Application Process:
(Q) Can a newly formed organization that is less than two years old be eligible applicant?
(A) Yes
(Q) What is the difference between a pass-through entities and full partners? Can an organization serve as both?
(A) Yes
(Q) Can an individual group be part of more than one collaborative application?
(A) Yes
(Q) Will application procedures differ among states?
(A) Yes. States sub grants have their own RFP, but all will be cleared and approve by UCF program managers.
(Q) Will there be any limitation on the number of proposals from an institution, organization or community that can be submitted?
(A) No. We welcome comprehensive work in these proposals.
(Q) Can we include food forests or urban orchards in this grant?
(A) The establishment or maintaining Food Forests is an allowable activity under this notice of funding opportunity.
(Q) Is this a direct competitive grant for local municipalities? Or is that only via state funded programs?
(A) This is a direct competitive grant for all eligible applicants including local municipalities.
(Q) Will the States be able to use State disadvantage community map?
(A) No. At the present time, the official tool that can be used to determine disadvantage communities is the CEJST Tool.
Funding:
(Q) Does an applicant have to demonstrate 100% service in underserved areas to be eligible for a waiver match?
(A) Yes. Please refer to the description in the Notice of Funding Opportunity on page 7.
(Q) Can you please clarify on the match waiver (“100% of funding/program benefits to disadvantaged communities”): If 100% of program benefits support disadvantaged communities, does that mean that we can use some of the award funding for things like indirect and staff salaries? Or does 100% of the funding also have to directly support communities?
(A) Yes. The other 20% can be used for administrative and indirect costs.
(Q) Can we submit a proposal and also be a named partner for proposals submitted by other groups?
(A) Yes.
(Q) Is paying for attorney fees (through a non-profit law center) allowed with these funds?
(A) No.
(Q) Can these grant funds be used to purchase forested land for preservation and restoration?
(A) No, these funds CANNOT be used in the acquisition of any land.
(Q) Are we allowed to include partner costs in our budget and how should those be represented?
(A) Yes. Look at the budget narrative and budget example to enter partner contributions. Also please reference the online Grant Application Guide.
(Q) We are exempt from state prevailing wage as a conservation corps?
(A) Prevailing wages do not apply. You can use Federal funds to pay administrative costs up to 20%.
(Q) Does the 80% allocated to sub awardees exclude funds that would be used to do the awardee's project? Do matching funds waivers apply to pass-through funding?
(A) Yes. Match waivers do apply to matching funding. All funds for awardees projects should be reflected in the awardees budget narrative.
(Q) Is there a correct way to calculate/indicate Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in the budget/budget narrative?
(A) All COLA calculations should be included in the budget as an estimate.
(Q) If we want to list personnel costs from six partner organizations, would we show the overall total in the personnel row and then explain the breakdown in the budget narrative?
(A) Yes, all projected costs must be included in the budget narrative. You may also show an overall total in the budget personnel row.
(Q) Is there an administration fee allowed for operating as the prime recipient, or is that supposed to be wrapped into indirect?
(A) No, the administrative fees are separate from the indirect costs.
Pass-Through Funding (Sub-Awards):
(Q) Are there primarily two types of proposals you anticipate seeing in the NOFO, as follows: 1) those in which an organization runs a competitive sub-award program to fund the work of other eligible entities, and 2) those in which an eligible entity wants to directly receive a federal grant for implementing an urban and community forestry project or program (other than competitive sub-awards) and will compete against the other similar proposals in the NOFO process?
(A) Yes.
(Q) Does the section titled “Pass-Through Funding (Sub-Awards)” in the NOFO summary text and grant portal (see text below) only apply to those who are wishing to run a competitive sub-grant program (i.e., proposal category one in the previous question)?
From the application portal - Pass-Through Funding (Sub-Awards)
In response to stakeholder feedback and to alleviate the administrative burden on small, capacity-strained applicants, to expedite funding to communities in greatest need, and to increase opportunities to award high volumes of grants in condensed timeframes, applications from eligible entities with demonstrated ability to competitively pass-through (subaward) funding to community-based organizations and other partners serving disadvantaged communities are encouraged. A minimum of 80% of all funding to a pass-through entity must be competitively sub-awarded to community-based organizations, or other partners serving disadvantaged communities. Funding to Pass-Through Entities will be executed through a grant or cooperative agreement with substantial Forest Service involvement, at the discretion of the Forest Service.
(Q) If organizations want to partner on a project, do they each need to apply separately, or can they submit one proposal where one partner is the lead and receives the funds and contracts or sub-grants with the other organizations (proposal category two from the first question)?
(A) One proposal may be submitted. The proposal should demonstrate true collaboration among partners; clearly describe each partner’s role, capability/expertise, and capacity; and include letters of support from partners. This proposal type does not require 80% of the grant to be competitively sub-awarded.
Grant Work Requirements:
(Q) Does the sub-awardee work need to be completed within a year? The work must be completed within the timeline of the agreement.
(A) No agreement can exceed five years.
(Q) Is this a direct competitive grant for local municipalities? Or is that only via state funded programs?
(A) This is a direct competitive grant for all eligible applicants including local municipalities.
(Q) Can applicants be both pass-through and engage in direct programming?
(A) Yes.
(Q) Will the States be able to use State disadvantage community map?
(A) No. At the present time, the official tool that can be used to determine disadvantage communities is the CEJST Tool.
(Q) We want to remove trees placed on the invasive species list. Would this project qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act grant?
(A) Tree removals are an allowable activity in the Urban and Community Forestry Program. We highly encourage comprehensive proposals that include reforestation plans.
(Q) For the purposes of this grant, how is “urban” defined to be eligible?
- State and local government
- Homeowner associations
- Private lands
- Tribal/Alaska native corporation (includes Trust lands)
(Q) Could partners apply for funding to pay the salary of a transitional urban forest manager to help maintain space, train colleagues, and run community programming? And if so, can the funding limit extend beyond the five year project limit?
(A) Personnel costs are an allowable cost under this funding. No. All costs must be invoiced within the five-year funding agreement.
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