Wood Utilization Assistance

 

Provide direct technical assistance to Forest Service, state foresters, tribes, public and private organizations regarding new and emerging wood utilization technologies and products to effectively manage forests and extend the most efficient and effective economic opportunities to forest landowners. The State & Private Forestry staff provides expertise in science-based management decisions concerning forest products utilization, biofuels production, and woody biomass utilization that uses material removed to meet forest landowner goals. Program may include: (1) development of potential new products; (2) projects that showcase innovative uses for small diameter and low-valued hardwoods and softwoods; (3) reducing the challenge to economic and market barriers to the use of wood (4) provide seed money and gap funding for demonstration projects and (5) facilitate the creation/expansion of harvesting/processing/transporting enterprises around wildland urban interface areas threatened by catastrophic wildfires.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
10.674
Federal Agency/Office
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Section 8643, Public Law 115-334, 7 U.S.C. 7655d
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Entities eligible include: Non-profits, local, state, and Tribal governments, business, companies, corporations (for Profit), institutions of higher education, and special purpose districts, (public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or ports).
Beneficiary Eligibility
Not applicable.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. Application period will be published at grants.gov
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Procedures for submitting technical assistance or grant applications can be found on www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu or contact the Program Manager as listed under Information Contacts. .
Award Procedure
Grants, if appropriated funds are provided, will generally be nationally competitive and merit-based. Technical Assistance request will be prioritized based on Tribal, state, or national forestry issues such as insect, disease, catastrophic events, and economic adjustments.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 120 to 180 days. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: 160 days after the date of closure on a Request for Proposals or Technical Assistance.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Financial grants and cooperative agreements are approved on the basis of a nationwide review and are based on technical and financial merits of the project as evaluated by a panel of Federal experts or their designees.
How may assistance be used?
Technical assistance or limited project grants to achieve long-term forest health through local enterprises that support forest management. No land acquisition or construction.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Forest Service program managers will provide overall program monitoring.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Grant records will be maintained for 3 years after submission of final documents. Technical Assistance record will be maintained for 3 years from the close of the assistance. Government Technical Report (GTR) maybe developed to share the results of Technical Assistance collaborative efforts.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. A 1:1 match is required. The applicants match must come from non-Federal sources. The match may include cash or in-kind contributions. All matching funds must be directly related to the proposed project. Letters for specific request from non-profits, local, state, and Tribal governments, business, companies, corporation, (for profit), institutions of higher education, and special purpose districts, (public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or port) are encouraged to demonstrate collaboration and the role this federal assistance program can leverage accomplishing local projects. Matching will be required only for financial assistance and will be stated in Request For Proposal, and in accordance with Congressional direction.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
As determined by project, no longer than 5 years on grants or cooperative agreements. Technical assistance is limited to one year unless negotiated due to tribal, state or national priorities. Payments are made based on authorization and negotiation of provisions with cooperator.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Kevin Naranjo
201 14th St SW
Washington, DC 20250 US
kevin.naranjo@usda.gov
Phone: 404-673-3482
Website Address
https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/energy-forest-products/wood-innovation
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-1105-0-1-302
Obligations
(Project Grants) FY 22$21,752,140.00; FY 23 est $20,014,652.00; FY 24 FY 21$13,290,904.00; FY 20$14,353,398.00; FY 19$13,632,692.00; FY 18$12,387,227.00; FY 17$10,280,943.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Typical awards are $300,000 per award. Exceptions may be made for special circumstances.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Not applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2017 Establishment of statewide wood energy and wood utilization teams; feasibility assessments for woody biomass energy systems; addressing issues related to building with wood and cross-laminated timber (CLT), such as utilizing low-value ponderosa pine in California; blast resistance of CLT for Department of Defense applications; examining the use of hardwoods in CLT; and creating mass timber manufacturing capacity in the US..
Fiscal Year 2018 Establishment of statewide wood utilization teams; feasibility assessments for woody biomass energy systems; utilizing small diameter woody material in cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels; addressing affordable housing in the northeast building market with mass timber; and converting woody debris to renewable natural gas for transportation fuel.

 


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