FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Colorado Plant Conservation and Restoration Management | L25AS00152

Opportunity Information: Apply for L25AS00152

The FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado Plant Conservation and Restoration Management opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L25AS00152) is a discretionary cooperative agreement program under CFDA 15.245 that supports on-the-ground and science-based work to conserve native plants, restore degraded habitats, and strengthen the native seed supply needed for resilient ecosystems across Colorado public lands. The program is framed around Department of the Interior priorities such as responding to the climate crisis, restoring balance on public lands and waters, advancing environmental justice, and supporting long-term sustainability in the context of a clean energy future. A central guiding framework for FY2025 is alignment with the National Seed Strategy (www.blm.gov/seedstrategy), reflecting BLMs emphasis on having the right native plant materials available at the right time and place to successfully restore landscapes after disturbance.

Projects are expected to emphasize outcomes like protecting biodiversity, increasing climate resilience, and leveraging natural climate solutions through restoration. The opportunity also ties into the broader national conservation goal of conserving at least 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030, and it places a clear priority on engaging communities of color, low-income families, rural communities, and Indigenous communities in ways that expand economic opportunities linked to native seed production and restoration. Another recurring theme is the use of the best available science and data in planning and decision-making, acknowledging that native plants and intact native plant communities function as essential "green infrastructure" that underpins wildlife habitat, watershed stability, and ecosystem recovery after wildfire and other disasters.

BLM Colorado describes a wide menu of project types it is interested in supporting. A major focus is reducing threats to sage grouse, rare plants, and other sensitive species by restoring high-priority habitats, including habitat components important for keystone wildlife and pollinators. The program is also interested in strengthening the native plant materials pipeline by working with growers to develop genetically appropriate native plant material for restoration and rehabilitation, which can include efforts to identify appropriate seed sources and improve production capacity for priority species. On the research and applied science side, the opportunity supports studies that improve restoration effectiveness, including work in plant ecology, plant genetics, and ecophysiology; seed bank persistence; propagation methods; development of agronomic production practices; and evaluations of traits and seed sources. It also includes interest in practical restoration innovations such as seeding treatments, new tools, and other methods that increase establishment success in challenging environments.

Pollinator-related work is another highlighted area, particularly studies and projects that clarify the role of native plant communities and pollinators in long-term restoration durability and ecological function. In addition, BLM is seeking projects that implement conservation actions for high-priority rare plant species, increase understanding of rare plant biology and threats, and monitor, protect, and restore habitats that support Colorados large rare plant portfolio (noting that there are more than 1,800 rare plant species, with more than 300 found exclusively on BLM lands). The program also encourages cross-program strategies that increase the use of genetically appropriate native plant materials throughout BLM operations, explicitly referencing integration with programs such as Wildlife, Oil and Gas, Minerals, Fuels, Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation, Rangeland management, and Renewable Energy. Beyond field and lab work, the program includes a strong public engagement and education component through efforts to expand citizen science and outreach, including technical guidance, videos, native plant guides and floras, workshops, webinars, and mobile or web-based apps.

Eligibility is limited to public and nonprofit or educational entities rather than private commercial applicants. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; other Tribal organizations; and nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible under this notice of funding opportunity. The NOFO also clarifies that it does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993; youth corps-style projects must instead be pursued under the separate BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands funding (NOFO 15.243), which is the authority BLM uses for that type of hiring.

Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which generally means BLM expects substantial involvement in project coordination or implementation rather than a hands-off grant. The listed award ceiling is $250,000. The original application closing date is January 31, 2025, and the opportunity was created on December 2, 2024. Finally, the NOFO notes that projects may be implemented through Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs), which are research and technical assistance partnerships; for cooperative agreements with CESU partners, indirect costs are capped at no more than 17.5 percent, and applicants should indicate whether they will participate in the CESU program and identify the host CESU Network if applicable.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Colorado Plant Conservation and Restoration Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.245.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-31. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district 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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