Opportunity Information: Apply for L17AS00007
The BLM-WO National Seed Strategy Assessment grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00007) is a Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management cooperative agreement designed to move forward a key piece of the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration. The Seed Strategy is a federal framework focused on improving how native plant seed is sourced, developed, and purchased for restoring and rehabilitating public lands, with a strong emphasis on using genetically appropriate material (meaning seed that matches the ecology and provenance of the place being restored). This opportunity is centered on Seed Strategy Objective 1.1: completing a national assessment of (1) the native seed needs of federal agencies and (2) the capacity of both private and federal producers to supply that demand. A main driver for the project is that, while the objective exists, the practical details of how the assessment should be carried out and who needs to be involved had not been clearly defined, creating a gap the BLM wants to fill through a partner-led effort.
At its core, the project aims to help BLM and other federal agencies understand where the native seed supply chain is falling short and what can be done about it. The opportunity highlights three specific reasons this assessment matters. First, it is meant to help identify deficiencies in the current market and production system, including limited species availability, inadequate or mismatched provenance, and problems with the quality and quantity of commercially available native seed. Second, it is intended to pinpoint ways federal procurement practices can be improved so agencies buy native seed more effectively and efficiently, which can include everything from forecasting demand earlier to standardizing specifications and improving contracting approaches. Third, it seeks to identify private-sector constraints that limit native seed availability, such as production risk, limited grow-out capacity, weak incentives to produce less common species, gaps in cleaning and storage infrastructure, and the challenge of responding to sudden surges in post-disturbance demand (for example, after large wildfires).
The main objective for the funded work is to partner with a recipient to plan and begin implementing an interagency assessment of federal native seed needs and the capacity of the public and private sectors to meet them. Practically, that means the recipient will work closely with BLM to develop a strategy for carrying out a coordinated, interagency native seed need and capacity assessment and to start the preplanning work required to make that assessment feasible and credible. While the notice does not spell out a fixed methodology, the emphasis is on building an approach that clarifies how the assessment will be conducted, what data will be gathered, how supply and demand will be measured, and which agencies, producers, and other stakeholders should be engaged so the results are useful across the federal landscape restoration community.
Deliverables from the project are intended to be public-facing and decision-relevant. The resulting materials will be made available to the public and will be used by BLM to inform management decisions on BLM-administered lands. Because the assessment is interagency in nature and addresses broader market capacity, the outputs are also expected to benefit other public and private land managers by improving shared understanding of native seed needs, production limitations, and opportunities to strengthen the supply chain. In other words, the work is positioned as a planning and coordination effort that sets the stage for smarter investments and more reliable availability of the right seed for the right place.
The stated public benefit is tied to both improved ecological outcomes and better use of public funds. By improving the effectiveness and efficiency of native seed procurement, the public can benefit from lower costs, better matching of seed genetics to restoration sites, and broader availability of species needed for diverse, resilient plant communities. The BLM also expects broader economic benefits through stimulation of the commercial native seed sector, driven by clearer demand signals and improved government purchasing practices that reduce uncertainty for growers and suppliers. Over time, procuring genetically appropriate native seed is expected to improve restoration success, conserve ecosystem function, and support overall land health, especially in landscapes that require repeated or large-scale rehabilitation efforts. The notice frames this as directly in the public interest because better information allows BLM to target actions where they will have the greatest benefit and to spend restoration dollars more efficiently.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under the natural resources activity category, using a cooperative agreement mechanism (which typically implies substantial involvement and collaboration with the agency during the project rather than a hands-off grant). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a broad range of applicant types subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The opportunity anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $100,000. The posting lists a creation date of December 21, 2016, and an original closing date of January 21, 2017 (noting these dates reflect the original solicitation timeline). The CFDA number associated with the program is 15.231.Apply for L17AS00007
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-WO, National Seed Strategy Assessment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 21, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 21, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): BLM-WO National Seed Strategy Assessment (L17AS00007)
What is the BLM-WO National Seed Strategy Assessment grant opportunity?
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00007) is a Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative agreement intended to advance a key part of the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration by planning and beginning implementation of a national, interagency assessment of native seed needs and supply capacity.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
What is the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration?
The National Seed Strategy is described as a federal framework focused on improving how native plant seed is sourced, developed, and purchased for restoring and rehabilitating public lands, with an emphasis on using genetically appropriate material for the specific ecology and provenance of restoration sites.
What does "genetically appropriate" mean in this context?
In the notice, genetically appropriate material refers to seed that matches the ecology and provenance of the place being restored (often framed as using the right seed for the right place).
What specific Seed Strategy objective does this opportunity support?
This opportunity is centered on Seed Strategy Objective 1.1: completing a national assessment of (1) the native seed needs of federal agencies and (2) the capacity of both private and federal producers to supply that demand.
Why is BLM funding this assessment now?
A key driver described in the notice is that, while Objective 1.1 exists, the practical details for how the national assessment should be carried out and who needs to be involved were not clearly defined. This created a gap BLM wants to address through a partner-led effort.
What problem is this project trying to solve?
The project aims to help BLM and other federal agencies understand where the native seed supply chain falls short and what can be done to improve availability, suitability (including provenance), and reliability of native seed for public-land rehabilitation and restoration.
What are the main goals of the funded work?
The main objective is to partner with a recipient to plan and begin implementing an interagency assessment of federal native seed needs and the capacity of public and private sectors to meet those needs, including the preplanning work needed to make the assessment feasible and credible.
What activities is the recipient expected to perform?
Based on the description, the recipient is expected to work closely with BLM to develop a strategy for a coordinated, interagency native seed need and capacity assessment and start preplanning activities such as clarifying how the assessment will be conducted, what data will be gathered, how supply and demand will be measured, and which agencies, producers, and stakeholders should be engaged.
Does the opportunity require a specific assessment methodology?
The notice does not describe a fixed methodology. Instead, it emphasizes building an approach that defines how the assessment will be carried out, what data will be collected, and who will be involved so results are useful across the federal landscape restoration community.
What kinds of deficiencies is the assessment meant to identify in the current native seed market?
The opportunity highlights identifying deficiencies such as limited species availability, inadequate or mismatched provenance, and issues with the quality and quantity of commercially available native seed.
How does the assessment relate to federal procurement practices?
The assessment is intended to pinpoint ways federal procurement practices can be improved so agencies buy native seed more effectively and efficiently. Examples mentioned include forecasting demand earlier, standardizing specifications, and improving contracting approaches.
What private-sector constraints does the opportunity call out?
The notice cites constraints such as production risk, limited grow-out capacity, weak incentives to produce less common species, gaps in cleaning and storage infrastructure, and difficulty responding to sudden surges in demand after disturbances (for example, large wildfires).
Is this effort limited to BLM lands and BLM needs?
BLM will use the outputs to inform management decisions on BLM-administered lands, but the effort is described as interagency and focused on broader market capacity. Outputs are expected to benefit other public and private land managers by improving shared understanding of native seed needs, limitations, and opportunities.
Will the project deliverables be available to the public?
Yes. The deliverables are intended to be public-facing, and the resulting materials will be made available to the public.
How will BLM use the results?
BLM expects to use the materials to inform management decisions related to rehabilitation and restoration on BLM-administered lands and to help target actions where they will have the greatest benefit and use restoration dollars more efficiently.
What is the stated public benefit of this project?
The notice ties public benefit to improved ecological outcomes and better use of public funds. By improving procurement effectiveness and efficiency, it expects benefits such as lower costs, better genetic matching of seed to restoration sites, broader availability of needed species, and improved restoration success and land health.
Does the opportunity mention economic benefits?
Yes. It notes potential economic benefits through stimulation of the commercial native seed sector, driven by clearer demand signals and improved government purchasing practices that reduce uncertainty for growers and suppliers.
What type of funding mechanism is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which the notice characterizes as typically involving substantial agency involvement and collaboration during the project rather than a hands-off grant.
Is the funding discretionary, and what activity category does it fall under?
It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity under the natural resources activity category.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a broad range of applicant types (subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement).
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $100,000.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 15.231.
What are the dates listed for the solicitation?
The posting lists a creation date of December 21, 2016, and an original closing date of January 21, 2017, noting that these dates reflect the original solicitation timeline.
What is the overall focus of the work product (implementation vs. planning)?
The work is positioned primarily as planning and coordination that sets the stage for a credible interagency assessment. It focuses on developing the strategy and beginning preplanning needed to carry out the broader assessment.
What is meant by assessing "native seed needs" and "capacity"?
As described, the assessment is intended to evaluate (1) the native seed demand of federal agencies and (2) the ability of private and federal producers to supply that demand, including issues of availability, provenance fit, quality/quantity, and constraints across the supply chain.
Why does the notice emphasize sudden post-disturbance demand (like wildfires)?
The opportunity highlights that sudden surges in demand following disturbances can be difficult for suppliers to meet, making it important to understand production limitations and how procurement and planning could better account for these spikes.
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