Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) National Fish Habitat Partnership Request for Proposals (RFP)
Please read all information below before submitting your application.
The Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Partnership (ORBFHP) supports projects that protect, restore, and reconnect aquatic habitats across the Ohio River Basin. Federal funding is available under the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to top ranked proposals. Ideal proposals align with ORBFHP goals and priorities that advance on-the-ground efforts such as improving water quality, enhancing fish passage, and restoring natural river processes. Ideal proposals also support NFHP objectives.
ORBFHP’s Strategic Goals:
- Reconnecting fragmented river and stream habitats
- Restoring natural flow and floodplain function
- Reducing sedimentation and nutrient impacts
- Protecting high-quality aquatic systems
Conservation Targets and Signature Species:
- Headwater and small streams: longear sunfish, rainbow darter, and orangethroat darter
- Medium rivers: smallmouth bass, spotted bass, redhorse species, logperch, and tippecanoe darter
- Large and great rivers: sauger, paddlefish, sturgeon species, and blue sucker
- Off-channel systems: largemouth bass and pickerel species
- Native aquatic and riparian vegetation: native plant communities that support fish habitat and ecological processes
- Native mussels: fluvial-dependent, non-pool native mussel species
Projects throughout ORBFHP’s eligible geography may apply (see page 10). However, projects located within ORBFHP’s priority sites (see page 32) will receive the strongest consideration.
National Fish Habitat Partnership Objectives:
- Protect & maintain intact and healthy aquatic systems
- Prevent further degradation of fish habitats
- Reverse declines in quality & quantity of aquatic habitats to improve health of fish/aquatic species
- Increase quality of fish habitat to support a broad natural diversity of fish/aquatic species
Funding Information
Available Funds
- 15K Minimum
- 100K Maximum
- 2-4 Expected Awards
Cost Sharing
- A 1:1 non-federal match is required.
- A 3:1 non-federal match is encouraged.
- Match may include allowable cash and documented in-kind contributions.
- Federal funds may be identified as leveraged funding but cannot satisfy the required non-federal match.
- NFHP funding cannot be used as match for another federal award.
Terms
- 2 Year Project Period
- Funds Awarded through ASAP
- Reporting Submitted through GrantSolutions.gov
Timeline
- Sept 8, 2026: RFP opens
- Sept 18, 2026: Informational webinar, 11am ET, register here
- Sept 23, 2026: FAQ office hours, 1-3pm ET, register here
- Sept 24, 2026: FAQ office hours, 12-2pm ET, register here
- Sept 25, 2026: FAQ office hours, 10:30-12:30pm ET, register here
- Oct 9, 2026: Application deadline
- Oct-Nov 2026: ORBFHP evaluates proposals and sends highest ranked for approval to NFHP
- Nov-Feb 2027: NFHP reviews proposals and sends recommendations to the US Department of Interior
- March-May 2027: Department of Interior reviews and gives final approval of proposals
- June-Aug 2027: Announcement of awards, agreements put in place, and funding awarded
- Award setup: Following selection, recipients will complete required USFWS registrations, application materials, compliance reviews, and award documents.
Funding will support planning, design, and implementation projects that deliver measurable ecological benefits for fish, mussels, and aquatic systems across the basin. Check back here for the full RFP, application materials, and guidance on how to apply in early September. Email Pierce VanValkenburg at pvanvalkenburg@americanrivers.org with questions.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive an email notification when the RFP becomes available.
- Headwater and small streams: longear sunfish, rainbow darter, and orangethroat darter
- Medium rivers: smallmouth bass, spotted bass, redhorse species, logperch, and tippecanoe darter
- Large and great rivers: sauger, paddlefish, sturgeon species, and blue sucker
- Off-channel systems: largemouth bass and pickerel species
- Native aquatic and riparian vegetation: native plant communities that support fish habitat and ecological processes
- Native mussels: fluvial-dependent, non-pool native mussel species
Projects throughout ORBFHP’s eligible geography may apply (see page 10). However, projects located within ORBFHP’s priority sites (see page 32) will receive the strongest consideration.
National Fish Habitat Partnership Objectives:
- Protect & maintain intact and healthy aquatic systems
- Prevent further degradation of fish habitats
- Reverse declines in quality & quantity of aquatic habitats to improve health of fish/aquatic species
- Increase quality of fish habitat to support a broad natural diversity of fish/aquatic species
Funding Information
Available Funds
- 15K Minimum
- 100K Maximum
- 2-4 Expected Awards
Cost Sharing
- A 1:1 non-federal match is required.
- A 3:1 non-federal match is encouraged.
- Match may include allowable cash and documented in-kind contributions.
- Federal funds may be identified as leveraged funding but cannot satisfy the required non-federal match.
- NFHP funding cannot be used as match for another federal award.
Terms
- 2 Year Project Period
- Funds Awarded through ASAP
- Reporting Submitted through GrantSolutions.gov
Timeline
- Sept 8, 2026: RFP opens
- Sept 18, 2026: Informational webinar, 11am ET, register here
- Sept 23, 2026: FAQ office hours, 1-3pm ET, register here
- Sept 24, 2026: FAQ office hours, 12-2pm ET, register here
- Sept 25, 2026: FAQ office hours, 10:30-12:30pm ET, register here
- Oct 9, 2026: Application deadline
- Oct-Nov 2026: ORBFHP evaluates proposals and sends highest ranked for approval to NFHP
- Nov-Feb 2027: NFHP reviews proposals and sends recommendations to the US Department of Interior
- March-May 2027: Department of Interior reviews and gives final approval of proposals
- June-Aug 2027: Announcement of awards, agreements put in place, and funding awarded
- Award setup: Following selection, recipients will complete required USFWS registrations, application materials, compliance reviews, and award documents.
Funding will support planning, design, and implementation projects that deliver measurable ecological benefits for fish, mussels, and aquatic systems across the basin. Check back here for the full RFP, application materials, and guidance on how to apply in early September. Email Pierce VanValkenburg at pvanvalkenburg@americanrivers.org with questions.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive an email notification when the RFP becomes available.