[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 207 (Monday, October 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63891-63894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25514]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 207 / Monday, October 27, 2014 /
Notices
[[Page 63891]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Request for Proposals: 2015 Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity
AGENCY: Forest Service.
ACTION: Request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) requests proposals to
substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products
markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs
on National Forest System and other forest lands. The grants and
cooperative agreements awarded under this announcement will support the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79), Rural Revitalization
Technologies (7 U.S.C. 6601), and the nationwide challenge of disposing
of hazardous fuels and other wood residues from the National Forest
System and other forest lands in a manner that supports wood energy and
wood products markets.
DATES: The application deadline is Friday, January 23, 2015 at 11:59
p.m. The Forest Service will hold an informational Pre-Application
Webinar on November 5, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to
present this funding opportunity and answer questions. The link is:
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usda/join?id=BGW262&role=attend&pw=tK-%287%26Dwt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Information on application requirements,
eligibility, and prerequisites for consideration are available at
www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/ and www.grants.gov. Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339 24 hours a day, every day of the year,
including holidays.
Please direct questions regarding this announcement to the
appropriate Forest Service Regional Biomass Coordinator listed in the
table below. If you have questions that a Coordinator is unable to
assist you with, please contact Ed Cesa ([email protected] or (304) 285-
1530) or Steve Milauskas ([email protected] or (304) 487-1510) at
the Wood Education and Resource Center in Princeton, WV.
Table 1--Forest Service Regional Biomass Coordinators
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Forest Service Region 1 (MT, ND, Forest Service Region 2 (CO, KS,
Northern ID, & Northwestern SD), NE, SD, & WY), ATTN: Mike Eckhoff,
ATTN: Angela Farr, Forest Service Forest Service, Rocky Mountain
Northern Region (R1), Federal Region (R2), 740 Simms St, Golden,
Building, 200 East Broadway, CO 80401-4702,
Missoula, MT 59802, [email protected], (970)
[email protected], (406) 329-3521. 219-2140.
Forest Service Region 3 (AZ & NM), Forest Service Region 4 (Southern
ATTN: Walter Dunn, Forest Service, ID, NV, UT, & Western WY), ATTN:
Southwestern Region (R3), 333 Scott Bell, Forest Service,
Broadway Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, Intermountain Region (R4), Federal
NM 87102, [email protected], (505) Building, 324 25th St, Ogden, UT
842-3425. 84401, [email protected], (801) 625-
5259.
Forest Service Region 5 (CA, HI, Forest Service Region 6 (OR & WA),
Guam, and Trust Territories of the ATTN: Ron Saranich, Forest
Pacific Islands), ATTN: Larry Service, Pacific Northwest Region
Swan, Forest Service, Pacific (R6), 1220 SW 3rd Ave., Portland,
Southwest Region (R5), 1323 Club OR 97204, [email protected],
Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592, (503) 808-2346.
[email protected], (707) 562-8917.
Forest Service Region 8 (AL, AR, Forest Service Region 9/
FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, Northeastern Area (CT, DL, IL, IN,
TN, TX, VA, Virgin Islands, & IA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH,
Puerto Rico), ATTN: Dan Len, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WV, WI),
Forest Service, Southern Region ATTN: Lew McCreery, Forest
(R8), 1720 Peachtree Rd NW., Service, Northeastern Area--S&PF,
Atlanta, GA 30309, [email protected], 180 Canfield St, Morgantown, WV
(404) 347-4034. 26505, [email protected], (304)
285-1538.
Forest Service Region 10 (Alaska),
ATTN: Daniel Parrent, Forest
Service, Alaska Region (R10), 161
East 1st Avenue, Door 8,
Anchorage, AK 99501,
[email protected], (907) 743-
9467.
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Grant Program Overview:
Available Funding: The Forest Service plans to award approximately
$5 million under this announcement. The maximum for each award is
generally $250,000; however, the Forest Service may consider awarding
more than $250,000 to a proposal that shows far reaching or significant
impact. All awards are based on availability of funding.
Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are for-profit entities;
State, local, and Tribal governments; school districts; communities;
not-for-profit organizations; or special purpose districts (e.g.,
public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or
ports).
Matching Requirements: A minimum 35:65 match is required. That is,
an applicant must contribute at least 35 percent of the total project
cost. The Forest Service's share of the project will be no more than 65
percent of the total. The applicant's match or contribution must come
from non-Federal source funds. The match may include cash or in-kind
contributions. All matching funds must be directly related to the
proposed project. The source of third-party contributions must be
identified in an accompanying letter of support.
Deadline: Friday, January 23, 2015 at 11:59 p.m.
Award Information: Grants and Cooperative Agreements awarded under
this announcement are typically awarded for two to three years.
Projects of greater complexity may be awarded for up to five years. The
Forest Service will notify a recipient if their proposal is selected
for award and indicate whether any additional forms or information is
required and an estimate
[[Page 63892]]
of when they may proceed. The Federal government will incur no legal
obligation until appropriated funds are available and a Forest Service
Grant Officer returns a fully executed award letter to a successful
applicant.
Note: An award to a for-profit entity will generate an Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1099 Miscellaneous Income that will be filed
with the IRS and provided to the awardee. The Forest Service expresses
no opinion on the taxability, if any, of the awarded grant funds.
Reporting Requirements: A Federal Financial Report (SF-425) and
progress report are required on an annual calendar year basis and must
be submitted to the appropriate Grant Officer. A detailed final report
is required and should include: (1) Final Summary Report (brief
overview of accomplishments of the goals and objectives described in
the approved award); and (2) Final Accomplishment Report (includes
assessments, reports, case studies, and related documents that resulted
from project activities). Ten percent of awarded funds will be withheld
until an acceptable final report is approved by the Forest Service.
Forest Service will post final reports on the Wood Education and
Resource Center Web site.
Wood Innovations Grant Categories
The Forest Service seeks proposals that significantly increase or
stimulate markets for wood energy and wood products in a manner that
has a measurable and meaningful long-term impact on National Forest
System and other forest lands that need robust wood supply markets for
low value wood.
This Request for Proposal focuses on the following priorities to:
Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on
National Forest System and other forest lands.
Reduce costs of forest management on all land types.
Promote economic and environmental health of communities.
Funding will be awarded to two separate categories outlined as
follows.
Grant Category 1: Expansion of Wood Energy Markets
The intent of this category is to stimulate, expand, or support
wood energy markets that depend on forest residues or forest byproducts
generated from all land types. Preference will be given to projects
that make use of low value wood generated from National Forest System
and other forest lands with high wildfire risk.
The most competitive proposals will generate immediate and
measurable on-the-ground results or substantially stimulate adoption of
wood energy. Research based proposals or proposals incorporating
technologies that are not commercially proven will not be competitive
under this category.
Grant Category 1 is separated into the following three main project
types:
1. Statewide Wood Energy Teams
Establish a statewide wood energy team that provides technical,
financial, and outreach assistance for wood energy projects. Example
team activities include, but are not limited to, holding public
workshops, conducting prefeasibility and preliminary engineering
assessments, offering training for Architects and Engineers to scope
and design wood energy systems, and identifying financing
opportunities.
Note: You can view the activities of existing Statewide Wood
Energy Teams at: http://na.fs.fed.us/werc/swet/. Proposals to
establish a Statewide Wood Energy team in the following states will
not be considered because a team is already in place: AK, AZ, CA,
CO, ID, KY, MN, MT, NH, NM, NY, OR, VT, WA, WI, and WV.
2. Wood Energy Projects
Complete engineering designs, cost analyses, permitting, or other
requirements for wood energy projects that are necessary in the later
stages of project development to secure financing.
Note: Preference will be given to proposals that bundle or
address multiple wood energy projects. Projects in early project
scoping or planning that need preliminary analyses, pre-feasibility
assessments, or other assistance that is typical in the early phases
of project development will not be competitive.
3. Wood Energy Markets
Expand or support wood energy markets that use low value wood
residues for heating, cooling, or electricity production. Projects can
include, but are not limited to the following:
a. Develop a cluster of wood energy projects in a geographic area
or specific sector (e.g., prisons, hospitals, universities,
manufacturing sector, or industrial sector).
b. Evaluate and recommend a commercial, institutional, or
industrial sector most suitable for wood energy that has not
traditionally used wood for heating, cooling, or electricity.
c. Conduct a feasibility assessment of several municipalities that
would be ideal candidates to construct a district wood energy system
for heating, cooling, and electricity.
d. Develop innovative financing or new funding opportunities for
wood energy development.
e. Overcome market barriers and stimulate expansion of wood energy
in the commercial sector.
Grant Category 2: Expansion of Wood Products Markets
The intent of this category is to promote markets that create or
expand the demand for non-energy based wood products. Preference will
be given to projects that support commercial building markets or other
markets that use existing or innovative wood products. Wood energy
projects will not be considered under this category because those
projects can apply for funding under Grant Category 1.
Projects can include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Develop training on construction or manufacturing techniques
that use new building materials or building designs (e.g., structural
roundwood or cross-laminated timbers).
2. Conduct a market analysis and perform targeted marketing to
expand the use of wood materials in commercial construction (e.g.,
buildings or bridges).
3. Establish statewide wood action teams that focus on using wood
in support of Forest Service Regional/Area priorities and State Forest
Action Plans.
4. Facilitate establishment of new building codes to support
expanded use of wood materials.
5. Demonstrate the beneficial characteristics of wood as a green
building material, including investments in life cycle assessments and
environmental product declarations for wood products.
6. Develop a carbon trading market protocol for wood building
materials that accounts for the fossil carbon offset from using wood.
7. Develop markets to use unexpected increases in volumes of wood
caused by natural events (e.g., insects, diseases, hurricanes,
tornadoes, and ice storms).
8. Develop manufacturing capacity and markets for wood products
that support forest ecosystem restoration, such as biochar, biofuel,
mulch, and soil amendments.
The above list of examples is not exhaustive and is intended only
to give you a sense of the types of projects considered.
Funding for construction projects or equipment purchases will not
be funded under either Grant Category.
Application Process
Application information is available at the following two Web
sites:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/ (under Wood Innovations)
[[Page 63893]]
www.grants.gov (Search: Opportunity: USDA-FS-WERC-2015 or
CFDA 10.674 Wood Utilization Assistance, Agency Forest Service).
Applicants should consult with the appropriate Forest Service
Regional Biomass Coordinator to develop proposals (see Table 1 of
Contacts section). Proposals should align with Forest Service Regional/
Area priorities and State Forest Action Plans.
Application Submission: Applications must be submitted by email to
the respective Forest Service Regional Biomass Coordinator listed in
the Contacts section of this announcement by 11:59 p.m. on January 23,
2015. NO EXCEPTIONS. Paper submittals will not be accepted.
Note: Your Forest Service Region is generally determined by the
State where the majority of the proposed work will be conducted. Two
Forest Service regions may exist in one State. You can locate your
Forest Service region at: http://www.fs.fed.us/maps/products/guide-national-forests09.pdf. Consult with a Forest Service Regional Biomass
Coordinator if you are not certain which Region applies.
Application Format and Content: Each submittal must consist of two
separate PDF files, preferably in a searchable format, as follows:
PDF file #1: Application Part 1 (Cooperator Contact
Information) and Application Part 2 (Proposal and Appendices).
PDF file #2: Application Part 3 (Required Financial Forms,
which must include SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, AD-1047, AD-1049 (or AD-
1052 for States and State agencies), AD-3030, FS-1500-35 (certificate
regarding lobbying activities), and Financial Capability Questionnaire
FS-1500-22).
Note: The applicant must include a DUNS number and register at
www.sam.gov to receive a federal award.
Application Parts 1, 2, and 3 can be found at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/werc/ under Wood Innovations. Submit all application
information at the same time.
The Proposal in Application Part 2 must be presented on 8.5 x 11
single-spaced pages with 1-inch margins using 12-point Times New Roman
font. A maximum of 11 pages for items #1 through #5 listed below will
be accepted for Application Part 2:
1. Project Narrative (4 pages):
The project narrative should provide a clear description
and anticipated impact of the project, including the following where
appropriate: (1) Magnitude of the impact on markets generating
renewable energy or creating non-energy wood products; (2) Benefits to
National Forest System lands (e.g., tons of biomass removed in fire-
prone areas, air quality improvements, cost savings for forest
management, or carbon offsets); (3) Source of biomass removed from
forested areas broken out by land ownership; and (4) Job creation and
retention.
Describe methods and reasoning for selecting areas of
focus (e.g., geographic clusters, sector-based clusters, or larger
projects to be targeted).
Specify the number of years requested for the award.
2. Program of Work (3 pages):
Describe statement of need, goals, and objectives.
Describe methods to accomplish goals and objectives.
Specify projected accomplishments and deliverables.
Discuss communication and outreach activities that create
social acceptance in communities or markets where projects are
targeted.
Describe monitoring plan, which must include annual and
final reports.
Discuss all relevant aspects of the project, such as
preliminary assessments, resource inventories, and success stories.
Describe projected impact on wood energy or wood products
markets.
Include a timeline for key activities.
3. Budget Summary and Justification in Support of SF-424A (2
pages);
Address proposed expenditures in relation to the proposed
program of work.
Specify cash and in-kind match, other Federal funds, and
staff time that will help accomplish the program of work.
Describe the fee structure if fee-for-services is planned.
4. Qualifications of Staff, Organization, and Partners (1.5 page):
Include key personnel qualifications, certifications, and
relevant experience.
Describe experience and success of any prior funded Forest
Service projects.
5. Project Outcomes, Annual Progress Reports, and Final Reports
(0.5 pages):
List anticipated project outcomes and accomplishments.
Describe types of reports, documents, and success stories
that will be provided at the end of the project to be posted on the
Wood Education and Resource Center Web site.
Documentation exceeding the designated page limit requirements for
any given section will not be considered. Appendices should be very
well organized so that a reviewer can readily find information of
interest. Include information in the Appendices that will help a review
panel better understand and evaluate your project. Below are examples
of information to include in the Appendices:
Feasibility Assessments
Woody Biomass Resource Supply Assessment
If appropriate, quotes for Professional Engineering
Services and rationale for selection of contractor, if already
selected.
Letters of Support from Partners, Individuals, or
Organizations, especially those playing a key role or providing any
matching funds. Letters of support should display the degree of
collaboration occurring between the different entities engaged on the
project. These letters must include partner commitments of cash or in-
kind services from all those listed in the SF-424 and SF-424A.
Miscellaneous, such as schematics, engineering designs, or
executive summaries of reports.
List of all other Federal funds received for this project
within the last 3 years (include agency, program name, and dollar
amount).
Proposal Evaluation
All applications will be screened to ensure basic compliance with
the directions in this announcement. Applications not following the
directions will be disqualified without appeal. A panel of Federal
experts and their designees will perform a thorough technical review of
eligible proposals and evaluate the proposals according to the criteria
outlined in this announcement. Regional Foresters and the Northeastern
Area Director will rank proposals according to regional and area
priorities. The panel, Regional Foresters, and Northeastern Area
Director will submit their recommendations to the Forest Service
national leadership for a final decision.
Evaluation Criteria and Point System: Reviewers will assign points
to each proposal based on its ability to meet the following criteria. A
maximum of 100 total points can be earned per proposal.
Alignment with goals and objectives of this Request for
Proposals. (20 points)
Technical approach, deliverables, and timetable. (30
points)
Impact on wood energy or wood products markets. (20
points)
Qualifications, relevant experience, and roles of team
members. (20 points)
Leveraging of federal funds. (10 points)
[[Page 63894]]
Dated: September 19, 2014.
James Hubbard,
Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 2014-25514 Filed 10-24-14; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P