BLM Utah Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program Studies, Development and Use Partnership | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative agreement opportunity to support work under the Utah-based Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program (CPNPP), a partnership focused on improving restoration and reclamation outcomes on public lands across the Colorado Plateau by strengthening native plant materials supply, science, and use.

Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?

The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement instrument. That means the selected recipient is expected to work closely with BLM and other participating entities as a partner, rather than operating independently as in a more typical grant setup.

Who is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), through its Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program (CPNPP) coordinated in Utah.

What is the program trying to achieve?

CPNPP aims to proactively expand and improve the availability and effectiveness of native plant materials used in restoration and reclamation on public lands. The intent is to increase scientific rigor, document and share results, support real-world implementation, and improve decision-making for more resilient restoration outcomes and better stewardship of public natural resources.

What geographic area does the program focus on?

The program is regional in scope, focusing on public lands across the Colorado Plateau. It is also designed to support national priorities, so partnerships and work may connect with related national, regional, state, or local programs where that helps move the work forward.

What kinds of activities can be supported?

The work can span the full native plant materials development pipeline, including identifying and collecting wildland seed (and other propagules, including for soil organisms), banking and storage, testing and selecting appropriate materials, defining seed transfer zones, increasing seed for broader availability, releasing materials to industry, and evaluating performance through research trials and effectiveness monitoring.

Does the opportunity support advanced research approaches?

Yes. The program description notes support for more advanced analytical work such as molecular approaches and scenario modeling to better anticipate future needs and environmental conditions.

What is the selected recipient expected to provide?

The recipient is expected to provide scientific and technical assistance that advances CPNPP goals, bringing expertise or capacity that extends beyond what BLM staff can provide alone, and coordinating closely with BLM and other participating partners.

What are the eight program goals proposals can align with?

Proposals may align with any of these eight goals: (1) native seed collection to support evaluation and development, (2) evaluation and development of plant materials, (3) field establishment, (4) seed production by private growers, (5) seed storage, (6) restoration of native plant communities, (7) monitoring of restoration activities, and (8) communication with partners and the public.

Are there priority topics BLM is especially interested in?

Yes. The listing highlights topics of particular interest including scenario modeling to guide species and location priorities for collection and development; economic analyses that account for biodiversity and other non-market values; improved data management and administrative capacity (including online tools and applications); synthesis of existing knowledge and clearer communication (including education and outreach); and field-based studies such as common garden experiments, plus research on propagation methods and storage practices.

What kinds of deliverables and expectations are described?

Expectations include producing scientifically credible work suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals; implementing quality assurance and quality control practices and clear management plans; participating in annual meetings and occasional conference calls; and responding promptly to BLM inquiries about progress or to support outreach and information-sharing efforts.

What does "partnership" mean in practical terms for this award?

The opportunity emphasizes close collaboration with BLM and other participating entities, with the awardee expected to contribute capabilities and capacity beyond what BLM staff can provide alone, and to participate in ongoing coordination through meetings, calls, and timely communication.

How does this program relate to national priorities?

The program is designed to support national priorities including the National Seed Strategy and Pollinator Protection Strategy, efforts to reduce impacts from invasive species and wildland fire, and initiatives aimed at adapting restoration practices to global change.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The opportunity indicates an expected number of awards of one.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $25,000.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is L16AS00229.

What CFDA program is this associated with?

This opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.231 (Natural Resources).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any entity type may apply unless additional limitations are described elsewhere in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was originally posted on June 28, 2016, with an original closing date of August 29, 2016.

What is the public benefit of funding this work?

The public benefit described is improved availability and effectiveness of native plant materials for restoration and reclamation on public lands, leading to better restoration outcomes, stronger stewardship of public resources, and support for ecosystem services and ecological processes people rely on.

Does the opportunity mention industry involvement?

Yes. The program pipeline includes releasing materials to industry, and one of the goals explicitly includes seed production by private growers.

Does the opportunity include monitoring and evaluation of results?

Yes. The program includes evaluating performance through research trials and effectiveness monitoring, and one of the eight program goals is monitoring of restoration activities.

Does the program include communication and outreach?

Yes. One of the eight program goals is communication with partners and the public, and the topics of interest include synthesis of existing knowledge and clearer communication, which can include education and outreach.