BLM-(MT)- Sage-Grouse Conservation, Rocky Mountain Region | L17AS00212

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "BLM-(MT)- Sage-Grouse Conservation, Rocky Mountain Region."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is L17AS00212.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This is a Department of the Interior funding opportunity offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

What type of funding instrument is used?

The solicitation is offered as a cooperative agreement. Under this structure, BLM and the selected recipient are expected to work together on identifying priorities, selecting actions/projects, and tracking/reporting accomplishments.

Is this a discretionary funding program?

Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding program.

What CFDA program does it fall under?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.231 (Natural Resources).

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on July 14, 2017.

What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was September 11, 2017.

How many awards were anticipated?

The solicitation anticipated making one award.

What is the maximum federal funding amount for the award?

The maximum federal funding ceiling anticipated was $1,000,000.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types could apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications included in the full notice.

What geographic area does the broader conservation effort cover?

The opportunity is grounded in a multi-state conservation effort spanning Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.

What is the main purpose of the program described in this opportunity?

The primary objective is to establish a Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Program for the Rocky Mountain Region focused on BLM-managed lands.

What kinds of activities would be supported?

The program is intended to support on-the-ground actions and related projects that either (1) directly address known threats to the greater sage-grouse and its habitat, or (2) provide proactive conservation designed to prevent future declines.

Does the opportunity focus on small, isolated projects or larger-scale work?

The management emphasis is on implementing practical conservation work efficiently and at a scale large enough to produce landscape-level results, rather than isolated or piecemeal improvements.

What does BLM expect from the recipient beyond implementing projects?

A major expectation is that the recipient will help expand the partnership network and funding base beyond BLM alone. In coordination with BLM, the recipient is expected to invite participation from other federal agencies and private parties and to seek opportunities to attract new partners.

Why is partnership expansion important in this program?

The opportunity frames partnership expansion as a way to improve conservation outcomes by increasing coordination across efforts, reducing duplication, creating efficiencies of scale, and leveraging combined funding from multiple federal and non-federal sources.

How does the cooperative agreement describe collaboration with BLM?

BLM and the selected recipient would work together to identify priority conservation needs, select and fund specific actions and projects, and track and report measurable accomplishments that contribute to sage-grouse conservation.

What is the broader conservation context referenced for the greater sage-grouse?

The opportunity notes that federal, state, and private partners have worked together in a science-based campaign to conserve the greater sage-grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem, and that these collective actions contributed to a prior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determination that the species did not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Why does the opportunity emphasize "continued, durable" conservation?

It positions ongoing, partnership-based conservation as essential to maintaining the outcomes achieved to date over time, recognizing that progress depends on coordinated commitments across jurisdictions and landownerships.

What lands are the main focus for implementation under this program?

The program is focused on BLM-managed lands in the Rocky Mountain Region.

What does the opportunity say about measuring or reporting results?

It states that the recipient and BLM would track and report measurable accomplishments that contribute to greater sage-grouse conservation.

What public benefits are identified in the solicitation?

The opportunity states that conserving the greater sage-grouse and its sagebrush habitat provides broad ecological and community value, with benefits extending to hundreds of other native plant and animal species associated with sagebrush landscapes.

How does the opportunity connect sage-grouse conservation to public land values?

It frames sage-grouse conservation as a way to connect the public to tangible benefits of healthy public lands, supporting nature-based experiences and reinforcing long-term stewardship.

Does the opportunity mention multiple-use management?

Yes. It emphasizes demonstrating that collaborative conservation can work within a multiple-use management setting while conserving key public land values.

What is the rationale for early, coordinated action mentioned in the opportunity?

The solicitation suggests that early, coordinated action can potentially reduce long-term costs by preventing the need for more expensive interventions later.