Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program competition for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2026

The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Improvement Program (VPA-HIP) addresses frequently asked questions regarding program administration, funding, and eligibility. Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov, and ezFedGrants will manage awards. The full appropriated $70 million is not available at once, with additional funding planned for future fiscal years. The estimated award date is September 30th, but project start dates can differ from the award date to align with specific activities. Pre-award costs are allowed under special circumstances, subject to approval during agreement negotiation. A 10% technical assistance cap applies to grantee personnel, sub-awards, and contractors. Indirect costs are allowed for awardees and sub-awards, capped at 15% unless a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) is in place. Program income can be generated and must be spent on project activities. VPA-HIP incentives can target specific species for wildlife-dependent recreation. Landowner agreements generally cannot be signed before grant execution. Most projects consider the public as the beneficiary, not triggering AGI requirements, unless VPA-HIP funds primarily benefit the landowner through habitat improvements without public access. In such cases, producer eligibility rules, including AGI, apply, requiring landowners to register with the FSA. Land enrolled in other USDA programs like CSP or CREP can also be enrolled in VPA-HIP, but duplicative habitat improvement practices are not allowed. Waivers are available if no WRE/WRP lands are in the project area, and NRCS can provide GIS data for WRE/WRP land locations but limited landowner contact information.

The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Improvement Program (VPA-HIP) Frequently Asked Questions document provides crucial guidance for applicants to the federal grant program. It clarifies submission procedures via Grants.gov and confirms ezFedGrants as the management software for awarded projects. The document addresses funding availability, explaining that the full appropriated amount may not be released at once, and clarifies that award and project start dates can differ, allowing for pre-award costs under special circumstances. Key budget questions are answered, detailing a 10% technical assistance cap, rules for indirect costs (including for subawards), and the use of program income. The document also extensively covers eligibility requirements, particularly regarding AGI (Adjusted Gross Income), explaining when the public, rather than the landowner, is considered the primary beneficiary, thus often negating AGI requirements. It outlines the applicability of Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions, and how VPA-HIP interacts with other USDA conservation programs like CSP, CRP, and WRE/WRP, emphasizing the need to avoid duplicative payments and providing resources for identifying WRE/WRP lands.