Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue (BSAR) organizations are volunteer-based and provide search and rescue services throughout Colorado, free of charge, to those stranded, lost or injured in the backcountry. Grant funds are available to Colorado counties and nonprofit BSAR organizations to enable volunteers to continue to provide services.
BSAR Reimbursement
All reimbursement requests must be certified by the sheriff and submitted to CPW, using the 'Incident Reimbursement Request' Google Document below, within 60 days of the incident end date. Contact the BSAR Program Manager if you intend to submit a request late or have any other questions.
Document Links
BSAR Funding
Two BSAR funding streams exist for Counties and SAR teams:
The “Year-End Distributions" are funded by any money remaining in the Backcountry Search and Rescue Fund after all incident reimbursements and administrative costs incurred throughout the year have been paid. The funding is divided among applicant counties for the purchase of equipment and training.
The “County Allocation” is a $1.5m carve-out from Keep Colorado Wild funding that is annually dedicated to supporting the flexible and consistent needs of Colorado Search and Rescue Teams. The funds are divided among applicant counties.
BSAR Flexible Fund Grant (pursuant to C.R.S. §33-1-112.5.(1)(c)(I))
Eligibility: All Colorado counties and non-profit organizations that provide BSAR services
2023/24 Timeline
Funding Amount: $1.1m
- Notice of funding opportunity announced: January 24, 2023
- Applications open: Jan 24, 2023
- Application close: March 1, 2023 (Closed)
- Early March - A review panel meets to evaluate applications and to develop funding recommendations.
- Funding awards announced: May 19, 2023 (estimated)
- Award letters sent: May 22, 2023 (estimated)
- Grant Closeout Reports due by June 30, 2024
Year-End Distribution (pursuant to C.R.S. §33-1-112.5.(1)(c)(II))
Eligibility: All Colorado counties with coordinated backcountry search and rescue teams
- Nine month spending cycle (~September 2024 to June 30, 2025)
- Advanced Payment for distribution of funds (not a reimbursement basis)
- Formula Driven based on a base/floor, county population, incident load, and a threshold
- Only purchase equipment and professional training
- Planned purchase document required to show anticipated use of funding
Annual Timeline
- Funding amount: TBD
- Notice of funding opportunity announced: May 1, 2024
- Applications open: May 2, 2024
- Application close: June 17, 2024
- Funding awards announced: September
- Award letters sent: September
- Grant Closeout Reports Due: June 30, 2025
County Allocation (pursuant to C.R.S. §33-12-108(2)(a)(IV)(C)) - New Funding Source
Eligibility: All Colorado counties with coordinated backcountry search and rescue teams
Fund Basic Information: County Allocation (Funding from Keep Colorado Wild)
- Two (2) year spending cycle (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026)
- 100% Reimbursement basis (Not advance payment) - Waiver may be available on a limited basis.
- Formula Driven based on a base, county population, incident load, number of active BSAR volunteers, total annual emergency incident response volunteer hours.
- List of eligible expenditures using funds.
- Planned Purchase Document (budget) required from Counties after initial pre-award
Annual Timeline
- Funding amount: $1,500,000
- Notice of funding opportunity announced: May 2, 2024
- Applications open: May 2, 2024
- Application close: June 17, 2024
- Pre-award Notices: June 2024
- Funding awards announced: September
- Award letters sent: after receipt of the Allocation budget from the County.
- Grant Closeout Reports Due: June 30, 2026
Apply for the BSAR Year-End Distribution and/or County Allocation
Use the links below to access the Universal Application, the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and other required documents. One Application is used to apply for both sources of funding.
Distribution Report Documents
