Opportunity Information: Apply for L14AS00160
Apply for L14AS00160
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM Utah Establishment of Utah Air Quality Modeling Center" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.236 Environmental Quality and Protection Resource Management.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 17, 2014 and posted on Jul 17, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 7, 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 $490,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $110,000.00 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:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Utah issued this discretionary grant opportunity to help stand up a Utah-based Air Quality Modeling Center that can run and maintain a reusable, landscape-scale photochemical modeling platform. BLM Utah has been finishing development of this platform so it can use a modern "one atmosphere" photochemical air quality model to support future regional air quality planning and to strengthen National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses. The platform and underlying approach were developed collaboratively with other federal land managers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with the goal of having a mutually accepted, transparent methodology for evaluating air quality impacts. This is meant to support BLM's responsibilities under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), which treats air as a managed resource, and under NEPA, which requires agencies to analyze and disclose environmental impacts of proposed land management actions.
A central issue behind the funding is capacity: BLM does not currently have the in-house expertise, staffing, or operational capability to actually use the platform routinely, and budget projections suggest it is unlikely to build that capability soon. Photochemical modeling is described as complex and iterative, requiring repeated adjustments to inputs, extensive preprocessing, and performance evaluation before results are considered reliable. Because those iterations are time-consuming and technically demanding, BLM argues there are advantages to housing this work in an academic setting rather than relying primarily on private consultants. An academic modeling center can provide continuity, institutional memory, repeatable methods, and an environment where methods can be tested, improved, and peer-informed over time, which can be difficult to sustain through one-off contracts.
The assistance is intended, preferably, for an academic institution in Utah to function as a modeling hub that can provide services not only to BLM Utah but also to other federal and state land managers, and potentially to consultants working on public-lands projects. The expected outcome is a practical, operational modeling capability that BLM can draw on for NEPA documents and broader air quality planning, while also ensuring the modeling platform is maintained and periodically updated by the center rather than becoming an unfunded maintenance burden for BLM. BLM frames this as a cost-saving investment over the long term: it should reduce the time needed to complete analyses, leverage a platform already developed by BLM, and yield results that are more thoroughly vetted and consistent than what BLM typically receives through available private consulting mechanisms.
Coordination with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) is built into the concept. The announcement is explicit that the modeling performed under this cooperative agreement is not intended to replace regulatory modeling conducted by UDEQ. Instead, the recipient is expected to stay in close communication with UDEQ so that technical choices and outputs are aligned where appropriate. This coordination becomes especially important if Duchesne and Uintah counties are designated as nonattainment for ozone in the future, because consistency in core modeling inputs, particularly emissions inventories, would be critical for credible planning and analysis. To keep agencies aligned, the project management approach must include quarterly planning and consultation meetings involving the recipient, UDEQ staff, and BLM staff.
The opportunity also emphasizes transparency and shared learning. Modeling protocols, results, and reports are expected to be publicly available for review, and both BLM and the recipient are expected to participate in ongoing and future collaborative efforts to improve the science and practice of air quality modeling in Utah. If successful, BLM characterizes this as potentially the first academic center in the United States focused specifically on public-lands air quality modeling, a capability it describes as widely needed in other BLM states as well.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted July 17, 2014 under Funding Opportunity Number L14AS00160 by the Bureau of Land Management. The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, reflecting an expectation of substantial involvement and collaboration between BLM and the recipient. The activity category is Natural Resources under CFDA 15.236 (Environmental Quality and Protection Resource Management). BLM anticipated making one award, with an estimated total funding amount of $490,000, an award ceiling of $110,000, and an award floor of $500, with no cost share or matching requirement. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), although the narrative clearly signals a preference for a Utah academic institution. The original and final closing date was August 7, 2014, and the opportunity was archived September 30, 2014. For access issues, the listed grants management contact was Maria Gochis (801-539-4178; mariagochis@blm.gov; mgochis@blm.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity trying to fund?
This discretionary grant opportunity from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Utah is intended to help establish a Utah-based Air Quality Modeling Center that can run, maintain, and update a reusable, landscape-scale photochemical modeling platform. The center would provide an operational capability that BLM can use for regional air quality planning and to strengthen National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses.
Who is offering the funding?
The funding opportunity was issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Utah.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L14AS00160.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on July 17, 2014. The original and final closing date was August 7, 2014.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on September 30, 2014.
What type of award is this (grant, contract, cooperative agreement)?
The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement. This reflects an expectation of substantial involvement and collaboration between BLM and the recipient.
How much funding is available?
BLM anticipated one award. The estimated total funding amount was $490,000. The award ceiling was $110,000, and the award floor was $500.
How many awards did BLM anticipate making?
BLM anticipated making one award.
Is there a required cost share or match?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost share or matching requirement.
What is the CFDA program and activity category associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is Natural Resources. The CFDA program listed is 15.236, Environmental Quality and Protection Resource Management.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity). However, the narrative signaled a preference for an academic institution in Utah to serve as the modeling hub.
What is the main purpose of the Air Quality Modeling Center described in the announcement?
The purpose is to provide a practical, operational modeling capability to run and maintain a modern "one atmosphere" photochemical air quality model using a platform BLM Utah had been finishing development on. The center would support future regional air quality planning and strengthen air quality impact analyses used in NEPA documents.
What kind of modeling platform is being referenced?
The announcement describes a reusable, landscape-scale photochemical modeling platform designed to use a modern "one atmosphere" photochemical air quality model. It is intended to support consistent, transparent evaluation of air quality impacts across public-lands planning contexts.
Why does BLM want an external center to operate the platform instead of doing it in-house?
BLM stated it did not have the in-house expertise, staffing, or operational capability to use the platform routinely, and budget projections suggested it was unlikely to build that capability soon. Photochemical modeling was described as complex and iterative, requiring repeated adjustments to inputs, extensive preprocessing, and performance evaluation before results are considered reliable.
Why does the announcement emphasize an academic setting?
BLM highlighted advantages to housing the work in an academic setting rather than relying primarily on private consultants. The rationale included continuity, institutional memory, repeatable methods, and an environment where methods can be tested and improved over time, which can be difficult to sustain through one-off contracts.
Who is expected to benefit from the modeling center's services?
The center is intended to function as a modeling hub that can provide services to BLM Utah and also to other federal and state land managers. The announcement also notes it could potentially support consultants working on public-lands projects.
How will the modeling be used by BLM?
The expected outcome is that BLM can draw on an operational modeling capability for NEPA documents and broader air quality planning, while ensuring the modeling platform is maintained and periodically updated by the center rather than becoming an unfunded maintenance burden for BLM.
What laws or responsibilities is this effort meant to support?
BLM framed the modeling capability as supporting its responsibilities under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), which treats air as a managed resource, and under NEPA, which requires agencies to analyze and disclose environmental impacts of proposed land management actions.
Was the modeling approach developed in collaboration with other agencies?
Yes. The platform and underlying approach were described as having been developed collaboratively with other federal land managers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with a goal of a mutually accepted, transparent methodology for evaluating air quality impacts.
Does this cooperative agreement replace regulatory air quality modeling done by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ)?
No. The announcement explicitly states the modeling performed under this cooperative agreement is not intended to replace regulatory modeling conducted by UDEQ.
What coordination is expected with UDEQ?
The recipient is expected to stay in close communication with UDEQ so that technical choices and outputs are aligned where appropriate. The project management approach must include quarterly planning and consultation meetings involving the recipient, UDEQ staff, and BLM staff.
Why does the announcement mention Duchesne and Uintah counties?
The announcement notes coordination would become especially important if Duchesne and Uintah counties are designated as nonattainment for ozone in the future. In that scenario, consistency in core modeling inputs, particularly emissions inventories, would be critical for credible planning and analysis.
What are the transparency expectations for the modeling work?
The opportunity emphasizes transparency and shared learning. Modeling protocols, results, and reports are expected to be publicly available for review, and BLM and the recipient are expected to participate in ongoing and future collaborative efforts to improve air quality modeling science and practice in Utah.
Does BLM describe any long-term value or cost savings from funding this center?
Yes. BLM framed the effort as a long-term cost-saving investment that should reduce the time needed to complete analyses, leverage a platform already developed by BLM, and yield results that are more thoroughly vetted and consistent than what BLM typically receives through available private consulting mechanisms.
Does the announcement suggest this type of center is unique?
Yes. BLM characterized this concept, if successful, as potentially the first academic center in the United States focused specifically on public-lands air quality modeling, and described the capability as widely needed in other BLM states.
Who is the listed grants management contact for access issues?
The listed grants management contact was Maria Gochis. Phone: 801-539-4178. Email: mariagochis@blm.gov and mgochis@blm.gov.
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