National Landscape Conservation System

This program aims to increase the effectiveness of decision-making for BLMs National Conservation Lands and to advance the purposes for which they were designated. In addition, the assistance listing supports outcomes which promote either participato

The National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS)-16 U.S.C. 7202-conserves, protects, and restores nationally significant landscapes that exhibit outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values. NLCS units are designated in law or by Presidential Proclamation-including national monuments, national conservation areas, wilderness, wilderness study areas, national scenic and historic trails, and wild and scenic rivers. These areas are managed in accordance with the laws that created them, consistent with direction in BLM land use plans to preserve their outstanding resources and values, and allow for other multiple uses so long as the use is not otherwise prohibited or impairs the purpose of the designation. This program encourages eligible applicants to support these management obligations by ensuring the BLM has relevant information and science. When appropriate projects may leverage the Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act (15 U.S.C. 3724) to engage the public in research, data collection, monitoring, and other scientific or stewardship-oriented activities to improve cost-effectiveness, maximize return on taxpayer dollars, address societal needs, support hands-on STEM learning, and deepen public connection to these areas. Also when applicable, Tribal co-stewardship projects support the government's treaty and trust responsibilities to federally recognized Tribes: fostering collaboration, respecting Indigenous knowledge, and ensuring shared responsibility of ancestral and culturally significant lands and resources.

The National Conservation Lands program financially supports studies aimed at increasing our understanding of the resources present on BLM lands, the effectiveness of resource management decisions, and the restoration and conservation needs. Projects are primarily conducted on BLM-managed National Conservation Lands but may also be conducted on other public land adjacent to National Conservation Lands. Projects address themes including Management Driven research (on-the-ground research that provides information that can directly inform a pertinent and pressing management question), citizen supported studies (citizen scientists as assistants in data collection, compilation, or data analysis), and tribal co-stewardship (management studies which explore opportunities for, evaluate, or seek to re-invigorate co-stewardship activities with Tribal entities).

No specific restrictions for most projects. However, most projects are awarded no more than a five year period and funded on a year-by-year basis. Funds are expended during a particular fiscal year.

For more information and local program requirements, cooperative project proposals should be coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management local State or District/Field Offices. No State plan is required with this application. Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement. 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. Each State will be responsible for designating a State Evaluation Committee (Committee) with appropriate expertise and professional qualifications for the Merit Review Evaluation. The BLM State Offices will evaluate proposals only for their specific State. The Committee will review, rate, and recommend eligible applications for award in an objective and unbiased manner using the below evaluation criteria. An overall consensus rating will be determined for each application and submitted to BLM Washington Office, National Conservation Lands Division. Projects will be evaluated by the State Evaluation Committee in a two-step process. Step 1: Assess proposal relevance to themes and coordination with BLM a. The Project clearly addresses one of the themes listed above (Yes or No). b. There is clear demonstration of coordination with the appropriate State Lead or unit manager in project design, implementation, and development of management application (Yes or No).Projects that do not meet both of these criteria will not be considered for funding. Step 2: Rate each proposal that addresses one or more theme and demonstrates BLM coordination using the following criteria a. The project products will have direct management application, i.e. address an important conservation and management decision. There is clear demonstration of the management issue being addressed and how well the information from the project feeds back to that management issue. The form or manner in which the project products will be made available for use by decision-makers or other intended users is clearly defined (e.g., technical reports, decision support tool, new or improved management technique(s)). b. Technical Merit Objectives are clearly stated, procedures are well designed, results are attainable, quantifiable estimates will be statistically reliable and comparable to other studies. There is a clear statement of project objectives and explanation as to how the proposed approach and methods are a technically sound and feasible way to meet those objectives. c. The project addresses a BLM priority Maximum score is given if the proposal clearly states how it will address a BLM priority (i.e., environmentally-responsible development of energy and minerals; effective management of borderlands; supporting working landscapes; managing multiple-uses on public lands; supporting traditional land uses such as grazing; or providing access to hunting, fishing, and other recreational opportunities on the National Conservation Lands). d. The project clearly demonstrates a public benefit Projects which clearly demonstrate dissemination of information to the public or other public benefits will receive higher scores. 3. Third Level Review - BLM Washington Office, National Conservation Lands Division. The National Office will have a national committee with membership based on expertise and professional qualification to review applications. Eligible applications will be evaluated in an objective and unbiased manner with the following merit review criteria. An overall consensus rating will be determined for each application. The ratings and proposals will be submitted to the Assistant Director of the National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships for funding determinations. a. State Evaluation Committee Ranking b. Project's scope has broad regional or national conservation relevance in line with BLM's priorities Higher scores given to projects with broader regional or national application compared to projects that have significant but local application. 4. Fourth Level Review - Pre-award Clearance and Approvals Following the described review process, BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: a. Risk Management. The BLM uses a risk-based approach to evaluate the risk posed by the supporting applicants' projects before it awards Federal funds. 1) BLM is required to review information available through OMB-designated eligibility and/or financial integrity databases, such as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS). The BLM considers factors such as: (a) Financial stability; (b) Quality of management systems; (c) History of performance managing Federal awards, timeliness of compliance with reporting requirements, conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal awards, etc.; (d) Reports and findings from audits performed; and (e) The applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-Federal entities. 2) Budget review is based on the following: (a) Budget line items must be allowable, allocable, reasonable in price, and appropriate for the level of effort needed to accomplish the project (b) Budget details and justification must provide adequate explanation of, and justification for, each estimated cost (c) Requested equipment must be justified and necessary for completion of the project (d) Cost Sharing/Matching funds must not come from Federal funds 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 awardIf the results of pre-award reviews and clearances are unsatisfactory, consideration of funding for the project may be withdrawn.

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. Final award selection review by BLM Leadership.

Award time varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each project 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 90 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.