 |
 |
| 10.674 FOREST PRODUCTS LAB: TECHNOLOGY MARKETING UNIT (TMU) |
| (TMU Biomass Grant/Assistance Program) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Appropriation through 2005 Omnibus Bill, Public Law 108-447; Public Law 108-148. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| Increase the amount of biomass used from the National Forest and associated lands involved with hazardous fuel reduction activities. The program will is designed to assist small forest products businesses, State, local and Tribal governments, school districts, communities, entrepreneurs, non-profits, special purpose districts (i.e., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or ports), companies, and corporations turn small diameter and underutilized wood species into marketable forest products, including biomass energy. Accelerate adoption of technologies using biomass and small diameter materials to create community-based enterprises through marketing activities and demonstration projects and establish small-scale business enterprises to make use of biomass and small-diameter materials. The public goal is to reduce the cost per acre of hazardous fuel treated needed to protect communities from wildland fire and improve the overall health of the nations forest. Program may include: (1) development of potential new products; (2) projects that showcase innovative uses for small diameter and low-valued hardwoods and softwoods; and (3) reducing the challenge to economic and market barriers to the use of the material (4) provide seed money and gap funding (5) facilitating creation/expansion of harvesting/processing/transporting enterprises around wildland urban interface areas. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements). |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Must significantly tie to National Forest System land hazardous fuels treatment projects. No land acquisition or construction. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Entities eligible include: Non-profits, local, state, and Tribal governments, business, companies, corporation, (for Profit), special purpose districts, (public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or port). Land treatment must be adjacent National Forest System lands and may include other lands as part of the treatment activities. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Not applicable. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Not applicable. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3016, must be used for this program (i.e., SF-424). This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Procedures for submitting grant application can be found on www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu or contact the Program Manager as listed under Information Contacts. Submit a narrative description along with the appropriate forms listed in 091, budget sheet, and budget justification. |
| Award Procedure |
| Nationally competitive, merit-based. |
| Deadlines |
| Not available. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: 160 days after the date of closure on a Request for Proposals. |
| Appeals |
| Not applicable. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| Applicants must demonstrate a 20 percent cost share from non-Federal sources, which can include in-kind contributions. In-kind, or non-cash contributions, must be reasonable, allowable, and the recipient must be able to demonstrate in the application that all costs can be shown as actual costs to the recipient in performing the project. i. All unit costs must be clearly identified in the budget justification and must be allowable, reasonable, and auditable. ii. Funds paid by the Federal government under another award, unless authorized by Federal statute, may not be used for cost sharing or matching. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| As determined by project, no longer than 3 years. |
| Reports |
| Reports: Grants quarterly financial and semi-annual performance report required. |
| Audits |
| Grant recipients are subject to audit by the Office of Inspector General, USDA. |
| Records |
| Grant records will be maintained for 5 years after expiration date. |
| Account Identification |
| 11-4011-0-1-302. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 est not available; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $50,000 to $250,000 per grant. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| None. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| No regulations. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Local contact: List S&PF regional contacts which reference to table as in the past. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Technology Marketing Unit, State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, WI 53726-2398, (608) 231-9200. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu (grants.gov) |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| None, this is a new Program. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Grants are approved on the basis of a nationwide review and are based on technical and financial merits of the project as evaluated by a panel of Federal, State, and local business experts and peers. Criteria include showing a demonstrated ability to use biomass from hazardous fuels reduction/treatment projects on and near National Forest Lands. |
|
General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
|