FY26 Bureau of Land Management Recreation and Visitor Services - Bureau wide

The Bureau of Land Management Recreation and Visitor Services program is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Bureau of Land Management within the U.S. Department of the Interior. This program is designed to enhance recreational experiences on public lands across the United States while supporting local economies and community engagement. The initiative aligns with major federal legislation including the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act, the Great American Outdoors Act, and the John D. Dingell Jr Conservation Management and Recreation Act. These laws collectively emphasize improved access, infrastructure investment, and expanded recreational opportunities on federally managed lands. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that directly improve recreation and visitor services on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Eligible projects must demonstrate clear public benefit and contribute to enhancing visitor experiences. Activities may include trail construction and maintenance, accessibility improvements, visitor education programs, infrastructure development, transportation access initiatives, and data collection for recreation planning. The program also prioritizes removing barriers to access, improving safety, and strengthening partnerships with local communities and tribal nations. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, meaning that the Bureau of Land Management maintains substantial involvement throughout the project lifecycle. This involvement may include collaboration on planning and implementation, approval of project phases, monitoring progress, and providing technical support. The total program funding is approximately 6600000 dollars, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of 50000 dollars to a maximum of 2000000 dollars. There is no cost sharing requirement, although voluntary contributions may strengthen an application during review. Eligibility is broad and includes state governments, local governments, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. However, individuals and for profit organizations are not eligible to apply. Additionally, certain Bureau offices and entities such as Arizona, Idaho, and national operations centers are excluded from submitting applications under this opportunity. Applicants must ensure their projects are located on or directly benefit Bureau managed public lands and must comply with all applicable federal regulations and executive orders. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applicants are required to complete standard federal forms such as the SF 424 and SF 424A, along with a detailed project narrative, budget narrative, and supporting documentation. The project narrative must include objectives, technical approach, timeline, stakeholder engagement, evaluation plan, and anticipated outcomes. Additional documentation may include letters of support, maps, and personnel qualifications. Applicants must also maintain active registration in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier prior to submission. The evaluation process includes an eligibility review followed by a merit based assessment. Proposals are rated based on technical approach, public benefit, applicant qualifications, and resource leveraging. Applications are categorized as exceeds, meets, or does not meet expectations. The Bureau also conducts budget and risk reviews before final award decisions. Selected projects are expected to align with departmental priorities and demonstrate measurable outcomes and strong community impact. The application window opens on July 27 2026 and closes on August 28 2026 at 5 pm Eastern Time. Awards are anticipated to begin on December 31 2026, with project periods extending up to five years and ending no later than September 30 2031. Applicants may contact program officials Emilia Ellison or Matt Blocker for additional information. This opportunity is expected to recur annually, supporting ongoing investment in recreation infrastructure and services across Bureau managed lands.

Focus on strong technical approach and demonstrate partnerships and resource leveraging to strengthen application