PKG00250809-instructions.docx

Budget Detail Page 12 Attachment B

Department of Interior (DOI) Bureau of Land Management Colorado State Office Funding Opportunity Announcement Number: L19AS00040

Federal Program: 15.233 Forests and Woodlands Resource Management Program

Title: BLM-CO: Forests and Woodlands Resource Management Program

Authorizing Legislation (Click on hyperlinks below for more information):

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 USC § 1737(b) Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements, 16 USC § 1011 (b) Good Neighbor Authority, 16 USC §2113a Stewardship End Results Contracting Projects, 16 USC 6591c(c)

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Forest and Woodland Resource Management Program manages and conserves 58 million acres of forest and woodland in 12 western states and Alaska. These forests provide a range of ecosystem services including wildlife habitat, hydrologic function, and sustainable harvest of forest products valued by society. A primary activity of the program is to maintain and improve the resilience of forest and woodland ecosystems to wildfire, insects, disease, and drought through density management using timber sales, Stewardship agreements, and Good Neighbor (GNA) agreements.

In particular, BLM Colorado manages 3.5 to 4 million acres of forested lands in Colorado. More than 2.5 million acres are considered woodlands, dominated by piñon, juniper and oak. The remaining forested acres consist of traditional commercial tree species such as ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine and Douglas fir. Some of the wood products harvested include saw timber, firewood, Christmas trees, post and poles, and biomass. Forested lands in Colorado tend to have low productivity rates, so the BLM's management focus for forested lands in Colorado is to restore forest health conditions rather than produce commercial timber. BLM Colorado works cooperatively its partners to mitigate bark beetle-associated impacts and improve forest health. In particular, major health concerns have been the following: 1) mountain pine beetle outbreak in north-central Colorado; 2) decline of aspen stands; and 3) Spruce beetle outbreak in southern Colorado.

BLM Colorado manages forests and woodlands with three goals:

· Improve the health and vitality of forests for multiple use management.

· Promote forestry-related projects.

· Improve and support wood-product markets, including biomass, at the state and local levels.

In 2019, the BLM is implementing directives related to forest and woodland management through the following:

· Executive Order 13855: Promoting Active Management of America’s Forests, Rangelands, and Other Federal Lands to Improve Conditions and Reduce Wildfire Risk.

· DOI Secretarial Order 3372: Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land through Active Management. Specifically the BLM is seeking to conduct forest treatments that are in the interest of the BLM and adjacent landowners. In addition, the BLM is seeking to conduct salvage harvest treatments from large-scale mortality events such as wildfire and insect epidemics.

BLM Colorado has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist and collaborate with a recipient to leverage additional resources outside of the federal government, which not only furthers the BLM mission, but also improves our responsiveness to the public. In addition, by working across jurisdictional boundaries, public agencies, such as the BLM, gain efficiencies and streamline processes, which results in greater public and private participation. These collaborative efforts generate cost savings to the public by utilizing a recipient that shares similar goals of local economic improvement, environmental enhancement, and resource sustainability.

Funded projects under this program will focus on high priority work that promote the following: 1) forest and woodland health; 2) sustainable forest management; 3) fire resiliency; 4) infrastructure development for future sustainable timber harvest; 5) biomass utilization; 6) habitat conservation needs; and 7) insect, disease and fire recovery. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

· planting trees;

· pre-commercial and commercial thinning;

· salvage/sanitation forest treatments;

· control of competing vegetation;

· fuels reduction, riparian or upland restoration;

· project development and layout;

· planning analysis and document preparation needed in concert with or to carry out land use planning decisions, Endangered Species Act, cultural clearances, data collection, and monitoring.

Priority activities under this announcement include preparation, administration, or implementation of timber sales, and Stewardship and GNA projects that treat forest and woodlands as described below:

1. One or more components of preparing a project (site surveys, environmental clearances, NEPA preparation, project layout, timber cruising, timber marking, boundary designation, and other tasks related to preparing a project).

2. One or more components of administering a project, such as subcontracting, advertising for bid, awarding a subcontract or timber sale, subcontract performance inspection, and other tasks related to administering a project.

3. Implementation of Authorized Restoration Services. See BLM’s IM for more specific information: https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2018-008. This includes acres/units of Land Management Goals (Stewardship Manual for definition: download here: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/MS%205920%20%20Stewardship.pdf), or acres/ units of forest or woodland treatments conducted.

Program Strategic Goals:

· Implement science-based forest restoration projects to improve forest health and resilience to wildfires, insects, disease, and drought.

· Sustainable harvest of forests and woodlands to produce a continuous supply of wood products and biomass for renewable energy.

· Salvage dead and dying timber to reduce fuels, in balance with the need for wildlife habitat, watershed function, and soil stability, while supporting local economies.

· Provide the public with commercial and personal use opportunities to harvest products such as firewood, Christmas trees, boughs, greenery, medicinal plants, fence posts, and pinyon pine nuts from forests and woodlands.

· Expedite the NEPA processes to accelerate the removal of beetle-killed timber to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and minimize risks to the recreating public.

· Implement projects collaboratively with a Governor or any other appropriate executive official of an affect State, county official, or Indian Tribe under the Good Neighbor authority by implementing project under authorized restoration services, which means similar and complementary forest and watershed restoration services carried out on Federal land, non-Federal land, and land owned by an Indian tribe.

The following program statutory authority, BLM Manuals, and directives are applicable to this program:

1. BLM Manual MS-5920-1 Stewardship End Result Contracting Projects Eligibility for Stewardship is based on whether the project meets one of the seven Land Management Goals as outline in this manual. Stewardship authorizes a number of actions not available under other authorities such as trading goods for services. All special authorizations are listed in this manual.

2. BLM Instructional Memorandum IM-2018-008 GNA is only eligible for state governments, counties, and Indian Tribes. GNA projects have special requirements and restrictions as outlined in this IM. GNA authorizes sole source partnerships with eligible entities and allows them to subcontract using their procedures.

3. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321)

All proposed projects submitted under this funding opportunity must state a benefit to the public. Attached to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), please find a map of public lands under the jurisdiction of BLM Colorado. Please indicate what areas your organization has capacity to work and/or areas that are addressed by the project proposal.

· Joint collaboration between the BLM and recipient in carrying out management, development, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed work.

· Training of recipient personnel.

· Review and approval by the BLM of one stage of work prior to the start of the next stage.

· Review and approval by the BLM of modifications or sub-awards prior to their award.

· Participation in selecting recipient project staff.

· Directing or redirecting of recipient work by the BLM because of relationships to other projects.

· Ability to immediately halt work because of failure to meet agreement objectives; and close monitoring and/or operational involvement in the proposed work.

A. Anticipated Total Federal Program Funding Based on prior year data, BLM anticipates between $250,000 to 750,000 for the program based on multiple years. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated as they are received and may be submitted at any time up until the closing date of this announcement. Individual award amounts will depend on the merit review process of application packages and proposed budget. Funding for this program is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of funds.

In appropriate circumstances, BLM reserves the right to, partially fund proposals in discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If BLM chooses to partially fund a proposal, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the proposal or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process. Funded proposals through this competitive announcement is not a guarantee of future funding. Any additional selections must be made in accordance with the terms of this announcement and BLM policy.

BLM is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of the announcement and only Grants Management Officers can bind the Federal Government to the expenditure of funds. BLM reserves the right to fund projects in the following fiscal year. These awards will not require further competition.

B. Estimated Number of Agreements to be Awarded Based on prior year data, BLM anticipates issuing up to four (4) agreements for FY 2019. The actual number of awards will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds.

C. Estimated Amount of Funding Available Per Award The award size will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds. Based on prior year data, BLM anticipates the average dollar amount of awards made under this announcement to be between $25,000 to $200,000 in fiscal year 2019. This information is also available on the USASpending.gov website (https://www.usaspending.gov/#/). The largest award made under this program in Fiscal Year 2018 was approximately $ 146,000 for a one-year period.

D. Anticipated Start Date: Projects funded through this Funding Opportunity Announcement will start once funding is secured and awards are issued. Agreements are not effective until fully executed with signature from the BLM Grants Management Officer (GMO).

E. Anticipated Term of the Agreement:

Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one (1) and five (5) years, depending on the project proposal and milestones detailed therein.

The BLM will consider continued support of the project in subsequent fiscal years upon the following: (a) the recipient showing progress satisfactory to the BLM toward program goals and the determination by the BLM that continuation of the program would be in the best interests of the Government; (b) project is still in line with management’s top priorities; (c) compliance with the terms and conditions of the award; and/or (d) the availability of funds appropriated by Congress.

F. Additional Funding Information Funding for project(s) is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of funds and evaluation of proposals is based on the criterion in this announcement. In appropriate circumstances, BLM reserves the right to partially fund proposals in discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If BLM chooses to partially fund a proposal, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the proposal or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process. Funded proposals through this competitive announcement is not a guarantee of future funding.

Funding is available through fiscal year 2019, with the option to add funding, if available, in subsequent fiscal years based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed each year by Congress and/or the enactment of Continuing Resolutions. Applicant projects may be scalable with options for funding in future fiscal years. Applicants are encouraged to seek funding based on the period of performance. When, or if, additional funding becomes available, BLM reserves the right to issue additional awards under this announcement through the next fiscal year.

Any additional selections must be made in accordance with the terms of this announcement and BLM policy.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants The following types of entities are eligible to apply for award under this announcement. Failure to meet eligibility requirements will result in precluding the BLM from making an award.

Awards under the Good Neighbor Authority. 16 USC §2113a (b)(1)(A) are limited to Governor or County. The term “Governor” means the Governor or any other appropriate executive official of an affected State or Indian tribe or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

All other type of entities:

· Institution of Higher Education (IHE)

· Nonprofit Organizations - subject to 26 U.S.C. 501(c) (3) of the tax code (26 U.S.C. 501(c) (3)) *NOTE: For-Profit, individuals, foreign entities are not eligible, unless specifically stated in the legislative authority. Refer to 2 CFR, Part 200.60 – Non-Federal Entity

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

Applicants may attribute some or all of their allowable indirect costs as voluntary committed cost-share/match.

C. Other Eligibility Restrictions:

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration: All applicants are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and then register in SAM.gov prior to submitting a Federal award application. Federal award recipients must continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information through the life of their Federal award(s). See the “Submission Requirements” section of this document below for more information on SAM.gov registration. The BLM may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the BLM is ready to make an award, the program may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. The program can use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. This requirement does not apply to individuals applying for funds as a private citizen (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate in your name) or any entity with an exception approved by the BLM under 2 CFR 25.110(d).

D. Excluded Parties: The BLM conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The BLM cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

IV. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

A. Requesting Paper Application Package This announcement includes all information, documents, and electronic addresses needed to submit an application through www.Grants.gov. Paper copies may be requested by contacting the individual(s) named at the end of this notice.

B. Application Form and Content Requirements

DO NOT MERGE INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTS INTO A SINGLE PDF FILE

2. SF 424(B & D), Assurances NOTE: In accordance with Office of Management and Budget Memo, M-18-24, dated September 5, 2018, these forms are optional through January 1, 2020. At that time your assurances statements will be maintained in your SAM registrations.

3. Project Proposal Suggested Format Attachment A project proposal template and may be used when submitting your proposal. The proposal must be no longer than 15 pages, with a typeface no smaller than 11-point, and have at least one (1) inch margins on all sides. The 15-page limit includes all text, figures, references, and vitae, but does not include the Budget Detail (Attachment B).

Application narrative requirements may include:

All proposals are confidential.

4. SF-424, Budget Information Applicants must submit the appropriate SF-424 Budget Information form. Complete either the SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs or the SF-424C, Budget Information for Construction Programs, as applicable to your project. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. Please note: Show funds requested from this Federal program separately from any other Federal sources of funding. In the “Budget Summary” section, use the first row for funding requested from this Federal program. Use subsequent row(s) for other Federal funding. Enter each Federal program’s CFDA number(s) in the corresponding fields on the form. The CFDA number(s) for this Federal program appears on the first page of this Funding Opportunity.

5. Budget Detail and Narrative (Attachment B- Suggested Format) Describe and justify requested budget items and costs. Detail how the SF-424 Budget Information, Object Class Category totals were determined. For personnel salary costs, include the baseline salary figures and the estimates of time. Describe any item of cost that requires prior approval under the Federal cost principles. See 2 CFR 200.407 “Prior written approval (prior approval)” for more information. If equipment purchased previously with Federal funds is available for the project, provide a list of that equipment and identify the Federal funding source. Include detailed descriptions of all cost justifications (see BLM’s suggested format attachment B for more detail). Additionally, provide any cost sharing and matching funds in the same level of detail as the federal funds. The budget narrative submitted with the application must match the dollar amounts on all required forms.

Budget items must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary to the supported activity. Refer to 2 CFR §200, for applicable administrative requirements and cost principles.

If your proposal is for multi-year or multiple year funding, you must provide a budget and budget justification for each year. Show each year in a separate column on the SF-424A and use a separate column for listing any matching funds. The BLM expects that applicants will ensure that no Federal or non-Federal grant funds will be expended for in-kind goods or services, for purposes of providing transportation, travel, and other expenses for any Federal employee.

NOTE: Budget Detail and Narrative form (Attachment B) is a suggested format to present the breakdown of your estimated costs by category needed to accomplish project activities. Estimated costs must be documented in sufficient detail to determine reasonableness. Include a description of any cost share (cash, in-kind, etc.) listed. Lump sum costs are not acceptable in any category, without a detail breakdown of how the cost were derived.

Profit or fees are “not” allowable.

6. Indirect Costs: Organizations The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency for indirect costs, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior is your organization’s cognizant agency, the Interior Business Center will negotiate your indirect cost rate. Contact the Interior Business Center by phone 916-930-3803 or using the IBC Email Submission Form. See the IBC Website for more information.

Organizations must have an active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency.

Failure to establish an approved rate during the award period renders all costs otherwise allocable as indirect costs unallowable under the award. Recipients must have prior written approval from the BLM to use amounts budgeted for direct costs to satisfy cost-share or match requirements or to cover unallowable indirect costs. Recipients shall not shift unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

Required Indirect Cost Statement and Documentation:

All applicants must include in their budget justification narrative one of the following indirect cost rate statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement:

We are:

7. Single Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribal government, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the EIN associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

8. Certification Regarding Lobbying Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funding must certify to the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If this application requests more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form also represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

9. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Applicants and recipients must not use any federally appropriated funds (annually appropriated or continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a Federal award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any U.S. agency, a Member of the U.S. Congress, an officer or employee of the U.S. Congress, or an employee of a Member of the U.S. Congress connection with the award. Applicants and recipients must complete and submit the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities if the Federal share of the proposal or award is more than $100,000 and the applicant or recipient has made or has agreed to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with the application or award. The SF-LLL form is available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

10. Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants must provide a statement indicating if there is any overlap between this Federal application and any other Federal application, or funded project, in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If no such overlap or duplication exists, state, “There are no overlaps or duplication between this application and any of our other Federal applications or funded projects, including in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel”. If any such overlap exists, provide a complete description of overlaps or duplications between this proposal and any other federally funded project or application in regards to activities, costs, and time commitment of key personnel, as applicable. Provide a copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity and identify when that proposal was submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when you anticipate being notified of their funding decision.

When overlap exists, your statement must end with “We understand that if at any time we receive funding from another source that is duplicative of the funding we are requesting from the Bureau of Land Management in this application, we will immediately notify the Bureau of Land Management point of contact identified in this Funding Opportunity in writing.”

11. APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING FORMS:

Form Name and Number

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

SF-424A Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs

SF-424C Budget Information for Construction Programs (if applicable)

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (when applicable)

Project Proposal (Attachment A to this document)

Budget Detail (Attachment B to this document)

Indirect Cost Statement and related Federal Agency-approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) (when applicable)

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement

Letters of Support (optional)

Conflict of Interest Disclosure (when applicable)

Single Audit Reporting Statement (when applicable)

NOTE: Failure to provide complete information may cause delays, postponement, or rejection of the application.

V. Submission Requirements A. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration These requirements do not apply to any individual applying for funds as a private citizen or any entity with an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d). All other applicants are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and provide that number in the application; complete SAM.gov registration before submitting an application; and continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times when the entity has an active Federal award or application under consideration. There is NO COST to register with Dun & Bradstreet or SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who will charge a fee in exchange for registering entities with Dun & Bradstreet and SAM.gov; please be aware you can register and request help for free.

1. Obtain a DUNS Number Request a DUNS Number through the Dun & Bradstreet website. The official website address is http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. For technical difficulties, send an email to the D&B SAM Help Desk. Please ensure that you are able to receive emails from SAMHelp@dnb.com. The Grants.gov “Obtain a DUNS Number” webpage also provides detailed instructions. Once assigned a DUNS number, your organization must maintain up-to-date information with Dun & Bradstreet. Applicants must enter their DUNS number in the “Organizational DUNS” field on the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form.

2. Register with SAM Register on the SAM.gov website. The official website address is http://www.sam.gov. The “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov Register with SAM” webpage also provides detailed instructions. You can also contact the supporting Federal Service Desk for help registering in SAM. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least once every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly encouraged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure their information is up to date and reflects changes that may have been to the entity’s DUNS or IRS information. Foreign entities who want to receive payment directly to a U.S. bank account must enter and maintain valid, current banking information in SAM.

B. Submission Dates and Times

Proposals must be submitted in English. Late applications will not be accepted.

BLM requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov. For more information on how to submit applications through Grants.gov, click here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html. More information is listed in Section E of the FOA.

C. Intergovernmental Review Prior to application submission, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the OMB Office of Federal Financial Management website and view the “State Point of Contact (SPOC) List” to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” States not on the list do not participate in the intergovernmental review process, and therefore do not have a SPOC.

If you are located within a State that does not have a SPOC, you may send application materials directly to a Federal awarding agency. If your state is on the list, contact the designated entity for more information on the state’s prior review requirements for Federal assistance applications.

D. Funding Restrictions Construction, reconstruction, repair, or restoration of paved or permanent roads or parking areas are not allowed under this announcement, unless project qualifies as a “Stewardship Agreement.”

E. Submission Instructions

1. Register with Grants.gov Applicants must first register an account with Grants.gov and complete all steps of the registration process before they can apply through Grants.gov. Grants.gov registration requires the entity to create an account, create an account profile, and establish authorized profile roles, including the applicant’s authorized representative. Registration can take three to five business days or longer, if you do not complete the required steps in a timely manner.

2. Grants.gov Workspace Application Grants.gov applicants apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement, you can create individual instances of a workspace. To apply, the applicant will create, complete, and submit a Workspace application package for this Funding Opportunity directly on Grants.gov. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to allow time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission. When attaching files to the Grants.gov application, please do not assign file names longer than 20 characters, including spaces. File names longer than 20 characters will prevent your application received by Grants.gov from automatically downloading into the BLM’s financial assistance management system. Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that the transmission of the application to Grants.gov takes time. Grants.gov sends either an error message or a “successfully received” message by email to the applicant’s authorized representative once the transmission is complete. Please do not end the transmission process before receiving that message.

3. Proof of Timely Submission Grants.gov automatically generates an electronic date and time stamp in the system upon application receipt. Grants.gov sends an acknowledgement of receipt with the date and time stamp and a unique Grants.gov application tracking number to the authorized representative by email. This email from Grants.gov serves as your proof of timely submission.

VI. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Prior to award, the BLM will review any applicant statement regarding potential overlap or duplication between the project to be funded and any other funded or proposed project in terms of activities, funding, or time commitment of key personnel. Depending on the circumstances, the BLM may request modification to the application, other pending applications, or an active award, as needed to eliminate any duplication of effort, or the BLM may choose not to fund the selected project.

1. SAM.gov Registration The BLM may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the BLM is ready to make an award, the program may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. The program can use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

2. Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP) Award cannot be finalized, until awardee finalizes their enrollment in the Department of the Treasury, ASAP System: http://www.fms.treas.gov/asap.

If your organization is not enrolled in ASAP, contact the Grant Management Officer listed in Section VIII or Federal Awarding Agency Contact for this funding opportunity.

3. Review and Section Process:

Applications eligible for merit review will be evaluated by an ad hoc evaluation team assembled to review, rate, rank, and recommend applications for award using the below evaluation criteria. Evaluation teams are made up of two or more qualified personnel familiar with the program and certified to have no conflict of interest with any persons or organizations applying for award.

Reviews are handled as confidential documents. Once award decisions are made, applicants may request in writing a written summary of the evaluation of their application/proposal.

A total of 100 points will be used to score each proposal received. The scores assigned to each criteria in the second level evaluation correspond to their relative importance. Proposals will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by appropriate BLM Staff expert in the program's field of study.

The Government reserves the right to reject any and all proposals which do not meet the requirements of this funding opportunity announcement and which are determined to be outside the scope of the authority under which this announcement is posted.

Project must assist BLM in meeting one or more Department of the Interior 10 priorities Priority 1: Create a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt.

Priority 2: Sustainably develop our energy and natural resources.

Priority 3: Restore trust and be a good neighbor.

Priority 4: Ensure tribal sovereignty means something.

Priority 5: Increase revenues to support the Department and national interests.

Priority 6: Protect our people and the border.

Priority 7: Strike a regulatory balance.

Priority 8: Modernize our infrastructure.

Priority 9: Reorganize the Department for the next 100 years.

Priority 10: Achieve our goals and lead our team forward.

Award will be made to responsive, responsible applicants submitting proposals, which conform to the funding opportunity announcement and are most advantageous to the Government considering the evaluation factors listed below.

First Level Screening --Basic Eligibility

Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Depending on the specifics of the opportunity, screening may include, but is not limited to, the following:

· Submission is timely;

· Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; and

· Complete and properly executed required application package documents (Section IV. B. 10 APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION) are included.

Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review.

Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation Eligible applications will be evaluated in an objective and unbiased manner using the following merit review criteria using numerical scoring based on a 100-point maximum score. Proposals must include the following information. The evaluation criteria portion should be addressed in the technical proposal section of the application. Applications should thoroughly address each criterion and any sub-criterion in the order presented below. It is suggested that applicants copy and paste the below criteria and subcriteria into their applications to ensure that all necessary information is adequately addressed. Applications will be evaluated against the criteria listed below:

STATEMENT OF NEED (Maximum score 20 /100 Points) Describe your mission and objectives, including what the project is expected to achieve.

Describe how your objectives of your project meets one or more of the DOI priorities described in this announcement and/or Secretarial Orders. https://www.doi.gov/ourpriorities.

Describe needs statement for this project/program.

TECHNICAL APPROACH (Maximum score 35 /100 Points) Describe the techniques, processes, methodologies to be used. Describe how the proposed work reflect best practices or proven strategies (e.g. cite resources, studies, and/or past successes that support your approach or methodology).

Describe significant outputs and expected outcomes of the project with a clear set of milestones and how they will be measured.

Describe the areas your organization has resources to perform work.

Describe how data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation will be accomplished.

Describe how the area will be maintained and/or monitored once project is completed.

Describe how your chosen approach or approaches will achieve goals and objectives at articulated in this Funding Opportunity Announcement and within the period of performance.

Describe what tasks will be performed by partners organizations, sub awards, contractors, consultants, if applicable.

Information to support environmental compliance review requirements, Project monitoring and evaluation plan, including how you will measure project performance and assessment tools to be used. Should include monitoring of sub-recipients, contractors, consultants, volunteers, etc.

Priority projects submitted for preparation, administration, or implementation of timber sales, Stewardship and GNA projects that treat forest and woodlands should describe the expected accomplishments based on the following criteria:

1. One or more components of preparing a project (site surveys, environmental clearances, NEPA preparation, project layout, timber cruising, timber marking, boundary designation, and other tasks related to preparing a project).

2. One or more components of administering a project (subcontracting, advertising for bid, awarding a subcontract or timber sale, subcontract performance inspection, and other tasks related to administering a project.

3. Implementation of Authorized Restoration Services (see GNA IM for definition), acres/units of Land Management Goals (see Stewardship Manual for definition), or acres/ units of forest or woodland treatments conducted Acres of inventory or monitoring.

4. Units of forest products made available for permit.

PUBLIC BENEFIT (Maximum score 20 /100 Points) Describe how this project benefits the general public.

Describe the expected benefits of the proposed project. In your responses, describe the geographic extent and the magnitude of the benefits associated with the project. Project benefits that are supported and quantified will receive more points.

Describe any long-term improvements to land or forest health, e.g. decrease in wildfire risk or improved access to public lands, habitat improvements, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS/PAST PERFORMANCE: (Maximum score 25 /100 Points) List key project personnel and responsibilities, along with their contact information.

Description of stakeholder coordination or involvement.

Describe the time to be dedicated to the project, and how their experience and qualifications are appropriate to success of the project.

List contractors, sub awards, consultants, if known, and their qualifications.

A list of federally funded assistance agreements (not contracts) that your organization performed within the last three years (no more than 5, and preferably BLM agreements), and describe how you documented and/or reported on whether you were making progress toward achieving the expected results (e.g., outputs and outcomes) under those agreements. Describe similar successful projects completed in the past and any unique qualifications your organization may possess.)

OFFERED COST SHARE or MATCH This program has no cost sharing or matching requirements. However, any offered cost share or match will be reviewed during the merit review and will be used as a tiebreaker.

Indicate the type and amount of any offered cost share or match (any offered match must be from non-Federal sources).

or

LEVERAGING OF RESOURCES

Demonstrate how you leverage funds or resources with other federal and/or non-federal sources of funds or resources to carry out proposed project.

List sources of funding to which you have sought and/or received funding for your project. List amount, name of funding and identify as federal or non-federal Demonstrate how you leverage funds or resources with other federal and/or non-federal sources of funds or resources to carry out proposed project.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT (optional). (NO POINTS) You may submit up to five (5) letters of support as part of your application package. These attachments should address specific information that will supplement the project proposal and/or document support for the project description as provided in the application. Letters of support may also document financial commitments from any third party or from entities that will contribute substantive funds to the completion of project activities. You may also include letters from partners or other organizations who will work closely with you on the project and/or provide technical expertise. Furthermore, letters of support may be from experts, community members, and/or stakeholders that support the project. Letters of support do not count toward the page limit of the proposal.

Third Level Review Pre-award Clearance and Budget Approvals

Prior to award, the BLM will evaluate the risk posed by applicants as required in 2 CFR 200.205. BLM programs document applicant risk evaluations using the DOI “Financial Assistance Recipient Risk Assessment” form. Prior to approving awards, the BLM is required to review and consider any information about or from the applicant found in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System. The BLM will consider this information when completing the risk review.