FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Aquatic Resource Management | L24AS00050

Opportunity Information: Apply for L24AS00050

The FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Headquarters (HQ) Aquatic Resource Management funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L24AS00050; CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.244) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through BLM. It supports aquatic resources management work under BLM oversight, using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. In practical terms, that means BLM expects substantial involvement in the project rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back, which is typical of cooperative agreements in natural resource programs that involve coordination, technical direction, and shared stewardship outcomes.

This opportunity is aimed at organizations that can carry out aquatic resource management activities such as research, monitoring, assessments, technical assistance, and related educational services that align with BLM priorities. The notice emphasizes the role of Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs), which are partnership networks specifically designed to connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, tribes, and other partners to deliver science, monitoring, and technical capacity. Applicants are asked to clearly indicate whether their proposal advances the CESU program purpose, and if it does, to identify which CESU Network should serve as the host. This matters because CESU-aligned awards come with specific administrative rules, especially around indirect cost limits.

Eligibility is limited to a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, including state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status. A key restriction is that individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply. That limitation is explicitly stated and is an important screening criterion for anyone considering submission.

The NOFO also includes a clear restriction related to youth crews and internships. It states that this particular program notice does not support recipients hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The reason given is that the Public Lands Corps Act is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under that framework, and projects using Youth Conservation Corps mechanisms must instead be submitted under a different BLM funding opportunity: NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. In other words, if an applicant is looking to build a proposal around youth internships or corps crews authorized under Public Lands Corps, they are being directed to the separate youth-focused NOFO rather than this aquatic resource management announcement.

For applicants working through a CESU partnership, the indirect cost policy is a major compliance point. If a cooperative agreement is awarded to a CESU partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement and the project is consistent with CESU purposes, indirect costs are capped at no more than 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base, as recognized in the partner's federally approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). This cap can materially affect project budgeting, so applicants proposing under a CESU framework need to structure budgets with that ceiling in mind and explain the relationship to the CESU in the proposal narrative.

Key administrative details provided in the listing include an original application closing date of January 19, 2024, and an award ceiling of $500,000. The opportunity was created on November 6, 2023. The listing does not specify the exact number of expected awards in the provided text, but it does indicate that awards are anticipated. Overall, the opportunity is designed for public agencies, tribes, universities, and nonprofits that can partner with BLM on aquatic resource management priorities, particularly where cooperative planning, applied science, monitoring, and technical assistance are central, while excluding private for-profit applicants and steering youth internship or crew-based proposals to the separate youth conservation funding route.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Aquatic Resource Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.244.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-19. (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 $500,000.00 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.

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