OIA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding

Background
The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) is responsible for implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Public Law 117-58, which aims to invest in Department of the Interior initiatives and benefit the communities and areas where OIA serves, including American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The BIL funds will be used to restore critical habitats, address the drought crisis, assist with wildland fire management, and help communities prepare for extreme weather events.

Grant Details
OIA is requesting proposals for Fiscal Year 2023 following BIL Ecosystem Restoration Program Guiding Principles for three specific projects: Invasive Species (Activity 6), Revegetate Mined Lands (Activity 8), and Native Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration (Activity 9). Each project has specific goals and objectives related to ecosystem restoration, including preventing, detecting, and eradicating invasive species; restoring native vegetation on landscape disturbances caused by man-made activities; and establishing a national revegetation effort on Federal and non-Federal land. The projects should align with DOI’s Ecosystem Restoration Program Guiding Principles.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include non-federal entities such as local government agencies, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations in Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. However, OIA cannot provide funding to the Judicial branch of local governments. Foreign entities or projects are not eligible for funding under this program.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for the grant is until September 30, 2023.

Grant Value
The total funding available for these projects is $4,350,000. The expected award amounts are $1,350,000 for Activity 6—Invasive Species, $1,000,000 for Activity 8—Revegetate Mined Lands, and $2,000,000 for Activity 9—Native Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration.

Place of Performance
The grant activities will be performed in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.