Opportunity Information: Apply for D26AS00056
The Department of the Interior, Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number D26AS00056) focused on improving local wildland firefighting readiness by helping communities purchase slip-on tanker units. The program is framed around a clear operational problem: wildfire seasons are getting longer and more severe as drought and sustained higher temperatures dry out fuels and extend the window when fires can ignite and spread. The opportunity description also highlights a compounding cycle where intense fires and drought can accelerate invasive species growth, and those invasive plants often burn more readily than native vegetation, increasing the likelihood and intensity of future fires. Taken together, these trends are contributing to more acres burned each year, fire activity in places that historically did not burn often, and a growing risk to communities, especially where development meets wildland areas.
Funding for this effort comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted in November 2021). The intent is practical and equipment-oriented: provide funding so eligible local governments can acquire slip-on tanker units that can be mounted onto appropriate vehicles to support wildland firefighting operations. These units typically expand a local department’s ability to deliver water or suppression resources in areas where larger apparatus may be limited by terrain, access, or distance, and they can be particularly valuable for initial attack and rapid response when conditions are volatile.
Eligibility is targeted and restrictive in a way that prioritizes smaller jurisdictions. Applicants must be U.S. local governments that provide fire protection and other emergency services, demonstrate a need for slip-on tankers to improve wildland firefighting readiness, and serve a location with a population of 50,000 or less. The eligible applicant types listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, with an “other” category also referenced in the source data. The overall theme is that funding is meant to strengthen capability where resources may be limited but wildfire risk is increasing.
Administratively, the grant is managed through the Interior Business Center under the Department of the Interior. It is categorized under Disaster Prevention and Relief, with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 15.088. The maximum award amount is listed as $249,000 per award (award ceiling), and the program anticipates making around 150 awards, indicating a relatively broad distribution of funding across multiple communities rather than a small number of very large projects. The opportunity was created on 2026-01-22, and the original closing date is 2026-03-23, which sets the window for interested eligible entities to prepare and submit applications.
In short, this opportunity is an equipment acquisition grant designed to help smaller-population jurisdictions bolster frontline wildland fire response capability by purchasing slip-on tanker units, reflecting the reality of longer, more intense, and more geographically widespread wildfire activity. Further specifics on allowable costs, application requirements, selection criteria, and documentation are indicated as being available in the full announcement.Apply for D26AS00056
- The Interior Business Center in the disaster prevention and relief sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) - Slip-On Tanker Units" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.088.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-03-23. (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 $249,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 150 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Wildland Fire (OWF), focused on improving local wildland firefighting readiness by helping communities purchase slip-on tanker units.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is D26AS00056.
Who is administering the grant?
The grant is managed through the Interior Business Center under the Department of the Interior.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this grant?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 15.088.
What problem is this funding trying to address?
The opportunity is framed around increasing wildland fire risk and operational strain: wildfire seasons are getting longer and more severe as drought and sustained higher temperatures dry out fuels and extend the timeframe when fires can ignite and spread.
Why does the opportunity mention invasive species?
The description notes a compounding cycle where intense fires and drought can accelerate invasive species growth. Those invasive plants may burn more readily than native vegetation, increasing the likelihood and intensity of future fires.
What is the primary purpose of the funding?
The intent is practical and equipment-oriented: to provide funding so eligible local governments can acquire slip-on tanker units that can be mounted onto appropriate vehicles to support wildland firefighting operations.
What is a slip-on tanker unit in the context of this grant?
In this opportunity, a slip-on tanker unit refers to equipment that can be mounted onto an appropriate vehicle to expand the local department's ability to deliver water or suppression resources for wildland firefighting.
How can slip-on tanker units help with wildland firefighting operations?
The opportunity description indicates these units can be useful in areas where larger apparatus may be limited by terrain, access, or distance. They can also be valuable for initial attack and rapid response when conditions are volatile.
What types of applicants are eligible to apply?
Applicants must be U.S. local governments that provide fire protection and other emergency services, demonstrate a need for slip-on tankers to improve wildland firefighting readiness, and serve a location with a population of 50,000 or less.
Does the program prioritize smaller jurisdictions?
Yes. Eligibility is described as targeted and restrictive in a way that prioritizes smaller jurisdictions, including a requirement that the applicant serve a location with a population of 50,000 or less.
Which government entity types are listed as eligible?
The eligible applicant types listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts. An "other" category is also referenced in the source data.
Is the applicant required to provide fire protection and emergency services?
Yes. The information provided states that applicants must be local governments that provide fire protection and other emergency services.
Is demonstrating need part of eligibility?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate a need for slip-on tanker units to improve wildland firefighting readiness.
What is the population limit for eligible communities?
The applicant must serve a location with a population of 50,000 or less.
What is the funding source for this grant?
Funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), enacted in November 2021.
What category is this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity is categorized under Disaster Prevention and Relief.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $249,000 per award.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The program anticipates making around 150 awards.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-01-22.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date is 2026-03-23.
What kinds of costs are allowed under this grant?
The provided summary indicates the grant is intended to support the acquisition of slip-on tanker units. More detailed guidance on allowable costs is stated as being available in the full announcement.
Where can applicants find the detailed requirements, selection criteria, and documentation needs?
The information provided indicates that further specifics on allowable costs, application requirements, selection criteria, and documentation are available in the full announcement.
Is this intended for large-scale projects or broad distribution?
Based on the stated expectation of around 150 awards and a $249,000 per-award ceiling, the opportunity is described as aiming for relatively broad distribution across multiple communities rather than a small number of very large projects.
Why is this opportunity relevant to communities that historically did not burn often?
The description highlights that current trends are contributing to fire activity in places that historically did not burn often, increasing risk to communities, especially where development meets wildland areas.
How does this funding relate to community risk at the wildland-urban interface?
The opportunity notes a growing risk to communities, particularly where development meets wildland areas, and positions the slip-on tanker purchases as a way to strengthen frontline response capability.
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