Good Neighbor Authority Program

Good Neighbor Authority Program is sponsored by Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Facilitates partnerships with states, counties, and federally recognized Indian tribes to plan and implement forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration projects.

Note: This Assistance Listing was not updated by the issuing agency in 2026. Please contact the issuing agency listed under "Contact Information" for more information.

INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE The Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) is intended to expand limited federal capacity to implement and plan forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration projects by facilitating partnerships with authorized states, counties, and federally recognized Indian tribes.

The GNA authority specifically allows BLM to enhance state-federal relationships and addressing cross-boundary land restoration needs to include treating insect-and disease-infested trees; reducing hazardous fuels; any other activities to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, including fish and wildlife habitat.

This type of work has reduced wildfire risk to habitat, communities, and state trust lands; creates greater forest and watershed resilience against drought, insects, disease, and wildfire and expands much-needed work across state and federal lands. **Fiscal Year 2025:** These are projected types of projects to be funded: 1.

Noxious weeds and invasive species treatments – Treatment of noxious weeds and invasive species is often carried out across multiple ownerships in a coordinated effort. GNA can be an effective tool to partner with a cooperating entity that is carrying out weed treatments, whether using herbicide, mechanical, or biological controls, in a coordinated cross boundary effort.

• Fuels Management – Mechanical treatments (e.g. thinning, piling, mastication, mowing) chemical and biological applications, and prescribed fire to protect communities at risk, improve wildfire resiliency, and provide a safe and effective wildfire response. • Community Assistance – Projects across ownership boundaries with mutual benefit and the ability to leverage funds to complete work on the ground.

Some treatments could include thinning around a community at risk, juniper removal to improve landscape resiliency. 2. Forest Management – Conduct treatments to enhance resilience of forests to wildfire, insect, disease, and drought through density management.

3. Rangeland plant restoration – Whether impacts are from wildfire, drought, or noxious weeds and invasive species, it is often necessary to aid the re-establishment of rangeland vegetation. This could entail development of plant materials, seed collection, site preparation, and seed or seedling planting.

Native plant restoration is also often a cross boundary need and where a cooperating entity is conducting these activities, GNA can be used to conduct these activities on BLM managed lands. 4.

Wildlife movement, migration, and habitat connectivity – GNA can be used to facilitate cross-boundary cooperative habitat restoration and rangeland structural improvements to improve habitat connectivity and support unimpeded movement of wildlife populations across landscapes.

Examples of cooperative habitat connectivity projects may include: cross-boundary work associated with fence removals or upgrades to reduce animal fatalities and movement barriers; invasive species control and reseeding or planting of native vegetation along migration corridors and stopover areas; and enhancement of water resource availability within important wildlife movement areas (i.e., development and protection of natural springs, removal of invasive riparian species to increase water availability, construction of guzzlers and other artificial water sources, wet meadow restoration, etc.).

4. NEPA – GNA stipulates that the BLM decision cannot be delegated to a cooperating entity. However, a cooperating entity can provide assistance in conducting NEPA for a restoration project when it is a part of the overall project to implement Authorized Restoration Services.

5. Riparian restoration – Restoration work following flood events, large washouts, or changes to riparian area form and function that support wildlife and livestock is often more effective when implemented throughout a stream reach in coordination with a cooperating entity and other federal agencies.

GNA can be used to install head cut and erosion control structures, check dam repair and removal, leaking ditches, re-contouring, or revegetation to support stream banks.

NATURAL RESOURCES - QP Land and Forest Conservation Good Neighbor Authority 16 US Code §2113a The term "good neighbor agreement" means a cooperative agreement (single source or competitive) entered into between the Secretary and a Governor or county, and Indian Tribe as applicable, to carry out authorized restoration services under this section. _These funding amounts do not reflect the award amounts that are displayed on USASpending.

gov_ **This listing is NOT funded for the current fiscal year. ** Past partnerships related to this program were awarded between $5,000 to $1,300,000. **Fiscal Year 2025:** The BLM is continuing to implement forest, range, and watershed restoration treatments in FY24 as well as expanding Good Neighbor with States and Indian tribes through the IIJA and IRA.

Example projects include invasive weed treatments, T&E species habitat restoration, and forest thinning to reduce fire risk. **Fiscal Year 2026:** Unknown at this Time B - Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants) No Credentials or Documentation are required. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Federally Recognized lndian Tribal Governments, Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals The term “good neighbor agreement” means a cooperative agreement (Single Source or Competitive) entered into between the Secretary and a Governor or county, as applicable, to carry out authorized restoration services under this section.

The term “Governor” means the Governor or any other appropriate executive official of an affected State or Indian tribe. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Public Law 117-58, Section 40804(b) Ecosystem Restoration with funding limited to states and Indian tribes to conduct treatment on Federal lands only. Beneficiary eligibility is the same as applicant eligibility.

All projects are awarded for up to a five year period and funded on a year-by-year basis and funds are expended during a particular fiscal year. No commitment will be made to fund projects beyond one year. New and continuing projects will be re-evaluated each year based on performance, merit, and fund availability.

Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Frequency of recipient payments will be determined for each awarded assistance agreement at the time of award. Natural Resources (mineral, water, wildlife, land), Agriculture/Forestry/Fish and Game Projects are primarily conducted on federal lands administered by the BLM located in the Western United States and Alaska.

Projects may also be conducted on other lands to enhance state or Indian Tribe-federal relationships addressing cross-boundary land restoration needs to include activities confined to Authorized Restoration Service which are activities to treat insect and disease-infected trees, activities to reduce hazardous fuels, and any other activities to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, including fish and wildlife habitat.

The Bureau of Land Management must provide or approve silviculture prescriptions and marking guidelines to be applied to public lands in timber sale projects. BLM's funding is discretionary.

The term “Federal land” does not include a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; Federal land on which the removal of vegetation is prohibited or restricted by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation (including the applicable implementation plan); or a wilderness study area.

Does not include construction, reconstruction, repair, or restoration of paved or permanent roads or parking areas, other than the reconstruction, repair, or restoration of a road that is necessary to carry out authorized restoration services pursuant to a good neighbor agreement. Does not include construction, alteration, repair or replacement of public buildings or works.

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this listing. This program is eligible for coverage under E.

O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

This will be based on individual awarded projects. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. First Level Screening -Basic Eligibility.

Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Must meet the requirements of the Notice of Intent in GrantSolutions or in the competitive NOFO posted on www. grants.

gov, screening may include, but is not limited to: Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; Submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents. B. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review.

Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Intent directed to a single partner or if competitive a noticed will be post on www. grants. gov. Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals.

BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility.

During these evaluations, the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements.

All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program Notice of Intent or in a competitive NOFO. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the Notice of Intent or NOFO.

State and District Office level and funding recommendations are made through the State's annual work plan. Final budget approvals rest with the State Director. Award time varies depending on the type and complexity of the project.

Further information will be available for each State directed announcement posted in GrantSolutions or NOFO on www. grants. gov for competitive process and may be obtained by contacting the point of contact listed in the NOFO.

Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the Bureau of Land Management will provide all applicants with information on why their proposal was not selected for award.

The following 2CFR policy requirements apply to this assistance listing: Subpart B, General provisions Subpart C, Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards Subpart D, Post Federal; Award Requirements Subpart E, Cost Principles Subpart F, Audit Requirements The following 2CFR policy requirements are excluded from coverage under this assistance listing: **Expenditure Reports:**SF-425, Federal Financial Report shall be submitted at the minimum on an annual basis within 90 days after the anniversary award date, unless otherwise stated in the Notice of Award.

Upon completion of the agreement, recipients shall submit a final report no later than 120 calendar day after the award end date. Sub-recipients will be required to closeout within 90 days. **Performance Reports:**Shall submit at the minimum an annual Performance Report in accordance with the 2 CFR, Part 200.

328 within 90 days after the anniversary date or as indicated in the Notice of Award. Upon completion of the agreement, recipients shall submit a final report no later than 120 calendar day after the award end date. Sub-recipients will be required to closeout within 90 days.

All recipients of Federal awards shall maintain project records in accordance with 2 CFR 200. 334 Retention requirements for records.

Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be retained for a period of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, from the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity in the case of a subrecipient.

Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities must not impose any other record retention requirements upon non-Federal entities, except as noted in 2 CFR 200. 333 Bureau of Land Management's Good Neighbor Agreements is generally guided by the provisions in 16 USC 2113a.

BLM Good Neighbor Instruction Memorandum 2022-023, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) – BLM Handbook 1790-1, Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Domestic Assistance Program that uses Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA): See Regional Assistance Locations. Division of Forest, Range, and Vegetation Resources (HQ-220)