Grants to USA Nonprofits, For-Profits, Agencies, Tribes, and IHEs to Improve Forest Health and Local Economies

Grants to USA Nonprofits, For-Profits, Agencies, Tribes,
and IHEs to Improve Forest Health and Local Economies

Community Wood Grant Program

Share it:

Agency Type:

Federal

Funding Source:

Add to My Calendar

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Forest Service

Conf. Date:

11/09/21

Deadline Date:

01/19/22 5:00 PM Local Time - Electronic Receipt

Description:

Request a Grant Writer

Grants to USA and territories nonprofit organizations, for-profits, government agencies, tribes, and IHEs to improve forest health and local economies. Funding is intended for projects that increase wood product manufacturing capacity and promote the use of renewable wood energy. Proposals incorporating commercially proven technologies will be most competitive.

The Community Wood Grant Program, launched in 2020, provides funding for grants to install thermally led community wood energy systems or to build innovative wood product manufacturing facilities. The Forest Service expects renewable wood energy systems installed under this program to use the most stringent control technologies. The program places extra emphasis on assisting sawmills in economically challenged areas to retool or add advanced technology.

This funding opportunity is intended for shovel ready projects that will not require additional funding or time to complete after the award period. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

Install a thermally led community wood energy system for heating, cooling, and/or electricity that replaces fossil fuels such as coal, oil, propane, or natural gas.
Purchase and install manufacturing equipment at a mass timber production facility.
Expand a sawmill to add higher value production lines that incorporate innovative technologies and cost cutting measures.
Purchase and install equipment at a new facility to produce biofuels from forest residues.

Priority will be given to projects that:

Are located where markets are needed for low-value or low-quality wood.
Are located where the project will aid forest restoration.
Use or retrofit an existing sawmill facility where the average annual unemployment rate exceeds the national average unemployment rate by more than one percent in calendar year 2019.
Use the most stringent control technology that has been required or achieved in practice for a wood-fired boiler and will operate in a location with limited access to natural gas pipelines.
Support, benefit, or engage communities that are historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality (pursuant to Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government).

Projects must provide a preference for the purchase, acquisition, or use of goods, products, or materials produced in the United States pursuant to 2 CFR § 200.322.

GrantWatch ID#:

GrantWatch ID#: 200052

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$5,000,000

Estimated Size of Grant:

The maximum for each award is $1 million to pay for up to 35% of total capital costs. The Forest Service may consider awarding up to $1.5 million (for up to 50% of total capital costs) for a proposal that warrants special consideration, especially for projects located in areas of high unemployment.

Term of Contract:

Awards under this announcement are typically 2 to 3 years in length. Projects of greater complexity may be awarded for a longer period not to exceed 5 years.

Eligibility:

See RFP and/or Grant Guidelines for full eligibility

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

Eligible applicants are non-profits; local, state, and tribal governments; businesses, companies, corporations (for profit); institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports.)

Forest Service funds under this grant program cannot be used for capital costs that would create a federal interest in real property. Pursuant to 2 CFR §200.85, “real property” means land, including land improvements, structures, and appurtenances thereto, but excludes moveable machinery and equipment. Therefore, applicants cannot use Forest Service funds to pay for any of the following activities: purchasing or improving real property, relocation expenses and payments associated with real property; site work; demolition and removal; construction; or contingencies.

Forest Service funds cannot be used for operating costs, which are expenses associated with maintenance and administration of operations on a day-to-day basis.

Forest Service funds cannot be used to acquire a community wood energy system that exceeds nameplate capacity of 5 megawatts of thermal energy or combined thermal and electric energy.

Forest Service funds cannot be used for basic research or federal employee involvement in the project. Project or program income will not be considered for these awards and should not be included in the budget or to calculate total capital costs. Expenses for self-marketing or self-promotion are not eligible expenses (e.g., company brochures, company business cards, company display materials, etc.).

Pre-proposal Conference:

The Forest Service will hold an informational Pre-Application Webinar on this and another related grant opportunity on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to provide information and answer questions. The link is https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/wood-innovations/. For audio, dial in by phone: 888-844-9904; use access code 9780832. 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. https://www.federalrelay.us/tty/.

Pre-Application Information:

Applications must be received electronically at the individual e-mail address for the respective Forest Service Regional Coordinator listed in the Agency Contacts section of this announcement by 5:00 p.m. in the region you submit by January 19, 2022 with NO EXCEPTIONS.

Anticipated Announcement and Award Date:
- October 19, 2021: Issuance of Request for Proposals
- January 19, 2022: Proposal submission deadline
- May 2022: Approximate date for award announcement
- August 2022: Approximate date of award

Your agency, business, or organization must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to apply; https://sam.gov/content/home. There is no charge for registration. Active registration must be maintained throughout the life of the award. Note: The approval process for a new or renewal SAM registration can take several months.

Note: You must obtain a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet. To verify that your organization has a DUNS number, or to take steps needed to obtain one, go to the Dun & Bradstreet website: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/

Matching funds are not required; however, leveraging is required. Applicants must contribute the additional funds (leveraged funds) necessary to complete the project above and beyond the requested Forest Service funding.

For questions regarding this Request for Proposals or administrative regulations, contact your respective Forest Service Regional Coordinator listed on page 13 of the Request for Proposals in Supporting Documents below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with their designated Coordinator to determine whether a project idea will be competitive and to develop a competitive proposal.

Note: Your Forest Service Region is generally determined by the State where most of the proposed work will be conducted. Two Forest Service regions may exist in one State.

View this opportunity on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=335463

CFDA Number:

10.708

Funding or Pin Number:

USDA-FS-COMMUNITY-WOOD-2022

URL for Full Text (RFP):

See the full text of this grant

Geographic Focus:

USA: Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York City; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington, DC; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming

USA Territories: American Samoa (USA); Guam (USA); Puerto Rico (USA); Virgin Islands (USA); Northern Mariana Islands (USA);

Categories:

GrantWatch ID#: 127055

View Full Grant »

We have grants for

Grant Writers For Hire - Grant Writer Team