FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management

Background
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Headquarters manages archaeological and historic sites, artifact collections, places of traditional cultural importance to Native Americans and other communities, and paleontological resources that occur on federal lands in the Headquarters. The program supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Sections 40601 and 40806, as well as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration, and 50303 DOI. The program aims to establish partnerships to encourage public engagement with heritage resources in HQ, expand recreation opportunities on public lands, ensure meaningful consultation and self-determination for Tribes, enhance visitor experience on public lands, and eliminate unnecessary steps while maintaining rigorous environmental standards.

Grant Details
The grant seeks to support projects that protect and preserve cultural heritage and paleontological resources for future generations, improve understanding of the nation’s cultural and natural history through studies and research, monitor at-risk heritage resources, train future cultural resource management practitioners and paleontologists, assist with cultural heritage data and records management activities, promote public engagement with Native American communities, develop and maintain historic sites with interpretive potential. The program is guided by various legislations such as the Archaeological Resource Protection Act of 1979, National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Native American Graves Protection and Protection Act (NAGPRA) of 1990, Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 among others.

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. Cost sharing or matching is not required but is strongly encouraged. Foreign entities or projects are not eligible for funding under this program.

Period of Performance
Projects funded through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will start upon issuance of a notice of award by the BLM Grants Management Officer 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
$150,000

Place of Performance
Projects will be based out of district or field offices where the project occurs.