FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Colorado (CO) Threatened and Endangered Species Program | L24AS00215

Opportunity Information: Apply for L24AS00215

The FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Colorado (CO) Threatened and Endangered Species Program (Funding Opportunity Number L24AS00215) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It will be issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically means BLM expects to have substantial involvement during the project (for example, coordinating on project design, methods, field access, compliance needs, data standards, or deliverables). The program sits in the Natural Resources funding activity category and is tied to CFDA 15.246. In practical terms, the opportunity is aimed at supporting work in Colorado that benefits threatened and endangered species, which can include activities like research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and education, depending on the specific project concept and BLM priorities.

A key point is who can and cannot apply. Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Eligible applicants include state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). This makes the opportunity broadly accessible to public agencies, tribes, universities, and nonprofit partners that can carry out conservation-focused work.

The NOFO also draws a clear boundary around youth internship or crew hiring under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. This program does not support entities hiring interns or crews under that authority. The notice explains that the Public Lands Corps Act (16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II) is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under that specific framework, and as a result, projects that rely on Youth Conservation Corps-style staffing need to be pursued under a different funding opportunity. Specifically, eligible Youth Conservation Corps applicants are directed to apply under NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands, rather than through this threatened and endangered species program NOFO. If an applicant is considering a project that includes youth crews, internships, or similar workforce components, the takeaway is that this opportunity is not the right vehicle for that approach, and the proposal should be structured accordingly.

Another important element is the reference to CESUs (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units). CESUs are partnership networks designed to promote and provide research, studies, monitoring, assessments, technical assistance, and educational services that align with federal land management needs. If an award is made to a CESU partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement, and the proposed work is consistent with the CESU purpose, then indirect costs are capped. The cap described here is a maximum of 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base recognized in the partner's federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). Applicants are also asked to state whether their proposal furthers the purpose of the CESU program and, if it does, to identify which CESU Network should be considered as the host. For organizations that are part of a CESU, this is a notable budgeting and administrative constraint, because it can limit indirect cost recovery compared with some other federal assistance awards.

In terms of funding size and timing, the listed award ceiling is $250,000. The opportunity was created on 2023-12-29, and the original closing date was 2024-03-04. The notice lists "ExpectedAwards:" but does not provide a number in the supplied source data, so the anticipated volume of awards is unclear from the excerpt. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as BLM Colorado seeking partners to implement conservation and science-based actions supporting threatened and endangered species priorities on or connected to BLM-managed lands, with cooperative agreement collaboration, clear eligibility limits (no individuals or for-profits), restrictions on Public Lands Corps-style internship/crew hiring under this NOFO, and a specific indirect cost cap framework for CESU-based awards.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Colorado (CO) Threatened and Endangered Species Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.246.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-04. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for L24AS00215

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: