FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Cultural and Paleontology Resource Management | L24AS00075

FAQs: FY24 IIJA/IRA BLM Idaho (ID) Cultural and Paleontology Resource Management (L24AS00075)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is the FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Cultural and Paleontology Resource Management funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L24AS00075; CFDA 15.224). It is a discretionary BLM funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement to support work connected to BLM Idaho's Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Programs.

Is this a standard grant or a cooperative agreement?

It is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. Applicants should plan for substantial involvement by BLM staff in shaping, coordinating, or overseeing the project work, deliverables, and outcomes.

What kinds of activities does the opportunity generally support?

The focus is on efforts that help identify, protect, document, manage, and interpret cultural resources and paleontological resources on public lands administered by BLM in Idaho. Examples mentioned or implied by the notice include targeted surveys, documentation and evaluation, inventory or monitoring, condition assessments, small-scale stabilization planning, data management, and education/interpretive products tied to stewardship.

What types of cultural resources are included?

The opportunity references cultural resources such as archaeological sites, historic properties, and traditional cultural places, along with other cultural heritage resources managed by BLM Idaho.

What types of paleontology work are included?

The opportunity supports paleontological resource activities on BLM-managed public lands in Idaho, including tasks like inventory, monitoring, and related documentation or management actions consistent with BLM Idaho program needs.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to public and nonprofit entities, including:

• 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 and Indian housing authorities
• Nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))

Who is not eligible to apply?

Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly not eligible to apply under this notice.

Can an ineligible entity apply using a fiscal sponsor or a contractor-driven model?

The notice makes the eligibility restriction a key point: if the applying entity is ineligible, the proposal cannot be funded under this notice. Organizations that rely on fiscal sponsors or contractor-driven approaches should ensure the actual applicant organization is eligible.

What is the award ceiling (maximum funding per award)?

The listed award ceiling is $32,000, which is the maximum anticipated federal funding per award under this notice.

When was this opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on October 2, 2023. The original closing date was December 11, 2023.

How many awards will be made?

The summary information provided does not specify the expected number of awards.

Are projects involving Public Lands Corps (PLC) interns or crews allowed?

No. This NOFO does not support projects that involve hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 USC Chapter 37, Subchapter II). Proposals should not be built around PLC intern/crew hiring under this opportunity.

If we want to do a youth crew or intern project under the Public Lands Corps Act, where should we apply?

The notice directs applicants to pursue those youth/intern crew concepts under a different BLM funding opportunity: NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.

What does the Public Lands Corps restriction mean for staffing field work?

Applicants planning field-based cultural or paleontology work should structure staffing without proposing PLC intern hiring through this award, and instead plan for qualified staff, partners, or other allowable arrangements consistent with the cooperative agreement.

What is a CESU and why does it matter for this opportunity?

CESU stands for Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units. CESUs are partnership networks intended to support research, monitoring, technical assistance, assessments, and education services that align with federal land management needs. This opportunity notes CESU participation because it can affect indirect cost limits under a CESU-based award structure.

Is there an indirect cost cap for CESU partners?

Yes. If an applicant is a CESU partner and a cooperative agreement is awarded under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement 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).

What if our organization has a NICRA with an indirect rate higher than 17.5 percent?

The notice indicates that for CESU partners awarded under a Master CESU agreement, indirect cost recovery is limited by the 17.5 percent cap (applied to the relevant indirect cost base), even if the organization has a higher NICRA rate.

Do applicants need to say whether their project advances CESU purposes?

Yes. Applicants are expected to state whether their proposal advances CESU program purposes and, if so, identify which CESU Network should be considered as the host.

What types of projects seem most appropriate given the $32,000 ceiling?

Based on the modest ceiling and the program focus described, projects are likely to be targeted, discrete efforts such as focused surveys, documentation and evaluation work, specific paleontology inventory or monitoring tasks, condition assessments, small-scale stabilization planning, data management activities, or education/interpretive products tied to stewardship in BLM-managed areas of Idaho.

What should a competitive application emphasize?

A competitive application would typically align tightly with BLM Idaho cultural resource and paleontology management priorities, clearly describe methods and deliverables, demonstrate the applicant's technical qualifications and relevant experience, and present a realistic budget that stays within the $32,000 ceiling and complies with any indirect cost limitations (including CESU-related limits where applicable).

What is the biggest proposal pitfall called out in the notice?

The clearest pitfall highlighted is proposing a project built around hiring PLC interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act. The notice explicitly directs those youth/intern crew concepts to a separate, youth-focused BLM NOFO (15.243), not this cultural and paleontology resource management opportunity.

Which BLM programs does this opportunity support in Idaho?

It supports BLM Idaho's Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Programs, covering work that helps identify, protect, document, manage, and interpret cultural and paleontological resources on BLM-administered public lands in Idaho.

What is the assistance listing or CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 15.224.

What does "discretionary" mean in the context provided?

The information provided describes this as a discretionary BLM funding opportunity, meaning it is awarded competitively at the agency's discretion rather than as an entitlement.

What does "substantial involvement" by BLM look like in a cooperative agreement?

The description indicates BLM staff may be substantially involved in shaping the project, coordinating activities, and overseeing or guiding work products, deliverables, and outcomes, compared to a more hands-off relationship typical of some standard grants.