RFR_UCF_Tree_Planting_FINAL-20260828.pdf

Urban and Community Forestry Tree Canopy Enhancement

Grant Program

GRANT OPPORTUNITY

GRANT OPPORTUNITY SUMMARY

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Urban & Community Forestry is soliciting grant applications for the purpose of supporting tree planting efforts on public and private property in Burdened Areas across the Commonwealth.

Eligible Applicants: Municipalities, 501(c)3 Organizations, and federally recognized Tribes.

Grant Deadline: November 2, 2026

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs

Department of Conservation & Recreation 10 Park Plaza

Boston, MA 02116 August 28, 2026

BID: # BD-27-1020-DCRFS-DC366-132960

INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Grant Program Overview and Goals

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Urban & Community Forestry, 66 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478 is soliciting grant applications for the purpose of supporting tree planting efforts on public and private property in Burdened Areas across the Commonwealth.

The Urban & Community Forestry Tree Canopy Enhancement Grant Program is designed to bring the measurable positive environmental, public health, and energy efficiency benefits of an expanded tree canopy cover to the lives of residents living and working in Burdened Areas. One hundred percent of the work must focus on benefiting Burdened Areas.

The funding for this Grant Program is part of a $1.5 billion investment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA grant funding is available to increase tree cover in urban spaces and boost equitable access to nature while bolstering resilience to extreme heat, storm-induced flooding, and other climate impacts and can be used to address such activities as tree planting and aftercare, tree and stump removal, community engagement, urban wood utilization, urban food forests, and workforce development.

There is not a match requirement.

Eligible Projects

In addition to the requirement to plant trees, grant proposals may include the following types of projects:

• Purchase of trees and associated materials for purposes of planting and caring for new trees;

• Tree pit excavation, or restoration;

• Concrete, asphalt, or other impervious material removal to facilitate tree planting and/or improve the health of trees;

• Installation of pervious surfaces around trees;

• Stump removal and/or tree removal if necessitated by planting site preparation;

• Maintenance during tree establishment period;

• Public education initiatives;

• Vacant municipal lot restoration conducted with tree planting;

• Administrative costs (must not exceed more than 20 percent of the total grant project).

Only those projects taking place entirely within Burdened Areas will be eligible for this grant opportunity, and all projects must result in tree planting.

Project applications will be required to include a planting plan and to identify measurable goals and/or deliverables (e.g., number of trees planted, community events that will be hosted, type and number of informational materials for distribution, etc.).

A DCR tree planting coordinator will oversee planting plans to ensure that the “right tree, right place” principle is followed, will monitor tree planting operations to ensure that tree planting adheres to United States Forest Service (USFS) and DCR guidelines, and will work in partnership with applicants to ensure that tree stewardship is ongoing.

Eligible Applicants

Municipalities, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, and federally recognized Tribes are eligible to apply.

DCR encourages municipalities, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, and federally recognized Tribes to consider opportunities to partner, leveraging the unique abilities of each to achieve the greatest impact and to ensure the watering and care of trees planted. The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it will comply with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c.

40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Application Deadline

November 2, 2026, at 3:00 pm.

Application Submission Instructions

Applicants should download the application file by clicking on the “Attachments” tab at the top of this COMMBUYS Notification, click on each file listed to download them.

Forms provided for the Applicant to complete, except for the forms requiring ink signatures, must be completed, and sent via email to:

Julie Coop, Urban and Community Forestry State Coordinator julie.coop@mass.gov, 617-797-3392

This grant opportunity is issued under MGL c. 7A, § 7; St. 1986 c. 206, § 17; 815 CMR 2.00 (Grants)

Number of Awards & Contract Duration

This bid may result in multiple contracts.

The expected duration of this contract is one year with one option to renew.

All contracts awarded under this Bid will be utilized by DCR.

This Bid has been distributed electronically using the Commbuys system. It is the responsibility of every Applicant to check Commbuys for any addenda or modifications to a Bid to which they intend to respond.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its subdivisions accept no liability and will provide no accommodation to Applicants who fail to check for amended Bids and submit inadequate or incorrect responses. Potential Respondents are advised to check the “last change” field on the summary page of Bids for which they intend to submit a response to ensure they have the most recent Bid files.

Estimated Value of the Grant Contract

Grant awards will range from $20,000 to $100,000. Exceptions may be made at DCR’s Urban & Community

Forestry’s discretion.

mailto:julie.coop@mass.gov

Reimbursement Requirement

The UCF Tree Canopy Enhancement Grant Program is a reimbursement grant program. Applicants selected to receive grant funding must be prepared to incur costs detailed in the scope of their applications and then seek reimbursement. The project must not be started until the selected Applicant has executed a contract with the Commonwealth and only approved project costs will be eligible for reimbursement.

Information Session

A virtual grant information session will be held on September 24, 2026. While attendance is not required and is optional, it is recommended that applicants attend.

RSVP to Julie.Coop@mass.gov by September 2, 2026.

Estimated Grant Program Calendar

EVENT DATE

Grant Application Release Date 9/1/2026

Grant Information Session 9/24/2026

Deadline for Applications 11/2/2026 3:00PM

Notification of Awards (Estimated) March

Contract Start Date (Estimated) April

Contact Information

Julie Coop, Urban and Community Forestry State Coordinator julie.coop@mass.gov 617-797-3392

PERFORMANCE AND CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

Applicant Eligibility

Municipalities, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, and federally recognized Tribes are eligible to apply.

Non-profit applicants will be required to submit a letter of endorsement from the municipality and its Tree Warden where they have proposed project work.

All grant recipients will be required to participate in a tree planting workshop.

Only those projects taking place entirely within Burdened Areas will be eligible for this grant opportunity, and all projects must result in tree planting. MassEnviroScreen is a series of tools and interactive maps that should be used to geographically identify Burdened Areas.

In Massachusetts, Burdened Areas are communities (i.e., census block groups) that meet one or more of the following criteria: has a MassEnviroScreen score of 75 or greater, or the annual median household mailto:Julie.Coop@mass.gov mailto:julie.coop@mass.gov https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/536e0efba7a64103aa0055f1f98a26c3 https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/536e0efba7a64103aa0055f1f98a26c3 income is 65 percent or less of the statewide annual median household income. This tool brings together 30+ data layers on environmental, climate, health, and socioeconomic data to help identify communities that experience higher environmental burdens and social vulnerabilities.

Applicants may elect to sub-contract planting or other work with private contractors. All sub- contractors responsible for tree planting or tree care must have a Massachusetts Certified Arborist (MCA) or International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist on site to provide oversight and direction for tree planting and tree care.

Project Eligibility, Specifications, and Scope of Work

Planting and caring for trees in urban areas is a priority for the DCR Urban and Community Forestry Program. The Urban and Community Forestry Tree Canopy Enhancement Grant is designed to bring the measurable positive environmental, public health, and energy efficiency benefits of an expanded tree canopy cover to the lives of residents living and working in Burdened Areas. One hundred percent of the work must focus on benefiting these areas.

Only those projects taking place entirely within Burdened Areas will be eligible for this grant opportunity, and all projects must result in tree planting.

Material Specifications

Planting large canopy tree species should be prioritized whenever appropriate and Applicants must plant trees with a mature height of over 25 feet. Trees for purchase must be greater than 1.5” caliper and less than 2.5” caliper to be eligible for reimbursement.

Design Requirements

All designs must adhere to the principle of ‘right tree, right place’.

Project applications will be required to include a planting plan and to identify measurable goals and/or deliverables (e.g., number of trees planted, a list of tree species locations and sizes for proposed tree pits or impervious surface removal, community events that will be hosted, type and number of informational materials for distribution, etc.).

To ensure diversity and to avoid monoculture planting, no more than 10% of an individual species, 20% of an individual genus, or 30% of an individual family should be planted.

Vacant lot restoration projects must be approved in advance by DCR Urban and Community Forestry Program staff and must include a site plan establishing the number of trees and locations proposed on the lot(s). The site plan must identify a buffer area to protect trees from potential impacts of site development, such as the perimeter of the lot. The site plan must be agreed to and recorded, in writing, by the municipality to ensure new trees are permanently protected from potential impacts of site development.

Maintenance Requirements

Applications must articulate how the Applicant will ensure watering including equipment used, frequency of watering, and amount of water per tree, and all other post tree planting care. (e.g., mulching, pruning, etc.) and who will be performing this work.

Other Requirements

• Tree planting should focus on areas with limited tree canopy cover and in residential areas.

• Trees planted on private property must be planted in front yards or side yards only, to maximize public benefit.

• Applications must articulate how the Applicant will secure landowner permission to access their property for tree planting and how the state government will be released from any liability associated with work completed on private property.

• Applicant may be required to provide signage to acknowledge The U.S. Forest Service and Inflation Reduction Act as a funding source for work performed under this grant.

• Tree pits must conform to ADA requirements for sidewalk clearance. Preferred tree pit dimensions are a minimum of 5 feet by 10 feet. Where possible, existing tree pits should be connected to form a continuous planting strip.

Allowable Expenditures

All grant proposals must include tree planting and may include expenses for the following:

• Purchase of trees and associated materials, including clean loam and/or mulch, watering bags, watering tanks, stakes etc. for purposes of planting new trees.

• Tree pit excavation, or restoration.

• Concrete, asphalt, or other impervious material removal to facilitate tree planting and/or improve the health of trees.

• Installation of pervious surfaces around trees.

• Stump removal if necessitated by planting site preparation.

• Tree removal if necessitated by planting site preparation.

• Maintenance during establishment period including watering, structural pruning, weeding, replenishing mulch, etc.

• Public education initiatives including:

o Community outreach events that promote tree planting or raise awareness of the benefits of an expanded urban canopy.

o Costs incurred for distributing tree planting information to residents, including mailers, or utility bill inserts.

o Training and/or educational programs hosted in coordination with tree planting to ensure neighborhood residents are empowered to properly provide ongoing care for trees planted.

• Vacant lot restoration conducted with tree planting on municipally owned vacant lots, such as debris removal, removal of impervious surfaces, and planting costs.

• Administrative costs (must not exceed more than 20 percent of the total grant project).

Ineligible Expenditures include, but are not limited to:

• Costs associated with the preparation and submission of an application in response to this bid.

• Staff salaries, equipment and goods not related to tree planting support.

• Purchase of food or drink.

• Stump grinding.

• Purchase of equipment over $10,000.

• Purchase of motor vehicles.

Funding Availability, Budgeting Guidelines

All contracts shall be subject to available funding, whether through the appropriation and authorization of sufficient funds or the receipt of sufficient revenues. If available funding ceases for any reason, a contract shall be deemed under suspension, and contract performance must halt. An applicant and/or contractor will not be entitled to compensation for any performance provided during the period of contract suspension. DCR may lift the suspension if available funding is received. In the absence of foreseeable available funding, DCR may terminate the contract.

Products funded with this grant (signs, fencing, landscaping timbers, structures, etc.) are strongly encouraged to be constructed of wood products grown and manufactured in Massachusetts unless the grantee can demonstrate that wood is not a suitable material or that Massachusetts grown, and manufactured products are not available or will cost more than 10% more than equivalent products (MGL Chapter 30B, Section 20). Where possible, Applicants should use firms that have signed agreements with the Department of Agricultural Resources as part of the Commonwealth Quality Program, which verifies their sustainable practices and that the products are grown and manufactured in Massachusetts.

Additional Budget Requirement

Applicants selected to receive grant funding must show the use of funds from non-state sources for the project. Non-state funding sources include, but are not limited to, municipal funds, other grants from private or non-profit foundations, and cash contributions from local partners or individuals. As the Urban and Community Forestry Tree Canopy Enhancement Grant is a REIMBURSEMENT grant program, DCR will reimburse 100% of the total amount spent as shown by canceled municipal checks up to the grant award maximum. Any non-state funding sources must be deposited into a municipal account. The project must not be started until the selected Applicant has executed a contract with the Commonwealth.

Project Terms

All final contracts are subject to successful negotiation of a Final Scope of Services. Please note that DCR does not guarantee that any contracts may result from this Grant Notification or that any particular funding level will be awarded. It is anticipated that projects could commence immediately upon DCR’s decision. The awarded contract(s) will be reviewed during their course and, upon request by the

Applicant, may be extended or otherwise amended at the discretion of DCR. Any extensions granted will not necessarily change, or increase, the monetary value of the contract.

Anticipated Duration of Contracts

Contracts will begin on the date of execution of the contract by DCR and will end on December 31, 2027.

Contractor may request a grant extension, with 60-day notice prior to the end of the contract. Extension of the contract is at the sole discretion of DCR and will not affect the amount awarded.

Deliverables, Ownership, and Credit Due

DCR staff must be invited to any public event scheduled regarding the project. The USFS and Inflation Reduction Act must be acknowledged as a funding source for work performed under this grant through signage that shall remain displayed at the project site in perpetuity.

Invoicing and Payment

The Urban and Community Forestry Tree Canopy Enhancement Grant is a reimbursement program.

Applicants selected to receive grant funding will be required to provide the following documentation when filing for reimbursement:

• An invoice with a unique invoice number on grantee’s letterhead.

• The Reimbursement Billing Form (forms will be provided after contract has been executed) that will be reviewed and approved by DCR.

• Cancelled checks from the Applicant (both sides), paid invoices, or other proof of payment that reflects the unit cost, total payment, date paid, and method of payment.

• Identified project deliverables.

Only approved expenses incurred during the period of contract are eligible for reimbursement

Documents should be emailed to: julie.coop@mass.gov

Julie Coop, Urban and Community Forestry State Coordinator

Invoices submitted to Massachusetts government entities must not include sales tax. Commonwealth payments are issued through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) 45 days from invoice receipt.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Evaluation Criteria

Each Application will be scored using the following measures.

mailto:julie.coop@mass.gov

1. Application is complete, detailed, and clearly presented.

2. Proposal will result in measurable positive environmental, public health, and energy efficiency benefits of an expanded tree canopy cover for the lives of residents living and working in Burdened Areas.

3. Project involves diverse members of the community in planning and implementation.

4. Budget and timeline are reasonable, accurate, and clearly presented.

5. Community is a Tree City USA community.

6. Applicant has not recently been funded through the DCR Urban & Community Forestry Grant program.

Application Submission Instructions

Applications must be submitted on the Commonwealth’s Grants Management System (GMS) by 11:59 pm on November 2nd, 2026. Please note that all responses and information submitted in response to this Bid are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66, s. 10, and to c. 4, s. 7, ss. 26. Any statements in submitted responses that are inconsistent with these statutes, including marking of information as confidential, shall be disregarded. Please do not submit any information that the Applicant may not wish to disclose publicly, such as home addresses or personal telephone numbers, social security numbers, or other similar information.

Required Documents

A complete application package includes the following supporting documentation:

1. Project Narrative

2. Project Budget

3. Project Timeline

4. Letter of Endorsement from an authorized representative of the municipality if Applicant is a non-profit proposing planting on municipal land

5. Letter of support from the Tree Warden

Evaluation Process

A project selection committee comprised of DCR UCF staff, and its Advisory Council will score and rank all applications using the criteria described above.

After rating, the Selection Committee will make funding recommendations to DCR and EEA.

Additional Documentation

If selected, the following forms will be required to execute a contract. They are available from the Commonwealth’s Operational Services Division website (https://www.mass.gov/lists/osd-forms) and Respondents are encouraged to review these forms prior to submission of a Bid.

• Commonwealth Standard Contract Form

• Commonwealth Terms and Conditions

• Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing Form https://www.mass.gov/info-details/grants-management-system-gms#browse-open-grant-opportunities

• Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment , Estimated Award Date

Awards are estimated to be announced on or about 90 to 120 days after grant application deadline, with contract negotiations to begin immediately thereafter. Please note this is an estimated timeframe and subject to change based on availability of funds and other factors.

Estimated Contract Start Date

Notwithstanding any verbal representations by the parties, or an earlier start date listed in the Standard Contract Form, the effective start date of a contract shall be the latest of the following dates: the date the Standard Contract Form has been executed by an authorized signatory of the contractor; the date of secretariat or other approval(s) required by law or regulation; or a later date specified in the Standard Contract Form. Contracts resulting from this Bid are estimated to start in Spring 2027.

Acceptable Forms of Signature

Effective June 15, 2021, for all 1) CTR forms, including the Standard Contract Form, W-9s, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) forms, ISAs, and other CTR-issued documents and forms, or 2) documents related to state finance and within the statutory area of authority or control of CTR (i.e. contracts, payrolls, and related supporting documentation), CTR will accept signatures executed by an authorized signatory in any of the following ways: 1. traditional “wet signature” (ink on paper); 2. electronic signature that is either: a.

hand drawn using a mouse or finger if working from a touch screen device; or b. an uploaded picture of the signatory’s hand drawn signature; 3. electronic signatures affixed using a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign. If using an electronic signature, the signature must be visible, include the signatory’s name and title, and must be accompanied by a signature date. Please be advised that typed text of a name not generated by a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign, even in computer-generated cursive script, or an electronic symbol, are not acceptable forms of electronic signature.

File Format Restrictions

All scanned documents must be in .pdf format and must be scanned in such a way that they may be read on a computer monitor and printed on 8 1/2” x 11” paper, unless otherwise specified.

Instructions for Execution and Submission of Commonwealth Standard Forms

Forms listed below may be electronically signed by the Applicant, see Acceptable Forms of Signatures above. Applicants must, if notified of Contract Award, submit the following four (4) forms: the Commonwealth Standard Contract Form; the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions; the Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Mass. Substitute W9 Form); and the Applicant Authorized Signatory Listing.

Commonwealth Standard Contract Form

By executing this document, the Applicant certifies, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that it has submitted a grant application that is the Applicant’s Offer as evidenced by the execution of its authorized signatory, and that the Applicant’s Response may be subject to negotiation by the DCR. Also, the terms of the Grant Award, the Applicant’s Response, and any negotiated terms shall be deemed accepted by the Department and included as part of the Contract upon execution of this document by the DCR.

If the Applicant does not have a Vendor Code beginning with “VC” or does not know their Vendor Code, the Applicant should leave the Vendor Code field blank. The Applicant should NOT enter a Vendor Code assigned prior to May 2004, as new Vendor Codes have been assigned to all companies since that time.

Commonwealth Terms and Conditions

If the Applicant has executed and filed the appropriate Commonwealth Terms and Conditions form pursuant to another Grant Award, RFR, or Contract, a copy of this form may be included in lieu of filing a new Commonwealth Terms and Conditions. If the Applicant’s name, address, or Tax ID Number have changed since the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions form was executed, a new Commonwealth Terms and Conditions form is required. The Commonwealth Terms and Conditions are hereby incorporated into any Contract executed pursuant to this RFR.

This form must be unconditionally signed by one of the authorized signatories (see Applicant Authorized Signatory Listing, below) and submitted without alteration. If the provisions in this document are not accepted in their entirety without modification, the entire Proposal offered in response to this Solicitation may be deemed non-responsive.

The company’s correct legal name and legal address must appear on this form and must be identical to the legal name and legal address on the Request for Taxpayer Identification and Certification Number (Mass. Substitute W9 Form).

Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (Mass. Substitute W9 Form)

Since October 1, 2003, The United States Office of Management and Budget has required all federal grant applications submitted to include a Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

Therefore, Grantees will be required to obtain a DUNS number and report it on the Mass. Substitute W9 Form.

If an Applicant previously submitted a Request for Taxpayer Identification and Certification Number (Mass. Substitute W9 Form) that included a DUNS number and has received a valid Massachusetts Vendor Code, an original W-9 form is not required. A copy of the form as filed may be included.

If the Applicant’s name, address, or Tax ID Number have changed since the Mass. Substitute W9 Form was executed or if the form did not include a DUNS number, a new Mass. Substitute W9 Form is required.

The information on this form will be used to record the Applicant’s legal address and where payments under a State Contract will be sent. The company’s correct legal name and legal address must appear in this form and must be identical to the legal name and legal address on the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions. Please do not use the U.S Treasury’s version of the W9 Form.

Applicant Authorized Signatory Listing

Applicants must submit the completed and signed Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing form. In the table entitled “Authorized Signatory Name” and “Title,” type the names and titles of those individuals authorized to execute contracts and other legally binding documents on behalf of the Applicant.

Applicants are advised to keep this list as small as possible, as Applicants will be required to notify the Grant Coordinator of any changes. The form must be signed by an OFFICER OF THE COMPANY appointed by the corporation’s or municipality’s governing body. A human resources manager, sales manager, and other mid-level executives are not typically considered officers.

Attachment

Application Form (For review)