NM FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management New Mexico Threatened and Endangered Species Program | L25AS00201

Opportunity Information: Apply for L25AS00201

The NM FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management New Mexico Threatened and Endangered Species Program (Funding Opportunity Number L25AS00201; CFDA 15.246) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that will be awarded through cooperative agreements. It is designed to support on-the-ground conservation and science-based work in New Mexico that advances Department of the Interior priorities, including protecting biodiversity, slowing extinction rates, improving resilience to climate change, leveraging natural climate solutions, and contributing to the national goal of conserving at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. A major emphasis is also placed on supporting state wildlife objectives and ensuring that benefits and engagement extend to communities of color, low-income families, and rural and Indigenous communities, including through economic opportunities connected to wildlife and conservation.

The program is looking to partner with eligible organizations on a broad range of threatened and endangered species activities on BLM-managed lands. Fundable projects include direct conservation and recovery actions for federally listed species, BLM sensitive species, and other rare wildlife and plants. The opportunity also supports targeted inventory and monitoring efforts that help determine current species status, identify threats, and pinpoint practical conservation opportunities. Another key focus is improving the knowledge base for these species and their habitats, which may include work related to propagation methods, genetics, ecology, and threat assessments. In addition, projects can address proactive protection and management actions consistent with Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 7(a)(1), as well as augmentation strategies such as translocations, seed collection, and propagation efforts intended to bolster at-risk populations.

Beyond field and research work, the program explicitly supports efforts that make ESA implementation more effective and efficient, including improvements that help streamline or strengthen ESA section 7(a)(2) consultations and strengthen section 7(a)(1) conservation programming. The opportunity also encourages proposals that improve public understanding of threatened, endangered, sensitive, and rare species on BLM lands, with an intentional outreach focus on underserved communities. Related communications activities, such as education products, outreach campaigns, and updates to program web content, are included within the scope of eligible work.

Eligibility is limited to public and nonprofit and educational partners. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; other Tribal organizations; and nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply under this notice of funding opportunity. The NOFO also makes clear that it does not support hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993; organizations seeking to propose Youth Conservation Corps-style projects are directed instead to a separate BLM funding opportunity (15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands).

For applicants connected to a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network, the announcement highlights specific indirect cost limitations. If an award is made to a CESU partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement and the project aligns with CESU purposes (research, studies, assessments, monitoring, technical assistance, and education), indirect costs are capped at no more than 17.5 percent of the approved indirect cost base recognized in the partner’s federal NICRA. Applicants are expected to state whether their proposal furthers CESU purposes and, if so, identify which CESU Network should be considered as the host.

Key administrative details include an original closing date of February 26, 2025, and an award ceiling of $800,000. The opportunity was created on December 19, 2024, and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, which generally indicates BLM anticipates substantial involvement during project performance (such as coordination, shared planning, technical input, or joint implementation) rather than a hands-off grant structure.

• The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NM FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management New Mexico Threatened and Endangered Species Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.246.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for L25AS00201

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