Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP)

Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) is sponsored by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA. This program helps state and tribal governments encourage private landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation.

Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF The primary objective of VPA-HIP is to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make that land available for access by the public for wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing, under programs implemented by state or tribal governments.

VPA-HIP is a competitive grant program and only state and tribal governments may apply. Projects may be up to 3 years in duration. The maximum amount for a single award is $3 million.

Up to 25% of the funding for each award may be used to provide incentives to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands. AGRICULTURAL - AQ Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation NATURAL RESOURCES - QO Fish and Wildlife Preservation _These funding amounts do not reflect the award amounts that are displayed on USASpending. gov_ **This listing is funded for the current fiscal year.

** **Fiscal Year 2026:** The FY 2026 VPA-HIP NOFO is still in clearance but will seek to award $70M in funding for new projects to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands. No Credentials or Documentation are required. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

U.S. State Government (including the District of Columbia), U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states), Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government Eligible applicants for VPA-HIP are limited to state, territorial and tribal Governments.

The beneficiary eligibility is extended to the public for the purposes of expanding existing public access programs or create new public access programs or provide incentives to improve habitat on enrolled program lands. The funding provided by the VPA-HIP helps states and tribal governments increase public access to private land and improve wildlife habitat.

Grant recipients can use the funding to provide financial incentives to landowners to participate in a public access program, provide infrastructure or equipment associated with implementation of the public access program, and provide incentives to landowners to improve wildlife habitat on lands enrolled in a public access program. Only state and tribal governments are eligible to directly receive VPA-HIP grants.

Deadline determined at as part of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.

O. 12372. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.

Opportunity Posted Location: Grants. gov Application Procedures Location: NOFO Incomplete applications will not be evaluated. All applications will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria and scored in accordance with the VPA-HIP funding announcement.

An evaluation panel will rank proposals and make recommendations for funding. The NRCS Chief makes the final award decisions.

Funding priority was given to proposals that expended VPA-HIP funding through a public access program to address these objectives: Maximize participation by landowners; Ensure that land enrolled in the program has appropriate wildlife habitat; Encourage participation of Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) landowners in the public access program; Supplement funding and services from other federal, state, tribal government or private resources; and Provide information to the public about the location of public access land.

Grants are awarded through a competitive process. Following award selections, grantees enter into a grant agreement with NRCS. The agreement includes the deliverables and proposed budget for the project, as well as reporting requirements and other general terms and conditions.

Appeals will be handled according to 7 CFR parts 11 and 780.

The following 2CFR policy requirements apply to this assistance listing: Subpart B, General provisions Subpart C, Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards Subpart D, Post Federal; Award Requirements Subpart E, Cost Principles Subpart F, Audit Requirements The following 2CFR policy requirements are excluded from coverage under this assistance listing: **Financial Reports:**Financial reports are required.

, Frequency: Quarterly **Progress/Performance Reports :**Progress reports are required. , Frequency: Quarterly 2 CFR 200. 334 requirements apply.

Retention Period: 3 Years **Guidelines and Information:** Domestic Assistance Program that uses Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA): Mike Larsen, Acting Branch Chief, Projects Branch, Financial Assistance Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program