* SAM.gov Registration: All applicants must have an active registration at sam.gov and maintain active registration throughout the life of the award. This is the government-wide web-based system that supports all contracts, grants, and the electronic payment system. This requirement for registration may be found at 2 CFR 25.200. Please initiate registration or renewal as soon as possible.
Inflation Reduction Action of 2022, Public Law No: 117-169. Subtitle D, Sec. 23003 (a). State and Private Forestry Conservation Programs, (2) Urban and Community Forestry (2022-2031) to provide multiyear, programmatic, competitive grants for tree planting and related activities, with a priority for projects that benefit underserved populations and areas through the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance program established under section 9(c) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act Of 1978 (16U.S.C.2105(c))
For inquiries specific to the content of the NOFO requirements, contact the following shared inbox: SM.FS.UCF_IRA@usda.gov. Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NOFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.).
Information on available pre-award webinars and other supporting information for this funding opportunity will be posted at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf
Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) is a covered program under the Agency's Justice40 Initiative established through Executive Order 13985. To advance the mission of Justice40, proposals that deliver 40% of the benefits of IRA investments through established partnerships with local organizations working to support disadvantaged communities experiencing low tree canopy and environmental justice will receive priority consideration.
Performance Period
All funding agreements will be for a period of 5 years and must be completed by that period.
Note: Recipients will be expected to implement and demonstrate measurable progress within 12 months of award.
Additional Funding
FS may at its discretion, increase the total level of funding available in this funding round or in any category in this funding round from any available source provided the awards meet the requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the agency.
Eligible Uses of Funding
Projects must conform to laws and authorities in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (Section 9. [16 U.S.C. 2105] Urban and Community Forestry Assistance. Costs must conform to 2 CFR 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.
Match Waiver
Any Non-Federal cost-share requirement otherwise applicable to projects carried out under this section may be waived at the discretion of the Secretary. Match may be waived for proposals that deliver 100 percent of the funding/program benefits to disadvantaged communities.
Applications seeking match waiver must clearly describe the scope of work to be performed in applicable disadvantaged communities, and identify online vulnerability and environmental justice equity data tools referenced to support a disadvantaged community designation, (e.g., White House Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), EPA Environmental Justice and Screening Mapping Tool (EJScreen), EPA EnviroAtlas Interactive Map, Opportunity Zones), or other government sponsored vulnerability tools which inform metrics applicable to the scope of work. Multiple tools may be used. All work must be tracked at the level that designates disadvantaged communities. Applicants receiving match waiver approval that pass-through funding (sub-award) for work in disadvantaged communities must pass the match waiver to sub-awardees performing the work.
While the pace of federal expenditures and cost sharing/matching may vary throughout the award period, the agency will actively monitor expenditure rates and cost sharing/matching levels as it receives payment requests to ensure the total cost sharing/matching requirement is met by the award period of performance end date. Additional details about cost sharing or matching funds/contributions are located at 2 CFR 200.306.
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirements
All federal grant funds are to be matched at least equally (dollar for dollar) with non-federal match which may include allowable and allocable in-kind contributions (i.e., personnel salary, fringe, and indirect costs; services, materials, supplies, equipment donations; and volunteer assistance), and private and public (non- federal) monetary contributions.
Cash match is from the applicant's budget, such as personnel salary, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, and supplies, or cash provided by another party. The source of the cash match cannot be derived from another Federal award or grant.
In-kind match is a non-cash contribution of value. A non-Federal entity's in-kind match must meet the following criteria:
Matching funds must be derived entirely from non-Federal sources (unless expressly authorized in law by the other federal program.
Pass-Through Funding (Sub-Awards) In response to stakeholder feedback and to alleviate the administrative burden on small, capacity-strained applicants, to expedite funding to communities in greatest need, and to increase opportunities to award high volumes of grants in condensed timeframes, applications from eligible entities with demonstrated ability to competitively pass-through (subaward) funding to community-based organizations and other partners serving disadvantaged communities are encouraged. A minimum of 80% of all funding to a pass-through entity must be competitively sub-awarded to community-based organizations, or other partners serving disadvantaged communities. Funding to Pass-Through Entities will be executed through a grant or cooperative agreement with substantial Forest Service involvement, at the discretion of the Forest Service.
Applications, submission, and Reporting Requirements
Electronic Application Package
Applicant materials can be found on the Urban and Community Forestry UCF Grant Portal or by searching for this funding opportunity through Grants.gov. In grants.gov, search for grant Opportunity Number USDA-FS-2023-UCF-IRA-01. Applications are to be submitted through the UCF Online Grant Portal . All application materials must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 1, 2023.
For technical issues while viewing Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Forest Service staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.
USDA Forest Service will provide two (2) Application Assistance Webinars in late April to assist with specific questions and inquiries. If you would like to receive a direct invitation for these sessions, please send an email to the Urban & Community Forestry Program Inbox: SM.FS.UCF_IRA@USDA.GOV
Content and Form Application Submission The Forest Service may choose not to consider applications that fail to comply with the required content, format, and page limits, or those that are incomplete.
To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain the following documents:
Project Narrative
Each page must be numbered and have one-inch margins. The text of the project narrative must be single spaced and typed in a standard typeface (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri) with no smaller than 12-point font. The project narrative must not exceed 7 pages. This page limit applies to the project narrative only. Other application materials, such as budget details/narratives, maps, and letters of commitment from contributing partners are not counted in this 7-page limit.
Project Narratives must include all the following information:
- Project Title: Provide a uniquely descriptive title for this project. Use this full title consistently on all submission communications and supplemental documents, including letters of support, until an official application number is assigned by the Forest Service.
- Project Applicant: Provide the name of the organization applying for Federal funding.
- Contact Information: Provide the name, title, address, phone number, and email address for the person leading the project or program.
- Project Summary: In less than 100 words, provide a summary of the project that includes the scope, location, key partners, and expected accomplishments.
- Project Scope Alignment: Describe the issues this project is seeking to address and how the project will contribute to the goals in this funding opportunity, including congressional, Justice40, State Forest Action Plans, and Ten-Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026) priorities.
- Implementation Strategy/Methodology/Timeline: Provide a detailed explanation of the proposed approach, methodology, operations strategies, project schedule/timeline with goals/milestones, expected accomplishments or measurable outcomes, and project assessment/evaluation methods.
- Capability and Capacity: Describe how each contributing organization is suited for (mission) and qualified to deliver the project. Provide the names, titles, and organization affiliation and specific roles of key personnel for the project. Include qualifications and experience of key personnel to implement, monitor, and assess/report project outcome.
- Project Partners: Provide the names of partner organizations, describe their involvement and contributions to the project.
- Communications Plan: Share your plans for communication on the project, including plans for 1) signage acknowledging the source of funding at project locations 2) inclusion of funding information in press and promotional materials.
- Evidence of Disadvantaged Community Status for projects requesting Match Waiver (if applicable): Clearly describe the scope of work to be performed in disadvantaged communities, and identify online vulnerability and environmental justice equity data and/or tools referenced to support a disadvantaged community designation, (e.g., White House Council on Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), EPA Environmental Justice and Screening Mapping Tool (EJScreen), EPA EnviroAtlas Interactive Map, Opportunity Zones, or other vulnerability data/tools applicable to the scope of work). Multiple tools may be used. All work must be tracked at the level that designates disadvantaged communities.
Primary applicants receiving cost-match waiver approval that pass-through funding (sub-award) for work in disadvantaged communities must pass through the cost match waiver to sub-awardees performing the work.
Budget Narrative
In a separate document titled Budget Narrative, explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. List in detail how the totals on the budget were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires the agency's approval and estimate its cost. The pages included as the budget narrative do not count toward the page limit. Cost sharing/matching must be committed at the time of application submission. The budget narrative must show the amounts and sources of match or cost share (including both cash and in-kind contributions.
Budget
A budget should be submitted as an attachment and does not count toward the 7-page narrative limit (see sample budget template and instructions in Notice of Funding opportunity and grant application website).
Application Submittal
Applications are to be submitted through the UCF Online Grant Portal. The on-line application workflow process is self-explanatory with help links to guide you through the application process. Applicant materials can be found on the grant application portal under the forms template and resources section, or by searching grant opportunity number USDA-FS-2023-UCF-IRA-01 in Grants.gov.
All applications must be completed and submitted by June 1, 2023, 11:59 PM Eastern. Once submitted, the applicant will receive an email notice confirming their application was successfully submitted.
Contact for Further Information
For inquiries specific to the content of the NOFO requirements, contact the following shared inbox: SM.FS.UCF_IRA@usda.gov. Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NOFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.
USDA Forest Service will provide two (2) Application Assistance Webinars in late April to assist with specific questions and inquiries.
April 18, 1-2:30 pm ET: https://usfs.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItfu-pqDMtH07EzAdmMFzNbmeCPf1Ymkg
April 25, 2-3:30 pm ET: https://usfs.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItd--qqzosGkQg4dIrg4f2F-QXv8_YFmw
