BLM-CO Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Project - Gunnison Field Office | L20AS00101

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00101

The BLM-CO Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Project - Gunnison Field Office (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00101) is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado funding opportunity intended to support reclamation work at abandoned mine lands (AML) located on lands managed by the Gunnison Field Office. The overall focus is environmental and natural resource protection, with work occurring across multiple watersheds within the Gunnison Field Office jurisdiction. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning BLM expects to have substantial involvement in the project alongside the recipient rather than issuing a simple pass-through grant.

A key feature of this notice is that BLM is signaling its intent to make the award without full and open competition, using a single-source approach. The justification is tied to Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2), which requires a written explanation whenever competition is considered impracticable. In this case, BLM cites the exception based on legislative intent. Specifically, the notice references the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) and the structure Congress established for AML reclamation. Under SMCRA, once a state has a federally approved AML program, that state has exclusive responsibility and authority to carry out the approved program within its borders (cited in the notice as 30 U.S.C. 1235(d)). Congress also directed the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) to provide grants to these approved states, which then implement AML projects within their jurisdiction. In practical terms, the federal framework treats approved state programs as the primary entities for abandoned mine land reclamation work.

Because of that statutory structure, BLM identifies the State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety as the only entity that is both uniquely qualified and legislatively authorized to perform the work described. That is the core rationale for not opening the opportunity to broader competition: the program is designed by law to be executed through the state AML authority once the state program is federally approved.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, with an award ceiling of $650,000 and an expectation of one award. Eligibility is limited to state governments, consistent with the single-source justification and the SMCRA framework described. The CFDA listing associated with the opportunity is 15.236, and the issuing agency is the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. The opportunity was created on June 3, 2020, with an original closing date of July 6, 2020.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-CO Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Project - Gunnison Field Office" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.236.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 03, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 06, 2020. (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 $650,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for L20AS00101

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