Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management AK Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management | L21AS00302

Opportunity Information: Apply for L21AS00302

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L21AS00302) is a discretionary grant program offered through a cooperative agreement mechanism under CFDA 15.244. Its overall focus is natural resources work tied to fisheries and aquatic resource management on or related to BLM-managed public lands in Alaska. Because the instrument type is a cooperative agreement, applicants should expect a more hands-on partnership structure than a standard grant, meaning BLM may remain substantially involved in planning, coordination, or technical oversight as the funded work is carried out.

Eligibility is limited to public and nonprofit-oriented entities and certain education and tribal organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments (including special districts and city/township governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not institutions of higher education). Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible, which is a key restriction for any applicant screening.

The notice also highlights an important workforce and project-structure limitation: this particular NOFO does not support recipients using the award to hire interns or field crews. It explains that the only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns is the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II, Public Lands Corps). As a result, youth-oriented organizations that want to propose projects involving interns or conservation corps crews are directed away from this opportunity and toward a separate funding notice specifically designed for that purpose: NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. In practical terms, that means applicants should design proposals around professional staff, partners, or other allowable labor arrangements rather than building the project around internship or crew-based hiring under this aquatic resources NOFO.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on February 10, 2021, and had an original closing date of April 12, 2021. The listed award ceiling is $65,000, which suggests projects are expected to be relatively targeted in scope and budget. While the record does not specify the number of expected awards, the modest ceiling typically aligns with discrete fisheries and aquatic resource tasks, such as assessments, monitoring, planning support, habitat-related coordination, data collection or analysis, or other applied management activities that fit within BLM Alaska aquatic resource priorities and can be completed with limited funding.

In summary, this is a BLM Alaska natural resources cooperative agreement opportunity for fisheries and aquatic resource management work, open to government entities, eligible tribal entities, nonprofits, and educational institutions, with a $65,000 cap and a clear prohibition on proposals that depend on hiring interns or crews under this NOFO. Applicants intending to involve youth corps-style labor must instead pursue the separate BLM youth conservation funding announcement referenced in the notice.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management AK Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management" 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 2021-02-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-12. (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 $65,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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.

Apply for L21AS00302

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