Selected Recipients for this Program

Not Applicable.

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 and cooperative agreements will be limited to five years.

Eligibility Requirements

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. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 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 SF-424(B).

Award Procedures

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

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

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.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days. 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.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. 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. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

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. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Payments made based on authorization and negotiation of provisions with cooperator.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Final technical reports and financial status reports are due within one (1) month of completion of the project or of the expiration of the agreement, whichever is first.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

Financial status reports using a SF-425 are required at least annually and no more than quarterly as detailed in the applicable OMB Circulars and the grant award.

Technical progress reports are required at least annually, but not more than quarterly as detailed in the applicable OMB Circulars and the grant award.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

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.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-1105-0-1-302 - State & Private Forestry; 12-1106-0-1-302 - National Forest System; 12-1104-0-1-302 - Forest & Rangeland Research.

Obigations

(Project Grants) FY 16 $4,535,457; FY 17 est $7,000,000; and FY 18 Estimate Not Available

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not applicable.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Please consult with International Programs for information relevant to a specific proposal.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Val Mezainis, Director, International Programs, 202-644-4600 vmezainis@fs.fed.us. Vanessa Felder-Pinkney, Grants and Agreements Specialist, International Programs, vfelderpinkney02@fs.fed.us, 202-644-4613.

Headquarters Office

Vanessa Felder-Pinkney 1 Thomas Circle NW Suite 400, Washington, District of Columbia 20005 Email: vanessapinkney@fs.fed.us Phone: 202-644-4613

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.