To provide financial assistance, through grants or cooperative agreements to manage, develop and protect public lands and ehnance the understanding of rangeland and watershed resources, their ecological processes, and capabilities in order to meet rangeland and water quality standards for the improvement

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of rangelands on public lands.

Projects and livestock administration for the management of rangeland on public lands.

Projects and livestock administration for the management of rangeland ecosystems are conducted in a coordinated manner and consider the interrelationships of living organisms of plants and animals, the physical environment of soil, water, air, and landscape characteristics when developing and implementing resource objectives and management actions.

Systematic assessments and evaluations are conducted at the watershed, allotment, and in some instances, the landscape scale to determine in the standards and fundamentals for rangeland ecosystem health are being achieved.

The Bureau of Land Management continues to maintain and expand partnerships to include funding for activities within this program to include resource monitoring, conducting upland health assessments and evaluations, use authorizations, allotment planning and administration, development of vegetation objectives, integrated weed management, and activity plan development in connection with land use planning.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Projects are limited to rangeland projects on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management located mostly in the Western United States and Alaska.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Anyone/General public.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Anyone/General public.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Coordinate cooperative rangeland project proposals with Bureau of Land Management local State or District office for more information and local requirements.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

A Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs, Standard Form 424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, and a written proposal should be submitted through Grants.gov or via a hardcopy to the project office and include: a title, objectives, timeframe, and a budget breakdown as specified in the funding opportunity announcement. No State plan is required with this application.

Award Procedures

Projects are reviewed at the Bureau of Land Management State and District Office level and funding recommendations are made through the State's annual work plan. Final budget approvals rest with the State Director.

Deadlines

The deadline will be published in the Grants.gov announcement for each project.

Authorization

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1737(b), Public Law 94-579, as amended; Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978, 43 U.S.C. 1906, Public Law 95-514 and the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, 43 U.S.C. 315a, as amended.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Award time varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes. Further information will be available for each project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the point of contact listed in the funding opportunity announcement.

Appeals

None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the Bureau of Land Management will provide all applicants with information on why their proposal was not selected for award.

Renewals

Not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statuatory formula matching requirements. However, applicant's matching funds or in-kind services are encouraged and those projects are more likely to be funded.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

No specific restrictions for most projects, however, most projects are awarded for a one to five year period and funded on a year-by-year basis and funds are expended during a particular fiscal year. No commitment will be made to fund projects beyond one year. New and continuing projects will be re-evaluated each year based on performance, merit, and fund availability.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Recipients of funding are required to submit quarterly financial status reports using form Standard Form 269, Financial Status Report, and quarterly, semi-annual, or annual peformance reports 30 days following the end of the reporting period.

Final performance and financial status reports are due 120 days after the end date of grant peformance.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance $500,000 (for fiscal years ending December 1, 2003) or more a year in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 (for fiscal years ending after December 1, 2003) a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

State, local and Indian Tribal governments shall maintain project records in accordance with 43 CFR 12.82. All other recipients shall maintain project records in accordance with 43 CFR 12.953.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1109-0-1-302.

Obigations

FY 07 $322,369; FY 08 est $325,000; and FY 09 est $325,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Past partnership projects have run between $3,000 to $75,000. Average amounts run about $13,000 or less.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Bureau of Land Management's Rangeland and Management program is generally guided by the provisions in 43 CFR Part 4000. A variety of public interest publications on these programs are available free of charge by contacting the appropriate State Office. Manuals and handbooks providing basic program operational guidance for Rangeland Management are found in BLM Manuals 4000 series and may be obtained by contacting the Washington Office.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses of Bureau of Land Management State Offices.

Headquarters Office

Division of Chief, Rangeland Resources, Bureau of Land Management (WO 220), 1849 C St., N.W., 201 LS, Washington, DC 20240. Telephone: (202)785-6569.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

General criteria used to select assistance proposals are based on their direct relationship to federal lands and a balanced review including relevance to program objectives, merit and cost effectiveness.