The Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) FY 2025 REPI Challenge offers funding to projects that enhance military installation resilience to extreme weather events, including flood resilience, through land conservation and management activities.

	Supports nature-based solutions		Encourages public-private partnerships
	Has a regional or watershed focus

Application cycle: Pre-proposals were due July 3, 2025. 

Summary: The U.S. Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Challenge addresses extreme weather impacts on national security by funding off-installation nature-based solutions near military installations and ranges. Local and state governments, regional planning agencies, conservation districts, and other public entities are strongly encouraged to apply, especially if they are located near active DoD sites. These projects aim to strengthen installation resilience, such as improving flood protection: by conserving surrounding landscapes and implementing natural infrastructure solutions like wetland restoration or shoreline stabilization. In doing so, REPI supports both military readiness and broader community resilience. The program emphasizes innovative partnerships and encourages applicants to leverage additional funding sources and authorities to maximize impact. Applicants should be prepared to collaborate closely with military installations and demonstrate how proposed activities will reduce environmental risks while enabling continued or enhanced operational capabilities.

Eligible applicants: U.S. States, local governments, Indian Tribes, non-governmental organizations, and individuals through cooperative agreements. Additionally, heads of federal departments and agencies may participate through interagency agreements, as well as private entities whose primary organizational purpose is the conservation, restoration, or preservation of land and natural resources or similar objectives.

• Filter – Public Private Partnerships: REPI supports partnerships by allowing government and private entities to form cost-sharing agreements to acquire land or conservation easements that prevent encroachment, protect natural habitats, and sustain military readiness.

Eligible activities: 

• Focus Area A: Climate Resilience Projects 
  • Phase 1: Planning & Capacity Building – Develop a clear plan outlining partnerships, project scope, geographies, and potential nature-based solutions with prioritization criteria. 
  • Phase 2: Site Assessment & Design – Conduct site evaluations and create preliminary designs, refining the project scope and geographies to prepare for final design and permitting. 
  • Phase 3: Final Design & Permitting – Complete detailed project designs, finalize cost estimates, secure permits, and fulfill all environmental planning requirements. 
  • Phase 4: Implementation & Monitoring – Begin project execution with all plans, permits, and approvals in place. Include a monitoring plan and submit relevant documentation or timelines for permitting.
• Focus Area B: Limit incompatible development near DOD installations and ranges. 
  • Supports projects that prevent incompatible development near DoD installations by protecting large land areas that enhance, sustain, and optimize military operations.
• Focus Area C: Habitat Restoration 
  • Invests in projects that reduce mission risks from endangered species by protecting key habitats near DoD installations to sustain and enhance operations.

Funding: $100,000 to $6,000,000 is the typical range for project funding. There is no specified minimum or maximum funding level per project; however, projects are expected to demonstrate significant partner contributions and cost-sharing to maximize the program’s impact.

Cost share: 50% federal / 50% nonfederal. 

Application process: 

• Interested applicants are required to request an account to complete their FY 2025 REPI Challenge preproposal in the program’s REPI Challenge Online Portal, available at:  https://repi.osd.mil.
• Projects with a recreation benefit (e.g., parks, trails, fishing, hunting) are strongly encouraged to apply to REPI and DOI’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Partnership Program at: https://www.repi.mil/Resilience/Complementary-Federal-Programs/Readiness-andRecreation-Initiative/

For more information about next steps, visit the REPI Challenge Website.