Good Neighbor Authority

The Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) is intended to expand limited federal capacity to implement and plan forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration projects by facilitating partnerships with authorized states, counties, and federally recognized India

The Good Neighbor Authority (GNA)-Restoration is intended to expand limited federal capacity to implement and plan forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration projects by facilitating partnerships with authorized states, counties, and federally recognized Indian tribes. The GNA specifically allows BLM to enhance government to government relationships and addressing cross-boundary land restoration needs to include treating insect-and disease-infested trees; reducing hazardous fuels; any other activities to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, including fish and wildlife habitat. This type of work has reduced wildfire risk to habitat and communities; creates greater forest and watershed resilience against drought, insects, disease, and wildfire and expands much-needed work across state and federal lands. Authorized Restoration Services encompasses a broad set of restoration actions that work apply to work conducted by many BLM programs. Examples of work that could be accomplished through the GNA-Restoration include but are not limited to: fuel breaks, herbicide application, seed and seedling planting, post-fire burned area rehabilitation, salvage/sanitation timber sales, pre-commercial/commercial thinning, prescribed fire, targeted grazing to meet rangeland health objectives, proactive forest or range restoration to provide wildlife habitat and improve livestock forage, noxious weed and invasive species treatments, wildland-urban interface fuels reduction, and community assistance to reduce the impacts of wildfire on the landscape, riparian or upland restoration as well as NEPA analysis and document preparation, endangered species act or cultural clearances, and data collection when conducted in conjunction with an authorized restoration service.

The term "good neighbor agreement" means a cooperative agreement (Single Source or Competitive) entered into between the Secretary and a Governor or county, as applicable, to carry out authorized restoration services under this section. The term "Governor" means the Governor or any other appropriate executive official of an affected State or Indian tribe.

Projects are primarily conducted on federal lands administered by the BLM located in the Western United States and Alaska. Projects may also be conducted on other lands to enhance state or Indian Tribe-federal relationships addressing cross-boundary land restoration needs to include activities confined to Authorized Restoration Service which are activities to treat insect and disease-infected trees, activities to reduce hazardous fuels, and any other activities to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, including fish and wildlife habitat. The Bureau of Land Management must provide or approve silviculture prescriptions and marking guidelines to be applied to public lands in timber sale projects.

All projects are awarded for up to a five year period and funded on a year-by-year basis and funds are expended during a particular fiscal year. No commitment will be made to fund projects beyond one year. New and continuing projects will be re-evaluated each year based on performance, merit, and fund availability.

This will be based on individual awarded projects.

First Level Screening -Basic Eligibility. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Must meet the requirements of the Notice of Intent in GrantSolutions or in the competitive NOFO posted on www.grants.gov, screening may include, but is not limited to: Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met; Submission is timely; and complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents. B. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation is stated in each Notice of Funding Opportunity post on www.grants.gov. Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals. BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations, the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as: Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, financial stability, quality of management systems, past performance meeting prior award terms and conditions, reports and findings of audits performed, and applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory or other requirements. BLM Leadership will review for final award determinations.

All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program Notice of Intent or in a competitive NOFO. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the Notice of Intent or NOFO. Final budget approvals rest with BLM Leadership.

Deadline determination as part of either the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or the Notice of Intent (NOI) for directed awards.

Award time varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each directed announcement posted in GrantSolutions or NOFO on www.grants.gov for competitive process and may be obtained by contacting the point of contact listed in the NOFO. Most awards are anticipated within 90 days or less after the announcement closes.

Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the Bureau of Land Management will provide all applicants with information on why their proposal was not selected for award.