D25AS00131 NOFO Updated 2-19-25.pdf

The U. S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

Interior Business Center (IBC) Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD)

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)

Office of Wildland Fire (OWF)

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Slip-On Tanker Units

Funding Opportunity Number

D25AS00131

Contents

BASIC INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY

Cost Sharing Requirement

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals

Program Description

Legislative Authority

Type of Award

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Application Contents and Format

Application Documents

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package

Submission Dates and Times

Submission Instructions

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Eligibility Review

Merit Review Criteria

Review and Selection Process

Risk Review

AWARD NOTICES

POST‐AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Administration and National Policy Requirements

Reporting

BASIC INFORMATION

Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD)

Department of Interior (DOI), Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) – Slip-on Tanker Units

Announcement Type: New Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Number: D25AS00131

Assistance Listing Number: 15.088

Total Anticipated Funding to Award: $20,000,000.00 USD

Anticipated Number of Awards: 100 75 – 125 awards are anticipated to be made from this NOFO. The actual number of awards will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds. Up to 25 awards will be reserved for consolidated applications. See Application Contents and Format

Anticipated Amount Per Award: Award Max: $500,000 | Award Min: $10,000

Cost Sharing Required? Matching is not required

Submission Dates and Times: March 14, 2025; 11:59PM Eastern Time

Estimated Processing Time: 90 days

Anticipated Award Date: Between June 6, 2025 – September 15, 2025

OMB Control Number: N/A

Have Questions? Contact AQD_OWF_FA@ibc.doi.gov

Executive Summary Climate change is driving the devastating intersection of extreme heat, drought, and wildland fire danger across the United States, creating wildfires that move with a speed and intensity previously unseen. This has created conditions in which wildfires overwhelm response capabilities, resulting in billions of dollars in economic losses, damage to natural resources, devastation to communities, and the tragic loss of human life.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted in November 2021, is bringing much-needed support to communities across the country to increase the resilience of lands facing the threat of wildland fires and to better support federal wildland firefighters. The BIL provides funding and authorizes the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to develop and implement a pilot program to provide local governments with financial assistance to acquire slip-on tanker units to establish fleets of vehicles that can be quickly converted to be operated as fire engines. The objective of this opportunity is to provide funding for these units that meet the required minimum specifications as outlined in Attachment 1.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants

X Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility

1. To be eligible, an entity must have a SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) that reflects an "Entity Type" of "U.S. Local Government." IAW 2 CFR 200.1: Local government means any unit of government within a state, including a:

A. County;

B. Borough;

C. Municipality;

D. City;

E. Town;

F. Township;

G. Parish;

H. Local public authority, including any public housing agency under the United States

Housing Act of 1937;

I. Special district;

J. School district;

K. Intrastate district;

L. Council of governments, whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law; and M. Any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-State or local government.

2. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. local governments that provide fire protection and other emergency services and are in need of slip-on tankers to improve the wildland firefighting readiness for their area of protection and service a location with a population of 50,000 or less. Use the Wildfire Risk to Communities dashboard found at DOI SOT Grant Data Center (wildfirerisk.org) to determine population size.

3. To be eligible, a community must have at least moderate wildfire risk, defined as >40th percentile in the national Wildfire Risk to Homes dataset of the Wildfire Risk to Communities dashboard found at DOI SOT Grant Data Center (wildfirerisk.org). Please see Attachment 2 for information about the dashboards proposed methods and data sources.

Cost Sharing Requirement No. Cost Sharing / Matching is not required.

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations

Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration

Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be registered in SAM.gov. During the SAM.gov registration the entity will obtain their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

The SAM.gov registration process can take several months. If your organization is not already registered in SAM.gov, begin the registration process as soon as possible.

To register in SAM.gov, go to the SAM.gov website and use the available resources to complete registration.

Financial assistance registrants must review and certify compliance with the SAM.gov “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications”.

Already registered? You already have a Unique Entity ID. Before applying, check that your “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications” on SAM.gov is complete. Remember to renew your registration every year to keep it active while you have an award or application in progress. You can update your registration whenever you need, including during renewal.

Need help? For additional information and contact information on the SAM.gov Help page.

GRANTS.GOV

This program accepts application through Grants.gov so once you receive your UEI return to Grants.gov to register with Grants.gov. Please allow for 30 days to register and set up a Workspace in Grants.gov. See Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

GRANTSOLUTIONS

This program accepts application through GrantSolutions.gov. You must register with GrantSolutions. See Submission Instructions.

Refer to Attachment – Submission Instructions & Tips.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is bringing much needed support to communities across the country to increase the resilience of lands facing the treat of wildland fires and to better support federal wildland firefighters. The BIL provides funding and authorizes the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to develop and implement a pilot program to provide local governments with financial assistance to acquire slip on tanker units to establish fleets of vehicles that can be quickly converted to be operated as fire engines. The objective of this opportunity is to provide funding for these units.

Program Description

Climate change is driving the devastating intersection of extreme heat, drought, and wildland fire danger across the United States, creating wildfires that move with a speed and intensity previously unseen. This has created conditions in which wildfires overwhelm response capabilities, resulting in billions of dollars in economic losses, damage to natural resources, devastation to communities, and the tragic loss of human life.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as BIL, enacted in November 2021, provides funding to local governments to acquire slip-on tanker units to support wildland firefighters.

Legislative Authority

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 16 USC 6592, PL 117-58, Sec. 40803(c)(5).

Type of Award

Project will be made through GRANTS

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Application Contents and Format

Applications can be single entity application or a consolidated application. A single entity application is where one (1) entity is applying for slip-on tanker unit(s) to be used in their area of protection/service location. A consolidated application is where one (1) entity is applying for slip-on tanker unit(s) on behalf of two (2) or more entities whereby each entity represented would have a separate area of protection/service location (e.g. a county government applying on behalf of some of their fire departments). Please note that each entity represented in a consolidated application must meet the eligibility criteria.

Application Documents

Applicants must submit the following forms with their application as specified below.

Instructions for accessing and submitting application forms are provided in the Submission

Instructions section of this document below. For instructions on completing form fields, see the form instructions on the Grants.gov Forms Repository.

FORMS REQUIREMENT

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

Note: For applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Representative’s signature (or electronic equivalent) on the Application for Federal Assistance form also represents their certification of the statements in Appendix A to 43 CFR 18-Certification Regarding Lobbying.

Required from all applicants

SF-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs Required for non-construction projects

Project Abstract Summary (OMB 4040-0019) Required from all applicants SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Required if requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds and the applicant has used or plans to use funds other than Federal appropriated funds for lobbying related to the proposed project.

If submitting a consolidated application, the forms above are only submitted by the primary applicant. The budget should include amounts for all entities combined.

Project Narrative

Applicants should submit a project narrative that addresses the seven (7) categories below.

For convenience, it is preferred that interested parties utilize Attachment 3 of this notice for responding to the Project Narrative portion of the application package.

1) Application Type Single entity application or consolidated application

If consolidated application, complete sections 3-7 for EACH entity represented.

2) Primary Applicant Information POC Name (first and last):

Email Address:

Street Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Unique Entity ID (UEI):

3) Location/Entity Information Entity Name:

Is the Entity a U.S. Local Government (Yes/No):

U.S. State the Entity is Located in:

Geographic Area (https://gacc.nifc.gov):

4) Need for Wildland Firefighting Readiness

Risk to Homes Score*:

*A screenshot from the Wildfire Risk to Communities dashboard DOI SOT Grant Data Center (wildfirerisk.org) that illustrates this score must be included.

If your area of protection/service location is not found in the dashboard, provide a screenshot from the dashboard for the nearest city, township, or county that is found in the dashboard.

5) Population

Description or Name of Serviced Area:

Population of Serviced Area**:

**A screenshot from the Wildfire Risk to Communities dashboard DOI SOT Grant Data Center (wildfirerisk.org) that illustrates this population must be included. If your area of protection/service location is not found in the dashboard, please submit a request for population size determination to AQD_OWF_FA@ibc.doi.gov.

6) Slip-On Tanker Units Number of units requested:

Provide the details of the units requested. This includes a manufacturers quote and/or any additional information to evaluate technical acceptability.

7) Vehicle(s) to Mount Slip-On Tankers on (if requesting multiple slip-on tankers provide information for each vehicle that a requested slip-on tanker will be mounted to). Example, if requesting funds to purchase three slip-on tankers provide information for three vehicles)

Vehicle 1 Make:

Model:

Year:

VIN:

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) Vehicle Curb Weight*** Available Payload (GVWR – Vehicle Curb Weight)

Slip-On Unit Dry Weight Slip-On Unit Wet Weight Estimated Weight of Equipment and Personnel**** Total Fire Ready Weight of the Vehicle (Vehicle Curb Weight + Slip-On Unit Wet Weight + Equipment & Personnel)

***Vehicle Curb Weight can be obtained from the manufacturer or by providing a scale receipt

****If unknown, allow for approximately 1,000 pounds

Budget Narrative

Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget. The budget narrative must identify the following cost items: total estimated costs, non-Federal cost share, third-party contributions, and any pre-award costs. Total project cost is the sum of all allowable costs, including required and voluntary cost share and third-party contributions.

Budget items must be:

Reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary Compliant with 2 CFR §200 Subpart E cost principles

Indirect Costs: Applicants must indicate in their budget narrative how they will charge indirect costs, including the rate to be applied:

De Minimis Rate: If eligible, state if your organization is opting to use the de minimis rate of up to 15% of total modified direct costs. Entities that do not have a current Federal negotiated indirect cost rate (including provisional rate) may propose to use the de minimis rate. For more information, refer to 2 CFR 200.414(f).

Negotiated Rate: State if you will negotiate with your cognizant agency. If your organization has previously negotiated a rate, attach a copy of the most recently negotiated rate agreement (active or expired).

Other Required Information

Conflict of Interest and Unresolved Matters Disclosures: If any actual or potential conflict of interest exists related to this project at the time of application, the applicant must provide sufficient information to support a program determination of significance per 2 CFR 1402.112.

Refer to 2 CFR 200.112 Conflict of Interest and 2 CFR 200.113 Mandatory Disclosures.

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement:

Applicants must state in their application if the activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel proposed in this application overlap with those in any other Federal proposal or award or not. If no overlap exists, include a statement to that effect. If any overlap exists, provide:

Activities: Description any overlapping activities.

Costs: Description of any overlapping costs.

Time: Description of any overlapping key personnel time.

A copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity.

Details on when any overlapping proposal was submitted, to whom, and the expected date of the funding decision.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package This NOFO contains all information, documents, and electronic addresses needed to submit an application through www.Grants.gov or by email to AQD_OWF_FA@ibc.doi.gov.

Submission Dates and Times Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59PM ET on March 14, 2025.

Submission Instructions Apply Through Grants.gov To apply through Grants.gov, please follow the instructions in the Quick Start Guide for Applicants. Before applying, ensure that at least one person at your organization is registered and has the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Only the AOR can submit the application. If you need more users, they must create their own Grants.gov account. Follow these steps below to apply:

Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

Complete a Workspace: Invite participants to the workspace so you can collaborate on the application. Required applications forms are included in the Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Package and can be completed in the Workspace, unless noted otherwise in the Required Forms table above. Check for errors before submission.

Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab

Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application.

The system generates a date and time stamp and sends it to the applicant’s AOR via email as proof of submission. Make sure your application passes the Grants.gov validation checks. Do not encrypt, zip, or password-protect any files. Only registered individuals in SAM as both a user and an AOR can submit applications. Please allow 30 days to register in Grants.gov.

Application System Technical Support

For Grants.gov technical registration and submission, downloading forms, and application packages, contact:

Grants.gov Customer Support 1-800-518-4726 Support@grants.gov

Applications can be submitted electronically via email to AQD_OWF_FA@ibc.doi.gov by the submission date and time.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Eligibility Review During the eligibility review, the application is checked for timely submission, completed packages (see Application Documents above) and alignment with the requirements of this announcement. The Federal agency may remove an application if it does not pass the eligibility review.

To be eligible, entities must have the following:

1. SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) that reflects an "Entity Type" of "U.S. Local Government."

2. An area of protection or service location with a population of 50,000 or less. Use the Wildfire Risk to Communities dashboard found at DOI SOT Grant Data Center (wildfirerisk.org) to determine population size.

3. An area of protection or service location with at least moderate wildfire risk, defined as >40th percentile in the national Wildfire Risk to Homes dataset of the Wildfire Risk to Communities dashboard found at DOI SOT Grant Data Center (wildfirerisk.org).

If removed from consideration for ineligibility, the Federal agency will notify the applicant in writing.

Merit Review Criteria Criterion 1

Technical Speci ication

Demonstrates the proposed unit(s) adequately meets the minimum speci ications as outlined in the NOFO.

Criterion 2

Certi ication

Demonstrates that a compliant vehicle will be available for unit installation prior to receipt of the unit(s).

Criterion 3

Fiscal Management Demonstrates prices proposed are necessary and align with the commercial marketplace.

Review and Selection Process This program reviews proposed budgets to ensure:

figures are correct estimated costs are necessary and reasonable and clearly linked to project narratives avoid obviously unallowable costs identify costs requiring prior approval ensure indirect cost rates are applied correctly confirm cost sharing requirements are reflected in the budget.

This program reviews applications for potential overlap or duplication between the proposed project and any other funded or proposed project. Depending on the circumstances, DOI may choose to not make an award.

All eligible and complete application packages will be evaluated using the criteria identified above using the following rating system:

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

Acceptable Meets requirements adequately, minor strengths and weaknesses are balanced

Unacceptable Fails to meet requirements, with serious weaknesses that aren’t correctable

Once all ratings have been established, those applications determined Acceptable will be prioritized in the following manner:

1) Wildfire Risk to Communities Dashboard Wildfire Risk Score of the service area(s): Responses will first be ordered based on the Wildlife Risk Score of the service area(s) from the highest Wildlife Risk Score to the lowest. For applications submitted for multiple locations (consolidated application), the Government will use the average Wildfire Risk Score for all the locations included on the application.

2) Equitable Geographical Distribution: It is the Government’s desire that the slip-on tankers obtained through this opportunity be geographically distributed as equitably as possible based on the pool of eligible entities submitting acceptable applications.

DOI will maximize award to the number of Geographic Areas (as defined by the National Interagency Coordinating Center (gacc.nifc.gov)) by ensuring at least five eligible parties for each Geographic Area, if submitted, will be prioritized for grant award. Consolidated applications will not be included in this number and will be prioritized separately.

Risk Review Prior to making an award, the program assesses the risk posed by the applicant per 2 CFR

200.206. If an award will be made, the program may apply special conditions corresponding to the risk assessed. The program will assess financial management capabilities, project delivery experience, staffing resources, past performance, administration and reporting compliance records, and overall project complexity and potential challenges.

For awards over the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000), the program reviews responsibility/qualification information in the applicant’s SAM.gov records per 2 CFR 200.206(a). In addition, per Appendix 1 of 2 CFR 200, an applicant can review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov. Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, the Federal agency will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

AWARD NOTICES

Notices of Federal Award are sent electronically via GrantSolutions or e-mail. These notices outline the terms, conditions, and payment instructions per 2 CFR 200.211. The Notice of Federal Award signed by an authorized Grants Officer is the legal instrument obligating financial assistance to a recipient. Any other prior notice is not an authorization to begin work. If the program allows pre-award costs per 2 CFR 200.458, beginning performance before receiving a Notice of Federal Award is at the applicant’s own risk.

Upon being selected for the award, successful applicants will receive a notification of the selection of their application for funding. AQD will notify the applicant selected for award by April 30, 2025. Awards are expected to be issued between June 6, 2025 and September 15, 2025.

A notice of selection is not an authorization to begin performance on a grant. This notice will detail the next steps in the awarding process. Once all clearances and reviews have been conducted, a fully executed grant will be distributed.

Work cannot begin before the non-Federal entity receives a fully executed copy of the grant which contains the signature of the Grants Officer. Any pre-award costs incurred prior to the receipt of a signed contract agreement or written notice signed by a Grants Officer authorizing pre-award costs, is at the applicant's own risk. A grant signed by a Grants Officer is the only authorizing document to begin performance.

Organizations whose applications have not been selected will be advised as promptly as possible.

POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND

ADMINISTRATION

Administration and National Policy Requirements For award administration and national policy requirements, see the DOI Standard Terms and Conditions. Infrastructure projects require the use of American iron, steel, manufacture products, and construction materials per 2 CFR 184.

Reporting The recipient’s Notice of Award will detail all reporting requirements, including frequency, due dates, and instructions for requesting extensions. In general, but not limited to, recipients must:

Electronically submit Federal Financial reports and Program Performance reports within 120 days of the end of the period of performance.

Use the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) form for financial reporting, Monitor award activities and report on program performance per 2 CFR 200.329, Promptly notify the awarding program in writing of any issues, delays, or conditions impairing award objectives per 2 CFR 200.329(e), Disclose any conflicts of interest related to their award that arise during the award period per 2 CFR 1402.112, Report on the status of real property acquired under the award in which the Federal government retains an interest per 2 CFR 200.330, and Report all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award per 2 CFR 200.113.

Report any matters related to recipient integrity and performance to SAM.gov per

Appendix XII to 2 CFR 200.

Report present exclusions or disqualifications, any civil or criminal indictments or convictions, and any public transactions that have been terminated within the preceding three years for cause or default per 2 CFR 180.335.

Immediately give notice if you failed to disclose information as required in 2 CFR

180.335 or if you or any of the principals now meet any criteria in 2 CFR 180.335 per 2

CFR 180.350.

If the Federal share of the award is more than $100,000 and the recipient makes or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection to the award, disclose those activities using the Disclosure of Lobbying (SF-LLL) form per

43 CFR 18.100.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) requires certain recipients to report information on executive compensation through SAM.gov and information on all sub-awards, subcontracts, and consortiums over $30,000 to the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS).

Other Information

The Federal Government is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of the announcement.

Payments: Domestic recipients are required to register in and receive payment through the U.S.

Treasury's ASAP, unless approved for a waiver by AQD. Foreign recipients receiving funds to a final destination bank outside the U.S. are required to receive payment through the U.S.

Treasury's International Treasury Services (ITS) System. Foreign recipients receiving funds to a final destination bank in the U.S. are required to enter and maintain current banking details in their SAM.gov entity profile and receive payment through the Automated Clearing House network by electronic funds transfer (EFT). AQD will include recipient-specific instructions on how to request payment, including identification of any additional information required and where to submit payment requests, as applicable, in all Notices of Award.

Attachments

Attachment 1: Minimum Specifications Attachment 2: Slip-On Tank Grant Program Proposed Methods and Data Sources Attachment 3: Project Narrative Attachment 4: Frequently Asked Questions