FY25 Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands- Management Studies Support Program

The FY25 Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands – Management Studies Support Program is a discretionary federal funding opportunity administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support management-focused studies on National Conservation Lands. BLM manages these special lands for conservation, protection, and restoration purposes and has a strong interest in increasing understanding of the ecological, cultural, and recreational values they embody. The funding aims to enhance the effectiveness of resource management decisions through science-driven research, citizen science, and tribal co-stewardship. This opportunity is open to a wide range of applicants, including state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, tribal governments and organizations, and nonprofits. Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible. CESU partners with an appropriate master agreement can apply, and indirect costs for CESU recipients are capped at 17.5 percent. The application process includes detailed requirements such as registration in SAM.gov and submission via Grants.gov. Applicants must prepare several documents including the SF-424 form, budget details, narrative descriptions, and project abstracts. The project narrative must address several components such as project location, scope, objectives, methods, and deliverables. Projects must incorporate one or more of three program themes: management-driven research, citizen science, and tribal co-stewardship. All projects must demonstrate a public benefit and specify clear outcomes, including annual and final reports and a manager’s summary. Applications will be evaluated in a two-step review process starting at the state level and progressing to national-level review. The merit review criteria include alignment with program themes, technical merit, relevance to legislated priorities, and public benefit. Successful applications must pass risk reviews and budget assessments to ensure cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and compliance with federal regulations. The funding opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis and will open for applications on June 10, 2025, closing on July 11, 2025. The anticipated start date for projects is September 25, 2025, with a potential project duration of up to five years, concluding no later than September 30, 2030. Contact information for support includes Fredrick (Fritz) Klasner at fklasner@blm.gov for general inquiries and Ramon “Luis” Burgos-Candelaria at rburgoscandelaria@blm.gov or 303-236-6967 for application-specific questions.

Engage BLM State or Unit leads early in project development Ensure project directly benefits public and aligns with legislated priorities Prepare all SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations at least 30 days in advance