CWDG_Applicant_Webinar_8_4_2023.pdf

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program Webinar for

Applicants

(Updated 08/03/2023)

Today's Agenda

• Overview of Program Changes from Round 1

• CWDG Program Overview

• CWDG Application Eligibility

• CWDG Application

• CWDG Application and Portal Information

• Grants and Agreements

• National Tools

• Timeline

Overview of Program Changes from Round 1

Grant Application Portal

All four Notice for Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are using the https://cwdg.forestrygrants.org/ portal for application submittal

• For Round 2, the NOFOs are advertised in grants.gov as required

• NOFOs then point applicants to apply in the cwdg.forestrygrants.org portal, which is where applicants will find the actual application form

• Applicants are required to submit UEI # and certify they have an active SAM.gov registration https://cwdg.forestrygrants.org/

Low Income Communities

Applicants for Round 2 now have access to community-level data for low-income, verses county-level used in Round 1

• A significant concern was the inability to analyze income status at a scale smaller than county-level

• Round 2 data is available for county, Tribe, and community income levels

• Low-income is now based upon having a median household income less than 80% in comparison to the state, as well as national, median incomes, verses only state level incomes used during Round 1 (mitigating bias against states with a lower overall income)

• The Wildfire Risk to Communities project team developed a new, easy-to-use web tool that provides CWDG eligibility and scoring data for all U.S. communities, counties, and Tribal areas. The tool will make it easier for underserved and lower-capacity communities to find the necessary data required to apply for grants.

https://wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool

Underserved Communities

The determination of underserved community for Round 2 will migrate from the Social Vulnerability Index to the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool

• CEJST was still in development during Round 1

• This conversion will comply with EO #13985

• The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool uses datasets that are indicators of burdens in eight categories: climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development. The tool uses this information to identify communities that are experiencing these burdens. These are the communities that are disadvantaged because they are overburdened and underserved

Underserved Communities

• Communities that meet the Low-Income definition are also considered underserved and therefore eligible for the match waiver

• In addition, the NOFO is updated to include waivers for Tribes, Pacific Islands and the USVI

• As reference, Executive Order 13985: "Advancing racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government": The term "underserved communities" refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life...

Application Period

Application period will be open for 90 days

• To allow applicants more time to develop proposals, the application period for Round 2 will be 90 days, verses 60 days used in Round 1

• The Application Period opened July 31st and will close October 31st, 2023

Prioritization of CWPPs

The CWDG workgroup suggested dedicating a minimum amount of Round 2 funding to target applications requesting the creation of CWPPs, or revisions to existing CWPPs, so long as they meet a minimum score.

• Only 3.4% of funding in Round 1 went to applicants requesting the development or enhancement of CWPPs

• To apply for CWDG, Communities must have a CWPP to apply project funding however, not every community has a CWPP creating disparity in funding opportunities

• Feedback from Multiple applicants and states asked for priority for the development of CWPPs during the early years of the CWDG funding. By doing so, these communities can do follow-up submissions for project implementation before the depletion of CWDG funding opportunities

• Minimum score TBD based upon an analysis of applications and scores

Use of Two Scoring Rubrics

Separate scoring rubrics are developed for CWPPs verses Projects

• Separate scoring rubrics are in place for CWPPs verses implementation projects allowing for better clarification to both applicants and reviewers regarding the information needed to answer questions

CWDG Program Overview

Authorizing Legislation

Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act, Section 40803(f) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, through the USDA Forest Service, to establish a program, which shall be separate from the program established under section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133), under which the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with the States, shall award grants to at-risk communities, including Indian Tribes —

• (A) to develop or revise a community wildfire protection plan; and

• (B) to carry out projects described in a community wildfire protection plan that is not more than 10 years old

Program Purpose

• The CWDG is intended to help communities in the wildland urban interface (WUI) implement the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (Cohesive Strategy):

• Resilient Landscapes: Landscapes, regardless of jurisdictional boundaries, are resilient to fire, insect, disease, invasive species and climate change disturbances, in accordance with management objectives

• Fire Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure are as prepared as possible to receive, respond to, and recover from wildland fire

• Safe, Effective, Risk-based Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions https://forestsandrangelands.gov/strategy/thestrategy.shtml

Program Administration

• Grants are offered on a competitive basis through Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted on www.grants.gov

• One NOFO per each of the three regional state forestry organizations (West, Northeast/Midwest, and Southeast)

• One NOFO for Tribes

• All applications will be submitted on https://cwdg.forestrygrants.org/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://cwdg.forestrygrants.org/

Program Administration (continued)

• A grant review panel will be convened in each of the state forestry organization regions to review, score, and rank grant applications received within their respective state forestry organization regions

• USDA Forest Service (USFS) will organize a grant review panel to review, score, and rank the grant applications received from Tribes

• Normalization process •Normalization is a process where raw scores undergo a statistical adjustment so that scores from different reviewers can be compared on a common scale.

Funding

• Minimum and Maximum Funding Levels

• There is no minimum Federal funding limit for projects under

CWDG

• The maximum amount of Federal funding awarded to any one community or Tribal entity:

• $250,000 for creating or updating a Community Wildfire Protection Plan

• $10 million for a project described within a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP can be no more than 10 years old / 2013 or newer)

Funding (continued)

• Required Matching Funds:

• Proposals to develop or update a CWPP, required match is

10%

• Proposals to implement projects described in a CWPP, required match is 25%

• Underserved communities are eligible to request a match waiver, as well as Tribes, Pacific Island Territories, and the

USVI

Additional Process Elements

• Lead Agency or Organization:

• All applications must identify the lead agency or organization

• The lead agency may pass funds to other partners performing work as relevant

• Grant Timeframes: Projects must be completed within five (5) years

• Reporting:

• Quarterly Financial reports

• Annual Project Performance reports

• Performance report shall include a spatial data component

CWDG Application Eligibility

Applicant Eligibility

• Eligibility

• At-risk Community

• Two options listed in NOFOs to determine if community is an “at-risk community”

• The following entities are eligible to submit a project proposal for funding:

• Units of local governments representing communities located in an area at risk of wildfires

• Indian Tribes

• Alaska Native Corporations

• Non-profit organizations such as homeowner associations that assist communities

• State forestry agencies

• For-profit entities are not eligible to apply for a grant under this program.

• Other considerations

• Applying for multiple communities

• Grant management by non-profits or other organizations

Eligible Lands

• Eligible applicants may apply for grant funding for a project proposal to be conducted on lands with the following ownership types, as long as the project proposal directly reduces wildfire risk to a community:

• Private lands

• Local government

• Homeowner associations

• State government

• Tribal/Alaska Native Corporation (includes Trust lands)

• Federal lands are not eligible for this funding opportunity, with the exception of federal Tribal trust lands

Priority Projects

• Priority will be given to project proposals that:

• Are located in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, and/or

• Benefit a low-income community, and/or

• Are located in a community impacted by a severe disaster within the previous 10 years

• Supporting documentation or link to documentation must be provided

Project Objectives

•Projects must advance objectives and priorities identified in a CWPP not more than 10 years old (2013 or newer)

•A project must be designed to achieve one or more of the following objectives:

• Assist a community with planning to address management of wildfire risk

• Assist a community with mitigation measures or actions to reduce wildfire risk

Multiple Community Applications

• Separate Projects in separate Communities:

• A separate narrative form and included budget will need to be filled out for each community for purposes of determining eligibility, prioritization, and ranking of the separate projects

• Single Project in multiple communities:

• For an application consisting of a single project that spans multiple communities, the project can be applied for and described within the same application and narrative form

Project Types

• CWPP Development or Revision

• CWPP Implementation

• Planning (Codes, smoke readiness, etc.)

• Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Education/Outreach

• Reduce Hazardous Fuels / Restore Fire-adapted Ecosystems See NOFO's for examples of Eligible and Ineligible project types

CWPP Development or Revision

Eligible Projects

• Creation of a CWPP or development of a wildfire section for a hazard mitigation plan.

• Update of an existing CWPP/hazard mitigation plan (Existing plan must be over five (5) years old (older than 2018))

Ineligible Projects

• Creation and/or update of Forest Stewardship Plans

Eligible “Planning” Project Examples

• Contract support to assist a community with developing building codes, zoning ordinances, or land use planning

• Direct staff funding support to assist a community with developing building codes, zoning ordinances, or land use planning

• Tabletop or functional exercises to test effectiveness of community wildfire planning

• Plan and address public health and safety effects of smoke and mitigation from wildfire and projects that use prescribed fire (“Smoke Ready” efforts)

• Direct staff support for community wildfire mitigation leadership/coordination

• Training in the use of proven effective mitigation practices, such as the Forest Service’s mitigation best practices

• Direct staff support to assist in creation of a local or regional mitigation partnership

Ineligible “Planning” Project Examples

• GIS and database systems unless in support of a CWPP, wildfire risk reduction planning or fuels mitigation initiative or project

• Creation and/or update of Forest Stewardship Plans

• Economic development projects

• Small business start-up funding

• Research and development projects

Eligible “Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Education/Outreach” Project Examples

• Firewise USA© or similar programs outreach to communities and property owners

• Fire education presentations such as Project Learning Tree

• Property inspections and/or assessments

• Training to conduct property inspections and/or assessments

• Implementation of WUI Structure / Parcel / Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM) for community hazard reduction

• Training for Traditional Ecological Knowledge of fire, Cultural Burning, Identification and protection of culturally significant plants, sacred site protection

Ineligible “Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Education/Outreach” Project Example

• Printing of paper-based materials without an organized outreach/education program

Eligible “Hazardous Fuels Reduction / Fire-adapted Ecosystems Restoration” Project Examples

• Defensible space around homes, businesses, and other structures

• Development, creation, and/or maintenance of fuel breaks and fire breaks, including shaded fuel breaks

• Fuels reduction beyond defensible space adjacent to at-risk communities

• Removal of standing woody vegetation by cutting, piling and burning

• Removal of standing woody vegetation by cutting and chipping

Project Examples (continued)

• Removal of standing woody vegetation using a mechanical mulcher or masticator type equipment mounted on mobile equipment

• Reduction of hazardous fuels through the application of prescribed fire

• Vegetation management (pruning, mowing, chemical treatment, grazing), including rights-of-ways for roads

• Maintenance of fuels projects. Up to two (2) maintenance treatments allowed per project during the grant term

Project Examples (continued)

• Monitoring components of projects for effectiveness (must have established baseline)

• Prescribed fire training, including training on smoke management associated with prescribed fires

• Design and installation of dry hydrants and cisterns

• Purchase of equipment for brush/fuel disposal, such as air curtain burner/trench burner (be aware of permitting requirements for these devices, which are an eligible cost)

Project Examples (continued)

• Purchase of mechanical equipment that meets, or does not exceed, the following requirements:

• Brush/woodchippers that are towable or mountable to a skid steer, compact track loader or tractor with a maximum chipping capacity of no more than 15 inches

• Self-propelled forestry mulchers up to a maximum 200 horsepower

• Forestry mulcher attachments designed for skid steers, compact track loaders, excavators or crawler dozers

• Heavy duty brush mowers that can be utilized for maintaining road rights-of-ways and fire breaks

• Trailers necessary to transport equipment that is determined eligible in this section, including box-type trailers to store and transport prescribed fire equipment

Project Examples (continued)

• Purchase of the following equipment and supplies to support the use of prescribed fire:

• Personal protection equipment, including fire shelters and N95 filtering face respirators

• Drip torches

• Wildland hand tools

• Backpack blowers

• Chainsaws

• Portable wildfire pumps

• Wildland hose

• Portable folding water tanks

• Cache of air filtration units for use by at-risk individuals in the public

Ineligible “Hazardous Fuels Reduction /

Project Examples

• Capital improvements including construction/infrastructure (building remodel, bridges, road construction, water system development). Dry hydrants are eligible for funding.

• Home hardening, including but not limited to:

• Roof upgrades or replacements

• Fire resistant siding

• Metal gutters and vents

• Fire suppression training (unless course is a requirement for prescribed fire qualifications)

• Fire suppression equipment and apparatus

• Drones

Other Considerations

•If there is an implementation project that is not covered in a CWPP, such as developing a smoke ready program for your community, consider updating your CWPP this year and applying for a grant for that project next year. The examples listed previously may help you recognize any gaps in your existing CWPP.

•You can apply for an implementation grant for projects already identified in your CWPP, and apply for a CWPP update grant separately (if assistance is needed), in the same year.

CWDG Application

Submitting Applications

• Notice of Funding Opportunities are posted on grants.gov:

• Tribes NOFO: USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-TRIBES

• Southern NOFO: USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-SGSF

• Northeast/Midwest NOFO: USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-NEMW

• West NOFO: USDA-FS-2023-CWDG-CWSF

• Applications will be submitted through cwdg.forestrygrants.org

• Reach out to your point of contact listed in the NOFOs for an application link

• Tribal entities may submit applications via any NOFO

• Both CWPP and Project Implementation use the same application (but have separate scoring rubrics)

GIS Coordinates

• Please include enough coordinates/description to be able to represent the general area of the impact of the project for which you are applying

• For point-based projects, please include a reference point and description

• For fuel treatments, please include enough coordinates to ascertain a general boundary of the area being treated. If unsure of boundaries, please include a reference point and the planned acreage to be treated under the description

• For CWPP development, please include a description of the planning area and type (municipality boundary, fire response district, township, etc.)

GIS Coordinates: Ref. Point Name:

Lat/Long:

Description:

Area Name:

Boundary Lat/Longs:

Description:

Scoring Criteria and Prioritization Factors

• There are two separate rubrics; one for CWPP Development or Revision and one for Project Implementation

• NOFOs contain each of the scoring rubrics

• Total Points and scoring criteria remain the same as Round 1:

• Project Description (0-10 points)

• Project Budget Explantation (0-10 points)

• Accomplishments (0-10 points)

• Collaboration (0-10 points)

• Landscape Impacts (0-10 points)

• Project Sustainability (0-10 points)

• Low-Income Community (10 points or 0 points)

• Severe Disaster Impact (10 points or 0 points)

• Wildfire Hazard Potential (20 points or 0 points)

Project Description (10 points)

• Clearly define the scope of the project, what the project proposes to accomplish, why it is important, and how it supports the Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy and relevant State Forest Action Plan (or equivalent Tribal plan).

• Provide a comprehensive but succinct overview of the proposed project that includes basic details of who is doing what, where, and why this is important.

• Explain how the project is described in a CWPP (or acceptable alternative as described in the NOFO).

• Specify if benefits to traditionally under-served or marginalized audiences are a component of the work.

Applicant Budget (10 points)

• Clearly explain how the budget will be spent by line item, sources of match, and how expenditures are applicable and relevant to the goals and objectives of the project.

• The budget narrative must describe how the grant funds will be spent with specific detail for each grant expenditure.

• It must describe how expenditures are applicable and relevant to the goals and objectives of the project.

• A project proposal must also show how the applicant will meet matching requirements or qualify for a waiver. If qualified for a waiver, you do not need to show funding in the match column.

Accomplishments (10 points)

• A proposal must clearly define how a project will be accomplished, timelines and milestones, as well as measures and metrics

• Examples include:

a. How the selected objectives will lead to measurable outcomes for community wildfire risk reduction

b. How the applicant will measure progress towards those outcomes (such as, acres treated to reduce hazardous fuels, change in fire regime)

c. The proposed metrics for measuring progress, which must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely

Accomplishments - Measurable Outcomes

• A sample Measurable Outcomes table is available in the application pdf form to guide applicants on the types of accomplishments to describe in the accomplishments narrative

• For projects selected for funding, reporting accomplishments will be required for the annual performance reports

• You may also list additional specific measurable results that show how the Federal investment will lead to outcomes on the landscape

• In the accomplishments narrative section, describe less quantifiable return on investments

Collaboration (10 points)

• The application should clearly define collaborative elements including support from partners, agencies, landowners, and communities

• A project proposal must identify partners that will be actively engaged in carrying out the project and add value to project planning and implementation, with a description of each partner’s role

• Collaboration may be qualitative in nature, and the contribution of a partner may be more than the number of partners

Landscape Impacts (10 points)

The application should clearly define:

• The scale of the project including relationships with past, present, or future projects that, when combined, offer more benefits than when taken individually

• The overall landscape that the project influences, in addition to the defined project area, should be clearly described, as well as the land ownerships within the area

• Specify areas targeted for planning or mitigation

• Clearly describe each proposed activity and include details on where they will be occurring

• Include the approximate number of structures that will benefit from the proposed action

Project Sustainability (10 points)

• The application should clearly define how or if the project will sustain itself after the grant period is over

• Any steps or plans that will be carried out to continue the project benefits beyond the life of the grant should be described, as well as who or what organizations will be responsible

Low-Income Community(10 points)

• The application should clearly demonstrate and document whether the project benefits a low-income community, as defined.

Affected by a Severe Disaster (10 points)

The application should clearly demonstrate and document:

• Whether the project benefits a community that has been impacted by a severe disaster within the previous ten (10) years

• Clearly exhibit how the severe disaster increased wildfire risk and/or hazard and was of a scale and scope to have had landscape impacts (refer to definition in the NOFO)

• Simply listing a disaster will not suffice, you must explain how this disaster has impacted the community’s wildfire risk and hazard (not all disasters will qualify for points if it cannot be shown they have influenced the community’s risk or hazard)

Examples of Severe Disaster

• Examples of how a Severe Disaster may impact an area resulting in increased risk or hazard associated with wildfire:

• Ice storm, windstorm, hurricane, or similar event causing severe vegetation damage resulting in accumulation of dead and downed fuels, leading to increased risk associated with wildfire.

• Flood, landslide, or other event damage impacting transportation infrastructure, resulting in restricted egress, longer evacuation times for communities.

• Past wildfires contributing to conditions which result in more rapid and/or more intense fire behavior:

• Increased grass and light fuel loading leading to increased rates of spread.

• Species change to invasives with increased fire behavior.

• Increased dead / heavy fuel loading due to heavy mortality in previous fires leading to higher intensity fires.

• Past wildfire damage to wildfire response infrastructure, such as communication networks, fire detection systems, air quality monitoring systems.

• Past wildfires reducing watershed capacity (through soil impermeability, lack of cover for snow holding, etc), increasing potential for drought related effects resulting in increased fire risk / fire behavior.

• Forest health related issues, such as insect outbreaks or disease, leading to increased risk of high severity wildfire.

Area of Wildfire Hazard Potential (20 points)

• The application should clearly demonstrate and document whether the project is located in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential as defined by a local, state, Tribal, regional, or national wildfire hazard potential assessment

What Factors Influence High Scores

Detailed narratives including the following:

• How project will impact community immediately

• How project will impact community long term

• Plan for how funds will be spent

• Examples of prior incidents that the project would have been applicable

• Timeline / Project Plan looking forward

• Described how agency will partner with others

• Uses examples of prior and current partnerships

What Factors Influence Low Scores

• Lack of detail in descriptions

• Short narratives

• Does not define where money will be spent

• Does not use examples when listing accomplishments / collaboration

• Lacking clear plan for sustainability

• Does not include examples of landscape impacts and how the project will change the effects

CWDG Application and Portal Information

CWDG Application Process

• Contact your state/island/territory point of contact

• Request an application link

• UEI# and active sams.gov registration

Application Link

Admin Section and Applicant Section

UEI# and Sams.gov Expiration Date

Project Information

Brief Project Overview and Purpose

Grant Component Type

At-Risk Community

Roofing Code/ Ordinance

Grant Waiver

Project Description

Applicant Budget

Project Budget Explanation

Accomplishments

Collaboration

Landscape Impacts

Project Sustainability

Low-Income Community

Severe Disaster Impact

Wildfire Hazard Potential

Review & Submit

Grants & Agreements

• Budget details

• Cost share/match

• Equipment

• Buy American

• Davis-Bacon wages for construction

• Roads

• Subawards – requirements and reporting

• Sam.gov and risk

Access Branch Support

Goal:

• Provide pre and post award technical and administrative assistance to external partners

• Develop tools, resources and programs to improve access to Forest Service funding opportunities for traditionally underrepresented communities

Access Branch Support

Team:

• Melissa Aulisio, Branch Chief

• Rebecca Buxton, Outreach Collaboration Specialist

• Aaron Stout, Grants Management Specialist

• Robin Taylor Davenport, Outreach Collaboration Specialist

• Heather Mansukhani, Access Coordinator

• Vi Ta, Program Analyst

Contact:

• Access Mailbox: accessga@usda.gov

• Booking site for external partners: consultation site mailto:accessga@usda.gov https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/ForestServiceGrantsAgreements@usdagcc.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

CWDG Application:

National Tools

Submitting Applications – CWDG Tool

An easy-to-use, online dashboard provides data to include in your CWDG application.

www.wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool

Immediate information about eligibility status

Populates key criteria (wildfire risk, low-income, and severe disaster declarations)

Cost-share waiver eligibility

GIS coordinates

Copy and paste options to easily populate your application http://www.wildfirerisk.org/cwdg

CWDG Tool Video

CWDG Online Tool – Step 1: Search

CWDG Online Tool – Step 2: Eligibility

CWDG Online Tool – Step 3: GIS Coordinates

CWDG Online Tool – Step 4: Scoring (Low-Income)

…or

(Low-Income)

(Severe Disasters)

(Severe Disasters)

CWDG Online Tool – Step 3: Scoring

(Wildfire Hazard)

CWDG Online Tool – Step 5: Cost- Share Waiver www.wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool http://www.wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool

National Tools

• CWDG Tool: https://wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool

• Council of Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool:

https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/- 97.5

• Updated and approved tools will be posted on CWDG website: Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program | US Forest Service (usda.gov)

• FAQ's

• Samples of high/low scoring questions

• Webinar Recordings https://wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants

• 8/4/23 - 8/15/23 – Applicant Webinars (4)

• 8/30/23 - 10/31/23 - Bi-Weekly Office Hours

• 10/31/23 – Close application period

• 12/01/23 – Have round 2 applications verified

• 01/31/24 – Have round 2 applications scored

• 02/16/24 – Final list of scored and ranked applications

Proposed Timeline of CWDG Program

Questions?