).
- Award procedure
The Grants Management Branch reviews the application package from eligible applicants for completeness. Once verified, the package is forwarded to the Program Management & Operations Branch for programmatic review. States will be contacted if the application package requires additional information or further explanation. All applications from eligible recipients will be reviewed for approval. After each application is approved, the Grants Management Specialist will alert the state that their application is programmatically approved. The Grants Management Branch will provide the official award documents once the interagency transfer of recreational boating safety funds from the Department of the Interior to the Coast Guard is finalized.
Grant opportunities
Show all 15
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 1,693 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission | $185,038,724 | 8% |
| 2 | Department Of Natural Resources | $128,151,454 | 5% |
| 3 | California Department Of Boating And Waterways | $87,445,687 | 4% |
| 4 | Texas Parks And Wildlife Department | $84,413,450 | 4% |
| 5 | State Of Maryland Department Of Natural Resources | $78,665,188 | 3% |
| 6 | Minnesota Department Of Natural Resources | $69,962,536 | 3% |
| 7 | Department Of Natural Resources | $66,538,366 | 3% |
| 8 | Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources | $64,591,531 | 3% |
| 9 | Department Of Natural Resources | $59,149,711 | 3% |
| 10 | Natural Resources South Carolina Department | $58,271,768 | 2% |
10 of 100 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $125,257,476 |
| FY2025 | $124,657,597 |
| FY2024 | $121,200,872 |
| FY2023 | $128,130,383 |
| FY2022 | $117,652,828 |
| FY2021 | $124,592,556 |
| FY2020 | $110,802,227 |
| FY2019 | $109,684,514 |
| FY2018 | $106,681,416 |
| FY2017 | $110,771,609 |
| FY2016 | $110,415,321 |
| FY2015 | $105,189,576 |
| FY2014 | $100,629,537 |
| FY2013 | $114,117,384 |
| FY2012 | $112,046,811 |
| FY2011 | $122,221,475 |
| FY2010 | $117,101,452 |
| FY2009 | $135,926,109 |
| FY2008 | $104,462,372 |
| FY2007 | $106,592,097 |
Show all 20
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 97.012?
Assistance Listing 97.012 is Boating Safety Financial Assistance, a federal grant program run by Coast Guard (Department of Homeland Security).
What is the CFDA number for Boating Safety Financial Assistance?
Its CFDA number is 97.012: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 97.012 awarded?
1,693 grant awards under 97.012 have obligated $2,350,824,901 in federal funds to 100 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 97.012?
The recipients obligated the most under Boating Safety Financial Assistance are Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission ($185,038,724), Department Of Natural Resources ($128,151,454) and California Department Of Boating And Waterways ($87,445,687).
How much did 97.012 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 97.012 obligated $124,657,597 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 97.012?
1 listed opportunity under 97.012 is open or forecasted. The latest, State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program, was posted on September 10, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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