Los Padres National Forest Zaca and Piru Fires Restoration Grant Program

Transcription

1 Los Padres National Forest Zaca and Piru Fires Restoration Grant Program 2016 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Pre-Proposal Due Date: January 13, 2016 by 5:00 PM Pacific Time Full Proposal Due Date: February 29, 2016 by 5:00 PM Pacific Time (For invited applicants) OVERVIEW The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in cooperation with its federal partner, the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF), is pleased to announce the Zaca and Piru Fires Restoration Grant Program for the recovery of lands and watersheds degraded from the influences of these two wildfire events. The grant program will be coordinated closely among LPNF and NFWF program staff. The goals of this competitive grant program are to (1) provide support for projects in the LPNF that address the factors facing the health and function of ecosystems affected by the Zaca and Piru Fires, (2) promote ecological resilience to future wildfire events, (3) improve the LPNF s capacity to identify and address resource management issues, and (4) provide sustainable and lasting ecological benefits. In FY 2016, approximately $1.5 million in restoration funds will be available to implement restoration actions within the watersheds affected by the Zaca and Piru Fires. Successful proposals will address one or more of the goals and priorities described below. GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS The purpose of this program is to restore ecological integrity and healthy functioning of watersheds and ecosystems affected by the Zaca Fire (2007) and the Piru Fire (2003) (Figure 1). In addition, the program may engage in activities to repair Forest Service public services or non-natural features impaired by those events, particularly where the damage to infrastructure such as trails, roads, or fuel breaks has resulted in additional ecological degradation. Specifically, these activities will focus on landscape and watershed restoration actions within and adjacent to the Zaca and Piru Fire burn scars. In particular, within the Zaca Fire boundary, the Manzana Creek watershed, a tributary to the Sisquoc River, has been identified as a primary focal area for the initial stages of this program. Areas outside of this focal area are also eligible for funding provided the applicant demonstrates a clear nexus to addressing the needs resulting after the Zaca and/or Piru Fires. Page 1 of 10

2 Figure 1. Regional map of Los Padres National Forest with Zaca and Piru Fire boundaries, and inset of Lower Manzana Creek. PROGRAM PRIORITIES Grant funding will be provided to implement projects that address the planning and implementation of ecological restoration within and adjacent to the Zaca and Piru Fire scars. To be eligible for funding, projects must provide direct benefits to the recovery of ecosystems and lands within and/or adjacent to the Zaca or Piru Fire scars, or provide necessary design, planning or monitoring projects to enhance future recovery of ecosystem health and resilience. In addition, projects that address public services (including information and education) and non-natural features such as trails, roads, and fuel breaks within these areas may also be considered, provided they have a discernable connection to the goals of ecological restoration. The projects that will be given the highest priority are described below. Watershed improvement projects, particularly those that address aquatic organism passage and barrier removal: These include projects to: (1) improve existing aquatic organism passage barriers including small dams, fords and culverts to create permanent access to spawning and rearing habitat and enhance connectivity, (2) remove invasive species threatening aquatic habitat such as Tamarisk spp. or Arundo donax, (3) restore riparian corridor revegetation, and (4) maintain and improve existing in-stream or riparian habitat. Page 2 of 10

3 In particular, activities related to design and implementation of road crossing improvements on: Davy Brown Creek Munch Creek Projects that restore desired native vegetation communities, improve forest health, and increase ecosystem resilience to future stressors such as wildfire, drought, insect infestation and disease: These include projects to: (1) remove invasive species; (2) harvest native seed, propagate native plants, and/or revegetate landscapes to restore vegetative communities to a more natural population and species distribution; and (3) restore age class structure and reduce fuels to minimize risks from catastrophic wildfire. Projects for the benefit of threatened and endangered species, or species of special concern, in particular steelhead trout, California condor, and big cone Douglas-fir: These include projects to: (1) restore or improve habitat specific to the species of interest, (2) support species reintroduction and projects designed to enhance existing populations; and (3) inform and educate the public about the issues concerning these species and individual actions that can be taken to protect them. Projects that enhance the current understanding of LPNF resource conditions and provide direct and immediate benefits to future LPNF planning and implementation actions: These include projects to: (1) survey and inventory populations and habitat conditions of Southern California coast steelhead, big cone Douglas-fir, or other desired natural populations or ecosystems; (2) survey and inventory existing conditions of roads, trails, or fuel breaks; and (3) conduct archeological assessments within potential project areas to ensure preservation of historical sites and artifacts. In particular, the LPNF is interested in the following: Mapping and inventory of big cone Douglas-fir and other LPNF pine communities Mapping and inventory of steelhead habitat condition, riparian condition, and tamarisk presence within the fire scars Archeological assessments along the following Forest Service system trails in the Santa Lucia Ranger District: o Sisquoc Trail (between Manzana Schoolhouse trailhead to Abel Camp) o Big Cone Spruce Trail o Hurricane Deck Trail o Jackson Trail o Sulphur Springs Trail Forest Service road inventory to identify sources of chronic sedimentation or potential culvert/hillslope failure Restoration of trails, fuel breaks, and roads impacted by the Zaca or Piru Fires, particularly where restoration will lead to improved water quality or habitat conditions: These include projects to: (1) conduct maintenance on degraded system trails, (2) decommission or reroute existing system trails as identified by LPNF, (3) restore non-sanctioned user created trails to natural condition, (4) rehabilitate land impacted from past fire management activities, (5) and implement best management practices to reduce pollutant loads and invasive species. Page 3 of 10

4 In particular, the LPNF is interested in trails, fuel breaks, and roads: Within Manzana Creek watershed Within the greater Sisquoc River watershed Recovery and re-route of the Pothole Trail, within the Piru Fire scar The above listing identifies program priorities that will assist in addressing the needs of the LPNF as a result of the impacts from the Zaca and Piru Fires. Other projects not listed here that address the goals and priorities of the Forest will also be considered. Applicants are encouraged to review the Zaca and Piru Fire Restoration Conservation Strategies or contact NFWF program manager, Jim Bond, to ensure alignment of proposals with program objectives. Multi-year projects are eligible and encouraged to apply to this program in phases; however, this Restoration Program is not an applicable funding source for start-up or research projects that will not result in direct benefits to the LPNF upon project completion or within 5 years. Grant recipients will be required to demonstrate the ability to fulfill the Restoration Program s contractual requirements (as described on page 7 of this RFP) to acquire applicable landowner permissions and to ensure environmental and heritage resource compliance, as well as any regulatory permits or approvals, including National Environmental Policy Act requirements. Regulatory compliance measures should be included in all budget and timelines as part of submitted proposals. PROJECT METRICS To better gauge progress on individual grants and to ensure greater consistency of project data provided by multiple grants, the Zaca and Piru Fires Restoration Grant Program has a list of metrics in NFWF s online application platform (Easygrants) for grantees to choose from for reporting. Proposals to this grant program will be evaluated in two stages, the Pre-Proposal review and the Full Proposal review. Applicants invited to submit Full Proposals will need to select only the most relevant metrics from the drop down list which will be provided in the Full Proposal Application (all possible program metrics are shown in the table below). If you do not believe an applicable metric has been provided, please contact Jim Bond to discuss acceptable alternatives. Project Activity Recommended Metric Additional Guidance Volunteer Participation Capacity, Outreach, Incentives Building institutional capacity # volunteers participating Outreach/Education Research Research Capacity, Outreach, Incentives Outreach/Education/Technical Assistance - # people reached Planning, Research, Monitoring Research acres assessed Planning, Research, Monitoring Research - # studies completed to inform mgmt. Enter the number of volunteers participating in projects Enter the number of people reached by outreach, training, or technical assistance activities Enter the number of acres assessed for improved management Enter the number of studies completed whose findings are used to adapt mgmt/inform mgmt. decisions Page 4 of 10

5 Restoration planning/design/permitting Invasives removal In-stream Habitat Improvement Restoration of aquatic connectivity via dam removal, bridge and culvert removal, and/or installation of fish passage structures Restoration of aquatic connectivity via dam removal, bridge and culvert removal, and/or installation of fish passage structures Riparian restoration Wetland restoration Reforestation and Restoration of Forest Vegetation Planning, Research, Monitoring Research - # E&D plans developed Habitat Restoration removal of invasives acres restored Habitat Restoration Instream Restoration miles restored Habitat Restoration - Fish passage improvements - # passage barriers rectified Habitat Restoration Fish passage improvements - Miles of stream opened Habitat Restoration Riparian Restoration Acres restored Habitat Restoration - Wetland restoration - Acres restored Habitat Restoration Land restoration acres restored Trail Improvements Habitat Management Green Infrastructure miles of trails improved Erosion control Habitat Management BMP implementation for nutrient or sediment reduction Lbs of sediment prevented from entering the system annually Trees Planted Habitat Management Green Infrastructure - # trees planted Plant Cultivation Habitat Restoration Plant Cultivation Seedlings propagated Seed Harvesting Habitat Restoration Seed Harvesting lbs harvested Fuel Break Management Habitat Management Improved management practices Acres of public land under improved management Enter the number of Engineering and Design plans, and/or compliance documents developed. Generally there will be 1 per project. Enter acres restored Enter miles restored In the notes section of this metric please indicate what type of barrier is being removed (i.e. dam, culvert, etc.) Enter the number of miles of stream opened to fish passage Enter the number of acres restored Enter the number of acres restored Enter acres restored through practices such as revegetation, thinning, mortality removal, or prescribed burns Enter the number of miles of trails improved Enter the amount of sediment prevented from entering the system annually Enter the number of trees planted Enter the number of seedlings propagated Enter the number of pounds of seeds collected Enter the number of fuel break acres under improved management. This may include new fuel break development or maintenance of existing fuel breaks. Page 5 of 10

6 ELIGIBILITY Eligible and Ineligible Entities Eligible applicants include: non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, local and municipal governments, resource conservation districts, state and federal agencies, Indian tribes, educational institutions, mutual water companies, irrigation districts, and businesses. Ineligible applicants include: unincorporated individuals and international organizations. Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. NFWF funds may not be used to finance compliance with another regulatory obligation, including permit conditions, and mitigation agreements. However, grant funds may be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baseline compliance efforts. FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND MATCH The Zaca and Piru Fires Restoration Grant Program will operate from 2016 through the end of fiscal year The program will award approximately $1.5 million in Year One, with subsequent award amounts likely to increase in following years. The following are key elements of this funding opportunity: Grant awards will range in size from $25,000 to $500,000 per project, although more funding could be allocated for projects with large benefits or are multi-year projects that implement annual restoration and/or conservation actions. The ratio of matching contributions offered is considered during the review process, and projects are expected to meet or exceed a 50% match ratio to be competitive. The strongest projects will meet or exceed a 1:1 match ratio. Projects not meeting the match expectations will be considered on a limited case-by-case basis. Eligible match can include non-federal cash or in-kind contributions, such as staff and volunteer time, work performed, materials and services donated, cash or other tangible contributions to the project objectives and outcomes. The cost of recent land or water acquisition or easement may also qualify as match for a project involving work at the acquired site. Grants for single projects are typically awarded to projects that can be completed within 18 months. Some larger-scale projects may warrant consecutive multi-year funding requests. These requests will be considered on a year-by-year basis and must describe what will be accomplished during each project phase to qualify for consideration. NFWF will not provide reimbursement for any project expenditures prior to the grant award project period and will not be liable for such expenditures. However, to help the applicant comply with match requirements, successful grant applicants will be authorized to capture match funding specifically related to the project proposal for a period that is no longer than one year prior to the date of submission of the project proposal application to NFWF. Page 6 of 10

7 Projects that demonstrate strong partnerships and that have matching funds from various partners/donors to support costs of the project being submitted, are strongly encouraged. Donated contractor services can be valued at current market rates, but general volunteer labor must be valued at no more than $22.14/hour. Matching funds do not need to be fully secured prior to submitting a grant proposal, but should have a demonstrable likelihood of being secured during the project period to assure the project can be completed as proposed. NFWF does not fund political advocacy or litigation of any kind. EVALUATION CRITERIA Grant applications are evaluated according to their ability to meet the evaluation criteria, the adequacy and clarity of application information, and at a minimum, each proposal must address the goals and priorities described in this RFP or the Los Padres National Forest Zaca and Piru Fires Conservation Restoration Strategies (Strategies). Applicants should review the Strategies for greater detail on the Project Guidelines as this Request for Proposals is derived from those sources. Projects that do not address the program priorities described in the Strategies or this RFP will not be considered for funding by the Proposal Review Committee. Pre-proposals and Full Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by a Proposal Review Committee made up of representatives from LPNF, NFWF, and other experts as needed. Grant awards will be made by NFWF to successful applicants. Organizations are allowed to submit multiple proposals for funding consideration. Projects will be evaluated by: Consistency with Los Padres National Forest Goals and Priorities. The proposal is consistent with the goals of the Los Padres National Forest as described in the RFP and associated documentation (i.e. Los Padres National Forest Zaca and Piru Fire Restoration Conservation Strategies and Southern California National Forests Land Management Plan, including - Part 2 Los Padres National Forest Strategy). Consistency with over-arching Federal or State Conservation Initiatives. If applicable, proposals may also address goals, priorities, and recommendations in context with broader regional conservation efforts such as the South-Central/Southern California Coast Steelhead Recovery Management Plan or California Condor Recovery Plan, Third Revision. Proposals should describe specifically how the project aligns with complementary conservation initiatives and reference appropriate documentation. Benefit to Species. The proposal addresses a recovery or restoration need for steelhead, California condor, big cone Douglas-fir, or other threatened, endangered, or sensitive species occurring on the Los Padres National Forest and will help remediate the effects of the Zaca and Piru Fires on those species or their habitat. Page 7 of 10

8 Technical Merit. Objectives, approach, and scope of work are clear and technically sound; the project is both feasible and appropriate for the site and can be completed on schedule given reasonably foreseeable constraints (weather conditions, planting seasons, operational conditions). The write-up is sufficient for reviewers to fully understand and evaluate the technical merits of the project (project plans, designs with specific sites, activities identified). Cost Effectiveness. The budget is detailed and the project is cost effective. Total cost is reasonable based on costs of similar project types and commensurate with projected benefits. Community and Partner Involvement. There is demonstrated local area stakeholder support for the project (number, diversity of partners, matching funds, contact information/letters demonstrating involvement and/or support). Organization Qualifications. The project manager, principal investigator(s), and other key personnel have experience and expertise required for the project, and individual roles and responsibilities are well defined and appropriate. The proposal demonstrates relevant field experience, completed projects, published reports, or other materials. When necessary, licensed professionals are identified for design, construction, or oversight of on-the-ground activities. Consideration to Environmental and Heritage Resource Compliance Requirements. The proposal effectively captures the manner in which environmental and heritage resource compliance is planned to be completed. The budget includes a line item specific to environmental and heritage resource compliance costs that is reasonable and appropriate. When necessary, licensed professionals or other contractors are identified for the completion of components of the environmental compliance process (i.e. cultural resources consultant, NEPA, etc.). Budget Costs are allowable, reasonable and budgeted in accordance with NFWF s Detailed Budget Instructions cost categories. Federally-funded projects must be in compliance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance as applicable (OMB Uniform Guidance). The project budget needs to be as accurate as possible to the true scope of work. This will require getting accurate estimates of project costs. The budget should also reflect the true cost of implementing the proposed monitoring plan and environmental compliance costs. As part of the application, project costs will need to be broken down according to the following budget categories: Personnel Outline specific tasks and work to be performed by personnel. Total fees should be broken down according to the amount of time spent on the project (e.g., hourly, weekly, or monthly rates). Funding for salaries for federal government agency personnel is not allowed, but other costs such as seasonal assistants, travel etc., are eligible. Salaries for nonfederal government personnel are allowed if they are directed specifically to the proposed project. Supporting documentation should be included (i.e. pay scale for organization). Travel Specify the purpose or destination for the travel item, unit type and the quantity of units requested. Do not lump trips together into one amount, rather, itemize by travel category listed. Equipment Equipment with a useful life of more than one year, a per-unit cost of $5,000 or more, and is necessary to complete the project must be identified. Capital equipment expenditures are highly discouraged and will be thoroughly reviewed including potential Page 8 of 10

9 alternatives during the competitive review process rental of such items should be considered instead. Any equipment less than $5,000 will be considered supplies and shall be identified in the Materials and Supplies category. Supporting documentation should be included (i.e. estimate, website, etc.) Contractual Services Contractual services are any agreement issued to a third party to assist with the completion of the project. All work to be completed by the contractor and their rates must be identified. Vendor selection shall be done through a competitive process. Federal wage provisions (Davis-Bacon or Service Contract Act) are applicable to any contract developed and awarded under an award to a successful applicant, where all or part of the funding is provided with U.S. Forest Service funds. Davis-Bacon wage rates apply on all public works contracts in excess of $2,000 and Service Contract Act wage provisions apply to service contracts in excess of $2,500. Other Direct Costs Applicants must detail other specific costs associated with the project that do not appropriately fit within any other budget category, such as printing costs, as Direct Costs. Indirect Costs Please refer to NFWF s Indirect Cost Policy for details on the Allowability and application of indirect costs. Match Projects are expected to meet or exceed a 50% match ratio to be competitive. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS Projects selected to receive funding may be subject to requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA) state and federal, and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Successful applicants will be required to cooperate with NFWF and the U.S. Forest Service to ensure NEPA and other planning requirements are conducted. TIMELINE Dates of activities are subject to change. Please check the Program page of the NFWF website for the most current dates and information Applicant Open House December 15, 2015 see Program page for details Pre-Proposal Due Date January 13, 2016, 5:00 pm Pacific Invitations for Full Proposals Sent January 29, 2016 Full Proposal Due Date February 29, 2016, 5:00 pm Pacific Review Period March 1 - April 22, 2016 Awards Announced May 9, 2016 HOW TO APPLY All application materials must be submitted online through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation s Easygrants system. 1. Go to to register in our Easygrants online system. New users to the system will be prompted to register before starting the application (if you already are a registered Page 9 of 10

10 user, use your existing login). Enter your applicant information. Please be sure to disable the popup blocker on your internet browser prior to beginning the application process. 2. Once on your homepage, click the Apply for Funding button and select Los Padres National Forest Zaca and Piru Fires Restoration Program from the list of options. 3. Follow the instructions in Easygrants to complete your application. Once an application has been started, it may be saved and returned to at a later time for completion and submission. **All pre-proposal applications must be received by January 13, 2015 at 5:00 pm Pacific time. Please note that extensions will not be granted. Applicants will be notified of the status of their preproposal by January 29, If invited to submit a full proposal, the due date will be February 29, 2016 at 5:00 pm Pacific time. Applicants will be notified of the status of their full proposal by May 9, NFWF reserves the right to award or not award a grant to any applicant, and NFWF may withdraw this Request for Proposals at any time without notice. Once submitted, application materials become the sole property of NFWF and will not be returned. During the proposal review process, applicants may be requested to revise their proposal at the request of the review committee. Applicants who do not complete these requested revisions may be removed from consideration for funding. APPLICATION ASSISTANCE A PDF version of this RFP can be downloaded at A Tip Sheet is available for quick reference while you are working through your application. This document can be downloaded at Additional information to support the application process can be accessed on the NFWF website s Applicant Information page ( For more information or questions about this RFP, please contact: Jim Bond Manager, Southern California Forests Jim.Bond@nfwf.org For issues or assistance with our online Easygrants system, please contact: Easygrants Helpdesk Easygrants@nfwf.org Voic Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, Monday-Friday. Include: your name, proposal ID #, address, phone number, program you are applying to, and a description of the issue. Page 10 of 10