FY24 Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Resource Management - Off Range | L24AS00087

FY24 BLM Wild Horse and Burro Resource Management - Off Range (L24AS00087) FAQs

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the FY24 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Resource Management - Off Range funding opportunity. It is a discretionary, competitive grant opportunity intended to support off-range work connected to BLM management of wild horses and burros.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) and CFDA number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is L24AS00087 and the CFDA number listed is 15.229.

3) What type of award does BLM make under this opportunity?

Awards are made as cooperative agreements. That generally means BLM expects substantial involvement in the work, such as coordination, technical input, and/or shared oversight, rather than issuing a pass-through award with minimal federal participation.

4) What funding activity category is this program under?

The opportunity is listed under the Natural Resources funding activity category.

5) What kinds of projects is the opportunity intended to support?

It is intended to support partners who can help carry out BLM priorities related to off-range aspects of the Wild Horse and Burro Program. The information provided does not list specific project types beyond being tied to off-range work for wild horse and burro management.

6) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to public, nonprofit, and educational entities. The eligible applicant types listed include:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Other tribal organizations
• Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status

7) Who is not eligible to apply?

Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible to apply under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

8) Is this opportunity open to private commercial businesses or for-profit entities?

No. For-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible based on the information provided.

9) Can an individual apply (for example, as a sole applicant or independent consultant)?

No. Individuals are explicitly ineligible to apply under this NOFO.

10) Are tribal applicants eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicant types.

11) Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status.

12) Are higher education institutions eligible?

Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.

13) What is a major restriction related to internships or crews?

This NOFO does not support projects where the applicant intends to hire interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II). This restriction is a key screening issue for project design.

14) Does this opportunity fund Youth Conservation Corps or similar youth internship/crew projects?

No, not when the project involves hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act authority. Youth-focused conservation corps efforts of that type are directed to a different funding channel.

15) If an organization wants to propose a youth internship/crew project, where should they apply instead?

Organizations that want to propose projects involving interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act are directed to apply under NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands, rather than this Wild Horse and Burro Off-Range competition.

16) What are Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs), and how do they relate to this opportunity?

CESUs are partnerships designed to facilitate research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services. This opportunity notes that awards can be made to CESU partners under an existing, formally negotiated Master CESU agreement when the project is consistent with CESU purposes.

17) Is there a special indirect cost rule for CESU awards?

Yes. If a cooperative agreement is awarded to a CESU partner under a 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).

18) What is the indirect cost cap amount mentioned for CESU-based awards?

The cap is 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base recognized in the applicant's federally approved NICRA, when the award is made in the CESU context described in the NOFO.

19) What should an applicant include in their proposal if the project advances CESU purposes?

Applicants are expected to clearly state whether their proposal advances CESU program purposes and, if so, identify which CESU Network should serve as the host. This can affect award structure and indirect cost treatment.

20) What is the application deadline listed for this opportunity?

The original application closing date listed is January 15, 2024.

21) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The award ceiling shown is $7,500,000.

22) How many awards does BLM expect to make?

The listing includes a field for expected awards, but that value is not provided in the information excerpt.

23) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on October 13, 2023.

24) Is this opportunity best understood as a standard grant or a partnership mechanism?

Based on the use of cooperative agreements and the expectation of substantial BLM involvement, it is best understood as a partnership mechanism for qualified entities to carry out off-range components of wild horse and burro management.

25) What are the main screening questions an organization should check before investing time in an application?

Based on the information provided, the main screening points are:

• Is the applicant an eligible public, nonprofit, tribal, or educational entity (and not an individual or for-profit organization)?
• Is the proposed work focused on off-range aspects of wild horse and burro management tied to BLM priorities?
• Does the project avoid hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act (if it does not, it should be directed to NOFO 15.243 instead)?
• If applying as a CESU partner under a Master CESU agreement, can the applicant comply with the 17.5 percent indirect cost cap and clearly identify the host CESU Network?