The Challenge Cost Share Program works through cooperative partners to help accomplish high priority work to support habitat improvement, comprehensive travel management, recreation and cultural projects.

The types of projects that can be funded include monitoring and inventoring of resources;

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implementing habitat improvement or projection projects; developing threatened and endangered species recovery plans; protecting, stabilizing or documenting cultural resources; travel management, including managing off-highway vehicle use; and providing enhanced recreational experiences, including visitor services, information, and facilities for public health and safety.

Past partnership projects have completed wildlife habitat improvement, protection, and restoration projects with durable lasting results, conducted wildlife studies, and developed threatened and endangered species recovery plans. Cultural resource projects have been conducted to protect and stabilize cultural sites and conduct surveys to find artifacts. Recreation projects have been conducted to build trials, obliterate roads and trials, and enhance visitor recreation experiences on public lands.

Uses and Use Restrictions

All projects are restricted to public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management or that directly benefit public lands.

Most of these lands are located in the Western United States and Alaska.

Assistance can be used to leverage funds with partners and other external funding sources to enhance the Bureau of Land Management's ability/capacity to survey, monitor and inventory resources; to restore and maintain land in a healthy condition; to support threatened and endangered species management; to manage heritage resources; to enhance recreational experiences; provide visitor services or facilities; to conduct public outreach and education projects; and to support emerging partnership opportunities.

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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 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 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 Grants.gov announcements each year.

Authorization

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 1991, Public Law 101-512, Title I.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes.

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 statuatory non-federal maching funds or in-kind service requirements. Funds are required to be matched one nonfederal dollar for each federal dollar. The matching funds must be nonfederal in origin.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

No specific retrictions for more projects, however, most projects are awarded for one to five year period and funded on a year-by-year basis and funds are expended during a particular 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 funding availability.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Recipients of funding are required to submit quarterly financial status reports using Standard Form 269, Financial Status Report, and quarterly, semi-annual, or annual performance 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 performance.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonproft 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 projet 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 $3,789,000; FY 08 est $3,800,000; and FY 09 est $3,900,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Past partnership projects have run between $10,000 to $100,000. Average amounts run about $20,000 or less.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Regulations, manuals and information about the Bureau of Land Management fish, wildlife, botany, recreation and cultural programs can be found at website http://www.blm.gov/.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

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

Headquarters Office

Management Program Analyst, Assistant Director for Renewable Resources and Planning, Bureau of Land Management (WO 200), 1849 C St., N.W., 201 LS, Washington, DC 20240. Telephone: (202) 785-6594.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

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