FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Wyoming (WY) Threatened and Endangered Species Program | L24AS00171

Opportunity Information: Apply for L24AS00171

The FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Wyoming (WY) Threatened and Endangered Species Program (Funding Opportunity Number L24AS00171) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, which typically means BLM expects to have substantial involvement during the project (for example, coordinating on work plans, methods, deliverables, or implementation). The program sits in the Natural Resources funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 15.246. The stated focus is work that supports threatened and endangered species efforts in Wyoming on or connected to BLM-managed lands, which commonly includes applied conservation actions such as research, monitoring, assessments, technical assistance, and related educational services that inform species management.

Eligibility is broad across public and nonprofit sectors but specifically excludes individuals and for-profit organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments (including special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Tribal governments, other Tribal organizations, public housing/Indian housing authorities, and nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status). In practical terms, the opportunity is aimed at governmental entities, academic institutions, Tribes and Tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations that can carry out species-related fieldwork, analysis, planning, or conservation implementation in coordination with BLM Wyoming.

Several restrictions are emphasized. This NOFO does not support projects that involve 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 only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under that specific framework, and as a result, applicants who want to propose youth corps or intern-style projects must use a different funding opportunity. Specifically, eligible Youth Conservation Corps applicants are directed to pursue projects under NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands, rather than under this threatened and endangered species program NOFO. This is an important compliance point: even if a project is biologically relevant to threatened and endangered species, proposals structured around youth crews/intern hiring under that authority are not considered a fit here.

The opportunity also highlights the role of Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs). CESUs are partnership networks designed to support research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services, often linking federal land managers with universities and other partners. If an award is made to a CESU partner under an existing, formally negotiated Master CESU agreement and the project is consistent with the CESU mission, the indirect cost recovery is capped. Under the CESU framework referenced in the notice, 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 told to clearly state whether their proposal advances CESU purposes and, if it does, which CESU Network should be considered the host. This matters for budgeting and administrative handling, because the CESU indirect cost limitation can change the total recoverable indirect costs compared to what an organization might otherwise request.

Key dates and funding parameters included in the listing are that the opportunity was created on December 4, 2023, and the original application closing date was February 2, 2024. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is listed as $250,000. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data, which usually means awards could vary depending on available funding, the quality and fit of proposals, and BLM Wyoming priorities for threatened and endangered species work that year.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a BLM Wyoming vehicle for partnering with eligible public, Tribal, academic, and nonprofit entities on threatened and endangered species conservation activities, with clear limits around who can apply (no individuals or for-profits), what staffing models are supported (not for Public Lands Corps intern/crew hiring under this NOFO), and how indirect costs may be treated when proposals are submitted through the CESU partnership structure (including the 17.5 percent cap under the described conditions).

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Wyoming (WY) Threatened and Endangered Species Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.246.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-12-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-02. (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.

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