Fiscal Year 2016 Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Wildfire Risk Reduction Competitive Request for Proposals
Eligibility
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, State forestry agencies are eligible to submit or authorize proposals (pass through
direct to partners) for consideration under this competition. Forest Fire Compacts, nonprofit
organizations, universities, and other partners must submit proposals through the State Forester where
the activity will be conducted. For-profit organizations are not eligible to submit proposals under this
competition, though they can be shown as a cooperating partner or contractor.
There is no limit on the number of proposals (single or multistate) any one State may submit. The
minimum funding request is $25,000 and the maximum request is $300,000. The maximum amount of
Federal funding awarded to any one State cannot exceed 15 percent of the total FY2016 funds allocated
for this Request for Proposals (RFP); this is called the State Cap. Multistate proposals must identify the
lead agency and the amount of Federal funds to be allocated against each State Cap in the Budget Table
Explanation. Third party proposals must identify the lead organization, the State(s) involved, and the
amount of funds to be allocated against one or more State Caps. Forest Fire Compact proposals will not
impact State Caps. A review team will complete a quality assessment of all proposals received that will
determine their ranking. Proposals will be funded based on ranking and available funds once the final
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry FY2016 budget is received.
Eligible Activities
The Wildfire Risk Reduction Competitive Request for Proposals is designed to support and carry out the
goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy across the Midwestern and
Northeastern States. This request will specifically address National Goals 1 and 2:
 Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related
disturbances in accordance with management objectives.
 Fire Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can withstand a wildfire without
loss of life and property.
Regional options have been identified in the Northeast Regional Action Plan that will allow this
competitive grant process to ensure that funds are used to reduce wildfire risk. Proposals will be accepted
that clearly identify the reduction of wildfire risk in coordination with their respective State’s Forest Action
Plan and meet one or more of the six regional action options listed below. These options include:
1. Expand the use of prescribed fire as an integral tool to meet management objectives.
2. Where possible, maintain and increase the extent of fire-dependent ecosystems and expand the use
of fire as a disturbance process.
3. Mitigate “event” fuels to reduce potential fire hazard.
4. Promote, support, and carry out local Fire Adapted Communities activities undertaken by
communities.
5. Carry out hazardous fuel treatments in the wildland-urban interface.
6. Promote, support, and carry out wildfire prevention programs and activities.
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Proposal Requirements
FY2016 Wildfire Risk Reduction RFP applications will proceed for ranking only if they meet all of the
required elements below:
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Project Goals Must Be Linked to State Forest Action Plans
In 2010, each State and the District of Columbia completed a State Forest Resource Assessment and
Strategy (now referred to as a Forest Action Plan). These documents outline priority issues or
landscapes within each State and are available at Forest Action Plans. Project deliverables must
demonstrate how the project will help the State achieve the desired future condition documented in
the Forest Action Plan. For multistate projects, the proposed deliverables must link to the Forest
Action Plan in each State involved.
Project Goals Must be Clearly Linked to One or More of the Six Action Options Identified in the
Northeast Regional Action Plan for National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Goals 1
and 2
Project goals must be clearly linked and achieve one or more of the six action options identified by
Goals 1 and 2 of the National Cohesive Strategy’s Northeast Regional Action Plan. The
implementation actions for the six applicable regional options can be found in the Northeast
Regional Action Plan (April 2013).
Required Matching Funds (50/50 Minimum)
The match must be met by eligible and allowable costs and is subject to match provisions in grant
regulations (see http://www.ecfr.gov). The new Omni-Circular is known as the Electronic Code of
Federal Regulations online at the link above. Title 2 – Grants and Agreements PART 200—Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; Subparts
D and E contain the majority of helpful information.
Appropriate and Authorized Use of Federal Funds
Proposals must conform to laws and authorities laid out in The Principal Laws Relating to USDA
Forest Service State and Private Forestry Programs. The authority for this RFP is Cooperative Fire
WFCF.
National Fire Plan Operations and Reporting System (NFPORS) Form
A NFPORS form must be submitted with the proposal clearly showing planned deliverables.
Spatial Information
Electronic spatial data must be submitted with the proposal and kept current for the life of the
project. At a minimum, provide a polygon data shapefile that shows where the work will be
completed.
Additional Requirements for the Development of Wildfire Risk Reduction Proposals
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Each proposal will be limited from $25,000 to $300,000 in Federal funds being requested.
No more than 50 percent of the Federal funds requested can be used towards personnel costs
(including salary and fringe).
No more than 10 percent of the Federal funds requested can be used to purchase equipment. If it is
necessary to purchase equipment worth more than $5,000 to complete the project, a statement
must be provided that specifically identifies the need and reasons why the purchase is required.
A completed NFPORS Form must be submitted with the proposal.
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A separate letter of support from the State Forester or equivalent must be submitted with the
proposal.
No State can receive more than 15 percent of the total available funds.
Project Submission and Selection
Documentation for submitting proposals under the FY2016 Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry
competitive allocation process is available at http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fire/rfp/index.shtm. Submit the
appropriate fillable PDF forms for the proposal (Application and Supplements 1 and 2) using the e-mail
inbox na-rfp@fs.fed.us no later than close of business on March 4, 2016.
Note: Multiple messages per proposal may be submitted if necessary. Please be sure any supplemental
materials or separate e-mails are clearly labeled with the full descriptive project title or proposal number if
it has been assigned. Additional information such as maps, tables, and letters of support may be included
in addition to the proposal. For assistance submitting proposals to the inbox, contact Terry James at
trjames@fs.fed.us or by calling (610) 557–4107.
An interagency wildfire risk reduction review team consisting of an equal number of State representatives
and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry leaders will collaboratively review, evaluate, and
prioritize project proposals. The number of team members will be determined based on the total number
of proposals submitted and reviewer workload. Proposals will undergo a preliminary review to identify
incomplete applications and assign potential funding eligibility based on the project’s scope of work and
whether it meets the required elements identified in the Proposal Requirements section.
For Further Information
A Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) Webinar will be hosted in mid-February. Those interested in learning
more about the WRR process are encouraged to participate. Contact information about the Webinar will
be provided in a separate message; you may also contact one of the Cooperative Fire Specialists listed
below for more information.
Northeastern Area Cooperative Fire Specialists
States
Mid-Atlantic (PA, NJ, DE, MD, WV, OH)
Compact States
Northeast (MA, VT, NH, CT, NY, RI, ME)
Compact States
Big Rivers (IN, IA, IL, MO) and Great Lakes
(MN, WI, MI) Compact States
Contact
Maureen Brooks
E-mail
mtbrooks@fs.fed.us
Tom Brady
tbrady@fs.fed.us
Maris Gabliks
mggabliks@fs.fed.us
Examples of Activities in an Innovative WRR Proposal that Qualify for Federal Funding (not all
inclusive):
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Use of prescribed fire
Use of mechanical fuel reduction
Vegetation management (pruning, mowing, chemical treatment, grazing)
Use of small-diameter wood from wildfire risk reduction activities
Defensible space around homes and communities
Development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans or equivalent
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Development, creation, and/or maintenance of fuel breaks and fire breaks
Slash removal/disposal
Pamphlets, brochures, handouts, PSAs, DVDs
Property inspections/assessments
Training programs that support the use of prescribed fire or Fire Adapted Communities
Exercises/drills that support local Fire Adapted Communities
Information and Education, Awareness, Firewise, Ready Set Go, and Fire Prevention Programs
Installation of dry hydrants that support a Fire Adapted Community
Weather station network upgrades that support a Fire Adapted Community
Examples of Activities that Do Not Qualify for Federal Funding under this RFP (not all inclusive):
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Research and development projects
Capital improvements
Economic development projects
Small business start-up funding
Equipment purchases (items over $5,000) shall be limited to items necessary to support the project
and be limited to 10 percent of the Federal funds requested
Purchase of small equipment, radios, and firefighting supplies is limited to support a specific project
(fire preparedness purchases of equipment and supplies can be addressed through Volunteer Fire
Assistance and State Fire Assistance Core funding)
Criteria for Wildfire Risk Reduction Proposal Selection
1. Project objectives address wildfire risk reduction in high-risk landscapes as identified in the State’s
Forest Action Plan (30 points)
 Show that the project/initiative contributes to wildfire risk reduction priorities as identified in
the Forest Action Plan.
 Show how wildfire risk reduction treatment activities are tied to a Community Wildfire
Protection Plan and Fire Adapted Communities.
 How do Community/Homeowner Education objectives of targeting risk, prevention, and wildfire
risk reduction relate to priority areas of the Forest Action Plan?
 How does the proposed activity reduce the risk and consequences of wildfire in the wildlandurban interface and areas identified in the Forest Action Plan?
2. Partnerships and collaboration (10 points)
 How do partners contribute toward a successful outcome?
 If the project is tied to a high-risk community(ies)/project(s) adjacent to or near Federal lands,
how are the Federal partners engaged?
 Demonstrate how the project is tied to other targeted program areas identified in the National
Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, Northeast Regional Action Plan, and/or State
Forest Action Plan.
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3. Outcomes, products, or elements that describe an innovative approach (15 points)
 How is this project unique in its approach toward reducing wildfire risk?
 Demonstrate how successful outcomes result from this different approach to wildfire risk
reduction.
 How is this innovative approach shared with community residents?
4. Explain the effectiveness and efficiency of the project (10 points)
 Show estimated project cost per acre, cost per program, and number of communities assisted;
explain how these expenses are efficient as compared with other possible options.
 Clearly explain how this project will be completed in an efficient and cost-effective manner with
proposed measurable deliverables.
5. Addresses one or more of the six Northeast Regional Action Plan’s identified options (25 points)
 Clearly describe how this proposal will meet one or more of the six Northeast Regional Action
Plan’s action options defined under National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy
Goals 1 and 2.
 Explain how proposal activities will support the applicable Northeast Regional Action Plan’s
options.
6. Knowledge and Technical Transfer (10 points)
 Clearly describe how others may learn from this project. Technical transfer is defined as the
sharing of knowledge, tools, and innovations for practical application.
 Describe the project’s potential to inform practitioners and enhance the effectiveness of similar
initiatives across landscapes where it can be utilized.
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