CESU CA BLM Native Plant Materials Fort Ord National Monument Restoration | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the official title of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "CESU CA BLM Native Plant Materials Fort Ord National Monument Restoration."

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is L15AS00029.

3) Which federal agency is offering this grant?

This opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

4) What type of award is being used?

The funding is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically means BLM anticipates substantial involvement in the project during implementation.

5) Is this a discretionary or formula funding opportunity?

It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.

6) How is this opportunity connected to the CESU Network?

It is offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network under the CESU master agreement L13AC00082, and it is intended to align with the mission of the specific CESU unit administering the project.

7) What is the main focus of the funded work?

The main focus is on-the-ground and science-supported restoration and adaptive management work at Fort Ord National Monument (FONM), supporting BLM's long-term management and planning needs.

8) Where will the work take place?

The work is centered on Fort Ord National Monument (FONM).

9) What kinds of activities are expected under this award?

The announcement emphasizes restoration and adaptive management supported by applied research, technical assistance, and education. It also includes inventories, monitoring, evaluation of field plots, and testing/comparing restoration techniques to improve habitat outcomes.

10) What ecosystems or resource topics are included in the scope?

The scope includes studying and restoring grassland and woodland ecosystems, evaluating watershed conditions, and assessing the effectiveness of existing management actions on the monument.

11) What does "adaptive management" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the announcement, adaptive management is framed as an ongoing feedback loop where field results and monitoring data are used to shape future planning and restoration approaches, rather than focusing only on short-term deliverables.

12) How important are monitoring and evaluation in this opportunity?

Monitoring and evaluation are a major component. The funded work is expected to support inventories, monitoring efforts, evaluation of field plots, and performance tracking over time to inform future management guidelines and decisions.

13) Does the opportunity include research and education components?

Yes. A key emphasis is combining applied research, technical assistance, and education to support management of natural and cultural resources. It also highlights workforce development and hands-on learning for young people through university student and volunteer programs.

14) How does workforce development fit into the project goals?

The opportunity is designed to continue and expand university student and volunteer programs, giving young people hands-on experience in restoration ecology and related fields while producing outputs BLM can use for management decisions.

15) What practical outputs is BLM looking for?

The announcement indicates outputs such as ecological data collection, restoration performance tracking, analysis of results, and translating findings into management guidelines that can inform future planning and restoration actions at FONM.

16) What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?

The activity category is Natural Resources.

17) What is the CFDA program listing associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA listing is 15.231, titled "Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management."

18) How much funding is available?

The estimated total funding amount is $600,000.

19) What are the award ceiling and award floor?

The award ceiling is $600,000 and the award floor is $500,000.

20) How many awards were anticipated?

One award was anticipated.

21) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided information.

22) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

23) Why is eligibility limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education?

The provided information ties eligibility to the opportunity's emphasis on university-led student engagement and research-to-management support for BLM.

24) When was the opportunity posted?

It was posted on February 27, 2015.

25) What was the application deadline?

The original and current closing date listed is April 27, 2015.

26) Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity is archived, with an archive date of December 30, 2019, and the closing date was April 27, 2015.

27) Where could applicants find the full announcement?

Additional details and the full announcement were made available through Grants.gov.

28) Who should be contacted for access issues related to the announcement?

The listed contact for access issues is Leona B. Parker, Grants Management Officer, at (530) 252-5338 or lparker@blm.gov.

29) What role does collaboration play in this opportunity?

The opportunity is designed to support natural resource management work carried out collaboratively, with substantial involvement from both federal and nonfederal partners, consistent with CESU's collaborative approach.

30) Does the scope include cultural resources as well as natural resources?

The broader CESU framing references managing natural and cultural resources on federal and, where relevant, private lands and waters. The specific project emphasis described focuses on restoration, monitoring, and evaluation work at Fort Ord National Monument.