March 29, 2024 7:49 AM
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Yavapai Resource Advisory Committee Grants Available to Improve Watersheds, Forest Health, or Infrastructure Maintenance

The Yavapai Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is accepting grant proposals from December 13, 2021 through January 21, 2022 from federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal governments, private and nonprofit entities, and landowners for protection, restoration, and enhancement of resource conditions and roads/trail maintenance and obliteration. Projects can be on National Forest System lands, and non-Federal lands where projects would benefit local communities.

Funds are from the Secure Rural Schools Program Title II Special Projects on Federal Lands and are generated from fees of multi-use activities such as grazing permits, timber production, and special use permits, which are retained by the forest service and allocated to specific projects under the authority of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self- Determination Act.

Available Funds: Approximately $362,000 is available.

Project Proposal Eligibility: At least 50% of all project funds are to be used for projects that primarily benefit road maintenance, decommissioning, or obliteration; or restoration of streams and watersheds.

The following types of projects are eligible:

  • Road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration
  • Soil productivity improvement
  • Forest ecosystem health improvements
  • Watershed restoration, preservation, and maintenance
  • Restoration, maintenance, and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat
  • Control of noxious and exotic weeds
  • Re-establishment of native species
  • Sustainable recreation opportunities
  • Other (fire prevention, integrated pest management, etc.)

Project Proposal Evaluation

It is important to the Yavapai Resource Advisory Committee to solicit a diversity of proposals that support local communities and their ties to National Forest System lands, and that we work together to promote: community engagement, partnerships, collaboration, and local leadership; to improve the sustainability of local economies, ecological services and stewardship opportunities on public lands.

Project proposals will be evaluated on how well they address the goals listed above and demonstrate cost-effectiveness, enhance the quality of life in our region, provide employment opportunities, and improve watershed and ecosystem health. If projects can be scalable, please indicate how they can be scaled up or down and provide a corresponding budget.  Applicants are encouraged to make proposals $75,000 or less.

Potential applicants need to discuss the proposal and have the support of the local District Ranger before submitting.  For road projects, applicants should ensure the local District Ranger work with Forest Service engineers and County Road Department to plan and implement needed work.

The ACT allows funds to be used for the costs of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, or for on-the-ground project implementation.  All project proposals for on-the-ground project work need to be NEPA sufficient at the time of the proposal.

Proposal Submission:

Please use the Project Proposal Submission Form  and ensure your proposal contains all the information in the Title II Submission Checklist. Additional information for applicants can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/prescott/workingtogether/advisorycommittees.

Please send completed proposals to Debbie Maneely, Yavapai RAC Coordinator at  debbie.maneely@usda.gov or 735 Highway 89, Chino Valley, AZ 86323.

Deadline for submission of project proposals is Friday, January 21, 2022 at 6 p.m.  Proposals submitted after 6 p.m. will not be accepted.

The Yavapai RAC will be reviewing proposals in a public meeting on March 1, 2022.  The meeting announcement will be posted on the Prescott National Forest website and in the Federal register.

More information about the Title II Program is at https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with- us/secure-rural-schools and information about Resource Advisory Committees, previous proposals, and templates can be found at https://cms.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/secure- rural-schools/title-2.

For questions regarding the Yavapai RAC, please contact RAC Coordinator, Debbie Maneely, debbie.maneely@usda.gov  or 928-499-4736.

Information and Guidance for Project Applicants

  1. The deadline for project proposals is January 21, 2022. All project proposals must be submitted or postmarked by the deadline date.
  2. Project proposals must have a recommendation by the local District Ranger and any other landowner/manager involved in the project prior to proposal submission.
  3. Project proposals must be accompanied by a completed and signed Title II Project Submission Form available at https://cms.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/secure-rural-schools/title-2 or by emailing debbie.maneely@usda.gov.
  4. Partnerships and collaboration with other organizations is encouraged. Proposals should be cost-effective and clearly describe project benefits to natural resources, federal lands, recreation, residents, local economies, safety, etc.
  5. No matching funds are required for RAC grants, but proponents are strongly encouraged to provide financial and/or in-kind contributions. These contributions should be enumerated in both the project proposal and accompanying budget.
  6. Project proposals will be evaluated on cost-effectiveness including financial and in-kind contributions, demonstration of partnership involvement, benefits to ecosystem health, improvement in the quality of human life including, and employment opportunities.
  7. Approved project funding may be used for the cost of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, or for on-the-ground project implementation, where NEPA has already been completed.
  8. Funds may be used for road and trail maintenance. Applicants should ensure the Forest Service engineers work with the County Road Department to plan and implement the project.
  9. Funding for approved projects is through a reimbursement type grant. This means the applicant should have funds available upfront to spend on projects and be reimbursed for those expenditures later.
  10. The budget accompanying the grant application must include 5% above the amount being requested to cover administrative costs of Forest Service personnel who will process your project if approved.  (the 5% FS Indirect Costs should be inserted on the Project Cost Analysis Worksheet, Column B, Item n)
  11. The federal contribution to approved projects will be less than or equal to a target maximum of $75,000.
  12. All non-federal applicants with approved projects will need to meet the requirements for Central Contractor Registration (CCR) (www.ccr.gov) and have a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number (http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform) established.
  13. Applicants can include public and partnership letters in support of the benefits of the project with their submission.
  14. Projects must be reviewed and recommended by the local Resource Advisory Committee and approved by the Designated Federal Officer for that committee.
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