Cooperative agreements with universities to conduct management-focused archaeological field schools and scholarly research on public lands located in the Western United States and Alaska and cooperative agreements to produce education materials enhancing public awareness and appreciation of cultural resources.
The Department of the Interior protects and provides access to the Nation's natural and cultural heritage, including responsibilities to Indian tribes and island communities. Departmental goals include resource protection and usage, overseeing recreational opportunities, serving communities and excellence in management.
BLM's cultural resources program continues its efforts to promote Heritage Education through partnerships and its Adventures in the Past initiative. BLM worked with over 20 university archaeology field schools to train students in archaeological methods, worked to identify almost 7,000 new cultural properties, and developed interpretive signing for over 300 properties. BLM uses challenge cost-share and Cooperative Conservation Initiative grants whenever possible on projects located on lands managed be the Federal Government, to enhance cultural and heritage resource management on Public Lands. Projects are restricted to lands administered by BLM in the Western United States and Alaska.
Uses and Use Restrictions
All projects are restricted to lands administered by BLM.
Most of these lands are located in the Western United States and Alaska.
Assistance can be used for cooperation in managing cultural resources, e.g., stabilization of structures and public contact/education or for improving information about cultural resources, consistent with needs identified in BLM planning documents.
No regular discretionary fund is available but is highly variable each fiscal year.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Anyone/general public.
Beneficiary Eligibility
All Public Land users.
Credentials/Documentation
For grants awarded, cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and Local Governments; OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions; OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations; and Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 31.2 for private foundations, firms, individuals, and other nonprofits excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-122.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Offers of Assistance are coordinated by Bureau State and Field Offices. No specific application forms apply, except for grants awarded, the standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," and 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Nonprofit Organizations," must be used by this program.
Award Procedures
Projects are reviewed at BLM State Office level and funding recommendations are made through each State's annual work plan. Final budget approvals rest with the Washington Office.
Deadlines
None.
Authorization
Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Public Law 94-579; Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Public Law 96-95; National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, as amended.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Projects are approved through the Bureau budget cycle that normally requires at least one year to receive funding.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no matching requirements except for Challenge Cost-Share and Cooperative Conservation Initiative projects.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
No specific restrictions, however, most projects are funded on a year to year basis and funds are expended during a particular fiscal year.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Performance monitoring schedules and/or progress reports will be developed in consultation with the applicant, but will probably take place at least once during the life of a project.
Audits
Projects will be audited at least once during life cycle. Grants awarded to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirements of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations". In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Records relating to work performed and costs are kept by the Bureau. There is no fixed records schedule. Records for grants awarded to State and Local Governments will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments." Records for grants awarded to institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations will be maintained as required by in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administration Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations".
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-1109-0-1-302.
Obigations
FY 07 est not available; FY 08 est $3,350,000; and FY 09 est $9,750,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not Applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
BLM's cultural resource management program is basically guided by the provisions in 43 CFR Part 3, 43 CFR Part 7, 36 CFR Part 60 and 36 CFR Part 800. A variety of public interest publications on these programs are available free of charge by contacting the appropriate State Office. Manuals providing basic program operational guidance for cultural resources (8100) may be obtained by contacting the Washington Office.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses.
Headquarters Office
Group Administrator, Cultural and Recreation Group, Bureau of Land Management (WO 340), 1849 C St., NW., Washington, DC 20240. Telephone: (202) 452-0330.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria used to select assistance proposals are based on a balanced review including relevance to program objectives, merit and cost effectiveness.
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