PKG00258015-instructions.pdf

Rev November 2019

Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fuels Management & Community Fire Assistance Program Activities

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO): L20AS00051

Federal Program: 15.228 Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities

Authorizing Legislation:

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 USC § 1737(b)

Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements (aka The Wyden Amendment), 16 USC 1011, PL 104-208, Section 124, as amended by PL 105-277, Section 136, as amended by PL 108-7, Section 135.

Good Neighbor Authority. 16 USC §2113a (b)(1)(A).

(Awards under the Good Neighbor Authority 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.)

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The BLM Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance program uses a risk-based approach that supports the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy goals of restoring and maintaining Fire Resilient Landscapes, Creating Fire Adapted Communities and Responding to Wildfire. This is to be accomplished by:

1. Planning and Implementing strategies to protect communities and infrastructure and to enhance, restore or maintain forest and rangeland plant communities, including habitats that are critical for special status species and other highly valued resources and assets where they are at risk from wildlfire.

2. Promoting public understanding and facilitating citizen-driven efforts to reduce the threat and impact of wildfire through community planning, education, mitigation, community assistance and fuels management on federal and non-federal land.

3. Fostering and promoting fuels management and community assistance coordination, cooperation, and partnerships with other federal, state, tribal, local government, non-government organizations, universities, and private entities.

4. Planning and implementing effective fuels treatment strategies that ensure resilient landscapes, emphasizes effectiveness as it relates to mitigating wildfire impacts and aids in wildfire management efforts.

5. Coordination with other landowners and cooperators to ensure fuels treatments are planned and implemented across landscapes.

6. Enhance local and small business employment opportunities.

This program is in support of protecting the American family, being a good neighbor and creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt by providing an opportunity to support planning and implementation of hazardous fuels reduction projects in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas and education and outreach programs that help create fire adapted communities and resilient landscapes.

Alaska Notice of Funding Opportunity No.: L20AS00051

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 2 of 35

Version November 19 2019

Projects also support Secretarial Order 3372, Reducing Wildfire Risks on Department of the Interior Land through Active Management, intended to enhance the Department of the Interior's management of federal lands in order to:

Better protect people, communities, wildlife, habitat and watersheds by actively managing lands to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire; and Promote the sustainable recovery of damaged lands.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist with fuels management and community fire assistance program activities to reduce the risk and impact of catastrophic wildfires to local communities through coordination, reducing the amount of hazardous fuels, and furthering the education of landowners about wildfire prevention and mitigation.

Program Strategic Goals:

1. Accomplish Fuels Management Activities on federal and non-federal land.

2. Develop and implement fire education, training, and/or community action plans/programs

3. Conduct Community Wildfire Protection Assessment and planning activities

4. Expand community capability to enhance local employment opportunities

5. Develop and Implement short and long term Monitoring and Maintenance Plans for:

All proposed projects submitted under this funding opportunity must state a benefit to the public and indirectly benefit the BLM in conservation activities.

The following program legislation authority, BLM Manuals, etc. are applicable to this program:

1. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) – BLM Handbook 1790-1

2. Fuels Management and Community Assistance – BLM Handbook 9214-1

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

The Alaska Bureau of Land Management anticipates making multiple awards under this NOFO. The type of award instruments will be cooperative agreements in accordance with the legislative authority stated at the beginning of this NOFO.

The recipient should expect Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have substantial involvement in the project. Substantial involvement may include, but not be limited to, such things as:

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

Training of recipient personnel.

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 3 of 35

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 Federal Program Funding

Based on prior year data, BLM Alaska anticipates up to $200,000.00 in funding for FY 2020.

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated as they are received and may be submitted at any time up until the closing date of this NOFO. Individual award amounts will depend on the merit review process of application packages and proposed budgets. Funding for this program is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of funds. BLM is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of this NOFO.

B. Estimated Number of Agreement to be Awarded

Based on prior year data (see USASpending, https://www.usaspending.gov), BLM anticipates up to two (2) agreements for FY 2020. The actual number of awards will depend on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of appropriated funds. Awards will be based out of district or field offices where the project occur.

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 (see USASpending https://www.usaspending.gov), BLM anticipates the average dollar amount of awards made under this NOFO to be between $20,000.00 to $200,000.00

BLM Alaska has estimated 2020 funding in the amount of $200,000.00 for up to two (2) agreements.

The following estimated 2020 funding and potential number of awards per District/Field Office.

BLM Alaska is encouraging other proposal submissions in support of the objectives and outcomes of this funding opportunity in the case additional funding becomes available.

Glennallen Field Office $200,000.00 up to two (2) projects Timothy Skiba, (907) 822-7317, tskiba@blm.gov telephone, email

D. Anticipated Start Date:

Projects funded through this NOFO will start once funding is secured and awards issued.

Agreements are not effective until fully executed with signature from the BLM Grants Management Officer (GMO).

E. Anticipated Term of the Agreement (period of performance):

Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one and five years and are determined based on the period of performance as stated on the project proposal.

Projects cannot be funded for more than a five-year period.

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 4 of 35

The BLM will consider continued support of the project(s) in subsequent fiscal years based upon; (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 projects is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of funds. Evaluation of proposals is based on the criterion in this NOFO. 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 NOFO is not a guarantee of future funding. When or if additional funding becomes available, BLM reserves the right to issue additional awards under this NOFO through the next fiscal year. These awards will not require further competition. Any additional selections will be made in accordance with the terms of this NOFO and BLM policy. Only Grants Management Officers can bind the Federal Government to the expenditure of funds.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility

1. Eligible Applicants:

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

State, local government, Native American tribal organizations Institution of Higher Education (IHE) Independent School District Private Institution of Higher Education Nonprofit Organizations with 501C3 IRS Status* (Other than IHE) – must submit proof Nonprofit Organizations without 501C3 IRS Status* (Other than IHE)

2. Ineligible Applicants:

The following types of entities are ineligible to apply for award under this NOFO:

Individuals For-Profit Organizations

*This program NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews. The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, 16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter II-Public Lands Corps, is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to “hire” interns. Therefore, eligible Youth Conservation Corps may only apply for projects developed under NOFO 15.243 – BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 5 of 35

Cost sharing or matching is not required for this program; however, a voluntary cost share is strongly encouraged.

CESU partners are encouraged to show the difference between their formal Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate and the 17.5% rate agreed upon as a CESU partner as a voluntary cost share.

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 SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed 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

NOTE: Prior to submitting an application contact the program expert at the BLM office in the district or field office where the work will take place to discuss your proposed project(s) to determine, if it meets the BLM priorities and criteria under this NOFO

A. Requesting Paper Application Package

This NOFO 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

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 6 of 35

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

Applicants must submit the appropriate Standard Form-424, Application for Federal Assistance.

All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. The SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, must be complete, and signed and dated. Please note: Enter only the amount requested from this Federal program in the “Federal” funding box on the SF-424 Application form. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the “Other” box, and provide details on those Federal source(s) and funding amount(s) in the required Budget Narrative (see the “Budget Narrative” section below).

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 may be used when submitting your proposal.) The project 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:

● Project title

● Statement of need

● Goals and objectives

● Public and program interest of the BLM

● Activities

● Methods

● Timetable or milestones

● Information to support environmental compliance review requirements. (NOTE:

Projects under wildlife management, the native plant program, threatened and endangered species habitat conservation - the narrative should provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973)

● Description of stakeholder coordination or involvement

● Required project monitoring and evaluation plan, including how you will measure project performance and assessment tools to be used

● Information on key project personnel

● Anticipated future funding needs

● Details and supporting documentation on the project location

● Other program or project-specific narrative requirements

All proposals are confidential.

4. SF-424(A or C), Budget Information

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 7 of 35

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. BLM does not normally fund construction projects, so contact the BLM program expert prior to submitting 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 period of performance is for multi-year or multiple year funding, you must provide a budget and budget justification for the full amount of the project. Show each year in a separate column on the SF-424A and use a separate column for listing any matching funds. Applicants must 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. If you elect to use a different format, all information requested on Attachment B must be included.

Estimated costs must be documented in sufficient detail to determine reasonableness. Include a description of any cost share (cash, in-kind, etc.) listed. Additionally, for multi-year budgets, please describe in your budget detail justification any items to be purchased or expended that may be specific to a particular year of the proposed project.

Lump sum costs are not acceptable in any category, without a detailed breakdown of how the cost were derived. Profit or fees are not allowable.

6. Indirect Costs: Organizations

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 8 of 35

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:

a. A U.S. state or local government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct Federal funding with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency. Attached is a copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification.

b. A U.S. state or local government entity receiving less than $35 million in direct Federal funding with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We have prepared and will retain for audit an indirect cost rate proposal and related documentation

c. A [insert your organization type] that has previously negotiated or currently has an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. [Insert either: “Attached is a copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement. In the event an award is made, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award is made.” or “Attached is a copy of our current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.”]

d. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. If we receive an award, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award date.

e. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is lower than 10%. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate; must be lower than 10%]. However, if we receive an award we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat indirect cost rate of [insert rate; must be lower than 10%] against [insert a clear description of the direct cost base against which your rate is charged (e.g., salaries; salaries and fringe benefits; or modified total direct costs). However, please note

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 9 of 35 that your organization cannot charge indirect costs in excess of the indirect costs that would be recovered if applied against modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68]. We understand that we must notify the BLM in writing if we establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period.

f. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is 10% or higher. Our indirect cost rate is [insert your organization’s indirect rate; must be 10% or higher]. However, if we receive an award we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% to be charged against modified total direct project costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. We understand that we must notify the BLM in writing if we establish a negotiated rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period. We understand that additional Federal funds may not be available to support an unexpected increase in indirect costs during the project period and that such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the BLM.

g. A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the [insert either “Wildland Fire Research and Studies” or “Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Network”], which has a Department of the Interior-approved indirect cost rate cap of [insert program rate]. If we have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that we must apply this reduced rate against the same direct cost base as identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. If we do not have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that we must charge indirect costs against the modified total direct cost base defined in 2 CFR

200.68 “Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”. We understand that we must request prior approval from the BLM to use the 2 CFR 200 MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. We understand that BLM approval of such a request will be based on: 1) a determination that our approved base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages); and 2) that use of the MTDC base will still result in a reduction of the total indirect costs to be charged to the award.

In accordance with 2 CFR 200.405, we understand that indirect costs not recovered due to a voluntary reduction to our federally negotiated rate are not allowable for recovery via any other means.

h. A [insert your organization type] that will charge all costs directly.

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

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 10 of 35

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-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (when applicable)

Project Proposal (Attachment A to this document)

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 11 of 35

Form Name and Number

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

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

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

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 12 of 35 receive payment directly to a U.S. bank account must enter and maintain valid, current banking information in SAM.

Submission Dates and Times

BLM requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov. 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.

Open from January 29, 2020 – March 30, 2020.

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM AST on March 30, 2020.

Applications must be submitted in English.

Late applications will not be accepted.

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.

Funding Restrictions Good Neighbor Authority - 16 USC §2113a (b) (1) (A).

Construction, reconstruction, repair, or restoration of paved or permanent roads or parking areas are not allowed under this program.

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 NOFO, you can create individual instances of a workspace. To apply, the applicant will create, complete, and submit a Workspace application package for this

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 13 of 35

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.

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.

A. 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.

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

If your organization is not enrolled in ASAP, contact the GMO in Section VIII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts of this funding opportunity.

C. 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.

Proposals will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by appropriate BLM Staff expert in the program's field of study.

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 14 of 35

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

D. Project must assist BLM in meeting one or more of the following Department of Interior priorities

1. Creating a Conservation Stewardship Legacy Second only to Teddy Roosevelt.

2. Sustainably Develop our Energy and Natural Resources.

3. Restore Trust and be a Good Neighbor.

4. Ensure Tribal Sovereignty Means Something.

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

E. 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 funding 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.

F. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation

Eligible applications will be evaluated in an objective and unbiased manner using the following merit review criteria:

Proposals will be evaluated on strengths or weaknesses for each merit review criterion and rated “Exceeds” “Meets” or “Does not meet” expectations with highest importance on Statement of Need.

Each of these ratings is defined as follows:

Exceeds – The proposal exceeds the criteria factors without any deficiencies.

Meets – The proposal meets criteria factors with few, or only minor, deficiencies.

Does not meet – The proposal does not meet the criteria factors, or there are significant deficiencies identified.

APPLICANT STATEMENT OF NEED

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 15 of 35

Mission and objectives, achievable project goals and how they relate to Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities

Objectives of the project

DOI priorities met

APPLICANT TECHNICAL APPROACH

Techniques, processes, and methodologies

Data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation

Significant anticipated accomplishments

Clear milestones and measurement criteria

Tasks to be performed by other partner organizations, subrecipients, contractors, and/or consultants

Environmental compliance plan

Project monitoring and evaluation plan including monitoring of subrecipients, contractors, consultants, volunteers, etc.

How project performance will be measured and assessment tools to be used

Measurable expected outcomes

PUBLIC BENEFIT AND PROGRAM INTEREST OF THE BLM

Direct Public Benefit

Projects in which the BLM receive the indirect benefit of conservation activities.

APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS/PAST PERFORMANCE

Key project personnel experience and qualifications

Qualifications of any contractors, subrecipients, and/or consultants

Experience with federally funded assistance agreements within the last three to five years

Similar successfully completed projects

Unique qualifications.

Licenses and/or certifications held

LEVERAGING OF RESOURCES

(Will be considered in the review process as a tiebreaker among applications with equivalent scores after evaluation against all other factors)

A proposal that demonstrates effective partnerships to share resources and expertise.

G. 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. The BLM uses the results of the risk evaluation to establish monitoring plans, recipient reporting

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 16 of 35 frequency requirements, and to determine if one or more of the specific award conditions in 2 CFR

200.207 should be applied the award.

If the results of all pre-award reviews and clearances are satisfactory, an award of funding will be made once the agreement is finalized. If the BLM determines that a Federal award will be made, special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed may be applied to the Federal award.

Budget review is based on the following:

Budget line items must be allowable, allocable, reasonable in price, and appropriate for the level of effort needed to accomplish the project.

Budget details and narrative must provide adequate explanation of, and justification for, each estimated cost.

Requested equipment must be justified and necessary for completion of the project.

Cost Sharing/Matching funds must not come from Federal sources.

H. Final Review of Selected Applicants:

Final review will be made by management to determine if the selected proposed project(s) are in line with DOI and BLM current priorities. This process may take a few months to finalize.

VII. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Federal Award Notices Awards are based on the application submitted to, and approved by, the BLM and are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated into the Notice of Award either by direct citation or by reference to the following: Federal regulations; program legislation or regulation; and special award terms and conditions. The duration of an agreement is based on the period of performance as stated on the project proposal.

Recipient will be notified by the certifying Grants Management Officer via email with a fully executed signed Notice of Award with the required terms and conditions. Recipient acceptance of a Federal award from the BLM carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with all terms and conditions applicable to the award. Recipients indicate their acceptance of the Federal award by starting work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means.

B. Award Terms and Conditions See the BLM “Financial Assistance Award Terms and Conditions” for the administrative and national policy requirements applicable to BLM awards.

C. Payments Domestic recipients are required to register in and receive payment through the U.S. Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), unless approved for a waiver by the BLM program. 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

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 17 of 35

Automated Clearing House network by electronic funds transfer (EFT). The BLM 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.

D. Reporting Requirements

1. Financial Reports:

All recipients must use the SF-425, Federal Financial Report form for financial reporting. At a minimum, all recipients must submit a final financial report. Final reports are due no later than 90 calendar days after the award period of performance end date or termination date. For awards with periods of performance longer than 12 months, recipients are required to submit interim financial reports on the frequency established in the Notice of Award.

2. Performance Reports

Performance reports must contain a comparison of actual accomplishments with the established goals and objectives of the award; a description of reasons why established goals were not met, if appropriate; and any other pertinent information relevant to the project results. At a minimum, all recipients must submit a final performance report. Final reports are due no later than 90 calendar days after the award period of performance end date or termination date. For awards with periods of performance longer than 12 months, recipients are required to submit interim performance reports on the frequency established in the Notice of Award.

3. Real Property Reports

Recipients and subrecipients are required to submit status reports on the status of real property in which the Federal government retains an interest. The required frequency of these reports will depend on the anticipated length of the Federal interest period. The BLM will include recipient-specific real property reporting requirements, including the required data elements, reporting frequency, and report due dates, as applicable.

E. DOI/BLM continues to improve its financial assistance program as part of these efforts below:

1. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Recipients must notify the BLM immediately in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that arise during the life of their Federal award

Applicability

This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by subrecipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR 200.318 apply.

Requirements Non-Federal entities must avoid prohibited conflicts of interest, including any significant financial interests that could cause a reasonable person to question the recipient's ability to provide impartial, technically sound, and objective performance under or with respect to a Federal financial assistance agreement.

Fuels Management and Community Fire Assistance Program Activities Page 18 of 35

In addition to any other prohibitions that may apply with respect to conflicts of interest, no key official of an actual or proposed recipient or subrecipient, who is substantially involved in the proposal or project, may have been a former Federal employee who, within the last one (1) year, participated personally and substantially in the evaluation, award, or administration of an award with respect to that recipient or subrecipient or in development of the requirement leading to the NOFO.

No actual or prospective recipient or subrecipient may solicit, obtain, or use non-public information regarding the evaluation, award, or administration of an award to that recipient or subrecipient or the development of a Federal financial assistance opportunity that may be of competitive interest to that recipient or subrecipient.

Notification Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the BLM Grants Management Office or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR 200.112, Conflicts of Interest.

Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest.