Opportunity Information: Apply for L15AS00124
Apply for L15AS00124
- The Bureau of Land Management in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM CA Area Based Quality Index Assess Manage Biological Soil Crusts Mojave Sonoran Deserts" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231 Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 19, 2015 and posted on May 19, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 20, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) opportunity titled "BLM CA Area Based Quality Index Assess Manage Biological Soil Crusts Mojave Sonoran Deserts" is a cooperative agreement intended to pair BLM with a university to improve how biotic soil crusts (biocrusts) are conserved, restored, and managed across desert wilderness areas in southern California, especially within the Mojave and Sonoran Desert landscapes. Biocrusts are described as a key foundation for desert ecosystem stability because they help hold soils in place and support essential ecological functions like carbon sequestration and the cycling of carbon and nitrogen through plants and soils. The central problem the grant is trying to solve is that, even though biocrust science has advanced rapidly, land management practice has not kept pace, leaving managers without clear, standardized tools to translate new research into consistent on-the-ground decisions.
A core focus of the project is the development and field testing of one or more "quality indices" that can serve as practical metrics for biocrust function. The announcement notes that there is currently no standardized method for evaluating the ecological significance of biocrust communities at a specific site or across a broader land unit. In response, the funded work is meant to test proposed indices under real field conditions, then determine whether a single index or a suite of indices can be applied broadly to different desert settings. The expected outcome is a set of metrics that can reliably indicate ecosystem function related to biocrust communities across diverse desert landscapes managed by BLM in southern California wilderness areas.
The deliverable value is framed in very applied terms: BLM wants a management-ready approach that is practical, easy to implement, unbiased, and quantitative. In other words, the project is aimed at giving land managers a consistent way to evaluate and monitor biocrust condition and function so that restoration, enhancement, and conservation actions can be better targeted and assessed over time. If successful, the resulting tools would help managers compare sites, track change, and justify decisions using standardized measurements rather than purely qualitative observations.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the Bureau of Land Management under a cooperative agreement mechanism, with one anticipated award. The estimated total funding was $100,000, with an award ceiling of $100,000 and an award floor of $500, and there was no cost share or matching requirement. Eligible applicants were public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, reflecting the stated intent for BLM to partner directly with a university. The opportunity was posted on May 19, 2015, and closed July 20, 2015, with an archive date of December 31, 2015. The CFDA listing referenced was 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management). For access issues or official questions, the listed contact was Leona B. Parker (GMO) at 530-252-5338 and lparker@blm.gov, and the announcement pointed applicants to grants.gov for the full posting and related materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this BLM funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "BLM CA Area Based Quality Index Assess Manage Biological Soil Crusts Mojave Sonoran Deserts."
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, which is intended to support a close working partnership between BLM and the selected university.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to improve how biotic soil crusts (biocrusts) are conserved, restored, and managed across desert wilderness areas in southern California, with a focus on the Mojave and Sonoran Desert landscapes. A central goal is to create management-ready tools that help translate rapidly advancing biocrust science into consistent on-the-ground land management decisions.
What problem is BLM trying to solve through this grant?
BLM is addressing a gap between research and practice. While biocrust science has advanced quickly, land management practice has not kept pace. As a result, managers lack clear, standardized tools to apply new research in a consistent and practical way across sites and land units.
What are biotic soil crusts (biocrusts), according to the announcement?
Biocrusts are described as a key foundation for desert ecosystem stability. They help hold soils in place and support ecological functions such as carbon sequestration and the cycling of carbon and nitrogen through plants and soils.
Where is the work expected to take place?
The work focuses on desert wilderness areas in southern California, especially within the Mojave and Sonoran Desert landscapes managed by BLM.
What is the "core focus" of the funded work?
A core focus is developing and field testing one or more "quality indices" that can function as practical metrics for biocrust condition and ecosystem function under real field conditions.
What is meant by a "quality index" in this opportunity?
In this context, a quality index refers to a practical metric (or set of metrics) intended to indicate biocrust-related ecosystem function. The goal is to provide a standardized way to evaluate the ecological significance of biocrust communities at a site or across a broader land unit.
Why does BLM want quality indices for biocrusts?
The announcement notes there is currently no standardized method for evaluating the ecological significance of biocrust communities at a specific site or across a broader land unit. The quality indices are intended to fill that gap with quantitative, standardized measurements that can be used consistently by managers.
Is BLM looking for one index or multiple indices?
The funded work is expected to test proposed indices under field conditions and then determine whether a single index or a suite of indices can be applied broadly across different desert settings.
What outcomes does BLM expect from the project?
The expected outcome is a set of metrics that can reliably indicate ecosystem function related to biocrust communities across diverse desert landscapes managed by BLM in southern California wilderness areas.
How does BLM describe the desired deliverables?
BLM frames the deliverable value in applied, management-ready terms. The desired approach should be practical, easy to implement, unbiased, and quantitative, so land managers can evaluate and monitor biocrust condition and function consistently over time.
How would the resulting tools be used by land managers?
If successful, the tools would help managers compare sites, track change over time, and justify restoration, enhancement, conservation, and management decisions using standardized measurements rather than purely qualitative observations.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated one award.
What is the estimated total funding available?
The estimated total funding was $100,000.
What are the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling was $100,000 and the award floor was $500.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost share or matching requirement was listed for this opportunity.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, reflecting the intent for BLM to partner with a university.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 19, 2015, and it closed on July 20, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was December 31, 2015.
What CFDA program is referenced?
The referenced CFDA listing is 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management).
Where can applicants find the full posting and related materials?
The announcement directed applicants to grants.gov for the full posting and related materials.
Who is the listed contact for access issues or official questions?
The listed contact was Leona B. Parker (GMO). Phone: 530-252-5338. Email: lparker@blm.gov.
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