Restoration Implementation Grants (2026)
🏛 DOC NOAA - ERA Production (DOC-DOCNOAAERA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 3, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit companies implementing marine and coastal habitat restoration following oil spills or hazardous substance releases. Eligible applicants include universities, 501(c)(3) organizations, and commercial entities with capacity for large-scale restoration work. Federal and state governments cannot apply due to trustee conflicts. Local governments may apply only if identifying significant restoration opportunities. The program supports activities authorized under the Oil Pollution Act, CERCLA, Clean Water Act, and similar authorities nationwide.
Restoration activities include rebuilding fisheries, recovering threatened and endangered species, creating employment, and implementing monitoring. Recipients may manage consent decrees, natural resource damage assessments, contract restoration work, or conduct restoration planning and technique development.
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Program description
The principal objective of the Damage Assessment, Remediation and Restoration Program (DARRP) Restoration Implementation Grants is for NOAA to collaborate with non-federal partners to implement marine and coastal habitat restoration and conservation in order to accomplish common goals related to oil spills, hazardous substance releases, and other natural resource damages. Successful applicants will support and implement restoration activities authorized under the Oil Pollution Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Clean Water Act, National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and other federal agencies’ authorities related to oil spills, hazardous substance releases, and natural resource damages, such as the RESTORE Act. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be for those capable of implementing restoration and conservation activities across a wide geographic scale. NOAA NOFO Page 2 of 26 Restoration activities may include actions that rebuild productive and sustainable fisheries; contribute to the recovery and conservation of threatened and endangered species; and improve economic vitality, including local employment. Recipients will be implementing activities identified in consent decrees or natural resource damage assessment and restoration plans, and may be developing or soliciting projects to meet restoration goals. This may include recipients reviewing restoration plans and: collaborating with the trustee to select activities to be contracted or sub-awarded by the recipient; collaborating with the trustee to select projects for which the recipient has direct implementation responsibility; competition management to sub- award projects; and implementing pre- and post-restoration project evaluation and monitoring. Projects may also include restoration planning and technique development activities that further the mutual interests of DARRP and of funding recipient partners, such as environmental compliance analyses or restoration planning for potential, future incidents.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Standard federal forms (SF-424, SF-LLL if applicable)
- Project narrative and restoration plan summary
- Budget and budget justification
- Evidence of eligible applicant status (501(c)(3) documentation if nonprofit)
- Letters of support from trustee agencies
- Environmental compliance documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Maria Aguiniga Grantor
- 📧 David.Landsman@noaa.gov
- 📞 301-628-1384
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 11.463 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$32,822,617
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$32,252,050
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$28,508,525
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$24,907,228
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$24,076,514
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$23,782,282
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$22,881,754
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$22,245,176
-
$20,958,778
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$19,948,969
Top States by Funding
- LA 8 awards $150.3M
- VA 17 awards $135.6M
- CA 12 awards $102.5M
- WA 9 awards $100.1M
- MI 8 awards $91.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 11.463). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $515,060,000 | |
| 2025 | $158,140,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $166,047,000 |
FAQ
Can federal agencies apply for DARRP grants?
No. Federal agencies are excluded due to their role as trustee council members. Non-federal partners must lead applications.
What types of restoration does DARRP fund?
Habitat restoration, fishery recovery, species conservation, and restoration planning related to oil spills and hazardous releases.
Can local governments apply?
Only if they identify large-scale restoration opportunities based on current or anticipated restoration plans.
What award amounts are typical?
Awards range from $2.5 million to $100 million for implementation-scale projects.
Is cost sharing required?
No. This grant does not require cost matching or non-federal cost sharing.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate experience implementing large-scale marine and coastal restoration projects. NOAA favors organizations with proven track records.
- Clearly connect your restoration activities to authorized legislation (Oil Pollution Act, CERCLA, Clean Water Act, RESTORE Act, or similar).
- Show how restoration will support fisheries, species recovery, or local employment. Multi-benefit projects are more competitive.
- If managing trustee relationships, clearly explain your role in selecting and contracting restoration activities.
- Build partnerships with federal trustee agencies early. Strong interagency coordination strengthens applications.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without documented partnership or support from natural resource damage trustees. Proposing small-scale pilots when NOAA seeks large geographic implementation. Failing to connect project activities to recognized environmental statutes or damage assessments.
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