BLM UT Challenge Cost Share Program (NEW) FY 2009 CFDA 15.238

The Utah Challenge Cost Share (CCS) program is locally based and funds a variety of activities including the following: - Research, monitoring and inventory of resources (e.g., wildlife, fish, and plant populations and habitat, cultural or historical sites, recreation use or facilities such as trails); - Implementation of habitat improvement projects; - Protection or documentation of cultural or historic resources; - Providing for enhanced recreational experiences; - Development and implementation of species conservation and recovery plans; - Environmental education; - Conservation planning and implementation; - Conservation projects for native plant communities; and - Eradication projects for noxious and other weeds in areas of special concern. Applications are due by May 15, 2009, 4:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.


In Utah, the program is managed to maintain a variety of partnerships for wildlife, recreation, cultural resources, native plant community conservation including rare plants, fisheries and riparian habitat at the local level. In recent years Utah BLM has received $700,000 - $850,000 annually to fund 50-70 projects. Partnership contributions are required with a 50:50 overall cost share with non-federal dollars. Utah BLM cost share will not exceed $100,000 per project annually. Multiple year projects up to but not exceeding 5 years are acceptable.

In 2009, we will manage the Utah program to implement a variety of important projects that include resource inventory, monitoring and research, conservation planning and implementation, environmental education, habitat and plant community restoration, cultural site protection, recreation and OHV management. We are anticipating that Utah BLM will receive approximately $950,000 in CCS funding in 2009. Funding opportunities may change depending on budget allocations for the CCS Program by Congress in 2009.

Project Objective:

The objective of the Utah CCS program is to have a cost effective, local-level cost share program with non-federal partners to implement conservation or other public land management projects for the good of the general public and public resources, including but not limited to, recreation, fish, wildlife, special status plants, water quality, cultural sites and historical trails.

Statement of Joint Objectives/Project Management Plan:

The Utah CCS program is locally based and funds a variety of activities including the following:
- Research, monitoring and inventory of resources (e.g., wildlife, fish, and plant populations and habitat, cultural or historical sites, recreation use or facilities such as trails);
- Implementation of habitat improvement projects;
- Protection or documentation of cultural or historic resources;
- Providing for enhanced recreational experiences;
- Development and implementation of species conservation and recovery plans;
- Environmental education;
- Conservation planning and implementation;
- Conservation projects for native plant communities; and
- Eradication projects for noxious and other weeds in areas of special concern.

Cost-share projects submitted under this program will be developed in coordination with local BLM office staff. For example, potential partners interested in a wildlife habitat project should contact the wildlife biologist in the appropriate field office or district. If a potential partner is interested in protecting a local cultural site then the appropriate field office or district archeologist should be contacted. If a potential partner is interested in a project with state-wide implications than the appropriate program leaders at the Utah State Office should be contacted.

Cost share applicants should reference the Utah BLM website at: (http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/info/directory.2.html) for the staff directory of BLM State, District and Field offices. Assistance in locating the appropriate BLM contact will also be provided by writing to Ron Bolander, Partnership Coordinator at the Utah State Office at ron_bolander@blm.gov.

Partners can match BLM funds in a variety of ways:
- The non-federal match may include cash; in-kind goods, services or labor; or project materials.
- If volunteers are used then labor contributions should be calculated using www.independentsector.org.
- Applicants should use local rates for other in-kind valuation of contributions (equipment operators, equipment use, professor salaries).
- The match will be explained in the project proposal and listed on the budget attachment.

A. Period of Project (1 -5 years): CCS projects covered under this program will vary in length from 1 year to 5 years.

B. Funding Period: April 15, 2009 through September 30, 2009

AWARD INFORMATION

A. Expected Number of Awards: 50-70

B. Estimated Total Program Funding: The cost share overall goal is a 50:50 match. Funding amounts for partners may range from $500 up to $100,000 annually depending on the scope of the project and the cost share funding responsibilities of the partners and BLM. Utah BLM will reimburse CCS partners up to but not exceeding $100,000 annually, not to exceed five years.

C. Award Ceiling: $100,000

D. Assistance Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants: Restricted to non-federal partners with existing cooperative agreements.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching:

Non-federal partners are expected to match Utah BLM CCS funds at or near 1:1 for their respective projects. Only non-federal funds can be used to match BLM CCS funds. If there is more than one non-federal partner for a project than their total contribution can be combined to meet the 1:1 cost share goal. If more than one project is funded with the same partner than the 1:1 match would apply to the total for all of the cooperative projects that fiscal year.

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: BLM-UT-RFA-09-0898
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Apr 03, 2009
Creation Date: Apr 03, 2009
Original Closing Date for Applications: May 15, 2009
Current Closing Date for Applications: May 15, 2009; 4:59 MST
Archive Date: Jul 01, 2009
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Natural Resources
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards: 60
Estimated Total Program Funding: $850,000
Award Ceiling: $100,000
Award Floor: $500
CFDA Number(s): 15.238 -- Challenge Cost Share
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes