The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Threatened and Endangered Species Program, under funding opportunity number L25AS00082, supports conservation and recovery initiatives for federally listed and Bureau-sensitive species. This program, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), seeks to address biodiversity loss, climate resilience, and species recovery on public lands managed by BLM. Applications are due by March 3, 2025, with initial round-one submissions by January 31, 2025. Approximately $2,000,000 is available for up to 10 awards, with individual award amounts ranging from $0 to $1,500,000. No cost-sharing is required.

The program’s goals include implementing conservation actions that directly benefit populations of threatened and endangered species, conducting targeted inventory and monitoring to inform conservation efforts, and increasing public knowledge about species and their habitats. Activities may include habitat restoration, data collection, species augmentation through translocations or propagation, and public engagement, particularly focusing on underserved communities.

Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; and nonprofits. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible. All applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and Grants.gov. The registration process is mandatory before submission and can take several weeks to complete.

Applications must include the SF-424 series of forms, a project narrative, and a budget narrative. The project narrative should detail the statement of need, goals, public benefits, technical approach, and monitoring plans. Environmental compliance requirements, such as adherence to the Endangered Species Act, must be addressed. The budget narrative must justify all costs, which should be reasonable, necessary, and compliant with federal regulations. Indirect costs are capped at 17.5 percent for Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partners.

Proposals will be evaluated based on their alignment with program priorities, technical merit, public benefit, qualifications of key personnel, and past performance. Emphasis will be placed on contributions to BLM’s strategic goals and federal priorities, including advancing equity and addressing climate change. Applications will undergo eligibility and merit reviews, and risk assessments will be conducted for selected recipients.

Awardees will enter into cooperative agreements with BLM, involving significant federal involvement, such as project evaluation, approval of modifications, and monitoring. Post-award requirements include regular financial and performance reporting, geospatial data compliance, and adherence to Buy America provisions. Projects are expected to begin in April 2025 and conclude by September 2030.