Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00058
The NM Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management grant (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00058) is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Department of the Interior funding opportunity that supports practical, on-the-ground work to protect, study, and responsibly share New Mexico cultural and paleontological resources. The overall purpose is to improve access to and appropriate use of heritage resources while promoting their educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational value, consistent with Department of the Interior priorities and the goals of the BLM Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Program. In plain terms, the program is looking for projects that help the public and researchers learn from these places and collections while ensuring the resources themselves are preserved and managed ethically.
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which usually means the BLM expects substantial involvement during the project, such as coordination on methods, access, data standards, or deliverables. The award ceiling is $75,000, and the opportunity anticipated about 11 awards. The activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA listing is 15.224. The opportunity was created February 25, 2020, with an original closing date of April 27, 2020.
The grant is broad in the kinds of heritage work it will support, as long as a proposed project clearly advances one or more of the listed objectives. A major emphasis is research and documentation that improves understanding of Americas natural and cultural history, including inventories, excavations, archival or records research, and collections-based research. Another strong focus is proactive stewardship: monitoring resources that are at risk to understand condition trends and evaluate whether management actions are working, as well as stabilizing at-risk sites and materials before they are lost to erosion, vandalism, environmental exposure, or other threats. In addition to archaeological sites and paleontological localities, the opportunity explicitly includes historic built resources by supporting stabilization of at-risk historic structures and the development and maintenance of historic sites that have interpretive and educational potential.
The opportunity also prioritizes the infrastructure that makes heritage management function day to day. That includes cultural heritage data and records management tasks such as organizing and maintaining site and survey records, scanning and digitizing documents, building and maintaining geospatial datasets, and completing data entry to improve accessibility and long-term usability. For physical collections already held in recognized curation facilities, the program supports preservation improvements like archival housing, stabilization, and conservation, acknowledging that long-term stewardship depends on proper curation and care.
Workforce development and ethical public engagement are also central. The BLM encourages projects that train future cultural resource management professionals and paleontologists through research projects, field schools, and internships that make use of BLM-managed heritage resources. On the public side, the program supports education and outreach efforts that increase learning opportunities and promote archaeological and paleontological ethics through programs, events, and products. This signals an interest not just in interpretation, but in shaping responsible behavior and public understanding of why these resources need protection.
Finally, the grant highlights partnership building, particularly with Native American communities. Projects that promote engagement with tribes and foster partnerships with tribal governments and programs are specifically called out as an objective, reflecting the importance of collaboration, consultation, and incorporating Indigenous perspectives where appropriate. The program also invites applied studies that evaluate how land management actions impact heritage resources, including prescribed fire, juniper control, vegetation removal by chaining, and other land-disturbing activities. That focus aligns with real-world management needs, where agencies must balance fuels reduction, restoration, and other treatments while avoiding or mitigating damage to cultural and paleontological resources.
Eligibility is expansive and includes state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit categories). Overall, the opportunity is designed for universities, museums and curation facilities, tribal and local governments, nonprofits, and other partners capable of carrying out technical heritage work in coordination with the BLM, with projects ranging from research and monitoring to stabilization, digitization, training, and public education.Apply for L20AS00058
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NM Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.224.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 25, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 27, 2020. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 11 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NM Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management Grant (L20AS00058)
What is the NM Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management grant?
This is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Department of the Interior funding opportunity that supports practical, on-the-ground work to protect, study, and responsibly share New Mexico cultural and paleontological resources. The intent is to improve access to and appropriate use of heritage resources while promoting their educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational value, consistent with Department of the Interior priorities and the BLM Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L20AS00058.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The funding agency is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of funding instrument is used?
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does a "discretionary cooperative agreement" imply for project work?
Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement usually means BLM expects substantial involvement during the project. That involvement may include coordination on methods, access, data standards, or deliverables.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $75,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated about 11 awards.
What is the activity category for this grant?
The activity category is Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 15.224.
When was the opportunity created and when did it originally close?
The opportunity was created on February 25, 2020, and the original closing date was April 27, 2020.
What is the overall purpose of the grant?
The purpose is to improve access to and appropriate use of heritage resources while ensuring they are preserved and managed ethically. Projects are expected to help the public and researchers learn from cultural and paleontological places and collections while protecting the resources themselves.
What kinds of projects are supported under this opportunity?
The opportunity is broad and supports many types of heritage work, as long as the proposed project clearly advances one or more of the stated objectives. Examples mentioned include research, inventories, excavations, archival and records research, collections-based research, monitoring and condition assessment, stabilization of at-risk sites and materials, historic structure stabilization, interpretive site development, data and records management, digitization, geospatial dataset work, curation improvements, workforce development, internships and field schools, public education and outreach, partnership building (including with Native American communities), and applied studies on how land management actions affect heritage resources.
Does the grant support research and documentation work?
Yes. A major emphasis is research and documentation that improves understanding of Americas natural and cultural history, including inventories, excavations, archival or records research, and collections-based research.
Does the program fund monitoring of threatened or at-risk resources?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes proactive stewardship, including monitoring resources that are at risk to understand condition trends and evaluate whether management actions are working.
Are site stabilization and urgent preservation activities eligible?
Yes. The program supports stabilizing at-risk sites and materials before they are lost to erosion, vandalism, environmental exposure, or other threats.
Are historic buildings or built resources included, or is it only archaeology and fossils?
Historic built resources are explicitly included. The opportunity supports stabilization of at-risk historic structures and the development and maintenance of historic sites that have interpretive and educational potential, in addition to archaeological sites and paleontological localities.
Does the grant support heritage data and records management?
Yes. Priority areas include cultural heritage data and records management tasks such as organizing and maintaining site and survey records, scanning and digitizing documents, building and maintaining geospatial datasets, and completing data entry to improve accessibility and long-term usability.
Can projects focus on digitizing heritage documents and records?
Yes. Scanning and digitizing documents is specifically listed as a supported task under data and records management.
Is geospatial (GIS) data work eligible under this program?
Yes. Building and maintaining geospatial datasets is specifically mentioned as part of the supported cultural heritage data and records management work.
Does the grant support preservation improvements for existing museum or repository collections?
Yes. For physical collections already held in recognized curation facilities, the program supports preservation improvements such as archival housing, stabilization, and conservation.
Do projects need to relate to recognized curation facilities to be eligible for collections work?
For the collections-focused support described, the opportunity specifically references physical collections already held in recognized curation facilities.
Does the opportunity emphasize workforce development and training?
Yes. Workforce development is a central theme. The BLM encourages projects that train future cultural resource management professionals and paleontologists through research projects, field schools, and internships that make use of BLM-managed heritage resources.
Are internships and field schools allowed as part of proposed projects?
Yes. Internships and field schools are explicitly listed as examples of workforce development approaches supported by the program.
Does the program fund public education and outreach?
Yes. The program supports education and outreach efforts that increase learning opportunities and promote archaeological and paleontological ethics through programs, events, and products.
Is promoting ethical behavior and responsible public engagement part of the program goals?
Yes. The opportunity highlights ethical public engagement and specifically notes outreach that promotes archaeological and paleontological ethics, signaling that responsible behavior and public understanding are important outcomes.
How important are partnerships in this funding opportunity?
Partnership building is a highlighted objective. The opportunity specifically calls out projects that promote engagement with tribes and foster partnerships with tribal governments and programs.
Does the grant prioritize work with Native American communities?
Yes. Projects that promote engagement with tribes and foster partnerships with tribal governments and programs are specifically listed as an objective.
Does the program support studies on how land management actions affect heritage resources?
Yes. The opportunity invites applied studies that evaluate how land management actions impact heritage resources, including prescribed fire, juniper control, vegetation removal by chaining, and other land-disturbing activities.
What kinds of land management actions are specifically mentioned as study topics?
The description specifically mentions prescribed fire, juniper control, vegetation removal by chaining, and other land-disturbing activities.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility includes state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in the nonprofit categories).
Are universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligibility list.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible (with the noted exclusion that institutions of higher education are not included within the nonprofit categories).
Are local governments and school districts eligible?
Yes. State, county, and local governments; special districts; and independent school districts are all listed as eligible.
What kinds of organizations does this opportunity seem designed for?
Based on the description, it is designed for universities, museums and curation facilities, tribal and local governments, nonprofits, and other partners capable of carrying out technical heritage work in coordination with the BLM.
Does this opportunity focus only on academic research?
No. While research is a major emphasis, the opportunity also supports hands-on stewardship (monitoring and stabilization), records and data management, collections care, training and internships, public education and outreach, partnership building, and applied studies tied to land management actions.
What is the geographic focus of the grant?
The opportunity focuses on New Mexico cultural and paleontological resources.
What outcomes is the BLM trying to achieve through this funding?
Outcomes described include improved understanding of natural and cultural history; better monitoring, stabilization, and protection of at-risk resources; improved accessibility and usability of heritage records and geospatial data; improved long-term care for curated collections; increased training opportunities for future professionals; expanded ethical education and outreach; stronger partnerships, especially with tribes; and applied knowledge to reduce impacts to heritage resources from land management actions.
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| NM Recreation and Visitors Services Apply for L20AS00059 Funding Number: L20AS00059 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NM Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Apply for L20AS00060 Funding Number: L20AS00060 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| NM Threatened and Endangered Species Apply for L20AS00061 Funding Number: L20AS00061 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Utah Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Apply for L20AS00018 Funding Number: L20AS00018 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| NM Wildlife Resource Management Apply for L20AS00062 Funding Number: L20AS00062 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Utah Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management Apply for L20AS00008 Funding Number: L20AS00008 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| NM Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Apply for L20AS00063 Funding Number: L20AS00063 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| BLM CA Wildlife Resource Management Apply for L20AS00046 Funding Number: L20AS00046 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| FY2020 Alaska BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands Apply for L20AS00064 Funding Number: L20AS00064 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| ORWA Fuels Management & Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Apply for L20AS00056 Funding Number: L20AS00056 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| BLM CA Threatened and Endangered Species Apply for L20AS00045 Funding Number: L20AS00045 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Notice of Intent Apply for USGS 20 FA 0075 Funding Number: USGS 20 FA 0075 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $317,558 |
| BLM CA Forests and Woodlands Resource Management Apply for L20AS00041 Funding Number: L20AS00041 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| BLM CA Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Apply for L20AS00040 Funding Number: L20AS00040 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $990,000 |
| Water Conservation Field Services; Upper Colorado Region Apply for BOR UC 20 F002 Funding Number: BOR UC 20 F002 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| BLM CA Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Apply for L20AS00044 Funding Number: L20AS00044 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| BLM CA Recreation and Visitor Services Apply for L20AS00039 Funding Number: L20AS00039 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| FY2020 BLM WO-National Threatened and Endangered Species Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for L20AS00067 Funding Number: L20AS00067 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| NM Rangeland Resource Management Apply for L20AS00065 Funding Number: L20AS00065 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Department of the Interior, United States (U.S.) Fish and Wildlife Service, Science Apply for F20AS00062 Funding Number: F20AS00062 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
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