REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Grant

Navajo Abandoned Mine Lands Department, Navajo Nation, is seeking Proposals (3 copies) due no later than 3:00 PM (MST) on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Window Rock AML Office, Tuba City AML Field Office, or Shiprock AML Field Office, no email proposals. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program offers grants to: Reclaim abandoned coal mines and economic development for AML coal impacted communities that are struggling to cope with decline in coal production. Proposed projects must be on Navajo Tribal Trust Lands, we strongly encourage coal impacted communities to apply. The following link allows you to view the grant process: directive995_NEPAHandbook_4.2-9.pdf (osmre.gov)

Examples of projects may range from eliminating coal refuse piles; coal reclamation to address hazardous conditions; outdoor recreation; development of modern facilities; trail systems; regional tourism economy; state of art agricultural facilities. The AMLER program demonstrates that investment in AML reclamation will have strong economic benefits in providing new opportunities for land re-use, outdoor recreation and energy development within coal communities.

1. Scope of Project: Develop a project that demonstrates a nexus between AML land, water reclamation and economic and community development; demonstrate how project can return impacted coal reclamation area to productive reuse to achieve economic and community development goals. The latest AMLER Guidelines can be found at: Guidance for Project Eligibility Under the FY 2023 AMLER Program (osmre.gov).

2. Eligible projects: (projects must have unreclaimed or previously reclaimed AML coal impacts to qualify, explain the AML coal mine impacts):
a. Unreclaimed Priority Coal 1, 2, or 3 sites based on Office of Surface Mining (OSM) eAMLIS; or
b. Previously reclaimed AML land and polluted waters; or
c. Land adjacent to unreclaimed or previously reclaimed AML Lands impacted by historic coal production.

3. Economic and Community Development Nexus:
a. Category A: Coal Reclamation with Economic or Community Development; or
b. Category B: Economic Development or Community Development

4. Use of AMLER funds, and other leverage funding sources:
a. AMLER Grant Recipient must comply with applicable Federal grant award requirements, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principals, Audit Requirements, and Financial Assistance Interior Regulations.
b. Provide details of other matching funds, identify State, Tribe, local, public, private funding sources to be used for project scope, in conjunction to AMLER funds.

5. Developing AMLER Projects:
a. Describe in detail how, when, where, and for what coal reclamation, economic development, or community development purposes AMLER funds will be used.
b. Provide project summary level information about the purpose, cost, partnership, leverage funds, expected economic benefits.
c. Include information of sub recipient / sub grantees taking the project lead, their involvement, roles, responsibilities, organizational charts and activities.

6. Public Engagement: (Note: Justice40 Initiative – disadvantage community Justice40 Initiative | Environmental Justice | The White House):
a. Demonstrate public engagement in solicitation, selection, support, development, and reporting. b. Include public meetings, copies of print or social media, partnering, public outreach and other forms of communication.

7. Project Benefits, expected outcome or performance measures:
a. Demonstrate project tracking and reporting on economic and environmental measures, success of project, economic benefits, performance measures such as jobs created, business created, infrastructure developed, people served, recreational opportunities, interviews, surveys, etc.

8. Compliance with National Environmental Policy Act under P.L. 117-103, White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, 42 USC subsection 4321 et seq. Environmental Report must be within 1 to 3 year period of submitting proposal and comply with OSM NEPA Handbook (osmre.gov)

9. Build American, Buy America Act: Per P.L. 117-58, subsection 70914. All sub awards and all contracts or purchase order for work or products, must comply.

10. Purchase of Real Property: Seeking to use AMLER funds to purchase real property requires OSMRE approval.

11. Reporting Requirements:
a. Summary of Process used to solicit, develop, select project. Total amount expended on project; Project partners identified; Project timeline.
b. What are the economic benefits, performance measures; what are the environmental benefits, performance measures; what are the expected benefits and outstanding performance measures.
c. If real property is purchased, describe the status of AMLER approved activities.

Proposals may be submitted to:

Navajo Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Department, PO Box 1875, Window Rock, Arizona 86515 Telephone No.: 928-871-6982

Tuba City AML Field Office, PO Box 730, Tuba City, Arizona 86045 Telephone No.: 928-283-3188

Shiprock AML Field Office, PO Box 3605, Shiprock, New Mexico 87420 Telephone No.: 505-368-1228