Opportunity Information: Apply for VA NCA VCGP 2025
The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP), run by the VA National Cemetery Administration, provides federal grant funding to help states, US territories, and federally recognized tribal governments develop Veterans cemeteries that expand burial access for Veterans and eligible family members. The program has been active since 1980 and has awarded more than $1.1 billion in grants to support a nationwide network of state, territorial, and tribal Veterans cemeteries. These VCGP-supported cemeteries play a significant role in meeting burial needs: in 2024 alone, they handled more than 42,720 interments, representing roughly 24 percent of all annual interments across national, state, territory, and tribal cemeteries.
This specific funding notice is seeking FY25 pre-applications for projects that could be placed on the FY26 priority list, meaning it is part of the pipeline for future-year project selection and funding decisions. The grant funds are limited to cemetery development activities, specifically to establish, expand, or improve Veterans cemeteries that are owned and operated by an eligible state, territory, or tribal government (including tribal trust land). The opportunity is not open to private organizations, cities, or other types of government entities outside the listed eligible applicants. The VA can fund up to 100 percent of the approved development costs for a project, which can make this a very substantial source of capital support for construction and improvement work. At the same time, there are key restrictions: the VA cannot pay for land acquisition, and operating equipment support is limited to situations where a brand-new cemetery is being established.
Projects must meet VA standards for site selection, planning, and construction, and grantees remain responsible for the long-term administration, operation, and maintenance of the cemetery once built or improved. Funded cemeteries must be operated solely for the interment of Veterans (as defined in 38 CFR 39.2) and eligible family members (see 38 CFR 39.10). The notice also highlights a recent legal change allowing grantee cemeteries to inter certain individuals described in 38 USC 2408(i)(2), even though those individuals are not eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery; additional guidance on that authority is provided through the VA NCA Notices webpage.
A major compliance requirement emphasized in this opportunity is the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). Grantees must certify that project spending will follow domestic content procurement rules, meaning iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in VA-funded projects must be produced in the United States. For manufactured products, the rule also includes a component cost test: more than 55 percent of the total component cost must come from US-made components. This will affect procurement planning, contracting, and documentation, and applicants should expect to build compliance tracking into their project management approach.
For context on program impact and near-term growth, the VA notes that two new state cemeteries are expected to open in 2025 (in New York’s Finger Lakes region and in Grand Island, Nebraska), bringing the total to 124 VCGP-funded cemeteries and expanding burial access for an estimated 24,907 previously unserved Veterans and eligible family members. A separate planned cemetery in Lubbock, Texas is projected to open in December 2025 as the program’s 125th grant-funded state Veterans cemetery, with estimated access gains for 19,923 previously unserved Veterans. The notice also reminds applicants that, separate from construction grants, the VA may provide a burial plot allowance of up to $978 for certain eligible Veterans as part of Veterans burial benefits.
Key administrative details from the listing include: the opportunity title is Veterans Cemetery Grants (Funding Opportunity Number: VA NCA VCGP 2025), it is a discretionary grant under CFDA 64.203, and it is open to state governments and federally recognized tribal governments (with US territories explicitly eligible as well). The application deadline shown is July 1, 2025. The expected award volume is up to about 30 awards, with an award ceiling listed at $60,000,000.Apply for VA NCA VCGP 2025
- The VA National Cemetery Administration in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Veterans Cemetery Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 64.203.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-02-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP) - FY25 Pre-Application FAQs
1) What is the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP)?
The Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP) is a federal grant program run by the VA National Cemetery Administration (NCA) that provides funding to help states, US territories, and federally recognized tribal governments develop Veterans cemeteries. The program supports cemetery development in order to expand burial access for Veterans and eligible family members.
2) How long has the VCGP been active, and what is its track record?
The VCGP has been active since 1980. Over time, it has awarded more than $1.1 billion in grants to support a nationwide network of state, territorial, and tribal Veterans cemeteries. In 2024, VCGP-supported cemeteries handled more than 42,720 interments, which the notice describes as roughly 24 percent of all annual interments across national, state, territory, and tribal cemeteries.
3) What is the specific opportunity being announced here?
This notice is seeking FY25 pre-applications for projects that could be placed on the FY26 priority list. In other words, it is part of the pipeline for future-year project selection and funding decisions (FY26).
4) What is the official opportunity title and funding opportunity number?
The opportunity title is Veterans Cemetery Grants. The Funding Opportunity Number is VA NCA VCGP 2025.
5) What type of grant is this (and what is the CFDA number)?
The listing describes this as a discretionary grant under CFDA 64.203.
6) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are states, US territories, and federally recognized tribal governments. The notice also indicates that projects may be on tribal trust land. The opportunity is not open to private organizations, cities, or other types of government entities outside the listed eligible applicants.
7) Are cities, counties, or private organizations eligible applicants?
No. The notice explicitly states the opportunity is not open to private organizations, cities, or other types of government entities outside the listed eligible applicants (states, US territories, and federally recognized tribal governments).
8) What types of projects can grant funds be used for?
Grant funds are limited to cemetery development activities to establish, expand, or improve Veterans cemeteries. The cemetery must be owned and operated by an eligible state, territory, or tribal government.
9) Can the grant pay for land acquisition?
No. The notice states the VA cannot pay for land acquisition.
10) Can the grant fund operating equipment?
Operating equipment support is limited to situations where a brand-new cemetery is being established.
11) How much of project costs can the VA fund?
The VA can fund up to 100 percent of the approved development costs for a project, according to the notice.
12) What are the key standards or requirements projects must meet?
Projects must meet VA standards for site selection, planning, and construction. The notice emphasizes that funded work must align with these standards as part of development, expansion, or improvement activities.
13) Who is responsible for ongoing operations and maintenance after a project is funded?
The grantee remains responsible for the long-term administration, operation, and maintenance of the cemetery once it is built or improved.
14) Who can be buried in a cemetery developed with VCGP funding?
Funded cemeteries must be operated solely for the interment of Veterans (as defined in 38 CFR 39.2) and eligible family members (see 38 CFR 39.10).
15) Does the notice mention any expanded interment authority beyond standard VA national cemetery eligibility?
Yes. The notice highlights a recent legal change allowing grantee cemeteries to inter certain individuals described in 38 USC 2408(i)(2), even though those individuals are not eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. The notice indicates that additional guidance is available through the VA NCA Notices webpage.
16) What is the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirement for this opportunity?
The notice emphasizes compliance with the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA). Grantees must certify that project spending will follow domestic content procurement rules.
17) What domestic content rules apply under BABAA for these VA-funded cemetery projects?
The notice states that iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in VA-funded projects must be produced in the United States.
18) What is the BABAA requirement for manufactured products?
For manufactured products, the notice includes a component cost test: more than 55 percent of the total component cost must come from US-made components.
19) How might BABAA affect project planning and procurement?
The notice indicates BABAA will affect procurement planning, contracting, and documentation. Applicants should expect to build compliance tracking into their project management approach.
20) What is the application deadline shown for this opportunity?
The application deadline shown is July 1, 2025.
21) How many awards are expected?
The expected award volume is up to about 30 awards, according to the listing.
22) What is the award ceiling listed in the notice?
The award ceiling listed is $60,000,000.
23) How many VCGP-funded cemeteries exist, and what near-term openings are mentioned?
The notice states that two new state cemeteries are expected to open in 2025 (in New York's Finger Lakes region and in Grand Island, Nebraska), bringing the total to 124 VCGP-funded cemeteries. It also mentions a planned cemetery in Lubbock, Texas projected to open in December 2025 as the program's 125th grant-funded state Veterans cemetery.
24) What impact does the VA project from the new cemeteries mentioned in the notice?
The notice estimates that the two cemeteries expected to open in 2025 will expand burial access for about 24,907 previously unserved Veterans and eligible family members. The planned Lubbock, Texas cemetery is projected to expand access for an estimated 19,923 previously unserved Veterans.
25) Does this notice mention any other VA burial-related benefit amounts?
Yes. The notice reminds applicants that, separate from construction grants, the VA may provide a burial plot allowance of up to $978 for certain eligible Veterans as part of Veterans burial benefits.
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