Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

FY2011 Northeastern Area State & Private Forestry

Competitive Allocation RFP

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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

The 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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

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)

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Funding 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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Funding 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)

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Other 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.

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Multistate 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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Additional 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.

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Proposal 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: zhammond@fs.fed.us, 610-557-4015

C.Appropriate and authorized use of Federal funds

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Criteria 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)

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

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 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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

NA’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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Project Submission

Applicants fill out the application form 5-page maximum length (excluding budget

tables, project timeline, and letters) Submit in PDF format to na-rfp@fs.fed.us For assistance submitting proposals, contact

Terry James: trjames@fs.fed.us 610-557-4107

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Beyond 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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Feedback 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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Process 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

Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

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

Questions?