Opportunity Information: Apply for L17AS00201
The BLM-(MT) University/College Native Plant Materials Development Partnerships opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00201) is a Bureau of Land Management Montana State Office cooperative agreement program designed to strengthen the supply and use of locally appropriate native plant materials for restoration and rehabilitation work on public lands. It is rooted in the National Native Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration 2015-2020, which calls for a coordinated national network of native seed collectors, growers, and nurseries, along with trained restoration ecologists, so that land managers can reliably obtain the right seed in the right quantities for ecological recovery projects.
BLM is looking to partner specifically with colleges and universities across Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Through these partnerships, institutions would help develop native plant materials by focusing on species that support priority land management needs in the region. The program highlights native plants important for sage-grouse habitat restoration, as well as species useful for stabilization and rehabilitation after disturbance. It also places clear emphasis on culturally significant and tribally important plants, reflecting a goal of improving understanding and communication around plants that have cultural value. In addition, the effort aims to expand or strengthen pollinator habitat, and to support research needs tied to these native species, which can include questions about germination, propagation, establishment success, or suitability for different restoration settings.
The core project objective is practical and hands-on: develop or expand native plant programs by collecting native seed and successfully germinating it. In other words, the work is not just theoretical research, but building real capacity to produce plant materials that can be used in on-the-ground restoration. BLM also frames this as a relationship-building effort that connects conservation work with education and community engagement, particularly for participants interested in keeping their culture connected to public lands and strengthening stewardship ties to native plant resources.
A major component of the partnership is educational. Beyond producing seed and plant materials, the opportunity encourages institutions to integrate conservation science and restoration practice into new or existing curriculum. That can mean creating coursework, training modules, field experiences, internships, or research projects that expose students to native plant development, seed collection practices, propagation, and restoration ecology. The intent is to build long-term interest and capacity in restoration careers while creating a pipeline of people who understand native plant systems and can support future land management needs.
The public benefit is framed as long-term and multi-layered. On a practical level, developing native plant materials supports healthier restoration outcomes on public lands by increasing access to suitable native seed and plants for revegetation, habitat improvement, and post-disturbance recovery. On a broader level, the project is meant to raise education and awareness about why native plants matter, including their effects on ecological health and habitat quality, with sage-grouse habitat specifically called out as an environmental priority. The program also implicitly benefits communities by strengthening collaboration among public agencies, academic institutions, and culturally connected stakeholders around shared stewardship goals.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, categorized under Natural Resources and listed under CFDA 15.231. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity anticipated up to five awards, with an award ceiling of $25,000 per award. The posting was created July 7, 2017, and originally closed September 4, 2017. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open broadly to entity types), though the narrative makes clear that BLM is seeking college and university partners in the specified three-state region.Apply for L17AS00201
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-(MT), University/College Native Plant Materials Development Partnerships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 07, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 04, 2017. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BLM-(MT) University/College Native Plant Materials Development Partnerships opportunity?
It is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana State Office cooperative agreement program designed to strengthen the supply and use of locally appropriate native plant materials for restoration and rehabilitation work on public lands.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L17AS00201.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), through the Montana State Office.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means BLM anticipates substantial involvement in the project rather than a fully hands-off grant.
What is the main purpose or goal of the program?
The primary goal is to develop and expand the availability of locally appropriate native plant materials so land managers can obtain the right seed in the right quantities for ecological recovery projects on public lands.
What national strategy is this opportunity connected to?
The program is rooted in the National Native Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration 2015-2020, which calls for a coordinated national network of native seed collectors, growers, and nurseries, along with trained restoration ecologists.
What geographic area is BLM targeting for partnerships?
BLM is looking to partner specifically with colleges and universities across Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Who is the opportunity meant to partner with?
While eligibility is listed as unrestricted, the description makes clear BLM is seeking partnerships with colleges and universities in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Is this opportunity only for colleges and universities?
The eligibility is described as unrestricted (open broadly to entity types), but the narrative emphasizes that BLM is specifically looking for college and university partners in the three-state region.
What kinds of projects does BLM want to support under this opportunity?
The program supports practical projects that develop or expand native plant programs, especially efforts that involve collecting native seed and successfully germinating it to build real capacity for producing plant materials used in restoration.
Is the work mainly research-focused or hands-on?
The core objective is hands-on and capacity-building (collecting native seed and successfully germinating it), not purely theoretical research, although research tied to native species needs is also encouraged.
What plant species or restoration needs are highlighted as priorities?
The opportunity highlights species important for sage-grouse habitat restoration, species useful for stabilization and rehabilitation after disturbance, and plants that support pollinator habitat.
Does the program emphasize locally appropriate native plant materials?
Yes. A central theme is strengthening the supply and use of locally appropriate native plant materials for restoration and rehabilitation work on public lands.
How does the program address culturally significant or tribally important plants?
It places clear emphasis on culturally significant and tribally important plants, with a goal of improving understanding and communication around plants that have cultural value.
Does the opportunity include pollinator habitat objectives?
Yes. The effort aims to expand or strengthen pollinator habitat as part of the native plant materials development work.
What research topics are considered relevant under this program?
The description notes research needs tied to native species may include questions about germination, propagation, establishment success, or suitability for different restoration settings.
What is the educational component of the partnership?
Beyond producing seed and plant materials, institutions are encouraged to integrate conservation science and restoration practice into new or existing curriculum, which could include coursework, training modules, field experiences, internships, or research projects.
What kinds of student or workforce development activities are encouraged?
The opportunity encourages curriculum development and experiential learning that exposes students to native plant development, seed collection practices, propagation, and restoration ecology, with the intent to build long-term interest and capacity in restoration careers.
How does BLM describe the broader public benefits of these projects?
Public benefits include improved restoration outcomes on public lands through better access to suitable native seed and plants for revegetation, habitat improvement, and post-disturbance recovery, as well as increased education and awareness of native plants and habitat quality (including sage-grouse habitat priorities).
How does the program relate to community engagement and stewardship?
BLM frames the effort as relationship-building that connects conservation work with education and community engagement, including support for participants who want to keep their culture connected to public lands and strengthen stewardship ties to native plant resources.
What is the CFDA number and category for this opportunity?
It is listed under CFDA 15.231 and categorized under Natural Resources.
How many awards does BLM anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipated up to five awards.
What is the maximum funding amount per award?
The award ceiling is $25,000 per award.
Is this funding opportunity discretionary?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting was created on July 7, 2017, and it originally closed on September 4, 2017.
Does the opportunity explicitly mention sage-grouse habitat?
Yes. Sage-grouse habitat restoration is specifically called out as an environmental priority in the program description.
What does BLM mean by building a "pipeline" for restoration careers?
The program intends to build long-term interest and capacity by creating educational pathways and experiences so more students and participants gain practical skills in native plant systems and restoration ecology to support future land management needs.
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