Opportunity Information: Apply for DOD LEGACY 2015
Apply for DOD LEGACY 2015
- The Engineer Research and Development Center in the community development education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Department of Defense Legacy Resource Managment Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 27, 2014 and posted on Feb 27, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 28, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Individuals Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Defense (DoD) Legacy Resource Management Program funding opportunity is a discretionary grant competition (using cooperative agreements) designed to support projects that conserve and improve DoD-managed natural and cultural resources in ways that also protect military readiness. Established by Congress in 1990, the Legacy Program sits at the intersection of environmental stewardship, cultural resource protection, and mission sustainment. The FY 2014 Request for Proposals (RFP) described in this notice emphasizes projects with broad value to the Department, especially efforts that can be applied across regions, multiple installations, or multiple Military Departments rather than work that only benefits one location.
A key feature of Legacy funding is that projects must meet specific statutory criteria set out in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1997 (Public Law 104-201, Section 2694). To be eligible, a proposed project must (1) have regional or DoD-wide significance and involve more than one Military Department, (2) be necessary to meet legal requirements or to support military operations, (3) be more effectively managed at the DoD level, and (4) not fall under an Executive Agent responsibility. In practical terms, Legacy is looking for initiatives that solve shared problems across the Services, produce tools or approaches that can be replicated widely, or address resource-management needs that are best handled centrally rather than by individual installations working alone.
The program funds a wide range of applied, mission-relevant natural and cultural resource efforts. Examples cited in the announcement include regional ecosystem management initiatives; habitat conservation and management; work on at-risk species and species of concern (as distinct from federally listed threatened or endangered species, which are generally treated as installation-level compliance responsibilities); historic context development and modeling; invasive species control that affects training lands and operations; projects tied to range sustainment and readiness; economic analyses related to historic preservation; and improved data management systems. The legislation also calls out several eligible activity types, including development of ecosystem-wide land management plans, wildlife studies that improve the safety of military operations (for example, studies related to bird-aircraft strike risks), repatriation-related work involving Native American human remains and cultural items under DoD control or discovered on DoD lands, invasive species control that interferes with training or degrades ranges, and establishment of regional curation systems for artifacts found on military installations.
Legacy frames its work around three guiding principles: stewardship, leadership, and partnership. Stewardship reflects the idea that DoD has responsibility for safeguarding irreplaceable natural and cultural resources for future generations while continuing to train and operate. Leadership positions DoD as a model for responsible resource management. Partnership is explicit: the program is intended to bring in expertise from outside the Department, including universities, tribes, nonprofits, and other organizations, so that DoD can access specialized skills and expand capacity beyond what is available internally.
In support of those principles, the RFP emphasizes five themes that shape what a strong proposal looks like. First, Legacy promotes interdisciplinary resource stewardship, leveraging the overlap between natural and cultural resources programs and encouraging shared methods, tools, and planning approaches. Second, it prioritizes projects that increase understanding and appreciation of these resources, including efforts that build awareness and engagement across Services, other agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public when appropriate. Third, it uses an ecosystem approach focused on biological diversity and sustainable land and water use compatible with mission needs. Fourth, it supports regionally based initiatives that align multiple stakeholders and installations toward common objectives, with examples including the Sonoran Ecosystem Management Initiative, Gulf Coast Plain Ecosystem Partnership, Great Basin Initiative, Chesapeake Bay Program, and Partners in Flight. Fifth, it encourages innovative technologies that make resource management more efficient and effective.
Eligibility to apply is broad. The notice indicates that anyone may apply as long as the proposal meets the Legacy funding criteria. Eligible applicant categories listed include private and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), small businesses, individuals, and Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations. A critical procedural requirement applies to non-DoD applicants: any pre-proposal that involves work on a DoD installation must include a letter of support from each participating DoD installation or activity. This requirement signals that installation coordination and buy-in are not optional and should be established early.
The program also draws clear boundaries around what it will not fund, largely to avoid paying for routine compliance, base operations, or work better handled by other DoD funding streams. Ineligible projects include those with no clear benefit to natural or cultural resources, no benefit to the current military mission, or purely installation-specific projects that are not demonstration efforts and lack broader applicability. The RFP excludes routine compliance and recurring requirement work mandated by existing regulations (such as routine operations, repair and maintenance of buildings and grounds, routine landscaping, standard restoration or rehabilitation, and many static display efforts). Projects whose main purpose is fish or game management are also excluded. Importantly, projects focused on federally listed threatened or endangered species are identified as ineligible because they are treated as Endangered Species Act compliance responsibilities that installations must fund and carry out directly.
Other exclusions include projects aimed at correcting existing legal deficiencies, projects more appropriately funded through non-appropriated funds, military construction, or environmental cleanup accounts, and certain inventories/protective measures needed to complete NEPA documents or BRAC actions when other funding sources are available. The notice notes that Legacy-type projects on operational bases slated for closure are generally expected to be funded by BRAC, though a project on such a base could still be eligible if it satisfies Legacy criteria. Basic research is also excluded; however, Legacy may support applied research when it directly advances program themes and objectives. The RFP points applicants toward SERDP for basic and applied environmental research tied to the training mission and toward ESTCP for demonstration and validation projects, signaling that Legacy is not meant to duplicate those programs.
From an administrative standpoint, awards are made as cooperative agreements, and the program reserves the right to make multiple awards under the announcement. The stated award range runs from an award floor of $5,000 to an award ceiling of $200,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Applicants should also note that proposal development costs are not reimbursable, submissions will not be returned, and the office will not issue paper copies of the announcement. The posting date in this notice is February 27, 2014, with a closing date of March 28, 2014, and the opportunity was later archived on March 29, 2014. The issuing/associated organization is the Engineer Research and Development Center, and additional details were provided through the Legacy program website referenced in the notice.
Overall, the Legacy Resource Management Program opportunity is best understood as targeted funding for cross-cutting, scalable natural and cultural resource solutions that help DoD maintain readiness while meeting stewardship responsibilities. Competitive projects are typically those that demonstrate DoD-wide or regional value, involve multiple Military Departments, show clear operational or legal relevance, and produce deliverables, methods, or partnerships that can be reused across the Department rather than staying confined to a single installation’s routine needs.
DoD Legacy Resource Management Program (FY 2014) - FAQs
1) What is the DoD Legacy Resource Management Program?
The Department of Defense (DoD) Legacy Resource Management Program is a discretionary grant competition (awarded using cooperative agreements) that funds projects to conserve and improve DoD-managed natural and cultural resources in ways that also protect military readiness. Congress established the program in 1990, and it is designed to sit at the intersection of environmental stewardship, cultural resource protection, and mission sustainment.
2) What is the main purpose of this FY 2014 funding opportunity?
The FY 2014 Request for Proposals (RFP) emphasizes projects with broad value to the Department, especially efforts that can be applied across regions, multiple installations, or multiple Military Departments. Projects that only benefit a single location (and are not demonstration efforts with wider applicability) are generally not a fit.
3) What type of award does Legacy use?
Awards are made as cooperative agreements. The program also reserves the right to make multiple awards under the announcement.
4) What is the funding range for an individual award?
The stated award floor is $5,000 and the award ceiling is $200,000.
5) Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
6) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The notice indicates that anyone may apply as long as the proposal meets the Legacy funding criteria. Listed eligible applicant categories include:
- Private and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3))
- Small businesses
- Individuals
- Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations
7) What statutory criteria must a project meet to be eligible?
Projects must meet specific criteria set out in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1997 (Public Law 104-201, Section 2694). To be eligible, a proposed project must:
- Have regional or DoD-wide significance and involve more than one Military Department
- Be necessary to meet legal requirements or to support military operations
- Be more effectively managed at the DoD level
- Not fall under an Executive Agent responsibility
8) What does "regional or DoD-wide significance" mean in practice?
Based on the notice, Legacy is looking for initiatives that solve shared problems across the Services, produce tools or approaches that can be replicated widely, or address resource-management needs that are best handled centrally rather than by individual installations working alone.
9) Do projects need to involve more than one Military Department?
Yes. The eligibility criteria specify that the project must have regional or DoD-wide significance and involve more than one Military Department.
10) What kinds of projects does Legacy fund?
The program funds a wide range of applied, mission-relevant natural and cultural resource efforts. Examples cited include:
- Regional ecosystem management initiatives
- Habitat conservation and management
- Work on at-risk species and species of concern (distinct from federally listed threatened or endangered species)
- Historic context development and modeling
- Invasive species control that affects training lands and operations
- Projects tied to range sustainment and readiness
- Economic analyses related to historic preservation
- Improved data management systems
11) What specific eligible activity types are called out in the legislation?
The notice identifies several eligible activity types, including:
- Development of ecosystem-wide land management plans
- Wildlife studies that improve the safety of military operations (for example, studies related to bird-aircraft strike risks)
- Repatriation-related work involving Native American human remains and cultural items under DoD control or discovered on DoD lands
- Invasive species control that interferes with training or degrades ranges
- Establishment of regional curation systems for artifacts found on military installations
12) What are the program's guiding principles?
Legacy frames its work around three guiding principles:
- Stewardship: safeguarding irreplaceable natural and cultural resources for future generations while continuing to train and operate
- Leadership: positioning DoD as a model for responsible resource management
- Partnership: bringing in expertise from outside DoD (universities, tribes, nonprofits, and others) to access specialized skills and expand capacity
13) What themes does the FY 2014 RFP emphasize for strong proposals?
The notice highlights five themes:
- Interdisciplinary resource stewardship: leveraging overlap between natural and cultural resources programs and encouraging shared methods, tools, and planning approaches
- Understanding and appreciation: increasing awareness and engagement across Services, other agencies, NGOs, and (when appropriate) the public
- Ecosystem approach: focusing on biological diversity and sustainable land and water use compatible with mission needs
- Regionally based initiatives: aligning multiple stakeholders and installations toward common objectives
- Innovative technologies: improving efficiency and effectiveness of resource management
14) Are partnerships encouraged or required?
Partnership is explicitly part of the program design. The notice states the program is intended to bring in outside expertise (universities, tribes, nonprofits, and other organizations). While the notice does not say partnerships are mandatory for every project, partnership is a core principle and is emphasized as a way to expand capacity and bring specialized skills to DoD resource challenges.
15) Is a letter of support required to work on a DoD installation?
Yes for non-DoD applicants. Any pre-proposal that involves work on a DoD installation must include a letter of support from each participating DoD installation or activity. The notice frames this as a critical procedural requirement, indicating that installation coordination and buy-in should be established early.
16) What kinds of projects are specifically ineligible?
The notice draws clear boundaries to avoid paying for routine compliance, base operations, or work better handled by other DoD funding streams. Ineligible projects include:
- Projects with no clear benefit to natural or cultural resources
- Projects with no benefit to the current military mission
- Purely installation-specific projects that are not demonstration efforts and lack broader applicability
- Routine compliance and recurring requirement work mandated by existing regulations
- Routine operations and standard repair/maintenance of buildings and grounds
- Routine landscaping
- Standard restoration or rehabilitation
- Many static display efforts
- Projects whose main purpose is fish or game management
17) Are federally listed threatened or endangered species projects eligible?
No. Projects focused on federally listed threatened or endangered species are identified as ineligible because they are treated as Endangered Species Act compliance responsibilities that installations must fund and carry out directly. The notice distinguishes these from "at-risk species" or "species of concern," which are cited as examples of eligible work.
18) Will Legacy fund projects that correct existing legal deficiencies?
No. The notice lists projects aimed at correcting existing legal deficiencies among the exclusions.
19) Will Legacy fund military construction or environmental cleanup?
No. The notice excludes projects more appropriately funded through military construction or environmental cleanup accounts. It also notes exclusions where other funding sources are available.
20) Are NEPA- or BRAC-driven inventories and protective measures eligible?
The notice excludes certain inventories/protective measures needed to complete NEPA documents or BRAC actions when other funding sources are available.
21) Can projects on bases slated for closure be funded?
The notice states that Legacy-type projects on operational bases slated for closure are generally expected to be funded by BRAC. However, it also notes a project on such a base could still be eligible if it satisfies the Legacy criteria.
22) Does Legacy fund research?
Basic research is excluded. The notice indicates Legacy may support applied research when it directly advances program themes and objectives.
23) How does Legacy differ from SERDP and ESTCP?
The notice points applicants toward SERDP for basic and applied environmental research tied to the training mission and toward ESTCP for demonstration and validation projects. This is presented as a signal that Legacy is not meant to duplicate those programs.
24) Are proposal development costs reimbursable?
No. The notice states proposal development costs are not reimbursable.
25) Will submissions be returned?
No. The notice states submissions will not be returned.
26) Will the office provide paper copies of the announcement?
No. The notice states the office will not issue paper copies of the announcement.
27) What were the key dates for this FY 2014 opportunity?
The posting date in the notice is February 27, 2014. The closing date is March 28, 2014. The opportunity was later archived on March 29, 2014.
28) Who issued or was associated with this opportunity?
The issuing/associated organization identified in the notice is the Engineer Research and Development Center. Additional details were provided through the Legacy program website referenced in the notice.
29) What makes a project competitive for Legacy funding (based on the notice)?
Competitive projects are typically those that demonstrate DoD-wide or regional value, involve multiple Military Departments, show clear operational or legal relevance, and produce deliverables, methods, tools, or partnerships that can be reused across the Department rather than addressing only a single installation's routine needs.
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