IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management UTAH Aquatic Resource Management | L24AS00269

Opportunity Information: Apply for L24AS00269

The IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah Aquatic Resource Management opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L24AS00269; CFDA 15.244) is a discretionary federal funding program administered by the Department of the Interior through BLM. It supports aquatic resource management work in Utah under a cooperative agreement structure, meaning BLM expects to have substantial involvement in the project during performance rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant. The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the program is positioned to advance management, conservation, restoration, and related stewardship outcomes for aquatic resources on or connected to BLM-managed lands in Utah, consistent with the broader implementation goals tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Awards under this notice are capped at an award ceiling of $500,000. The original closing date listed for applications was April 19, 2024, and the opportunity was created on February 15, 2024. While the notice does not provide project examples in the excerpt, the title and program framing indicate a focus on aquatic resource management activities such as assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and other on-the-ground or applied work that supports healthy aquatic ecosystems and resource decision-making on public lands.

Eligibility is limited to non-federal entities that can carry out natural resource projects in partnership with BLM. 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 Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible for awards under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), so proposals must come from an eligible public, tribal, educational, or nonprofit organization type.

The NOFO also makes an important restriction around youth hiring and internship models. It states that this program does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. BLM notes that the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II) is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under that framework, and as a result, youth-conservation-oriented organizations should not use this particular NOFO as the vehicle for Public Lands Corps-style internships or crews. Instead, eligible Youth Conservation Corps applicants are directed to pursue projects under a separate funding opportunity: NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. In practical terms, applicants should avoid structuring proposals around internship hiring authorities that do not fit this program and should ensure proposed staffing and participant roles align with what this NOFO can support.

The opportunity also addresses applicants working through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) program. CESUs are described as partnerships designed to promote and provide research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services. If an award is made to a CESU partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement, and the work is consistent with CESU purposes, indirect costs are limited to no more than 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base recognized in the partner's federally approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). Applicants are expected to indicate whether their proposal furthers CESU program purposes and, if it does, to specify which CESU Network should be considered as host. This matters for budgeting and compliance because CESU-related awards may be subject to the 17.5 percent indirect cost cap even if an organization otherwise has a higher negotiated indirect rate, depending on the applicable CESU agreement terms.

Overall, this NOFO is a BLM Utah cooperative agreement funding opportunity intended for eligible governmental, tribal, nonprofit, and educational partners to carry out aquatic resource management work tied to BLM priorities and IIJA/IRA implementation. Key takeaways for applicants are (1) ensure organizational eligibility (no individuals or for-profits), (2) do not propose Public Lands Corps intern/crew hiring under this NOFO and use the separate youth-focused NOFO if that is the project model, and (3) if applying as a CESU partner, clearly identify the CESU connection and budget indirect costs in line with the 17.5 percent limitation where applicable.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management UTAH 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 2024-02-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-19. (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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