Opportunity Information: Apply for L25AS00306
The FY25 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Aquatic Resource Management - Bureau wide opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L25AS00306; CFDA 15.244) is a discretionary funding program that will be awarded through cooperative agreements. Its core purpose is to support BLM's Aquatic Resources Program in sustaining and improving riparian and wetland areas, aquatic habitats, and water resources on public lands, while balancing multiple uses. The program is framed around meeting present-day needs such as domestic minerals, food, timber, and fiber, alongside protecting fish and wildlife habitat, supporting recreation, and safeguarding the long-term water and habitat needs of future generations.
Projects funded under this notice are meant to strengthen the work BLM staff already do in partnership with other entities. In practice, that means proposals that help with decision support and planning that leads to more efficient environmental reviews and permitting actions on public lands, as well as on-the-ground or programmatic efforts that improve aquatic and riparian habitat conditions. The opportunity also explicitly highlights invasive species management (specifically aquatic invasive species) and habitat improvements for fish and wildlife as key areas where partner organizations can contribute. The emphasis is on collaborative work across Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, along with non-governmental partners, to ensure water resources are available in sufficient quantity and suitable quality for beneficial uses.
Eligible applicants include State, county, and city or township governments; Federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal organizations; public and State-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education in the latter case). Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible to apply under this NOFO, which is an important limitation for consultants, private firms, and unaffiliated persons who might otherwise want to participate. The award mechanism being a cooperative agreement also signals that substantial involvement by BLM is expected during project implementation, which typically includes coordination on technical approaches, alignment with BLM priorities, and shared project oversight rather than a purely hands-off pass-through grant.
There are also clear boundaries on what the funding will not support. This NOFO does not support applicants proposing to hire interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. BLM notes that the only authority allowing BLM to "hire" interns under that Act is tied to the specific Public Lands Corps framework, and that youth or conservation corps-type projects must be pursued under a different funding opportunity (NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands). For applicants that are youth-serving conservation organizations, this distinction matters because it affects how you structure project staffing and which funding route you should use.
The notice also addresses Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs). CESUs are described as partnerships designed to promote and provide research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services. If an award is made to a CESU partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement and the project is consistent with CESU purposes, indirect costs are capped at no more than 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base recognized in the partner's federally approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). Applicants are expected to state whether their proposal advances CESU purposes and, if so, identify which CESU Network should serve as the host, which helps BLM route and manage the agreement under the appropriate CESU structure.
Key administrative details provided include an application closing date of July 23, 2025, and an award ceiling of $500,000. The opportunity is listed under the Natural Resources funding activity category, with BLM as the issuing agency. While the notice references expected awards, the specific number is not provided in the source text, so applicants should plan on a competitive process where project alignment with BLM aquatic priorities, feasibility, and partnership value will likely drive selections.
Overall, this opportunity is best suited for governmental entities, Tribes, universities, and nonprofits that can bring technical capacity and partnership value to BLM aquatic and riparian work. Strong proposals will typically be those that clearly connect their activities to BLM goals like improving aquatic habitat conditions, supporting sound and timely permitting and environmental review processes, ensuring usable water quality and quantity for beneficial uses, and preventing or controlling aquatic invasive species, all while demonstrating an ability to coordinate closely with BLM under a cooperative agreement model.Apply for L25AS00306
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY25 Bureau of Land Management Aquatic Resource Management- Bureau wide" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.244.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-06-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township 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 that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: FY25 BLM Aquatic Resource Management (Bureau-wide) - L25AS00306 (CFDA 15.244)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY25 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Aquatic Resource Management - Bureau-wide discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L25AS00306; CFDA 15.244). Awards will be made through cooperative agreements.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to support BLM's Aquatic Resources Program in sustaining and improving riparian and wetland areas, aquatic habitats, and water resources on public lands, while balancing multiple uses. The program is framed around meeting present-day needs (such as domestic minerals, food, timber, and fiber) while protecting fish and wildlife habitat, supporting recreation, and safeguarding long-term water and habitat needs for future generations.
What kinds of projects are expected to be competitive?
Projects funded under this notice are intended to strengthen work BLM staff already do, especially in partnership with other entities. Competitive projects will typically align clearly with BLM aquatic priorities and demonstrate feasibility and partnership value, including:
- Decision support and planning that helps lead to more efficient environmental reviews and permitting actions on public lands
- On-the-ground or programmatic efforts that improve aquatic and riparian habitat conditions
- Aquatic invasive species management
- Habitat improvements for fish and wildlife
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement, and why does that matter?
This opportunity will be awarded through cooperative agreements. That structure indicates substantial involvement by BLM is expected during project implementation, such as coordination on technical approaches, alignment with BLM priorities, and shared project oversight (rather than a hands-off pass-through award).
What is the funding activity category?
The opportunity is listed under the Natural Resources funding activity category.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Federally recognized Tribal governments
- Other Tribal organizations
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3))
- Nonprofit organizations (non-501(c)(3), provided they are not institutions of higher education)
Who is not eligible to apply?
Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible under this NOFO. This is a key limitation for consultants, private firms, and unaffiliated persons who might otherwise want to participate.
Can a for-profit consultant or firm participate in a project?
The NOFO states for-profit organizations are ineligible to apply. The provided information does not describe whether a for-profit could participate in another role (for example, as a contractor or partner to an eligible applicant). If this is important for your project design, the safest takeaway from the provided text is that a for-profit cannot be the applicant.
Does the NOFO prioritize any specific technical focus areas?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights aquatic invasive species management and habitat improvements for fish and wildlife as key areas where partner organizations can contribute.
What does the NOFO say about partnerships and collaboration?
The emphasis is on collaborative work across Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, along with non-governmental partners, to ensure water resources are available in sufficient quantity and suitable quality for beneficial uses.
Is the program limited to on-the-ground habitat work?
No. The NOFO includes both (1) decision support and planning that leads to more efficient environmental reviews and permitting actions and (2) on-the-ground or programmatic efforts that improve aquatic and riparian habitat conditions.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is July 23, 2025.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $500,000.
How many awards will be made?
The notice references expected awards, but the specific number of awards is not provided in the information given. Applicants should plan for a competitive process.
Does this NOFO fund youth crews, interns, or Public Lands Corps projects?
No. This NOFO does not support applicants proposing to hire interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. BLM notes that authority related to hiring interns under that Act is tied to the specific Public Lands Corps framework, and youth or conservation corps-type projects must be pursued under a different funding opportunity (NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands).
If our organization is a youth-serving conservation organization, what should we do?
Based on the provided information, youth or conservation corps-style projects should be pursued under a different funding opportunity: NOFO 15.243 (BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands), not this aquatic resource management NOFO.
What are CESUs, and how do they relate to this opportunity?
Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs) are partnerships designed to promote and provide research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services. The NOFO notes that awards may be made to CESU partners under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement when the project is consistent with CESU purposes.
Is there an indirect cost cap for CESU awards?
Yes. If an award is made to a CESU partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement and the project is consistent with CESU purposes, indirect costs are capped at no more than 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base recognized in the partner's federally approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).
If we are a CESU partner, what does the application need to say?
Applicants are expected to state whether their proposal advances CESU purposes and, if so, identify which CESU Network should serve as the host, which helps BLM route and manage the agreement under the appropriate CESU structure.
Who is the issuing agency?
The issuing agency is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
What is BLM looking for in project alignment?
Based on the description provided, strong proposals will typically be those that clearly connect activities to BLM goals such as improving aquatic habitat conditions, supporting sound and timely permitting and environmental review processes, ensuring usable water quality and quantity for beneficial uses, and preventing or controlling aquatic invasive species, while also showing the ability to coordinate closely with BLM under a cooperative agreement model.
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