BLM-National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Primary Announcement (3 task statements)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), operating under the U.S. Department of the Interior, has released a funding opportunity through the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) for its Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP). This initiative represents a collaboration aimed at advancing scientific understanding and application in fire management, particularly as wildland fire regimes shift due to climate and ecological changes. The JFSP is a longstanding program that promotes science-based decision-making in fire-prone ecosystems, and this specific announcement encompasses three distinct research task areas. This primary announcement, under Funding Opportunity Number FA-NOFO0026-002, invites applications for cooperative agreements that address one or more of the following research priorities. The first area seeks to accelerate the translation of fire science into action through innovation, place-based partnerships, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms tailored to changing fire regimes. The second focuses on evaluating fire potential forecasts, with an emphasis on improving predictive tools that support wildland fire preparedness and response. The third task area calls for research to support wildland fire investigations, providing scientific insights that may influence both policy and incident management protocols. The grant has an estimated total program funding of $4,000,000, with individual award ceilings capped at $500,000 and floors at $300,000. Funding will be disbursed via cooperative agreements, enabling close collaboration between the grantees and federal agencies. Though the number of anticipated awards is unspecified, multiple awards are likely given the range of research areas covered. No matching funds are required from applicants, making the program financially accessible to a wide variety of institutions. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, state governments, and both federally and non-federally recognized Native American tribal organizations and governments. This wide eligibility spectrum ensures representation across academic, governmental, and tribal sectors. There are no geographic restrictions; the program is available nationwide. However, each task may have nuanced requirements, and interested applicants are urged to review task-specific guidance available through the JFSP website at https://www.firescience.gov/. Applications must be submitted electronically through the JFSP website, not via Grants.gov, and the submission deadline is September 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. No exceptions will be granted for late submissions. The official point of contact for this funding opportunity is Patricia Glass, who serves as the Grants Management Officer. While the announcement does not specify pre-application deadlines, applicants should carefully review the task statements and prepare their materials well in advance of the closing date to ensure compliance with submission requirements. This grant opportunity supports interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based practices in wildfire science. It represents a strategic federal investment in addressing the nation’s growing wildfire challenges through targeted research and implementation support.