Opportunity Information: Apply for L12AS00067

  • The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM WY Biological Soil Crust Study and Inventory" 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 Apr 7, 2012 and posted on Apr 7, 2012.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 28, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $120,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $40,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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.
  • Members of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units are the eligible entities.
Apply for L12AS00067

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:

Opportunity Summary:

The grant opportunity titled "BLM WY Biological Soil Crust Study and Inventory" (Funding Opportunity Number L12AS00067) was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discretionary funding announcement focused on natural resource management, specifically the study of biological soil crusts on BLM-managed lands in Wyoming. Biological soil crusts (often made up of communities of lichens, mosses, cyanobacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms) play a major role in arid and semi-arid ecosystems by helping stabilize soils, influence water infiltration, and contribute to nutrient cycling. The BLM’s central purpose here was to fund a detailed, on-the-ground survey that documents where these crusts occur and how their presence and condition vary across different land-use and disturbance settings.

The project described in the announcement aimed to inventory biological soil crusts across a range of site types, comparing undisturbed and disturbed areas as well as grazed and ungrazed locations. By intentionally sampling across these contrasts, the study would generate practical information for land and ecosystem management, including how activities such as grazing or other surface disturbances may affect crust occurrence and condition. Just as importantly, the inventory was intended to create a baseline dataset that could be used for long-term monitoring, allowing managers and researchers to track changes over time and evaluate how stressors like climate change may be impacting these soil crust communities.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument was a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates that BLM expected to have substantial involvement with the recipient during the project rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The opportunity fell under the CFDA number 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management). The announcement anticipated making two awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $120,000. Individual awards had an anticipated ceiling of $40,000, with no stated minimum (award floor of $0). No cost sharing or matching funds were required, which reduces barriers for applicants that may not have access to non-federal match.

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted in a broad sense, but the specific eligibility clarification stated that applicants needed to be members of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU). In practice, that typically means universities, research institutions, non-profits, or other partners formally participating in those CESU networks, which are designed to support cooperative research and technical assistance for federal land management needs.

Key dates show that the opportunity was posted and created on April 7, 2012, with an original and current closing date of April 28, 2012, and an archive date of May 15, 2012. That means the application window was relatively short. The full set of application instructions and required forms were provided through the announcement’s "Application" tab via the Additional Information link. For applicant support or issues accessing the announcement electronically, the listed contact was Robert J. Tichac at BLM, reachable by phone at 307-775-6313 or by email at rtichac@blm.gov.

Overall, this opportunity was designed to support a field-based, management-relevant inventory of biological soil crusts on BLM lands in Wyoming, producing baseline information useful for comparing land conditions across disturbance and grazing gradients and for tracking future ecological change, including potential climate-driven impacts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): BLM WY Biological Soil Crust Study and Inventory (L12AS00067)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled BLM WY Biological Soil Crust Study and Inventory.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is L12AS00067.

Which federal agency offered this opportunity?

This was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discretionary funding announcement.

What is the main purpose of this project?

The purpose was to fund a detailed, on-the-ground survey to document where biological soil crusts occur on BLM-managed lands in Wyoming and how their presence and condition vary across different land-use and disturbance settings.

What are biological soil crusts?

Biological soil crusts are communities that can include lichens, mosses, cyanobacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. They are important in arid and semi-arid ecosystems because they help stabilize soils, influence water infiltration, and contribute to nutrient cycling.

Where would the work take place?

The project focused on BLM-managed lands in Wyoming.

What kinds of sites were expected to be included in the inventory?

The inventory was intended to sample across a range of site types, specifically comparing:

  • Undisturbed vs. disturbed areas
  • Grazed vs. ungrazed locations

Why compare disturbed and undisturbed, grazed and ungrazed areas?

By intentionally sampling across these contrasts, the project aimed to produce practical information for land and ecosystem management, including insight into how grazing or other surface disturbances may affect biological soil crust occurrence and condition.

Was this project intended to support long-term monitoring?

Yes. A key goal was to create a baseline dataset that could be used for long-term monitoring, helping managers and researchers track changes over time and evaluate impacts from stressors such as climate change.

What type of funding instrument was used?

The announcement used a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.

What does it mean that the award was a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates that BLM expected to have substantial involvement with the recipient during the project, rather than issuing a fully hands-off award.

What CFDA number applied to this opportunity?

The opportunity fell under CFDA 15.231, described as Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.

How many awards were anticipated?

The announcement anticipated making two awards.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total program funding amount was $120,000.

What was the maximum award amount (ceiling) for an individual award?

The anticipated ceiling for individual awards was $40,000.

Was there a minimum award amount (floor)?

No minimum was stated. The award floor was listed as $0.

Were matching funds or cost sharing required?

No. The announcement stated that no cost sharing or matching funds were required.

Who was eligible to apply?

While eligibility was described broadly as unrestricted, the specific eligibility clarification stated that applicants needed to be members of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU).

What kinds of organizations typically participate in the CESU networks?

The announcement indicated that, in practice, CESU membership commonly includes universities, research institutions, non-profits, and other partners that participate in those CESU networks to support cooperative research and technical assistance for federal land management needs.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted (and created) on April 7, 2012.

What was the application deadline?

The original and current closing date listed was April 28, 2012.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date was May 15, 2012.

How long was the application window?

Based on the posted date of April 7, 2012 and the closing date of April 28, 2012, the application window was relatively short (about three weeks).

Where could applicants find the application instructions and required forms?

The full set of application instructions and required forms were provided through the announcement's "Application" tab via the Additional Information link.

Who was the contact person for questions or technical access issues?

The listed contact was Robert J. Tichac at BLM.

How could applicants contact the listed point of contact?

Applicants could reach Robert J. Tichac by phone at 307-775-6313 or by email at rtichac@blm.gov.

What kind of outcomes was BLM looking for from this project?

BLM was seeking an inventory that produced management-relevant, field-based information on biological soil crust distribution and condition across disturbance and grazing gradients, along with a baseline dataset useful for tracking future ecological change (including potential climate-driven impacts).

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Bureau of Land Management

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources

Next opportunity: NOAA Cooperative Institute to expand Understanding of the Earth as it Relates to Atmospheric Processes and Trends, Climate Variability and Change, Stratospheric Ozone, Weather Prediction, Air Quality, Geodynamics, Space Weather and the Water Cycle

Previous opportunity: Community Economic Development (CED) Projects

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for L12AS00067

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (L12AS00067) also looked into and applied for these:

Funding Opportunity
Notice of Intent Single Source Award of Trail Crews Apply for NPS NOIP12PAT13393

Funding Number: NPS NOIP12PAT13393
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: $70,000
2011 CORAL REEF SUPPORT Apply for F12AS00127

Funding Number: F12AS00127
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: $52,000
Continuously Operating Reference Station Apply for NWRS TMC 2154003

Funding Number: NWRS TMC 2154003
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: $33,000
TNC Part Two, Examine the Influences of Climate Change on Birds while Training International Interns at Bandelier and Mesa Verde Apply for NPS NOIR7127120073

Funding Number: NPS NOIR7127120073
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Ecolological Studies Apply for NPS NOIBAND10219

Funding Number: NPS NOIBAND10219
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Bat Surveys and Monitoring on Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Fallbrook, CA Apply for N62473 12 R FBBATS

Funding Number: N62473 12 R FBBATS
Agency: NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: $40,494
Yuma Crossing NHA Task Agreement Apply for NPS IMR P12AC10223

Funding Number: NPS IMR P12AC10223
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Old Spanish NHT Apply for NPS IMR P12AC30315

Funding Number: NPS IMR P12AC30315
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
SCPN NAU Field Ecology and Technical Support Agreement Apply for NPS NOIR2121120004

Funding Number: NPS NOIR2121120004
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Shared Birds Swainson s Thrush and Western Tanager Migration Research Apply for NPS NOIR8100120177

Funding Number: NPS NOIR8100120177
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Meadow Valley Wash Geomorphic Study Part 2 Apply for L12AS00069

Funding Number: L12AS00069
Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: $45,425
BLM CA Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail Apply for L12AS00068

Funding Number: L12AS00068
Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: $650,000
Montana Challenge Cost Share Program Apply for L12AS00070

Funding Number: L12AS00070
Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: $60,000
Climate Change Communication Internships Apply for NPS NOI NCRO R3992120308

Funding Number: NPS NOI NCRO R3992120308
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Wetland Ecological Integrity Monitoring in Glacier National Park Apply for NPS NOIR2119120007

Funding Number: NPS NOIR2119120007
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Continuing Documentation of Archaeological Sites Impacted by Illegal Border Activities Apply for NPS NOIR8630N0009

Funding Number: NPS NOIR8630N0009
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Implementing the Avian Monitoring Protocol for NPS Units of NCR Network Apply for NPS NOI NCRO R2112120413

Funding Number: NPS NOI NCRO R2112120413
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Trail and Natural Resource Maintenance Apply for NPS NOITONT10267

Funding Number: NPS NOITONT10267
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
SCPN Monitoring Surveys to Support Long Term Monitoring of Bird Communities Apply for NPS NOIR2121120003

Funding Number: NPS NOIR2121120003
Agency: National Park Service
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
Missouri Workshops and Conferences Apply for USDA NRCS MO 12 02

Funding Number: USDA NRCS MO 12 02
Agency: Missouri State Office
Category: Natural Resources
Funding Amount: $90,000

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

USGrants.org applicant portal membership

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "L12AS00067", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.