IRA Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Aquatic Resource Management

Background
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Headquarters (HQ) is seeking partners to assist with the implementation of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ecosystem conservation and restoration activities. The BLM IRA appropriations focus on large-scale, coordinated on-the-ground actions to conserve, maintain, and restore ecosystems, habitats, and the species that depend upon them. The BLM National Aquatic Resources Program conserves and restores riparian and wetland areas, aquatic habitats, and water resources to provide resource values and ecosystem services necessary to achieve the BLM’s multiple use mandate.

Grant Details
The BLM is requesting projects across five different programs: Wildlife, Threatened and Endangered Species, Native Plants, Aquatic Resources, and Range. The projects should address themes such as Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation and Management, Building Drought Resilience in Arid Watersheds through Riverscape and Wet Meadow Restoration and Grazing Management, and National Seed Strategy.

The program's core functions include decision support, conservation, restoration, water resource sustainability, environmental compliance, and collaboration. Projects funded at the HQ level should be national or regional in scope. The total funding for this grant opportunity is $25,000,000 with an expected award amount ranging from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000. Anticipated number of awards is 20 with a funding instrument type of Cooperative Agreement.

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; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS; private institutions of higher education.

Cost sharing or matching is not required for this program; however, a voluntary cost share is strongly encouraged.

Period of Performance
Projects funded through this 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.

Grant Value
$25,000,000

Place of Performance
Projects funded through this NOFO will start upon issuance of a notice of award by the BLM Grants Management Officer executed through GrantSolutions.