Opportunity Information: Apply for L15AS00126
Apply for L15AS00126
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM CA CESU Characterization of Impacts to Desert Pollinators from Utility Scale Renewable Energy Installations" 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 21, 2015 and posted on May 21, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 21, 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 $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funding opportunity titled "BLM CA CESU Characterization of Impacts to Desert Pollinators from Utility Scale Renewable Energy Installations" was a discretionary cooperative agreement offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network. The CESU program is designed to connect federal agencies with non-federal partners, especially universities, to carry out applied research, technical assistance, and education that supports public land and natural and cultural resource management. A core feature of CESU awards is that projects are expected to substantially involve and benefit both the federal partner (here, BLM) and the non-federal recipient, aligning the work with the goals of the specific CESU that administers the project.
The main purpose of this opportunity was to support applied scientific studies that clarify how large, utility-scale wind and solar energy developments on public lands might affect desert pollinator-plant networks. BLM identified a need for better evidence on the type and extent of ecological impacts tied to renewable energy buildout in desert ecosystems, where pollinators are essential to maintaining plant reproduction, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem function. The grant focused on understanding and documenting real-world impact pathways rather than general pollinator biology, with the intent that findings would be directly usable for land management decisions.
The description highlights several specific impact mechanisms the research was expected to investigate. One key concern is fragmentation of pollinator "traplines," meaning the repeated foraging routes many pollinators use between patches of flowering resources; large infrastructure footprints, fencing, access roads, and altered land cover can disrupt these movement patterns and change how pollinators connect plants across a landscape. Another emphasis is the loss or degradation of soil and vegetation habitat needed for different pollinator life stages. In deserts, many native bees nest in the ground or rely on specific soil conditions, microhabitats, or vegetation structure, so grading, soil compaction, vegetation removal, and altered hydrology around facilities can reduce nesting opportunities and survival. The opportunity also calls out the risk of disrupting specialized relationships, such as dependencies between endemic plants and their companion pollinators, or endemic invertebrates and their host plants, where even modest changes in habitat or timing can break tightly linked interactions. Finally, the announcement notes the possibility of demographic bottlenecks and population declines caused by pollinator mortality associated with certain renewable energy technologies, signaling interest in identifying whether particular facility types, layouts, or operational features create elevated risks.
From a management standpoint, the opportunity frames this work as foundational science needed to help BLM and other land managers avoid, minimize, or mitigate ecological "disconnects" that could result from renewable energy development in desert landscapes. In other words, the goal was not only to record impacts, but to generate practical knowledge that could inform siting decisions, design standards, mitigation measures, restoration approaches, monitoring protocols, and long-term stewardship of public lands where renewable energy projects are proposed or operating.
Administratively, the opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number L15AS00126, with the activity category of Natural Resources and CFDA number 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management). It anticipated up to 10 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $500,000 and an award ceiling of $500,000 (the floor was listed as $0). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants were limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with CESU participation and the academic research focus. The opportunity was posted on May 21, 2015, with an original and current closing date of July 21, 2015, and it was later archived on December 30, 2019. For official details and application materials, the announcement directed applicants to Grants.gov and provided a BLM grants management contact: Leona B. Parker (530-252-5338, lparker@blm.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this BLM funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "BLM CA CESU Characterization of Impacts to Desert Pollinators from Utility Scale Renewable Energy Installations."
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network.
What is the CESU Network, in plain terms?
The CESU program is designed to connect federal agencies with non-federal partners, especially universities, to carry out applied research, technical assistance, and education that supports management of public land and natural and cultural resources.
What is a core expectation of a CESU award?
A core feature is that projects are expected to substantially involve and benefit both the federal partner (here, BLM) and the non-federal recipient, and to align the work with the goals of the specific CESU administering the project.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to support applied scientific studies that clarify how large, utility-scale wind and solar energy development on public lands might affect desert pollinator-plant networks, with findings intended to be directly usable for land management decisions.
Is this opportunity about general pollinator biology?
No. The focus is on understanding and documenting real-world impact pathways tied to renewable energy buildout in desert ecosystems, rather than general pollinator biology.
Why are desert pollinators a management concern in this opportunity?
BLM identified a need for better evidence on ecological impacts associated with renewable energy buildout in desert ecosystems, where pollinators are essential for plant reproduction, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem function.
What specific impact mechanisms was the research expected to investigate?
The announcement highlighted multiple mechanisms, including fragmentation of pollinator foraging routes ("traplines"), loss or degradation of nesting and life-stage habitat in soils and vegetation, disruption of specialized plant-pollinator (or host) relationships, and potential demographic bottlenecks or population declines linked to pollinator mortality associated with certain renewable energy technologies.
What does "fragmentation of pollinator traplines" mean in this context?
It refers to disruption of the repeated foraging routes many pollinators use between patches of flowering resources. Large facility footprints, fencing, access roads, and altered land cover can interrupt these movement patterns and change how pollinators connect plants across the landscape.
What kinds of site changes were identified as potentially affecting pollinator habitat?
The opportunity notes that grading, soil compaction, vegetation removal, and altered hydrology around facilities can reduce nesting opportunities and survival, especially for desert native bees that nest in the ground or rely on specific soil conditions, microhabitats, or vegetation structure.
What kinds of specialized relationships were called out as vulnerable?
The description emphasizes the risk of disrupting specialized dependencies, such as relationships between endemic plants and their companion pollinators, or endemic invertebrates and their host plants, where even modest habitat or timing changes can break tightly linked interactions.
Does the opportunity mention pollinator mortality risks from renewable energy facilities?
Yes. It notes the possibility of demographic bottlenecks and population declines caused by pollinator mortality associated with certain renewable energy technologies, and signals interest in whether specific facility types, layouts, or operational features create elevated risks.
How were the results intended to be used by BLM and other land managers?
The work was framed as foundational science to help land managers avoid, minimize, or mitigate ecological "disconnects" resulting from renewable energy development. Findings were intended to inform siting decisions, design standards, mitigation measures, restoration approaches, monitoring protocols, and long-term stewardship.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L15AS00126.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Natural Resources.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management).
How many awards were anticipated?
Up to 10 awards were anticipated.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $500,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $500,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was listed as $0.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with CESU participation and the academic research focus.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 21, 2015.
What were the closing dates for applications?
The original and current closing date listed was July 21, 2015.
Is this opportunity still active?
No. The opportunity was later archived on December 30, 2019.
Where were applicants directed to find official details and application materials?
Applicants were directed to Grants.gov for official details and application materials.
Who was the BLM grants management contact listed in the announcement?
The contact listed was Leona B. Parker. Phone: 530-252-5338. Email: lparker@blm.gov.
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