Opportunity Information: Apply for P23AS00427
The LWCF State Assistance Formula Grants - Acquisition and Construction (FY23 Cycle 3) opportunity is a National Park Service (NPS) grant program under CFDA 15.916 that provides funding to support outdoor recreation projects, specifically land acquisition and the construction or development of public outdoor recreation facilities. This announcement is structured as a formula-based state assistance program, but applications for funding under this cycle are handled through a single, designated applicant in each state or territory rather than being open to the general public or to organizations applying directly to NPS.
Eligibility is tightly defined. Only the officially designated State lead agency for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) may submit an application in response to this announcement, whether the project is for the lead agency itself or on behalf of another eligible entity. For LWCF purposes, "State" is defined broadly to include not only the 50 states, but also American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NPS will not accept applications from any other entity; submissions that do not come from the State lead agency are automatically eliminated. A key prerequisite is that the state or territory must have a current, NPS-approved Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP); without an approved SCORP, the state is not eligible to apply for LWCF assistance.
While only the State lead agency can apply to NPS, the program allows the awarded funds to be sub-awarded to other public entities. Potential sub-recipients may include other state or territorial agencies, local political subdivisions, and Indian tribes. The notice spells out that local political subdivisions can include counties, municipalities, cities, towns, townships, parishes, local public authorities, school districts, special districts (such as park districts), intrastate districts, councils of governments, and other regional or interstate governmental entities, along with agencies or instrumentalities of local government. Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and private organizations are generally ineligible. However, there is a limited exception for certain nonprofits that are publicly chartered under state or local law to serve a public purpose, such as entities created to manage a park or park district.
The State lead agency acts as the central gatekeeper and program manager. It is responsible for collecting and reviewing proposed projects, checking them for completeness and eligibility, and ensuring they align with the outdoor recreation priorities identified in the state or territory SCORP. The lead agency must also rank and prioritize proposals using its Open Project Selection Process (OPSP) before forwarding final applications to NPS for review. If projects are selected, NPS makes the financial assistance award to the State lead agency, not to local governments or other partners directly. After award, the lead agency remains accountable for proper use of funds and for ensuring that both its own projects and any sub-awarded projects comply with the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual, as well as other applicable federal requirements. Practically, this means the lead agency oversees day-to-day grant implementation, monitors compliance, and tracks progress toward performance goals for the duration of the grant.
Key administrative details from the notice include that the opportunity number is P23AS00427, the funding instrument is a grant, and the eligible applicant type listed is state governments (reflecting the requirement that the State lead agency is the applicant of record). The announcement was created on June 14, 2023, and the original closing date was July 31, 2023. The listed award ceiling is $15,000,000, indicating the maximum amount referenced for an award under this opportunity cycle.Apply for P23AS00427
- The National Park Service in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "LWCF State Assistance Formula Grants - Acquisition & Construction - FY23 Cycle 3" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.916.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-07-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the LWCF State Assistance Formula Grants - Acquisition and Construction (FY23 Cycle 3) opportunity?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) grant opportunity under CFDA 15.916 that provides funding to support outdoor recreation projects. The notice specifically describes support for land acquisition and the construction or development of public outdoor recreation facilities.
Which types of projects does this grant fund?
Based on the notice, the funded project types include (1) acquisition of land for outdoor recreation and (2) construction or development of public outdoor recreation facilities.
Is this a competitive grant open to the general public?
No. Although it is described as a formula-based state assistance program, the application under this cycle is not open to the general public or to organizations applying directly to NPS. Applications are handled through a single, designated applicant in each state or territory.
Who is allowed to submit an application to NPS for this opportunity?
Only the officially designated State lead agency for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) may submit an application in response to this announcement, whether the project is for the lead agency itself or on behalf of another eligible entity.
What happens if an application is submitted by an entity other than the State lead agency?
NPS will not accept it. Submissions that do not come from the State lead agency are automatically eliminated.
How does the notice define "State" for eligibility purposes?
For LWCF purposes, "State" includes the 50 states plus American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Is there a required plan or prerequisite for a state or territory to be eligible?
Yes. The state or territory must have a current, NPS-approved Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Without an approved SCORP, the state or territory is not eligible to apply for LWCF assistance.
If only the State lead agency can apply, can other entities still receive funding?
Yes. The program allows awarded funds to be sub-awarded to other public entities, but the NPS award itself is made to the State lead agency.
Who can be a sub-recipient under this opportunity?
Potential sub-recipients may include other state or territorial agencies, local political subdivisions, and Indian tribes, as described in the notice.
What counts as a "local political subdivision" under the notice?
The notice states that local political subdivisions can include counties, municipalities, cities, towns, townships, parishes, local public authorities, school districts, special districts (such as park districts), intrastate districts, councils of governments, and other regional or interstate governmental entities, along with agencies or instrumentalities of local government.
Are individuals eligible to apply or receive funding directly?
No. Individuals are generally ineligible, and applications must come from the State lead agency.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Nonprofit organizations are generally ineligible. The notice includes a limited exception for certain nonprofits that are publicly chartered under state or local law to serve a public purpose, such as entities created to manage a park or park district.
Are private organizations eligible?
No. Private organizations are generally ineligible under the eligibility description provided in the notice.
What role does the State lead agency play in the process?
The State lead agency serves as the central gatekeeper and program manager. It collects and reviews proposed projects, checks them for completeness and eligibility, and ensures they align with outdoor recreation priorities identified in the SCORP.
How are projects prioritized before submission to NPS?
The State lead agency must rank and prioritize proposals using its Open Project Selection Process (OPSP) before forwarding final applications to NPS for review.
If a project is selected, who receives the federal award from NPS?
NPS makes the financial assistance award to the State lead agency, not to local governments or other partners directly.
After an award is made, who is accountable for compliance and proper use of funds?
The State lead agency remains accountable. It is responsible for ensuring that its own projects and any sub-awarded projects comply with the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual, as well as other applicable federal requirements.
What kinds of responsibilities does the State lead agency have during grant implementation?
Practically, the lead agency oversees day-to-day grant implementation, monitors compliance, and tracks progress toward performance goals for the duration of the grant.
What is the opportunity number for this announcement?
The opportunity number listed in the notice is P23AS00427.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The notice lists the funding instrument as a grant.
What is the eligible applicant type shown in the notice?
The eligible applicant type is listed as state governments, reflecting that the State lead agency is the applicant of record.
When was the announcement created, and what was the original closing date?
The announcement was created on June 14, 2023, and the original closing date was July 31, 2023.
What is the maximum award amount referenced for this opportunity cycle?
The listed award ceiling is $15,000,000, which indicates the maximum amount referenced for an award under this opportunity cycle.
Where should a local government, tribe, or other eligible public entity start if it wants to pursue funding?
Based on the notice structure, the starting point is the State lead agency for LWCF in the relevant state or territory, since only that lead agency can submit an application to NPS and it manages project intake, eligibility review, and OPSP ranking.
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