forest service northeastern area state and private forestry fy2011 northeastern area state &...

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private ForestryForest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

FY2011 Northeastern Area State & Private Forestry

Competitive Allocation RFP

FY2011 Northeastern Area State & Private Forestry

Competitive Allocation RFP

Northeastern Area State and Private ForestryForest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture


NA FY11 RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp

The Case for ChangeThe Case for Change Meets the requirement of law in the 2008 Farm Bill

Gives State Foresters and their partners significant flexibility to pursue outcomes aligned with their State Forest Resource Strategy

Provides a transparent, efficient, credible, and collaborative process

Enables well-informed decisions about allocations



This is Not Business as Usual!This is Not Business as Usual! A single RFP—not combined, aggregated, or compiled

A process to decide how to best ALLOCATE Federal dollars (this is NOT a competitive grants program)

An opportunity for NA to collaboratively work with the State Foresters throughout the decision process

A process driven by priority needs, rather than the “color” of available money!

A way to identify merit-worthy, unmet project needs (beyond the dollars available)



Funding AuthoritiesFunding Authorities Funding authorities for this year:

Fire

Forest Health

Forest Stewardship

Urban & Community Forestry

This process does not include or affect core S&PF program funding



This RFP Replaces the FollowingPreviously Separate RFPs:

This RFP Replaces the FollowingPreviously Separate RFPs:

National S&PF Competitive Resource Allocation (“Redesign” grants)

Hazard mitigation

NA Forest Health treatments, methods and technology development, and other efforts



Funding ParametersFunding Parameters There is no limit on the number of proposals any

one State can submit

The intention is to consider and fund projects of various sizes

A minimum project proposal amount of $30,000 in Federal funding (smaller projects can be bundled)

The maximum amount to be awarded to any one State is $1.5 million (total of all projects)



Who Can Submit Proposals?Who Can Submit Proposals? State Foresters are eligible to submit or

authorize proposals (pass-through to partners)

State Ag. agencies or other organizations with State Forest Health Program responsibilities can submit proposals through or with concurrence from the State Forester

All others must submit proposals through the State Forester



Other Submission ConsiderationsOther Submission Considerations NA encourages State Foresters to submit

proposals by cooperators; State Foresters have the discretion whether to forward proposals.

Cooperators should submit proposals through the State Forester for where the work is to occur.



Multistate ProposalsMultistate Proposals Multistate proposals are encouraged where

appropriate, but do not receive preferential consideration

Need concurrence of all relevant State Foresters

Identify the amount of funding for each State

Link to each State Strategy

NA is available to help facilitate discussion for multistate projects



Additional InformationAdditional Information

Funds through this RFP can only be spent on work conducted on non-Federal lands.

Projects may span up to 3 years, with full funding committed at the time of award.

Funds to be passed through to third-party recipients must be clearly identified and will count towards a State’s total allocation.



Proposal RequirementsProposal RequirementsApplications will proceed for ranking only if they meet all of these requirements:

A.Link to the Statewide Forest Resource Strategy, national, and regional priorities

B.Provide (50/50) matching funds (see Web site)

Contact Zaneta Hammond with questions regarding eligible match: [email protected], 610-557-4015

C.Appropriate and authorized use of Federal funds



Criteria for Proposal EvaluationCriteria for Proposal Evaluation

1. Significant issue or concern (30 points)

2. Measurable results and significant outcomes (30 points)

3. Capacity to succeed (10 points)

4. Technical soundness (10 points)



Support for Proposal DevelopmentSupport 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

Assistance from the Cooperative Fire staff in Newtown Square will be coordinated through

the Field Representatives

Experience has shown that this consultation results in higher quality proposals and more collaboration between similar efforts



NA’s Guidance to StaffNA’s Guidance to Staff Distribute the RFP broadly to established

and new partners.

Engage early in the process.

This is an opportunity for NA staff to provide meaningful technical support to help you and your staff construct the best possible proposals.

Additional resources can be found on the NA RFP Web site: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/rfp



Project SubmissionProject Submission

Applicants fill out the application form

5-page maximum length (excluding budget tables, project timeline, and letters)

Submit in PDF format to [email protected]

For assistance submitting proposals, contact Terry James: [email protected] 610-557-4107



Collaborative Project Selection Collaborative Project Selection Preliminary review for completeness and to

determine potential funding eligibility

Proposals evaluated and ranked by interagency review team with a 1:1 ratio of Federal to State representatives

A ranked list of proposals will be submitted to the NAASF Exec. Committee & NA Director by March 1

The NA Director will work with the NAASF Exec. Committee to approve projects



Beyond Project SelectionBeyond Project Selection Project funding will be provided through a grant

agreement, with standard reporting requirements

Successful applicants will need to track and report accomplishments and successes for selected proposals

Projects ranked but not funded will receive further consideration should additional funds become available

The list of ranked projects helps NA and NAASF make the case for unmet needs

Expanded RFP announced

Nov. 1, 2010.

State Forestry Agencies, Forest

Service & partners work to develop

proposals.----------------------Technical support

for proposal development

available from NA

State Foresters*

submit proposalsby Feb. 1,

2011.

Proposals to RFP Review Team withOne-to-one ratio of

federal-to-state representatives.

Review Team evaluate &

score proposals on 4

criteria

Normalize scores (Z-score process), rank & recommend list of projects by March 1, 2010.

Prelim. review of proposals for completeness

coordinated by NA Deputy Director.

Ranked Proposals to NAASF Exec. Committee & NA Director

NA Exec. Team identifies mix of funds for

selected projects.

NA notify grantees- successful- not successful

NA Exec. Team compiles FY 2011

grant list with funding sources.

Projects ranked but not funded will receive further consideration by the NAASF Exec.

Committee and NA Director should additional funds become available in FY

2011.

NA & NAASF Evaluation of

Process

Recommendations for process changes

for FY 2012 to NAASF Exec. Committee & NA Director

by May 1, 2011.

RFP and Proposal Submission

Proposal Review and Ranking

Selection and Notification

Evaluation

NAASF Exec. Committee and

NA Director approve projects

for funding.

FY2011 RFP Process



FeedbackFeedback Ongoing feedback is critical to the success of

this RFP

Provide comments and suggestions through your Field Representative, or directly to Jim Barresi or Ian MacFarlane

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Process EvaluationProcess Evaluation Recommendations for changes to the process

will be made to the NAASF Exec. Committee and the NA Director by May 1, 2011

NAASF and the NA Director will closely evaluate the RFP process and institute changes as appropriate for future years



Questions?Questions?

forest service northeastern area state and private forestry fy2011 northeastern area state &...

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