Environmental Regulatory Enhancement | HHS 2025 ACF ANA NR 0113

Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (ERE) Grant (FY 2025) - FAQs

1) What is the Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (ERE) grant?

The Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (ERE) grant is a Fiscal Year 2025 discretionary funding opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Native Americans (ANA). It focuses on strengthening tribal capacity to regulate environmental quality by supporting planning, development, and implementation of community-based efforts that help tribal governing bodies carry out environmental regulation aligned with federal and tribal environmental laws.

2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to help tribes and eligible Native entities build or improve the systems, policies, and programs needed to oversee environmental protections and compliance more effectively. The grant is intended to cover the costs of planning, developing, and implementing community-based efforts that support environmental regulatory capability.

3) What kinds of activities does the grant support?

Based on the announcement description, the grant supports activities such as planning, developing, and implementing community-based efforts that strengthen environmental regulatory systems. This can include building foundational regulatory programs, improving existing environmental governance structures, and implementing systems that support enforcement and compliance under tribal and federal environmental frameworks.

4) Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?

The funding agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), specifically the Administration for Native Americans (ANA).

5) Is this a discretionary or formula grant?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity.

6) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS 2025 ACF ANA NR 0113.

7) What is the CFDA number for this grant?

The CFDA listing provided is 93.581.

8) What activity category is this opportunity associated with?

The opportunity is tied to an activity category associated with income security and social services.

9) What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $900,000.

10) How many awards does ANA expect to make?

ANA expects to make approximately 4 awards.

11) What does the limited number of awards suggest about competitiveness?

With a relatively high ceiling ($900,000) and an expected 4 awards, the opportunity appears competitive and likely geared toward well-developed projects that show clear outcomes and strong implementation plans (as reflected in the opportunity summary).

12) What is the application deadline?

The original application deadline is April 14, 2025.

13) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on January 14, 2025.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is centered on Native and tribal governments and organizations, under the governing authorities cited in the announcement (42 U.S.C. 2991b and 45 CFR 1336.33). Eligible applicants include:

• Federally recognized Indian tribes (as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs)
• Incorporated non-federally recognized tribes
• Incorporated state-recognized Indian tribes
• Non-profit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies (including IRA councils or traditional councils recognized by BIA)
• Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
• Non-profit village consortia
• Non-profit Alaska Native Regional Associations and/or Corporations (when proposing village-specific projects)
• Other tribal or village organizations, or consortia of Indian tribes and tribal governing bodies recognized by BIA

15) Are federally recognized tribes eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Indian tribes (as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs) are explicitly included as eligible applicants.

16) Are non-federally recognized or state-recognized tribes eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes incorporated non-federally recognized tribes and incorporated state-recognized Indian tribes.

17) Which Alaska Native entities are eligible?

The opportunity includes multiple Alaska Native entities, including non-profit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies (including IRA councils or traditional councils recognized by BIA), Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, non-profit village consortia, and (when proposing village-specific projects) non-profit Alaska Native Regional Associations and/or Corporations.

18) Can consortia apply?

Yes. The eligibility description includes consortia of Indian tribes and tribal governing bodies recognized by BIA, as well as non-profit village consortia.

19) Who is not eligible to apply?

The notice explicitly states that individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are ineligible. These applications will be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.

20) Are individuals allowed to apply if they have relevant expertise?

No. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are explicitly ineligible and will be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.

21) Are foreign entities eligible?

No. Foreign entities are explicitly ineligible and will be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.

22) Can faith-based organizations apply?

Yes. The program states that faith-based and community organizations may apply as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.

23) How will faith-based organizations be treated in the selection process?

Faith-based organizations must be treated the same as other applicants, and ACF states it will not discriminate in selection based on religious character or affiliation, consistent with applicable protections and requirements, including 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.

24) What legal authorities are cited for eligibility?

The announcement cites 42 U.S.C. 2991b and 45 CFR 1336.33 as governing authorities related to eligibility.

25) What is the program trying to strengthen specifically?

The program is aimed at strengthening tribal capacity to regulate environmental quality, including the ability to plan, develop, and implement systems and community-based efforts that support environmental regulation, compliance, and enforcement aligned with federal and tribal environmental laws.

26) Does the grant focus on new programs, improvements to existing programs, or both?

Both. The opportunity description indicates it can support creating foundational regulatory programs, improving existing environmental governance structures, and implementing community-based systems that support enforcement and compliance.

27) What does it mean that the project should be community-based?

The description emphasizes community-based efforts, meaning activities are intended to be planned, developed, and implemented in ways that support tribal governing bodies and environmental regulation as part of community-centered systems. The announcement does not provide additional detail beyond stating that the efforts are community-based.

28) What should applicants keep in mind about project quality?

The opportunity summary suggests that, given the funding ceiling and the limited expected awards, ANA is likely looking for well-developed projects with clear outcomes and strong implementation plans.