Opportunity Information: Apply for L17AS00220
The BLM-(MT)- Paleontology Resource Management opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00220) is a discretionary Bureau of Land Management grant issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior to support professional, science-based stewardship of paleontological resources on BLM-managed lands in Montana. The program reflects BLM's legal mandate to manage fossils and related data using appropriate scientific principles and technical expertise, not only in the field but also through long-term museum curation and public-facing access where appropriate. Rather than focusing on a single excavation or exhibit, the opportunity is aimed at strengthening the full chain of paleontological resource management, from discovery and documentation through preparation, storage, cataloging, and controlled information sharing.
Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, meaning the work is typically carried out in partnership with BLM and may involve substantial federal involvement such as coordination on priorities, standards, reporting, or integration with BLM management needs. The funding activity category is Natural Resources under CFDA 15.224. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of applicant), subject to any clarifications that may appear in the official eligibility language. In practical terms, this structure is well-suited to museums, universities, research groups, nonprofit organizations, and other entities that can demonstrate professional paleontological and curatorial capacity.
The core purpose is to ensure that non-renewable fossil resources are handled to professional standards and managed for long-term scientific and public value. The opportunity highlights several concrete objectives. First, it supports professional fieldwork to collect and thoroughly document paleontological specimens when collection is warranted, emphasizing proper scientific recording rather than casual or ad hoc collecting. Second, it targets the preparation of previously collected specimens that have not yet been prepped, helping reduce backlogs so specimens become usable for research, exhibit, and education. Third, it calls for professional oversight of staff and volunteers, ensuring that any work performed meets high museum and curatorial standards and is completed consistently and correctly.
A major component involves improving the museum-side infrastructure and records associated with BLM specimens. The opportunity specifically includes entering curation data into the museum's curatorial system, which is essential for specimen tracking, research access, compliance, and long-term management. It also supports purchasing curatorial-grade specimen storage containers and furniture, underscoring that proper conservation storage is part of responsible resource management, not an optional add-on. In addition, the scope allows for other professional services that advance paleontological resource management, providing flexibility for applicants to propose needed technical tasks that fit within the overall mission.
Another emphasized outcome is responsible access to information. The program aims to make records of BLM specimens available to BLM, qualified researchers, and the public, while still protecting sensitive information as required under federal laws and regulations. This point recognizes a common tension in paleontology and cultural/natural resource management: public and scientific access is valuable, but precise locality data and other sensitive details sometimes must be restricted to prevent theft, vandalism, or resource damage.
From a public benefit perspective, the opportunity frames fossils as non-renewable resources held in trust for the American people. By funding professional collection, preparation, cataloging, and conservation storage, BLM is investing in long-term stewardship that supports research, exhibitions, and public education. The intended result is that fossils and associated records are not only preserved but also made meaningfully usable over time, maximizing their value for scientific discovery and public understanding while maintaining compliance and safeguarding sensitive site information.
Administratively, the opportunity was created July 21, 2017, with an original closing date of September 18, 2017. The award ceiling was $44,500, and BLM anticipated making two awards.Apply for L17AS00220
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-(MT)- Paleontology 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 Jul 21, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 18, 2017. (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 $44,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - BLM-(MT) Paleontology Resource Management (L17AS00220)
What is the BLM-(MT) Paleontology Resource Management funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior. It supports professional, science-based stewardship of paleontological resources (fossils and related data) on BLM-managed lands in Montana.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L17AS00220.
What type of award mechanism is used?
Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement. This generally means the project is carried out in partnership with BLM and may include substantial federal involvement, such as coordination on priorities, standards, reporting, or integration with BLM management needs.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The main purpose is to ensure non-renewable fossil resources are managed to professional standards for long-term scientific and public value. The scope is designed to strengthen the full chain of paleontological resource management, from discovery and documentation through preparation, storage, cataloging, and controlled information sharing.
Is this grant focused on a single excavation or a single exhibit?
No. The opportunity is not framed as support for one excavation or one exhibit. Instead, it is aimed at improving the broader system of paleontological resource management, including fieldwork, specimen preparation, curation, collections care, and information management.
What kinds of activities does the opportunity support?
The opportunity highlights objectives including professional fieldwork and documentation when collection is warranted, preparation of previously collected specimens, professional oversight of staff and volunteers, entry of curation data into a museum curatorial system, purchase of curatorial-grade storage containers and furniture, and other professional services that advance paleontological resource management.
Does the opportunity support professional fieldwork?
Yes. It supports professional fieldwork to collect and thoroughly document paleontological specimens when collection is warranted, with an emphasis on proper scientific recording rather than casual or ad hoc collecting.
Does the program support preparing fossils that were collected previously but not yet prepared?
Yes. One objective is to prepare previously collected specimens that have not yet been prepped, helping reduce backlogs so specimens become usable for research, exhibit, and education.
Is oversight of staff and volunteers part of the scope?
Yes. The opportunity calls for professional oversight of staff and volunteers to ensure work meets high museum and curatorial standards and is completed consistently and correctly.
Does this funding cover museum curation and collections management work?
Yes. A major component is improving museum-side infrastructure and records for BLM specimens, including entering curation data into the museum's curatorial system and supporting conservation-appropriate storage.
What does "entering curation data into the museum's curatorial system" mean in the context of this opportunity?
It refers to creating or improving formal collection records for BLM specimens within a museum's tracking and management system. This supports specimen tracking, research access, compliance, and long-term management.
Can grant funds be used to buy storage supplies for specimens?
Yes. The opportunity specifically supports purchasing curatorial-grade specimen storage containers and furniture, reflecting that proper conservation storage is part of responsible paleontological resource management.
Are there allowable activities beyond the specific examples listed?
Yes. The scope allows for other professional services that advance paleontological resource management, giving applicants flexibility to propose needed technical tasks that fit the overall stewardship mission.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of applicant), subject to any clarifications that may appear in the official eligibility language.
What types of organizations is this opportunity well-suited for?
Based on the cooperative agreement structure and the professional standards emphasized, the opportunity is well-suited to museums, universities, research groups, nonprofit organizations, and other entities that can demonstrate professional paleontological and curatorial capacity.
What geographic area does the opportunity cover?
The opportunity focuses on paleontological resources on BLM-managed lands in Montana.
Which federal agency administers the program?
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, issues the grant.
What funding activity category and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources. The CFDA number listed is 15.224.
What does the opportunity mean by "professional, science-based stewardship"?
It means fossils and related data are managed using appropriate scientific principles and technical expertise, including professional field documentation, preparation, and long-term museum curation, rather than informal collecting practices.
Does the opportunity include public access to fossil information?
Yes, as an intended outcome it aims to make records of BLM specimens available to BLM, qualified researchers, and the public where appropriate.
Is all location and specimen information intended to be public?
No. The opportunity emphasizes controlled information sharing and notes that sensitive information may need to be protected as required under federal laws and regulations, such as to prevent theft, vandalism, or resource damage.
Who are the intended users of the specimen records supported by this funding?
The opportunity specifically references BLM, qualified researchers, and the public as audiences for specimen records, with appropriate protections for sensitive information.
Why does the program emphasize long-term museum curation?
The opportunity frames stewardship as extending beyond fieldwork to include long-term preparation, storage, cataloging, and conservation so fossils and their data remain available and usable over time for research and public education.
How does this program describe the public benefit of the work?
It frames fossils as non-renewable resources held in trust for the American people. By funding professional collection, preparation, cataloging, and conservation storage, BLM is investing in long-term stewardship that supports research, exhibitions, and public education while maintaining compliance and safeguarding sensitive information.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 21, 2017.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was September 18, 2017.
What was the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling was $44,500.
How many awards did BLM anticipate making?
BLM anticipated making two awards.
What does "substantial federal involvement" imply for applicants?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, applicants should expect coordination with BLM on priorities, standards, reporting, and alignment with BLM management needs, rather than operating fully independently.
What is the overarching management "chain" this opportunity is trying to strengthen?
The opportunity targets the full chain of paleontological resource management: discovery and documentation, warranted collection, preparation, storage and conservation, cataloging in curatorial systems, and responsible sharing of information and records.
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