FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps - Bureau wide

The Bureau of Land Management, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is offering the Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps - Bureau wide funding opportunity under Assistance Listing 15.243. The program is authorized by the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 and is intended to connect youth with natural and cultural resource work on public lands. Through partnerships with qualified youth corps, the program engages individuals ages 16 through 30 and veterans through age 35, including tribal members. Its goals include youth employment, environmental stewardship, skill development, community engagement, economic benefits, and partnerships that support the BLM multiple-use mission. Projects emphasize hands-on work, training, mentoring, public service, and exposure to natural resource management careers. Supported activities may include trail construction, maintenance and restoration; improvements to visitor and recreation facilities; monitoring of riparian vegetation and hydrological functions; soil and stream data collection; timber stand improvement; wildlife habitat restoration and protection; invasive species reduction; tree planting; fence removal or installation; riparian restoration; stewardship planning; educational materials; resource inventories; historic and archival research; archaeological work; historic preservation; habitat surveys; cultural resource preservation; seed collection; wildfire risk reduction; and communication, education, and interpretation involving natural, cultural, or paleontological resources. In-house activities such as cartography, records management, realty, or wildland fire support must clearly benefit natural or cultural resources and include at least 120 hours of field work. Infrastructure projects are subject to applicable Buy America preferences. Approximately $900,000 in total program funding is available, with eight awards expected. Individual awards have a stated floor of $30,000 and ceiling of $220,000 and will be made as cooperative agreements, with substantial BLM involvement anticipated. A 25 percent match is required for all Assistance Listing 15.243 Youth Conservation Corps agreements. Matching funds may not come from Federal sources, and contributions must satisfy applicable Federal cost share requirements. Individual participants or crews must receive a stipend or wage to offset living costs. BLM considers an individual stipend of $800 per week, equivalent to $20 per hour, reasonable; higher stipends require justification in the budget. Projects may vary in length, but none should last longer than three years, while the notice also states that proposals have a maximum end date of September 30, 2031. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and State controlled institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible. For the announced projects, California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Headquarters are accepting applications. Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Eastern States, Idaho, Montana/Dakotas, Nevada, Wyoming, the National Interagency Fire Center, and the National Operations Center were not accepting applications during Round One, although the notice may later be revised to include additional projects. Applicants must review state-specific projects in the Related Documents tab. Applicants must maintain the required SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity Identifier and apply through Grants.gov using an Authorized Organization Representative. Applicants must include the state name in the Grants.gov application title. Required application materials include the SF-424, the SF-424A for non-construction projects, the Project Abstract Summary, and a Project Narrative. The SF-LLL is conditionally required for applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds when applicable lobbying activity is involved, while DOI Research and Development current and pending support and biographical sketch forms are required for research projects. The Project Narrative may address the statement of need, goals and objectives, public benefit and BLM program interest, technical approach, timetable or milestones, environmental compliance information, stakeholder coordination, monitoring and evaluation, key personnel, anticipated future funding needs, and project location. The proposal is limited to 15 pages under the stated formatting requirements, excluding the Budget Detail and specified DOI research attachments. A budget narrative must describe and justify costs, cost share, third-party contributions, pre-award costs, and applicable indirect costs. Applications undergo an initial eligibility review for timeliness, completeness, mandatory requirements, responsiveness to program objectives, and compliance with applicable executive and secretary orders. Eligible applications proceed to merit review in the state where the project is proposed and are rated Exceeds, Meets, or Does not meet. Review criteria address applicant statement of need, recruitment plans and strategies, technical approach and monitoring, public benefit and BLM program interest, applicant qualifications and past performance, the required 25 percent cost share, and leveraging of resources. Statement of Need and Leveraging of Resources receive the highest importance. Budgets are also reviewed for correctness, necessity, reasonableness, allowability, appropriate indirect costs, and cost sharing. A final management review determines alignment with current DOI and BLM priorities, and a pre-award risk review evaluates financial management, project delivery experience, staffing, past performance, reporting compliance, and project complexity. The opportunity opened June 12, 2026 and remains open through October 16, 2026. Round One applications were due August 14, 2026, and Round Two applications are due October 16, 2026. Electronic applications must be submitted through Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the applicable due date, and applicants should review the Related Documents tab for project-specific details and closing dates. Extensions are generally not allowed except in extenuating circumstances. The anticipated project start date is December 31, 2026 and the anticipated project end date listed in the notice is December 30, 2027, with proposals having a maximum end date of September 30, 2031. Questions may be directed to Grants Management Officer Chanda Brown at chanda_brown@ios.doi.gov or (414) 309-5663, and the notice also identifies BLM National Youth Programs Lead Michael Brown at m55brown@blm.gov for questions. The notice does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another established recurring schedule.

Prioritize Statement of Need and Leveraging of Resources because they receive the highest importance in merit review. Clearly document the required 25 percent cost share, including amount, source, and whether contributions are cash or in-kind. Demonstrate a strong local recruitment strategy, qualified supervision, safety protocols, measurable milestones, monitoring and evaluation, public benefit, relevant past performance, and effective resource-sharing partnerships. Ensure budget figures are correct and that costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, necessary, justified, and clearly linked to the project narrative. Include the state name in the Grants.gov application title and verify that the application is complete and passes Grants.gov validation checks.