R3 Wildlife Restoration Grant Program (TO STATE F&G AGENCIES ONLY) | F19AS00053

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00053

The R3 Wildlife Restoration Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00053) is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It operates under the authority of the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669-669k). The program has been in effect since 1938 and was created to provide a dependable source of funding to support core wildlife conservation and management needs across the United States.

At its core, this grant opportunity is designed to fund projects that select, restore, rehabilitate, and improve wildlife habitat; support wildlife management research; and share the information and findings produced through those projects. In other words, it is meant to help state fish and wildlife agencies carry out practical, on-the-ground habitat work, improve how wildlife populations are managed through science and monitoring, and ensure that the results of that work are communicated and usable for future decisions and public benefit. Over time, the program’s scope expanded: a 1970 amendment added support for hunter safety efforts as well as the development, operation, and maintenance of firearm and archery ranges, recognizing that responsible hunting and safe public access to shooting sports infrastructure are part of a broader wildlife management framework.

Eligibility is limited strictly to state governments, specifically state fish and game (fish and wildlife) agencies, which is reflected in the title notation “TO STATE F&G AGENCIES ONLY.” The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the associated CFDA number is 15.611. The instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as mandatory, meaning it is tied to an established statutory funding mechanism rather than a one-time discretionary competition.

Key administrative details include a creation date of November 28, 2018, and an original closing date of August 31, 2020. The listed award ceiling is $20,000,000, indicating the maximum size of an award under this posting, although actual award sizes typically depend on the specific project, state allocation methods, and program rules. The opportunity record lists “ExpectedAwards: 0,” which often signals that awards are not forecast in the same way as competitive grant programs (for example, because funding is apportioned or handled through a structured allocation process rather than a conventional open competition).

Overall, this opportunity supports the long-standing federal-state partnership model for wildlife conservation by channeling Pittman-Robertson resources into habitat improvement, wildlife research and management, hunter education and safety, and shooting range infrastructure, all implemented by state fish and wildlife agencies under Fish and Wildlife Service oversight.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "R3 Wildlife Restoration Grant Program (TO STATE F&G AGENCIES ONLY)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.611.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 28, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for F19AS00053

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