Bureau of Land Management Colorado Forest and Woodlands Resource Management | L22AS00156

Opportunity Information: Apply for L22AS00156

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado Forest and Woodlands Resource Management opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L22AS00156) is a discretionary federal funding program offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through BLM. It is designed to support natural resource work focused on forest and woodland resource management in Colorado, and it will be awarded using a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically means BLM expects to stay actively involved with the recipient during project implementation (for example, through coordination, technical input, or joint planning), rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back.

The opportunity is tied to the Natural Resources funding activity category and is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.233. The listed award ceiling is $50,000, indicating that individual awards are expected to be relatively small and project-specific. The notice shows an original closing date of June 14, 2022, and a creation date of January 14, 2022. The data provided does not specify the number of awards expected (the field appears blank), so applicants would typically plan for a competitive process without assuming multiple awards will be made.

Eligibility is broad across public and nonprofit sectors, which suggests BLM intended to attract partners that are already active in land and resource stewardship. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and other tribal organizations. It also includes both types of nonprofits: those with IRS 501(c)(3) status and those without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that category). Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are also listed as eligible.

At the same time, the notice is explicit about who cannot apply. Individuals and for-profit organizations are ineligible under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). That restriction matters for consulting firms, private contractors, and sole proprietors who might otherwise seek to lead a project; they would need to participate as subcontractors or partners under an eligible lead applicant rather than applying directly.

A key limitation in the description concerns internships and youth crews. The NOFO states it does not support entities 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 authority. Because of that, organizations that want to propose youth internship or conservation corps-style projects are directed away from this opportunity and toward a different, dedicated BLM funding pathway: NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. In practical terms, that means applicants should not frame their project budget and work plan around placing interns, creating youth crew positions, or running a youth corps program under this NOFO. If youth employment or internship components are central to a proposal, BLM is signaling that it belongs under the separate youth-focused NOFO instead.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted partnership funding source for Colorado-based forest and woodland management work on public lands, meant for governmental entities, tribes, educational institutions, and nonprofits, with awards up to $50,000 via cooperative agreement. It is not a vehicle for individual applicants, for-profit companies, or projects built around Public Lands Corps internship or crew hiring; those youth-oriented proposals are expected to be routed through the separate BLM youth conservation funding opportunity.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bureau of Land Management Colorado Forest and Woodlands Resource Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.233.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-14. (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 $50,000.00 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 L22AS00156

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