State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program

The State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the United States Coast Guard (USCG), supports state-level efforts to enhance recreational boating safety across U.S. waterways. As part of a longstanding commitment to minimizing boating-related accidents, injuries, and fatalities, the program is aligned with the USCG’s strategic objective to ensure a safe, secure, and enjoyable recreational boating experience. Funding is authorized under 46 U.S.C. §§ 13101-13110 and appropriated through both the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Surface Transportation Assistance Act. For the FY26 cycle, a total of $129,143,906 in funding is anticipated, with cooperative agreements issued to 56 state-level authorities. This mandatory, formula-based program is exclusively open to designated state authorities or agencies, as mandated by federal statute. It is not open to the general public or other types of organizations. States must submit applications through Grants.gov, and eligibility is verified prior to application approval. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, with an application window from October 17, 2025, to March 13, 2026. Funding is determined based on a reimbursement structure, where the federal share may not exceed 50% of the total eligible state expenditures for boating safety. States must demonstrate cost share compliance as part of the budgeting process, but do not need to match individual expenses item-for-item. Allowable uses of funds include administrative support, law enforcement activities, education, navigational aids, vessel registration systems, and public access improvements. States must submit a detailed narrative outlining planned and ongoing RBS activities, as well as budget estimates and an equipment list. Construction-related costs require supplementary documents, including site and area maps and specific federal forms (SF-424C and SF-424D). Unallowable costs are determined on a state-specific basis by the USCG. Indirect costs are permitted under certain conditions, and states may use a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or the de minimis rate, subject to USCG guidance. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for programmatic approval, with formal awards issued following the receipt of trust funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior via interagency transfer. The USCG coordinates closely with each state during budget review to ensure alignment with final allocations. States must wait to receive the finalized allocation chart and formal award package before completing any award-related documents. Post-award obligations include quarterly financial reporting (SF-425), annual performance reports (both narrative and statistical), and adherence to federal audit requirements. Pass-through entities must comply with subrecipient monitoring rules under 2 C.F.R. 200. Administrative conditions also require compliance with prohibitions under the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act regarding telecommunications and surveillance equipment. States must maintain compliance throughout the award lifecycle, including closeout procedures within 120 days of the performance period end date. For assistance, states may contact Cynthia Dudzinski, the Lead Grant Management Specialist, at [email protected] or (571) 608-2233. The official NOFO and application instructions are available on Grants.gov, and additional resources can be found at the USCG’s Boating Safety Division website. The program operates on an annual cycle, and based on historical timelines, the next opportunity is anticipated to open in March 2027.

Ensure alignment between narrative and budget; only include achievable activities; use correct budget calculations.