U.S. Wildland Fire Service BLM-National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Primary Announcement

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program Primary Announcement is administered by the Bureau of Land Management within the U.S. Department of the Interior through the National Interagency Fire Center. This federal funding opportunity supports applied research to improve the understanding and management of wildland fire systems across the United States. The program is designed to connect scientific research with operational fire and land management needs, ensuring that findings are directly applicable to real world decision making. It operates as a cooperative agreement, emphasizing collaboration between researchers and practitioners. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to solicit research proposals addressing two specific topic areas related to wildfire behavior and impacts. The first topic focuses on the drivers of changing wildfire regimes and their consequences for wildfire risk factors. This includes improving predictive models, identifying tipping points in ecosystems, and developing monitoring protocols in collaboration with fire and land managers. The second topic area centers on smoke impacts from prescribed fire and wildfire, with the goal of improving understanding of emissions, informing air quality management, and developing standardized methodologies for tracking emissions and their public health impacts. Funding is intended to support research activities that produce actionable tools, datasets, and insights for fire management agencies. Allowable activities include empirical studies, simulation modeling, collaborative scenario planning, and development of monitoring and emissions tracking methods. Projects must address all required research needs within the selected topic area to be considered responsive. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which lowers the financial barrier for applicants and supports broader participation from eligible entities. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes state, local, and tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status, public housing authorities, independent school districts, and special district governments. This wide eligibility scope reflects the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of wildfire science and management, encouraging partnerships across sectors and geographies. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Joint Fire Science Program website rather than through Grants.gov. The submission process requires adherence to specific requirements outlined in the JFSP database, including addressing all research needs in the selected topic area. Proposals that fail to meet these requirements or are submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The deadline for submission is September 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM Mountain Time, and no exceptions are permitted. The total estimated program funding is 4000000 dollars, with approximately 10 awards anticipated. Individual awards range from 300000 to 500000 dollars. While the performance period is not explicitly stated, cooperative agreements of this type typically support multi year research projects aligned with the scope of work. Award decisions are expected to follow internal review processes based on responsiveness, scientific merit, and applicability to fire management needs. The program does not explicitly state a recurring cycle, but similar research solicitations are often issued periodically. Applicants are encouraged to consult the JFSP database for detailed requirements and updates. For assistance, applicants may contact Patricia Glass if they encounter difficulties accessing the announcement. Overall, this opportunity represents a significant federal investment in advancing wildfire science and improving resilience to changing fire regimes and their impacts on ecosystems and communities.

Ensure all required research needs are addressed fully and demonstrate collaboration with fire and land managers while aligning outputs with practical fire management applications