Wild Horse and Burro Resource Management

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages and protects wild horses and burros on 25.6 million acres of public lands across ten western states as part of its mission to administer public lands for multiple uses. The Wild Horse and Burro Program's go

The Wild Horse and Burro Program's goal is to manage healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands, and place wild horses and burros into private care through training, and increased adoptions, sales and/or transfers. The BLM also looks to work with research partners on studies that reduce long-term management costs (Science and Research | Bureau of Land Management).

All Public Land users.

Projects are designated to manage and protect wild free-roaming horses and burros to achieve and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance on the public lands. Project assistance can be used in researching for improved censusing techniques and fertility control methods; and adopting or long term care of excess animals removed from the range.

No specific restrictions. However, most projects are funded on a year to year basis and no more than five years. Funds are expended during a particular fiscal year. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes.

For more information and local requirements, cooperative project proposals should be coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management local State, or District or Field offices.

First Level Screening -Basic Eligibility. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Must meet the requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov, screening may include, but is not limited to: Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; Submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents. B. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Funding Opportunity noticed post on www.grants.gov Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals. BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations, the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements. Prior to any award, the program will review any applicant statement regarding potential overlap or duplication between the project to be funded and any other funded or proposed project in terms of activities, funding, or time commitment of key personnel. Depending on the circumstances, the program may request modification to the application, other pending applications, or an active award, as needed to eliminate any duplication of effort, or the Bureau may choose not to fund the selected project. Merit reviews for research proposals include evaluations by multiple agency reviewers, and multiple external scientific peer reviewers. Proposals are scored in terms of expected benefits to overall wild horse and burro management and the public, scientific merit, study design, expected success, and applicant capacity.

All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the funding announcement. State and District Office level and funding recommendations are made through the State's annual work plan. Final award selection review by BLM Leadership. All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement program. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the funding announcement. WHB HQ works with the State Office Program Leads to identify their merit review team. WHB HQ disseminates proposals to the appropriate people identified for the merit review. The merit review teams provide recommendations to WHB HQ where those recommendations are forwarded to Leadership. Recommendations for research NOFOs follow similar procedures and are also guided by the sum of scores from external and internal review teams. Final award selection review is by BLM Leadership.

Award time varies depending on the type and complexity of the project, but should not be more than five years. Further information will be available for each program at the time the Notice of Funding Opportunity is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the point of contact listed in the funding opportunity announcement. Most awards are anticipated within 120 days or less after the announcement closes.

Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the Bureau of Land Management will provide all applicants with information on why their proposal was not selected for award.