IIJA Bureau of Land Management Idaho Aquatic Resource Management | L23AS00237

Opportunity Information: Apply for L23AS00237

The "IIJA Bureau of Land Management Idaho Aquatic Resource Management" funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L23AS00237) is a discretionary grant program run by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), focused on aquatic resource management work in Idaho. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, which typically means BLM expects to have substantial involvement in the project during planning and implementation rather than simply issuing funds and stepping away. The program falls under the Natural Resources activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.244.

This opportunity is open to a fairly broad range of public and nonprofit applicants. Eligible applicants include state, county, 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; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status. 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 the program does not support projects that involve 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, and this particular NOFO is not the vehicle for that type of internship or crew-based youth hiring. If an applicant is looking to propose a project centered on youth conservation corps, internships, or similar crew hiring, the notice directs those efforts to a different BLM funding opportunity: NOFO 15.243, titled "BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands." In practical terms, that means this aquatic resource management NOFO is intended for project work itself (planning, restoration, monitoring, management actions, partnerships, etc., as allowed under the program) rather than serving as a pass-through for creating intern or crew positions under Public Lands Corps authorities.

The posting lists an award ceiling of $50,000 per award, indicating projects are expected to be relatively small to moderate in scope or designed as targeted, discrete components of larger aquatic resource efforts. The original closing date for applications was April 17, 2023, and the opportunity was created on February 15, 2023. Overall, the opportunity is best suited for eligible government entities, tribes, universities, and nonprofit organizations seeking to partner with BLM in Idaho on aquatic resource management activities, with the clear understanding that proposals should not be structured around Public Lands Corps intern or crew hiring under this specific notice.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "IIJA Bureau of Land Management Idaho Aquatic Resource Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.244.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-02-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-17. (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 L23AS00237

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