Forest Biomass For Energy (10.686)

Program

10.686 Forest Biomass For Energy

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Forest Service

Authorization

Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, 7 USC 8701, Title IX, Section 9012, Public Law 110-246.

Program Number

10.686

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To encourge the use of woody biomass for energy. Priority will be given to projects that: (a) develop technology and techniques to use low-value forest biomass, such as byproducts of forest health treatments and hazardous fuels reduction, for the production of energy; (2) develop processes that integrate production of energy from forest biomass into biorefineries or other existing manufacturing streams; (3) develop new transportation fuels from forest biomass; and (4) improve the growth and yield of trees intended for renewable energy production.

Types of Assistance

Project Grants (Discretionary)

Uses and Use Restrictions

Research and Development activities. 100%.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

No additional information.

Beneficiary Eligibility

No additional information.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Pre-proposals will be used for initial screening, using a peer review panel of scientific and technical experts in the field. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Full proposals will be requested from those that are selected in the pre-proposal review. Detailed evaluation criteria will be posted on a Forest Service website, and proposals will be evaluated by a peer review panel of scientific and technical experts in the field. Primary application requirements will include relevance to priorities identified in the announcement for proposals; scientific quality and contribution of the proposed research; evidence of external collaboration; clearly defined outcomes, deliverables, and benefits that can be reported annually; and appropriateness/adequacy of proposed budget.

Award Procedure

Applicants will be required to submit applications using the SF 424 Application for Assistance forms located at www.grants.gov; additional application requirements will be contained in the request for proposals.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Renewal requests must be submitted as a new proposal.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Public Law 106/113.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 30.%. Payments to a named governmental entity are determined as established in Public Law 106-113.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards can be made for multiple-year funding up to three years with second- and third-year funding dependent on available funding. Single-year funding can have a 2-year term. Either multiple- or single-year funding awards can have a no-cost extension up to one year. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: As stated in the award terms.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

A final report is required for all funded awards. This report can be in the form of a final report or in publications that result from the project. The recipient must be able to report on the fund expenditures. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports, if required, will be specified in the award document. Expenditure reports are required using SF 425 Federal Financial Report. This report will replace the SF 269 and SF 272 for financial/expenditure reporting as of 10/1/2009. Performance monitoring activities will be conducted by the Forest Service program manager to measure performance against established award goals.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Complete financial records must be made available to Federally appointed persons upon request.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1106-0-1-302.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 08 not reported.; FY 09 est $15,000,000; FY 10 est $15,000,000 - Per the authorizing legislation, this program is authorized $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$500,000 to $1,000,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Not Applicable.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. USDA Forest Service Research and Development
Resource Use Sciences/Forest Management Sciences
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250.

Headquarters Office

Patricia S. Palmer 1621 N. Kent Street, Suite 707 RPE, Arlington, Virginia 22209 Email: patriciapalmer@fs.fed.us Phone: 7036054776 Fax: 7036055100

Web Site Address

http://www.fs.fed.us/research/

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Proposals are evaluated according to the criteria specified in the program solicitation. All proposals are reviewed competitively by a peer review panel consisting of scientific and technical experts in the field. The agency uses the peer review process to ensure fair and knowledgeable evaluation of pre-proposals and proposals.