BIA Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance

To implement the National Fire Plan and assist communities at risk from catastrophic wildland fires by providing assistance in the following areas: Provide community programs that develop local capability including; assessment and planning, mitigatio

To implement the National Fire Plan and assist communities at risk from catastrophic wildland fires by providing assistance in the following areas: Provide community programs that develop local capability including; assessment and planning, mitigation activities, and community and homeowner education and action; plan and implement hazardous fuels reduction activities, including the training, monitoring or maintenance associated with such hazardous fuels reduction activities, on federal land, or on adjacent nonfederal land for activities that mitigate the threat of catastrophic fire to communities and natural resources in high risk areas; enhance local and small business employment opportunities for rural communities; enhance the knowledge and fire protection capability of rural fire districts by providing assistance in education and training; assist with the prevention and detection of wildfires to reduce the risk and impact to communities and their values. BIA's wildland urban interface community assistance program is guided by the provisions of the National Fire Plan. A variety of public information on this plan is available by contacting the appropriate State Office or the National Interagency Fire Center's web site at: http://www.nifc.gov

States and local governments at risk as published in the Federal Register, Indian Tribes, public and private education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and rural fire departments serving a community with a population of 10,000 or less in the wildland/urban interface.

States and local governments at risk as published in the Federal Register, Indian Tribes, public and private education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and rural fire departments serving a community with a population of 10,000 or less in the wildland/urban interface.

Hazard reduction activities are restricted to Federal lands, or adjacent nonfederal land for activities that benefit resources on Federal land. Most of these lands are located in the Western United States and Alaska. Assistance can be used for helping BIA support community based efforts to address defensible space and fuels management issues to support outreach and education efforts associated with fuels management and risk reduction activities and to increase the effectiveness of rural fire protection, detection and prevention. Funding is highly variable each fiscal year. For more specific information please contact the headquarters office.

No specific restrictions, however, most projects are funded on a year-to-year basis and funds are expended during a particular fiscal year.

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 Funding Opportunity 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 noticed post on www.grants.gov Third Level Review Pre-Award Clearance and Approvals. BIA 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.

All applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the funding announcement. Wildland Urban Interface community projects are reviewed at State level and funding recommendations are made through each State's annual work plan. Final budget approvals rest with the State Director or Field Office Manager.

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

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.