Opportunity Information: Apply for L17AS00155
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California grant opportunity titled "BLM CA Experimental Mesoscale Forecast Products for Fire Weather, Smoke Dispersion, Transport, Fire Danger, Fire Behavior" (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00155) is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the agency expects to be substantially involved with the recipient during the project rather than acting only as a pass-through funder. The program is listed under CFDA 15.232 and falls within the Natural Resources funding activity category. At the time it was posted (creation date June 13, 2017), the original closing date was August 11, 2017, with an anticipated single award and a maximum funding ceiling of $500,000.
The core purpose of the opportunity is to support applied research and technical studies that improve wildland fire and resource management decision-making. The work is intended to produce practical products and tools that can be used across multiple decision levels, from on-the-ground operational staff to incident management and broader strategic planning. The grant explicitly ties its goals to the National Fire Plan, emphasizing improved information and analysis to strengthen decisions around prevention, preparedness, suppression support, and broader fire management outcomes.
A central technical focus is the development and/or refinement of experimental meteorological forecast products tailored to fire-related needs. The solicitation calls out the use of established mesoscale numerical weather prediction systems, specifically the Penn State/NCAR Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, while also leaving room for "other advanced experimental models." In practice, this indicates the agency is looking for high-resolution, fire-relevant forecasting approaches that go beyond standard public forecasts, likely including better depiction of complex terrain effects, local wind fields, stability and mixing height behavior, and other weather variables that strongly influence fire growth and smoke movement.
The fire applications highlighted in the title and description include fire weather forecasting, smoke dispersion and transport, fire danger, and fire behavior support. That combination suggests deliverables may include model-generated forecast fields, derived indices or decision aids, visualization and dissemination tools, and validation or performance assessment geared toward operational use. Smoke dispersion and transport language also implies a strong interest in outputs that can inform air quality and public health decisions, including where smoke is likely to travel, how concentrated it may be, and how meteorological conditions may trap or ventilate smoke over time.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to qualified applicants of any organizational type, subject to any additional constraints that may appear in the full announcement. With one expected award and a relatively high ceiling, the structure reads like a targeted effort to fund a single capable team or institution to produce specialized experimental forecast products and support BLM and partner agencies with actionable fire-weather intelligence. The description also notes that if additional funds are added later, further model development may be pursued, signaling that the initial award could be the foundation for continued expansion or enhancement of forecasting capabilities over time.Apply for L17AS00155
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM CA Experimental Mesoscale Forecast Products for Fire Weather, Smoke Dispersion, Transport, Fire Danger, Fire Behavior" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.232.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 13, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 2017. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "BLM CA Experimental Mesoscale Forecast Products for Fire Weather, Smoke Dispersion, Transport, Fire Danger, Fire Behavior."
What agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California, under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L17AS00155.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What type of award instrument is expected?
The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
It means BLM expects to be substantially involved with the recipient during the project (not simply providing funds as a pass-through).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 15.232.
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
It falls within the Natural Resources funding activity category.
When was the opportunity posted?
The creation date listed is June 13, 2017.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was August 11, 2017.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement indicated an anticipated single award.
What is the maximum funding amount (ceiling)?
The maximum funding ceiling listed is $500,000.
What is the main purpose of the project being funded?
The core purpose is to support applied research and technical studies that improve wildland fire and resource management decision-making, with practical products and tools intended for real-world use.
Who are the intended users of the project outputs?
The work is intended to produce products and tools usable across multiple decision levels, including on-the-ground operational staff, incident management, and broader strategic planning needs.
How does this opportunity relate to the National Fire Plan?
The opportunity explicitly ties its goals to the National Fire Plan by emphasizing improved information and analysis to strengthen decisions related to prevention, preparedness, suppression support, and broader fire management outcomes.
What technical area is central to the solicitation?
A central focus is the development and/or refinement of experimental meteorological forecast products tailored to fire-related needs.
What modeling approaches does the announcement specifically mention?
The solicitation calls out established mesoscale numerical weather prediction systems, specifically the Penn State/NCAR Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model.
Are other models allowed besides MM5 and WRF?
Yes. The announcement leaves room for "other advanced experimental models."
Why does the opportunity emphasize mesoscale forecast products?
The description indicates BLM is looking for high-resolution, fire-relevant forecasting approaches that go beyond standard public forecasts, likely improving how complex terrain, local wind fields, stability, mixing height behavior, and other fire-influencing variables are depicted.
What fire-related applications are highlighted?
The title and description highlight fire weather forecasting, smoke dispersion and transport, fire danger, and fire behavior support.
What kinds of deliverables does the description suggest?
Based on the description, deliverables may include model-generated forecast fields, derived indices or decision aids, visualization and dissemination tools, and validation or performance assessment geared toward operational use.
Why is smoke dispersion and transport included as a focus?
The inclusion of smoke dispersion and transport suggests an interest in outputs that can inform air quality and public health decisions, such as where smoke is likely to travel, how concentrated it may be, and whether conditions may trap or ventilate smoke over time.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to qualified applicants of any organizational type (subject to any additional constraints that may appear in the full announcement).
Does the announcement indicate whether this is meant to fund one specialized team?
With one expected award and a relatively high funding ceiling, the structure reads like a targeted effort to fund a single capable team or institution to produce specialized experimental forecast products and support BLM and partner agencies with actionable fire-weather intelligence.
Could the work continue beyond the initial award?
The description notes that if additional funds are added later, further model development may be pursued, suggesting the initial award could serve as a foundation for continued expansion or enhancement over time.
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| BLM-(WO), Support of professional development and communication on wildlife management and biology through a professional society for wildlife. Apply for L17AS00161 Funding Number: L17AS00161 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| BLM CA Wildlife and Plant Conservation Apply for L17AS00159 Funding Number: L17AS00159 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
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| Native Youth Community Adaptation Leadership Congress - Amendment Apply for F17AS00261 Funding Number: F17AS00261 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| BLM-WY, Watershed Health Study Using Amphibian and Bat Presence-Absence Distribution Apply for L17AS00176 Funding Number: L17AS00176 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| BLM-(MT), Upper Missouri Watershed Restoration Apply for L17AS00181 Funding Number: L17AS00181 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $87,500 |
| Provide Interns with Experiential Learning Opportunities in Historic Preservation Apply for P17AS00376 Funding Number: P17AS00376 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $40,683 |
| BLM-WO Outcomes-Focused Recreation and Community Assessment Project Apply for L17AS00165 Funding Number: L17AS00165 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $90,000 |
| Archeological Resource Protection Plan for Grazing and Other Known Impacts Apply for P17AS00425 Funding Number: P17AS00425 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $8,000 |
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| 2017 Yosemite SCA Wilderness Restoration Program Apply for P17AS00411 Funding Number: P17AS00411 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $29,971 |
| Condition Assessment and Intensive Survey for Lake Lucero Site, LA 21162 Apply for P17AS00375 Funding Number: P17AS00375 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $59,055 |
| BLM-ES, Archaeological Research Education and Interpretation Apply for L17AS00163 Funding Number: L17AS00163 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $12,000 |
| Notice of Intent: Backcountry Preservation Plan, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Apply for P17AS00397 Funding Number: P17AS00397 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Linking Hispanic Heritage Through Archeology- Session 5 Apply for P17AS00398 Funding Number: P17AS00398 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $72,674 |
| Vegetation Monitoring and Restoration at Joshua Tree National Park Apply for P17AS00423 Funding Number: P17AS00423 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $68,000 |
| BLM AZ, ASD PLC Conservation Project Apply for L17AS00172 Funding Number: L17AS00172 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Mitigation of Cultural Resources impacted by use and erosion of unmaintained 4WD roads within the MAZE District of Canyonlands National Park Apply for P17AS00396 Funding Number: P17AS00396 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $99,284 |
| BLM-OR/WA, Analysis, and Monitoring of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Resources Apply for L17AS00168 Funding Number: L17AS00168 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $45,000 |
| Archeological Internships Apply for NPSNOICACH1700913 Funding Number: NPSNOICACH1700913 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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