Opportunity Information: Apply for L14AS00296
Apply for L14AS00296
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM UT GSENM NLCS NM/NCA GSENM Baseline Inventory of Bryophytes of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument" 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 Aug 3, 2014 and posted on Aug 3, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 22, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $99,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $38,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L14AS00296) is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative agreement focused on establishing a baseline inventory of bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts) within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) in Utah. The project is routed through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network, specifically the Great Basin CESU (GBCESU), which is described as a large partnership platform that connects federal agencies with universities, tribes, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to support research, education, and technical assistance for managing natural and cultural resources. The central idea is to use this bryophyte inventory as both a high-value resource management product for GSENM and an applied, hands-on educational experience in public land management for an academic or nonprofit research institution.
The scientific and management rationale emphasizes that bryophytes can be strong indicators of climate change because many species occupy narrow microclimatic niches and respond to fine-scale environmental conditions such as substrate chemistry, humidity, the timing and amount of precipitation, and sun exposure (insolation). The announcement also underscores that mosses are key components of biological soil crusts (often called cryptobiotic crusts), which help retain moisture, stabilize soil surfaces, and influence erosion and hydrology. These crusts are specifically identified as protected objects in the Monument proclamation, so a better understanding of the moss and bryophyte community directly supports legal and stewardship responsibilities for the Monument.
A major motivation for doing a baseline inventory at GSENM is that recent work on the Colorado Plateau has revealed unexpectedly high bryophyte diversity and even new discoveries. Surveys in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park reportedly produced dozens of new state records for Arizona and Nevada and included species potentially new to science, suggesting that similarly significant findings could be present at GSENM. The description also points to bioblitz-style surveys near GSENM (in the Deer Creek riparian area) that documented two moss species new to Utah, highlighting how limited sampling can still lead to major range extensions and new records. In addition to rare or surprising finds, the announcement notes that large parts of the plateau support extensive populations of arid-adapted mosses such as Syntrichia caninervis and Syntrichia ruralis, as well as rock-dwelling species in the common genus Grimmia. It also calls attention to aquatic bryophytes associated with streams and springs, describing them as important to aquatic food webs that support invertebrates and fish, which ties the inventory to broader ecosystem function.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity with one expected award and a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, signaling that BLM anticipates substantial involvement and collaboration rather than a hands-off grant. The program is categorized under natural resources, with CFDA listing 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management). The posting date was August 3, 2014, with an original and current closing date of August 22, 2014, and an archive date of September 30, 2014. The estimated total funding is listed as 99,000, while the award amount for this opportunity is fixed at 38,000 (both the ceiling and floor are 38,000), and no cost sharing or matching is required. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open broadly to entity types), with the practical intent that an academic institution or nonprofit research organization would lead the work, consistent with the CESU mission of linking research and education to land management needs.
For access issues or questions about the announcement, the listed grants management contact is Maria Gochis (BLM), reachable by phone at 801-539-4178 and by email at mariagochis@blm.gov (also mgochis@blm.gov). The announcement directs applicants to grants.gov for full details, but the core purpose is clear: produce a foundational bryophyte species inventory for GSENM that improves resource management capacity and builds applied training experience, with an emphasis on climate sensitivity, soil crust conservation, and the strong likelihood of documenting previously unrecorded or poorly understood bryophyte diversity on the Colorado Plateau.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L14AS00296.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
What type of award is being offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which indicates BLM expects substantial involvement and collaboration during the project rather than a fully hands-off relationship.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The purpose is to establish a baseline inventory of bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts) within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) in Utah. The inventory is intended to serve as a high-value resource management product for the Monument and as an applied, hands-on educational experience in public land management for an academic or nonprofit research institution.
What organisms are included under "bryophytes" in this announcement?
Bryophytes are described here as mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
Where will the work take place?
The work is focused on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) in Utah.
How does this opportunity connect to the CESU Network?
The project is routed through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network, specifically the Great Basin CESU (GBCESU). The CESU platform is described as a large partnership that connects federal agencies with universities, tribes, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to support research, education, and technical assistance for natural and cultural resource management.
Why is BLM interested in a bryophyte inventory at GSENM?
The announcement emphasizes both scientific and management reasons. Bryophytes can be strong indicators of climate change because many species occupy narrow microclimatic niches and respond to fine-scale environmental conditions such as substrate chemistry, humidity, precipitation timing and amount, and sun exposure (insolation). The inventory is also framed as directly useful for stewardship and management decisions within the Monument.
How are bryophytes related to biological soil crusts (cryptobiotic crusts)?
The announcement notes that mosses are key components of biological soil crusts (often called cryptobiotic crusts). These crusts help retain moisture, stabilize soil surfaces, and influence erosion and hydrology.
Why do biological soil crusts matter for GSENM management?
Biological soil crusts are identified as protected objects in the Monument proclamation, so improving understanding of the moss and bryophyte community supports legal and stewardship responsibilities for GSENM.
What makes GSENM and the Colorado Plateau promising places to survey bryophytes?
The announcement points to recent Colorado Plateau work showing unexpectedly high bryophyte diversity and new discoveries. It cites surveys in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park that produced dozens of new state records for Arizona and Nevada and included species potentially new to science. It also mentions bioblitz-style surveys near GSENM (Deer Creek riparian area) that documented two moss species new to Utah, suggesting limited sampling can still yield major new records and range extensions.
Does the announcement mention any bryophyte groups or species that are expected or notable?
Yes. It notes extensive populations of arid-adapted mosses such as Syntrichia caninervis and Syntrichia ruralis, rock-dwelling species in the common genus Grimmia, and aquatic bryophytes associated with streams and springs.
Why are aquatic bryophytes highlighted?
The announcement describes aquatic bryophytes linked to streams and springs as important to aquatic food webs that support invertebrates and fish, tying the inventory to broader ecosystem function.
How many awards does BLM expect to make?
The announcement indicates one expected award.
What is the award amount for this opportunity?
The award amount is fixed at $38,000. The floor and ceiling are both $38,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching is required.
What is the estimated total funding listed for the opportunity?
The estimated total funding is listed as $99,000, while the award amount for this specific opportunity is fixed at $38,000.
What program area does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under natural resources.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided is 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open broadly to entity types). The practical intent described in the announcement is that an academic institution or nonprofit research organization would lead the work, consistent with the CESU mission linking research and education to land management needs.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The announcement describes it as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The posting date was August 3, 2014. The original and current closing date is August 22, 2014. The archive date is September 30, 2014.
Where can applicants find the full details and application instructions?
The announcement directs applicants to grants.gov for full details.
Who is the grants management contact for questions or access issues?
The listed grants management contact is Maria Gochis (BLM).
How can Maria Gochis be reached?
Phone: 801-539-4178. Email: mariagochis@blm.gov. An additional email is also listed: mgochis@blm.gov.
What is the intended management value of the bryophyte inventory?
The inventory is presented as a foundational dataset that improves GSENM resource management capacity, supports stewardship responsibilities related to protected biological soil crusts, and strengthens understanding of climate-sensitive indicators on the Monument.
What is the intended educational value of the project?
The announcement frames the work as an applied, hands-on educational experience in public land management, intended for an academic or nonprofit research institution as part of the CESU mission connecting research and education to land management needs.
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