Opportunity Information: Apply for TAT FY26
The Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number: TAT FY26, CFDA 10.761) is a discretionary grant offered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Its purpose is to strengthen water and waste disposal services in rural areas by funding organizations that can deliver hands-on technical assistance and practical training to local “associations” and system operators. In plain terms, the program is designed to help rural communities diagnose problems in their drinking water or wastewater systems, figure out workable solutions, and build the skills and capacity needed to run and maintain those systems more effectively over time.
Grant funds can be used to cover the costs of providing technical assistance and training related to a wide range of water and waste challenges. On the water side, this includes helping rural systems identify and evaluate solutions connected to the water source, storage, treatment processes, and distribution networks. On the wastewater and waste side, it supports assistance focused on collection systems, treatment methods, and disposal approaches. The program also specifically allows support for applicants who have already submitted a pre-application to RUS, helping them prepare stronger water and/or waste disposal loan and grant applications. Another central use is training water and wastewater personnel in ways that directly improve management practices and day-to-day operations, including maintenance routines that reduce breakdowns, compliance issues, and service interruptions.
At the same time, the opportunity draws clear boundaries around what it will not fund. These grants are not meant to pay for building or upgrading infrastructure, running facilities, or covering routine operational costs of water, wastewater, or solid waste systems. Funds cannot be used for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of facilities. They also cannot be used for capital assets, real estate purchases, or vehicles, nor for office renovations or improvements, or repairs to privately owned property. Political or lobbying activity is prohibited. Another important restriction is that the grant cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided, such as work currently performed by an association’s consultant for project development. Finally, costs incurred before the grant’s effective date are not allowable.
Eligibility is limited to private nonprofit organizations that have IRS-recognized tax-exempt status (specifically noted as 501(c)(3) organizations other than institutions of higher education). To qualify, the nonprofit must be legally established and physically located within a state as defined in the program’s regulations, and it must be incorporated by December 31 of the year in which the application period occurs. Private businesses, federal agencies, public bodies, and individuals are explicitly ineligible.
Beyond basic eligibility, applicants must also demonstrate that they are truly capable of delivering technical assistance and training at a regional level. This includes showing proven experience and a track record of successfully completing similar projects, plus the legal authority and operational capacity to do the work proposed. The program lays out three ways an applicant can meet the “actual capacity” requirement: (1) having sufficient staff and resources in-house to serve rural areas directly, (2) relying on an affiliate or member organization with the needed experience that commits in writing to provide assistance, or (3) contracting with a non-affiliated organization, as long as no more than 49 percent of the grant is used for that contracted support.
Eligible project activities align closely with the program’s core goals: helping rural associations evaluate solutions to drinking water challenges (source, storage, treatment, distribution), helping evaluate solutions to waste and wastewater challenges (collection, treatment, disposal), supporting the preparation of RUS water and/or waste disposal loan and grant applications, and delivering training and technical assistance that improves management, operations, and maintenance of water and waste facilities. In short, the program funds the expertise, training time, and support services that help rural systems become more reliable and better managed, without paying for the physical infrastructure itself.
Key administrative details provided in the opportunity listing include an application closing date of 2025-12-31, an expected 40 awards, and an award ceiling listed as 0 (which typically signals that the ceiling is not specified in the summary listing or is defined elsewhere in program guidance). The funding activity categories include community development, employment/labor/training, and environment, reflecting the program’s focus on strengthening essential services through capacity-building rather than construction.Apply for TAT FY26
- The Rural Utilities Service in the community development, employment, labor and training, environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.761.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-10-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-12-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program (USDA RUS) - FAQs
What is the Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program?
The TAT Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number: TAT FY26, CFDA 10.761) is a discretionary grant offered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS). It supports hands-on technical assistance and practical training that strengthens water and waste disposal services in rural areas.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The program is designed to help rural communities and local water/wastewater associations diagnose problems in drinking water or wastewater systems, evaluate workable solutions, and build the skills and capacity needed to operate and maintain those systems more effectively over time.
Who is the federal agency behind this funding opportunity?
The grant is offered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to private nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized tax-exempt status, specifically 501(c)(3) organizations other than institutions of higher education.
Are colleges or universities eligible applicants?
No. The opportunity specifies that eligible 501(c)(3) organizations must be other than institutions of higher education.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals are explicitly ineligible.
Are private businesses eligible to apply?
No. Private businesses are explicitly ineligible.
Are public bodies or federal agencies eligible to apply?
No. Public bodies and federal agencies are explicitly ineligible.
Does the nonprofit have to be located in a specific place to qualify?
Yes. The nonprofit must be legally established and physically located within a state as defined in the program regulations.
Is there an incorporation deadline for applicants?
Yes. The organization must be incorporated by December 31 of the year in which the application period occurs.
What types of activities can the grant fund for drinking water systems?
Grant funds can support technical assistance and training related to identifying and evaluating solutions involving the water source, storage, treatment processes, and distribution networks.
What types of activities can the grant fund for wastewater and waste systems?
Grant funds can support technical assistance and training related to evaluating solutions for collection systems, treatment methods, and disposal approaches for wastewater and waste challenges.
Can the grant support help with preparing RUS loan and grant applications?
Yes. The program specifically allows support for applicants who have already submitted a pre-application to RUS, helping them prepare stronger water and/or waste disposal loan and grant applications.
What kinds of training does the program support?
The grant supports training for water and wastewater personnel that directly improves management practices and day-to-day operations, including maintenance routines that reduce breakdowns, compliance issues, and service interruptions.
Does this grant pay for construction or infrastructure upgrades?
No. The grant is not intended to fund building, upgrading, or otherwise physically improving infrastructure. Funds cannot be used for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, or modification of facilities.
Can grant funds be used to operate or maintain water or wastewater facilities?
No. Funds cannot be used for operation and maintenance of facilities or for routine operational costs of water, wastewater, or solid waste systems.
Can the grant be used to buy equipment, vehicles, or real estate?
No. Funds cannot be used for capital assets, real estate purchases, or vehicles.
Can grant funds be used for office renovations or improvements?
No. Office renovations or improvements are not allowable uses of funds.
Can the grant pay for repairs to privately owned property?
No. Repairs to privately owned property are not allowable.
Is political activity or lobbying allowed with grant funds?
No. Political or lobbying activity is prohibited.
Can the grant pay for services that are already being provided by someone else?
No. The grant cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided, such as work currently performed by an association's consultant for project development.
Are costs incurred before the grant starts eligible for reimbursement?
No. Costs incurred before the grant's effective date are not allowable.
What does the program mean by providing assistance at a "regional level"?
The opportunity states that applicants must show they can deliver technical assistance and training at a regional level, including proven experience and a track record of successfully completing similar projects, along with the legal authority and operational capacity to perform the proposed work.
How can an applicant demonstrate "actual capacity" to provide technical assistance and training?
The opportunity describes three ways to meet the actual capacity requirement: (1) having sufficient staff and resources in-house to serve rural areas directly, (2) using an affiliate or member organization with the needed experience that commits in writing to provide assistance, or (3) contracting with a non-affiliated organization, provided no more than 49 percent of the grant is used for contracted support.
If an applicant contracts out some of the work, is there a limit?
Yes. If contracting with a non-affiliated organization, no more than 49 percent of the grant can be used for that contracted support.
What are the eligible project activity categories under this opportunity?
Eligible activities align with helping rural associations evaluate solutions to drinking water challenges (source, storage, treatment, distribution), evaluate solutions to waste and wastewater challenges (collection, treatment, disposal), support preparation of RUS water and/or waste disposal loan and grant applications, and deliver training/technical assistance that improves management, operations, and maintenance practices.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date listed is 2025-12-31.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity listing indicates an expected 40 awards.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the summary, which typically indicates the ceiling is not specified in the summary listing or is defined elsewhere in program guidance.
What funding activity categories does this program fall under?
The funding activity categories listed include community development, employment/labor/training, and environment.
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