2013 cfrp request for application.pdf

2013 Request for Applications, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 1

Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 2013 Request for Application

Agency: U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.679

Funding Opportunity Title: Collaborative Forest Restoration Program (CFRP)

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. MST on February 25, 2013. Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals electronically through www.grants.gov.

Applications received after 5:00 p.m. will not be accepted. Faxed applications will NOT be accepted.

For questions regarding the grant application or administrative regulations, contact the Forest Service CFRP Coordinator in your area as listed below:

Forest, City Coordinator Phone Carson, Taos Raul E. Hurtado 575-758-6344 Cibola, Albuquerque Ian Fox 505-346-3814 Gila, Silver City Julia F. Rivera 575-388-8212 Lincoln, Alamogordo Christina Wampler 575-434-7386 Santa Fe, Santa Fe Reuben Montes 505-438-5356

Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

http://www.grants.gov/

2013 Request for Applications, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 3

Contents Executive Summary

Appendix A. Grant Application Checklist

Applications Documents

Appendices

Appendix B. Executive Summary and Project Narrative

Appendix C. Common Application Strengths, Weaknesses and Recommendations Identified in 2012 Panel Review

Strengths

Weaknesses

Recommendations

Appendix D. Sample Template Letter from CFRP Grant Applicants to Potentially Affected Tribes

New Mexico Tribes and Pueblos Contact List

New Mexico Tribal Consultation List by Forests

Appendix E. Detailed Budget Justification and Narrative

Appendix F. Example of Executive Summaries of FY 2012 Funded CFRP Grants..41

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Appendix G. Sample Operational Guidelines for CFRP Fuels Reduction and Restoration Thinning Treatments on National Forest Lands

Appendix H. Map Making Pointers

Key Points for Any Map

Different Maps

Simple Maps

Statewide Image for the Vicinity Map

GIS

Appendix I. National Policy Requirements Affecting Grants

2013 Request for Applications, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 5

Executive Summary

The U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region will distribute approximately $3 million in FY 2013 through cost-share grants to carry out forest restoration projects on public lands in New Mexico. Projects must be designed through a collaborative process that includes affected communities and other stakeholders. Applications will be evaluated in an open federal advisory committee. For more information, see http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/cfrp/rfa. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the following CFRP program coordinators in your area:

Forest, City Coordinator Phone Carson, Taos Raul E. Hurtado 575-758-6344 Cibola, Albuquerque Ian Fox 505-346-3814 Gila, Silver City Julia Faith Rivera 575-388-8212 Lincoln, Alamogordo Christina Wampler 575-434-7386 Santa Fe, Santa Fe Reuben Montes 505-438-5356

I. Funding Opportunity Description A. The U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region requests applications for forest restoration projects on Federal, Tribal, State, County, Land Grant, or Municipal forest lands in New Mexico that are designed through a collaborative process that includes affected communities and other stakeholders.

Individuals, businesses, groups and other organizations are encouraged to collaborate on the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects that value local and traditional knowledge, promote healthy and productive forests and watersheds, and build ownership and civic pride. CFRP encourages communication and joint problem solving through interagency, cross-jurisdictional, and inter-tribal projects.

By working together, small business owners, conservation and environmental organizations, community groups, tribes, colleges, universities and other organizations can qualify for CFRP grants for forest restoration projects that reduce the threat of wildfire, improve watershed conditions, and provide jobs and training to local communities.

Applicants are encouraged to submit applications for projects that facilitate landscape-scale, multi-jurisdictional efforts.

Implementation applications must include a signed NEPA decision document for the proposed treatment site.

The Forest Service anticipates awarding 10 to 15 CFRP grants totaling $3 to $4 million in 2013, pursuant to federal appropriations. Individual awards range from $120,000 to $360,000. The CFRP Technical Advisory Panel, a Chartered Federal Advisory Committee, will evaluate CFRP grant applications and provide recommendations to the Forest Service on which ones best meet the program objectives. The Secretary of Agriculture will make the final decision on project http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/cfrp/rfa

2013 Request for Application

2 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications funding. Awarded projects are expected to be funded and commence activities by the fall of 2013.

B. Program History. In 2000 Congress passed the Community Forest Restoration Act (Title VI, Public Law 106-393) authorizing up to $5 million annually for a grant program that would fund collaborative, community based ecological restoration projects on public lands in New Mexico. Federal grants totaling $49.3 million have been awarded to 154 projects since the program began in 2001.

Examples of project summaries that were funded in FY 2012 are provided in Appendix F. You will find a complete list of funded CFRP project summaries on our website.

The purposes of the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program are:

1. To promote healthy watersheds and to reduce the threat of large, high intensity wildfires, insect infestation, and disease in the forests in New Mexico.

2. To improve the functioning of forest ecosystems and to enhance plant and wildlife biodiversity by reducing the unnaturally high number and density of small diameter trees on Federal, Tribal, State, County, and municipal forest lands.

3. To improve communication and joint problem solving among individuals and groups who are interested in restoring the diversity and productivity of forested watersheds in New Mexico.

4. To improve the use of, or add value to, small diameter trees.

5. To encourage sustainable communities and sustainable forests through collaborative partnerships whose objective is forest restoration.

6. To develop, demonstrate, and evaluate ecologically sound forest restoration techniques.

II. Grant Award Information

Total project costs displayed in the SF-424A and detailed budget must not exceed $450,000 over 4 years (including match). Total annual costs must not exceed $150,000 (including match). Individual grant awards will not exceed $360,000 in Forest Service funding over 4 years, and not more than $120,000 in any 1 year. As a condition of award the applicant must provide a non-federal match of 20% of the total costs of the project.

The term of the grant will be for the entire length of the project, not to exceed 4 years.

A single organization may receive more than one CFRP grant in the same time period if the proposed activities are independent of one another. Organizations that have received program grants in the past for activities that have been completed should clearly describe the relationship of previous grant activities to the newly proposed project.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5330277.pdf

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III. Eligibility A. Program Objectives. To be eligible to receive funding under this program, a project must address the following objectives:

1. Reduce the threat of large, high-intensity wildfires and the negative effects of excessive competition between trees by restoring ecosystem functions, structures, and species composition, including the reduction of non-native species populations;

2. Re-establish fire regimes approximating those that shaped forest ecosystems prior to fire suppression;

3. Replant trees in deforested areas, if they exist, in the proposed project area;

and

4. Improve the use of, or add value to, small diameter trees.

B. Additional Eligibility Information

1. Local and tribal governments, educational institutions, landowners, conservation organizations, and other interested public and private entities are eligible to apply for program grants. The projects may be entirely on, or on any combination of, Federal, Tribal, State, County, Land Grant (political sub-divisions of the state), or Municipal forestlands.

Treatment projects on private land will not be considered. Processing facilities may be located on private land if the intent is to utilize material resulting from forest restoration activities on public land.

2. To be eligible for funding under this program, a project must:

a. Comply with all Federal and State environmental laws:

All projects that use CFRP funds for implementation activities must comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. Compliance must be attained according to the policies and processes specific to the jurisdictional land management agency.

If NEPA is already completed, the applicant MUST include a copy of the NEPA decision document as an appendix. For projects on nonfederal lands, a letter from the Forest Service must be included indicating that the responsible official has reviewed environmental documents submitted by the proponent or other agencies, and has determined that all requirements have been met and that there is sufficient information upon which to base an Agency decision under the NEPA if the proponent receives federal funding.

b. Include an agreement by the grant applicant to attend the CFRP annual workshop with other stakeholders for the purpose of discussing the program and projects implemented under it. Project proponents can use CFRP grant funds to pay for travel and per diem expenses to attend the workshop.

4 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

3. Applicants should indicate which category of CFRP grant they are applying for: 1) planning; 2) implementation; or 3) utilization at the beginning of the project title. If a category is not identified, the Forest Service will assign the application to a category.

4. Types of expenditures eligible for coverage by the grants include but are not limited to labor, supplies, equipment, machinery, materials, training, and travel. Land purchases and research activities are not appropriate expenditures. When equipment and machinery (single items with a value of over $5,000) the following will apply pursuant to 7 CFR 3015:

a. The Forest Service retains an interest in all equipment until the fair market value of the item is under $5,000. Equipment approved for purchase under the grant will be available only for use as authorized. The grant recipient may not encumber the equipment.

b. The grant recipient must secure the equipment and maintain insurance as long as the equipment maintains a fair market value of $5,000 or more.

c. When the grant performance period is over, the Recipient must forward an equipment inventory to the U.S. Forest Service, listing all equipment purchased with Forest Service funding throughout the life of the project.

Disposition instructions will be issued by the Forest Service within 120 calendar days.

5. Applicants that include the costs of transporting people (e.g., forest workers, monitoring participants, students, etc.) as expenditure in their budget must be able to provide proof of current liability insurance.

6. Non-Federal Match Requirement:

a. Applicants must demonstrate a 20% match of the total project cost from non-federal sources. In-kind contributions can be considered as part of the cost share. In-kind, or non-cash contributions, must be reasonable, allowable, and must be able to demonstrate in the application (as well as in a possible audit) that all costs can be shown as actual costs to the recipient in implementing the project.

Example 1:

Total Annual Cost of Project = $150,000 Match Required = $150,000 X 20%= $30,000 Maximum Federal Request = $150,000 - $30,000= $120,000

Example 2:

Total Project Costs = $450,000 Forest Service share = $360,000; Applicant’s share = $90,000

b. If the applicant wishes to contribute more than 20% in matching funds, details should be described in the project narrative and not in the budget.

c. Funds paid by the Federal Government under another award, except where authorized by Federal statute, may not be used for cost sharing or matching.

2013 Request for Application, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 5

d. All costs must be allowable and reasonable and be clearly explained showing unit costs in the budget justification and narrative (appendix E).

e. Indirect costs may not exceed 10% of the total project budget. Negotiated indirect costs that exceed 10 percent may be used to meet the matching requirement as long as they do not cause the total project cost presented in the budget to exceed $450,000.

IV. Application Information

Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals electronically through Grants.gov. All electronic applicants will need to be registered with grants.gov prior to submitting their proposal. If an organization is already registered in grants.gov, they do not need to register again. Please note that the process for registering the first time can take up to 2-3 weeks depending on the information the applicant needs to collect. If you have any difficulties with getting registered, please contact the grants.gov “help” listed on the website, or call 1-800-518-4726 or email support@grants.gov

Use the following information to download the application package in Grants.gov:

CFDA Number: 10.679 Opportunity Number: CFRP_FY_2013 Opportunity Title: Collaborative Forest Restoration Program

This announcement contains all the necessary forms and information for application.

Additional application forms can be obtained by contacting the CFRP Coordinators listed on the cover page.

To apply hardcopy submit one hard copy and a single PDF electronic version on a disk by the due date to:

Walter Dunn Attention: 2013 CFRP Application Cooperative and International Forestry, Room 329 333 Broadway Blvd., SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 Tel: (505) 842- 3425

Hard copy applications must be on 8.5 X 11 inch paper with a minimum font size of 12 letters per inch. Top, bottom and side margins must be no less than one (1) inch. Page number should appear in the upper right hand corner with a clip, not a staple, in the upper left hand corner. When using the fillable document provided in www.grants.gov, the Statement of Need, Project History, Project Partners, Objectives, Work Plan, and Monitoring Plan must not exceed 12 pages. When not using the fillable document on grants.gov, the entire document, including the Executive Summary, must not exceed 10 pages.

http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov

6 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

Applications not following the directions for submission will be disqualified without appeal. Applications which do not include the following will be eliminated from consideration:

• Detailed Budget Justification

• Documentation of letters to the Tribes listed in the NM Tribal Consultation List by Forest (Appendix D)

• Letters of Commitment from all Project Partners with Specific Roles in Project

Implementation or Providing Non-federal Match

• For Implementation Projects: A NEPA decision document, or for projects on nonfederal lands, a letter from the Forest Service must be included indicating that the responsible official has reviewed environmental documents submitted by the proponent or other agencies, and has determined that all requirements have been met and that there is sufficient information upon which to base an Agency decision under the NEPA if the proponent receives federal funding.

• An Executive Summary not to exceed one half-page

• Statement of Need, Project History, Project Partners, Objectives, Work Plan, and

Monitoring Plan not exceeding 12 pages when using the fillable document in www.grants.gov, or not exceeding 10 pages (including the executive summary) if not using the fillable document.

• For those submitting a hard copy application: A disk with a PDF electronic version of the complete application package.

A. Key Dates

• Grant Writing Workshops free to interested applicants:

▪ October 22-24, 2012: CFRP Annual Workshop, Santa Fe, NM, contact:

Walter Dunn, (505) 842-3425.

▪ November 6, 2012, 1:00pm-4:00pm, Smokey Bear Ranger District Office, Fire Operations Building, Ruidoso, NM, contact: Christina Wampler,

(575) 434-7386.

▪ November 7, 2012, 9:00am-12:00noon, Sacramento Ranger District Office Conference Room, Cloudcroft, NM, contact: Christina Wampler, (575) 434-7386.

▪ November 8, 2012, 9:00am-12:00noon, Guadalupe Ranger District Office, Carlsbad, NM, contact: Christina Wampler, (575) 434-7386.

▪ November 28, 2012, 9:00am-4:00pm, Gila National Forest Supervisors Office, Silver City, NM, contact: Julia F. Rivera (575) 388-8212.

▪ December 4, 2012, 9.30am-4:30pm Cibola National Forest Supervisors Office, Albuquerque, NM, contact: Ian Fox, (505) 346-3814.

▪ December 5, 2012, 10:00am-2:00pm, Carson National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Taos, NM, contact: Raul Hurtado, (575) 758-6344.

▪ December 12, 2012, 10am-12pm, , Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor’s Office Santa Fe, NM, contact Reuben Montes, (505) 438-5356

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• Other Key Dates

▪ February 25, 2013: Applications due by 5:00 PM MST

▪ April 22-26, 2013: Federal Advisory Committee review of applications, Hyatt Uptown, Albuquerque, NM

B. Application Content. For a checklist of the following, see appendix A.

1. Standard Form 424, 424A and 424B and applicable certifications.

▪ These forms must be included at the front of the application package.

▪ Standard Form 424 (must be signed and dated).

▪ Standard Form 424A, Budget Information - Non-construction programs.

Fill out both pages.

▪ Standard Form 424B, Assurances - Non-construction Programs provide the assurances that the applicant understands specific requirements for obtaining a grant. Both the front and back of this form must be submitted with the application (must be signed and dated).

▪ Applicable certifications based on the table in Appendix A.

Information about Filling out Standard Form 424:

Item 11: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

Enter 10.679 CFDA Title: Collaborative Forest Restoration Program

Item 12 and 13: Leave blank

Item 16: Congressional District of:

Enter the NUMBER of the Congressional District (01, 02, 03) where your project AND organization reside, NOT the name of your project and organization.

Item 18: Estimated Funding:

Enter the TOTAL funding of the Project for the whole grant period (grant request plus the matching). NOT the first year. (This should match your TOTAL budget.)

Item 19: Intergovernmental Review:

Check: b - Program is subject to E.O. 12372 but has not been selected by the State for review.

Paper copies and assistance in completing the forms can also be requested from the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program Coordinators.

2. Letter of Endorsement

▪ A letter of endorsement must be included from the appropriate Forest

Service District Ranger, Forest Supervisor or equivalent federal official from the Departments of Interior or Defense, or the appropriate land

8 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications management official if the project is on tribal, state, county, Land Grant, or municipal land.

▪ The letter should indicate that the land management official collaborated in the development of the proposed project, will support the implementation of the project, and that the project will complement that organization’s land management objectives. Grant applicants are strongly advised to contact the appropriate land manager early in the development of project proposals.

▪ The letter should include a brief description on the proposed project’s effects on long-term management.

▪ For implementation projects: The letter should also indicate that the proposed treatment area has the required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation.

▪ For applicants with current or past grant awards, the letter of endorsement should include a statement on the applicant’s past performance.

▪ Letters of endorsement should be addressed to the project applicant.

3. Detailed Budget Justification and Narrative. A Detailed Budget for each Project Year and Budget Object Category shown on the SF 424A is required (see sample in appendix E). A fillable sample spreadsheet titled “Detailed Budget Justification and Narrative” is provided as part of this application package in Grants.gov. A set of instructions is provided on the first tab of the spreadsheet. The budget justification and narrative must provide a breakdown showing detailed unit costs and descriptions that clarify the line item amounts shown on the SF 424A.

Costs should include personnel (number of people, hours, days, and rate of pay); travel (purpose, trip costs (mileage, fuel), including air fare (or other), per diem, etc.) and attendance at the required CFRP annual workshop;

equipment (cost of each piece, defined as anything over $5,000 in acquisition cost); supplies; consultants (rate of pay, hours worked, number of consultants); contract (commercial subcontractors); and other direct costs.

Indirect costs can be included if the applicant provides a written indirect cost rate determination. If the applicant has no previously established determination, written documentation of past historical actual indirect cost rates should be supplied with the application. A reasonable indirect cost rate may then be negotiated between the Forest Service and applicant on a one-time basis.

The narrative portions of the budget (see appendix E for example) should provide sufficient information to determine if costs are reasonable and allowable, and must identify the source of the non-federal matching contribution. The budget should reflect each activity described in the Work Plan and Monitoring Plan sections of the Project Narrative.

2013 Request for Application, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 9

4. Executive Summary and Project Narrative. A Word document titled:

“Executive Summary and Project Narrative” is provided as part of the application package (see Appendix B).

When using the form provided in www.grants.gov, the Statement of Need, Project History, Project Partners, Objectives, Work Plan, and Monitoring Plan must not exceed 12 pages. When submitting a hard copy and a disk, the Statement of Need, Project History, Project Partners, Objectives, Work Plan, and Monitoring Plan must not exceed 10 pages.

a. Project Title. Describe the project in a one-line sentence. Applicants should indicate which category of CFRP grant they are applying for: 1) Planning; 2) Implementation; or 3) Utilization at the beginning of the project title. If a category is not identified the Forest Service will assign the application to a category. Include the word “Revision” in the project title and narrative if the application was reviewed by a previous CFRP Panel and is being resubmitted.

b. Executive Summary. The summary (not to exceed a half page) of the proposed project needs to address the following (see appendix B for examples):

• What will be done?

• Who will do it?

• How many acres will be treated?

• What is the vegetation type of proposed treatment areas?

• Where will it be done?

• Who owns or manages the land where the project will take place?

• What will be produced? How much?

• What is the estimated volume of the material that will be produced?

• Will jobs to be created? What kind? How many?

• What type of training will be provided? To whom? How many people will be trained?

• What type of education and outreach activities will occur? For whom?

How many people will be involved?

c. Statement of Need (no more than one half-page)

• What is the current site condition and the problem or challenge the project seeks to address?

• Who will benefit from this project and how will they benefit?

d. Project History

• What has been accomplished to date to address this problem within your project area?

• Have any other federal or private grants been awarded for related activities? If so, what is the status of those projects and/or grants?

Has a business plan been developed and if so how does it support the proposed project?

e. Project Partners

• Who are the project partners?

10 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

• What role did each partner play in developing the project?

• What will be the role of each partner during project implementation?

f. Objectives

• What will be accomplished?

• How will the project address the purposes, objectives, and eligibility requirements of the program? Each project objective should be tied to a specific CFRP objective.

• Describe the proposed activities. What is the scientific basis for the proposed land treatment and/or prescription (if applicable)? Include bibliographic reference on current scientific information as appropriate.

• Where will the project be accomplished? What county? What municipality? What public land management office manages the land?

(Include a map of the project area in the appendix).

• How will the project encourage sustainable communities and sustainable partnerships through collaborative partnerships? Will this project be self-sufficient after the activities funded by this grant are completed? How?

• Projects designed to build local capacity must demonstrate that local communities have been, and will be, involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the project.

g. Work Plan, Product and/or Outcomes. Present a step-by-step timeline for each year of the project (include appropriate safety training where applicable).

The timeline should address the following questions:

• What will be done?

• Who will do it?

• When will it be done?

h. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. The goal of multiparty monitoring is to assess and report on the impact and effectiveness of the project. The monitoring plan should measure the stated objectives of the proposed project and directly correlate to the work plan. Applicants should follow the monitoring protocols of the land management organization where the project will occur. If the land management organization does not have a preferred protocol in place, the applicant should use the CFRP protocols identified in the Multi-Party Monitoring Short Guide or another statistically appropriate protocol.

The Multi-Party Monitoring Short Guide and example guidelines for multi-party monitoring are available from the CFRP Coordinators or from our website.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/cfrp/mpmonitoring

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The Monitoring and Evaluation Plan should:

• Identify a lead person to oversee the monitoring work and house a copy of the data at each step throughout the project.

• List the groups or partners that will collaborate on the monitoring and evaluation and describe what they will do.

• Describe the existing ecological conditions (if applicable) of the proposed project area and the desired future condition.

• Describe the measurements that will be used to determine the difference between the current condition and the condition upon project completion.

• Projects which remove vegetation should include, at a minimum, the following core ecological indicators:

• Canopy cover (%)

• Understory cover (% ground and/or shrub)

• Surface fuels (tons/acre)

• Crown base height (ft.)

• Stand structure

• Tree species

• Size (DBH, DRC inches)

• Density (stems/acre live and dead, basal area)

• Projects which add vegetation should include, at a minimum, the following core ecological indicator:

• Mortality or survival of all species planted

• Describe the existing socio-economic conditions of the proposed project area and the desired future condition (i.e. number of jobs created, number of people trained, etc.)

• Describe how the positive or negative impacts and the effectiveness of the project (including improvements in local management skills and on the ground results) will be measured.

• Additional monitoring indicators, specific to your project objectives, may be included in your monitoring plan.

• Include monitoring costs in the detailed budget. Monitoring budgets typically range from 5 to 10 percent of the total project budget.

• Include monitoring activities in the work plan timeline (describe who will do what and when they will do it).

5. Appendices. Appendices should be limited to information that supports the project narrative and budget.

Appendices should include the following items:

a. An 8x10 black and white map of the proposed project area and location of proposed treatments (if applicable). See Appendix H for map making pointers.

b. Key Personnel Qualifications (not to exceed one page per person).

c. Letters of support and commitment (addressed to the project applicant) including:

12 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

i. Letters of commitment MUST be included from project partners supporting all participation, cash or values of in-kind services described in the project narrative and/or budget.

ii. For projects on traditional tribal lands, the applicant must send letters to the affected tribes or pueblos soliciting their comments and concerns on the proposed project. Documentation of the letters sent to affected tribes or pueblos MUST be included, which could include one sample letter and a list of recipients. If affected tribes or pueblos respond, those responses MUST be included in the appendix. Grant applicants should include documentation of conversations with tribes that are relevant to the proposed project. For traditional tribal lands that may be outside reservation or pueblo boundaries consult the Forest Service District Ranger, archeologist, or State Historic Preservation Officer for traditional tribal lands related to specific project areas. A template for a letter to potentially affected tribes, a matrix of tribes by national forest, and addresses for tribal governments can be found in Appendix D.

iii. Tribes that are submitting proposals for projects entirely on their lands are encouraged to seek letters of support from other potentially affected tribes. At a minimum, Tribes should consult with other Tribes that are located immediately adjacent to their boundaries.

d. If the application is a revision and of a previously reviewed proposal that is being resubmitted, the applicant must include as an appendix an explanation of how the current application addresses the Weaknesses and Recommendations identified by the previous CFRP Panel. The applicant should include the word “Revision” in the project title and narrative.

e. Applications for which NEPA compliance has been completed MUST include a copy of the NEPA decision document as an appendix. For projects on nonfederal lands, a letter from the Forest Service must be included indicating that the responsible official has reviewed environmental documents submitted by the proponent or other agencies, and has determined that all requirements have been met and that there is sufficient information upon which to base an Agency decision under the NEPA if the proponent receives federal funding.

V. Application Review Information A. Evaluation Process. Applications will be discussed in an open federal advisory committee meeting. Grant proposals are in the public domain and will be considered non-proprietary.

The CFRP Technical Advisory Panel, a Federal Advisory Committee chartered by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the Community Forest Restoration Act of 2000 (Title VI, Pub. L. No. 106-393) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act

2013 Request for Application, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 13

(Pub. L. No. 92-463), will evaluate each grant application and provide recommendations to the Forest Service on which ones best meet the purposes, objectives, and administrative requirements of the program. The Panel includes independent scientists, representatives from Federal and State land management agencies, Tribes, local communities, conservation organizations, and commodity interests. The Panel will develop a list of prioritized projects for the Forest Service. The Secretary of Agriculture will make the final project funding decisions. The administering national forest will award individual grants.

The Panel meeting is open to the public. Panel discussion is limited to Forest Service staff and Panel members. Project proponents may respond to questions of clarification from Panel members or Forest Service staff. Public comment sessions will be scheduled each day of the meeting. Individuals may submit written statements for panel consideration prior to the public comment sessions.

Eligible applications will be sorted into three categories prior to the Panel meeting: 1) implementation of on the ground restoration treatments; 2) planning, assessment and NEPA compliance; and 3) small diameter tree utilization. The Panel will identify strengths and weaknesses and develop recommendations for each application and then assign a score of 0 to 5 to each of the evaluation criteria indicating how well each one has been addressed (0=not at all, 5=exceptionally well). Scores will be entered into a matrix for each category of proposals. After all the applications have been discussed the Panel will review their evaluation of each application for consistency and make corrections if necessary. The Panel may review performance and/or multiparty monitoring reports from previous grant(s). The Panel will then review the rankings of the proposals in each of the three matrix tables and consider the effect of the proposed projects on long term management. The Panel will seek to use a consensus based process to develop their recommendations.

The Panel will identify up to four planning, assessment, and NEPA compliance projects and up to two utilization projects to recommend for funding. The remainder and majority of the projects recommended will be for on the ground implementation.

B. Evaluation Criteria. The Panel will evaluate each project application using the following criteria:

1. Will the proposed project reduce the threat of large, high-intensity wildfires and the negative effects of excessive competition between trees by restoring ecosystem functions (including healthy watersheds), structures, and species composition, including the reduction of non-native species populations?

2. Will the proposed project re-establish fire regimes approximating those that shaped forest ecosystems prior to fire suppression?

3. Will the proposed project improve the use of, or add value to, small diameter trees?

14 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

4. Will the proposed project include a diverse and balanced group of stakeholders as well as appropriate Federal, Tribal, State, County, Land Grant, and Municipal government representatives in the design and implementation of the project? (Conservation groups are non-government, non-commodity groups whose objectives include forest restoration, biodiversity and/or habitat conservation, education and/or outreach.)

5. Does the application include a plan for a multiparty assessment that will:

a. Identify both the existing ecological condition of the proposed project area and the desired future condition; and

b. Monitor and report on the positive or negative impact and effectiveness of the project including improvements in local management skills and on the ground results?

6. Does the project application incorporate current scientific forest restoration information?

7. Will the proposed project preserve old and large trees?

8. Will the proposed project create local employment or training opportunities within the context of accomplishing restoration objectives, and include summer youth job programs, such as the Youth Conservation Corps, where appropriate?

9. Have the applicants demonstrated the capability to successfully implement the proposed project?

10. Does the proposed project include landscape-scale, multi-jurisdictional effort(s)?

11. Is the proposed activity in a priority area for hazardous fuel reduction?

12. Is the cost of the project reasonable and within the range of the fair market value for similar work?

VI. Grants Administration

Following the Panel meeting applicants will receive a letter from the Regional Forester regarding the status of their application. This letter is not an authorization to begin implementation of the project. Weaknesses and recommendations identified by the CFRP Technical Advisory Panel must be addressed through negotiations between the Forest and the applicant prior to grant award. For treatments on Forest Service land, the Forest may also include the Guidelines for CFRP Fuels Reduction and Restoration Thinning Treatments on National Forest Lands (appendix G). Pending approval from the Secretary, the Forest Supervisor of the National Forest administering the grant will issue a grant award letter, which is the authorizing document to begin work.

Gross receipts tax payments can be reimbursed or used as a match by eligible CFRP grantees. Grantees are also encouraged to apply to sellers for a Nontaxable Transaction Certificate that exempts them from paying the gross receipts tax on purchases.

Exemptions would make more of the CFRP grant funds available for work directly related to the accomplishment of project objectives.

2013 Request for Application, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 15

Semi-annual performance reports, quarterly financial progress reports, and a multiparty assessment report will be required. Awarded grants will be subject to federal assistance requirements and cost principles. Prior to funding, successful applicants may be required to demonstrate how they meet the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular and/or Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) requirements described and listed below.

The recipients’ financial management systems (per 7 CFR §3019.21) must provide for the following:

A. Accurate, current and complete disclosure of the financial results of each federally-sponsored project or program in accordance with the reporting requirements shown in Standard Form 425 – Federal Financial Report, Standard Form 270 – Request for Advance or Reimbursement and Standard Form 272 – Report of Federal Cash Transactions.

B. Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for federally-sponsored activities. These records must contain information pertaining to Federal awards, authorizations, obligations, unobligated balances, assets, outlays, income and interest.

C. Effective control over and accountability for all funds, property and other assets.

Recipients must adequately safeguard all such assets and assure they are used solely for authorized purposes.

D. Comparison of outlays with budget amounts for each award. Whenever appropriate, financial information should be related to performance and unit cost data.

E. Written procedures to minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds to the recipient from the U.S. Treasury and the issuance or redemption of checks, warrants or payments by other means for program purposes by the recipients.

F. Written procedures for determining the reasonableness, allocability and allowability of costs in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Federal cost principles and the terms and conditions of the award (see Circulars cited below).

G. Accounting records including cost accounting records that are supported by source documentation.

Program income (per OMB Circular A-110, 24―the difference between what was expended on the project and any incoming dollars as a result of the grant) earned during the project period must be retained by the recipient and, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award must be used to finance the non-Federal share of the project or program. Grantees must include information in their semi-annual performance reports and multiparty assessment on how that income was re-invested in their project. Merchantable materials removed as the result of forest restoration activities are one example of program income that should be

16 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications reported. Recipients must have no obligation to the Federal Government regarding program income earned after the end of the project period.

Additional requirements for federal grant recipients include:

Federal Cost Principles

Educational institution OMB Circular A-21, 2 CFR 220 Nonprofit organization OMB Circular A-122, 2 CFR 230 State and local governments OMB Circular A-87, 2 CFR 225 Commercial organizations FAR, Part 31.202

Federal Administrative Requirements

Commercial, educational, nonprofit OMB Circular A-110, 7 CFR 3019 State and local governments OMB Circular A-102, 7 CFR 3016

Federal Audit Requirements

OMB Circular A-133

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars are available on the Internet at the following addresses: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_default/ and https://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart 2031_2.html

Grant recipients will also be required to sign assurances to certify that they will adhere to all federal regulations affecting grants. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_docs/. (List is provided in appendix I) http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_default/ https://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%2031_2.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_docs/

2013 Request for Applications, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 17

Appendix A. Grant Application Checklist Items listed in order of how they should appear in the project application.

Applications Documents □□ Application for Federal Assistance: Form SF-424 □□ Budget Information Non-construction Programs: Form SF-424A □□ Assurances Non-construction Programs: Form SF-424B □□ Appropriate Certifications from the table below □□ Letter of Endorsement from a land management agency □□ Detailed Budget Justification and Narrative (Appendix E) □□ Executive Summary (Appendix B) □□ Letter of Endorsement from land management agency □□ Statement of Need, Project History, Project Partners, Objectives, Work Plan, and

Monitoring. If using the fillable document (Appendix B), the document is not to exceed 12 pages; if using another form of documentation, the entire document, including the Executive Summary, must not exceed 10 pages.

Appendices □□ An 8x10 black and white map of the project area and location of proposed treatments (if applicable).

□□ Key personnel qualifications (not to exceed one page per person).

□□ Letters of support and commitment (addressed to the project applicant) including:

□□ Letters of commitment from project partners supporting all participation, cash or values of in-kind services described in the project narrative and/or budget MUST be included.

□□ Documentation that letters were sent to affected tribes or pueblos soliciting their comments and concerns for projects proposed on traditional trial land.

MUST be included, which could include one sample letter and a list of recipients. A template for a letter to potentially affected tribes, a matrix of tribes by national forest, and addresses for tribal governments can be found in appendix D. Tribes submitting applications for projects entirely on their lands are encouraged to seek letters of support from other potentially affected tribes.

At a minimum, tribes should consult with other tribes that are located immediately adjacent to their boundaries.

□□ NEPA decision document (for implementation projects).

□□ For previously submitted applications: if the application is a revision and of a previously reviewed proposal that is being resubmitted, the applicant must include as an appendix an explanation of how the current application addresses the Weaknesses and Recommendations identified by the previous CFRP Panel. The applicant should include the word "Revision" in the project title and narrative.

Appendix A. Grant Application Checklist

18 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

Domestic Grant and Cooperative Agreement Certifications

Form Number Form Title Requirement to Use

AD-1047 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters

Always required.

AD-1048 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion – Lower Tier Covered Transactions

Require when a contractual line is included in the budget.

AD-1049 Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements

Required for all new packages, except for individuals and State governments.

AD-1050 Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Grants) Alternative II – For Grantees Who Are Individuals

Required for all new packages from individuals.

AD-1052 Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements, State and State Agencies

Required for all new packages that are with State agencies.

SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities This may be required when an award exceeds $100,000.

2013 Request for Applications, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program 19

Appendix B. Executive Summary and Project Narrative

Name of Organization/Business

Mailing Address:

Project Coordinator’s Name:

Email address:

Office Phone:

Cell Phone:

Amount Requested:

Non-Federal Matched Funds:

Project Title:

Project Location:

Project Category:

Executive Summary

U.S. Forest Service Collaborative Forest Restoration Program

FY 2013 Grant Application

Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications 21

Statement of Need

Narrative:

22 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

Project History

Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications 23

Project Partners

Partner Role Description

24 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

Objectives

Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications 25

Work Plan, Product and/or Outcomes

What will be done? Who will do it? When will it be done?

26 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

Lead Partners Existing

Conditions Desired

Conditions Measurements and Indicators

27 2013 Request for Applications, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program

Appendix C. Common Application Strengths, Weaknesses and Recommendations Identified in 2012 Panel Review

Strengths

1. The application includes a diverse and balanced group of partners.

2. The application demonstrates strong collaboration prior to submission of application.

3. The application includes strong letters of support.

4. The application includes strong letters of support from collaborators that commit to matching funds, roles, and responsibilities as described in the application.

5. Since NEPA is not done, this project offers a good opportunity for collaboration.

6. NEPA is complete.

7. The application demonstrates a commitment to a longer-term comprehensive program of collaborative forest restoration.

8. The project includes a good youth component.

9. The project will reduces fire risk in a community on the New Mexico Communities at

Risk List.

10. The project will reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire.

11. The project incorporates current scientific restoration information.

12. The project will add significant capacity to restoration efforts.

13. The project will lead to re-establishment of natural fire regimes.

14. The project will increase the use of wildland fire use and/or prescribed fire.

15. The application will preserve old and large trees.

16. The project is part of an integrated landscape restoration effort.

17. The project blends a restoration treatment with a utilization plan.

18. The project integrates treatment with existing utilization industries in the area.

19. The project supplies materials for biomass-to-heat or other bio-energy efforts.

20. This application includes a diverse array of products that could potentially address

100% utilization of the generated by-product.

21. The application includes a detailed monitoring plan, with indicators and how they will be measured.

22. This proponent has extensive expertise in the proposed activities.

23. Good budget detail and / or work plan.

24. The application is clear, concise, and well organized.

25. The application has adequately addressed the prior weaknesses & recommendations.

26. The project includes cross-jurisdictional activities.

27. The application includes collaborator interest forms.

28. The project implements a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

29. The project will create new jobs.

30. The application monitoring goes beyond the core CFRP ecological indicators.

31. The project includes an adaptive approach to restoration in an annual evaluation of monitoring data which is used to collaboratively refine prescriptions.

32. The application offers an opportunity to address the interaction between grazing and the re-establishment of natural fire regimes.

33. The project builds on past CFRP accomplishments.

Appendix C. Common Application Strengths, Weaknesses and Recommendations Identified in 2012 Panel Review

28 Collaborative Forest Restoration Program, 2013 Request for Applications

Weaknesses

1. The project title does not adequately describe what will be accomplished.

2. The proponents did not demonstrate collaboration with groups in design, implementation, and monitoring.

3. The youth component lacks detail.

4. Letters of support from all partners were not included in the application.

5. The collaborator / contractor letters do not verify match.

6. The application did not include documentation of consultation with tribes.

7. The application does not mention of attending the CFRP annual workshop.

8. The treatment areas are unclear in the maps…