Bureau of Land Management Colorado Plant Conservation and Restoration Management | L22AS00206

Opportunity Information: Apply for L22AS00206

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado Plant Conservation and Restoration Management opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L22AS00206) is a discretionary federal funding program from the U.S. Department of the Interior aimed at supporting plant conservation and restoration work in Colorado. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means BLM expects to have substantial involvement during the project (for example, coordination on priorities, methods, compliance needs, deliverables, or monitoring). The funding activity area is Natural Resources, and it is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.245. The opportunity was created on February 3, 2022, with an original application closing date of July 3, 2022. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $250,000; the notice indicates expected awards but does not provide a specific number in the source data provided.

Eligibility is limited to public and nonprofit entities and qualifying educational and tribal organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations (that are not federally recognized as governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible and cannot apply.

A major restriction in the notice is that this program does not support projects where the applicant is hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The notice explains that the Public Lands Corps Act (16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II) is the legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under that framework, and that this particular NOFO is not the vehicle for those kinds of youth or intern hiring arrangements. As a result, Youth Conservation Corps or similar youth-focused applicants are directed to pursue projects under a different funding opportunity specifically intended for that purpose: NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. In practical terms, applicants to L22AS00206 should design projects around plant conservation and restoration outcomes rather than structuring proposals around youth crew employment or intern hiring under Public Lands Corps authorities.

Based on the title and the program framing, the types of projects that fit this opportunity are those that advance conservation, restoration, and management of plant resources on or connected to BLM-managed lands in Colorado. While the provided text does not list specific project categories, work under a plant conservation and restoration management umbrella commonly includes activities such as native plant restoration, habitat improvement, revegetation planning and implementation, invasive plant prevention or control tied to restoration goals, seed collection and native seed strategy support, monitoring and assessment of restoration outcomes, and on-the-ground management actions that protect sensitive plant species or communities. Because it is a cooperative agreement, applicants should generally anticipate close coordination with BLM staff and alignment with BLM priorities for Colorado plant resources, including planning, permitting/compliance where needed, and reporting on measurable outcomes.

In summary, L22AS00206 is a BLM Colorado natural resources funding opportunity offering cooperative agreements up to $250,000 to eligible public, tribal, nonprofit, and higher education entities for plant conservation and restoration management projects. It is not open to individuals or for-profit organizations, and it is not intended to fund projects built around hiring interns or youth crews under the Public Lands Corps Act; youth-crew style proposals are instead routed to the separate BLM youth conservation NOFO (15.243).

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bureau of Land Management Colorado Plant Conservation and Restoration Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.245.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-02-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-03. (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 $250,000.00 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.

Apply for L22AS00206

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