FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities | L25AS00080

FAQs: FY25 IIJA/IRA BLM Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities (L25AS00080)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) titled "FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities." The Funding Opportunity Number is L25AS00080, and awards will be made through cooperative agreements.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The program focuses on reducing wildfire risk in Oregon and Washington, especially in areas where wildlands meet communities (often called the wildland-urban interface, or WUI). It is intended to help partners work alongside BLM to reduce the likelihood and severity of catastrophic wildfire by coordinating local efforts, reducing hazardous fuels, and improving public understanding of wildfire prevention and mitigation.

Which states and geographies are emphasized?

The opportunity specifically targets BLM Oregon/Washington (ORWA) and emphasizes wildfire risk reduction work in Oregon and Washington, with particular attention to WUI settings where coordinated action can reduce risk to people, property, and surrounding ecosystems.

What kinds of projects does the NOFO support?

The NOFO supports both on-the-ground fuels management and the planning, education, and community capacity work needed to sustain fuels reduction and preparedness over time. Supported project types include hazardous fuels reduction (in WUI areas on federal and non-federal lands), education and outreach to reduce ignition risk and improve defensible space and preparedness, and community-level planning such as Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) and community wildfire assessments.

Are fuels reduction projects allowed on non-federal lands?

Yes. Eligible activities include hazardous fuels reduction projects in WUI areas on both federal and non-federal lands, as described in the opportunity summary.

Does the opportunity fund education and outreach?

Yes. The opportunity includes education and outreach activities that help landowners and residents take practical steps to reduce ignition risk and strengthen defensible space and preparedness.

Does the NOFO support Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs)?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes community-level planning, including developing or updating CWPPs, conducting community wildfire assessments, and other planning efforts that identify risks, set priorities, and align partners around shared implementation strategies.

Is long-term monitoring and maintenance part of the program?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to include monitoring and maintenance approaches so fuels treatments and community programs remain effective over the long term rather than being one-time efforts. One of the strategic goals is creating short- and long-term monitoring and maintenance plans for fuels reduction and community fire programming.

What strategic goals should applicants align with?

BLM ORWA describes strategic goals that proposals should align with, including: accomplishing fuels management across ownership boundaries; developing and delivering fire education, training, and community action plans or programs; completing CWPPs and related assessment and planning work; expanding community capability in ways that can increase local employment opportunities; and creating monitoring and maintenance plans for fuels reduction and community fire programming.

What outcomes or deliverables might be important in a competitive proposal?

Based on the NOFO description, competitive proposals are likely to show strong collaboration, clear deliverables, and a pathway from planning to implementation to ongoing upkeep. Examples of measurable outcomes mentioned include acres treated, communities engaged, plans completed, and training delivered.

How is this opportunity connected to IIJA and IRA?

This opportunity supports major federal investments in wildfire resilience. It supports the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Public Law 117-58, Section 40803 (Wildfire Risk Reduction). It also supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including Sections 50221 (Resilience), 50222 (Ecosystems Restoration), and 50303 (Department of the Interior). Applicants should be prepared to describe how their work advances these policy goals (for example, protecting communities, improving ecosystem condition, and building climate resilience).

Is climate adaptation part of the program framing?

Yes. The opportunity frames wildfire risk reduction as part of broader climate adaptation by creating more resilient landscapes and fire-adapted communities, supporting conservation and restoration goals, and generating local jobs tied to fuels work, planning, outreach, and maintenance.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to public and nonprofit or academic entities. Eligible applicant types listed include: state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher-education institutions).

Are private individuals eligible?

No. Individuals are specifically ineligible under this notice.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

No. For-profit organizations are specifically ineligible under this notice.

What type of award will be used?

BLM indicates the funding will be awarded through cooperative agreements.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $900,000.

What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date is March 5, 2025.

What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number?

The CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with this program is 15.228.

What is the activity category?

The activity category is Natural Resources.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The agency is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Does this NOFO support hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act?

No. The NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. Applicants are directed instead to a separate funding opportunity for eligible Youth Conservation Corps-style projects: NOFO 15.243, "BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands."

What should applicants know about CESU indirect cost limits?

If an award is made to a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement consistent with CESU purposes, indirect costs are capped at no more than 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base recognized in the partner's federally approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

If we are a CESU-affiliated applicant, what should we include in the proposal?

CESU-affiliated applicants should clearly state whether their proposal furthers CESU purposes and, if so, identify which CESU Network should be considered as host, consistent with the NOFO guidance.

What kinds of partnerships or coordination does BLM seem to be looking for?

The program is designed for partners to work alongside BLM and emphasizes coordination of local efforts and fuels management across ownership boundaries. Proposals that align partners around shared implementation strategies (for example through CWPPs, assessments, and coordinated action plans) are consistent with the stated goals.

Is this opportunity a good fit for governments, tribes, nonprofits, and universities?

Yes. Based on the eligibility list and program goals, the opportunity is best suited for governments, tribes, nonprofits, and universities that can partner effectively with BLM to plan and deliver fuels reduction and community wildfire preparedness work, particularly in WUI settings.