Transcript Slide 1

Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
FY2012 Northeastern Area
State & Private Forestry
Competitive Allocation RFP
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Why a Competitive RFP?
 Meets legal requirement in 2008 Farm Bill
 Flexibility for State Foresters and partners to
pursue outcomes related to State Forest Action
Plans
 Transparent, efficient, credible, and collaborative
process
 Supports well-informed allocation decisions
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
What is Different for 2012?
 A combined RFP, not a single RFP
 Combines 3 funding sources: Redesign, Forest Fire
Hazard Mitigation, & Forest Health Management and
Treatments
 Each source has its own review criteria and ranking
panel
 Proposals submitted under ONLY one RFP category
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
What is the Same for 2012?
 A process to ALLOCATE Federal dollars-- NOT a
competitive grants program
 NA works with State Foresters throughout the
decision process
 Meets priority needs as judged by an interagency
review team
 Identifies worthy, unmet project needs beyond
available dollars
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Funding Authorities
 Funding authorities this year:
 Fire
 Forest Health
 Forest Stewardship
 Urban & Community Forestry
Does not include or affect core
S&PF program funding
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
RFP Combines the Following
Previously Separate RFPs:
 National S&PF Competitive Resource Allocation
(“Redesign” grants)
 Forest Fire Hazard mitigation
 NA Forest Health Management and Treatments
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Excluded from this RFP
 Gypsy moth suppression, eradication & Slow the
Spread
 Oak wilt control, Early Detection/Rapid Response,
Evaluation Monitoring, FS Pesticide Impact
Assessment Program, and Special Technology
Development Projects
 Forest Health methods
 Purchase of fire department equipment, including
fire weather stations
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Excluded from this RFP
 Purchase & installation of dry fire hydrants
 Small business start-up funds
 Research and development
 Capital improvements (i.e. facilities)
 Fire preparedness & suppression capacity building
 The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Forest Health
Technology Enterprise Team, Wood Education
Resource Center, and Forest Legacy grants
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Funding Parameters
 State can submit unlimited number of proposals
 Considers & funds projects of various sizes
 Proposals can be submitted under only one RFP
category
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Funding Parameters
 Redesign grants: minimum Federal funding
request per project is $25,000
 Forest fire hazard mitigation or forest health
management and treatment proposals: no
minimum project proposal amount .
 Maximum amount of Federal funds to any one
State is 15% of total funds in the category.
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Who Can Submit Proposals?
 State Foresters eligible to submit or authorize
proposals (pass-through to partners)
 State Agriculture agencies or others with State
Forest Health Program duties submit proposals
through the State Forester or directly with a
letter of concurrence from the State Forester
 All others must submit proposals through the
State Forester
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Other Submission Considerations
 State Foresters encouraged to submit proposals
from cooperators; State Forester decides
whether to forward proposals
 Cooperators must submit proposals through
the State Forester for where the work is to occur
 Proposals due December 15
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Eligibility
 Multistate proposals:
• Encouraged where appropriate
• No preferential consideration
• Need concurrence by all relevant State Foresters
 Projects on non-Federal lands
 Project length: up to 3 years
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Third-Party Pass-Through
 Clearly identify pass-through funds to thirdparty recipients; include organization name,
contact info & funding amount
 Third-party pass-through funds will count
towards the State’s total allocation.
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Proposal Requirements
To be ranked, applications must meet all of
these requirements:
A. Link to the State Forest Resource Action Plan,
national, and regional priorities
B. 50/50 matching funds (see Web site)
Questions about eligible match: Zaneta Hammond
[email protected], 610-557-4015 or Lori Gordon
610-557-4106 [email protected]
C. Appropriate & authorized use of Federal funds
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Category I: Redesign RFP
 Applicants can “mix” or integrate State and
Private Forestry programs, authorities and funds
for priority outcomes.
 Projects can blend Urban and community
forestry; Forest Stewardship, forest health
management on cooperative lands; forest health
management, National Fire Plan; State Fire
Assistance and State Fire Assistance, National
Fire Plan.
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Criteria for Redesign Proposal Selection
1. Priority issue or threat (25 points)
2. Measurable results and significant
outcomes (35 points)
3. Collaboration (20 points)
4. Leverage (20 points)
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Category 2: Forest Fire Mitigation
Projects that:
 Reduce hazardous fuels,
 Increase awareness of wildfire prevention and
mitigation
 Reduce risk and mitigate hazards in
communities and on private lands
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Criteria for Forest Fire Hazard
Mitigation
1. Forest fire hazard mitigation (25 points)
2. Relate accomplishments to State Forest
Resources Action Plan; identify client benefit
(25 points)
3. Partnerships & collaboration (20 points)
4. Innovative approach (20 points)
5. Capacity for replication (10 points)
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Category 3: Forest Health
Management and Treatments
Projects promote sustainable forest management :
 Prevent, suppress or eradicate damaging
agents
 Restore forests after damaging events
 Enhance survey and technical assistance not
supported by core funds,
 Enhance public engagement in forest health
management
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Category 3: Forest Health
Management and Treatments
Projects relate to these or other forest health
issues: *
 Asian longhorned beetle
 Emerald ash borer
 Hemlock woolly adelgid
 Thousand cankers disease
 Invasive plants
* Multiple-pest concerns or integrated proposals should be submitted to Category 1:
Redesign RFP
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Criteria for Forest Health
Management and Treatment
1. Address a major issue or concern (20 points)
2. Measurable Results/Outcomes (40 points)
3. Collaboration and Partnerships (15 points)
4. Technical soundness (30 points)
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Forest Health Treatment Proposals
 Proposals that include treatment require form 3400-2
 Support by biological evaluation, any required
environmental analyses; work, safety & security
plans
 Document according to appropriate laws
 Document landowner or jurisdiction consent to
participate
 Funds cannot be used to cut dead trees or trees with
commercial value.
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Support for Proposal Development
 NA Field Representatives and Field Office staff:
 New England & New York – Terry Miller, 603-868-7694
 Mid-Atlantic – Bob Lueckel, 304-285-1540
 Midwest – Barb Tormoehlen, 651-649-5276
 Cooperative Fire staff assistance in Newtown Square
coordinated through Field Representatives
Consult with NA and Field Office staff:
it yields better proposals & enhances
collaboration during the project
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
NA’s Guidance to Staff
 Distribute the RFP broadly to
established and new partners.
 Engage early in the process.
 Provide technical support to help state staff
write highly competitive proposals.
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Additional resources can be found on the
NA RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Project Submission
 Fill out the application form
 5-page maximum length (excluding budget
tables, project timeline & letters)
 Submit in PDF format to [email protected]
 For help with proposals, contact Terry James:
[email protected] 610-557-4107
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Collaborative Project Selection
Steps
 Preliminary review: completeness & eligibility
 Evaluation & ranking by interagency review team of
State and Federal members- including some State
Dept. of Agric. Reps for category 3 (forest health).
 Ranked list of proposals submitted to the NAASF
Exec. Committee & NA Director by March 1
 NA Director will work with NAASF Exec. Committee to
approve projects
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Beyond Project Selection
 Funds provided via a grant agreement; standard
reporting requirements
 Successful applicants must track and report
accomplishments and successes
 Projects ranked but not funded will be considered if
additional funds become available
 The list of ranked projects helps NA and NAASF
make the case for unmet needs
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Feedback
 Ongoing feedback is critical to success
 Provide comments & suggestions through your
Field Representative or directly to Jim Barresi or
Ian MacFarlane
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Process Evaluation
 Recommendations for process changes made
to the NAASF Exec. Committee and NA Director
by May 1, 2012
 NAASF and NA Director will evaluate the RFP
process and make appropriate changes for
future years
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp
Forest Service
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Questions?
NA FY12 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp