BLM NV Groundwater Modeling in Nevada | L17AS00066

Opportunity Information: Apply for L17AS00066

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, offered a discretionary funding opportunity titled "BLM NV Groundwater Modeling in Nevada" (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00066) to support groundwater planning and decision-making in Nevada. The project is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the BLM expects active involvement during the work rather than simply providing funds and receiving a final report. The overall purpose is to partner with an eligible recipient to develop new groundwater tools and/or update existing tools, especially groundwater models, for Nevada areas that are considered critical for management. The work is framed around improving the ability to understand, evaluate, and manage groundwater conditions where resource concerns are significant.

The core scope centers on building or refining groundwater modeling tools for priority management areas. A key part of the effort is to identify "areas of concern" where groundwater issues may be affecting, or could affect, natural resources and land management decisions. Alongside that, the recipient is expected to inventory and evaluate what already exists, including prior models, datasets, and other technical resources, and then determine how those assets can be used to improve current tools or develop new ones where gaps exist. In practical terms, this implies a strong emphasis on leveraging existing science and data, integrating disparate information sources, and producing modeling products that are useful for management rather than purely academic exercises.

The opportunity was categorized under Natural Resources (CFDA 15.231) and anticipated a single award, with an award ceiling of $100,000. The notice was created on April 20, 2017, and had an original closing date of June 20, 2017. While the funding level suggests a focused project rather than a multi-year, statewide modeling overhaul, the cooperative agreement structure and the emphasis on critical management areas indicate the intended deliverables are likely targeted, decision-relevant tools and updates that can directly support BLM land and water management in Nevada.

Eligibility was broad and included state, county, and local governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); and individuals. This range suggests BLM was open to proposals from government agencies, tribal entities, universities, consulting-style research teams operating through eligible entities, and other qualified applicants with groundwater modeling experience and access to relevant regional data.

In summary, this grant opportunity aimed to strengthen groundwater management capacity in Nevada by partnering to create or improve groundwater modeling tools for critical areas, systematically identify groundwater-related concerns, and make effective use of existing models and datasets to produce updated or new tools as needed, all within a relatively modest single-award funding framework led by BLM under a cooperative agreement.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM NV Groundwater Modeling in Nevada" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 20, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2017. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals.

Apply for L17AS00066

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