NLCS Research Support Program
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
November 1, 2012
In Reply Refer To:
6100 (410) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 11/14/2012
Instruction Memorandum No. 2013-012
Expires: 09/30/2014
To: State Directors and Center Directors
From: Assistant Director, National Landscape Conservation System and Community Partnerships
Subject: NLCS Research Support Program DD: 02/01/2013
Program Area: National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS)
Purpose: Request for proposals for the NLCS Research Support Program
Policy/Action: The NLCS Research Support Program aims to increase the effectiveness of resource management by financially supporting scientific research that informs effective decision-making in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Program seeks to engage the external scientific community in conducting management-focused, scientific research in the NLCS.
The BLM managers and staff with responsibility for NLCS units are requested to facilitate and participate in the following process:
- Field Office managers and staff encourage partners to develop management-focused, scientific research proposals.
- Partner organizations develop, write, and submit completed proposals to the relevant Field Office (as a single PDF document, following the Proposal Requirements outline in Attachment 1).
- Field Office managers submit proposals with high-merit to State NLCS Leads.
- State NLCS Leads review and rank the submitted proposals.
- State NLCS Leads upload the top proposals (no more than 8) to the SharePoint site no later than 5:00pm EST on February 1, 2013. Late proposals will not be accepted. Only proposals submitted by State NLCS Leads will be accepted.
- Washington Office NLCS (WO-NLCS) facilitates a WO inter-disciplinary review of proposals and makes funding decisions.
Attachment 1 identifies general program guidelines, funding limits, number of awards, proposal requirements, details about partner-conducted research, and details about the evaluation of proposals.
Time frame: Proposals must be uploaded by State NLCS Leads to the SharePoint site by 5:00pm EST on February 1, 2013. The WO-410 will announce funding decisions by March 19, 2013 and funding will be distributed as soon as possible thereafter.
Budget Impact: None.
Background: The NLCS was legislatively established by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 [Public Law 111-11] in order to conserve, protect, and restore nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations. The NLCS includes BLM’s National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, Forest Reserves, Outstanding Natural Areas, Cooperative Management and Protection Areas, Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Scenic and Historic Trails.
The BLM policy manual describes how “the BLM will use the best available science in managing the NLCS” and how “science and the scientific process will inform and guide management decisions concerning NLCS units” [BLM Manual §6100(1.6)(A)(9) and (1.6)(F)(1)]. Providing a scientific foundation for decision-making is also a goal identified in the NLCS 15-Year Strategy [Goal 1C].
Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.
Coordination: This Instruction Memorandum has been coordinated with WO-200, WO-400, and WO-600.
Contact: Direct questions regarding this IM to Matt Preston (202) 912-7175, MPreston@blm.gov
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Carl Rountree Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director, National Landscape Division of IRM Governance,WO-560 Conservation System and Community
Partnerships
1 Attachment
1 – NLCS Research Support Program – Request for Proposals – Additional Information (2 pp)