Opportunity Listing - Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI)

Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI) – Recurring 5 Year Notice

Agency: National Park Service

Assistance Listings: 15.916 -- Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning

Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Description

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI), administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The purpose of the program is to: 1) provide outdoor recreation opportunities, and 2) promote or support compatible land uses and avoid incompatible development in areas in the vicinity of, or ecologically related to, a military installation or military airspace, and/or to maintain or enhance disaster resilience. RARI is a program within the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). State and Local Assistance Program. RARI funding is available in addition to traditional LWCF state formula grants and does not affect state apportionments. RARI operates in partnership with the Department of War (DOW) and seeks to leverage funding across departments to benefit the general public and military communities. RARI is dollar for dollar match, meaning it covers up to 50% of all project costs and applicants are responsible for funding the remaining 50% of project costs. However, for RARI projects, DOW Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funds are allowable to meet the LWCF Act's cost-share requirement (10 U.S.C. 2684a). Therefore, 100% of project costs could be funded through these two federal programs. To be eligible, proposed projects must: Include a land acquisition component. Be in a Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Partnership Opportunity Area or Sentinel Landscape. Have a Letter of Support from a Military Installation or Range commander.1 Additional LWCF requirements for the RARI program: Perpetuity Requirement - Projects assisted through RARI must be maintained and accessible exclusively for public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity. This applies to the assisted park or site in its entirety, not just the area assisted by the grant funds. Alignment with LWCF Law and Policy - As an LWCF program, RARI projects must align with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual. This includes meeting a priority need or goal identified in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Alignment with National Priorities – Projects must be responsive to Executive and National priorities, including those outlined in Executive Order 14313, "Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission" and Secretarial Order 3442, "Land and Water Conservation Fund Implementation by the U.S. Department of the Interior."

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Miscellaneous

Other

Government

State governments

Additional information

Eligible Applicants ☒ State governments ☒ Territorial governments The following entities are eligible to apply directly for funding through RARI: State and Territorial Lead Agencies, in each of the 50 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands About State and Territorial Lead Agencies - In accordance with the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act (54 U.S.C. 200305(a)), each state has a State Lead Agency designated by the state's Governor or by state legislation for the purposes of implementing LWCF. A State Lead Agency may submit applications on behalf of themselves or an eligible sub-recipient. The following entities are eligible sub-recipients and must apply through their State or Territorial Lead Agency: Other state agencies Federally recognized Indian tribes Local units of governments and special purpose districts (must be an entity created by a legislative authority vested sovereignty and with a stated mission that includes acquiring, developing, owning and managing recreation areas, and be able to demonstrate it can meet the perpetual protection requirement of the LWCF program) Additional Information on Eligibility Eligible Areas - Projects must serve an eligible area, defined as: an active REPI Partnership Opportunity Area or a Sentinel Landscape. Applicants can check whether their proposed project is in a REPI Partnership Opportunity Area and/or Sentinel Landscape via the REPI Interactive Map. Filter the Layer list to include "Military > REPI Partnership Opportunity Area" and "Sentinel Landscapes > Sentinel Landscapes"

Grantor contact information

Description

Matthew Russell RARI_Inquiries@nps.gov

Email

Program mailbox

RARI_Inquiries@nps.gov

Documents

File name	Description	Last updated
RARI_NOFO_051326.docx	RARI NOFO 051326	Jun 8, 2026 06:52 PM UTC
RARI_NOFO_FAQ_060826.docx	RARI FAQ 060826	Jun 8, 2026 07:15 PM UTC
Detailed_Budget_for_LWCF_Grants.xlsx	Detailed Budget for LWCF Grants.xlsx	Jun 10, 2026 08:11 PM UTC

Link to additional information

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/rari.htm

Closing: November 30, 2030

In accordance with the LWCF Act, non-Federal cost share in the amount of 50% or 1:1 ratio is required to be eligible for...

an award under this NOFO. Applicants are not required to have their cost-share secured at the time of their application to this NOFO, but they must provide documentation of their plan to secure matching funds. Applicants must secure their cost-share before finalizing a grant agreement with the NPS. This could be up to one year after selection through this NOFO. Applicants must document all cost share contributions in their final Budget Narrative. The eligible non-Federal contributions may include land donation or purchase, cash, in-kind contributions, or volunteer services, in line with federal award requirements (2 CFR § 200.306). Additionally, the following will be accepted as contributions for non-Federal share: Existing State or local government-owned lands not currently used for recreation may be used as part of the non-Federal matching share for acquisition grants. Property donated between a State and its subdivisions may be used as part of the non-Federal matching share. Per 54 U.S.C. 200305(f)(1), projects applying for a RARI grant can only include Congressionally designated Federal cost-share sources in their budgets. Other Federal sources, such as LWCF formula funds, are not permitted, even if all program cost share requirements are met. Projects including other federal funds within the proposed budget, unless they are serving as authorized cost share, will be eliminated from the competition without consideration. Exception for Non-Federal Requirement: Certain federal programs are authorized by their enabling legislation to be treated as non-federal match. For this notice, applicants can use federal Department of War Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program funds to meet LWCF's required cost-share, as specified in 2 CFR 200.306(b)(5). REPI funding may be used to "to satisfy any matching funds or cost- sharing requirement of any conservation or resilience program of any Federal agency notwithstanding any limitation of such program on the source of matching or cost-sharing funds" (10 U.S.C. 2684a). More information on DOW REPI funding can be found on the following REPI Program websites: REPI - Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program https://www.repi.mil/Buffer-Projects/Project-List/. https://www.repi.mil/Buffer-Projects/REPI-Challenge/ Exception for Insular Areas: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not need to provide 50% non-Federal cost share. These areas can receive full (100%) federal funding.

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$9,000,000

Program Funding

Expected awards

$250,000

Award Minimum

$3,000,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

P26AS00146

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Yes

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

Category of Funding Activity:

Other

Category Explanation:

RARI

History

Version:

Posted date:

June 8, 2026

Archive date:

December 30, 2030