Reforestation IYSC Tribal RFI Partnership Outreach_Final_8_22_23.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

INSTRUCTIONS

Partnership Outreach

Braiding Together Reforestation, Indigenous Partnerships, and Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC): A Path Towards Resilient Forests and Communities

SUMMARY INFORMATION

Federal Award Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service

Funding Opportunity Title: Braiding Together Reforestation, Indigenous Partnerships, and Indian

Youth Service Corps (IYSC): A Path Towards Resilient Forests and Communities

Opportunity Number: USDA-FS-2023-24-40-WFD

Assistance Listing Number: 10.699 Partnership Agreement Outreach

Funding Instrument Type: Other

Key Points

RFI response deadline: November 17, 2023; 10:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Forest Service will send an auto-response upon receipt of your application submission.

Forest Service will send each applicant a follow-up message within one month of application receipt.

Forest Service will hold a live informational webinar: October 10, 2023 at 12:00 EST. Forest

Service staff will outline RFI details and host a Question & Answer session for potential applicants. Registration: Webinar registration | Microsoft Teams.

The webinar will be recorded for subsequent viewing. A link to the recording will be posted in grants.gov under opportunity number: USDA-FS-2023-24-40-WFD, after October 10, 2023.

Program information: Indian Youth Service Corps | US Forest Service (usda.gov).

Contact us: accessga@usda.gov.

https://teams.microsoft.com/registration/5zZb7e4BvE6GfuA8-g1Glw,GLgw4P7QiUm5YHNJn2TeXg,1l0ZNFyP5kaahQp8si71iA,ZZZZ_BiDj0OTqiWag17DAg,pUar6vvDdU-bOU9-g1s31g,J3uoMHN4BEiuozQ0EdjFWQ?mode=read&tenantId=ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697&webinarRing=gcc https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/careers/Indian-Youth-Service-Corps mailto:accessga@usda.gov

Table of Contents I. Request for Information Overview

A. Objective B. Funding

II. Agency Overview III. Initiative Overview and RFI Intent

A. Reforestation Backlog B. Strengthening Tribal Consultations and Nation-to-Nation Relationships: USDA Forest Service

Action Plan C. Indian Youth Service Corp (IYSC) D. Summary

IV. Legislative Authorities V. How to Respond

A. Eligible Applicants B. Content and Grants.gov Submission C. System for Award Management (SAM) registration SAM.gov | Home

VI. RFI Response Question Prompts and Forms A. Response Question Prompts B. Forms C. Confidentiality

VII. Response Notice Timeline VIII. Thank you Figure 1. Braided Together Decision Tree

I. Request for Information Overview A. Objective This request for information (RFI) functions as an outreach mechanism to cultivate relationships and connect federal funding with Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, Alaska Native Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations (ANC), and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. This RFI is intended to solicit responses to explore future projects meeting the unique needs and interests of Indigenous communities through partnership agreements within legislative authority with USDA Forest Service.

USDA Forest Service is looking to address reforestation needs and empower the agency’s implementation of the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) program. This initiative aims to foster co-stewardship between USDA Forest Service, Indigenous communities, and IYSC program, with a shared commitment to environmental conservation and reforestation on Forest Service lands.

New partnerships will help to address reforestation needs through projects that support reforestation or stand-up improvement activities on lands managed by USDA Forest Service. The agency seeks to actively involve IYSC program in reforestation efforts.

Your submission signals an opportunity for USDA Forest Service to explore with you your ideas/projects/programs and federal funding opportunities. USDA Forest Service is committed to fostering a strong, collaborative partnership that benefits the environment, tribes and/or ANCs, Indigenous communities, and IYSC program. These collaborations are vital for understanding reforestation needs, establishing shared priorities, expanding capacity, and ensuring the growth of resilient and healthy forests. By working together, all stakeholders can maximize the impact of reforestation efforts on national forests.

B. Funding Reforestation funds are currently available. However, this RFI does not commit funding. This outreach is to gauge your interest in partnerships, and we are excited to hear from you.

USDA Forest Service seeks to actively involve IYSC programs in reforestation efforts by providing support and guidance to IYSC program participants, sharing successful working models, and assisting with agreements that include wrap-around services (removing barriers to Indigenous youth engagement).

II. Agency Overview A. Background USDA Forest Service is an agency within U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for managing and protecting the nation's forests and grasslands. As part of its mission, USDA Forest Service is actively working to carry forth its new National Reforestation Strategy to support implementation of the Repairing Existing Public Lands by Adding Necessary Trees (REPLANT) Act 2021 and address the reforestation backlog and reforestation needs on Forest Service lands that meet the requirements that are laid out in the REPLANT act.

B. Tribal Engagement To fully address reforestation needs, USDA Forest Service recognizes the importance of working collaboratively with Indigenous communities and incorporating their knowledge, values, and perspectives into its land management practices. By strengthening and establishing partnerships with Tribal governments, Indigenous communities and Tribal organizations, USDA Forest Service aims to manage national forests and grasslands in a manner that aligns with the ecological, cultural, and spiritual values of forests and grasslands to Indigenous communities. These partnerships enable the agency to make informed decisions that respect and promote Tribal sovereignty, uphold trust and treaty obligations, and promote co-stewardship of forest resources. Through this collaborative approach, USDA Forest Service strives to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of our forests while honoring the rich heritage and contributions of Indigenous communities.

USDA Forest Service engagement with Tribes goes beyond consultation and extends to meaningful engagement and inclusion in decision-making processes and management activities.

Coordination and collaboration together lead to information exchange, mutual understanding, informed decision-making, and mutual benefit. Recognizing the unique relationship that Tribal Nations have with the land, USDA Forest Service actively seeks to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into its policies, plans, and projects. This approach not only strengthens the agency's understanding of the ecological and cultural values associated with forests but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and stewardship. By working hand in hand with Tribal Nations, USDA Forest Service aims to promote sustainable land management practices that benefit both the environment and the well-being of Indigenous communities.

III. Initiative Overview and RFI Intent A. Reforestation Backlog On July 25, 2022, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a strategy to address a reforestation backlog of nearly four million acres on national forests. This ambitious plan is supported by the resources made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law REPLANT Act, enabling USDA Forest Service to increase capacity and efforts to eliminate reforestation backlog and establish necessary infrastructure, including nurseries, to meet future reforestation needs.

Areas of Forest Service managed lands with verified reforestation needs can be viewed in the National Reforestation Needs Partner Web Map. The map depicts the scale, in acres, of reforestation needs on National Forest Ranger Districts. Reforestation needs may involve a range of activities including: seed and cone collection or processing, tree nursery services, reforestation needs assessment, site preparation, planting, seeding, surveys for certification of natural regeneration or seedling survival, monitoring, and more.

USDA Forest Service seeks to actively involve Tribes to support implementation of the National Reforestation Strategy, to foster a deeper connection between Indigenous communities and land management decisions. Recognizing the Indigenous knowledge held by Tribes, USDA Forest Service aims to incorporate Indigenous knowledge in the selection and cultivation of culturally significant tree species during reforestation efforts to promote biodiversity and ecosystem resilience while also respecting the spiritual and cultural significance of these plants to Indigenous communities. By embracing a collaborative approach that values the wisdom of Tribes and their relationship with the natural world, the agency hopes the National Reforestation Strategy will be a powerful tool for both environmental restoration and cultural revitalization.

https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=1835f43a26934a0186f819ae2e494514

Resources:

White House Press Release Forest Service Reforestation Plan Overview

B. Strengthening Tribal Consultations and Nation-to-Nation Relationships: USDA

Forest Service Action Plan Recently, USDA Forest Service implemented the Strengthening Tribal Consultations and Nation-to-Nation Relationships: A USDA Forest Service Action Plan (Tribal Action Plan), providing agency guidance and assistance to fulfill the Federal trust responsibility, honor treaty obligations, and support Tribal self-determination. It acknowledges the crucial role of Tribal governments in developing land management strategies and the need to integrate Tribal perspectives and Indigenous knowledge into its approach. The plan provides guidance to advance Tribal consultation and strengthen Nation-to-Nation relationships through a co-stewardship model, and specifically speaks to Indian Youth Service Corp (IYSC) as an agency priority. By working hand in hand with Tribal Nations, USDA Forest Service aims to promote sustainable land management practices to benefit both the environment and well-being of Indigenous communities.

As part of the effort to build stronger relationships with Tribes, USDA Forest Service published an action plan focusing on advancing Tribal consultation and strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships with Tribes. This plan acknowledges the crucial role of Tribal governments in decision-making processes for USDA Forest Service-managed lands and waters. It provides agency guidance and assistance to fulfill the Federal trust responsibility, honor treaty obligations, and support Tribal self-determination. It establishes a framework to: 1) Strengthen Relationships Between Indian Tribes and the USDA Forest Service; 2) Fulfill Trust and Treaty Obligations; 3) Enhance Co-Stewardship of the Nation’s Forests.

Recognizing the importance of Indigenous knowledge, values, and perspectives, USDA Forest Service is seeking new and existing opportunities to engage with Tribes on reforestation efforts.

By integrating Tribal perspectives and Indigenous knowledge into the implementation of USDA Forest Service Reforestation Strategy, the agency aims to enhance its approach to reforestation management.

Strengthening Tribal Consultations and Nation-to-Nation Relationships: A USDA Forest Service Action Plan

C. Indian Youth Service Corp (IYSC) In 2019 Congress passed the Dingell Act, which established the Indian Youth Services Corps (IYSC) to enhance connections between land management and engagement with Indigenous youth. The IYSC aims to create career and educational opportunities for Indigenous youth while fostering their cultural connections to nature through conservation projects on Tribal and public land. By engaging Indigenous youth in land stewardship and conservation, the IYSC not only contributes to reforestation efforts but also incorporates traditional knowledge and values into future conservation initiatives.

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/07/25/biden-harris-administration-announces-plans-reforestation-climate https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/forest-management/vegetation-management/reforestation https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fs_media/fs_document/Strengthening-Tribal-Relations.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fs_media/fs_document/Strengthening-Tribal-Relations.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/tribal-relations https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/tribal-relations

Through joint initiatives, such as the Tribal Action Plan and Tribal partnerships like the Indian Youth Service Corps reforestation efforts, USDA Forest Service is committed to building stronger relationships, advancing Tribal sovereignty, and ensuring the voices and contributions of Tribes are valued and respected in the management of our nation's forests and grasslands. USDA Forest Service National Reforestation Strategy, the newly implemented Tribal Action Plan, and the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) are intricately braided together to complement each other to create a comprehensive approach to forest restoration and community engagement.

To further strengthen the connection between reforestation efforts and involvement of Indigenous communities, the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) has been established as part of the Biden administration's commitment to building a 21st-century version of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The IYSC aims to create job opportunities for Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth while fostering their cultural connections to nature through conservation projects on Tribal and public land. By engaging Indigenous youth in land stewardship and conservation, the IYSC not only contributes to reforestation efforts, but also incorporates Indigenous knowledge and Tribal values into future conservation initiatives. With funding and support from the Interior Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, USDA Forest Service, and National Park Foundation, Indian Youth Service Corps seeks to engage Indigenous youth in land stewardship and conservation, incorporating traditional knowledge into future conservation efforts.

BIA Indian Youth Services Corps Forest Service Indian Youth Service Corps

D. Summary National Reforestation Strategy, Tribal Action Plan, and the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) are braided together through their shared goal of addressing the urgent need for reforestation, incorporating Indigenous knowledge and Tribal perspectives, fostering sustainable land management practices and the power of Indigenous youth engagement. By recognizing the importance of collaboration, trust, and the involvement of Indigenous communities, these initiatives aim to restore and protect our forests, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and create more resilient future forests for our natural and cultural resources and communities.

IV. Legislative Authorities USDA Forest Service engages partnership work through a range of Legislative Authorities.

A. Repairing Existing Public Land by Adding Necessary Trees, or REPLANT, Act was signed into law as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (public law 117-58, title III, section 70301-70303) on November 15, 2021.

B. John S. McCain III 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act (21 CSC act) section of the john D. Dingell, jr. Conservation, management, and recreation act (public law 116-9, sec.

9003; 16 U.S.C. § 1727b) amended and expanded the public lands corps act, including establishing the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) program.

C. Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act of 1978, public law 94-148 as amended. 16 USC 565a-1.

D. Public Land Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act, public law 109-154, 16 U.S.C. 1701.

E. 638 Tribal Forestry Protection Act, title 2018 farm bill P.L. 115-334, section 8703, 25 U.S.C.

https://www.bia.gov/tribal-consultation/indian-youth-service-corps https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/careers/Indian-Youth-Service-Corps

3115.

F. Good Neighbor Authority; Agricultural Act of 2014, pub. L. 113-79, section 8206 as amended, 16 USC 2113a.

V. How to Respond A. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include Federally recognized Indian Tribes or Alaska Native Tribes or Alaska Native Corporations and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Please see Figure 1: Braiding Together Decision Tree to determining if this RFI applies to you.

B. Content and Grants.gov Submission

• Submit response question prompts, SF 424 and SF424A through grants.gov. Submission should be in .pdf or .doc format. Section VI: Response Question Prompts and Forms section of this document, includes response question prompts and requested forms information respond using the “attachments” form.

• Respond by: November 17, 2023; 10:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

• Grants.gov submission is strongly preferred. A grants.gov applicant account is required for submitting responses through grants.gov. Home | GRANTS.GOV. See Grants.gov organization registration page for registration guidance.

Note: After registering, please choose “subscribe” in grants.gov. By subscribing to RFI Opportunity Number: USDA-FS-2023-24-40-WFD you will be notified of any updates and notifications.

Grants.gov provides customer support 24/7 via toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. In addition, grants.gov has video tutorials available.

• Once registered in Grants.gov search for RFI Opportunity Number: USDA-FS-2023-24-40- WFD United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

Note: System for Award Management (SAM) registration is required to submit any application across the federal government through grants.gov. SAM registration is a prerequisite to receiving any federal funding. SAM registration is a lengthy process. If you are not currently registered in SAM, we strongly recommend registration.

• No hardcopy applications will be accepted.

• For questions related to RFI opportunity: USDA-FS-2023-24-40-WFD, please contact USDA Forest Service: accessga@usda.gov.

C. System for Award Management (SAM) registration SAM.gov | Home

SAM.gov registration is required for submitting responses in grants.gov. SAM.gov registration is free. Since SAM registration is required to receive any funding from any federal agency, it is advised to register to ensure readiness for any future funding opportunities. The approval process for a new or renewal SAM registration can take several months. If you are awaiting SAM registration and cannot submit through grants.gov, please send your application to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants mailto:support@grants.gov https://sam.gov/content/home accessga@usda.gov.

VI. RFI Response Question Prompts and Forms USDA Forest Service is committed to fostering strong, collaborative partnerships benefitting the environment, Tribal communities, and IYSC program. These collaborations are vital for understanding reforestation needs, establishing shared priorities, expanding capacity, and ensuring the growth of resilient and healthy forests. By working together, we all can maximize the impact of reforestation efforts on national forests.

Your submission signals an opportunity for USDA Forest Service to explore with you the ideas/projects/program in your submittal and identify potential for future funded partnerships aligned with congressional authorities.

Submission: For submission procedures, please see Section V: How to Respond. Please submit responses in .pdf or.doc format.

A. Response Question Prompts The following questions serve as prompts to assist you with your response submission. Your responses will help us better understand your organization, project idea and targeted community.

1. Are you a member of or representing a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, Alaska Native

Tribe, Alaska Native Corporation, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, or Tribal Organization?

2. What Tribe or organization are you representing?

3. Does your Tribe or organization have a website? If yes, please provide URL.

4. Briefly describe an existing or potential, reforestation and Indian Youth Service Corps project you would be interested in partnering with USDA Forest Service. Please including the goals, objectives, and activities of a current or envisioned project (recommended 3-5 pages, but no limit requirement).

5. Will the proposed project align with one or more of the following reforestation projects on USDA Forest Service managed land? If yes, please describe.

• Seed and cone collection or processing

• Nursery services to support growing seedlings (work may be on non-USDA Forest

Service land, if the trees grown are then planted on Forest Service lands)

• Reforestation needs assessments, project planning or implementation, and monitoring

• Site preparation for reforestation

• Tree improvement area maintenance, measurements, data collection, and capacity

• Stand improvement project support

• Capacity development to support reforestation and stand improvement

• Reforestation related NEPA and Tribal consultation

6. Describe how you envision an Indian Youth Service Corp?

7. Describe the expected outcomes of a potential reforestation and ISYC project, in terms of number of Native American, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian youth involved, acres of Forest Service land impacted, seedlings planted, etc.

8. Where will the proposed project be located? Specify the National Forest and USDA

Forest Service District where the proposed project might take place.

9. Please specify if your current or potential project areas are within a Forest Service reforestation needs polygon in the map link. If your project (proposed or current) is outside of a reforestation area, please describes the geographical area and any known reforestation needs.

Note: Areas of Forest Service managed lands with currently verified reforestation needs can be viewed in the National Reforestation Needs Partner Web Map Link. The map depicts the scale, in acres, of reforestation needs on individual National Forest Ranger Districts. USDA Forest Service is open to discussing other potential work locations based on the interests and needs of the Tribal and Native Hawaiian communities. There is funding available for reforestation needs when addressed with IYSC engagement.

10. Describe any existing agreements with USDA Forest Service and partnerships or relationships USDA Forest Service offices.

11. Provide an estimate of the total project budget and funding needed per year; include budget line items as described in SF 424A Application for Federal Assistance (found in Part B: Forms below) and general explanation for each line item.

12. Have you registered in SAMs and have DUNs/UEI number? If so, please list your number.

13. Do you have project ideas falling outside the scope of IYSC Reforestation? Please provide a brief description your interest and vision of other Indigenous youth engagements and USDA Forest Service partnerships.

Note In addition to reforestation, USDA Forest Service is interested in exploring further opportunities for collaboration with Tribal communities. These potential areas of interest encompass Tribal forestry, watershed management, fire management, tourism recreation, trails, first foods/culturally significant plants, sacred site protection/access and more. We strongly encourage Tribal communities to identify and specify alternative projects or initiatives that they find intriguing and would like to pursue with the IYSC USDA Forest Service. We encourage Tribal communities to respond with specific areas of interest and work with the IYSC to develop projects and initiatives that align with their goals and aspirations. Together, we can build a stronger and more sustainable future for both Tribal communities and the natural environment.

B. Forms The response package must include the following in separate attachments. Forms listed below are located within the Grants.gov website. In addition, direct links are provided below.

• SF–424: Application for Federal Assistance (OMB 4040-0001)

• SF–424A: Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (OMB 4040-0006)

• Attachments form: (attach documents for submission into Grants.gov using this form)

C. Confidentiality Materials submitted to USDA Forest Service, such as grant applications and progress reports, are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Upon request, USDA Forest Service may be obligated to disclose such records. However, documents or portions of documents will be protected if they satisfy the requirements of one or more FOIA exemptions.

If USDA Forest Service receives a FOIA request seeking information provided by your organization, Executive Order 12600 requires USDA Forest Service to consult with you regarding the potential release of this information. When assembling your proposal package, you may wish to highlight any information that constitutes a trade secret, proprietary information, confidential data, or other information that would cause you competitive harm, impact personal privacy, or have other undesirable consequences if released to the public. For more information about the FOIA and its exemptions, please consult the Department of Justice Guide to the Freedom of Information Act (https://www.justice.gov/oip/doj-guide-freedom-information-act- 0).

Responses to this RFI are voluntary. Respondents are not required to respond to all questions but may choose to do so. Responding to this RFI will not give an advantage to any organization or individual for any possible subsequent procurement action and will also not lead to a future organizational conflict of interest related to a procurement action. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future funding opportunity announcement, if any is issued.

If a funding opportunity announcement is issued, it will be posted on www.beta.sam.gov and/or www.grants.gov, and all interested parties must respond to that funding opportunity announcement separately from any response to this RFI. At its discretion, ILAB may use any, all, or none of the information submitted in response to this RFI. Respondents must identify any information they consider to be sensitive or proprietary. Any information submitted will not be returned, and no payment will be made by the Government for information provided in response to this RFI.

VII. Response Notice Timeline A. The agency will send an auto-response when response submissions have been received.

B. The agency will send a personalized follow-up message within one month of receiving responses to this RFI.

VIII. Thank you Thank you for your interest in partnering with USDA Forest Service to promote the engagement of Indian Youth Service Corp in conservation and reforestation efforts. We look forward to receiving your response proposals.

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_4_0-V4.0.pdf https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-mandatory-family.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-mandatory-family.html https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12600.html https://www.justice.gov/oip/doj-guide-freedom-information-act-0 https://www.justice.gov/oip/doj-guide-freedom-information-act-0

Figure 1. Braided Together Decision Tree