Updated_Foa_Content_of_L21AS00343.pdf

Bureau of Land Management

MTSO - BLM Montana State Office

L21AS00343

04/30/2021

Table of Contents A. Program Description

A1. Authority

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

B2. Expected Award Amount

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates

B4. Number of Awards

B5. Type of Award

B6. Additional Funding Information

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

C3. Other

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

D4. Submission Dates and Times

D5. Intergovernmental Review

D6. Funding Restrictions

D7. Other Submission Requirements

E. Application Review Information

E1. Criteria

E2. Review and Selection Process

E3. CFR – Regulatory Information

E4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information

F1. Federal Award Notices

F2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

G1. Program Technical Contact

G2. Program Administration Contact

G3. Application System Technical Support

H. Other Information

A. Program Description A1. Authority Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, 16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II-Public Lands Corps, Section 1721-1729, excluding Section 1725a Direct Hire Authority.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.243

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements The Montana/Dakotas Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices have collaborated with Qualified Youth and Conservation Corps, as authorized by the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC), to accomplish conservation projects for numerous years. This program’s projects provide employment for participants and opportunities to learn about and gain work experience in public lands and natural resources management while promoting long-term interest in public lands stewardship and the BLM. The BLM Youth Program assists the BLM with diversifying the workforce while exposing participants to the complex cultural and natural resource issues faced by National Conservation Lands managers.

The BLM Youth Program partners with qualified youth and conservation corps to engage individuals between the ages of 16 and 30 (inclusive) and veterans up to age 35 (inclusive) including tribal members. Young people are recruited from local communities to assist with conservation projects that protect and promote multiple-use on public lands.

Projects available under this funding announcement are developed in collaboration with the State Youth Program Lead and District/Field Offices and emphasize on-the-ground projects, training, and mentorship opportunities for participants. The BLM is committed to connecting youth, from diverse backgrounds, to natural and cultural resources on public lands through conservation service projects, recreational experiences, natural resource-based employment, and educational opportunities, including scientific studies. These projects create jobs that strengthen America’s economy and foster relationships with youth conservation corps striving for balanced stewardship and use of public lands. Participants are mentored by BLM professionals, acquire new skills, and gain experience in natural and cultural resource management. Through their BLM experience, youth gain an appreciation for public lands, learn about conservation-related careers, and become the next generation of public lands stewards. In addition, the public gains improved access to sustainable recreation activities as well as hunting and wildlife-related recreation opportunities on BLM administered lands.

Projects developed within this funding opportunity support the following Secretarial orders and priorities:

http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title16-chapter37&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjE2IHNlY3Rpb246MTcyMSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim&edition=prelim http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title16-chapter37&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjE2IHNlY3Rpb246MTcyMSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim&edition=prelim

SO 3347 - Conservation Stewardship & Outdoor Recreation SO 3356 - Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting & Wildlife Conservation

Opportunities & Coordination with States, Tribes & Territories SO 3362 - Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range & Migration

Corridors SO 3366 – Increasing Recreational Opportunities on Lands and Water SO 3372 – Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land Through Active

Management.

Projects developed for this fiscal year are detailed in Section II. C. as noted below and include, but are not limited to, such things as:

Enhancement of recreation opportunities through trail building, maintenance and restoration, and other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities (e.g. kiosks, campgrounds, signage etc.).

Monitoring riparian area vegetation and hydrological functions, collecting soil and stream data, timber stand improvement projects for wildlife habitat and overall forest health.

Habitat restoration and wildlife protection, including reduction of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal/installation, riparian area restoration, etc.

Development and implementation of natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or educational and informational materials for visitors.

Performance of studies such as resource inventories, historic or archival research, archaeological digs, oral histories, historic preservation, habitat surveys, etc.

Preservation of cultural resources, including historic structures.

Seed collection for restoration of lands affected by natural disasters such as catastrophic wildfires and landslides; as well as protection, conservation, and restoration of threatened, endangered, and special status species with the goal of preventing or de-listing of species.

Reduction of wildfire risk to communities, watersheds, and other public land ecosystems.

Production of materials and programs on natural, cultural, and/or paleontological resources, communication, education, and interpretation of natural and cultural resources.

Performance of in-house projects, such as science, policy, or program internships, with a clear benefit for natural or cultural resources. In-house projects to include a field component of at least 120 hours.

The focused projects may be organized as crews in which participants work collectively and intensely together under supervision of trained and experienced crew leaders or conservation professionals; or organized as individuals or small teams working on specific individual tasks requiring dedicated attention; or projects may be organized in both formats.

Regardless of the format, trained and experienced crew leaders or staff from partner organizations shall directly supervise participants. While BLM conservation professionals may provide project guidance and mentoring, they may not serve as direct supervisors.

While there is no maximum number of hours that a PLC participant may serve, an individual may not be assigned to the same PLC project for more than two years for part-time work, and no more than one year for full-time work.

Expected Program Outcomes:

Projects may vary in length, but none should last longer than three years. Projects may be located in different geographic locations on BLM administered lands. The overall project success shall be validated and tracked by the BLM project coordinator using various criteria such as:

Expose young people to public service, furthering their understanding and appreciation of the nation’s natural and cultural resources, while implementing Secretarial Orders and priorities.

Stimulate interest in conservation careers by working with BLM conservation professionals and providing qualified conservation projects that will allow corps members to be certified for two year noncompetitive hiring status upon completion of the projects and 640 hours.

Promote job creation to strengthen America’s economy and foster relationships with organizations advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands.

Promote and stimulate public purposes by providing education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, and productive community involvement in the care and enhancement of natural and cultural resources.

Assist qualified conservation corps to enhance and maintain public lands and waters by engaging youth in conserving or developing natural and cultural resources.

Engage young people within the local area or within the states to provide opportunities to stimulate interest in conservation activities.

Individual project awards will also identify outcomes specific to those particular projects.

The following program legislation authority, BLM Manuals, etc. may be applicable to your award project:

1. Designation of the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, 16 USC, Section 460ddd. PL 101-628, Title II, Section 460ddd.

2. Endangered Species Act, 16 USC 1535

3. Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, 16 USC § 6805(a

4. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) – BLM Handbook 1790-1

5. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 16 USC 470, as amended through December

19, 2014, as codified in Title 54 USC, Subtitle III, Division A, Subdivision 2 Chapter 3023 § 302304. Contracts and cooperative agreements, (b)

6. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 16 USC 470, as amended through December 19, 2014, as codified in Title 54 USC, subtitle III, Division A, Subdivision 2 Chapter 3027—Historic Preservation Programs and Authorities for Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations

7. Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements, 16 USC § 1011 (b)

This program continues to advance the Administration’s priorities to create a conservation stewardship legacy while generating revenue and utilizing our natural resources. BLM’s continued commitment to reduce and streamline its processes and procedures to serve its customers and the public better and faster across all its program areas. These reforms allow the https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/chapter-35 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/6805 https://www.ntc.blm.gov/krc/uploads/366/NEPAHandbook_H-1790_508.pdf https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/54/302304-https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/54/302304-https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/54/subtitle-III/division-A/subdivision-2/chapter-3027 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/54/subtitle-III/division-A/subdivision-2/chapter-3027 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/54/subtitle-III/division-A/subdivision-2/chapter-3027 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/1011 https://www.doi.gov/ourpriorities

Bureau to realign time and resources to completing important on–the-groundwork.

All proposed projects submitted under this funding opportunity must state a benefit to the public.

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding Estimated Total Funding $ 320,000

B2. Expected Award Amount Maximum Award $ 100,000 Minimum Award $ 5,000

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates Below are individual awards and amounts listed by Field Office for FY2021.

Billings Field Office, POC: Jennifer Alexander, Email: jalexander@blm.gov (Estimated $95k available in F2021) This is an ongoing project each summer, overall period of performance not-to-exceed three years. Project support is provided by Conservation Interns and Field Crews.

Activity: Trail maintenance and fence repair. The anticipated task include, but not limited to:

Trimming brush and vegetation;

Improve drainage and surface water control using water bars, grade dips, ponding, back slope and fill slope techniques;

Removal of roots, stumps, and rock from the trail tread.

Fix tread creep, and slough and berm work;

Placing rocks for steps, reinforcing trail sidewalls with cribbing;

Sign and marker installation; Climate projects such as revegetation, tree planting, Russian olive tree removal, plant restoration and fence removal projects;

Delineating parking areas and trailheads with local, natural materials.

Work area(s): Muddy Mountain Environmental Education Area, North Platte River Special Recreation Management Area/Trapper's Route, Pompey’s Pillar National Monument.

Malta Field Office, POC: Kathleen Tribby, Email: ktribby@blm.gov (Estimated $22k available in F2021) This is an ongoing project each summer, overall period of performance not-to-exceed three years.

Activity: Trail maintenance and fence repair. The anticipated tasks, include but are not limited to:

mailto:jalexander@blm.gov mailto:ktribby@blm.gov

Trimming brush and vegetation;

Improve drainage and surface water control using water bars, grade dips, ponding, back slope and fill slope techniques;

Removal of roots, stumps, and rock from the trail tread.

Fix tread creep, and slough and berm work;

Placing rocks for steps, reinforcing trail sidewalls with cribbing;

Sign and marker installation;

Delineating parking areas and trailheads with local, natural materials; Climate projects such as revegetation, tree planting, Russian olive tree removal, plant restoration and fence removal projects; Converting fences to BLM wildlife-friendly standard.

Work area(s): Public lands in the Malta Field Office Jurisdiction.

Dillon Field Office, POC: Mike Mooney, Email: mmooney@blm.gov (Estimated $28k available in F2021) This is an ongoing project each summer, overall period of performance not-to-exceed three years.

Activity: Trail maintenance and fence repair. The anticipated tasks include, but not are not limited to:

Trimming brush and vegetation;

Improve drainage and surface water control using water bars, grade dips, ponding, back slope and fill slope techniques;

Removal of roots, stumps, and rock from the trail tread.

Fix tread creep, and slough and berm work;

Placing rocks for steps, reinforcing trail sidewalls with cribbing;

Sign and marker installation; Climate projects such as revegetation, tree planting, Russian olive tree removal, plant restoration and fence removal projects;

Delineating parking areas and trailheads with local, natural materials.

Work area(s): Public lands in the Dillon Field Office Jurisdiction.

South Dakota Field Office, POC: Cory Neuharth, Email: cneuhart@blm.gov (Estimated $22k available in F2021) This is an ongoing project each summer, overall period of performance not-to-exceed three years. Project support is provided by Conservation Interns.

Activity: Trail maintenance and fence repair. The anticipated tasks include, but not are not limited to:

Trimming brush and vegetation;

Improve drainage and surface water control using water bars, grade dips, ponding, back slope and fill slope techniques;

Removal of roots, stumps, and rock from the trail tread.

Fix tread creep, and slough and berm work;

Placing rocks for steps, reinforcing trail sidewalls with cribbing;

Sign and marker installation; Climate projects such as revegetation, tree planting, Russian olive tree removal, plant restoration and fence removal projects;

Work area(s): Public lands in the South Dakota Field Office Jurisdiction.

Miles City Field Office, POC: Dena Sprandel-Lang, Email: dslang@blm.gov (Estimated mailto:mmooney@blm.gov mailto:cneuhart@blm.gov mailto:dslang@blm.gov

$43k available in F2021) This is an ongoing project each summer, overall period of performance not-to-exceed three years. Project support is provided by Conservation Interns and Field Crews.

Activity: Trail maintenance and fence repair. The anticipated tasks include, but not are not limited to:

Trimming brush and vegetation;

Improve drainage and surface water control using water bars, grade dips, ponding, back slope and fill slope techniques;

Removal of roots, stumps, and rock from the trail tread.

Fix tread creep, and slough and berm work;

Placing rocks for steps, reinforcing trail sidewalls with cribbing;

Sign and marker installation; Climate projects such as revegetation, tree planting, Russian olive tree removal, plant restoration and fence removal projects;

Work area(s): Public lands in the Miles City Field Office Jurisdiction.

Butte Field Office, POC: Brandy Janzen, Email: bjanzen@blm.gov (Estimated $110k available in F2021) This is an ongoing project each summer, overall period of performance not-to-exceed three years. Project support is provided by Conservation Interns and Field Crews.

Activity: Trail maintenance and fence repair. The anticipated tasks include, but not are not limited to:

Trimming brush and vegetation;

Improve drainage and surface water control using water bars, grade dips, ponding, back slope and fill slope techniques;

Removal of roots, stumps, and rock from the trail tread.

Fix tread creep, and slough and berm work;

Placing rocks for steps, reinforcing trail sidewalls with cribbing;

Sign and marker installation; Climate projects such as revegetation, tree planting, Russian olive tree removal, plant restoration and fence removal projects.;

Work area(s): Public lands in the Butte Field Office Jurisdiction.

Projects funded through this NOFO will start once funding is secured and awards issued.

Agreements are not effective until fully executed with signature from the BLM Grants Management Officer (GMO).

Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one and three years and are determined based on the period of performance as stated on the project proposal.

B4. Number of Awards Anticipated Number of Awards The actual number of awards will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds. Awards will be based out of district or field offices where the project occur.

mailto:bjanzen@blm.gov

B5. Type of Award Funding Instrument Type CA - Cooperative Agreement Award cannot be finalized, until awardee completes their enrollment in the Department of the Treasury, ASAP System. See following website: http://www.fms.treas.gov/asap.

If your organization is not enrolled in ASAP, contact the GMO in Section G2. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts of this funding opportunity.

The recipient should expect Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have substantial involvement in the project. Substantial involvement may include, but not be limited to, 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.

Review and approval by the BLM of one stage of work prior to the start of the next stage.

Review and approval by the BLM of modifications or sub-awards prior to their award.

Participation in selecting recipient project staff.

Directing or redirecting of recipient work by the BLM because of relationships to other projects.

Ability to immediately halt work because of failure to meet agreement objectives; and Close monitoring and/or operational involvement in the proposed work.

B6. Additional Funding Information Funding for projects is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of funds. Evaluation of proposals is based on the criterion in this NOFO. In appropriate circumstances, BLM reserves the right to partially fund proposals in discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If BLM chooses to partially fund a proposal, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the proposal or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process. Funded proposals through this competitive NOFO is not a guarantee of future funding.

When or if additional funding becomes available, BLM reserves the right to issue additional awards under this NOFO through the next fiscal year. These awards will not require further competition. Any additional selections will be made in accordance with the terms of this NOFO and BLM policy. Only Grants Management Officers can bind the Federal Government to the expenditure of funds.

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants Eligible Applicants http://www.fms.treas.gov/asap

00 – State governments 01 – County governments 02 – City or township governments 04 – Special district governments 05 – Independent school districts 06 – Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 07 – Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 12 – Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education 13 – Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education 20 – Private institutions of higher education 11 – Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) 08 – Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Additional Information on Eligibility This opportunity is open to any qualified youth conservation corps established by a state or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a qualified nonprofit organization interested in working cooperatively with the BLM to develop and administer multiple-use conservation projects. Conservation projects must focus on providing employment, education, and public-service opportunities for U.S. citizens and legal residents (between ages 16 and 30 inclusive and veterans up to age 35 inclusive) recruited from local and surrounding communities to assist with projects on public lands.

No other entities are eligible to respond. All responding non-profit entities must provide a copy of their Section 501(c) (3) status determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service.

The term "qualified youth or conservation corps" means any program established by a state or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization that:

Is capable of offering meaningful, fulltime, productive work for individuals between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, and veterans up to age 35 in a natural or cultural resource setting;

Provides participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support BLM’s mission; and

Provides participants opportunities to develop life skills and work ethics through their work on BLM lands that transfer to their community and the United States.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement No Percentage of Cost Sharing / Matching The cost sharing or matching required from the recipient under this agreement will be 25% of the total project funding. The BLM shall not pay more than 75% of the cost of any appropriate conservation project carried out on public lands by a qualified youth or conservation corps under the Public Lands Corps authority.

The matching 25% of costs must be from non-federal sources and can be in the form of funds, donations, services, facilities, materials, equipment, and/or any combination of the above.

Applicants may attribute some or all of their allowable indirect costs as voluntary committed cost-share/match.

C3. Other General program criteria for working with the BLM under this NOFO

Your organization’s work serves young people between the ages of 16-30 and veterans up to age 35.

Your organization must engage participants who are U.S. citizens, national, or lawful permanent resident aliens of the United States, meeting the same citizenship requirements as those for serving in AmeriCorps (http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps) and Public Lands Corps (http://www.corpsnetwork.org/public-lands-service-corps-act).

Your organization should demonstrate participant recruitment to traditionally underserved communities, including low-income and disadvantaged populations where the project resigns or within the state.

Your organization’s programs can be either: a) individual or small-team based where participants work individually or in coordinated teams under the direction of conservation professionals on initiatives that require specific skills and dedicated attention or b) crew-based where participants work collectively together directly supervised by trained and experienced crew leaders or conservation professionals. Crew and team leaders must fully understand the appropriate and necessary safety regulations for projects to which they are assigned, when BLM requests a crew or a team.

Your organization must support projects that involve significant outdoor activity and hands-on work that help young people gain meaningful work related to natural and cultural resource management. Some programs may include work that is in-house that have a clear connection to the BLM’s mission, but will have a 120-hour minimum of on the ground fieldwork.

Your organization’s programs must provide participants with job skill development;

community skill development to help participants acquire an ethic of service to others;

and help instill a deeper understanding of, and connection to, the natural or cultural environment.

Provide safe and reasonable round-trip transportation for participants to and from BLM project sites at the beginning and end of their assignment. For participants living within commuting distance of their duty station, reimbursement for travel expenses.

Provide crew-based participants with food, camping equipment, and all educational, first aid, recreational and general training, and supplies required as appropriate to the assignment.

Conduct on-site project evaluations in coordination with BLM to assess project progress and make sure participants are receiving the expected experience.

http://www.corpsnetwork.org/public-lands-service-corps-act

Manage and carry out all administrative functions associated with projects funded under this program, including maintaining all administrative records required for operation and management of the youth program participants.

Certify that standard background screenings and eligibility reviews are conducted on all participants.

Obtain written permission from a parent or legal guardian for all individuals under 18 years of age before they begin an assignment.

Provide workers compensation coverage for all participants, including staff crew and team leads.

Maintain general liability insurance for all participants, staff and program activities of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and property damage, subject to the usual and customary policy conditions, including standard exclusion on vehicles licensed for highway use and on property in the care, custody and control of the policyholder. In the event one or more awards are made, provide the BLM a Certificate of such Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, with BLM named as an additional insured party, as evidence of this required insurance coverage. The certificate shall identify the name and address of the BLM, as well as the insured, the policy number, and a brief description of services to be performed. Should any of the policies be cancelled before the expiration date thereof, notice will be delivered in accordance with the policy provisions.

Ineligible Activities and Program Restrictions

Please note that none of these projects or participants will qualify under Section 1725 Resource Assistant (a) Direct Hire Authority.

Individual participants may not be assigned to a project more than a two year period maximum for part-time and no more than a year full time.

Participants are not allowed to sign a BLM volunteer services agreement form.

BLM rules regarding physical security and personnel security apply to all participants while on BLM property and/or while conducting work on behalf of the BLM.

Participants and partner organization staff shall only operate mechanized equipment when provided all necessary safety training and only with on-site oversight by the BLM.

Participants under the age of 18 shall not be allowed to operate any motorized vehicle.

Participants and partner organization staff over the age of 18 may be allowed to drive a vehicle owned, rented, leased or loaned by the BLM only when:

1. The vehicle is used with written permission from the BLM’s field manager and only for official agency use;

2. The driver is properly licensed and qualified to operate the vehicle, and all such vehicle use, maintenance, training and operation is in compliance with H-1112-1 Chapter 15, Safety and Health Management Handbook, Motor Vehicle Safety; H-1112-2 Chapter 14, Safety and Health for Field Operations, Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety and all other applicable policies for usage of BLM motor vehicles;

3. The driver has completed a defensive driving course within the last three years;

4. Before fieldwork requiring the use of a motorized vehicle begins, the BLM site coordinator provides written documentation that all of the above criteria have been met to the partner organization contact. Such documentation may be provided electronically;

and

5. Both the driver and the vehicle will be covered by insurance policy maintained by the partner organization covering the use of such vehicle.

Excluded Parties: BLM conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The Bureau cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package This NOFO includes all information, documents, and electronic addresses needed to submit an application through www.Grants.gov. Paper copies may be requested by contacting Kano Williams at k1williams@blm.gov

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

DO NOT MERGE INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTS INTO A SINGLE PDF FILE

1. Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance

Applicants must submit the appropriate Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. The SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, must be complete, and signed and dated. Please note: Enter only the amount requested from this Federal program in the “Federal” funding box on the SF-424 Application form. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the “Other” box, and provide details on those Federal source(s) and funding amount(s) in the required Budget Narrative (see the “Budget Narrative” section below).

2. SF-424(A or C), Budget Information

Applicants must submit the appropriate SF-424 Budget Information form. Complete either the SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs or the SF-424C, Budget Information for Construction Programs, as applicable to your project. BLM does not normally fund construction projects, so contact the BLM program expert prior to submitting your project. All required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. Please note: Show funds requested from this Federal program separately from any other Federal sources of funding. In the “Budget Summary” section, use the first row for funding requested from this Federal program. Use subsequent row(s) for other Federal funding. Enter each Federal program’s CFDA http://www.Grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html number(s) in the corresponding fields on the form. The CFDA number(s) for this Federal program appears on the first page of this Funding Opportunity.

3. SF 424(B & D), Assurances

NOTE: In accordance with Office of Management and Budget Memo, M-18-24, dated September 5, 2018, these forms are optional through January 1, 2020. At this time, your assurances statements will be maintained in your SAM registrations.

4. Project Proposal

(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 and program interest of the BLM Activities Methods Timetable or milestones Information to support environmental compliance review requirements. (NOTE:

Projects under 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.

5. Budget Detail and Narrative (Attachment B- Suggested Format)

Describe and justify requested budget items and costs. Detail how the SF-424 Budget Information, Object Class Category totals were determined. For personnel salary costs, include the baseline salary figures and the estimates of time. Describe any item of cost that requires prior approval under the Federal cost principles. See 2 CFR 200.407 “Prior written approval (prior approval)” for more information. If equipment purchased previously with Federal funds is available for the project, provide a list of that equipment https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9557df1830f0558e853e91c94dd8a3ff&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1407&rgn=div8 and identify the Federal funding source. Include detailed descriptions of all cost justifications (see BLM’s suggested format Attachment B for more detail). Additionally, provide any cost sharing and matching funds in the same level of detail as the federal funds. The budget narrative submitted with the application must match the dollar amounts on all required forms.

Budget items must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary to the supported activity. Refer to 2 CFR §200, for applicable administrative requirements and cost principles.

If your proposal period of performance is for multi-year or multiple year funding, you must provide a budget and budget justification for the full amount of the project. Show each year in a separate column on the SF-424A and use a separate column for listing any matching funds. Applicants must ensure that no Federal or non-Federal grant funds will be expended for in-kind goods or services, for purposes of providing transportation, travel, and other expenses for any Federal employee.

NOTE: Budget Detail and Narrative form (Attachment B) is a suggested format to present the breakdown of your estimated costs, by category, needed to accomplish project activities. If you elect to use a different format, all information requested on Attachment B must be included. Estimated costs must be documented in sufficient detail to determine reasonableness. Include a description of any cost share (cash, in-kind, etc.) listed.

Additionally, for multi-year budgets, please describe in your budget detail justification any items to be purchased or expended that may be specific to a particular year of the proposed project.

Lump sum costs are not acceptable in any category, without a detailed breakdown of how the cost were determined. Profit or fees are not allowable.

*A separate application must be submitted for each project listed in this NOFO your organization is interested in applying for.

NOTE: Prior to submitting an application, please contact the program expert at the BLM office in the district or field office where the work will take place to discuss your proposal (s) to ensure you understand the project, how many crews or interns are needed, so you can develop an adequate budget.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Per theFinancial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

(a) Applicability.

(1) This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

(2) In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by subrecipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR 200.318 apply.

(b) Notification.

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(1) Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR 200.112.

(2) Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by subrecipients.

(c) Restrictions on lobbying. Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR part 18 and 31 U.S.C. 1352.

(d) Review procedures. The Financial Assistance Officer will examine each conflict of interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

(e) Enforcement. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.338, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR part 180).

Single Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribal government, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the EIN associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

Certification Regarding Lobbying Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funding must certify to the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If this application requests more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form also represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Applicants and recipients must not use any federally appropriated funds (annually appropriated or continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a Federal award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any U.S. agency, a Member of the U.S. Congress, an officer or employee of the U.S. Congress, or an employee of a Member of the U.S. Congress connection with the award. Applicants and recipients must complete and submit the SF-LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities”form if the Federal share of the proposal or award is more than $100,000 and the applicant or recipient has made or has agreed to make any payment using non-https://harvester.census.gov/facides/Account/Login.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facides/Account/Login.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with the application or award. The SF-LLL form is available with this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement

Applicants must provide a statement indicating if there is any overlap between this Federal application and any other Federal application, or funded project, in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If no such overlap or duplication exists, state, “There are no overlaps or duplication between this application and any of our other Federal applications or funded projects, including in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel”.

If any such overlap exists, provide a complete description of overlaps or duplications between this proposal and any other federally funded project or application in regards to activities, costs, and time commitment of key personnel, as applicable. Provide a copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity and identify when that proposal was submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when you anticipate being notified of their funding decision. When overlap exists, your statement must end with “We understand that if at any time we receive funding from another source that is duplicative of the funding we are requesting from the Bureau of Land Management in this application, we will immediately notify the Bureau of Land Management point of contact identified in this Funding Opportunity in writing.”

D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration: This requirement does not apply to individuals applying for funds as individual (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate) or any entity with an exception approved by the funding bureau or office in accordance with bureau or office policy. All other applicants are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and then register in SAM.gov prior to submitting a Federal award application. Federal award recipients must continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information through the life of their Federal award(s). See the “Submission Requirements” section of this document below for more information on SAM.gov registration. We may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the program is ready to make an award, the program may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. The program can use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. There is no cost to register with Dun & Bradstreet or SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who will charge a fee in exchange for registering entities with Dun & Bradstreet and SAM.gov; please be aware you can register and request help for free.

Obtain a DUNS Number

Request a DUNS Number through the Dun & Bradstreet website. For technical difficulties, send an email to the D&B SAM Help Desk. Please ensure that you are able to receive emails from SAMHelp@dnb.com. The Grants.gov “Obtain a DUNS Number” webpage also provides detailed instructions. Once assigned a DUNS number, your organization must maintain up-to-mailto:SAMHelp@dnb.com date information with Dun & Bradstreet. Applicants must enter their DUNS number in the “Organizational DUNS” field on the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form.

Register with the System for Award Management (SAM)

Register on the SAM.gov website. “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov Register with SAM page also provides detailed instructions. You can also contact the supporting Federal Service Desk for help registering in SAM. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least once every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly encouraged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure their information is up to date and reflects changes that may have been to the entity’s DUNS or IRS information.

D4. Submission Dates and Times BLM requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov. Grants.gov automatically generates an electronic date and time stamp in the system upon application receipt.

Grants.gov sends an acknowledgement of receipt with the date and time stamp and a unique Grants.gov application tracking number to the authorized representative by email. This email from Grants.gov serves as your proof of timely submission.

Due Date for Applications 04/30/2021 Application Due Date Explanation Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on the listed application due dates.

Applications must be submitted in English.

Late applications will not be accepted or reviewed.

D5. Intergovernmental Review Prior to application submission, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the OMB Office of Federal Financial Management website and view the “State Point of Contact (SPOC) List” to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

States not on the list do not participate in the intergovernmental review process, and therefore do not have a SPOC. If you are located within a State that does not have a SPOC, you may send application materials directly to a Federal awarding agency. If your state is on the list, contact the designated entity for more information on the state’s prior review requirements for Federal assistance applications.

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D6. Funding Restrictions Any partners submitting a construction, reconstruction, repair, or restoration of paved or permanent roads or parking area projects under the Good Neighbor Authority - 16 USC §2113a

(b) (1) (A) are not allowed under this program.

Any Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network partners submitting a project is subject to the CESU indirect cost rate cap (currently 17.5%).

The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency for indirect costs, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior is your organization’s cognizant agency, the Interior Business Center will negotiate your indirect cost rate. Contact the Interior Business Center by phone 916-930-3803 or using the IBC Email Submission Form. See the IBC Website for more information.

Organizations must have an active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. Failure to establish an approved rate during the award period renders all costs otherwise allocable as indirect costs unallowable under the award. Recipients must have prior written approval from the BLM to use amounts budgeted for direct costs to satisfy cost-share or match requirements or to cover unallowable indirect costs. Recipients shall not shift unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

Required Indirect Cost Statement to be submitted with Application All organizations must include the applicable statement from the following list in their application, and attach to their application any documentation identified in the applicable statement:

We are:

A U.S. state or local government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct Federal funding each year with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency. Attached is a copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification.

A U.S. state or local government entity receiving less than $35 million in direct Federal funding with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We have prepared and will retain for audit an indirect cost rate proposal and related documentation.

A [insert your organization type; U.S. states and local governments, do not use this statement] that has previously negotiated or currently has an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. [Insert either: “Attached is a copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement.