IIJA Bureau of Land Management Wyoming Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program | L23AS00217

Opportunity Information: Apply for L23AS00217

The IIJA Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program is a discretionary federal funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L23AS00217) that supports natural resources work focused on plant conservation and restoration efforts in Wyoming under BLM management priorities. Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement, which generally means the BLM expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination on methods, priorities, deliverables, or reporting), rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal federal engagement. The opportunity is associated with CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.245 and was created on January 30, 2023, with an original application closing date of April 12, 2023. The stated award ceiling is $125,000.

Eligibility is limited to public and mission-driven entities rather than private commercial applicants. 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; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying under the nonprofit categories). Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible to apply under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

A key restriction in this NOFO is that it does not support projects that involve hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The listing emphasizes 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 framework, and as a result, youth or conservation corps-style internship/crew arrangements are not allowable under this particular funding opportunity. Organizations that are eligible Youth Conservation Corps and want to propose projects built around youth crews or interns are directed instead to a separate funding pathway: NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. In practical terms, applicants to this Wyoming plant conservation and restoration program should plan work that fits the plant conservation/restoration mission without structuring the project around Public Lands Corps intern or crew hiring.

Overall, this opportunity is best suited for governmental entities, tribes, universities, and nonprofits that can carry out plant-focused conservation, restoration, and related natural resource management activities in Wyoming in collaboration with BLM, within a project budget that does not exceed $125,000, and without relying on Public Lands Corps intern/crew hiring authorities.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "IIJA Bureau of Land Management Wyoming Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program" 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 2023-01-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-12. (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 $125,000.00 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 L23AS00217

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