CWDG_Applicant_Webinar_West_and_Tribal_20220803.pdf

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program Webinar for

Applicants

(Updated 08/03/2022)

Today's Agenda

• CWDG Program Overview

• CWDG Application Eligibility

• Scoring Criteria and Prioritization Factors

• CWDG Application

• CWDG Application Systems

• Grants and Agreements

• CWDG Program Information on Low-Income and Underserved Communities

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 helps communities in the wildland urban interface (WUI) implement the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (Cohesive Strategy):

• Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances, in accordance with management objectives

• Create Fire Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property

• Improve 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

• Applications submitted either to grants.gov, or cwdg.forestrygrants.org, depending on location of applicant

• www.Grants.gov for (NE/ MW and South)

• https://cwdg.forestrygrants.org/ (West)

• Tribes may utilize either www.Grants.gov or https://cwdg.forestrygrants.org/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ 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

Eligible Applicants

• Entities eligible to apply for funding under the CWDG include:

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

• Indian Tribes

• Alaska Native Corporations

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

• State forestry agencies (including U.S. territories and interests)

• For-profit entities are not eligible to apply for CWDG

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

Eligibility and Priority Elements

• Eligibility

• At-risk Community

• Priorities

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

• Benefit a low-income community, and/or

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

• Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

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)

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

Grant Application and Scoring 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.

• Scoring and Ranking of applications: Applications will be scored by members of one of four (4) review panels

• 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

Multiple Community Applications

There may be two types of “Multiple Community” Applications

• Separate Projects in separate Communities:

• For separate projects in separate communities, a single application (424, 424A) within grants.gov may be submitted

• However, 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 Projects 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

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 with 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

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

Location of Projects

• Private land

• Local government

• Homeowner associations

• State government

• Tribal lands and Alaska Native Corporation (includes Trust lands)

Project Objectives

•Projects must advance objectives and priorities identified in a CWPP not more than 10 years old

•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

Project Types

•Planning

•Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Education/Outreach

•Hazardous Fuels Reduction / Fire-adapted Ecosystems Restoration

Eligible “Planning” Project Examples

• 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 not more than 10 years old)

• 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

Eligible “Planning” Project Examples (continued)

• 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 or to support 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

Project Examples (continued)

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

• Brush/wood chippers 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 development)

• 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

Scoring Criteria and Prioritization Factors

Project Description (10 points)

• The application should clearly define the scope of the project, what the project proposes to accomplish, why it is important, and how it links to the Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy and relevant State Forest Action Plan

Budget (10 points)

Budget narrative must describe in detail how the grant funds will be spent for each grant expenditure, how expenditures are applicable and relevant to project goals and objectives, and how applicant will meet matching requirements or qualify for a waiver

Accomplishments (10 points)

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

• A proposal must articulate how objectives will lead to measurable outcomes for community wildfire risk reduction, and how progress will be measured towards outcomes

• Progress metrics must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely

Collaboration (10 points)

• A proposal should 1) define collaborative elements, including support from partners, agencies, landowners, and communities, and 2) identify partners that will be actively engaged in the project and add value to project planning and implementation

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

Landscape Impacts (10 points)

• A proposal should articulate:

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

• The defined project area and the overall landscape that the project influences

• The land ownerships within the area, specifying the areas targeted for planning or mitigation

• Each proposed activity with details on where each activity will occur included

• The approximate number of structures that will benefit from the proposed actions

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

Low-Income Community(10 points)

• A proposal should demonstrate and document whether the project benefits a low-income community

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, and clearly exhibit how the severe disaster increased wildfire risk and/or hazard, and was of a scale and scope to have had landscape impacts (please see full definition later in this NOFO)

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

Submitting Applications

• Tribal Entities, Southern Region, Northeast-Midwest Region

• Submit applications to Grants.gov

• Tribes NOFO: USDA-FS-2022-CWDG-TRIBES

• Southern NOFO: USDA-FS-2022-CWDG-SGSF

• Northeast/Midwest NOFO: USDA-FS-2022-CWDG-NEMW

• Only authorized Grants.gov workspace representatives for the applying entity are eligible to submit applications through Grants.gov

• Western Region

• Submit applications to cwdg.forestrygrants.org.

• West NOFO: USDA-FS-2022-CWDG-CWSF

• Usernames and Passwords will be provided to State Foresters and their delegated representatives by the Council of Western State Foresters prior to the application portal opening

• Tribal entities may submit applications via any NOFO https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=community%20wildfire%20defense%20grants https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=community%20wildfire%20defense%20grants https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=community%20wildfire%20defense%20grants https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=community%20wildfire%20defense%20grants

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:

Measurable Outcomes

• Provide the output amount for at least one of the quantitative accomplishment measures listed on the next two pages

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

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

Measurable Outcomes (continued)

Measurable Outcomes (continued)

Systems

Western Region:

cwdg.forestrygrants.org

CSS Admin

Admin Section and Applicant Section

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

Accomplishments (10 points) Clearly define how the project will be accomplished, including at least one of the quantitative accomplishment measures provided in the measurable outcomes table from the NOFO guidance. Identify measurable outcomes and timelines (are the proposed activities clear and achievable, goals defined, outcomes measurable, # of acres treated, # of education/outreach programs, planning/assessment efforts clearly described, etc.).

Describe any applicable less quantifiable return on investments.

Collaboration

Landscape Impacts

(10 points) 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. Describe overall landscape that the project influences.

Project Sustainability

Low-Income Community

(10 points) 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. Describe overall landscape that the project influences.

Severe Disaster Impact

Wildfire Hazard Potential

Does the project location have wildfire hazard potential? (20 points) Please respond yes or no, if this project is located within an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential as defined by a state, regional, tribal, territorial or national wildfire hazard potential assessment?

Provide a link to the verification source.

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

Team:

• Melissa Aulisio, Branch Chief

• Heather Rivera, Grants Management Specialist Trainee

• Aaron Stout, Program Analyst

• Vi Ta, Program Analyst

• Robin Taylor Davenport, Grants Management Specialist Trainee

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/

SAM

• Registration & Validation: due to the recent delay of validating applicants’ information, it is recommended that you register very early on to avoid delays.

Refer to SAM registration checklist: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration

• GSA offered a webinar today 8/3 1PM EDT; it will be recorded. You can also subscribe for future webinars: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/entity-validation-stakeholder-forum-tickets- 388797412527?utm_medium=email&utm_source=GovDelivery. Remember to subscribe to SAM.gov and visit their homepage frequently for up to date alerts and announcements

• Validation FAQs:

https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0058422& sys_kb_id=7bb8810ddba05990060d5425f3961912&spa=1 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.eventbrite.com/e/entity-validation-stakeholder-forum-tickets-388797412527?utm_medium=email&utm_source=GovDelivery https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0058422&sys_kb_id=7bb8810ddba05990060d5425f3961912&spa=1

CWDG Program Information on Low Income and Underserved Communities Priority

National Tools

• OMB approval just finalized on 8/2

• Updated tools will be posted on CWDG website

• Tools will include citations and sample language applicants can use

• Available tools will include:

• At-risk (Eligibility)

• High/very high wildfire hazard (Scoring Priority)

• Low income (Scoring Priority)

Low-Income Definition

Definition that will be utilized for CWDG program:

• For purposes of this program, a low-income community is defined as a community where the relevant counties (i.e., the counties in which the community is located) has a median household income of less than 80% of the median household income of the relevant state(s).

• Approved definition is listed in each NOFO

• Tools and information will also be available on the CWDG website

Underserved Communities Definition

Definition that will be utilized for CWDG program to determine eligibility for cost-share waiver:

• A community meets the threshold of vulnerable with a score 0.75 or above on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index, as compared to the nation, or meets the low-income descriptions we provide.

• To determine if your project qualifies for this cost-sharing requirement, please use CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index for 2018, with tracts compared to the nation.

• 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

Equity Definition

• Executive Order 13985: “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”: The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

National Tools

• Council of Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool: https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5

• Environmental Protection Agency EJScreen, Environmental Justice Mapping and Screening Tool: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen

• Centers for Disease Control, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Social Vulnerability Index Information:

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/documentation/SVI_docu mentation_2018.html

• USDA Economic Research Service County Typology Codes:

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/county-typology-codes/

• Wildfire Risk to Communities data sets/tools are being adopted and will be available for use with CWDG

• Updated and approved tools will be posted on CWDG website https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/documentation/SVI_documentation_2018.html https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/county-typology-codes/

Questions?