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

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP), administered through the Bureau of Land Management within the U.S. Department of the Interior, is a federal initiative designed to support applied fire science research and its practical dissemination. The program emphasizes collaboration between scientists, land managers, and stakeholders to ensure that fire science knowledge is translated into actionable practices. This specific funding opportunity focuses on the establishment and leadership of regional fire science exchanges, which serve as critical hubs for connecting research findings with on-the-ground wildfire management and policy decisions. The purpose of this opportunity is to solicit proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations to lead and execute regional fire science exchanges across designated geographic regions. These exchanges are intended to improve communication, coordination, and dissemination of fire science information among practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers. The program identifies nine specific regions, including Alaska, Appalachians, Great Basin, North Atlantic, Northern Rockies, Northwest, Oak Woodlands, Pacific Islands, and Southwest, and requires that each proposal be tailored to a single region. The selected organizations will be responsible for facilitating knowledge transfer, organizing events, and maintaining networks that support fire science application. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, indicating substantial involvement from the federal agency during the project period. Awards are intended to support a two-year period of performance, during which recipients are expected to carry out all exchange-related activities. Allowable uses of funds include coordination of regional networks, communication platforms, workshops, and dissemination efforts. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, which reduces financial barriers for eligible applicants. However, applicants must adhere strictly to the task statements and requirements outlined in the Joint Fire Science Program database. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to nonprofit organizations that hold a 501(c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service, excluding institutions of higher education. Applicants must demonstrate the organizational capacity to manage regional exchanges and effectively engage diverse stakeholders within their designated region. Each proposal must be region-specific, and organizations may submit separate proposals for different regions if they meet the requirements. The program does not indicate eligibility for other entity types, reinforcing its focus on nonprofit leadership in fire science communication. The submission process requires applicants to use the electronic system provided by the Joint Fire Science Program website. Importantly, proposals cannot be submitted through Grants.gov, and no exceptions will be made to this requirement. Applicants must consult the JFSP database to review detailed task statements and submission instructions. Required application components are expected to include a full proposal aligned with program objectives, though specific forms and evaluation criteria are housed within the external database. Adherence to submission instructions is critical, as late or incorrectly submitted proposals will not be considered. The application deadline is September 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time. This represents a firm closing date with no extensions permitted. The opportunity was posted on July 7, 2026, providing a limited window for application preparation. While the program does not explicitly state a recurring cycle, the Joint Fire Science Program historically issues periodic solicitations. Award notifications and start dates are not specified in the provided material but are expected to follow standard federal grant timelines after review and selection. For additional information or technical assistance in accessing the announcement, applicants may contact Patricia Glass, the listed grantor representative. While no email or phone number is provided in the source material, the JFSP website serves as the primary resource for guidance and submission. Overall, this funding opportunity represents a targeted investment in strengthening regional fire science communication infrastructure, with the goal of improving wildfire management outcomes across diverse ecological and geographic contexts.