Financial Assistance
The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
BLM issues financial assistance through grants and cooperative agreement awards to institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, state and local governments, foreign entities and Indian tribal governments for projects that meet the BLM mission and falls in line with the Department of the Interior’s top priorities.
Federal Financial Assistance (FA) is transferring something of value to a recipient in order to accomplish a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by Federal statue.
Programs
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) program is a government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial and non-financial assistance programs administered by departments and establishments of the Federal government.
- 15.225 - Recreation Resource Management
- 15.228 - Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance
- 15.230 – Invasive and Noxious Plant Management
- 15.244 – Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management
- 15.245 –Plant Conservation and Restoration Management
- 15.246 - Threatened and Endangered Species
- 15. 247 – Wildlife Resource Management
- 15.237 - Rangeland Resource Management
- 15.243 - Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands
For further programs supported by financial assistance go to www.cfda.gov.
For application instructions and any other program-specific questions, the “Information Contacts” section of each CFDA program profile provides program-specific point(s) of contact.
Resources
- The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is a government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public.
- The Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR) is a multi-government agency organization that works collaboratively to improve financial management in the U.S. Government.
- To access the Department of the Interior’s Financial Assistance site, click HERE.
- The Department of the Interior Business Center’s Indirect Cost Services (ICS) division negotiates and issues indirect cost rates on behalf of the federal government for those entities for which Interior is their cognizant agency.
- The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) requires prime recipient reporting on first-tier subawards. Recipients must use the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) to meet the requirements.
- To search for BLM funding opportunities and apply for Federal financial assistance, go to the official United States government financial assistance portal, Grants.gov, at http://www.grants.gov/
- Financial assistance recipients must register and maintain current information in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
- The Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s online single audit database provides public access to completed single audits. For more information on single audits, see Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Subpart F-Audit Requirements.
- BLM domestic financial assistance recipients must register in a receive payments through the Department of the Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP).
- Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards” (2 CFR 200).
- USAspending.gov is the publicly accessible, searchable website that gives the American public access to information on how their tax dollars are spent, including Federal financial assistance award data.
Terms & Conditions
Acceptance of a grant or cooperative agreement from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with the terms and conditions of award. Acceptance is defined as the start of work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Awards are based on the application submitted to and approved by the BLM. Awards from the BLM are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated into the award either by direct citation or by reference to the following: Federal regulations; program legislation or regulation; and special award terms and conditions. The BLM financial assistance award terms and conditions flow down to subrecipients and contractors, unless a particular award term or condition specifically indicates otherwise.
BLM Indirect Cost Guidance for Applicants and Recipients
All applicants proposing to charge indirect costs to an award must include a statement in their application that describes their indirect cost rate circumstance. See the BLM's “Indirect Costs and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements” guidance.
Indirect Cost Rate Exception Approval for BLM Joint Fire Program, Effective: 5/19/2015.
For more information on indirect costs, see Department of the Interior policy DOI-AAAP-0007.
BLM Pre-Award Risk Assessment
Prior to award, the BLM evaluates the risk posed by potential recipients as required in 2 CFR 200.205. BLM programs document applicant risk using the “DOI Financial Assistance Risk Assessment Checklist” form.
For recipients not subject to the Single Audit and have not undergone an independent audit, the BLM uses the “DOI Financial Assistance – Financial Capability Questionnaire” as a tool to evaluate adequate accounting system.
Prior to approving awards for Federal funding in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000), the BLM is required to review and consider any information about or from the applicant found in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System.
The BLM will consider this information when completing the risk review. The BLM uses the results of the risk evaluation to establish monitoring plans, recipient reporting frequency requirements, and to determine if one or more of the specific award conditions in 2 CFR 200.207 should be applied the award.