Foa_Content_of_L25AS00174.pdf

Bureau of Land Management

Notice of Funding Opportunity

FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management California Plant Conservation and Restoration Management

Funding Opportunity Number

L25AS00174

Table of Contents

BASIC INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY

Cost Sharing Requirement

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals

Program Description

Legislative Authority

Type of Award

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Applications Content and Format

Application Documents

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package

Submission Dates and Times

Submission Instructions

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Eligibility Review

Merit Review

Review and Selection Process

Risk Review

AWARD NOTICES

POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Administration and National Policy Requirements

Reporting

General Information

Summary

Award Information

Key Dates

Eligibility Information

Additional Information

BASIC INFORMATION

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: L25AS00174

Assistance Listing Number(s): 15.245

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,000,000

Expected Number of Awards: 30

Award Ceiling: $975,000

Award Floor: $25,000

Cost Sharing Required?

No Closing Date for Applications: 03/08/2025

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET. on the listed application due dates.

Open from January 7, 2025, through March 8, 2025.

Extensions to NOFO close dates will be unallowed, except in extenuating circumstances.

U.S. states and local governments may be required under Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs to submit their application to their State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for review. For more information, see the Intergovernmental Review SPOC List.

Have Questions?

The recipient should expect Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have substantial involvement in the project. Before submitting an application, applicants are encouraged to contact the state’s Plant Conservation and Restoration Program Lead, Christina Lund at clund@blm.gov or the Ecoregional Plant Program Lead at the BLM state, district or field office where the work is proposed to take place. Applicants and the relevant office should discuss proposed projects to determine eligibility under the BLM priorities and criteria described in this NOFO. If the project is national in scope, applicants are also encouraged to contact the HQ Plant Conservation and Restoration Program Lead, Peggy Olwell at polwell@blm.gov.

Executive Summary The BLM California Plant Conservation and Restoration Program advances the Department of the Interior's priorities to address the climate crisis, restore balance on public lands and waters, advance environmental justice, and invest in a clean energy future. In 2025 the California BLM is focused on meeting the priorities of the National Seed Strategy (www.blm.gov/seedstrategy).

The BLM California Plant Conservation and Restoration Program is especially focused on projects that:

1. protect biodiversity;

2. increase resilience to climate change and help leverage natural climate solutions;

3. contribute to conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by the year 2030;

4. engage communities of color, low income families, and rural and indigenous communities to enhance economic opportunities related to native seed production and restoration;

5. and use the best science and data available to make decisions.

Native plants and native plant communities are the true green infrastructure we rely upon to sustain healthy, bio-diverse ecosystems. Without native seed we do not have the ability to restore functional ecosystems after natural disasters and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The California BLM has opportunities to work with partner organizations to do activities such as:

• Reduce the threats to sage grouse, rare plants, and other sensitive species in high priority habitats by supporting efforts to restore habitat for keystone wildlife and pollinator .

• Working with growers to develop genetically appropriate native plant material for use in habitat restoration and rehabilitation.

• Support studies to improve the effectiveness of conservation restoration efforts in areas such as plant ecological, plant genetics, and ecophysiological studies, seed bank persistence, plant propagation and development of agronomic production practices, and trait and/or seed source evaluations as well as seeding treatment and tool development.

• Support pollinator studies and projects on the importance of native plant communities and pollinators to restoration durability and ecological function.

• Implement conservation actions for high priority rare plant species

• Increase understanding of rare plant biology and threats.

• Monitor, protect, and restore habitat that supports more than 1,800 rare plant species, more than 300 of which are found exclusively on BLM lands.

• Develop strategies to encourage the use of native plant materials that are genetically appropriate for restoration and reclamation across all BLM associated programs such as Wildlife, Oil & Gas, Minerals, Fuels, Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation, Range, and Renewable Energy;

• Increase Citizen Science through expanding public education programs on native plants and native plant communities through development of technical guidance, videos, native plant guides and floras, workshops, webinars, and apps.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants State governments

County governments

City or township governments

Special district governments

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

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 without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Private institutions of higher education

Additional Information on Eligibility Individuals and For-Profit Organizations are ineligible to apply for awards under this NOFO.

This program NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, 16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II- Public Lands Corps, is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under this authority. Therefore, eligible Youth Conservation Corps may only apply for projects developed under NOFO 15.243 – BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs) are partnerships to promote, conduct, and provide research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services. For cooperative agreements with CESU partners, indirect costs are limited to a rate of no-more-than 17.5 percent. Applicants should state if they will participate in the CESU program, and if so, which CESU Network would be the host.

Cost Sharing Requirement Cost Sharing Required?

No

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration

Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be registered in SAM.gov. During the SAM.gov registration the entity will obtain their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

The SAM.gov registration process can take several months. If your organization is not already registered in SAM.gov, begin the registration process as soon as possible.

To register in SAM.gov, go to the SAM.gov website and use the available resources to complete registration.

• Financial assistance registrants must review and certify compliance with the SAM.gov “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications”.

• Already registered? You already have a Unique Entity ID. Before applying, check that your “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications” on SAM.gov is complete. Remember to renew your registration every year to keep it active while you have an award or application in progress. You can update your registration whenever you need, including during renewal.

• Need help? For additional information and contact information on the SAM.gov Help page.

GRANTS.GOV

This program accepts application through Grants.gov so once you receive your UEI return to Grants.gov to register with Grants.gov. Please allow for 30 days to register and set up a Workspace in Grants.gov. See Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

Refer to Attachment – Submission Instructions & Tips.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals

• Developing genetically appropriate native plant material/seed for use in habitat restoration.

• Implementing and assessing seed-based restoration techniques/efforts.

• The inventory, monitoring, and restoring of rare plant species and their associated communities to include development of conservation strategies/plans that include best management practices.

Program Description Public lands contain a diversity of native plant communities that make up over 50 ecoregions across BLM administered lands. Each ecoregion contains native plants that have adapted to those environments. The program works with partners to increase the quantity, diversity, and effectiveness of native forbs and grasses for restoration of wildlife habitats and rehabilitation after wildfires.

Since the Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program (PCRP) was established in 2001, the Program has dramatically improved the availability and use of locally adapted, genetically appropriate native seed for restoration. The PCRP-led Seeds of Success project has made more than 27,000 native seed collections across 44 states and 93 ecoregions.

Under PCRP leadership, the Plant Conservation Alliance developed and released the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration—the first of its kind in the world. Since PCRP created the Native Forb and Grass Seed Production IDIQ Contract in 2018, BLM staff have ordered more than 100,000 pounds of seed from 55 native species across 62 seed transfer zones.

The proportion of native seed purchased through the BLM National Seed Warehouse System increased from roughly 50% native seed in 2001 (the year PCRP was established) to 80% native seed in 2019.

PCRP partnerships with federal agencies and non-federal organizations have grown millions of seedlings for restoration on BLM lands, provided education and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities, and developed much of the science that land managers use to inform restoration seeding decisions. Finally, PCRP sponsored the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Assessment of Seed Needs and Capacities and the Open Access publication of the first international principles and standards for using native seeds in ecological restoration. Through these accomplishments, PCRP has proven to be a global leader in the developing locally adapted native plant materials for use in restoring adaptive and resilient ecosystems. This program supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act P.L. 117-58, Section 40704(b) Ecosystem Restoration and through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303

DOI.

Program Strategic Goals:

• Implementing the National Native Seed Strategy

• Developing genetically appropriate native plant material/seed for use in habitat restoration;

• Implementing and assessing seed-based restoration techniques/efforts;

• Collaborating with farmers and conservationists to increase BLM Stock and Foundation seed amounts to use on larger Seed Increase IDIQ contracts so that commercial availability of genetically diverse, locally sourced seed for restoration, rehabilitation and reclamation projects is increased at a landscape scale;

• The inventory and monitoring of rare plant species and their associated communities including development of conservation strategies/plans that include the best management practices.

• Restoring native plant communities so that they are resilient to environmental stressors, including drought, wildland fire, invasive species, and insects/disease;

• Conserving and protecting rare plant species and their habitat through seed banking, scientific research to inform conservation and management needs, and development of guidance for rare plant biodiversity conservation, management, and habitat restoration;

• Expanding public education programs and outreach;

Database creation, management, and analysis including geospatial, collaborative web service or support and training.

Buy America Preferences for Infrastructure Projects

This program has Federal funding for infrastructure projects. Buy America preferences apply to Federal awards for infrastructure projects in the United States. Reference 2 CFR Part 184 - Buy America Preferences for Infrastructure Project for further guidance.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act Priority Language

Legislative Authority Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 USC § 1737(b) Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements, 16 USC § 1011 (b)

Type of Award Projects will be funded through:

Funding Instrument CA (Cooperative Agreement) Recipient should expect the Federal agency to have substantial involvement in the project.

The recipient should expect Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have substantial involvement in the project. Substantial involvement may include such things as:

• Joint collaboration between the BLM and recipient in carrying out management, development, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed work.

• Training of recipient personnel.

• BLM review and approval of one stage of work prior to the start of the next stage.

• BLM review and approval of modifications or sub-awards prior to their award.

• BLM participation in selecting recipient project staff.

• BLM directing or redirecting recipient work because of relationships to other BLM other projects.

• Ability to immediately halt work because of failure to meet agreement objectives.

• Close monitoring and/or operational involvement in the proposed work.

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Applications Content and Format Application Documents Applicants must submit the following forms with their application as specified below.

Instructions for accessing and submitting application forms are provided in the Submission Instructions section of this document below. For instructions on completing form fields, see the form instructions on the Grants.gov Forms Repository.

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Note: For applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Representative’s signature (or electronic equivalent) on the Application for Federal Assistance form also represents their certification of the statements in Appendix A to 43 CFR 18-Certification Regarding Lobbying

Required from all applicants

SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs

Required for non-construction projects

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Required if requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds and the applicant has used or plans to use funds other than Federal appropriated funds for lobbying related to the proposed project.

Project Abstract Summary (OMB 4040-0019). Must include, in plain language:

• Award purpose,

• Activities to be performed,

• Expected deliverables or outcomes, Required from all applicants

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement

• Intended beneficiaries, Subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award) DOI Research and Development (R&D) – Current and Pending (Other) Support Note: This form is available on the DOI website.

Applicants must download the form and include the completed form as an application attachment.

Required for research projects.

DOI Research and Development (R&D) – Biographical Sketch Note: This form is available on the DOI website.

Applicants must download the form and include the completed form as an application attachment.

Required for research projects.

Project Narrative (Suggested format, Attachment A Project Proposal template may be used when submitting your proposal.) The project proposal must be no longer than 15 pages, with a typeface no smaller than 11-point, and have at least one (1) inch margins on all sides. The 15-page limit includes all text, figures, references, and vitae, but does not include the Budget Detail (Attachment B).

Application narrative requirements may include:

• Project title

• Statement of need

• Goals and objectives

• Public benefit and program interest of the BLM

• Technical approach

• Timetable or milestones

• Information to support environmental compliance review requirements. (NOTE: Projects under aquatic and wildlife management, the native plant program, threatened and endangered species habitat conservation - the narrative should provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973)

• Description of stakeholder coordination or involvement

• Required project monitoring and evaluation plan, including how you will measure project performance and assessment tools to be used

• Information on key project personnel

• Anticipated future funding needs

• Details and supporting documentation on the project location

• Other program or project-specific narrative requirements

All proposals are confidential.

Budget Narrative Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget. The budget narrative must identify the following cost items: total estimated costs, non-Federal cost share, third-party contributions, and any pre-award costs. Total project cost is the sum of all allowable costs, including required and voluntary cost share and third-party contributions.

Budget items must be:

• Reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary

• Compliant with 2 CFR §200 Subpart E cost principles

Indirect Costs: Applicants must indicate in their budget narrative how they will charge indirect costs, including the rate to be applied:

• De Minimis Rate: If eligible, state if your organization is opting to use the de minimis rate of up to 15% of total modified direct costs. Entities that do not have a current Federal negotiated indirect cost rate (including provisional rate) may propose to use the de minimis rate. For more information, refer to 2 CFR 200.414(f).

• Negotiated Rate: State if you will negotiate with your cognizant agency. If your organization has previously negotiated a rate, attach a copy of the most recently negotiated rate agreement (active or expired).

This program has a mandated cap on indirect costs or approved rate deviation.

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESUs) are partnerships to promote, conduct, and provide research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services. For cooperative agreements with CESU partners, indirect costs are limited to a rate of no-more-than

17.5 percent. Applicants should state if they will participate in the CESU program, and if so, which CESU Network would be the host.

Data and Evaluation Costs: Applicant budgets may include costs related to data and evaluation as relevant per 2 CFR §200.455.

Applicant budgets may include costs related to data and evaluation as relevant per 2CFR200.455.

Refer to Budget Detail and Narrative, Attachment B as the format.

Other Required Information

Conflict of Interest and Unresolved Matters Disclosures: If any actual or potential conflict of interest exists related to this project at the time of application, the applicant must provide sufficient information to support a program determination of significance per 2 CFR 1402.112.

Refer to 2 CFR 200.112 Conflict of Interest and 2 CFR 200.113.

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement:

Applicants must state in their application if the activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel proposed in this application overlap with those in any other Federal proposal or award or not. If no overlap exists, include a statement to that effect. If any overlap exists, provide:

• Activities: Description any overlapping activities.

• Costs: Description of any overlapping costs.

• Time: Description of any overlapping key personnel time.

• A copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity.

• Details on when any overlapping proposal was submitted, to whom, and the expected date of the funding decision.

Other documentation may include resume, curriculum vitae or other biographical information for key personnel, project location maps, any documentation to support an eligibility determination (e.g., proof of certain tax status, authorizing tribal resolution), third-party references, letters of support, or letters of cost sharing or other commitments to the project, independent audit report, or negotiated indirect cost rate letter.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package This NOFO includes all information, documents, and electronic addresses needed to submit an application through www.Grants.gov. Contact Shanice Shay at shay@blm.gov for any additional questions.

Submission Dates and Times Closing Date for Applications: 03/08/2025

Closing Date Explanation

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET. on the listed application due dates.

Open from January 7, 2025, through March 8, 2025.

Extensions to NOFO close dates will be unallowed, except in extenuating circumstances.

Submission Instructions Apply Through Grants.gov To apply through Grants.gov, please follow the instructions in the Quick Start Guide for Applicants. Before applying, ensure that at least one person at your organization is registered and has the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Only the AOR can submit the application. If you need more users, they must create their own Grants.gov account. Follow these steps below to apply:

• Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

• Complete a Workspace: Invite participants to the workspace so you can collaborate on the application. Required applications forms are included in the Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Package and can be completed in the Workspace, unless noted otherwise in the Required Forms table above. Check for errors before submission.

• Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab

• Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application.

The system generates a date and time stamp and sends it to the applicant’s AOR via email as proof of submission. Make sure your application passes the Grants.gov validation checks. Do not encrypt, zip, or password-protect any files. Only registered individuals in SAM as both a user and an AOR can submit applications. Please allow 30 days to register in Grants.gov.

Application System Technical Support: For Grants.gov technical registration and submission, downloading forms, and application packages, contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800- 518-4726 or by email at Support@grants.gov.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Eligibility Review During the eligibility review, the application is checked for timely submission, completed packages (see Application Documents above) and alignment with the requirements of this announcement. The Federal agency may remove an application if it does not pass the eligibility review.

Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Depending on the specifics of the funding opportunity, screening may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Submission is timely;

• Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; and

• Complete and properly executed required application package documents are included.

Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review.

If an applicant selected for funding hasn't finished their SAM.gov registration (see 2 CFR 25.200 and 2 CFR 25.110) when the federal agency is ready to make an award, we may decide that the applicant is ineligible for the award and choose to grant it to someone else. Please refer 2 CFR

25.205 for more information.

Prior to making an award, the DOI checks the anticipated recipient and their key project personnel against the current list of prohibited or restricted persons or entities in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Exclusions database. We are prohibited from making an award if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible, prohibited, restricted, or otherwise excluded from receiving or participating in an award, as their ineligibility condition applies to this program.

If removed from consideration for ineligibility, the Federal agency will notify the applicant in writing.

Merit Review Proposals will be evaluated on strengths or weaknesses for each merit review criterion and rated “Exceeds” “Meets” or “Does not meet” expectations with highest importance on Statement of Need.

Each of these ratings is defined as follows:

Exceeds – The proposal exceeds the criteria factors without any deficiencies.

Meets – The proposal meets criteria factors with few, or only minor, deficiencies.

Does not meet – The proposal does not meet the criteria factors, or there are significant deficiencies identified.

Eligible applications will be evaluated in an objective and unbiased manner using the following merit review criteria:

APPLICANT STATEMENT OF NEED

• Mission and objectives, including achievable project goals and how they relate to plant conservation and native plant materials development

• Objectives of the project

• DOI priorities met

APPLICANT TECHNICAL APPROACH AND MONITORING

• Development and management plans

• Techniques, processes, and methodologies

• Data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation

• Significant anticipated accomplishments

• Clear milestones and measurement criteria

• Tasks to be performed by other partner organizations, subrecipients, contractors, and/or consultants

• Environmental compliance plan

• Project monitoring and evaluation plan including monitoring of subrecipients, contractors, consultants, volunteers, etc.

• How project performance will be measured and assessment tools to be used

• Measurable expected outcomes

PUBLIC BENEFIT AND PROGRAM INTEREST OF THE BLM

• Direct Public Benefit

• Projects in which the BLM receive the indirect benefit of conservation activities

APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS/PAST PERFORMANCE

• Key project personnel experience and qualifications

• Stakeholder coordination and/or involvement

• Experience with plant conservation, pollinator, or restoration projects.

• Qualifications of any contractors, subrecipients and/or consultants

• Experience with federally funded assistance agreements within the last three to five years

• Similar successfully completed projects

• Unique qualifications

LEVERAGING OF RESOURCES

(Will be considered in the review process as a tiebreaker among applications with equivalent scores after evaluation against all other factors)

A proposal that demonstrates effective partnerships to share resources and expertise.

Review and Selection Process This program reviews proposed budgets to ensure:

• figures are correct

• estimated costs are necessary and reasonable and clearly linked to project narratives

• avoid obviously unallowable costs

• identify costs requiring prior approval

• ensure indirect cost rates are applied correctly

• confirm cost sharing requirements are reflected in the budget.

This program reviews applications for potential overlap or duplication between the proposed project and any other funded or proposed project. Depending on the circumstances, DOI may choose to not make an award.

Budget review is based on the following:

• Budget line items must be allowable, allocable, reasonable in price, and appropriate for the level of effort needed to accomplish the project.

• Budget details and narrative must provide adequate explanation of, and justification for, each estimated cost.

• Requested equipment must be justified and necessary for completion of the project.

• Cost Sharing/Matching funds must not come from Federal funds.

Final Review of Selected Applicants:

Final review will be by management to determine if the selected proposed project(s) are in line with DOI and BLM current priorities. This process may take a few months to finalize.

Risk Review Prior to making an award, the program assesses the risk posed by the applicant per 2 CFR

200.206. If an award will be made, the program may apply special conditions corresponding to the risk assessed. For awards over the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000), the program reviews eligibility and financial integrity information in the applicant’s SAM.gov records per 2 CFR 200.206(a). The program also assesses financial management capabilities, project delivery experience, staffing resources, past performance, administration and reporting compliance records, and overall project complexity and potential challenges.

Prior to award, the BLM will evaluate the risk posed by applicants as required in 2 CFR 200.206.

BLM programs document applicant risk evaluations using the DOI “Financial Assistance

Recipient Risk Assessment” form. Prior to approving awards, the BLM is required to review and consider any information about or from the applicant found in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System. The BLM will consider this information when completing the risk review. The BLM uses the results of the risk evaluation to establish monitoring plans, recipient reporting frequency requirements, and to determine if one or more of the specific award conditions in 2 CFR 200.207 should be applied the award.

If the results of all pre-award reviews and clearances are satisfactory, an award of funding will be made once the agreement is finalized. If the BLM determines that a Federal award will be made, special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed may be applied to the Federal award.

AWARD NOTICES

Notices of Federal Award are sent electronically via GrantSolutions or e-mail. These notices outline the terms, conditions, and payment instructions per 2 CFR 200.211. The Notice of Federal Award signed by an authorized Grants Officer is the legal instrument obligating financial assistance to a recipient. Any other prior notice is not an authorization to begin work. If the program allows pre-award costs per 2 CFR 200.458, beginning performance before receiving a Notice of Federal Award is at the applicant’s own risk.

Anticipated Project Start Date: 08/01/2025

Anticipated Project End Date: 07/31/2030

Proposals will have a start date in FY2025 and a maximum end date of 09/30/2030.

POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Administration and National Policy Requirements For award administration and national policy requirements, see the DOI General Terms and Conditions. Infrastructure projects require the use of American iron, steel, manufacture products, and construction materials per 2 CFR 184.

BLM Standard Terms and Conditions

See the Award Term - Required Use of American Iron, Steel, Manufactured Products, and Construction Materials

Geospatial Data

If you receive financial assistance from the Department of the Interior (DOI), recipient must follow these rules for geospatial data:

Follow Federal Standards: All geospatial data you collect or create must meet the standards set by the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC) or the Department of the Interior. This is required by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, which is part of Public Law 115-254, specifically in Subtitle F (Geospatial Data), sections 751-759C (codified at 43 U.S.C. §§ 2801–2811).

Include Metadata: Your Geographic Information Systems (GIS) files must include complete metadata. Metadata is information that describes the data, such as where it came from, how accurate it is, and how it should be used. This is to ensure that anyone using the data understands its context and quality.

Check for Existing Data: Before you start collecting new geospatial data, you need to check GeoPlatform.gov. This is to see if there is already existing geospatial data from federal, state, local, or private sources that can meet your needs and is available for free. If such data is available, you should use it instead of gathering new data.

These rules help ensure that geospatial data is reliable, high-quality, and that resources are used efficiently.

Reporting The recipient’s Notice of Award will detail all reporting requirements, including frequency, due dates, and instructions for requesting extensions. In general, but not limited to, recipients must:

• Submit Federal Financial reports and Program Performance reports.

• Use the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) form for financial reporting,

• Monitor award activities and report on program performance per 2 CFR 200.329,

• Promptly notify the awarding program in writing of any issues, delays, or conditions impairing award objectives per 2 CFR 200.329(e),

• Disclose any conflicts of interest related to their award that arise during the award period per 2 CFR 1402.112,

• Report on the status of real property acquired under the award in which the Federal government retains an interest per 2 CFR 200.330, and

• Report all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award per 2 CFR 200.113.

• Report any matters related to recipient integrity and performance to SAM.gov per

Appendix XII to 2 CFR 200.

• If the Federal share of the award is more than $100,000 and the recipient makes or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection to the award, disclose those activities using the Disclosure of Lobbying (SF-LLL) form per

43 CFR 18.100.

• Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) requires certain recipients to report information on executive compensation through SAM.gov and information on all sub-awards, subcontracts, and consortiums over $30,000 to the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS).

Other Information

Synopsis Page 16 of 19

Synopsis

L25AS00174

FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management California Plant Conservation and Restoration Management

General Information

Summary Bureau or Office Bureau of Land Management Announcement Type Initial Fiscal Year Opportunity Category D (Discretionary) Opportunity Category Explanation Assistance Listing Number(s) 15.245 Funding Instrument Type CA (Cooperative Agreement) Funding Activity Category NR (Natural Resources)

Award Information

Cost Sharing Requirement No Expected Number of Awards Estimated Total Program Funding $2,000,000 Award Ceiling $975,000 Award Floor $25,000 Award Floor/Ceiling Explanation

Key Dates

Estimated Post Date 01/07/2025 Closing Date for Applications

Synopsis Page 17 of 19

03/08/2025 Closing Date Explanation Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET. on the listed application due dates.

Open from January 7, 2025, through March 8, 2025.

Extensions to NOFO close dates will be unallowed, except in extenuating circumstances.

Project Period | Expected Duration in Months Estimated Project Start Date August 01, 2025 Estimated Project End Date July 31, 2030 Archive Date 09/30/2030

Eligibility Information

Eligibility Category State governments

County governments

City or township governments

Special district governments

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

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 without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Private institutions of higher education

Additional Information on Eligibility (Grants.gov 4,000/GMM 2,500 character limit) Individuals and For-Profit Organizations are ineligible to apply for awards under this NOFO.

This program NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, 16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II- Public Lands Corps, is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under this authority. Therefore, eligible Youth Conservation Corps may only apply for projects developed under NOFO 15.243 – BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs) are partnerships to promote, conduct, and provide research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services. For cooperative agreements with CESU partners, indirect costs are limited to a rate of

Synopsis Page 18 of 19 no-more-than 17.5 percent. Applicants should state if they will participate in the CESU program, and if so, which CESU Network would be the host.

Additional Information

Executive Summary The BLM California Plant Conservation and Restoration Program advances the Department of the Interior's priorities to address the climate crisis, restore balance on public lands and waters, advance environmental justice, and invest in a clean energy future. In 2025 the California BLM is focused on meeting the priorities of the National Seed Strategy (www.blm.gov/seedstrategy).

The BLM California Plant Conservation and Restoration Program is especially focused on projects that:

1. protect biodiversity;

2. increase resilience to climate change and help leverage natural climate solutions;

3. contribute to conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by the year 2030;

4. engage communities of color, low income families, and rural and indigenous communities to enhance economic opportunities related to native seed production and restoration;

5. and use the best science and data available to make decisions.

Native plants and native plant communities are the true green infrastructure we rely upon to sustain healthy, bio-diverse ecosystems. Without native seed we do not have the ability to restore functional ecosystems after natural disasters and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The California BLM has opportunities to work with partner organizations to do activities such as:

• Reduce the threats to sage grouse, rare plants, and other sensitive species in high priority habitats by supporting efforts to restore habitat for keystone wildlife and pollinator .

• Working with growers to develop genetically appropriate native plant material for use in habitat restoration and rehabilitation.

• Support studies to improve the effectiveness of conservation restoration efforts in areas such as plant ecological, plant genetics, and ecophysiological studies, seed bank persistence, plant propagation and development of agronomic production practices, and trait and/or seed source evaluations as well as seeding treatment and tool development.

• Support pollinator studies and projects on the importance of native plant communities and pollinators to restoration durability and ecological function.

• Implement conservation actions for high priority rare plant species

• Increase understanding of rare plant biology and threats.

• Monitor, protect, and restore habitat that supports more than 1,800 rare plant species, more than 300 of which are found exclusively on BLM lands.

• Develop strategies to encourage the use of native plant materials that are genetically appropriate for restoration and reclamation across all BLM associated programs such as Wildlife, Oil & Gas, Minerals, Fuels, Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation, Range, and Renewable Energy;

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• Increase Citizen Science through expanding public education programs on native plants and native plant communities through development of technical guidance, videos, native plant guides and floras, workshops, webinars, and apps.

Awarding Officer Contact Name Shanice Shay Awarding Officer Contact Phone Awarding Officer Email Address sshay@blm.gov Awarding Officer Email Description sshay@blm.gov Link to Additional Information