Energy and Mineral Development Program 2025

The Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) is administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), under the Office of Trust Services and the Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD). The program is designed to promote Tribal self-governance by providing funding to federally recognized Tribes and Tribal Energy Development Organizations (TEDOs) for pre-development activities related to energy and mineral resources. EMDP grants aim to support Tribes in identifying, assessing, and developing resources such as biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, oil, natural gas, helium, coal, precious and base minerals, and more. The ultimate goal of EMDP is to provide Tribes with the technical support and financial means to evaluate their energy and mineral potential, thereby fostering economic development and sovereignty. The 2025 EMDP funding opportunity allows for a one-time grant per project, with a performance period of one year. Grants are awarded competitively, with awards ranging from $10,000 to $2,500,000, and up to 100 awards anticipated. Projects eligible for funding include initial exploration, market analysis, resource assessment, feasibility studies, and other technical tasks needed for informed development decisions. Projects must be conducted on Indian lands, and proposals must include a Tribal resolution or approved alternative documentation committing to grant compliance and specifying the energy or mineral resource under investigation. Only Indian Tribes and TEDOs are eligible applicants. Applications must be submitted through grants.gov by August 13, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. Applications must include a standard set of federal forms, a project narrative of 20 pages or fewer, and a range of attachments such as consultant résumés, project maps, legal land descriptions, and verification of land status. Applications will be evaluated on criteria including the Tribal executive summary, economic viability, project viability, scope of work and deliverables, and budget clarity. Each criterion carries a defined weight, with the total possible score being 100 points. The process is competitive, and funding decisions are based on overall proposal ranking. DEMD does not allow federal agencies to conduct work under these grants and prohibits expenditures on certain activities, including office operations, legal fees, equipment purchases, and academic research. Equipment leasing is permitted for eligible tasks. DEMD may review applicants’ past grant performance and reserves the right to deny funding to applicants under specific audit sanctions. A Tribe may submit more than one proposal for different projects, but each must be submitted independently with its own documentation. Grantees are required to submit semi-annual and final reports, including both narrative summaries and financial documents. All reports must be submitted through GrantSolutions. The grantor also expects all project data to be submitted in editable, accessible digital formats to ensure compliance and potential public availability, in line with federal data regulations. Technical consultation is available upon request at least three weeks before the deadline but does not include assistance in proposal writing or assurance of funding success. Key contacts for questions include DEMD staff via emdpgrants@bia.gov or at (303) 969-5270, and Jo Metcalfe at Jo.Metcalfe@bia.gov for help with the application process. DEMD strongly recommends that Tribes begin registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) well before applying, as these can take several weeks to complete. EMDP is authorized under multiple federal acts including the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982, which empower the Department of the Interior to support Tribal efforts in resource development.

Submit early to avoid SAM/ASAP delays. Include detailed budget and qualified consultants. Clarify scope and benefits to Tribe.