Bureau of Land Management New Mexico Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program

Background
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist with fuels management and community fire assistance program activities to reduce the risk and impact of catastrophic wildfires to local communities through coordination, reducing hazardous fuels, and furthering the education of landowners about wildfire prevention and mitigation. These activities will assist BLM in addressing the effects of climate change by working to create resilient landscapes and communities, creating jobs, and helping further conservation and restoration efforts by providing an opportunity to support planning and implementation of hazardous fuels reduction projects in wildland urban interface (WUI) areas and education and outreach programs that help create fire adapted communities and resilient landscapes. This program supports the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Public Law 117-58, Sec. 40803 Wildfire Risk Reduction. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI.

Grant Details
The project must assist BLM in meeting one or more of the Department of Interior priorities as well as one of the following priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration. The project must address objectives such as accomplishing fuels management activities on federal and non-federal land, developing and implementing fire education, training, and/or community action plans/programs, conducting Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), community wildfire assessments, planning activities, expanding community capability to enhance local employment opportunities, developing and implementing short- and long-term monitoring and maintenance plans for hazardous fuels reduction, community fire education and training, and community action programs. The program continues to advance the Department of the Interior’s priorities to create a conservation stewardship legacy while generating revenue and utilizing natural resources.

Eligibility Requirements
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 without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education. Individuals and for-profit organizations are ineligible to apply for awards under this NOFO.

Period of Performance
Projects funded through this NOFO will start upon issuance of a notice of award by the BLM Grants Management Officer (GMO) executed through GrantSolutions. Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one and no more than five years. Projects cannot be funded for more than a five-year period.

Grant Value
$711,000

Place of Performance
Projects must be performed within BLM district or field offices where the project occurs.