Cultural and Paleontological Resources Management

The Bureau of Land Management provides financial assistance to help protect, preserve, study, and share cultural and paleontological resources on BLM-managed public lands. These resources include archaeological and historic sites, fossils, museum collections, and places important to Tribes and other communities. The program supports partnerships that: � protect cultural and paleontological resources for future generations; � improve public and professional understanding of the nation�s cultural and natural history; � document, study, stabilize, and interpret important sites and resources; � provide educational, recreational, and economic opportunities for local communities; � support Tribal access to places and natural resources important to traditional cultural practices; and � care for museum collections and records and make them available for appropriate research, education, and public use. Through these partnerships, BLM seeks to strengthen public stewardship, support meaningful Tribal involvement, and ensure that these fragile and nonrenewable resources are managed responsibly.

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), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, and Private institutions of higher education.

First Level Screening -Basic Eligibility. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Must meet the requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on www.grants.gov, screening may include, but is not limited to: Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; Submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents. B. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Funding Opportunity noticed post on www.grants.gov Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals. BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant�s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements.

Fiscal year 2025: Funded projects supported partnerships to identify, document, study, protect, stabilize, and interpret cultural and paleontological resources on BLM-managed public lands. Examples include archaeological field schools, cultural resource surveys and research, stabilization of archaeological and historic sites, care of museum collections, public education and interpretation, and projects that improve Tribal involvement and access to culturally important places and resources. Fiscal year 2026: The program has not yet selected all projects for funding. BLM expects to fund projects that protect and study cultural and paleontological resources, care for collections and records, provide educational and public-use opportunities, support partnerships with Tribes and local communities, and improve public understanding and stewardship of heritage resources on BLM-managed lands.