Opportunity Information: Apply for L26AS00043
The FY26 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Threatened and Endangered Species - Bureau wide grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L26AS00043) supports projects under the BLM Threatened and Endangered Species Program (TampE). The central purpose is to conserve and recover endangered species, threatened species, and BLM Sensitive Species (together described as BLM Special Status Species), along with the habitats they rely on, across BLM-managed lands. The program frames conservation as a practical tool for sustaining long-term multiple use of public lands, including domestic energy and mineral development, timber production, grazing, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat for future generations.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its explicit focus on improving permitting efficiency and reducing future regulatory burdens by getting ahead of species declines. The program describes two main pathways to accomplish this: first, by investing in conservation and recovery actions that help delist species or prevent the need for listing in the first place, which can avoid additional regulatory constraints later; and second, by strengthening the quality and availability of biological information and data that can be used to support and expedite approvals for permits and authorizations tied to land uses like minerals, energy, timber, grazing, and recreation. In plain terms, BLM is looking for partner-driven work that improves on-the-ground outcomes for at-risk species while also producing credible science and decision-support information that helps land management move faster and with fewer conflicts.
The notice also ties the program to a set of Administration and Department of the Interior priorities and policy drivers. These include executive orders and secretarial orders related to wildlife conservation and hunting heritage, deregulation and streamlining, "gold standard" science, expanded timber production, habitat quality in western big-game winter ranges and migration corridors, and expanding hunting and fishing access while removing unnecessary barriers. The statutory backdrop includes major conservation authorities such as the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Sikes Act (including amendments addressing conservation on public lands). The net effect is that proposals are expected to align with both species conservation outcomes and the practical management needs of BLM, including data, planning, and actions that support defensible decisions and more predictable authorizations.
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, indicating BLM expects substantial involvement and coordination during project execution rather than a hands-off pass-through award. The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per award, with approximately 60 awards anticipated. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.246, categorized under natural resources, and is a discretionary funding opportunity. The posting date is 2026-08-11 and the original closing date is 2026-09-11, so the window to apply is relatively tight and suggests applicants should already have mature project concepts, established partnerships, and a clear plan for deliverables, reporting, and coordination with BLM staff.
Eligibility is broad across public and mission-driven entities that commonly partner with BLM on conservation: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits). Individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible. The notice also draws a firm boundary around youth internship and crew hiring: this NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, and youth conservation corps efforts must instead be pursued under a separate BLM funding opportunity (NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands). This matters for proposal design because applicants should avoid building budgets or workplans around Public Lands Corps-style staffing under this particular announcement.
In terms of what a strong application would generally look like based on the stated goals, competitive projects would typically be those that directly improve the status of special status species or their habitats on or affecting BLM lands, and that also produce management-ready outputs BLM can use in planning and permitting contexts. That can include actions that address key threats, restore or protect habitat features, improve monitoring and surveys, refine distribution or occupancy data, develop decision-support tools, or otherwise strengthen the scientific basis for BLM decisions in a way that reduces uncertainty and conflict. Because the program stresses both conservation outcomes and streamlined authorizations, applicants will likely do best by clearly connecting proposed field actions or research products to measurable species/habitat benefits and to specific BLM decision needs (for example, improving baseline data, clarifying habitat use, or informing mitigation approaches that can be applied consistently).Apply for L26AS00043
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY26 Bureau of Land Management Threatened and Endangered Species - Bureau wide" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.246.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-11. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, 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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FY26 BLM Threatened and Endangered Species (Bureau-wide) - FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY26 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Threatened and Endangered Species - Bureau wide grant opportunity under the BLM Threatened and Endangered Species Program (TampE). The Funding Opportunity Number is L26AS00043.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The central purpose is to conserve and recover endangered species, threatened species, and BLM Sensitive Species (together referred to as BLM Special Status Species), along with the habitats they rely on, across BLM-managed lands. The program frames conservation as a practical tool that helps sustain long-term multiple use of public lands for future generations (including energy and mineral development, timber production, grazing, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat).
Which species does this opportunity focus on?
The focus is on BLM Special Status Species, which includes endangered species, threatened species, and BLM Sensitive Species.
Does the opportunity focus only on conservation, or also on land-use decision making?
It explicitly focuses on both. Projects are expected to improve on-the-ground outcomes for at-risk species and habitats while also producing credible science and decision-support information that helps BLM make defensible decisions and move permitting and authorizations faster with fewer conflicts.
How does the program describe improving permitting efficiency and reducing future regulatory burdens?
The notice describes two main pathways: (1) investing in conservation and recovery actions that help delist species or prevent the need for listing in the first place, which can reduce future regulatory constraints; and (2) strengthening the quality and availability of biological information and data that can be used to support and expedite approvals for permits and authorizations tied to land uses such as minerals, energy, timber, grazing, and recreation.
What types of activities are likely to be a good fit based on the stated goals?
Based on the stated goals, competitive projects would typically include work that directly improves the status of special status species or their habitats on or affecting BLM lands, and also generates management-ready outputs BLM can use in planning and permitting contexts. Examples described in the notice include addressing key threats, restoring or protecting habitat features, improving monitoring and surveys, refining distribution or occupancy data, developing decision-support tools, and strengthening the scientific basis for BLM decisions in ways that reduce uncertainty and conflict.
What does BLM mean by "management-ready outputs" in this context?
In the framing provided, management-ready outputs are products BLM can use to support planning and permitting decisions, such as credible biological information, improved baseline data, clarified habitat use information, decision-support tools, or information that can inform mitigation approaches that can be applied consistently.
How should an applicant connect conservation outcomes to BLM decision needs?
The notice suggests applicants will likely do best by clearly linking proposed field actions or research products to measurable species or habitat benefits and to specific BLM decision needs, such as improving baseline data, clarifying habitat use, or informing mitigation approaches that reduce uncertainty and conflict during authorizations.
Is this opportunity connected to Administration or Department of the Interior priorities?
Yes. The notice ties the program to multiple priorities and policy drivers, including executive orders and secretarial orders related to wildlife conservation and hunting heritage, deregulation and streamlining, "gold standard" science, expanded timber production, habitat quality in western big-game winter ranges and migration corridors, and expanding hunting and fishing access while removing unnecessary barriers.
What laws or statutory authorities are mentioned as part of the backdrop?
The statutory backdrop described includes major conservation authorities such as the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Sikes Act (including amendments addressing conservation on public lands).
What type of award will be used?
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, which indicates BLM expects substantial involvement and coordination during project execution rather than a hands-off, pass-through award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is up to $1,000,000 per award.
How many awards are anticipated?
Approximately 60 awards are anticipated.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the CFDA number and category?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.246 and categorized under natural resources.
When was the opportunity posted and when does it close?
The posting date is 2026-08-11 and the original closing date is 2026-09-11.
How long is the application window?
Based on the dates provided (2026-08-11 to 2026-09-11), the application window is relatively tight, suggesting applicants should have mature project concepts, established partnerships, and clear plans for deliverables, reporting, and coordination with BLM staff.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across public and mission-driven entities, including: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits).
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals are explicitly ineligible.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
No. For-profit organizations are explicitly ineligible.
Can this funding be used to hire youth interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act?
No. The notice states this NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993.
If a project is a youth conservation corps effort, where should it apply instead?
Youth conservation corps efforts must be pursued under a separate BLM funding opportunity identified as NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.
Why does the Public Lands Corps restriction matter for proposal design?
It matters because applicants should avoid building budgets or workplans around Public Lands Corps-style staffing (interns or crews) under this particular announcement, since those activities are explicitly excluded here.
What kinds of land uses are mentioned as areas where improved data could support authorizations?
The notice specifically references permits and authorizations tied to land uses like minerals, energy, timber, grazing, and recreation.
What is the program's overall framing about multiple use?
The program frames conservation as a practical tool to sustain long-term multiple use of public lands, balancing species and habitat needs with ongoing uses such as energy and mineral development, timber production, grazing, and recreation.
Does the notice emphasize partnerships and coordination with BLM?
Yes. The cooperative agreement mechanism and the emphasis on coordination imply partner-driven work with substantial involvement from BLM staff during execution, including coordination on deliverables and reporting.
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