Bureau of Land Management Colorado Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance | L22AS00205

Opportunity Information: Apply for L22AS00205

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L22AS00205) is a discretionary federal funding program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through BLM. It is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the BLM expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordinating on planning, implementation details, reporting, or technical oversight) rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant with minimal agency engagement. The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and it is associated with CFDA/Assistance Listing 15.228.

This opportunity is focused on fuels management and community fire assistance in Colorado, which generally refers to work that reduces hazardous vegetation (fuels) and helps communities better prepare for, mitigate, and respond to wildfire risk. While the posted description is brief, the title and program framing indicate the funding is meant to support projects that strengthen wildfire resilience on or connected to BLM-managed landscapes and nearby communities, often through collaboration with local governments, tribes, schools, universities, special districts, housing authorities, and nonprofit partners.

Eligibility is broad across public and nonprofit sectors, and includes state governments; county governments; city or 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; Native American tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). At the same time, the notice is explicit about two key restrictions. First, individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. Second, the program does not support applicants hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 within this funding opportunity. The notice explains that the Public Lands Corps Act is the legislative authority used to "hire" interns under that framework, and that youth-focused or conservation corps style projects must be pursued under a different, specific BLM funding path: NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. In other words, if an applicant is primarily trying to fund youth crews, internships, or Public Lands Corps-style positions, this particular opportunity is not the correct vehicle.

The posting lists an award ceiling of $930,000, indicating the maximum expected federal amount per award (or per project, depending on the agency terms). The original closing date was July 3, 2022, and the opportunity was created on February 3, 2022. The notice also indicates an expected number of awards, but the value is not provided in the source data shown, so applicants would normally consult the full NOFO package for details such as total available funding, the anticipated range of awards, project periods, cost share requirements (if any), reporting expectations, and evaluation criteria.

In practical terms, this funding opportunity is best suited for eligible public entities, tribes, educational institutions, housing authorities, and nonprofits seeking to carry out Colorado-based wildfire fuels reduction and community fire assistance work in coordination with BLM, while not relying on Public Lands Corps hiring mechanisms. Applicants whose core approach depends on youth corps internships or crews should instead align their proposal with the separate BLM youth conservation NOFO referenced in the notice.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bureau of Land Management Colorado Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.228.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-02-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-03. (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 $930,000.00 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 L22AS00205

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