Fiscal Year 2026 BioWatch Grant Program
🏛 Department of Homeland Security - FEMA (DHS-DHS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for state and local government agencies, regional governmental organizations, public institutions of higher learning, and federally recognized tribal governments. Eligible applicants must operate air monitoring equipment and conduct field operations in one of 30+ designated metropolitan areas across 22 states. Some applicants may also perform laboratory operations including sample analysis and results reporting. All recipients must demonstrate capacity to deploy and maintain monitoring units, collect daily samples, and transport them to BioWatch laboratories.
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Program description
The BioWatch program, managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is designed to detect aerosolized biological attacks by continuously monitoring the air for specific biological threats using strategically placed air collectors. This federally managed, locally operated system provides early warnings of biological incidents, enabling state and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively, thereby reducing casualties and fatalities. BioWatch supports the National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan (2022) by informing decision-making, enhancing preparedness, and providing post-incident support to limit the impacts of biological threats. Operating in over 30 metropolitan areas across 22 states, BioWatch protects roughly one-third of the U.S. population and extends its coverage to high-visibility special events. Its core activities include operating air samplers, collecting and analyzing air samples, assisting partners with planning and preparedness through guidance, training, and exercises, and alerting and coordinating response actions upon detection of a threat. The program’s objectives are to maintain a robust biodetection capability, engage stakeholders in preparedness and response, and establish coordination mechanisms across federal, state, local, and tribal levels to ensure rapid and effective public health responses to bioterrorist attacks. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for the performance of field operations–including deploying and maintaining a fleet of air monitoring units, collecting and replacing filters from those units, and transporting filters daily to BioWatch laboratories in metropolitan areas identified below. As optional for specific metropolitan areas listed below, field operations further include laboratory operations, such as sample processing, analysis, and results reporting. Eligible recipients of this cooperative agreement are state and local government agencies, regional governmental organizations, public institutions of higher learning, and federally recognized tribal governments.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational Capacity Documentation
- Letters of Commitment from partner agencies
- Equipment maintenance and deployment plans
- Laboratory capability documentation (if proposing lab operations)
Program contact
- 👤 Kyle J Giuseppe Grantor
- 📧 FEMAGO@fema.dhs.gov
- 📞 202-286-3706
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 97.091 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 97.091). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2022 | $31,085,005 | |
| 2023 | $33,473,835 | |
| 2024 est. | $34,255,301 | |
| 2025 est. | $36,481,896 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the BioWatch grant?
State and local governments, regional governmental organizations, public institutions of higher learning, and federally recognized tribal governments. Your organization must be able to conduct field operations in one of the designated metropolitan areas.
What are the main activities funded?
Deployment and maintenance of air monitoring units, daily filter collection and replacement, and transport of samples to laboratories. Some applicants may also perform laboratory operations including sample analysis and results reporting.
When is the deadline and how much funding is available?
The deadline is July 30, 2026. Awards range from $100,000 to $6,000,000, with a total funding pool of $35,000,000.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. This is a fully federally-funded program with no required cost-sharing or match.
Which metropolitan areas are eligible?
BioWatch operates in over 30 metropolitan areas across 22 states. Check the NOFO for your specific region's eligibility and whether laboratory operations are available in your area.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate your organization's existing capacity to maintain equipment and conduct daily field operations reliably. BioWatch depends on consistent data collection.
- If your area offers laboratory operations as optional, carefully assess your technical staff capacity for sample analysis before committing to that scope.
- Build strong coordination plans with local public health and emergency response agencies. DHS expects seamless information sharing and rapid alerting.
- Include detailed operational timelines and resource plans for equipment deployment, filter collection schedules, and sample transport logistics.
- Address how your organization will sustain operations during staffing changes, equipment failures, or emergency situations in your region.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack detailed operational capacity or staffing plans to support continuous air monitoring and daily sample transport. Applicants underestimate the technical requirements for laboratory operations or fail to demonstrate adequate lab expertise. Proposals do not clearly define coordination mechanisms with local health departments and emergency responders.
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