Opportunity Information: Apply for L23AS00274
The FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakota Environmental Quality and Protection opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L23AS00274) is a discretionary federal funding competition run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is designed to support environmental quality and protection work tied to BLM priorities in the Montana/Dakota region, and it is funded and administered through a cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect an active partnership model where BLM may remain substantively involved in planning, coordination, oversight, or implementation rather than operating as a hands-off pass-through funder. The program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.236 and falls within the Natural Resources activity category.
A wide range of public and nonprofit entities are eligible to apply. 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 and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit categories, since IHEs are listed separately). At the same time, the notice is explicit about who cannot apply: individuals and for-profit organizations are ineligible for awards under this NOFO.
A key restriction in the announcement is that this particular NOFO does not support projects that involve an entity 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 framework. As a result, organizations that are specifically looking to run youth/intern or conservation crew projects under that authority are directed elsewhere: eligible Youth Conservation Corps applicants should pursue projects under a different opportunity, NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands, rather than submitting those project concepts here.
From an applicant planning perspective, the headline takeaway is that this funding is meant for environmental quality and protection work in the Montana/Dakota BLM context, structured as a cooperative agreement with substantial federal involvement, open to governmental, tribal, educational, housing-authority, and nonprofit partners, but not open to individuals or for-profit entities. It is also not the right vehicle for proposals centered on Public Lands Corps-style intern or crew hiring; those concepts belong under the separate youth conservation funding track. The original application closing date for this FY23 opportunity was May 23, 2023, and the listed award ceiling was $2,300,000.Apply for L23AS00274
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakota Environmental Quality and Protection" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.236.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-03-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-23. (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 $2,300,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY23 IIJA BLM Montana/Dakota Environmental Quality and Protection opportunity?
It is a discretionary federal funding competition administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The opportunity supports environmental quality and protection work tied to BLM priorities in the Montana/Dakota region.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L23AS00274.
Which federal agency runs and administers this funding opportunity?
The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) runs and administers the opportunity.
Is this grant competitive or non-competitive?
This is a discretionary federal funding competition, meaning proposals are competed rather than automatically funded.
What kind of funding instrument will be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The program is funded and administered through a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically involves an active partnership model. Recipients should expect BLM to remain substantively involved in areas such as planning, coordination, oversight, or implementation, rather than acting as a hands-off pass-through funder.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?
The program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.236.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls within the Natural Resources activity category.
What types of projects is this opportunity intended to support?
It is intended to support environmental quality and protection work tied to BLM priorities in the Montana/Dakota region.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, including 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 nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (with institutions of higher education treated as a separate category).
Are state governments eligible to apply?
Yes. State governments are listed as eligible applicants.
Are local governments eligible to apply (counties, cities, townships)?
Yes. County governments and city/township governments are listed as eligible applicants.
Are special district governments eligible to apply?
Yes. Special district governments are listed as eligible applicants.
Are independent school districts eligible to apply?
Yes. Independent school districts are listed as eligible applicants.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are federally recognized tribal governments eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible to apply.
Are other tribal organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.
Are Indian housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible applicants (with institutions of higher education addressed under separate eligibility categories).
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. The notice explicitly states that individuals are ineligible for awards under this NOFO.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
No. The notice explicitly states that for-profit organizations are ineligible for awards under this NOFO.
Does this NOFO support projects that hire interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993?
No. A key restriction is that this NOFO does not support projects that involve an entity hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993.
Why are Public Lands Corps intern or crew projects not allowed under this opportunity?
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 framework. Because of that restriction, proposals centered on that type of hiring are not supported under this NOFO.
Where should Youth Conservation Corps applicants apply instead?
Applicants looking to pursue Youth Conservation Corps-type projects are directed to a different opportunity: NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.
If my project concept is primarily a youth/intern or conservation crew effort, should I apply to this NOFO?
No. If the core of the proposal is hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps-style framework, the notice indicates those concepts should be pursued under the separate youth conservation opportunity (NOFO 15.243) rather than submitted here.
What is the original application closing date for this FY23 opportunity?
The original application closing date was May 23, 2023.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $2,300,000.
Is this opportunity specific to a particular region?
Yes. The focus is environmental quality and protection work tied to BLM priorities in the Montana/Dakota region.
What is the main planning takeaway for applicants?
The funding is aimed at environmental quality and protection work in the Montana/Dakota BLM context, is structured as a cooperative agreement with substantial federal involvement, is open to eligible governmental, tribal, educational, housing-authority, and nonprofit partners, and is not open to individuals or for-profit entities. It is also not intended for proposals centered on Public Lands Corps-style intern or crew hiring.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (L23AS00274) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakota Wildlife Program Apply for L23AS00273 Funding Number: L23AS00273 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakota Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Apply for L23AS00271 Funding Number: L23AS00271 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $325,000 |
| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakota Threatened and Endangered Species Program Apply for L23AS00272 Funding Number: L23AS00272 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakota Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management Apply for L23AS00291 Funding Number: L23AS00291 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakota Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Apply for L23AS00275 Funding Number: L23AS00275 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| IIJA Bureau of Land Management National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Apply for L23AS00289 Funding Number: L23AS00289 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $550,000 |
| FY23 IIJA Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakota Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program Apply for L23AS00288 Funding Number: L23AS00288 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| IIJA Bureau of Land Management Idaho Recreation and Visitor Services Apply for L23AS00239 Funding Number: L23AS00239 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| IIJA Bureau of Land Management Idaho Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands Apply for L23AS00246 Funding Number: L23AS00246 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| F23AS00125 - Latin America Regional Program Apply for F23AS00125 Funding Number: F23AS00125 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| IIJA Bureau of Land Management California Threatened and Endangered Species Program Apply for L23AS00280 Funding Number: L23AS00280 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| IIJA Bureau of Land Management California Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Apply for L23AS00286 Funding Number: L23AS00286 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| F24AS00006 - NAWCA 2024 Mexico Standard Grant Apply for F24AS00006 Funding Number: F24AS00006 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| F23AS00302 - Migratory Bird Conservation in the Midwest Apply for F23AS00302 Funding Number: F23AS00302 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Bureau of Land Management Alaska IIJA Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Apply for L23AS00295 Funding Number: L23AS00295 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Bureau of Land Management IIJA Alaska Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program Apply for L23AS00294 Funding Number: L23AS00294 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| FY23 BLM Oregon Washington SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS, TITLE II GRANTS Apply for L23AS00283 Funding Number: L23AS00283 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| IRA Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Rangeland Resource Management Apply for L23AS00312 Funding Number: L23AS00312 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| IRA Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Aquatic Resource Management Apply for L23AS00311 Funding Number: L23AS00311 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| IRA Bureau of Land Management Headquarters (HQ) Threatened and Endangered Species Program Apply for L23AS00309 Funding Number: L23AS00309 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
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