BLM-CO Preserving Cultural and Paleontological Resources on Colorado's Public Lands | L20AS00094

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00094

The BLM-CO Preserving Cultural and Paleontological Resources on Colorado's Public Lands opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00094) is a Bureau of Land Management Colorado program designed to fund cooperative, on-the-ground partnerships that protect and responsibly share cultural heritage and paleontological resources on BLM-managed public lands in Colorado. The core idea is to pair resource protection with thoughtful public access and education, so that archaeological sites, historic places, museum collections, and fossil resources are not only safeguarded but also used in ways that strengthen public understanding of Colorado's natural and cultural history. The program also emphasizes improving visitor experiences by addressing infrastructure and maintenance needs tied to heritage sites, while keeping environmental standards rigorous and aiming to reduce unnecessary duplication in reviews and processes.

A major theme of the grant is stewardship through collaboration. BLM is looking for partners who can help the public learn about and engage with heritage resources in ethical and responsible ways, while also building a longer-term conservation legacy. Another central priority is meaningful consultation and support for Tribal self-determination. Projects that actively engage Native American communities, coordinate with tribal governments and tribal programs, and reflect tribal priorities and perspectives are explicitly encouraged. In addition, the opportunity supports work that makes heritage resources more accessible for recreation and interpretation when appropriate, such as improving or maintaining historic sites with educational potential.

Funded projects are expected to align with one or more specific objectives. These include research and documentation activities such as inventories, excavations (where appropriate and permitted), archival and records research, and collections-based research that expand what is known about America's cultural and natural history. The opportunity also supports monitoring and condition assessment of at-risk sites to track deterioration, identify threats, and evaluate whether protection measures are working. For resources already threatened, stabilization work is eligible, including stabilization of at-risk heritage resources and stabilization of historic structures that may be deteriorating due to age, weather, vandalism, or other impacts.

The program also places strong value on building the next generation of professionals. Projects can include training components such as field schools, internships, and research experiences for students and early-career practitioners in cultural resource management and paleontology, especially when those efforts leverage BLM sites, collections, and landscapes as learning settings. Another eligible area is improving how heritage data are managed, including organizing, maintaining, scanning, and digitizing site and survey records; creating and maintaining geospatial datasets; and performing data entry that strengthens BLM's ability to plan, manage, and protect resources using accurate information. Relatedly, the grant can support preservation of existing museum and repository collections at recognized curation facilities, including archival housing improvements, conservation treatments, and stabilization measures that prevent loss or deterioration of artifacts and specimens.

Public-facing education and outreach is an explicit purpose of the funding. The BLM is interested in projects that promote public engagement, expand learning opportunities, and reinforce archaeological and paleontological ethics through programs, events, interpretive materials, and other products. In practice, that can mean interpretive planning and signage, curriculum and outreach content, guided programs, volunteer stewardship models, or other approaches that increase appreciation while discouraging looting, vandalism, and irresponsible collecting. The opportunity also includes support for studies that evaluate how land management actions affect heritage resources, such as assessing impacts from prescribed fire, juniper control, vegetation removal methods like chaining, and other land-disturbing activities. This type of work helps BLM understand risks, refine mitigation measures, and plan future projects in ways that better protect cultural and paleontological assets.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement, meaning BLM expects a collaborative relationship with the award recipient rather than a simple pass-through grant. The activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA number listed is 15.224. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status.

The opportunity was created on April 8, 2020, with an original closing date of June 11, 2020. The award ceiling is $75,000, and BLM anticipated making about three awards. Overall, the grant is aimed at practical, partnership-driven projects that protect vulnerable resources, improve data and collections stewardship, deepen research and understanding, elevate Tribal engagement, and create ethical, high-quality public access and interpretation on Colorado's public lands.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-CO Preserving Cultural and Paleontological Resources on Colorado's Public Lands" 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 Apr 08, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 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 3 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.

Apply for L20AS00094

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