BLM-AK Integrated Pest Management â¿¿ Anchorage CWMA | L17AS00106

FAQs: BLM-AK Integrated Pest Management - Anchorage CWMA (L17AS00106)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "BLM-AK Integrated Pest Management - Anchorage CWMA."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is L17AS00106.

Which federal agency is offering this grant?

This is a discretionary federal grant offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?

It is structured as a cooperative agreement. This typically means BLM expects substantial involvement in the project beyond providing funds, such as coordination, technical input, shared planning, or participation in implementation.

What is the main purpose of the opportunity?

The core purpose is to support coordinated invasive plant (noxious weed) control in and around Anchorage, Alaska, using an integrated pest management approach through the Anchorage Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA).

What is the Anchorage Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA)?

The Anchorage CWMA is described as a partnership that brings together federal, state, and local land managers along with private citizens to reduce the spread and impact of invasive weeds.

Why does the opportunity emphasize a coordinated, landscape-level approach?

The CWMA model is based on the idea that invasive plant problems cannot be solved piecemeal, because weeds spread across property lines and administrative boundaries. The opportunity emphasizes aligning priorities and treatments across a single geographic area so efforts are coordinated rather than isolated.

What types of invasive species are targeted?

The focus is on invasive plants (noxious weeds). The notice indicates multiple non-native invasive plant species have been documented in the target area.

Where is the project expected to take place?

The geographic and operational focus highlighted is the BLM Campbell Tract Facility (CTF), located within Anchorage city limits, and the surrounding area where coordinated management is needed.

Why is the Campbell Tract Facility (CTF) specifically mentioned?

The CTF is highlighted because it sits within Anchorage and directly neighbors the Municipality of Anchorage's Bicentennial Park, where invasive plant species have also been documented. Adjacent lands can reinfest one another if treatments are not coordinated.

How does Bicentennial Park relate to this opportunity?

Bicentennial Park is directly adjacent to the BLM Campbell Tract Facility. The notice points out invasive plants have been documented at both sites and across the municipality, reinforcing the need for coordinated work across boundaries.

What factors make reinfestation likely if work is not coordinated?

The notice cites shared human and ecological pathways such as trails, roads, waterways, equipment movement, and disturbed ground. These pathways can spread invasive plants across neighboring properties and jurisdictions.

What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

The funding activity category is Natural Resources.

What CFDA listing is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA listing is 15.230, indicating it falls within BLM assistance programs.

When was the opportunity created, and what was the closing date?

The opportunity was created on May 12, 2017, and the original closing date was July 12, 2017.

How many awards does BLM expect to make?

The expected number of awards is one.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $85,000.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility details that may have been provided in the full notice.

What kinds of applicants commonly pursue opportunities like this?

Based on the description, this type of opportunity commonly attracts organizations capable of coordinating field operations and stakeholder engagement, such as local governments, tribal organizations, nonprofits, conservation districts, universities, or other similar groups.

What does "unrestricted eligibility" mean in practical terms?

It indicates the program is not limited to a narrow applicant category in the summary provided, although the full notice may include additional conditions. The summary suggests a broad range of entities may be able to apply.

What does BLM mean by "integrated pest management" in this context?

In this notice, integrated pest management is tied to coordinated invasive plant control across a landscape and among multiple partners. The emphasis is on unified planning and aligned treatments to reduce spread and reinfestation across boundaries.

What is the intended outcome of the funded work?

The opportunity is designed to strengthen cross-jurisdictional invasive plant prevention and control in Anchorage by supporting a unified, cooperative response rather than isolated, site-by-site weed treatments.

What kinds of involvement should an applicant expect from BLM under a cooperative agreement?

The notice suggests BLM may provide substantial involvement such as coordination, technical input, shared planning, or participation in implementation, rather than acting only as a funder.

Is this opportunity focused only on a single site?

While the Campbell Tract Facility is a highlighted focal area, the overall approach described is landscape-level and tied to coordinated work across Anchorage and neighboring lands where invasive plants are documented and can spread across boundaries.

What is the overall rationale behind funding the Anchorage CWMA partnership?

The rationale is that invasive weeds move across jurisdictional lines, so coordinated planning and treatment across multiple landowners and managers is more effective than disconnected efforts.