Instructions_FY2025 NEMW CWDG NOFO (1).pdf

U.S. Forest Service

USDA Forest Service State, Private and Tribal Forestry Fiscal Year 2025 Community Wildfire Defense Grant

Notice of Funding Opportunity Instructions Northeast-Midwest

Table of Contents

Overview and Submission Dates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 grants.gov

USDA-FS-2024-CWDG-NEMW

Purpose of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant https://www.grants.gov/

Resilient Landscapes:

Fire Adapted Communities:

Safe, Effective, Risk-based Wildfire Response:

Key Points

Who Can Apply:

For-profit entities are not eligible to apply for this funding opportunit

Eligible Lands:

Lands administered by the federal government are not eligible for this funding opportunity with the exception of lands held in trust for Native American Tribes and individuals (hereinafter Trust lands).

State Forest Action Plans and the Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy:

Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through https://forestsandrangelands.gov/strategy/thestrategy.shtml https://forestsandrangelands.gov/strategy/thestrategy.shtml the Federal Government:

Minimum and Maximum Funding Levels:

minimum maximum

Project Costs:

Program Income:

Required Matching Funds:

Communities meeting the definition of underserved, Indian Tribes, ANCs, and Pacific Islands may request a waiver of match

SAM.gov Active Registration:

Failure to have an active registration will result in a disqualification of the application.

Lead Agency or Organization:

Grant Timeframes:

For Proposals Including Multiple Communities:

Scoring and Ranking of Applications:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2ebab48582f1b4223c33f2ad6477d78f&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1306&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=41f52eea9bd297f23a8b8f8a461c2f57&mc=true&node=sp2.1.200.e&rgn=div6 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=41f52eea9bd297f23a8b8f8a461c2f57&mc=true&node=sp2.1.200.e&rgn=div6

Reporting:

Build America/Buy America:

Floodplain Management Criteria:

Labor Standards:

Detailed Eligibility and Qualifying Proposal Types

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

o https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/protections-for-workers-in-construction https://www.stateforesters.org/who-we-are/our-membership/ https://www.stateforesters.org/who-we-are/our-membership/

Location of Projects

Lands administered by the federal government are not eligible for this funding opportunity with the exception of Trust lands.

Project Objectives

Projects to be Given Priority

General Eligibility Criteria

Note: It is not a requirement to have a roofing ordinance for grant eligibility.

PROJECT PROPOSAL TYPES

CWPP Development or Revision:

Applications for CWPP development and/or revision are the only projects eligible for a 10% match.

Examples of CWPP Proposals

Eligible Projects Ineligible Projects

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

Creation and/or update of Forest Stewardship Plans.

Eligible Projects Ineligible Projects

Update of an existing CWPP/hazard mitigation plan (existing plan must be over five (5) years old).

Table 1-Eligible CWPP Proposals

Planning:

Applications for Planning projects require a 25% match.

Examples of Planning Projects

Eligible Projects Ineligible Projects

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

GIS and database systems unless they support a CWPP, wildfire risk reduction planning or fuels mitigation initiative or project.

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

Small business start-up funding.

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

Research and development projects.

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

Economic development projects.

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.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/01/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-launches-initiative-to-modernize-building-codes-improve-climate-resilience-and-reduce-energy-costs/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/01/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-launches-initiative-to-modernize-building-codes-improve-climate-resilience-and-reduce-energy-costs/

Eligible Projects Ineligible Projects

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

Table 2 - Eligible Planning Projects

Applications for Prevention and Mitigation Education/Outreach require a 25% match.

Wildfire Prevention/Education/Outreach Eligible Ineligible Firewise USA© or similar programs outreach to communities and property owners.

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

Fire education presentation 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.

Adoption, implementation, enforcement, and training of National Fire Protection Association, International Code Council, or similar codes.

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

Table 3 - Eligible Prevention/Education/Outreach Projects

Reduce Hazardous Fuels / Restore Fire-adapted Ecosystems:

Applications for Reducing Hazardous Fuels and Restoring Fire-adapted Ecosystems require a 25% match.

Examples of Hazardous Fuels Reduction/ Restoration Projects Eligible Ineligible Defensible space around homes, businesses, and other structures.

Capital improvements including construction/infrastructure (building remodel, bridges, road construction, water development).

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

Home hardening, including but not limited to:

Roof upgrades or replacements.

Fire resistant siding.

Metal gutters and vents.

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

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

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

Fire suppression equipment and apparatus.

Removal of standing woody vegetation by cutting and chipping.

Drones

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.

(2) maintenance treatment allowed per project during the grant term.

Monitoring components of projects for effectiveness (must have established

Eligible Ineligible baseline).

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

Design and installation of dry hydrants and cisterns.

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.

Purchase of equipment for brush/fuel disposal, such as air curtain burner/trench burner.

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.

Eligible Ineligible Wildland hose.

Portable folding water tanks.

Cache of air filtration units for use by the public.

Table 4 - Eligible Hazardous Fuels Reduction/Restoration Projects

Cost Share Match Requirements and Waivers

Matching Requirements o

Cost-Share Waiver https://wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool https://wildfirerisk.org/cwdg-tool

Scoring Criteria for Community Wildfire Defense Grants (100 points total)

1. Project Description (10 points, 7,500 maximum character limit)

2. Budget (10 points, fillable table and 5,000 maximum character limit for description) Grant Match TOTAL Funds Requested Non-Federal Funds Total Project Cost

Personnel/Labor:

Fringe Benefits:

Travel:

Equipment:

Supplies:

Contractual:

Other:

Indirect Costs:

TOTAL:

3. Accomplishments (10 points, 7,500 maximum character limit)

4. Collaboration (10 points, 7,500 maximum character limit)

5. Landscape Impacts (10 points, 7,500 maximum character limit)

6. Project Sustainability (10 points, 7,500 maximum character limit)

7. Low Income Community (10 points, 3,000 maximum character limit)

8. Affected by a Severe Disaster (10 points, 3,000 maximum character limit)

Note: 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)

9. Area of Wildfire Hazard Potential (20 points, 3,000 maximum character limit)

Criteria Scoring Rubrics:

Note: there are two separate rubrics; one for CWPPs and one for Projects.

“Develop or Revise a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)” CWPP Criteria Scoring Rubric

Criteria High Score Medium Score Low Score

1. Project Description

7-10 points

3-6 points

0-2 points

2. Budget 7-10 points 3-6 points 0-2 points

3. Plan for the Accomplishment of a CWPP

3-6 points 0-2 points

4. Collaboration 7-10 points

5. Landscape 7-10 points 3-6 points 0-2 points

Impacts

6. Project Sustainability

7-10 points 3-6 points 0-2 points

7. Low-Income Community

10 points Not applicable 0 points

8. Affected by a Severe Disaster

9. High/Very High ildfire azard otential

20 points Not applicable 0 points

Projects

Project Criteria Scoring Rubric

1.

Project Description

2. Budget 7-10 points 3-6 points 0-2 points

3. Accomplishments 7-10 points

4. Collaboration 7-10 points

5. Landscape Impacts 7-10 points 3-6 points 0-2 points

6. Project Sustainability

7-10 points 3-6 points 0-2 points

7. Low-Income Community

8. Affected by a Severe Disaster

10 points Not applicable 0 points

9. High/Very High Wildfire Hazard Potential

20 points

Not applicable 0 points

Preparing an Application

USDA-FS-2024-CWDG-NEMW

http://www.grants.gov/

It is highly recommended to work with the appropriate state contact (see list in this NOFO) early on in the application process for guidance

Completed application packages are due by 11:59 pm, Eastern Time Zone, February 28, 2025.

https://www.stateforesters.org/forest-action-plans/ https://forestsandrangelands.gov/strategy/thestrategy.shtml https://forestsandrangelands.gov/strategy/thestrategy.shtml https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwildfirerisk.org%2Fcwdg-tool&data=05%7C01%7C%7C026428b5d2f345f492d708db83c6edf2%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638248662645028183%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HM9i1LxsEiicE12yNyqSd5PQibWva8Y%2BLCs%2BfRRKG%2Bg%3D&reserved=0 mailto:SM.FS.usfs_cwdg@usda.gov

Application Form Instructions

Proposal Cooperator:

Applicant Information:

If you are working with a state/island forestry agency or non-profit who will be implementing the project on behalf of a community, please be sure their information is indicated in the applicant information section and the community contact information is indicated in the proposal cooperator section. If you are both the community contact and the one implementing the project both of these sections are the same.

Project Information:

GIS Coordinates of Project Area

Brief Project Overview and Purpose:

Grant Component Type:

At-risk community

An at-risk community is defined as an area that is comprised of:

Option 1: An interface community as defined in the notice entitled ‘‘Wildland Urban Interface Communities Within the Vicinity of Federal Lands That Are at High Risk from Wildfire,’’ issued by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with title IV of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (114 Stat. 1009) (66 Fed. Reg. 753, January 4, 2001), or Option 2: A group of homes and other structures with basic infrastructure and services (i.e., utilities, collectively maintained transportation routes, etc.) at risk from wildfire as recognized by a state, regional, or national wildfire risk assessment, in which herbaceous or woody fuel conditions in and adjacent to the community are conducive to a wildland fire disturbance event which threatens human life or values-at-risk.

Roofing Code/Ordinance

Grant Waiver (for Underserved)

Project Description (10 points):

Applicant Budget:

Personnel:

Fringe Benefits:

Equipment:

Supplies:

Contractual:

Other

Indirect Costs

Project Budget Explanation (Narrative)(10 points):

Accomplishments (10 points):

Collaboration (10 points):

Landscape Impact (10 points):

Project Sustainability (10 points):

Low Income Community (10 points):

Impacted by a severe disaster (10 points):

simply listing a disaster will not suffice, as not all disasters will qualify for points if it cannot be shown they have influenced the community’s risk or hazard)

Impacted by a severe disaster means any event declared, designated, or recognized by a government authority as having caused damage, loss, or destruction to an extent and scale that an unusual or abnormal increase in wildfire risk or hazard potential to a community has occurred. Examples may include Federal, State, Tribal, or county disaster declarations or declared emergencies, events declared by the USDA Farm Services Agency, events declared as a Presidential declared disaster, communities impacted by a FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant, or widespread insect and disease mortality.

High or Very High Wildfire Hazard Potential (20 points):

High or very high wildfire hazard potential means the project is located within 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.

Project Evaluation and Selection mailto:SM.FS.usfs_cwdg@usda.gov

Contacts for Further Information

US Forest Service Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management Program Contact for CWDG:

Contacts by State and Territory:

Connecticut:

Delaware:

Illinois:

Indiana:

Iowa:

Maine:

Maryland:

Massachusetts:

Michigan:

Minnesota:

Missouri:

New Hampshire:

New Jersey:

New York:

Ohio:

Pennsylvania:

Rhode Island:

Vermont:

West Virginia:

Wisconsin:

https://www.sam.gov/ mailto:sm.fs.usfs_cwdg@usda.gov mailto:thomas.trask@ct.gov mailto:sam.topper@delaware.gov mailto:dbridges@dnr.in.gov mailto:jason.walker@dnr.iowa.gov mailto:Kent.Nelson@maine.gov mailto:dakota.albers@maryland.gov mailto:David.celino@state.ma.us mailto:ChurchT@Michigan.gov mailto:michael.warnke@state.mn.us mailto:Joseph.Battersby@dep.nj.gov mailto:aaron.kloss@dnr.state.oh.us mailto:mikern@pa.gov mailto:kelsey.zaengle@vermont.gov mailto:jolene.ackerman@wisconsin.gov

Appendix I. Instructions for Submitting Applications through cwdg.forestrygrants.org

USDA-FS-2024-CWDG-NEMW

February 28, 2025

1. Contact the State or Federal Contact listed above

2. Filling Out and Saving Your Application

3. Final Submission and Confirmation

February 28,2025 at 11:59pm, Eastern Time Zone.

Applicant Support http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants https://cwdg.forestrygrants.org/ mailto:SM.FS.usfs_cwdg@usda.gov mailto:sm.fs.usfs_cwdg@usda.gov mailto:sm.fs.usfs_cwdg@usda.gov https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants

Appendix II. Community Wildfire Defense Grant Application Requirements Checklist

This is as an aide for applicants submitting CWDG applications and is not an exhaustive list of grant requirements.

Requirements:

Documentation Required:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/25/2021-01753/advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

PROJECT PROPOSAL TYPES