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| 10.684 INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY PROGRAMS |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990, Act of November 4, 1990, Public Law 101-513, Title VI; 104 Stat. 2070; 16 U.S.C. 4501 (note), 4501-4503, 4503a-d, 4504-4505. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To extend Forest Service efforts to improve forest policies and practices internationally, conserve and protect critical global forest environments and resources, and improve the lives of forest-dependent peoples by awarding grants to and entering into cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations, multilateral organizations, and other individuals, organizations, institutions, and governments engaged in forest conservation and management. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements). |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Grants and cooperative agreements are used to carry out, supplement and complement Forest Service international activities in a wide range of fields, including but not limited to forest policies and regulations, forest products trade, forest management practices, wildlife management, watershed management, recreation and tourism, fire management, forest insect and disease prevention and response, invasive species preventions and response, disaster response and mitigation, landscape planning, forest product development and utilization, climate change adaptation and mitigation, forest economics, and training and institutional strengthening. Grants will be limited to five years. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Potential applicants include U.S. and international organizations, educational institutions, government entities, and individuals. International applicants must be from countries sanctioned by the State Department. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Potential beneficiaries include host-country forest management agencies, non-profit organizations, forest landowners in the target countries, forest-dependent communities and peoples in the targeted countries, and U.S. landowners and organizations involved in or concerned with invasive species mitigation, migratory species conservation, legal trade in forest products, and the impact of climate change on forests. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Project managers and organizations must document competence in the field and activities of the project proposed. Eligible projects must fit within the U.S. Forest Service International Programs priorities, comply with all federal grants and agreements regulations, and be documented through a completed grant application. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| None. |
| Application Procedure |
| A complete proposal must be submitted to International Programs and explain in detail the work to be undertaken, the qualifications of key personnel involved in the work, resources such as equipment, facilities, services available or needed, and a detailed proposed budget for each fiscal year during the life of the grant. All grant proposals must show technical competence and demonstrate ability to meet international, transnational, national, regional or local needs. Proposals for federal financial assistance must also submit a SF-424, SF-424(A) and (B). |
| Award Procedure |
| Proposals will be evaluated by the Forest Service Office of International Programs, in consultation with the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, where relevant, for purposes of ensuring compliance with U.S. foreign policy and objectives. Proposed activities will be assessed for their ability to improve forest management and the welfare of forest-dependent peoples in the targeted country or countries, as well as their ability to enhance or complement existing or planned Forest Service programs and activities. |
| Deadlines |
| Applicants are required to submit Form SF-424 and all associated documents for each eligible project. Applications are received on a revolving basis and are reviewed subject to available funding. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| 120 days. |
| Appeals |
| Not applicable. |
| Renewals |
| Requests for continued support will be considered as equal in importance and in competition with pending proposals. Applications submitted for continued support should be identical to a new proposal along with a detailed summary of progress to date. Applications for continued support must be received no later than 3 months prior to the expiration of the existing grant or agreement. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| The applicant's contribution is negotiated. The proposed budget by fiscal year shows the estimated cost of the complete project from grant funds and the value of resources to be contributed by the applicant. The non-Federal cost share may consist of: funds, donations, in-kind contributions, direct costs, indirect costs, and other as determined by the Forest Service. Funds will be provided on a per-project basis, as determined by annual budget allocations. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Up to 5 years. Billing and invoices for expenses incurred may be submitted quarterly or semi-annually. Electronic transfers of payments are encouraged. |
| Reports |
| Technical progress reports are required semi-annually. Financial status reports are required quarterly. Final technical reports and financial status reports are due within 1 month of the completion of the project or of the expiration of the agreement, whichever is first. |
| Audits |
| Not applicable. |
| Records |
| All related data, information, records and accounts shall be retained for 3 years beyond the expiration date of the grant unless other disposition is specified in writing by the awarding agency. |
| Account Identification |
| 12-1105-0-1-302. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $361,620; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not available. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| In Fiscal Years 2005-2007, approximately 50 grants were made. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| Please consult with International Programs for information relevant to a specific proposal. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Washington, DC. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Washington, DC. |
| Web Site Address |
| www.fs.fed.us/global |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Examples of executed grants are: Reforestation and Panda Habitat Conservation in Southwest China, Training for Improved Forest Practices in Brazil, Migratory Bird Habitat Improvement and Conservation in Mexico, Policy and Technology Training to improve transparency in the Forest Sector in Russia, Development of Protected Area Education Curriculum and Training in Southern Africa, Development of a Financial Assessment Model for Reduced Impact Logging, Middle East Regional Cooperation on Watershed Monitoring Protocols. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Criteria are established on a program-by-program basis and approved based on the negotiated objectives to be achieved at international, national, regional and local levels. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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