FY25 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management- Bureau wide

The FY25 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management grant opportunity, under Notice L25AS00302, is administered by the BLM, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The program supports the management and protection of heritage resources on public lands, including archaeological sites, paleontological assets, and associated collections and records. BLM seeks to foster partnerships that enhance understanding, accessibility, and preservation of these resources, promoting their educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational values while meeting federal priorities. This funding opportunity invites proposals aimed at various objectives, such as conducting archaeological and paleontological studies, monitoring and stabilizing at-risk heritage resources, improving data and records management, preserving existing collections, and expanding public access to museum collections. The program also supports tribal engagement, public education, development of historic sites, and partnerships that assist BLM’s tribal consultation efforts. Projects should align with BLM's mission to expand recreation opportunities, ensure tribal self-determination, enhance visitor experiences, and promote environmental stewardship. Funding is available for projects nationwide except in Arizona, California, Eastern States, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon/Washington, Wyoming, NIFC, and NOC. State-specific priority areas include Colorado (archaeological and paleontological work, public engagement), Montana/Dakotas (collections management), and Utah (data management, outreach, site stabilization). Applications must propose projects with clear public benefits and may receive priority consideration if they align with Secretarial Orders 3417 and 3418 related to energy policy and conservation. Eligible applicants include a broad range of governmental and nonprofit entities but exclude individuals and for-profit organizations. The program offers cooperative agreements, with BLM maintaining substantial involvement throughout project execution. Required application materials include standard federal forms, a project narrative (maximum 15 pages), budget narrative, and supporting documents such as biographical sketches, maps, and letters of support. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov between June 10, 2025, and August 8, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. ET. The anticipated start date for funded projects is September 25, 2025, with completion by September 30, 2030. Applications will be evaluated on their statement of need, technical approach, public benefit, and qualifications. Applicants should also anticipate a risk review and may face special award conditions based on risk assessment outcomes. For questions, applicants may contact George Herbst (gherbst@blm.gov) for program-specific inquiries or Patricia Glass (pglass@blm.gov, 303-236-6505) for grants management issues. Further guidance, including forms and submission instructions, can be found on Grants.gov. Registration with SAM.gov is required before applying and may take several months.

Register early with SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Ensure alignment with program goals and DOI priorities. Clearly explain public benefits and tribal engagement aspects. Use provided templates (e.g., Attachment A, B) for clarity.