BLM-National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) (One Task Statement) | FA NOFO0023 001

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The BLM-National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) opportunity is a discretionary federal funding announcement administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. It is offered under the Joint Fire Science Program, a long-running interagency partnership focused on producing practical, actionable science to help land and fire managers deal with wildland fuels, wildfire behavior, and the ecological and management consequences of fire. The program is built around shared needs across multiple federal agencies that manage fire-prone landscapes, and it is funded jointly by the Department of the Interior and the USDA Forest Service.

JFSP itself is described as a partnership of seven federal wildland fire management and research organizations. Those partners include the USDA Forest Service and several DOI bureaus: the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. The DOI Office of Wildland Fire is also represented. In practice, that structure signals that the research supported through this announcement is intended to be broadly relevant across jurisdictions and missions, not tailored to only one bureau, and that the work should contribute to real-world decisions about fuels treatments, fire operations, post-fire recovery, and stewardship of fire-affected ecosystems.

This particular announcement is for GRIN (Graduate Research Innovation) and is presented as a "one task statement" funding opportunity. While the provided text does not lay out the full task statement content, it makes clear that proposals must follow the requirements spelled out in the full funding opportunity announcement (especially the section referenced as Section V). Applications that fail to meet those requirements will not move forward for funding consideration, so compliance and completeness are treated as essential rather than optional.

Awards are to be made through a cooperative agreement, which typically implies that the federal program may have an active role during the project period (for example, through coordination, technical input, or involvement in deliverables), as opposed to a simpler grant where involvement may be lighter. The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources and is associated with CFDA number 15.232. The maximum funding amount listed (award ceiling) is $25,000, and the program anticipated making about 20 awards, which suggests a relatively small-award, cohort-style competition designed to support multiple projects rather than a small number of large research efforts.

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional clarifications that may be included in the official eligibility section of the announcement. The opportunity was created on October 21, 2022, and the closing deadline was December 20, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. A key procedural detail is that submissions must be made through the electronic submission process on the JFSP website (firescience.gov), and proposals cannot be submitted through Grants.gov. The deadline is strict, with no exceptions allowed, so timing and correct submission platform are central requirements.

For applicants needing assistance, the announcement provides two points of contact. Administrative questions are directed to Becky Jenison, Program Analyst (208-387-5958; bjenison@blm.gov). Questions about the task statement itself are directed to Ed Brunson, Program Manager (208-387-5975; ebrunson@blm.gov). For broader context and any additional guidance about the Joint Fire Science Program and its priorities, the announcement encourages prospective applicants to consult the JFSP website at https://www.firescience.gov.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) (One Task Statement)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.232.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 21, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 20, 2022. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 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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