Legacy Resource Management Program

The Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program is managed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Sustainment) through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, and the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment and Energy Resilience. This program provides funding through non-research cooperative agreements to support conservation and resource management efforts on Department of Defense lands. The goal is to enhance the stewardship of natural and cultural resources in a way that aligns with military readiness while creating public benefits through conservation partnerships. The program supports projects with regional or Department-wide significance that are not specific to an individual Military Service. Projects must improve the management of biodiversity, resilient land and ecosystem management, wildland fire risk reduction, cultural resource preservation, and tribal consultation. Cross-cutting priorities include readiness and range sustainment, climate adaptation and resilience, the application of emerging technologies, data and information management, and regulatory efficiency. Past projects have included development of management guides, invasive species control strategies, historic property evaluations, predictive modeling, tribal consultation improvements, and educational resources. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through Grants.gov. Submissions begin with a project narrative outlining objectives, technical approaches, anticipated outcomes, and public benefits beyond the needs of the government. Depending on funding availability and project merit, applicants may be invited to submit full proposals for possible awards. Eligible applicants include public and private organizations, institutions, agencies, and individuals. All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management and provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier. Cost sharing is not required but is encouraged, and conflicts of interest must be disclosed with mitigation plans provided where necessary. Applications must include the required federal forms such as the SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-LLL if applicable, as well as an abstract, project narrative, and budget information. Project narratives are limited to ten pages and must detail the proposed plan, including key personnel, schedule, cost estimates, milestones, sub-awards, and public benefit. Submissions are evaluated based on technical merit, relevance to Department of Defense conservation needs, scope of impact, collaboration with partners, and reasonableness of costs. Adjectival ratings ranging from outstanding to unacceptable are applied during evaluation. Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, reflecting substantial involvement from the government in guiding and approving project activities. Periods of performance depend on the proposed project, and the government reserves the right to accept portions of applications or negotiate awards. Funding amounts and the number of awards depend on available resources and the quality of proposed projects. The government emphasizes that awards are subject to compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and national policy requirements, including nondiscrimination, environmental, animal welfare, and research integrity standards. Contact points for applicants include Elizabeth Galli-Noble, Program Director, reachable at 571-372-8299 or elizabeth.j.galli-noble.civ@mail.mil. Additional program support is provided by Marwa Rafiq at 571-342-2802 and McKenna McMahon at 850-866-8559. Administrative inquiries should be directed to Michael Fanizzo, Grants Officer, at michael.j.fanizzo.civ@mail.mil, and Diane Clarke, Grants Specialist, at diane.r.clarke.civ@mail.mil. Applicants should note that evaluations and awards will be made on a rolling basis, and only a signed Notice of Award from a Department of Defense grants officer authorizes expenditure of funds.