Authorization
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (23 U.S.C. 101 §7402), and Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act—National Outreach and Communications Program (16 U.S.C. §777g(d)).
Background
The National Outreach and Communication Program was established by the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) to reverse declining trends in participation rates in angling and boating in the early 1990’s. Everyone deserves access to clean, safe, and healthy recreational fishing and boating opportunities. Fishing and boating participation are important to our nation’s economy and fund much of our nation’s aquatic resource conservation through the sale of state fishing licenses and the grant programs funded from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
Objectives
To improve communications with anglers, boaters, and the general public regarding angling and boating opportunities, to reduce barriers to participation in these activities, to advance adoption of sound fishing and boating practices, to promote conservation and the responsible use of the nation's aquatic resources, and to further safety in fishing and boating.
Source of Funds
The NOCP is funded by 2% of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, supported by excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat fuel, and other sources. Because of this, the annual amount of funding available will vary depending on the trust fund income generated by excise taxes. Since 2007, the amount awarded for the NOCP has been between $10.7 and $14.2 million per year.
Get Started
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking proposals from applicants to implement the National Outreach and Communication Program (NOCP) for sportfishing and boating.
Additional Information on Eligibility: Organizations with experience in addressing one or more of the primary purposes of the NOCP and objectives identified in the Strategic Plan are encouraged to apply. You must include documentation of your organization’s previous experience with all of the following: Planning and executing in major national marketing and outreach campaigns. Identifying and communicating with targeted audiences to achieve increased awareness, participation, and behavior change in outdoor recreation, aquatic conservation, fishing, and boating activities. The documentation must be adequate for proposal reviewers to verify as accurate and focused on the NOCP purpose or Strategic Plan objectives.
Complete applications must be submitted in Grants.gov by 11:59 ET, October 31, 2022. Incomplete or partial applications will not be considered. To be accepted for consideration applicants must submit a complete project proposal by the stated deadline and must include all of the required forms and supporting material requested. Proposals that are received late or lacking any of the required elements will not be considered. However, applicants may revise and resubmit their application up until the identified application deadline.