Opportunity Information: Apply for LBBP 2015 1
Apply for LBBP 2015 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 2015 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 8, 2014 and posted on Oct 1, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Eligibility is limited to tribes with jurisdiction over the approximately 150 locations with purchasable fractional land interests. Please see the website for additional information http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2015 Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations grant opportunity is a Department of the Interior cooperative agreement offering designed to support the federal Land Buy-Back Program, which was created to carry out the land consolidation portion of the Cobell Settlement Agreement. That settlement set aside about $1.9 billion to address the long-standing problem of fractionated ownership of trust or restricted Indian lands, where a single parcel can end up split among many individual owners over generations. The core idea of the program is voluntary: individual landowners who choose to participate can sell their fractional interests, and those purchased interests are then immediately transferred into tribal ownership for the tribe that has jurisdiction over that land. By consolidating these highly fractionated interests, the program aims to reduce administrative burden, unlock practical use of land that has become difficult to manage, and strengthen tribal sovereignty by putting more land-based decision-making directly in tribal governments rather than being spread across many individual interests.
A central feature of this opportunity is the program's intent to partner directly with eligible tribes through single-source cooperative agreements whenever feasible and practical. The government highlights that tribes bring unique, on-the-ground knowledge of their own reservations and land ownership patterns, which can make land consolidation work more effective and efficient. Through these cooperative agreements, tribes can take on certain land consolidation implementation activities connected to the purchase of fractional interests, such as community outreach and education, land research support, and related coordination that helps the buy-back process function smoothly at a given location. Importantly, tribes are not required to enter into a cooperative agreement to participate in the buy-back program; the program can still operate without one. In some situations, the Department of the Interior may use other mechanisms, such as memorandums of agreement, if a cooperative agreement is unnecessary or not the best fit.
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 and the Cobell Settlement terms. Because the settlement places a cap on how much of the overall program funding can be used for implementation costs (as opposed to direct land purchases), the announcement emphasizes cost controls. One explicit limitation is that indirect costs under cooperative agreements will be funded at no more than 15 percent of modified total direct costs, helping the program stay within the settlement's implementation-cost ceiling.
The announcement also stresses that the Land Buy-Back Program is a 10-year initiative, and this posting represents one opportunity window within that longer program timeline. Even though the overall program spans a decade, the cooperative agreement awards themselves are generally not intended to create or sustain long-term, multi-year programs at each reservation. Most awards are expected to fund work for no more than about one year, and tribes are encouraged to use the award strategically by leveraging existing tribal land offices and current programs rather than building new long-term structures dependent on these funds. The program also encourages tribes to review the mapping and other planning information the program provides and to consult with program staff while developing an application, since coordination before submission is framed as a way to improve readiness and alignment with program needs.
Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments that have jurisdiction over one of the roughly 150 locations identified as having purchasable fractional land interests under the program. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement (rather than a standard grant), which typically signals that the federal program expects substantial involvement and collaboration during performance. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed for applicants. The opportunity is identified under Funding Opportunity Number LBBP 2015 1 and CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 15.152, Land Buy Back Program for Tribal Nations. The posting date is October 1, 2014, with a closing date of September 30, 2015, and an archive date of October 30, 2015, reflecting that this was one cycle within a multi-year effort.
For official details, application development support, or help accessing the full announcement, the notice directs tribes to the Land Buy-Back Program website and encourages direct contact with program staff. The listed contact is Faride Kraft, Cooperative Agreement Specialist, at 202-219-1335 or via email at buybackprogram@ios.doi.gov, with additional program information hosted through the Department of the Interior at http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram and the cooperative agreement information page referenced at http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram/tribes/agreements.cfm.
FY 2015 Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (DOI) - FAQs
What is the FY 2015 Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations funding opportunity?
It is a Department of the Interior cooperative agreement opportunity designed to support the federal Land Buy-Back Program, which was created to carry out the land consolidation portion of the Cobell Settlement Agreement.
What is the Land Buy-Back Program trying to accomplish?
The program aims to address fractionated ownership of trust or restricted Indian lands. Fractionation happens when a single parcel becomes split among many individual owners over generations, making land difficult to manage and increasing administrative burden. The program’s land purchases consolidate these fractional interests and transfer them into tribal ownership for the tribe with jurisdiction over the land, helping enable more practical land use and strengthening tribal sovereignty by placing more land-based decision-making with tribal governments.
Is participation in the land buy-back process voluntary for individual landowners?
Yes. The program is voluntary for individual landowners: participating landowners may choose to sell their fractional interests. If purchased, those interests are immediately transferred into tribal ownership for the tribe that has jurisdiction over that land.
Do tribes have to enter into a cooperative agreement to participate in the Land Buy-Back Program?
No. Tribes are not required to enter into a cooperative agreement to participate. The program can still operate without a cooperative agreement.
Why does the Department of the Interior emphasize partnering with tribes through single-source cooperative agreements?
The announcement states an intent to partner directly with eligible tribes through single-source cooperative agreements whenever feasible and practical, because tribes have unique on-the-ground knowledge of their reservations and land ownership patterns that can make land consolidation work more effective and efficient.
What types of activities can a tribe carry out under a cooperative agreement?
Activities described include certain land consolidation implementation tasks connected to the purchase of fractional interests, such as community outreach and education, land research support, and related coordination to help the buy-back process function smoothly at a given location.
Are there limits on what the funding can be used for?
Yes. Funding is restricted to activities that support the purchase of fractional interests in trust or restricted lands, consistent with the program mission and the Cobell Settlement terms. The announcement emphasizes cost controls due to limits within the settlement on how much funding can be used for implementation costs versus direct land purchases.
Is there a cap on indirect costs under these cooperative agreements?
Yes. Indirect costs will be funded at no more than 15 percent of modified total direct costs, to help the program remain within the settlement’s implementation-cost ceiling.
Is this program intended to fund long-term tribal programs?
No. Although the Land Buy-Back Program is a 10-year initiative, the announcement indicates that cooperative agreement awards are generally not intended to create or sustain long-term, multi-year programs at each reservation. Most awards are expected to fund work for no more than about one year.
How does the announcement suggest tribes should approach using these funds?
Tribes are encouraged to use the award strategically by leveraging existing tribal land offices and current programs, rather than building new long-term structures dependent on these funds.
Does the federal government expect to be involved during performance?
Yes. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement and collaboration during performance.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Native American tribal governments that have jurisdiction over one of the roughly 150 locations identified as having purchasable fractional land interests under the program.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed for applicants in the provided information.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and the CFDA/Assistance Listing?
The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number LBBP 2015 1 and CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 15.152, Land Buy Back Program for Tribal Nations.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The posting date is October 1, 2014. The closing date is September 30, 2015. The archive date is October 30, 2015.
Is this posting the entire program, or one cycle within a larger effort?
This posting represents one opportunity window within the Land Buy-Back Program’s longer 10-year timeline.
What other agreement mechanisms might be used besides a cooperative agreement?
The announcement notes that, in some situations, the Department of the Interior may use other mechanisms such as memorandums of agreement if a cooperative agreement is unnecessary or not the best fit.
Does the announcement encourage tribes to coordinate with program staff before applying?
Yes. It encourages tribes to review mapping and other planning information provided by the program and to consult with program staff while developing an application, as pre-submission coordination is framed as a way to improve readiness and alignment with program needs.
Where can tribes find official details and program information online?
The notice directs tribes to the Land Buy-Back Program website at http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram and references a cooperative agreement information page at http://www.doi.gov/buybackprogram/tribes/agreements.cfm.
Who is the listed point of contact for this opportunity?
The listed contact is Faride Kraft, Cooperative Agreement Specialist. Phone: 202-219-1335. Email: buybackprogram@ios.doi.gov.
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