BLM National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Regional Fire Science Exchange Announcement (One Task Statement) | L20AS00104

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00104

The BLM National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Regional Fire Science Exchange Announcement (One Task Statement) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is designed to support work connected to the Joint Fire Science Program, a long-standing interagency partnership focused on improving how the nation understands and manages wildland fire, hazardous fuels, and the ecological and social impacts of fire on landscapes. The funding instrument for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which typically means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the period of performance (for example, coordination, technical engagement, or shared planning), rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.

The underlying purpose of the Joint Fire Science Program is to bring science and management together to address practical, on-the-ground problems associated with wildland fuels, wildfire, prescribed fire, and post-fire conditions across different ecosystems. JFSP is explicitly interagency: it is a partnership among seven federal wildland fire management and research organizations that share common challenges and information needs. Those partners include the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and multiple Department of the Interior entities, specifically the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey, with additional DOI representation through the Office of Wildland Fire. The program is funded jointly by DOI and the Forest Service, reflecting its cross-agency mission and the broad applicability of its science to federal fire and fuels management.

This particular announcement is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and is associated with CFDA (now Assistance Listing) number 15.232. The opportunity is labeled as a "Regional Fire Science Exchange" announcement and references "One Task Statement," which signals that the funding is tied to a specific, defined scope of work rather than an open-ended research topic area. In practice, regional fire science exchanges generally focus on moving credible, relevant fire science into the hands of practitioners and decision-makers through activities like knowledge sharing, communication products, workshops, webinars, synthesis of research findings, and building networks between researchers and managers. The core idea is to strengthen the pipeline between what scientists are learning and what land and fire managers need to plan, implement, and evaluate fuels treatments and fire management strategies.

Eligibility for this announcement is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, as long as it meets any additional constraints described in the full funding notice. That openness can include universities, nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, state and local governments, private organizations, and other qualified applicants, depending on the detailed eligibility language in the full announcement. The opportunity was created on July 15, 2020, with an original closing date of September 30, 2020, indicating it was a time-bound solicitation for proposals within that window.

Financially, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $304,000 and anticipates making two awards. This suggests either two separate cooperative agreements up to that maximum amount, or a structure in which available funds are divided across two recipients, depending on proposal quality, budgets, and the program's needs. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement and the topic is tied to a task statement, applicants typically need to show not only technical capability and experience in fire science communication or applied research, but also a clear plan for coordination with JFSP and relevant interagency partners to ensure the funded work aligns with regional priorities and delivers usable outcomes.

Applicants looking for broader program context or guidance are directed to the JFSP website at www.firescience.gov, which serves as the central hub for JFSP background, funded projects, and information on how the program supports the generation and delivery of fire science for management and policy.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Regional Fire Science Exchange Announcement (One Task Statement)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.232.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 15, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 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 $304,000.00 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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