FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Eastern States (ES) Recreation and Visitor Services Program | L24AS00144

Opportunity Information: Apply for L24AS00144

The FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern States (ES) Recreation and Visitor Services Program is a discretionary federal funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through BLM. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means BLM expects to have substantial involvement during the life of the project (for example, coordinating on deliverables, technical direction, or joint implementation). The program is tied to natural resource and public lands priorities and is listed under CFDA 15.225. As presented, the opportunity is geared toward improving or supporting recreation and visitor services activities connected to BLM-managed lands in the Eastern States footprint.

A key eligibility point is that individuals and for-profit organizations cannot apply under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Eligible applicants include a broad range of public and nonprofit entities, such as state, county, and local governments (including city/township and special district governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled colleges and universities, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Tribal governments, other Tribal organizations, public/Indian housing authorities, and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category). In practice, this means the program is designed for government partners, Tribes, educational institutions, and mission-driven nonprofit organizations rather than private commercial entities or individual applicants.

The NOFO also draws a bright line around youth internship and crew hiring under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. This funding opportunity does not support entities hiring interns or crews under that Act, and it specifically notes that the Public Lands Corps Act (16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II) is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to "hire" interns under that framework. As a result, organizations that are looking to propose youth crews, internships, or related youth conservation corps-style project staffing should not use this NOFO. Instead, eligible Youth Conservation Corps applicants are directed to a different opportunity: NOFO 15.243, titled BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands. This is an important compliance and program-fit detail because proposals centered on intern/crew hiring under Public Lands Corps authorities would be considered out of scope here.

The announcement also addresses Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs), which are established partnerships intended to support research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and educational services. If an applicant is a CESU partner and the award is made under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement consistent with CESU purposes, indirect costs are capped. Specifically, indirect costs are limited to no more than 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base recognized in the partner's federally approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). Applicants are expected to state whether their proposal furthers CESU purposes and, if so, identify which CESU Network should be considered the host. Practically, this means CESU-affiliated applicants need to pay close attention to indirect cost treatment and clearly position their work within CESU-authorized activities if they want it handled under the CESU framework.

On funding parameters, the opportunity number is L24AS00144, and the original closing date listed is January 31, 2024. The award ceiling shown is $185,000. The posting indicates expected awards but does not provide a number in the source text provided, so applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for details on anticipated award count, project period, cost share requirements (if any), and evaluation criteria. The opportunity was created on November 6, 2023, which places it in the FY24 cycle and signals alignment with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and/or Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding priorities as indicated in the title.

Overall, the opportunity is best read as support for recreation and visitor services work on BLM Eastern States lands, aimed at public-benefit partners such as governments, Tribes, universities, and nonprofits, and structured as a cooperative agreement with BLM involvement. Applicants should screen their project concepts against the explicit restrictions (no individuals, no for-profits, and no Public Lands Corps intern/crew hiring under this NOFO) and, if applicable, follow the CESU guidance closely, especially the indirect cost cap and the requirement to identify the appropriate CESU Network host.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Eastern States (ES) Recreation and Visitor Services Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.225.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-31. (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 $185,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for L24AS00144

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