2026 Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program (US)

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) offers the F26AS00023 FY2026 Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program to support eligible marine mammal stranding participants and stranding network collaborators. The program provides financial assistance for marine mammal rescue, response, and related research, data collection, and capacity-building. The application deadline is 30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding Opportunity Number: F26AS00023

- Funding Opportunity Title: F26AS00023 FY2026 Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program

- Funding Organization (Agency): U.S. Department of the Interior — Fish and Wildlife Service

- Opportunity Type: Grants Notice (Discretionary)

- Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Grant

- Category of Funding Activity: Natural Resources

- Expected Number of Awards: 21

- Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,350,000

- Award Ceiling (Maximum per award): $150,000

- Award Floor (Minimum per award): $0

- Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

- Deadline: 30 November 2026, 11:59 PM ET (electronically submitted applications)

- Archive Date: 1 December 2026

About the Opportunity

The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program (“Prescott program”) provides financial assistance to eligible marine mammal stranding participants and stranding network collaborators to support activities that include: - Recovery, care, or treatment of sick, injured, or entangled marine mammals - Responses to marine mammal stranding events that require emergency assistance - Collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded marine mammals for scientific research or marine mammal health assessments - Facility operating costs directly related to approved activities - Development of stranding network capacity, including training for emergency response, where facilities are limited FWS indicates it will recommend projects for funding based on how well applications support species-specific priority activities, with priority given to applications focused on marine mammal strandings. Funding and Benefits

- Total funding pool (estimated): $2,350,000

- Maximum award per recipient: $150,000

- Minimum award: $0

- Cost sharing or matching: Required (Yes)

Other benefit details (such as what costs are allowable under the cooperative agreement) are Not specified in the provided source text. Applicants should consult the official solicitation documents for the complete financial and cost guidance. Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicant types listed in the source include: - County governments - City or township governments - Special district governments - State governments - Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) - Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) - Public and State controlled institutions of higher education - Private institutions of higher education - Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) - Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) In addition to organizational type, the source sets eligibility conditions tied to participation in the marine mammal stranding system. Eligible applicants must be a U.S. eligible marine mammal stranding participant or stranding network collaborator and must not be an employee of the Department of the Interior or Department of Commerce.

Eligibility requirements (key conditions)

Applicants must satisfy either condition #1 or #2 below: - Participant in a marine mammal stranding network (that is not an entity of a state/local/eligible federal government employee) and in good standing, including requirements such as: - Authorization by FWS under MMPA section 104(c) (response or scientific research regarding marine mammal health) or MMPA section 112(c) (taking marine mammals described under MMPA section 109(h) in response to stranded marine mammals - For ESA-listed marine mammals (except polar bears), authorization under ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) or exemptions under 50 CFR 17.21 or 50 CFR 17.31 - Principal investigators with relevant authorizations must have fulfilled applicable reporting/publication and any enforcement-action requirements - Compliance with applicable permit/cooperative agreement terms for all stranding participants - Cooperation with FWS regarding timely submission of data/materials when requested - No current enforcement investigation for prohibited take activities contrary to MMPA/ESA regulations and no notice of violation pending resolution - If no take will occur (e.g., training/education/outreach), applicants must clearly state why take will not occur - Entity qualifies as a state/local/eligible federal government employee (but not an employee of the Department of the Interior or Department of Commerce) participating under: - MMPA section 109(h), and if applicable for ESA-listed species, exempt under 50 CFR 17.21 or 17.31 The source also notes that unsatisfactory performance under prior or current federal awards may result in your application not being considered for this fiscal year, and that FWS evaluates applicant risk as required under 2 CFR 200.205. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas Applications should support the Prescott program’s activities, including: - Marine mammal rescue, recovery, care, and treatment - Emergency response to strandings - Data and sample collection for research/health assessments - Facility operating costs directly tied to approved activities - Stranding network capacity development (including emergency response training where facilities are sparse) FWS states it will give priority to applications focusing on marine mammal strandings and recommends projects based on support for species-specific priority activities (listed in the official opportunity materials; not included in the provided source excerpt). Why This Opportunity Matters This cooperati