Conservation Reserve Program Forest Inventory Analysis Pilot Program

 

The Farm Service Agency (FSA), on behalf of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), is announcing the availability of competitive grants to conduct a forest inventory analysis, forest management, and economic outcomes modelling, for certain currently enrolled Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land. The analysis is focused on lands enrolled in CRP for at least 8 years and located in areas with a substantial concentration of acres enrolled under the following conservation practices devoted to multiple bottomland hardwood tree species: General tree planting, hardwood tree planting, vegetative cover on previously established tree stands, riparian buffers, bottomland timber establishments, and farmable and aquaculture wetlands.

Deleted 03/27/2024 (Archived.) 10.122 Farm Service Agency, Department of Agriculture B - Project Grants Not applicable. Public Law 115-141
Section 743 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 requires that the USDA enter into grant agreements for forest inventory analysis and forest management, and economic modelling of certain CRP Land. CCC will make available not more than $1 million in grants to non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations dedicated to conservation, forestry, and wildlife habitats, that have experience in conducting forest inventory analysis through the use of remote sensing data and technology are eligible to apply. The term "non-profit organization" means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated primarily for scientific educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest. This excludes colleges and universities, unless a 501(c)(3) has been established; hospitals; state, local, and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments. Not applicable. Applicants must submit an application by August 15, 2018 through www.grants.gov. To find the program, search on finding opportunity number USDA-FSA-CRFIA-2018 Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. FSA will evaluated applications using the evaluation criteria as follows: Non-profit organizations may submit a combined cross-organization proposal to include work that will be coordinated across more than one organization, especially if a joint proposal creates synergies or increased efficiencies. The application may include one or more forest regions. The successful application will be a one-time grant agreement. Applicants will be required to sign the grant agreement with FSA,. Proposal must include funding requested; amount of funding from other parties that provide additional leverage if any; sampling approach to be used; remotely sensed data to be used; number and relevance of metrics to be estimated and the modeling approach to be used to estimate the metrics; the accuracy assessment; and work plan and timeline for completion by September 30, 2020. FSA will appoint an inter-agency review panel to evaluate applications. July 19, 2018 to August 15, 2018 Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. Appeal decisions are located in Title 7 Part 780. Not applicable. After applicants submit applications, FSA, on behalf of CCC, will screen each application to determine whether the appalicant is eligible and whether the application is complete and sufficiently responsive to the requirements specified in the NOFA. The purpose of the grants is to provide the CRP Program Manager with information to inform decision-making about the effectives of certain conservation practices on CRP land for bottomland hardwoods and are passive in natures and will not involve ground disturbance or tree removals or disturbance. The grants will be used to conduct a forest inventory analysis focused on lands enrolled in CRP for at least 8 years and located in areas with a substantial concentration of acres enrolled under certain conservation practices devoted to multiple bottomland hardwood tree species, including conservation practices for general tree planting, hardwood tree planting, vegetative cover on previously established tree stands, riparian buffers, bottomland timber establishments, and farmable and aquaculture wetlands. Performance Reports: The agreement will require periodic achievement reports. Not applicable. As recorded in 7CFR Part 708, For the purposes of this program no receipt, invoice, or other record required to be retained by any agricultural producer as evidence tending to show performance of a practice under any such program needs to be retained by such producer more than two years following the close of the program year of the program. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Any non-profit organization that receives a grant must commit to fully expend the awarded federal funds by September 30, 2020, with an opportunity for extension upon approval by FSA. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. Richard Iovanna, telephone (202) 720-5291. Richard Iovanna
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20050 USA
Richard.Iovanna@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 720-5291 https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ 12-1336-0-1-351 (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 18$930,970.00; FY 19 est $1,000,000.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17 Estimate Not Available - New program. Data not available 7CFR Part 799 Not applicable.