Regional Fire Science Exchange Announcement

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, has released a funding opportunity through the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) to support the operation of six Regional Fire Science Exchanges. This initiative, identified by funding opportunity number FA-NOFO0026-003, aligns with BLM’s broader mission to promote science-based strategies for managing natural resources, particularly in fire-prone landscapes. The funding will support efforts under the Fire Science Exchange Network (FSEN), which comprises 15 regional exchanges tasked with facilitating the delivery of relevant fire science information to stakeholders, including land managers, scientists, and practitioners across ecologically similar regions. The primary objective of this grant opportunity is to fund proposals that will lead and manage fire science exchange efforts in one of six defined FSEN regions: California, Great Plains, Lake States, Southern, Southern Rockies, and Tallgrass Prairie. Each application must be specific to a single region and propose a two-year work plan and budget. The FSEN serves as a bridge between fire science researchers and end-users, ensuring the latest information, strategies, and findings are disseminated effectively to support wildland fire management, land use planning, and disaster preparedness. Funding amounts vary by region and are capped on an annual basis. The ceiling for California and Southern regions is set at $322,000 per year, while the Great Plains region is capped at $262,000 per year. The Lake States, Southern Rockies, and Tallgrass Prairie regions each have an annual cap of $192,000. These amounts include an optional $2,000 per year for participation in national or multi-regional conferences and symposia. If recipients choose not to support these conference activities, the maximum funding is reduced by $2,000 per year. These optional funds are to be explicitly identified in both the budget narrative and the program of work as support for “Science exchange - national event support.” Eligible applicants include a broad spectrum of public and nonprofit entities, such as county and city governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, independent school districts, Native American tribal governments and organizations, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Proposals must include detailed information on regional responsiveness, proposed work plans, governance structures, budget allocations, partnerships, end-user communities, and a logic model outlining how the program goals will be achieved. All applicants are required to use the proposal template available on the JFSP website and include a summarized activity/output table. The application process is managed through the JFSP’s electronic submission portal at www.firescience.gov. Proposals cannot be submitted via Grants.gov. All applications must be received no later than September 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Late submissions or alternative submission methods will not be accepted. The funding instrument used will be a cooperative agreement, and approximately six awards are expected to be distributed under this announcement. Questions regarding the funding opportunity may be directed to Patricia Glass, the designated Grants Management Officer, via telephone at 801-573-2957. There is no email listed for contact in the notice. Applicants are encouraged to review all available resources on the JFSP website, including guidance for creating the required logic model, before preparing their submission. The award period covers two years, with funds intended to support a broad range of fire science communication, coordination, and outreach activities across the selected regional exchange.

Review logic model guidance and JFSP proposal template on the JFSP site; clearly indicate use of optional $2,000/year in budget narrative if included.