FY20 Alaska BLM Noxious and Invasive Plant Management Program | L20AS00085

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00085

The FY20 Alaska BLM Noxious and Invasive Plant Management Program (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00085) is a discretionary Bureau of Land Management funding opportunity offered through the U.S. Department of the Interior to support on-the-ground and coordinated efforts to address noxious weeds and invasive plant species in Alaska. The program is designed to help BLM work side-by-side with partner organizations to plan, coordinate, and carry out practical management actions that stop new infestations early and reduce or eliminate existing infestations. A central idea behind the opportunity is efficiency across boundaries: by aligning work across multiple jurisdictions, partners can reduce duplication, share data and strategies, and improve outcomes in areas where invasive plants spread across ownership lines.

Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to focus on a combination of core invasive plant management activities. These include treatment work (such as direct control actions aimed at removing or suppressing invasive populations), inventories (surveys and mapping to locate and document infestations), monitoring (tracking treatment effectiveness and changes over time), and prevention actions (efforts meant to reduce the chance of introduction or spread, often tied to best management practices and early detection/rapid response). The opportunity also emphasizes education and outreach, reflecting the reality that long-term invasive plant control depends not only on field treatments but also on informed land users, coordinated reporting, and prevention behaviors that limit reintroduction.

The grant explicitly ties individual projects to two Department of the Interior policy priorities. First, it supports Secretarial Order 3347, Conservation Stewardship and Outdoor Recreation, by improving habitat conditions and carrying out habitat improvement work where invasive plants degrade ecological health. Second, it supports Secretarial Order 3372, Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land through Active Management, by reducing fuel loads. Invasive plants can change fire behavior and increase fine fuels in some settings, so controlling them can be part of broader fuel reduction and wildfire risk management strategies.

Funding is provided through a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates an expectation of substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal agency during the project, rather than a hands-off pass-through award. The program is listed under CFDA number 15.230 and falls within the Natural Resources funding activity category. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $20,000, and the BLM anticipated making about 4 awards, indicating relatively small, targeted projects rather than large multi-year efforts.

A wide range of applicants were eligible, including state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities, excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories). This broad eligibility suggests the program was intended to encourage partnerships among agencies, tribes, local governments, universities, and community organizations involved in invasive species management and outreach.

The application window opened March 18, 2020 and closed May 18, 2020, with a strict submission deadline of 5:00 PM Alaska Standard Time on May 18, 2020. Applications had to be submitted in English, and late applications were not accepted or reviewed.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY20 Alaska BLM Noxious and Invasive Plant Management Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.230.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 18, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2020 Open from March 18, 2020 through May 18, 2020. Applications must be submitted by 500 PM AST on May 18, 2020. Applications must be submitted in English. Late applications will not be accepted or reviewed.. (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 $20,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• 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), 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 L20AS00085

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