Opportunity Information: Apply for LBBP 2014 1

  • The Department of the Interior in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2014 Land Buy Back Program for Tribal Nations" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.152 Land Buy Back Program For Tribal Nations.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Dec 18, 2013 and posted on Nov 7, 2013.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 14, 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 $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Opportunity Summary:

The FY 2014 Land Buy Back Program for Tribal Nations funding opportunity is a Department of the Interior initiative designed to carry out the land consolidation provisions of the Cobell Settlement Agreement. Through Cobell, Congress and the federal government set aside $1.9 billion to address the long-standing problem of fractionated ownership of trust and restricted lands across Indian Country, where a single parcel can have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of co-owners due to generations of inherited interests. The central idea of the program is voluntary: individual land interest owners who want to sell can do so, and their fractional interests are then transferred into tribal ownership for the tribe with jurisdiction over that land. By steadily shifting tiny, hard-to-manage ownership shares back into tribal hands, the program aims to reduce administrative complexity, make land management more practical, and strengthen tribal sovereignty by putting more decision-making authority with tribal governments rather than leaving resources tied up in highly fractionated ownership.

This particular announcement focuses on cooperative agreements as the funding instrument, meaning the Department intends to work in partnership with tribes rather than simply issuing a one-time grant with minimal federal involvement. The program explicitly seeks to engage tribes directly in the land consolidation process, recognizing that tribes often have the local knowledge, relationships, and on-the-ground capacity to conduct outreach, support landowner participation, and help implement buy-back activities in a way that reduces administrative costs and improves overall effectiveness. Funding under this opportunity is restricted to activities that support the purchase of fractional interests in trust or restricted lands, consistent with the program mission.

Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The Department indicated it is prioritizing its early work on reservations that contain roughly 90 percent of the fractional interests that are considered purchasable under the program, reflecting a strategy to concentrate resources where fractionation is most severe and where consolidation can have the biggest impact. While the solicitation states that up to 40 cooperative agreement awards may result from this opportunity, it also notes that not all awards are expected to be made in the same fiscal year. Most individual awards are expected to be no more than $500,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the financial barrier for tribal participation.

For FY 2014 specifically, the notice lists an estimated total funding amount of $20,000,000 across anticipated awards. The opportunity was posted on November 7, 2013, with an application closing date of March 14, 2014, and it was archived on April 13, 2014. Importantly, the announcement stresses that the Land Buy Back Program is structured as a 10-year effort, so this posting reflects a time-specific application window within a longer-running program, with additional opportunities expected to be posted over the life of the initiative.

Applicants looking for further details were directed to the program website (http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram) for information on implementation strategy and program operations. The listed point of contact for access issues or announcement assistance was Faride Kraft, Cooperative Agreement Specialist, reachable by phone at 202-219-1335 or by email at buybackprogram@ios.doi.gov. The CFDA listing provided for this opportunity is 15.152 (Land Buy Back Program for Tribal Nations), which is the federal assistance catalog identifier associated with the program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the FY 2014 Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations funding opportunity?

This is a Department of the Interior (DOI) funding opportunity for the FY 2014 Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations. The program is intended to carry out the land consolidation provisions of the Cobell Settlement Agreement by supporting efforts to purchase fractional interests in trust or restricted lands and transfer those interests into tribal ownership.

What larger initiative does this funding opportunity support?

This opportunity supports the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations, which is part of the Cobell Settlement Agreement. Through Cobell, Congress and the federal government set aside $1.9 billion to address fractionated ownership of trust and restricted lands across Indian Country.

What problem is the program trying to solve?

The program addresses fractionated ownership, where a single parcel of trust or restricted land can end up with dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of co-owners due to generations of inherited interests. This creates significant administrative complexity and makes land management difficult.

How does the Land Buy-Back Program approach land consolidation?

The program is voluntary. Individual owners of fractional land interests who want to sell can choose to do so. Purchased fractional interests are then transferred into tribal ownership for the tribe with jurisdiction over that land.

What is the intended outcome of buying back fractional interests?

By shifting small, hard-to-manage ownership shares back into tribal hands, the program aims to reduce administrative complexity, make land management more practical, and strengthen tribal sovereignty by increasing tribal decision-making authority over lands and resources.

What type of funding instrument is used in this opportunity?

The opportunity uses cooperative agreements. This indicates DOI intends to work in partnership with tribes rather than issuing a one-time grant with minimal federal involvement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

Based on the announcement, DOI expects to partner with tribes during the land consolidation process. The intent is to engage tribes directly, leveraging tribal local knowledge and on-the-ground capacity to conduct outreach, support landowner participation, and help implement buy-back activities in ways that reduce administrative costs and improve effectiveness.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

Are non-tribal organizations eligible to apply?

The announcement states eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments. No other eligible applicant types are described in the provided information.

What activities can funding be used for?

Funding is restricted to activities that support the purchase of fractional interests in trust or restricted lands, consistent with the program mission described in the announcement.

Is the program voluntary for landowners?

Yes. The central idea described is voluntary participation by individual land interest owners who want to sell their fractional interests.

How are purchased land interests handled after acquisition?

Purchased fractional interests are transferred into tribal ownership for the tribe with jurisdiction over the land.

Is DOI prioritizing certain reservations or areas?

Yes. DOI indicated it is prioritizing early work on reservations that contain roughly 90 percent of the fractional interests considered purchasable under the program. This reflects a strategy to focus resources where fractionation is most severe and where consolidation may have the biggest impact.

How many awards might be made under this opportunity?

The solicitation states that up to 40 cooperative agreement awards may result from this opportunity.

Will all awards be made in the same fiscal year?

No. The solicitation notes that not all awards are expected to be made in the same fiscal year.

What is the expected size of individual awards?

Most individual awards are expected to be no more than $500,000.

What is the estimated total funding available for FY 2014?

For FY 2014, the notice lists an estimated total funding amount of $20,000,000 across anticipated awards.

Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?

No. The announcement states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on November 7, 2013, and the application closing date was March 14, 2014.

What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?

The notice indicates it was archived on April 13, 2014. Based on the provided information, that reflects the end of that specific posting, even though the underlying program is part of a longer initiative.

Is this a one-time program or a longer effort?

The announcement stresses that the Land Buy-Back Program is structured as a 10-year effort. This FY 2014 posting is described as a time-specific application window within a longer-running program, with additional opportunities expected over the life of the initiative.

Where can applicants find more program details?

Applicants were directed to the program website for information on implementation strategy and program operations: http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram

Who is the listed point of contact for access issues or announcement assistance?

The listed point of contact is Faride Kraft, Cooperative Agreement Specialist. Phone: 202-219-1335. Email: buybackprogram@ios.doi.gov

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA listing provided is 15.152, identified as the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations.

What does CFDA 15.152 refer to in this context?

Based on the announcement, CFDA 15.152 is the federal assistance catalog identifier associated with the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations.

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