PKG00262583-instructions.pdf

BLM-National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP)

Primary Announcement (Two Task Statements)

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L20AS00103

JFSP Announcement No. FA-FOA0021-002

Federal Program: 15.232 – Wildland Fire Research & Studies Program

Authorizing Legislation: FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976

(FLPMA), 43 USC §1737 (b), Public Law 94-579; Department of the Interior and Related

Agencies Appropriation Act for FY 1998 (P.L.105-83; H.R. Report 105‒163) and subsequent years (P.L. 106–291; H.R. 106‒914)

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Background: The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) is a partnership of seven federal wildland fire management and research agencies that have a shared need to address problems associated with managing wildland fuels, fires, and fire-impacted ecosystems.

The partnering agencies include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service

(FS) and five bureaus in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI): Bureau of Indian

Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and

Geological Survey. The DOI is also represented by the Office of Wildland Fire. Funding to support the program is provided by both DOI and FS.

For further background on the JFSP, those considering submitting proposals are encouraged to visit its website at www.firescience.gov.

Objectives: The U.S. Congress directed the DOI and USDA FS to develop a Joint Fire

Science Program and Plan to prioritize and provide sound scientific studies to support the land management agencies and other stakeholders in addressing issues associated with wildland fire. Current research priorities are identified as a task statement in this Funding

Opportunity Announcement (FOA).

Public Benefit: Scientific studies funded by JFSP help to:

• ensure the health and safety of public and other lands

• provide protection of life, infrastructure, and natural and cultural resources.

Program Strategic Goals: As a jointly funded program, JFSP research priorities align strategically with the priorities of the Secretary of Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture.

Specifically, JFSP-funded research addresses the Secretary of Interior’s priority to “create a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt [by using] science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment.”

and

Secretary of Agriculture’s priorities to “foster productive and sustainable use of our National

Forest System lands and to strengthen the stewardship of private lands through technology and research.” In addition, with respect to wildland fire in particular JFSP research priorities address both Secretaries’ goals of reducing the occurrence and impacts of catastrophic wildfire through active management by contributing to the underlying scientific understanding and decision support tools needed to make informed decisions.

Finally, JFSP research priorities, as demonstrated by the task statement included in this FOA, directly and indirectly support the three goals of the 2014 National Cohesive Wildland Fire

Management Strategy (“Cohesive Strategy”):

• Resilient landscapes

• Fire-adapted communities

• Safe and effective wildfire response

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

The JFSP solicits and funds proposals from both government and non-government entities.

In accordance with the Legislative Authority, an inter-agency agreement will be used for federal awards.

A cooperative agreement will be used for non-federal awards and substantive Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) involvement will consist of the following:

• The BLM Program Officer (PO) will collaborate with the recipient's Project

Manager/Principal Investigator (RPM/PI) to manage technical execution of the project, recommended changes to objectives or technical execution.

• The JFSP program office is in contact with Principal Investigators to ensure projects are progressing according to the submitted proposals including occasional field trips and meetings with Project Manager/Principal Investigator.

• Responsibility for project management, control, and direction will be shared by the recipient and the BLM, however the BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan if the project is not staying on schedule and/or technical issues arise.

A. Anticipated Federal Program Funding

Based on prior year data, BLM anticipates between $1,500,000 to $3,500,000 in funding for FY 2021. 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.

BLM is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of the announcement and only Grants Management Officers and Agreement Specialists 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 Agreement to be Awarded

Based on prior year data, BLM anticipates between 5 to 10 agreements for FY 2021.

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. BLM anticipates the average dollar amount of awards made under this announcement to be between $250,000 to $500,000.

D. Anticipated Start Date:

Projects funded through this FOA 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). The JFSP anticipates a late-August to mid-September start date for awards.

E. Anticipated Term of the Agreement:

Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one and three years, depending on the negotiated project proposal.

F. Additional Funding Information

Funding for this project(s) is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of funds and evaluation of proposals is based on the review criteria 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.

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 and JFSP policies.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

• The JFSP encourages proposals from all eligible parties and partners. Funds will be awarded through a university, tribal government, non-governmental organization

(NGO) state agency or federal agency.

• Proposals with a PI from states or that have any international funding, also must identify a funding cooperator from the United States to receive and process the funds.

• Proposals with a university, tribal government, or NGO PI that do not include funding for federal agencies do not need a funding cooperator and funds will route through the PI’s institution.

• Proposals that include budgeted funds to be spent by a federal agency and that do not have a federal PI, must list a funding cooperator from the federal agency requesting funds. Any funds awarded to a federal agency will be issued under an Interagency Agreement.

• JFSP encourages proposals from any eligible party or partner that is part of a

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program. CESUs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. If a cooperative agreement is awarded to a CESU partner under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement, indirect costs are limited to a rate of no more than 17.5 percent of the indirect cost base recognized in the partner's Federal Agency-approved Negotiated Indirect Cost

Rate Agreement (NICRA).

JFSP will enter into only one agreement per project with the PI institution or the funding cooperator institution.

• The PI institution or funding cooperator institution will be responsible for entering into sub-agreements with collaborating institutions.

• Budgets must be reviewed and approved by the institution’s Budget contact and Agreements contact prior to proposal submission. If a funding cooperator is involved, the Agreements contact and Budget contact must be from the funding cooperator’s institution.

• If the funding cooperator is from the Forest Service, the cooperator must be from a Forest Service Research Station. Work with your station funding cooperator to ensure you meet the station requirements for submission.

• JFSP will not provide additional funds to cover budget errors discovered after the proposal submission deadline.

• The end date and indirect costs for all sub-awards must match the end date and indirect costs in the original funding award document. The PI’s institution should take into account any potential delays anticipated in executing sub-agreements when proposing project timelines. (See funding cooperator flowchart below)

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity; however, it 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 their voluntary cost share.

Applicants may attribute the difference between the JFSP approved indirect cost rate deviation and their formal negotiated indirect cost rate as a voluntary committed cost-share/match (see below).

C. Other Eligibility Restrictions:

JFSP approved indirect cost rate deviation: JFSP has an approved indirect cost rate deviation that limits proposals to a maximum of twenty (20) percent of the direct costs for each institution. Proposals requesting funds for indirect rates higher than twenty (20) percent will not be considered. This memo can be found on the JFSP website at this link:

http://www.firescience.gov/documents/BLM_Iindirect_cost_rate_exception_signed.p

df. Proposal funding through a federal funding cooperator must reflect either the prevailing indirect rate for the cooperating federal agency or the JFSP maximum limit of twenty (20) percent, whichever is less.

For non-federal institutions pass-through costs for subawards need to be included as a part of the direct cost calculation for each institution. Your institution must apply this reduced rate of no more than 20% against the same direct cost base identified on your approved indirect cost rate agreement. If your institution uses MTDC (modified total direct costs) as the direct cost base, the indirect cost rate can only be applied to all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and subawards and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subaward or subcontract (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards and subcontracts under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward and subcontract in excess of $25,000.

Federal institutions may include administrative costs for managing subawards of no more than 10% of the amount passed through to the subawardee.

Unrecovered indirect costs can be used as contributed funds in the budget.

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

http://www.firescience.gov/documents/BLM_Iindirect_cost_rate_exception_signed.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=66668a4d924572f2b7b5feaf237a6ea0&mc=true&node=pt2.1.25&rgn=div5

NOTE: It is recommended, prior to submitting an application, that proposers contact the program experts at JFSP if they have questions regarding the relevancy of their proposal to the task statements in this FOA.

A. Requesting Paper Application Package All proposals must be submitted through the JFSP electronic submission process provided on the JFSP website (www.firescience.gov) not grants.gov. This announcement includes all information, documents, and information needed to submit an application. Paper copies will not be considered.

B. Application and Content Requirements

1. Proposal Submission and Agency Contact

All proposals must be submitted by September 30, 2020, 5:00 p.m. MDT, using the electronic submission process provided on the JFSP website

(www.firescience.gov). Proposals should not be submitted through

Grants.gov. No exceptions are allowed to this closing date and time.

All proposals must meet all requirements in this FOA (see especially Section V.

below). Proposals that do not meet all requirements in this section will not be considered for funding.

Direct questions to:

Administrative questions:

Becky Jenison, Program Analyst

Phone: 208-387-5958

Email: bjenison@blm.gov

Task statement questions:

Ed Brunson, Program Manager

Phone: 208-387-5975

Email: ebrunson@blm.gov

2. Steps to Create and Complete a JFSP Proposal

Multiple steps are necessary to create a JFSP proposal, some of which are dependent on prior steps. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the

JFSP website (www.firescience.gov). For full list of requirements see Section V below.

Step 1 – PI establishes profile, updates password.

Step 2 – PI initiates proposal (select task, receive proposal #, enter proposal title).

Step 3 – Enter contacts (all contacts establish profiles, update passwords; PI assigns roles). Once the PI enters a contact, they will have access to sign into the database and access the proposal. Note: For required contacts, see Section V. C

Step 4 – Proposal development (templates, requirements).

http://www.firescience.gov/

Step 5 – Complete budget (template, narrative).

Step 6 – Attach all documents (proposal overview, proposal body, literature cited, budget, budget narrative, science delivery, data management plan, CVs, list of acronyms (optional), support letters (optional).

Step 7 – PI enters final details (project location, budget summary, start/end dates, abstract, task statement relevancy, and project category).

Step 8 – Budget Contact and Agreements Contact sign into the database and certify review of budget and budget narrative.

Step 9 – PI submits proposal (you must convert to Final Draft status first before hitting the Submit Proposal Button).

Notes

• Many steps can be in progress concurrently

• All information, including attachments, can be saved as Draft and edited later

3. Task Statement(s)

Task Statement 1: Sources and distribution of human-caused ignitions and their relation to wildfire impacts

Objective

The objective of this task statement is to inform effective fire prevention strategies by providing information on the spatial and temporal distribution of different human-caused wildfire ignition sources and factors that lead to development of large wildfires.

Background

One approach to reducing the negative impacts of wildfire to social and ecological values is to reduce the occurrence of human-caused wildfire ignitions with targeted wildfire prevention strategies. Planning and implementing effective fire prevention strategies requires detailed knowledge of the temporal and spatial distribution of different wildfire ignition sources (e.g., arson, accidental, powerline) and factors that influence whether different ignition sources lead to development of large wildfires with significant impacts to human and ecological communities. Although biophysical factors (such as fuel loading and weather) are likely to influence large wildfire development regardless of ignition source, societal factors are more likely to influence the distribution of human-caused ignitions, some of which develop into large wildfires. In addition, implementation of prevention strategies should influence the temporal and spatial distribution of ignitions, though the effectiveness of many prevention strategies is unknown. Studies have shown that a consistent set of biophysical (e.g., fuel type, fuel moisture) and social factors (e.g., distance to roads, population density) can explain the temporal and spatial variation in human-caused ignitions, but the relative importance of different factors and how the differ by region, type of human-caused ignition, and temporal and spatial scale remain understudied.

Information on factors that influence ignition source patterns is critical for informing effective fire prevention strategies. Ignition sources and associated factors have not been classified in the same manner by different agencies and often have had delayed availability. This has made it difficult to enact cross-boundary, multi-jurisdictional approaches for targeting collaborative fire prevention efforts. Because different human-caused ignition sources (e.g., arson, powerlines, smoking) likely have different interactions with social factors, it is critical that any evaluation of wildfire ignition sources includes ignition categories with greater refinement than natural versus human-caused ignitions. New efforts to track ignition sources across jurisdictions has made the evaluation of different ignition sources more feasible

(Short, K.C. 2017. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2015;

https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.4). Managers are also in need of tools that display such data over space and time

For the purpose of this task statement, fire prevention actions are those designed to reduce the incidence of wildfire and can include public education, burn bans, fire restrictions, law enforcement, etc.

Research Needs

Research proposals are sought that evaluate driving factors for the spatial and temporal distribution of human-caused ignitions and the effectiveness of fire prevention strategies. Specific research needs include:

1. Empirical studies on the spatial and temporal distribution of different human-caused wildfire ignition sources, as well as the social and biophysical factors that influence these distributions and whether or not ignitions develop into large wildfires.

2. Empirical studies on the effectiveness of different fire prevention strategies or levels of investment in fire prevention in preventing human-caused ignitions.

Proposers must address both research needs to be considered responsive to this task statement. In addition to addressing the research needs above, JFSP is interested in useful products for managers that allow them to visualize the spatial and temporal distribution of different ignition sources. It is preferable that investigators address the above questions at regional (i.e., multi-state) or national scales.

Task Statement 2: Reducing damages and losses to valued resources from wildfire

Objectives

The objectives of this task statement are to: (1) understand the role of changing fuel conditions from active management and fire suppression operations on reducing wildfire-induced damages and losses to valued resources and (2) use gains in knowledge to evaluate wildfire risk assessments and inform the development of outcome-based metrics used to assess potential impacts (benefits, as well as damages and losses) of wildfire to valued resources.

Background

Damages to and losses of valued resources due to wildfire are sensitive to fuel and weather conditions, as well as fire suppression operations. Active management to address the fuel conditions can reduce potential damages and losses to valued resources in the event of a wildfire. When encountered by wildfire, for example, a mechanical thinning treatment can result in reduced fire intensity within the footprint and immediate vicinity of the treatment. This can lead to ecosystem benefits by avoiding damages to critical watershed services, timber products, wildlife habitat, and other valued resources. Actively managed areas also can provide opportunities for firefighters to safely and effectively conduct fire suppression and point protection operations during wildfires, thereby minimizing damages to human communities, infrastructure, and other valued human resources both within and outside previously actively managed areas.

Given broad agency missions and the inherent uncertainty associated with wildfire occurrence in space and time, fire and land managers should consider values of concern within a risk management framework (in which the probability of wildfire impacting valued resources is considered) in strategic planning of active management programs. Methodologies for assessing wildfire risk to valued resources have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years and some managers use these approaches in program planning. Existing methodologies, however, often rely on simplified assumptions in regard to the effects of wildfire on different types of valued resources. The role of wildfires of different intensities/severities and their probabilities of occurrence may be considered; however, the explicit relationships between these different fires and their resultant damages and losses to valued resources are not quantified. Moreover, the spatial heterogeneity of the fire and the role of fire suppression operations also are not considered. For example, complete structure loss often is assumed in risk assessments when wildfire is predicted to encounter the wildland-urban interface. In reality, the amount of structure loss or damage is related to the intensity/severity of the wildfire event, its duration, spatial patterning, and degree of effective point protection operations.

Most empirical studies of the effectiveness of active management have taken the form of an examination of wildfire effects within an area previously subject to active management and a comparable area not previously subject to active management.

Many such studies have documented reduced fire intensity and mitigated ecosystem responses (e.g., in terms of tree mortality, soil effects, wildlife habitat) in the managed area relative to the unmanaged area. The interactions of actively managed areas with fire suppression operations are likely have profound effects on wildfire outcomes for valued resources, but this interaction is rarely considered in such analyses. Few empirical studies have documented management effectiveness, alone and in combination with suppression actions, in terms of reducing damages and losses to other valued resources (e.g., structures, watershed services) both within and outside of managed areas. Studies are needed that expand on the notion of active management effectiveness to include impacts to a variety of valued resources, interactions with suppression operations, and impacts at spatial scales beyond the management footprint.

To strengthen the assumptions in wildfire risk assessments and to improve our understanding of the effects of wildfire on damages to valued resources, assessments and analyses should be conducted both with and in the absence of active management and fire suppression operations. In particular, empirical data on wildfire impacts to valued resources in different settings is needed to improve wildfire risk assessments through model validation and refinement of metrics that can quantify potential exposure to wildfire under different conditions.

For the purpose of this task statement, active management refers to the use of any tool or combination of tools to modify fuels and potential fire behavior, including mechanical (e.g., thinning), biological (e.g., grazing, seeding) or chemical (e.g., herbicide) treatments; timber sales; prescribed fire; and wildfire managed for resource benefit. Valued resources are defined as natural, cultural, and human-valued resources at risk for which fuel treatments are designed to reduce their exposure to wildfire. In accordance with Scott et al. (2013. Wildland fire risk assessment framework for land and resource management. RMRS-GTR-315), valued resources should include those assets and natural resources that are highlighted in guiding documents such as land and resource management plans, forest plans, or fire management plans. This includes, but is not limited to, housing or other structures, wildlife habitat, and watershed services. Wildfire risk is defined in accordance with usage and context of Thompson et al. (2016. Risk terminology primer: Basic principles and a glossary for the wildland fire management community. RMRS-GTR-

349).

Research needs

Proposers must address research need 1 below to be considered responsive to this task statement. Addressing research need 2 is optional. Research proposals are sought that use historical or new data to evaluate active management, alone or in conjunction with fire suppression operations, in terms of their ability to reduce wildfire risk as measured by reduced damages and losses to valued resources. Proposals should address the research needs at landscape (i.e., 1000s to 100,000s of acres) to regional scales and demonstrate how data could be used to evaluate or improve methodologies for assessing wildfire risk to valued resources. Studied valued resources should reflect landscapes/regions and land management priorities that have broad applicability.

Specific research needs include:

1. Quantitatively evaluate the performance of active management tools, alone and, if possible, in conjunction with fire suppression operations, on the degree to which wildfire-induced damages and losses to valued resources are reduced.

2. Use information from addressing the research need above to evaluate wildland fire risk assessments and inform the development of new outcome-based metrics to measure how impacts to values can change under wildfires of different intensities/severities.

This task statement does not require any additional end-of-project deliverables beyond the standard final report, metadata, and completed project overview.

4. Budget and Funding Policy

a) Funding Cooperator

Proposal may require a funding cooperator. See Section III.A above.

b) Indirect Costs

The JFSP recognizes that agencies and organizations participating in the program need to recover reasonable indirect costs. Budget feasibility (cost effectiveness) of the individual projects, however, is a determining factor in the final selection process.

JFSP has an approved indirect cost rate deviation that limits proposals to a maximum of twenty (20) percent of the direct costs for each institution. Proposals requesting funds for indirect rates higher than twenty (20) percent will not be considered. This memo can be found on the JFSP website at this link:

http://www.firescience.gov/documents/BLM_Iindirect_cost_rate_exception_signed.p

df. Proposal funding through a federal funding cooperator must reflect either the prevailing indirect rate for the cooperating federal agency or the JFSP maximum limit of twenty (20) percent, whichever is less.

For non-federal institutions pass-through costs for subawards need to be included as a part of the direct cost calculation for each institution. Your institution must apply this reduced rate of no more than 20% against the same direct cost base identified on your approved indirect cost rate agreement. If your institution uses MTDC (modified total direct costs) as the direct cost base, the indirect cost rate can only be applied to all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and subawards and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subaward or subcontract (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards and subcontracts under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward and subcontract in excess of $25,000.

Federal institutions may include administrative costs for managing subawards of no more than 10% of the amount passed through to the subawardee.

Unrecovered indirect costs can be used as contributed funds in the budget.

Indirect costs example

Scenario

• The PI is from a university or federal agency (lead institution)

• Co-PI is from a cooperating university or NGO (cooperating institution)

• The calculated expenses in the Budget for the lead institution are $200,000

(salary, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, etc.)

• The calculated expenses in the Budget for the cooperating institution are

$40,000

Calculation of indirect costs

1. Cooperating institution

Maximum allowed indirect costs (20%)

$40,000 * 0.20 = $8,000

Total Budget for cooperating institution

$40,000 + $8,000 = $48,000

2. Lead institution

Maximum allowed indirect costs (20%) their direct costs

$200,000 - $23,000 (difference between $48,000 - $25,000 subaward allowed) = $177,000

$177,000 * 0.20 = $35,400

3. Total Budget = $200,000 + $35,400 = $235,400

Points of emphasis

• Lead institutions can include pass-through costs for each cooperating institution in their budget.

• Pass-through costs are calculated based on the total budget for each cooperating institution, including the indirect costs calculated by the cooperating institution.

• Cooperating institutions should not include pass-through costs in their budgets.

• Institutions should use their negotiated indirect cost rates with their cooperating institutions, but cannot exceed JFSP maximums.

c) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Costs

Certain proposals may be required to pay a percentage of the project’s costs into the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Proposals for which the funds are transferred to a Forest Service institution and subsequently a portion of the total budget is awarded to a non-federal entity through a sub-agreement or sub-contract may be required to pay the prevailing rate of the total funds awarded externally to the SBIR program. PIs should check with their Agreements contact to determine if this applies to your proposal and to determine the current rate.

d) Equipment Policy Investigators are encouraged to contribute equipment (see 2 CFR Part 200.313) to conduct research studies funded by JFSP from existing equipment inventories.

Contributed equipment should be included as “contributed costs” in JFSP budget spreadsheets and on the budget tab.

If necessary equipment is not available, JFSP will partially or fully fund equipment needed to conduct research funded by JFSP. In no case will JFSP pay more than $5,000 for a piece of equipment. If a new piece of equipment costing more than $5,000 is needed for the proposed project, proposal investigators are expected to contribute the remaining costs in excess of $5,000.

This criterion is to be applied for each and every piece of equipment.

e) Salary Policy Salaries of permanent full-time employees are not paid by JFSP and must be provided by employing institutions. This includes university faculty on 12-month tenure-track appointments that have contracted salary.

JFSP will provide salary funding for university research appointment, part-time, temporary, term, and post-doctoral employees, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. JFSP will pay salary for academic employees on a 9-month appointment, but only for the months they are not funded by their institution and only for the time focused on their JFSP project. JFSP will not pay salary for other personnel to fill in for employees working on a JFSP project.

Contractors can request salary support to complete contracted work. Salary costs must be limited to only salary and fringe. Other salary cost burdens must be included as indirect costs and are subject to the indirect rate exception that cannot exceed in total 20% of direct costs. See https://www.firescience.gov/documents/BLM_Iindirect_cost_rate_exception_sign ed.pdf

Student stipends are acceptable costs, but tuition and other university fees will not be funded.

f) Budget The budget spreadsheet and narrative must be reviewed by the Budget contact and

Agreements contact to ensure all costs have been included and the budget is correct, including indirect charges. JFSP will not provide additional funds to cover errors discovered after the proposal submission deadline.

Budget spreadsheet must use the provided template and have a separate worksheet for each institution requesting or contributing funds, including all sub-agreements and contracted costs over $10,000. Identify all work that will be accomplished, including a breakdown of all tasks to be completed, and provide a detailed budget estimate in accordance with 2 CFR Parts 200.317 through 200.326. Contracted indirect costs and fees are subject to the indirect rate exception. Contracted costs under $10,000 must still be explained in detail in the budget narrative but do not require a separate worksheet in the budget template.

Budget narratives must have the level of detail provided in the example in the budget narrative template. Lump sum costs are not acceptable in any category, without a detail breakdown of how the costs were determined. Funded proposals will be closely scrutinized for allowable and reasonable costs before an award is issued. The JFSP also reserves the right to negotiate final budget numbers based on the final approved work scope.

The Budget contact and Agreements contact must sign in to the JFSP system and certify the budget is correct and that they understand their role in receiving funds and facilitating agreements. Proposals cannot be submitted by the PI if both contacts have not completed this task in the database. (See screen print below) https://www.firescience.gov/documents/BLM_Iindirect_cost_rate_exception_signed.pdf https://www.firescience.gov/documents/BLM_Iindirect_cost_rate_exception_signed.pdf

Proposals will be funded via cooperative agreement or Interagency Agreement.

Budget contact and agreements contact must ensure that budgets have the correct indirect rates for your circumstances.

The JFSP does not fund projects that are, or should be, funded internally from existing accounts (such as routine agency monitoring) or operational portions

(such as the installation of fuels treatments or development of fire management plans) of other projects.

Funding is usually distributed in late summer or early fall. Budgets should be planned with this timing in mind.

5. Data Management Plan (DMP)

It is the intent of JFSP that all data collected, generated, or compiled through JFSP funds are of high quality and made freely available to others within a reasonable time period. The JFSP recognizes that preparation of data and metadata for publication is a time consuming process. Adequate funds to support this work should be included in proposal budgets.

A Data Management Plan (DMP) must be attached as a separate document and is limited to two pages maximum. The DMP will be considered in the proposal review process. See the DMP template and instructions for further details.

Investigators must select a data repository well suited for publication and long-term archival of data sets collected, generated, or compiled through JFSP funding. The

JFSP recommends use of the Forest Service Research Data Archive (“FS-RDA”)

(https://www.fs.usda.gov/rds/archive/). To discuss the Archive’s services, please contact editor-in-chief Dave Rugg (dave.rugg@usda.gov) or associate editor Laurie

Porth (laurie.s.porth@usda.gov).

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs.usda.gov%2Frds%2Farchive%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C5fe7220362e2466184f508d7bfc0601c%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637188705273176198&sdata=XV4BMChn6hMKB%2F83k52dZjfQ1Rf4Tz3KSK1I%2FIGNPts%3D&reserved=0 mailto:dave.rugg@usda.gov mailto:laurie.s.porth@usda.gov

The FS-RDA will provide the central metadata catalog for all JFSP projects. Upon project completion, investigators are required to submit initial metadata along with their final report to JFSP. Investigators must use metadata standards accepted by the

FS-RDA; currently the Federal Geographic Data Committee's Content Standard for

Digital Geospatial Metadata - Biological Data Profile. The JFSP will review these initial metadata to ensure that all required information is provided (including a pointer to the intended archival location of the data). Projects will not be considered completed until these metadata have been reviewed and accepted by the JFSP. Failure to meet the preceding submittal requirements may affect eligibility to submit for consideration future JFSP proposals.

Submission of the project’s metadata and associated data sets to the chosen repository should occur within six months of final report acceptance. For submittals to the FS-

RDA, the editor-in-chief or associate editor will work with the PI to ensure final acceptability of the metadata and associated data sets. No matter the chosen repository, the PI is responsible for ensuring that final metadata are provided to the

FS-RDA. For all collected, generated, or compiled data PIs must ensure that they are evaluated for errors, as well as subjected to data proofing and validation procedures, prior to submittal. The PI is responsible for keeping the metadata in the official catalog current over time.

It is JFSP’s policy that PIs can limit release of data sets for up to two years following submission and acceptance of the project’s final report and metadata for their personal publication in peer-reviewed journals and for quality assurance purposes. At the end of this period, all data sets must be made publicly available no matter where they are archived.

6. Indirect Costs

Required Indirect Cost Statement and Documentation:

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

A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the “Wildland Fire Research and Studies” which has a Department of the

Interior-approved indirect cost rate cap of 20% 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 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=d895657111bac319a04f1aca7c949f39&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1405&rgn=div8 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.

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, and is ultimately funded via cooperative agreement the Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-

424, Application for Federal Assistance form will be required when submitted at a later date and will 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. 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 Bureau of Land Management will not fund any project for which any overlap

(duplication of effort) exists between this Federal application and any other Federal application, or funded project, in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel.

11. APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING

FORMS:

If a proposal is selected for funding and the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement the following forms will be required at a later date by the issuing

Grants Management Officer:

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5

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

Budget Detail

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

Proposals must meet all of the following requirements to be considered. Incomplete proposals will not be considered. No exceptions will be made to either the submission deadline or other submission requirements.

A. Proposal Submission Proposals must be submitted electronically via the JFSP website

(www.firescience.gov). Proposals cannot be submitted in Grants.gov. Hard copy, email, or facsimile proposals will not be accepted. Proposals can be created in the database at any time and saved as a draft for submission any time prior to the closing date and time.

• A JFSP database login and password is required to submit a proposal (see section b below). Requests for profiles will be processed in approximately 24 hours.

• The Budget contact must sign into the system and certify the budget is correct before the proposal can be submitted. Note that the PI will not be able to complete this task for the Budget contact. The PI must assign this contact on the contact tab before the Budget contact can sign in to complete this process.

• The Agreements contact must sign into the system and certify the budget is correct before the proposal can be submitted. Note that the PI will not be able to complete this task for the Agreements contact. The PI must assign this contact on the contact tab before the Agreements contact can sign in to complete this process. Only the PI can submit the proposal.

• Proposals can be saved in the JFSP system and submitted prior to the closing date and time. Submitted proposals can be reverted back to Final Draft by the PI prior to the closing date. If you revert a proposal back to Final Draft you must resubmit the proposal before the closing date and time.

• The JFSP proposal submittal system will not allow proposals to be submitted after the closing date and time.

B. Profiles

• All contacts must have a profile in the JFSP database that must be entered on the contacts tab by the PI.

• Proposals cannot be submitted if all required contacts (see Contacts below) are not entered on the contacts tab by the PI.

• It can take up to 24 hours to get a profile created. It is advisable to request profiles early in the process.

• To request a profile or password reset go to the JFSP website and click on the sign in link in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Use the appropriate link for requesting a password reset or requesting a new user registration.

C. Contacts Proposals may be required to have the following contacts on the contacts tab (see Section

IX. Other Information for definitions to understand the role of each contact) assigned to a proposal:

• Principal Investigator (required, only one Principal Investigator can be assigned)

• Funding Cooperator (may be required, see Section III.A)

• Budget Contact (required); in some cases this may be the same as the Agreements contact

• Agreements Contact (required); in some cases this may be the same as the Budget

Contact

• Co-PIs and Collaborators (required, when applicable).

It is the PI’s responsibility to ensure all correct contacts are entered into the proposal database. Please read Section IX for definitions carefully to ensure you have the correct contact from the correct institution listed.

D. Confirmation Page When the PI submits the proposal they will receive a confirmation page. It is highly recommended that PIs save or print that page for their records. If this confirmation page is not received the proposal has not been submitted correctly. It is the responsibility of the

PI to ensure the proposal has been submitted correctly by the closing date and time.

E. Abstract Proposers must copy and paste the first three subsections of the proposal overview template (Problem Statement, Objectives, and Benefits) into the Abstract field in the

Details tab of the JFSP database. The Abstract will become the publicly accessible description of the project.

F. Task Statement Relevancy Proposers must copy and paste the fourth subsection of the proposal overview template

(Task Statement Relevancy) into the Task Statement Relevancy field in the Details tab.

G. Attachments All required documents and templates must be attached before the proposal can be submitted. All attachments except the budget must be attached as an adobe pdf document;

the budget template is in an Excel format. The PI should ensure that no loss of information occurred upon conversion to a pdf document. Attachments over the page limits cannot be submitted. All information in a template must be included as part of that attachment and must be within the page limit. Extraneous materials (e.g., extra graphs and text) are not permitted and will not be reviewed.

Required attachments for all proposals must use templates provided to be considered:

• Proposal overview

• Proposal body

• Literature cited

• Budget spreadsheet (Excel spreadsheet; include a separate worksheet for each institution or contracted costs greater than $10,000)

• Budget narrative (explanation of specific budget assumptions and costs by institution)

• Science delivery

• Data…