F23AS00028 National Outreach and Communication Program | F23AS00028

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (F23AS00028) to support implementation of the National Outreach and Communication Program (NOCP) for sportfishing and boating through a cooperative agreement.

What is the National Outreach and Communication Program (NOCP)?

The NOCP is a national outreach and communications effort focused on sportfishing and boating participation. It was created under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) in response to declining fishing and boating participation that occurred in the early 1990s.

Why does the NOCP exist (what problem is it trying to solve)?

The program is designed to address drops in fishing and boating participation and to strengthen the public benefits connected to participation. The opportunity describes two core public values: (1) expanding access to clean, safe, healthy recreational fishing and boating for everyone, and (2) protecting long-term conservation funding that is tied to participation (including through state fishing licenses and programs supported by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund).

What kinds of projects or activities is the Service expecting to fund?

Proposals are expected to deliver a national outreach effort that is grounded in data and built through consensus with a broad set of stakeholders. The Service is looking for strategies that measurably improve how anglers, boaters, and the public learn about opportunities to fish and boat; reduce barriers to participation; encourage responsible practices; promote conservation and responsible use of aquatic resources; and strengthen safety in both activities.

Is this mainly an advertising campaign?

The opportunity emphasizes that outreach should not be treated as generic advertising. A strong proposal is described as a coordinated national strategy informed by participation trends, audience insights, and evidence about what drives behavior change.

Do applicants have to address every program purpose equally?

No. The notice indicates applicants do not have to weight every purpose equally, but they must consider all of them and explain how the proposed campaign or strategy supports the overall NOCP mission.

What outcomes is the outreach effort expected to influence?

Based on the opportunity description, expected outcomes include measurable improvements in awareness and learning about fishing and boating opportunities, reduced practical and social barriers to participation, increased participation and continued engagement, stronger conservation ethics and responsible use of aquatic resources, and improved safety related to sportfishing and boating.

What does "national outreach effort" mean in this context?

The announcement describes a coordinated, national communications and outreach program. It highlights the need for major national marketing and outreach campaign experience and a strategy developed through consensus across many stakeholder groups, suggesting the effort is intended to operate at a nationwide scale rather than being limited to a single state or local area.

Who is the federal awarding agency?

The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What type of funding instrument will be used?

The notice states the award will be made through a cooperative agreement. This typically signals substantial federal involvement or partnership during project implementation.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity lists CFDA 15.653.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The notice lists an award ceiling of $70,000,000.

When was the opportunity created, and what was the closing date listed?

The creation date is listed as August 30, 2022. The original closing date is listed as October 31, 2022.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of organizations may apply.

If eligibility is unrestricted, are there still experience requirements?

Yes. The notice describes specific and rigorous experience requirements. Applicants must provide documentation showing successful planning and execution of major national marketing and outreach campaigns, including experience identifying and communicating with targeted audiences to increase awareness, participation, and behavior change related to outdoor recreation, aquatic conservation, fishing, and boating.

What kind of documentation is required to demonstrate experience?

Applicants must provide documentation detailed enough for reviewers to verify that past work is accurate and directly relevant to the NOCP purposes and/or the strategic plan objectives. The description implies reviewers will evaluate whether prior campaigns were major, national in scale, and tied to measurable participation and behavior change goals.

What audiences does the NOCP focus on?

The opportunity specifically references anglers, boaters, and the general public as audiences the outreach should better inform about fishing and boating opportunities and encourage toward participation and responsible behavior.

How important is stakeholder collaboration in the proposed approach?

Collaboration is presented as a key theme. The outreach strategy is expected to be consensus-based and developed with input and coordination from a broad set of stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, industry partners, nongovernmental organizations, community groups, and anglers and boaters themselves.

Does the opportunity mention underserved or underrepresented communities?

Yes. Applicants are expected to thoughtfully consider underserved and underrepresented communities. The announcement implies that barriers to access and participation may differ by community and should be addressed directly through targeted messaging, improved access information, and culturally relevant engagement approaches.

What strategic framework or plan is referenced for organizing the outreach strategy?

The NOCP is framed around a strategic planning foundation developed by the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council in 1998. The opportunity describes five practical objectives from that plan that applicants can use to organize their approach.

What are the five strategic plan objectives mentioned in the opportunity?

The five objectives described are: (1) create a top-of-mind national campaign that builds awareness and encourages trial and continued participation; (2) educate people on how and where to fish and boat; (3) identify distinct market segments and tailor messages to each segment's needs; (4) educate stakeholders and partners on marketing, outreach, and implementing strategies for targeted user groups; and (5) make it easy and straightforward for people to find and access fishing and boating locations.

What does the opportunity suggest about the role of data and research?

It states proposals are expected to be clearly grounded in data, informed by participation trends and audience insights, and built around evidence about what drives behavior change.

What does "reduce practical and social barriers" refer to?

The notice does not provide an exhaustive list of barriers, but it explicitly calls out both practical and social barriers that keep people from participating. It also links this to underserved and underrepresented communities, implying barriers may vary and should be addressed through targeted messaging, improved access information, and culturally relevant engagement.

How does this program connect participation to conservation funding?

The opportunity explains that participation supports a long-term conservation funding pipeline, especially through state fishing licenses and programs supported by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The NOCP is positioned as helping sustain that pipeline by growing and sustaining participation.

Is safety part of the NOCP mission?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes strengthening safety in both sportfishing and boating as one of the purposes the outreach strategy should address.

Is conservation messaging part of the NOCP mission?

Yes. The opportunity calls for promoting conservation and responsible use of aquatic resources and encouraging sound, responsible angling and boating practices.

Is the government expecting a single organization to run the program, or can it involve partners?

The opportunity is aimed at selecting an organization capable of running a coordinated national program, and it also emphasizes broad collaboration across agencies, industry partners, NGOs, community groups, and participants. It describes the goal as selecting an organization (or lead applicant with partners) capable of implementing the effort.

What is the main thing reviewers will likely look for in a strong proposal, based on the description?

Based on the notice, a strong proposal would demonstrate national-scale outreach capability, a research- and data-informed strategy, measurable intent to improve participation and behavior outcomes, alignment with NOCP purposes and the 1998 strategic objectives, and a consensus-based approach developed with broad stakeholder collaboration, including consideration of underserved and underrepresented communities.